MANY STILL OPPOSE ASYLUM DEAL The resettlement deal signed recently by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his Australian counterpart to process more asylum seekers in Manus Island has not gone down well with many concerned elite Papua New Guineans. Although Mr O’Neill announced that the deal was not a new arrangement, many see it as a move done without prior consultation from the public and relevant stakeholders. “Why is our government being so naive and childish to go around signing all kinds of agreements without consulting the people that mandated them to lead,” a concerned young lawyer, Aaron Ben asked. “Is the government aware that the country is facing a rapid population boom and still going around signing agreements to bring in people from outside? This is a ridicules move and must be opposed by all means,” Mr Ben said. A teacher who requested not to be named said PNG does not have the capacity to cater for the influx of asylum seekers. “I support the concern raised by the Catholic Bishops Conference for PNG and Solomon Islands that PNG lacks the capacity to cater for the influx of asylum seekers into the country,” he said. He said although the deal would bring some tangible developments, it is sad that the government is choosing this means as a way for development. “If we do not have the capacity to develop this country ourselves, what makes the government so sure that it would develop this county by means of bringing influx of asylum seekers? Stop this nonsense and be real,” the emotional teacher said. Numerous comments were also posted on the social media “Sharp Talk” by various elites throughout Papua New Guinea opposing the resettlement deal. Opposition leader Belden Namah had been opposing the initial agreement between PNG and Australia. He disputed the issue in court but that proceeding failed and a further appeal is expected. Oro Governor Gary Juffa had raised concern that parliamentarians were not informed and made aware before the signing of the deal. Public protests were staged in Australia opposing the deal soon after the news of the signing of the agreements by the two countries. However, both Mr O’Neill and his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd stood firm with the deal. Mr O’Neill had maintained that the deal was good for the country as it would for the first time see Australian aid aligned to PNG government priorities of health, education, law and order and infrastructure developments. He assured that the agreement was not new for the country as it was established by the Howard government and the then Somare government in around 2006. It was stopped by the Gillard government but was later restarted and now extended by the Rudd government. The Prime Minister had also urged the country to accept the deal as PNG was a member of the United Nations and a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and it was only appropriated that PNG participate in it.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 02:44:32 +0000
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