It is good to know that the Police Minister is now finally taking some interest in the issues affecting the Police Department after a long period of silence, says Opposition Leader Sam Basil.
After welcoming Police Minister Robert Atiyafa back, Basil said he (Atiyafa) must step up his level in understanding how the Opposition works.
Basil was responding to the Police Minister’s statement in warning the Opposition from prying.
“Our role basically as the Opposition is keeping the government – including the Police Minister or the Prime Minister – accountable to the people of PNG.
“The O’Neill Government – including Police Minister, Robert Atiyafa - has to remain answerable to our people at all times,” Basil said.
“A good Opposition spotlights serious issues in police delivery of services. It moves to have them resolved.
“The Police Minister worries that the Opposition is researching the payment of about K30 million to Paraka Lawyers at the beginning of 2012. This is a very large sum of money paid out more than four years ago. The Opposition is only making the Government to be accountable for these payments.”
The Government has never acted upon a Commission of Inquiry Report, completed in 2010. The Government commissioned Task Force Sweep under Sam Koim.
“When the Task Force Sweep found evidence which might link Prime Minister, the Government attempted to dismiss the Task Force. When the Police Fraud and Anti-Corruption Squad found evidence which might link the Prime Minister to payments to Paraka Lawyers, the Police Commissioner closed the Fraud Squad offices,” Basil said.
“I shall praise Prime Minister Peter O’Neill if he makes himself accountable to the Courts. He has an opportunity to protect the good name of the Office of Prime Minister.”
The Opposition congratulated the policemen/women and judges who remain independent of political pressures to avoid accountability of Paraka Lawyers and politicians and senior public servants for possibly illegal payment of K30 million made by the State to Paraka Lawyers.
“Let me also remind the good Minister for Police that at the first sitting in 2012 in Parliament he proposed a legislation stating that all inquiries, investigation and tribunals that implicate PNG’s leaders should be closed. As Minister for Police, he seems to be trying to push that policy.”
Basil said he will support and praise the Minister for Police if he:
• Allows Police to open inquiries and investigations into PNG eaders; and
• gives Prime Minister O’Neill an opportunity in court to clear himself of all very serious allegations.