It’s fascinating to read declassified documents that pertain to the era one lived through. They give a whole new meaning to the word ‘paranoia’. And, judging by the classified documents it produced in the years leading up to Independence in 1975, the Australian Administration in PNG was certifiably paranoid.
Take this Police Special Branch report on Michael Tom Somare, destined to become the father of Independence. “He is an angry young man, overtly anti-European and anti-Australian, who has had numerous brushes with the authorities and is on record as having expressed sympathy with the Communist cause".
Somare had come to ‘prominent notice’ when, in September 1964, he criticised the Public Service Act. "At the same time, he made reference to the House of Assembly as being a 'puppet of the Administration', and added that if students were unable to achieve their demands by negotiation, they must do so by force.”
In December 1965, Somare was transferred to Wewak by his employer the Department of Information and Extension Services. A department officer who knew Somare as a "friendly, personable, cooperative individual" subsequently found him to be "sullen, with a chip on his shoulder and an anti-European attitude.
“Somare has been described by competent observers as being an angry young man. As far as is known, he has not indulged in any subversive activity and his loyalties are in no doubt. He has a propensity towards speaking out on matters concerning the conditions of employment of local officers regardless of the consequences, and could seriously embarrass this Administration by so doing. By virtue of his education and proven ability to speak and organise he could become a formidable force in local affairs in the near future."
Well, at least they got that right.
I just read this post now and it made me laugh! You wouldn't have any more "historical records" that you could possibly post? Most interesting.
Kabot, Tavurvur
Posted by: Kabot, Tavurvur | 14 September 2008 at 11:05 PM