THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT hurdles facing those who decide they want to represent their people in Papua New Guinea’s national parliament.
The first is getting elected from the huge field of aspirants who believe – because of civic duty, personal pride or desire for self-aggrandisement – they have heard the clarion call of the people.
In February 1964, as a very young man recently arrived in the then TPNG, I went on a three week election patrol through rural villages south of the highlands town of Chuave [see photo].
Most of the votes cast in the 'whisper ballot' reflected tribal and clan loyalties rather than being a response to espoused programs of national or even local action.
In subsequent years, elections have developed a more commercial tone – the transaction being one of loyalty offered combined with gifts given with the medium of exchange being that precious vote.
And with fields so large, even second, third and fourth preference votes can be of great value in determining a winner – which candidates well understand and build into their campaigning and spending.
In such circumstances, people of substantial wealth are hugely advantaged.
And rich politicians also benefit when, having been duly elected, they set down in Port Moresby for the negotiating, bargaining and blackguarding that are part of the process of determining who will rule PNG for the next five years.
For, while PNG has a long tradition of political parties, party loyalty can be ephemeral and unreliable. The period between the declaration of polls and the first day of the new parliament is crucial as the political horse-trading reaches fever pitch.
Newly-elected members, once prevailed upon to cast their lot with a particular group, are even barricaded in luxurious quarters to prevent rivals from persuading them to take another tack.
Which brings me to Belden Namah - an interesting man of toughness, resolve, cunning, volatility, belligerence and wealth.
An ex-Army captain imprisoned for sedition for six years in the aftermath of the Sandline affair (he opposed the use of mercenaries), Namah subsequently deployed his intellect and guile to persuade West Sepik landowners to entrust him with logging concessions from which he has made a lot of money indeed.
When he was later elected to parliament (for the seat of Vanimo-Green) in 2007, even though a first time MP, he was made Minister for Forestry. It was like the fox promoted CEO of the chook pen. Then, after last August’s ‘coup’ against Michael Somare, Namah became deputy prime minister.
His political career has been anything but uncontroversial – just in the last few months he has challenged constitution, judiciary, parliament and his prime minister.
He was aboard the notorious Falcon business jet intercepted by Indonesian fighter aircraft late last year about the same time he was allegedly involved in propositioning a male staff member at Sydney’s casino, an act which he has denied and on which the NSW Police are still to report.
Namah is an extraordinarily complex man of formidable personality and enormous wealth.
When all of these attributes combine, and in light of what we have observed of him, they suggest the new parliamentarians in PNG (and that may be as many as half the total number) are in for a turbulent time as they gather in Port Moresby to sort out the shape of the next national government.
Namah has already started his campaign against incumbent prime minister Peter O’Neill and made it clear he’s over being kingmaker and wants the top job. “The only way for me to run this country is to become a king myself,” he remarked earlier this week.
Will those new MPs be able to withstand the onslaught of tough-mindedness boosted by the prospect of financial advantage?
The process will certainly sort out the nation-builders from the self-promoters.
Let’s hope there are enough of the former to give PNG the leadership it needs.
Good one David.
Maybe the orange Hawaiian shirted man has been carefully studying his history on the antics of King Herod?
Lets hope we don't next see him in Imperial Roman Purple astride his chair and with a laurel wreath on his head.
Tell me what country will really do business with him?
Hopefully many PNG'ians are reading this blog and many others like is.
Posted by: Colin Huggins | 05 July 2012 at 02:14 PM
I think Emmanuel has hit the nail on the head.
PNG Party may not end up with all that many seats. I have asked many PNG folk what they think of Namah and the vast majority seem to consider him an offensive power-hungry bully with deep-seated anger issues, not suited for political leadership.
However as your article suggests, it may not be surprising if BN was more successful in luring independents to support him when the results are through.
Posted by: Johnny Blades | 05 July 2012 at 12:47 PM
Keith, I love your analogy of the fox and the chook pen. Another comparison for Belden Namah would be like making King Herod CEO of the "Save the Children Foundation"!
Let's hope the people of PNG wake up to him before he causes too much trouble.
Posted by: David Wall | 05 July 2012 at 12:21 PM
Its still early, so its hard to tell but in the Highlands Region, Namah's PNG Party's votes currently only make up 8.34% of the total 281,791 votes cast.
Votes for Independents in the Highlands currently make up 48.10% of those votes, with O'Neill's PNC Party trailing second place at 20.82%.
In the Islands Region, PNG Party's votes make up 5.14% of the current votes, while the Independents make up 23.98% of votes with PNC trailing again at 19.31% of votes.
So as it stands right now with only the Highlands Region and Islands Region starting their counting. PNG Party still has a long way to go.
They may pick up numbers with better known candidates in Momase, NCD & Central.
Posted by: Emmanuel Narokobi | 05 July 2012 at 07:43 AM