The PNG way – paradox, rhetoric. almost a myth

JEFFREY MANE FEBI

THIS HAS BEEN OUR CUSTOM - the Papua New Guinea Way - the way we have been doing our business ever since our tumbunas understood the advantages of living together in groups - communities that developed ways of doing things that increases their chances of survival.

On many an occasion, I read and or hear rhetoric from delusional leaders, who occasionally emerge from a place where glimpses of almost-insanity tests my belief in our customs.

Other times I hear one who actually sound like insanity itself rumbling from its deep and dark enclosure. There are also times when I think I am insane not to have understood their logic, or lack of it.

How often does one hear or read of a PNG leader who does not call with a hint of ignorance to the masses to return to ‘our ways’ to sort things out - whether it is tribal fights, political fights, CEO’s fights, or any other fight that involve leaders and their equally ignorant die-hard supporters?

Somehow, weird though, when I hear a call to return to ‘our ways’ to settle disputes, a sense of assurance and of confidence in the workings of our ways automatically envelopes and calms me.

An inner call that tells me things will be all right when and if we return to our ways to find solutions. And I usually take for granted that our ways will certainly do us good.

Recently however, a call by a ward councillor from Enga Province for a certain sitting MP and his runner-up from the 2012 elections to return home to stop the fighting and killings that started after the elections the ‘Enga Way’, got me thinking.

These same two leaders’ supporters fought after the 2007 elections.

And they stopped it their way. But this didn’t stop them from fighting again this election, did it?

Having pondered a long while over this – the return to our ways to settle disputes – I began to realize that our ways never solve our problems once and for all.

The call to return to our ways to settle a tribal fight after many death and destruction of property usually ends up freeing, in addition to rapists and torturers, killers or sharp shooters who are likely to find employment as hired guns in other tribal fights.

And history records that, even after a settlement, apparent pay back killings occur away from home. So essentially, some tribal fights are not stopped; rather they evolve and take another form and may start again anytime.

So what constitutes the Enga Way of solving a tribal fight? And by extension, what constitutes our way of stopping tribal fights in other areas of PNG, where recurring tribal fights are prevalent?

How about this - a person suddenly dies from a mysterious illness. And doctors fail to diagnose a probable cause; and or relations of the deceased decide to ignore the results of an autopsy and return to their villages to find the cause of death ‘their traditional way’?

Next we read about an old woman clobbered to near death and dumped in a pit latrine, or burnt alive or of something grotesque. And ‘our way’ helped discover the cause of death.

Honestly, can anyone recall the number of calls by relevant government authorities and churches leaders for sorcery related killings to be stopped?

Further, after corporatization of PNG government’s business arms aimed at blocking political interferences and increasing efficiency and hence productivity; PNG continues to be burdened by corporate liabilities.

And there seem to be no end to government rescue announcements.

Who do you find working in those large corporations? Papua New Guineans! And more often than not, bulk of the workforce are wantoks of respective CEO’s - some of whom aren’t qualified to serve in positions they occupy. And they usually have things their way – the PNG Way.

The PNG Way – our way – is in the most part a curse unto itself. It may have served us well in the past but seem incompatible with contemporary PNG. There is an urgent need for change - a change that should happen immediately.

Not to do away with ‘our way’ but to modify it to work effectively with current trends. Perhaps, change in mentality - discarding of redundant aspects of ‘our way’ and fusing its good aspects with globally accepted ways of doing business to come up with something PNG flavoured.

Our way is seriously crippling the country’s lifeline – the heart, arteries and veins, and its blood are poisoned. How long does this country plan to use ‘our way’ to manage its affairs?

Recurring tribal fights are testament of the inability and of course uselessness of ‘our way’ to settle problems once and for all. So for instance, just what do our leaders mean by calling to their fellow tribesmen to ‘stop a tribal fight our way’?

