Reputation as ‘father of the nation’ in dark clouds


Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, is sailing deep into troubled waters in politics with a string of controversies overshadowing his twilight years in public life.

Hardly a year into his first year of a second straight five-year term in government, Somare has been hit by a controversy that could shake the unity of his own National Alliance Party and government coalition over an ‘on-again-off again-on again-off again’ commission of inquiry into allegations of misuse, misappropriation and theft of public funds from the Department of Finance totalling around K300 million—or more.

His sacking of the Chief Secretary to Government, Isaac Lupari, over the delay in getting the inquiry moving forward, has now landed him and his government in court for the unlawful dismissal of the government’s top civil servant and adviser.

Lupari comes from the resource-rich Southern Highlands Province and is well regarded as a straight shooter who speaks his mind on many issues which has upset many people in the Somare Government.

While he is out of the way, the inquiry has been reconvened with the appointment of two new commissioners—Judge Catherine Davani and former prominent corporate manager, Donald Manoa.

Somare defended his handling of the inquiry saying he had not suspended it but was only trying to widen its scope and appoint additional commissioners.

But, if that was his intention, the public's perception of his handling of the matter was that it was a public relations disaster.

It was only after the Opposition—led by former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta and former treasurer Bart Philemon—called on him to resign if he could not explain why he suspended the inquiry that Somare did his big about turn.

Still, the sacking of Lupari remains a hot political topic. Political heavyweights from the Highlands region—Enga Governor, Peter Ipatas and Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru—have called for the reinstatement of Lupari. Both men are members of the governing coalition led by Somare.

Lupari is challenging the procedures used to strip him of the top job which he held for at least a year.

He has produced evidence from the Public Service Commission which showed that proper procedures were not followed in his sacking, It is now up to the court to decide.

In a latest move, Somare has stripped the transport and civil aviation portfolio from former deputy prime minister, Don Polye, who comes from Enga Province and who is also highly respected amongst the Highlands Members of Parliament.

Polye is now a minister without portfolio while he defends a court of disputed returns challenge against his election in the 2007 general election.

This move is not likely to impress the highlanders and will  only add one more reason to question their allegiance to Somare when his constitutional 18-month grace period against a motion of no confidence comes up in March 2009.

Next comes the Ombudsman Commission which is chasing Somare for failing to submit his annual leadership returns for 13 years since the early 1990s.

Somare has gone to court trying to stop the commission from investigating him.

The matter is yet to come up for hearing. But it is a case that could seriously undermine Somare’s standing in the eyes of the people of Papua New Guinea.

Many are asking why he had not submitted his returns for so many years knowing it was a requirement under the leadership code which all leaders are required to comply with every year.

This is a potentially embarrassing case for Somare who could retire from politics a disgraced man rather than being hailed as a hero of 40 years in PNG politics.

For now, Somare may have a rest as the post of chief ombudsman is now up and a new chief ombudsman is being sought.

As prime minister, he is chair of the ombudsman appointments committee. Opposition’s Morauta is also a member of the committee.

As if that is not enough, another controversy has surfaced about Somare’s alleged involvement in arranging a meeting for private lawyer Dr Florian Gubon and National Alliance front man, Timothy Bonga to meet with Taiwanese middlemen in a deal that was designed to give PNG US$30 million in exchange for diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.

After a series of denials from Somare and his ministers about the deal, Dr Gubon has told  Papua New Guinea's Post-Courier newspaper that it was Somare who authorised the meeting with the Taiwanese foreign ministry officials in Taiwan in a trip funded by the Taiwanese themselves.

Dr Gubon said PNG’s Minister for National Planning, who was minister for foreign affairs prior to the last election, signed a draft communiqué to set up full diplomatic relations with Taiwan in September 2006.
Somare has issued a detailed statement denying any wrongdoing in the matter.

He accused the Opposition which has called on him to come clean on the matter, of using the media to discredit the government.

He had at first confirmed he had signed a document with Taiwan but said it was for trade and economic ties, not diplomatic ties.

Opposition attempts to question Somare about the Taiwan deal on the floor of Parliament have been continuously frustrated by the National Alliance Speaker of Parliament Jeffrey Nape, who has prevented them from doing so, yet allowing the Prime Minister and his ministers to explain their involvement in the deal.

The Opposition has resorted to taking out newspaper advertisements to raise their questions publicly.
Somare’s link with Taiwan goes back a long way.

It was him who asked the Taiwanese Trade Mission to come and set up an office in PNG and to bring in an agricultural team to train Papua New Guineans how to grow their own rice and vegetables.

The success of the agricultural team in PNG is noticeable with farmers in the Morobe Province and other areas now growing rice on a wider scale.

Through his Taiwanese links, Somare was also able to secure a loan to build what is now called the Somare Foundation Building in Port Moresby—a commercial property that houses a number of government departments including the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Somare is also known to have  played golf with the Taiwanese Trade Representatives in Port Moresby on many occasions.

In 1976, a year after PNG gained independence, Somare travelled to China to establish diplomatic ties with Beijing.

It was there that he brought PNG to adopt a “One China Policy”, recognising only mainland China.

That policy has always been maintained by all successive PNG governments up until now although there is increasing commercial ties with Taiwan.

Taiwan has also sponsored a number of trips for PNG officials to travel to Taiwan to see  hi-tech developments on the island nation.

Somare’s reputation as the Father of the Nation is under real dark clouds and many ordinary Papua New Guineans are asking when he will retire from politics.