Activist asks why leaders not standing up for PNG By KOLOPU WAIMA An activist has said the recent signing of a deal on asylum seekers between PNG and Australia is not in the best interests of Papua New Guinea. Noel Anjo said: “Our Prime Minister signed the deal to please Australia, not our people.” Mr Anjo strongly asked why PNG leaders are not making bold decisions as a sovereign nation. Anjo said that PNG is now 37 years old and it is mature enough to make tough decisions in the best interests of this country. “Why we do always say yes to our colonial master? I see it like PNG hides itself as a sovereign nation. When will our elected leaders stand up for PNG and speak for the silent majority?” he asked. He said that as an activist he had fought hard during the Somare government to change the government. “I fought hard on the street to form this government. And want this O’Neill-Dion government to put the interest of seven million Papua New Guineans first and not individual members of parliament.” He asked whether the MPs including the Prime Minister see that PNG is used as a dumping ground. “We have an influx of used cars which no one is controlling; Asians and other foreign people come into the country without proper documents; some controversial planes land in our airports; and now the Prime Minister accepts that the asylum seekers on boats on their way to Australia can be dumped in PNG.” “Is the government really protecting and promoting the interest of its 7 million people? I do not think so,” Mr Anjo said. He said non-government organisations are making countrywide awareness of it and will petition the government to review its decision in September when parliament sits.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 01:15:31 +0000
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