Do such calls carry an inherent stop_fighting_for_now_until_next_election’ clause? Isn’t our way the way of not settling issues once and for all?

On a brighter note, we’re not lesser human beings – we’re equally endowed with mental powers
that enabled citizens of other countries to rise from the dusts of their mistakes to take their country to greater heights.

Many a brother or a sister from another country looks to us with sad envy. So many resource projects, yet we appear wretchedly poor.

If and only if we see where our way has taken us and break free from its stranglehold.

And no one will save us; it is us who will save ourselves, so let us make the changes our way – the PNG way.

Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2013.

Comments

[Bernard Yegiora]

We need more awareness and literacy programs in the rural areas to educate them in pidgin about the reasons for voting and the whole electoral process.

The fact that the bulk of the population are uneducated, it is easy for 'modern big men' to manipulate their uneducated minds.

Some days ago, I was in the village and one young man who just graduated from grade 12 advised me to talk more to the villages and share my knowledge, not with the intention to help them but to position my self as a big man.

However, I disliked the idea because I do not want to be a talker.

[Jeff Febi]

Michael, the actions of 'modern day big men' who more often than not, as you've said, 'use their wealth' to gain leeway, by being 'Charitable' directly promotes and enhances the Cargo Cult Mentality.

You see crowds, especially 'young warriors', aimless and lost in transition most of the time, being used to great effect.

Beacuse of the apparent loss of respect for the elders, these 'rasckals' ensure their 'givers' visions are accomplished. Even if it means using unconventional methods. Because there is a prize - win favour 'modern big men'.

Usually you'd hear one (young warrior) complain if not being compensated fairly well.

And I have begun to wonder whether the masses participate in the electoral process because they want change in status quo or because they just do it for their 'modern big men'.

I think the number of people who genuinely participate for the sake of change and progress is sadly relatively less.

[Michael Dom]

Jeffrey, I am liking your statement that "many a brother or a sister from another country looks to us with sad envy. So many resource projects, yet we appear wretchedly poor."

I have seen this look of 'sad envy' too many times already and I'm not even half way through my life!

There is a consensus on the relative truth of this statement among PNGians, even though we observe so many brand new Toyota Land Cruisers on the roads these days.

Certainly there is a more perceptible gap between the rich and the poor, which will eventually create far greater strains on our so called 'PNG ways'.

Our Melanesian society has always been egalitarian but now men of modern wealth are able buy their way into power and influence during special feasts or other customary occasions, often times without having made contributions or taken active part in the day-to-day struggles of their people.

Some may do so through third parties representing them in the village and this seems to have been blindly accepted as being okay by most people.

But this is not the same 'way' as before.

In traditional times the rise of a leader was observed by all within the community. All his/her actions or in-actions, triumphs and failures were witnessed by his people first hand.

Not through some proxy with vested interests. There was a degree of transparency, albeit one that was guaranteed by physical boundaries of the tribal zone.

It was precluded that for a future leaders star to rise he/she must align himself/herself with the elders of the clan and tribe who's character and leadership had been tested by time and who had brought the community to where it was at present. There must be respect based on non-monetary indications - values, speech and actions.

Not so today, where the elders are almost totally ignored, especially by the younger male 'warriors' in favour of richer big men who are able to supply them with the pay that they desire; money, alcohol, women, vehicles, guns, a chance to travel and have access to other opportunities including education and employment.

By insidiously subverting 'our ways' the modern day big men maintain their strangle hold on the wealth of this nation.

Their methods keep the rest of the population poor while seeming to dole out wealth to those who support them or more commonly by providing some 'Christian or charitable' donation/service to other groups who then become their lackey's, since 'bekim dinau' is also part of the PNG Way.

There's a lot more to say on this topic. Thanks again Jeffrey.

[Daniel Doyle]

What a wonderfully reflective article. I leave it to Papua New Guineans to pick up the threads of Jeffrey's thoughts to weave a better future for the people of PNG.