Founding father of the nation and East Sepik Governor Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare is calling on Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to respect the rule of law and stand down.
“I thus call on Peter O’Neill to respect the Office of the Prime Minister and surrender to police and appropriate authorities so they can carry out their duties without obstruction and interference.
“Calling members of the Royal PNG Constabulary vigilantes is intolerable when officers of the law are merely carrying out their Constitutional duties.
“No person including myself is above the law,” he said.
“Sir Julius submitted to our laws following the Sandline crisis, Paias Wingti submitted to our law after the courts declared his actions in Parliament to be unconstitutional; I submitted to a leadership tribunal and accepted the penalties of its ruling.
“I now appeal to Peter O’Neill to do the same and submit to our laws to uphold the INTEGRITY of the Office of the Prime Minister.”
Sir Michael said unfortunately it saddens him to state that in the same manner that O’Neill steadfastly held on to office after the Supreme Court declared twice in 2011 and 2012 that his government was illegal, he continues to exhibit the same characteristics through the ongoing rhetoric and manipulation.
“In order to clear charges against him relating to the Paul Paraka case, O’Neill must submit himself to the orders of our courts so that others who also have pending arrest warrants can do the same.
“In the interest of the people of Papua New Guinea O’Neill must stop eroding the institutions of government for the sole purpose of defending himself.”
“I therefore urge O’Neill to respect the people of Papua New Guinea who are all watching their institutions of state being played for the convenience of a few.
“If you are innocent, surrendering to agents of the law is the only way that any charges against you can be cleared,” Sir Michael said.