PNG's new premier pledges to bring peace
PNG's new premier pledges to bring peace
PORT MORESBY (Reuter): Papua New Guinea's newly elected Prime
Minister Bill Skate vowed yesterday to find a lasting, peaceful
solution to the secessionist rebellion on Bougainville island and
to wipe out political corruption.
"Bougainville remains the number one unresolved problem of
PNG," Skate said in a speech read to parliament by Governor
General Sir Wiwa Korowi. The governor general traditionally reads
the prime minister's policy speech in opening parliament.
"It has affected the country so badly on all facets of the PNG
society. My government therefore is committed to finding a
peaceful and lasting solution," Skate said.
He earlier announced the appointment of a special minister for
Bougainville, Sam Akoipai, the leader of the progovernment
resistance on the island.
Skate also announced that a bipartisan parliamentary committee
would advise his government on how to end the nine-year
Bougainville rebellion, in which thousands have died.
Skate campaigned heavily in the June election against the
former prime minister Sir Julius Chan's hawkish approach in
hiring 70 African mercenaries to end the Bougainville conflict.
In March, an army revolt saw the mercenaries thrown out of the
country and two days of looting and mass protests in the capital
Port Moresby -- the worst crisis for the South Pacific nation
since independence in 1975.
Army officers held the country's defense force commander under
house arrest all day Monday until Skate agreed to suspend
rebellion-related charges against troops.
The initial army rebellion forced Chan to step aside pending
an inquiry into the US$36 million mercenary deal with British
military consultant Sandline International.
Chan was cleared of any wrongdoing and returned to office just
weeks before the June election. But a voter backlash against the
failed mercenaries plan and political corruption saw more than 50
politicians, including Chan, lose their seats.
Skate told parliament yesterday he would wipe out political
corruption by diluting government intervention in the economy,
but gave no details of how he would achieve this.
Skate was elected prime minister last week after a surprise,
last-minute decision to join the former ruling coalition to form
a new government.
His decision was in stark contrast to his strident election
campaign against the former government, which he accused of
corruption.
Skate appointed yesterday a new 28-strong ministry, of which
10 ministers are from the previous government.
Chris Haiveta, who was criticized by the judicial inquiry into
the mercenaries deal, retained his deputy prime ministership but
lost the important finance portfolio.