December 4 2002
Politicians in Papua New Guinea are facing calls to disarm after the
country's Tourism Minister threatened an academic at gunpoint at a rugby match.
The minister, Alois King, has admitted pulling a gun on the University of
Papua New Guinea's dean of social sciences, Professor Kennett Sumbuk, at
Port Moresby's rugby club at the weekend. Police are investigating that
incident and reports that the minister fired bullets in public.
Papua New Guinea's politicians are allowed to carry a firearm to defend
themselves from criminals, rival tribesmen and disgruntled voters.
In recent years at least four other senior politicians have drawn or
discharged guns. Incidents include a former minister, Philemon Embel,
pulling a gun at the Holiday Inn, and a governor who drew his pistol at the
five-star Crowne Plaza.
And a former Southern Highlands governor, Anderson Agiru, was ousted by a
leadership tribunal after he drew a pistol at the Port Moresby Golf Club.
A columnist, Frank Senge Kolma, argued in The National newspaper that there
was a strong case to disarm the politicians. "Our leaders claim their lives
are under threat, and we do not disbelieve that," Mr Kolma writes. "We beg
them in return to understand that the need of the people for safety is
equally urgent.
"We cower in fear for our own safety against the marauding terrorists
(criminals) on our streets. Yet we must never cower in fear of our leaders."
Letters to the editor expressed disgust with the Tourism Minister's
actions. "The minister needs to be sacked right away," said a writer to the
Post-Courier. "The minister's publicity is not good for the world to come
to PNG."
Fear of crime wrecks tourism potential. Bank customers are screened with
metal detectors and pass through bullet-proof airlocks. Airport security is
woeful. Passengers often walk around security points, especially when
travelling with a politician.
http://smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/03/1038712939150.html
Bullets whizzing in the general direction of uppity politicians are the
most eloquent of citizen protests.The police that shot and killed five
students last year are still out there.
