Somare plays victim card

[Tree]

Sounds like he's readying for a towel throwing in moment.
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Somare willing to serve again
By Online Editor
12:12 pm GMT+12, 12/12/2011, Papua New Guinea

Sir Michael Somare
Sir Michael Somare is willing to serve as prime minister of Papua New Guinea again, but he says he's unsure if he'll run for his East Sepik electorate at the 2012 election.

Sir Michael's comments on Sunday came as the government of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill obtained the signature of Governor-General Sir Michael Oglio on a document dismissing the political veteran from the seat he has held for 43 years.

“I am willing - I am willing to serve as prime minister again,” the 76-year-old Sir Michael told AAP.

“Although I do not know if I will run for East Sepik again. There is a lot to consider.”

Sir Michael said he would not comment on the Supreme Court decision, due on Monday, that could return him to office if the five-man bench rules that Mr O'Neill was not constitutionally elected.

The government on Sunday obtained the signature of the governor-general rescinding leave granted to Sir Michael to miss parliament in May while he was in Singapore undergoing heart surgery.

The document also says that, as a consequence, Sir Michael is no longer a sitting MP.

“I cannot believe they have done this to me, after 43 years - 44 next year,” Sir Michael said.

At the press conference Sir Michael said little other than to urge the nation to remain calm in the lead-up to Monday's court decision.

The three heart operations that kept him absent from PNG for five months have left the usually stocky but fit-looking man thinner and frail.

However, he was extremely alert at the press conference, laughing at jokes directed at the O'Neill side and checking messages on his mobile phone.

His son, suspended MP Arthur Somare, said he would file a legal challenge against speaker Jeffery Nape for ruling his father was dismissed from parliament.

Sir Michael was PNG's first prime minister when it gained independence from Australia in 1975.

He went on to serve as foreign minister and opposition leader, before becoming prime minister again at the 2002 elections and again in 2007, making him PNG's longest-serving leader..

[admin]

Have to say this is rather big of him:

["Sir Michael said he would not comment on the Supreme Court decision"]
["At the press conference Sir Michael said little other than to urge the nation to remain calm in the lead-up to Monday’s court decision."]

I've seen worse losers. Of course, he hasn't lost yet, and we have to see how he behaves if he does.

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http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2011/12/pe...ntrol.html
Peter O’Neill: Govt is in control
By ISAAC NICHOLAS

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has assured the nation that the government is in total control and using its rights under the Constitution to address issues before the Supreme Court, The National reports.
O’Neill also urged public servants to display professionalism, referring to claims that an aircraft had been chartered to bring in chiefs, soldiers and police officers from Wewak for the Supreme Court ruling today.
He said the application filed by lawyer Philip Ame to have Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia disqualified from presiding over a Supreme Court case was the government exercising its right under the law. The case relates to the East Sepik provincial executive reference challenging the legality of the government he formed on Aug 2.
“I appeal to the people of Papua New Guinea that there is a government in place and in total control,” he said.
“The government res­pects the country and it has the authority using provisions of the Constitution under law to address issues in relation to the case before the Supreme Court.”
O’Neill said there were issues of conflict of interest that the government must address within the provisions of the constitution.
“There is nothing unusual about addressing conflict. The government is not trying to frustrate justice over the delay in the decision,” he said.
“We want the decision to be handed down quickly and we are confident after we raise all the issues before the court in relation to bias.”
Meanwhile, O’Neill appealed to the people to remain calm alleging that a chartered aircraft had brought in chiefs, police and Defence Force personnel.
O’Neill said Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga had asked the police to report back to their work stations in East Sepik.

[Palm]

"Willing" but I don't see the word "able". He is done IMHO. Arthur can file whatever he wants; the rescision of the LOA on Friday from a unanimous parliament wasn't done without hard evidence. Time for SM to go quietly, write a book or 2 and save his dignity.