PNG tries to put the boot in<\/p>\n
It began in March with a diplomatic scuffle over a pair of
\nshoes; those removed from the feet of Papua New Guinea's Prime
\nMinister, Michael Somare, on the orders of security officers at
\nBrisbane Airport. Sir Michael was outraged that Australia could
\ntreat a Pacific island leader, in transit to New Zealand, with
\nsuch \"apparent contempt and disdain\".<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Australia's $800 million rescue package for PNG was
\nsuspended, pending an official apology.<\/p>\n
None has been forthcoming. Canberra has, instead, assured Port
\nMoresby that security checks are a universal requirement from
\nwhich no VIP is exempt. The problem is that some groups in PNG
\nare enthusiastically sharing Sir Michael's injured pride. A
\nmeeting of PNG police officers this week demanded the immediate
\ndeparture of some 150 Australian police officers deployed to
\nassist law enforcement under the rescue package, Australia's
\nlargest aid program.<\/p>\n
The PNG police complained the Australians are \"just driving
\naround all day\", telling them what to do. A constitutional
\nchallenge is also under way which seeks to force out the
\nAustralian police by quashing their immunity to prosecution under
\nPNG law. These tensions are not unexpected, but they highlight
\nthe unpredictable emotional terrain of Australia's new Pacific
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
Australia's recent foreign policy shift ties Pacific aid to
\noutcomes. In PNG, this goes as far as putting Australian
\nofficials into key positions in the PNG police and economic
\nministries to ensure Australian money is properly managed. The
\nreturn of Australian officials to PNG is highly sensitive;
\nAustralia was the colonial administrator until 1975.<\/p>\n
But there is another side to the story: Australia has invested
\nmore than $50 billion in aid since 1975 yet, according to new
\nWorld Bank figures, Papua New Guinea is the only nation in the
\nAsia-Pacific region which is getting poorer.<\/p>\n
Sir Michael is a proud nationalist. He has recently sought to
\nreduce PNG's dependence on Australian aid by courting China,
\nMalaysia and Indonesia.
\n The \"good governance\" conditions attached to Australian aid are
\nrightly non-negotiable. Diplomatic protocol at Brisbane Airport
\nappears to have been lacking. But that should be a minor
\nirritant, not a bilateral crisis. There is far too much at stake.
\nIf the stand-off is allowed to drag on, the only losers will be
\nthe long-suffering, ordinary people of PNG.
\n-- The Sydney Morning Herald<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/png-tries-to-put-the-boot-in-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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