Posted By Staff Reporter
By Petrus GAND In the last couple of decades PNG’s political empire is noticed to have given ultimate authority to the mandated parliamentarians. Practically, we are progressing independently as a sovereign state with our Australian-British incorporated copy-paste constitution but it is obvious that it is still in its colonial form, exerting excessive power on the rulers. Though the social contract theory prevails when our rights are surrendered to our representatives when we cast votes during elections, they incapably oversee the necessity to act on behalf. As delegates of the voiceless, at most of the time, reports usually maintain that they utilize their succumbed power as a discretional weapon to secure their voters and protect their term and influence. It is the responsibility of the authorized leaders to enhance the rights and affairs of the unrepresented mass of legal-citizens so that they can collectively achieve a common good and enjoy happiness together as a coordinated team. Instead, PNG politicians are known to safeguard their personal welfare more often. Political and bureaucratic corruption occurs in plain sight over the years and yet much has not been achieved in efficiently dealing with it. As leaders continue to practice unethical behaviours by leveraging or capitalising on the policy gaps, people beneath them practise even more, making corruption a societal norm. When it continues uncontrollably, it impels negative effects on the problem from bad to worse or in a more rigid term, it is like adding fuel to the fire. Still, certain areas of our sensitive sectors have many policy gaps that are deliberately overlooked or disregarded by MPs because if it were fetched it might as well attack them. Whether the MPs are in Government or its vice the Opposition, would not even alter an inch of their decisions when it comes to enact laws that will attack or place threats on their career. They will always prioritize their wellbeing and personal interests via policy wise in order that persistent dictatorial traits are maintained. Plato had already told us that we must not rely on the laws to make the state an ideal state because politicians will get around the laws to protect themselves, opposing the liberal thoughts. Indeed PNG's judiciary system is compromised with the legislative and executive branch creating more rooms for corruption. As a result, our political leaders presume their political careers and responsibilities to be as another regular job that will provide for their daily bread and butter. That being the motive undue influence of corruption is believed to be a new-normal for this generation where politicians use public funds to build their private empires. In order for us to lapse transparently forward we need direct citizens’ intervention in parliament to halt the culture of corruption. The politicians always play around with our constitution to suit their desires. They enact and remove bills where applicable to their gain. So far, our laws have been purposely framed to enhance and protect the politicians more than the constituents. PNG politicians are boundlessly becoming overnight millionaires and systematic dictators for years. For instance, look up on google to scrutinize the list of wealthy PNG citizens and without a doubt you would understand that it is dominated by people who have prior political records. A mind-boggling sad fact yet an eye sore for anti-corruption activists throughout the globe. Or say, in spite of us being a Christian nation, for example, election was still conducted on a Sunday of 2017’s NGE in O’Neill’s electorate of Ialibu Pangia, breaching section 130 (1) (b) of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government elections. Irrespective of its legal eligibility, the case emaciated into a nightmare reflecting our weak judiciary system. Also offenses including conspiracy to defraud, stealing by false pretense and money laundering were claimed to have related to allegations that O’Neill personally authorized the illegal payment of $30 million in government money to law firm Paul Paraka Lawyers–had been biasedly ruled out. After avoiding and resisting multiple arrest attempts by the Task Force Sweep which was created in 2011 as part of O’Neill’s anti-corruption drive, he disbanded it on the 2nd of December in 2016 because it became a threat to his own reign. To ensure his political will is abided by the official formalities and legal requirements, his government released an official statement on a Judicial Review. The statement upheld that the establishment was a result of an administrative NEC policy decision and the court has no jurisdiction to review an NEC decision when it is legally disbanded. Condemnation of the sweep team is literally a revenge move on a new set of levels, on a protocol wise, to deal with policy and stuff and it is not only risky but pricey too. That reveals the miserable reality that we lack a strong voice in the parliament that will guide the politicians’ conducts. This has brought us to expose the sheer substance of the thought that will be calibrated. The essential element needed to be enacted and established to raise more citizens’ participation is a mechanism called citizen’s initiative. It will provide avenues for the registered voters and other NGOs who may collectively propose laws that will directly or indirectly help to facilitate their welfare. Its conceptualization components apply in two several politically-legal forms that serve as an indirect or direct initiative, depending on the nature of the proposed law. Indirect initiative is a measure first referred to the legislature, and then put to a popular vote only if not enacted by the legislature. And a direct initiative is a measure that is put directly to a referendum. Via the mechanism, citizens can write new laws for state and local government, citizens can change state and local laws. Citizens voice opinions to elected officials and citizens will participate collectively and directly in state and local government affairs. For example, in visual integrations the system of initiatives in the European Citizen’s Initiate (ECI) initially became effective on April 1st of 2012. It gives the right to request the Commission to initiate a legislative proposal that puts citizens on the same footing as the European Parliament and the European Council, who enjoy this right according to Articles 225 and 241 treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), respectively. A similar commission was established and ensued in the United States (U.S) where it allows citizens of many U.S. states to place new legislation, or to place legislation that has recently been passed by a legislature. This envelopes the citizens as an absolute sheath where fundamental rights are perpetually proposed and adopted. As a result, the European nations have the strongest economies in the world while America is known to be the “Land of Milk and Honey” where the vast majority of the population are satisfied with their daily dough and dollar. All in all, an ever-existing need to investigate white-collar political and official crimes remains but it is legally and systematically avoided or strengthened. We could run a high profile investigation into uprooting every bit and pieces of concealed and underhand documents and practices, including deals held upon secrecy to bestow and restore justice. But it cannot work out if we lack a mechanism in place because politicians will routinely implant obstacles where necessary. Therefore, having a mechanism such as a citizen's initiative gives greater opportunity to the citizens to stand up for their rights. As necessary as it is, a citizen’s initiative commission will enforce direct and legal influence of the citizens in the constitutional making process. Accordingly, it will accurately prevent official and political corruption across all areas, gnashing the livelihoods of our genealogy for a greater and grander good. 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