Home › Forums › InterOil Forum › Legal tactics delay O'Neill/Somare PM hearing
Tagged: O'Neill; Somare
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| February 20, 2012 at 10:20 am #7777 | |
 maui4marko | >> Looks like they’ve adopted the tried & true legal tactics of US lawyers: “Supreme court Judge Bernard Sakora acknowledged that time, cost and delay were well recognised legal tactics.” Hearing to decide PNG leader is delayed Posted February 20, 2012 20:51:15 Papua New Guinea will have to wait another week to find out who is the country’s legitimate prime minister after the supreme court adjourned a hearing into the case. Peter O’Neill and Sir Michael Somare are both claiming to be the rightful prime minister, and Monday’s directions hearing was supposed to set a timeline for the court to decide which claim is legitimate. But the hearing was adjourned after 19 applications were filed by parties from both sides wanting to join the proceedings. The courtroom was so packed with lawyers they had to move more tables into place so they would all fit. The two policemen claiming to be PNG’s police commissioner are among those who have applied to join the proceedings. Sir Michael’s lawyer asked for more time so he could prepare to agree or object to those applying. Supreme court Judge Bernard Sakora acknowledged that time, cost and delay were well recognised legal tactics. The court has given all parties until Thursday to serve copies of their applications. Former prime minister Sir Michael was replaced by Mr O’Neill in August after his East Sepik seat was declared vacant while he received medical treatment in Singapore. The supreme court subsequently declared him the rightful leader, plunging the country into turmoil before Mr O’Neill eventually resumed the role after governor-general Michael Ogio backtracked on Sir Michael’s appointment. Mr O’Neill has remained the effective prime minister with the support of the public service, police, defence force and most MPs despite attempts by Sir Michael, including a botched coup, to return to power. |
| February 20, 2012 at 6:28 pm #7778 | |
 Palmtok | And besides this whole thing they have an election to get ready for and many other matters to deal with. I wouldn’t expect that this will be any kind of one-and-done hearing either. These justices will have a lot to deal with sorting through all of the crap. Originally back in December the thought was that if this thing were to drag into Feb the SC would most likely declare Oneill as PM so they can deal with getting ready for the elections. Certainly have watched enough of our TV shows on how a legal system can be manipulated. We need Perry Mason, or Ironside to get over there and get things straightened out. They have enough Judge Judy and Peoples’ Court stuff going on. Bring in the old guard who knew how to get things done! One hour was all Raymond Burr ever needed. |
| February 21, 2012 at 7:31 am #7784 | |
 will2bgreat | To me all of fighting is about a very simple matter. Sir Michael may have had the best of intentions when he started however he grew more and more corrupt the longer he stayed in office. Since he had to depart due to illness, Peter came in and started cracking down on corruption. Michael returns and realizes that he needs to install a more Somare friendly leader in PNG or he and Author will lose everything. And hence the fighting has started. Author does not want this corruption team looking at him, he knows he is in trouble. I look for either a deal to get cut or a quick exit by the Somare’s if they cannot control the investigation into corruption. All of this is good for IOC Good luck longs. |
| February 21, 2012 at 9:08 am #7786 | |
| maui4marko | >> It’s time for him to cut his losses and quietly fade away into the ozzie sunset… that is, if they will let him now that he’s pissin’ on them too Michael Somare’s team slams the Gillard government for interfering with PNG politics by: Rowan Callick THE Michael Somare team, which has failed to regain power in Papua New Guinea, yesterday launched a vitriolic attack on the Gillard government for backing the rival cabinet led by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. Sir Michael’s defence spokesman, Andrew Kumbakor, released an open letter saying Canberra “cannot interfere in domestic PNG politics by picking and choosing what leadership it prefers”. He said Australia had been involved with PNG for too long not to realise there were discrepancies in the behaviour of Speaker Jeffery Nape and parliament in choosing a new prime minister on August 2 without establishing that Sir Michael, undergoing medical treatment in Singapore, had vacated the office. “Prime Minister Gillard eagerly congratulated and embraced the illegal regime of Mr O’Neill,” whom she “received with open arms during his state visit to Australia late last year”, Mr Kumbakor said. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has also come under fire for failing to engage sufficiently with PNG as the constitutional crisis played out. “It is for Papua New Guineans to resolve their political differences,” Mr Kumbakor told parliament this month. He said that since PNG’s Supreme Court had by a 3-2 ruling ordered the return of Sir Michael to the prime ministership in December, “Australia has maintained its engagement with the illegal regime”. “The regime’s contemptuous conduct has not drawn any condemnation from Ms Gillard or the Australian government.” Such an approach when “a regime is using the police force to intimidate the public is incomprehensible”, he said. Australia had taken a different stance when such events occurred elsewhere in the Pacific. “I urge Australia to be a real partner and trustworthy neighbour to PNG. We do not want a return to the past where we have experienced interference in PNG’s affairs,” including in the downsizing of the PNG defence force while Mekere Morauta was prime minister. Sir Michael, 75, is having second thoughts about retiring. As his struggle to wrest the prime ministership back from Mr O’Neill falters, he appears reluctant to leave on a losing note. But he has lost support in parliament, which voted 70-24 to appoint Mr O’Neill prime minister in August and his National Alliance party has since split. |
| February 21, 2012 at 10:02 am #7794 | |
| Palmtok | Sir Michael and his team are now lashing out at Australian PM Gillard and Mr Rudd for backing the O’Neill administration so early on. When will they lash out at Obama, NZ and SK and burn every bridge? Ice is getting very thin for Sir Michael. He said Australia had been involved with PNG for too long not to realise there were discrepancies in the behaviour of Speaker Jeffery Nape and parliament in choosing a new prime minister on August 2 without establishing that Sir Michael, undergoing medical treatment in Singapore, had vacated the office. “Prime Minister Gillard eagerly congratulated and embraced the illegal regime of Mr O’Neill,” whom she “received with open arms during his state visit to Australia late last year”, Mr Kumbakor said. …Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has also come under fire for failing to engage sufficiently with PNG as the constitutional crisis played out. “It is for Papua New Guineans to resolve their political differences,” Mr Kumbakor told parliament this month. He said that since PNG’s Supreme Court had by a 3-2 ruling ordered the return of Sir Michael to the prime ministership in December, “Australia has maintained its engagement with the illegal regime”. “The regime’s contemptuous conduct has not drawn any condemnation from Ms Gillard or the Australian government.” Such an approach when “a regime is using the police force to intimidate the public is incomprehensible”, he said. Australia had taken a different stance when such events occurred elsewhere in the Pacific. “I urge Australia to be a real partner and trustworthy neighbour to PNG. We do not want a return to the past where we have experienced interference in PNG’s affairs,” including in the downsizing of the PNG defence force while Mekere Morauta was prime minister. Sir Michael, 75, is having second thoughts about retiring. As his struggle to wrest the prime ministership back from Mr O’Neill falters, he appears reluctant to leave on a losing note. But he has lost support in parliament, which voted 70-24 to appoint Mr O’Neill prime minister in August _ and his National Alliance party has since split.” |
| February 21, 2012 at 10:14 am #7797 | |
 Tree | Not looking good if U B a Somare. Reform of SOE’s. Corruption task forces sniffing around Sir Mike’s home province. Looking like the Somare’s are not above the law any longer. I wonder if Sir M can feel it when Arthur’s nuttz get squeezed? ********** PNG leadership tribunal case against Arthur Somare upheld |
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