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PNG's political crisis back in court
Australian Associated Press - February 8, 2012
The deputy Chief Justice, Gibbs Salika, yesterday adjourned hearings of the PNG Supreme Court to decide in which order to handle six cases stemming from the bench's December order that Sir Michael Somare is the rightful prime minister.
The court had ordered the main players into court yesterday – including Sir Michael, the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, the defence force chief, Brigadier-General Francis Agwi, and the man who tried to depose him in a military mutiny two weeks ago, Colonel Yaura Sasa. The failed mutiny was at the behest of Sir Michael.
Hearings were briefly adjourned early in the day because of a heavy police presence and barricades outside the court. Justice Salika ordered the Police Commissioner, Tom Kulunga, to remove them.
"We want a free environment," Justice Salika said. "We don't want the judiciary to be under any threats... meaning the Chief Justice be allowed access to this court as well."
The Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia, who presided over last year's five-man bench that ordered Sir Michael back to power, was not present.
Sir Michael's son, Arthur Somare, told journalists that police had prevented Sir Salamo from entering.
Sir Salamo was suspended by Mr O'Neill and his cabinet on Friday, pending an investigation by a tribunal of judges into his alleged mismanagement of court funds. But the attempted suspension is being viewed cynically in PNG.
The O'Neill government tried to have the Chief Justice removed three times during the constitutional hearings last year, following allegations of conflict of interest. Mr O'Neill shook hands with Sir Michael when he walked into the courtroom yesterday.
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