Calls mounting for PNG'S PM to stand aside

Transcript

Calls are mounting for Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister to stand aside amid the furore over his alleged role in illegal payments to a law firm.

However Peter O'Neill continues to sideline opponents after an arrest warrant was served on him a week ago in relation to an extensive probe by the country's anti-corruption agency, Taskforce Sweep.

Mr O'Neill disbanded Taskforce Sweep last week and now wants police to interview the agency's head Sam Koim.

Johnny Blades spoke to Don Wiseman.

JOHNNY BLADES: Peter O'Neill has accused Sam Koim of plotting with the deputy opposition leader Sam Basil to bring down the government. He says Koim and Basil were meeting regularly in private. This claim follows on from the National executive Council disbanding the agency, claiming it had become heavily politically compromised. It sort of echoes the Prime Minister's move, also last week, to announce a new Commission of Inquiry into the whole matter of the alleged illegal payments to the Paraka lawyers firm, which had been going on for years. People in PNG seem sceptical of the need for another commission of inquiry into this fraud case. There was a comprehensive commission of inquiry last year, following on from an earlier inquiry into these dealings within the Finance Department. So now, the central figure in the anti-corruption unit which Mr O'Neill's government commissioned is being put under the gun for investigation. It seems to be another instance of the Prime Minister turning the tables on those going after him regarding this allegation.

DON WISEMAN: But the heat is still very much on the Prime Minister isn't it?

JB: Yes. The stay on his arrest warrant will expire on Wednesday as we understand it, but police are still trying to get Mr O'Neill in for questioning. However, it seems like those who are urging him to come in are also getting sidelined. The acting police assistant commissioner for crimes, Thomas Eluh, has been served with a suspension notice by the government. This came shortly after he publicly urged the Prime Minister to make himself available for an interview.

DW: In the last couple of days, a number of high profile leaders have called for Peter O'Neill to step down. What's his response?

JB: He's been pretty firm in fending these calls aside. Two cabinet members who Mr O'Neill sacked in recent times, the former Treasurer Don Polye and the former Attorney-General Kerenga Kua, have both called for him to resign. Mr O'Neill says they have no mandate to make the call, describing their statements as emotional outbursts. It should be noted that Don Polye is also embroiled in the Paraka payments scandal as the former Treasurer and has voluntarily submitted to be interviewed by police in the fraud and corruption unit in relation to the case. So he continues to urge the Prime Minister to show leadership and allow the legal process to take its course. Elsewhere, the former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had called for Mr O'Neill to step aside to allow his name to be cleared. In response, the Prime Minister says that the mess around the Paraka Law firm payments was created during Sir Michael's time as Prime Minister and that he was only cleaning it up.

DW: It's hard to know where this is going to go next?

JB: Very difficult to tell. The only thing you could reasonably expect is more efforts by the government to shut down opposition to Mr O'Neill. Sections of the police are still intent on pursuing with this investigation, but there will be pressure brought to bear on them. I expect the police will be directed to not allow any public protests against Mr O'Neill to be allowed to proceed. And it looks like protests are being planned.