20 Apr 2012

Former PNG CJ alarmed at sustained attacks on judiciary

7:29 am on 20 April 2012

A former Papua New Guinea chief justice Sir Arnold Amet is alarmed at the parliamentary manouevres to sideline the Supreme Court by declaring someof its rulings null and void.

Sir Arnold, who is the attorney-general of the rival Somare-led administration, says the moves by the O'Neill government are an abusive attempt to undermine to undermine the chief justice.

"It is very, very troubling and disconcerting that traditional conventions of the demarcations between the three principal arms of government and their appropriate respect and deference that each of them pay to the other is now beginning to be undermined. The judiciary is the last bastion of the upholding of the rule of law and people's rights."