PNG rejects immunity for Australian police, officials

The government of Papua New Guinea is standing firm against 
pressure from Australia to give legal immunity to more than 300 
police and other officials to be sent to PNG as part of the so-
called Enhanced Cooperation Program.

Australia has tied the approval of an $800 million aid package to 
the granting of immunity from criminal prosecution to the 
Australian personnel. PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare has 
rejected the call, pointing to his obligation under the 
constitution not to permit such special privileges.

A report in The [PNG] National newspaper carried comments from 
unnamed PNG officials who were giving vent to the sense of 
outrage in the country:

"We have taken offence to the attitude of the Australian 
officials. Australia insists on its jurisdiction over criminal 
immunity for its personnel while Waigani (the PNG Government) 
maintains that PNG's jurisdiction should be applied because PNG 
is not in a crisis situation, or a failed or weak state."

The government of PNG is clearly worried that its Australian 
counterpart views their country as another target for the sort of 
treatment handed out to the Solomon Islands last year.

During Operation Helpim Fren (Helping Friend), 2000 Australian 
troops and police were sent to the Solomons to restore order in 
what the Howard Government had declared a "failed state". 
Australia gave its first demonstration of its new, enhanced role 
as deputy sheriff for the US in the Pacific.

At the same time, Australia assumed the right to impose its 
commercial and strategic interests in the region. Since lasts 
year's operation, Australian officials have been busy on this 
agenda, which includes advancing Australian corporate interests 
in the Solomons.

Australian officials have co-ordinated a regime of outsourcing 
and privatisation and seen to it that nearly all the goods and 
services purchased for the country come from expensive Australian 
sources.

One example of the privatisation program involves the prison 
system. GRM — a prison managing outfit owned by media baron 
Kerry Packer — now supervises the prisons on the Solomon 
Islands.

Ex-pat GRM supervisors control the prisons and get paid A$13,900 
a month for their efforts. Local prison officers get paid about 
A$30 a week to work in decrepit facilities, without uniforms or 
such basic equipment as telephones.

Nick Warner — the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands 
administrator appointed by the Australian Government — 
intervened to oppose a demand for a pay raise from local prison 
officers.

Prisoners still do not get their most basic needs met. They do 
not have access to lawyers or properly trained medical staff. In 
a country where malaria and other serious diseases are common, 
prisoners are often left in the care of staff with no more than a 
first aid certificate. Meals are poor.

People working in the system complain that, after the six figure 
salaries are paid to Australian appointed managers, there are no 
funds to make the urgently needed improvements.

Meanwhile, Australian managers live in the King Solomon Hotel in 
fully serviced rooms. The local people see all this going on 
while they continue to live in shacks with cooking and washing 
facilities outside.

It is no wonder that the government of PNG is resisting the 
friendly embrace of its southern neighbour.