By Paul Amatio

It is said that a country without a history is a country without a future. PNG needs to know this as we head into the elections. Two quick examples include a discussion I held with a friend who was defending an incumbent MP over the dismal state of the highlands highway. The point being that all highlands provinces were funded equally under the Highlands rehabilitation program. Yet this is the only province where you will not see any major upgrading except patchworks. The second was on a forum where the incumbent governor for NCD was supported for his yogasutra program. I asked for proof of how NCD yoga program was addressing crime, homelessness, land-grabbing and employment creation in the city and received no answer. These two examples demonstrate that people will seek to divert attention from the real and core issues and point to superficial things that have no lasting or long term value. Other cases in point include SP Games 2015 and APEC. I want PNG to remember that we do have a history, a proud one, and this history was tarnished in the worst imaginable way in 2011. We need to recall and remember the villains and the heroes in that saga as it now forms an indelible part of PNG history.

2011 is a year that will go down in PNG history as being synonymous with betrayal, disrespect, false justifications, corruption, constitutional crisis and civil uncertainty. It was the year when our traditional culture of respect for our fathers and elders was shown as having no value. It brought to the fore that greed for power and wealth will lead to betrayal. 2011 was the year when the rule of law was trashed on the bed of justifications making us similar to animals fighting over a food. 2011 was when PNG hung on the brink of civil war with the police force split and fractured. It was the year when members of the RPNGC were openly bribed to support a breach of the law and disrespect for the Constitution and the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea. Let no one say these were minor events and should not be repeated because these events went to the very core of who and what we are and labeled our national identity as being a corrupt nation whose people and leaders will make and accept excuses to justify any actions that are immoral or unlawful or illegal.

Many of those who supported these unconscionable actions are still in positions of power. Some have passed on. The victims of this despicable action have moved on but many in the lower echelons have paid a huge price for doing the right thing. Especially those members of the police force who supported the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare, the Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea and the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea. And to add salt to the wound, many who supported the illegal and unlawful government establishment were rewarded with senior appointments in government and supported in business. Birds of a feather will flock together. Many pretended outrage while seeking an opportunity to feed off the trough and once inside, showed their true colors. They took bribes for silence and used the money to stand for election in 2012. Those there will know whom I speak of.

This short article is to pay tribute to the men of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary who in 2011, sacrificed their lives, families, careers and well-being. They are the men of the Armed Robbery Response Unit who stood with officers like former Commissioner Fred Yakasa and Superintendent Joseph Tondop against overwhelming odds suffering threats, physical assault, harassment and displacement. A few like late Sergeant Pokop have passed on. Others lost their jobs and returned on appeal. Some are still in their careers but have stagnated while less capable, incapable and unqualified people with no regard for the law or the Constitution or loyalty nor pride in their institution have leapfrogged them.

I take this time also to accuse the outgoing Prime Minister James Marape of being shameless and disloyal to the memory of the late Grand Chief who was like a father to him in his failure to recognise and give thanks to these men who stood by him and his father at that time. Prime Minister, you have learnt well and truly and adopted the norms of those who went against you. At the very least, you should have shown loyalty and thanks to Yakasa and his men in some token way. The Huli man never forgets his debts or the wrongs against him. Are you truly a Huli man or a pretender?

It is now election time and Fred Yakasa is standing for the NCD regional seat. For those who live in NCD, they will recall that this is the police officer who during his tenure hunted down those responsible for the murder of the late Sir George Constantinou. He is the man set up the Armed Robbery Response Unit and brought down the number of vehicle thefts and armed robberies in the city. He ensured that there was a high prosecution success rate in NCD. He is the man who turned down millions of kina in bribe money to stand by the late Grand Chief. Those who read my past posts will recall that crime only creates jobs in the security industry but kills off opportunities in every other sector. Crime is not a facilitator of development but a real debilitator. Others who were victims of corruption and illegalities contesting this election include Ms. Kessy Sawang in Rai Cost and Horim Piamia in Jiwaka. These are people who will ensure that the rule of law prevails leading to better business opportunities, economic expansion, job creation and social betterment.

I am also thankful that the members of the current parliament that I admire like Hon Gary Juffa, Hon. Dr Tom Lino and Hon James Donald were not a party to the illegalities of 2011. They are a new breed. Juffa had a vision and reason for coining the Take Back PNG theme and he must be allowed to actualise this vision through whatever plans he may have. We need people like these in parliament. Not those who think they can flaunt, change or amend laws and procedures to suit themselves any time they want.

I stand for the rule of law because without the law, we are just animals. Let this election be one for the Law where we are all subject to the same law, irrespective or creed, color or status. Cast our vote for the law and it will protect, nurture and support you.d