MORIOKA | Bertelsmann Stiftung | Future Challenges
IN A COUNTRY LIKE Papua New Guinea, you don’t expect much from the government. If you do, you will be disappointed.
You see, there is a problem when colonisation and Western democracy clash head on with the values and practices of a customary society. The by-product of this collision is corruption.
Corruption leads to corruption. Corruption breeds corruption.
Just earlier this month an office of PNG’s Anti-Corruption Taskforce Sweep was broken into and ransacked. Computers and case files containing details of investigations were stolen.
Over the last 18 months, Taskforce Sweep has uncovered corruption among dozens of politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen. This has led to criminal arrests.
The success of Taskforce Sweep’s investigations worries those who are corrupt. On the other hand, it’s reassuring for the citizens; including the many rural people who are deprived of basic necessities – they are the reasons why there needs to be an end to corruption.
Exposing corruption is at the core of the Namorong Report, a blog written by Martyn Namorong, a young political activist from the Western Province.
He was awarded the 2012 Excellence in Anti-Corruption Reporting Media Awards for his dedication to uncovering corruption in government and in major business dealings.
I met Martyn in August 2011 in Madang. He was invited by the Bismarck Ramu Group to blog about the court case between the Ramu landowners and Ramu Nico Mine.
Martyn was smart, sharp and social media savvy – the exact attributes that corrupters would fear.
At that time his blog had just hit 10,000 views – now the view count is 20 times that – and his posts were personal, emotive, factual and provoking.
He wrote the truth; the kind of truth that a betel nut seller on the streets of Port Moresby (which Martyn was before he moved on) or a subsistence farmer in the highlands ought to know but didn’t.
The kind of truth that got swept away under the carpet (probably imported carpets funded by overseas aid) of government offices. The kind of truth that got washed away in rivers and waterways along with the mine tailings. Gone. Kaput. Truth never seen or never heard.
But the Namorong Report and other forms of online citizen journalism bring the real truth to the surface. Such form of journalism puts citizens – not the corrupters- in control.
Citizen journalism allows people to ask questions, express their opinions, make demands and silence the lies, the cheating, the backroom dealings and other corrupt activities that have contributed to the suffering of so many rural and poor people in PNG.
In my opinion, citizen’s control of the media is a powerful way to curtail corruption and to hold governments, bureaucrats and companies accountable. The future of the social contract between states and citizens will be turned upside down – if this is the way we are heading, corrupters – your time is up.
Graphic: Cartoon depicting PNG’s former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare being controlled like a puppet by Ramu Nico Mine officials
Corruption is everywhere and every day it is practised in all levels of the economy.
More people are sidetracked by all the money and filth of these politicians. The leaders of the parliament forget their sole purpose of being there is about the very people who put them in the house of parliament.
Exposeing corruption and the leaders who practise it will surely help.These corrupt leaders do not belong in parliament.
Services and proper infrastructure are always late. There is misappropration of funds.
If we don`t do something about this then we are all going to be losers and no change will take place.
Posted by: Beatrice Yokondo | 09 March 2013 at 04:12 PM
Corruption is in the headlines of the media today.
Everywhere in PNG people talk about corruption. And it's true that corruption has been lacking PNG's ability to change.
In the past we heard that PNG is a developing nation, and yet, today, we are still using that term - "developing nation".
When will we say that we are developed or industrialized?
This is one of the questions that people ask. And the problem or issue is, who will answer it for us? Or who will develop the nation?
This is one of the everyday thoughts that I as a person have especially when people raise the topic of corruption.
As individuals and citizens of this nation it is our responsibility to help build the nation in every possible way.
We say that PNG is a democratic country and have rights. But we have to know that we also have obligations to balance those rights.
Before we talk about our rights, we have to accept the responsibility to make a change. If we all work together for nation building, we will make a change.
Posted by: Jerilee Diaram | 06 March 2013 at 08:44 PM
Everywhere people talk about corruption. Sometimes people say that PNG is realy a corrupted country.
It is true, because some corruption activities happen before our naked eyes, such as bribery during election time, misappropriation of funds etc.
Leaders that are voted into the parliament were not supposed to take part in corruption activities. They are there to serve and support the people with their basic needs and not to deprive the rights of poor citizens.
Those corrupt people, from the top level down, need to be buried alive and gone for good so as topromote the hard working citizens who fight for PNG.
Posted by: Joanna Mogerema | 01 March 2013 at 08:56 PM
Corruption is the worst issue that is going on in the parliament icluding all the levels of the economy.
Even though our nation is a democratic nation, we dont really exercise all our freedom of rights.
Unfortunately the leaders that we choose to serve us instead tend to forget their roles and obligations and used the public benefits for their own good and well being.
Therefor, the news that we had about corruption are only the tip of the iceberg which is never made known to the public.
Because even those who are supposed to be investigating this are being bribed and there is no accountibility and transperancy within our government. So instead of saying democracy, maybe we can say demo-go crzy.
Posted by: Talsha Bannick | 01 March 2013 at 11:43 AM