CONGRATULATIONS TO HON PETER O'NEIL, MP, CMG, FOR BEING THE PRIME MINISTER CONFIRMED FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Monday, December 19, 2011

O'NEILL IS PRIME MINISTER

Namah and O'Neill sworn in as Legitimate Government

Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio has recognised Peter O'Neill as the legitimate Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.

In a surprising twist of events today, Sir Michael wrote a letter to O'Neill, which was read to Parlaiment today, saying how apologetic he was.  He said both sides must reconcile as soon as possible for the good of the country.

Following that, the O'Neill Cabinet quickly lifted its suspension of Sir Michael as Governor-General. 
O'Neill and his Cabinet are now at Government House meeting with Sir Michael.

Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc says he recognises Peter O'Neill as the legitimate prime minister of Papua New Guinea and not Sir Michael Somare.  Zurenuoc, who has met both O'Neill and Sir Michael, said while the Supreme Court has restored Sir Michael as prime minister, he did not have the numbers to rule.

"We accept the fact that the Supreme Court has restored Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister," he said.
"However, in our system of government, the majority rules.  "Despite the court restoring Sir Michael, he is not in control of the government." Zurenuoc today had an urgent meeting with all his department secretaries regarding the current political impasse in PNG.  "I told them to get on with the job of running government," he said.

Photos: Graham Robinson

OGIO SWEARS IN O'NEILL AS PM

SWORN IN; PETER O'NEILL AS PM

Ogio has been reinstated as GG by the O'Neill led Government. He is now swearing in the O'Neil-Namah Cabinet. It's all wine pouring and smiles at Government House. 

Earlier, Yumi FM reports that Michael Ogio has written a letter to Parliament apologizing for swearing in the Somare faction. Parliament has responded by lifting his suspension

In other developments the Armed Robbery Response Unit (ARRU) set up by Fred Yakasa had surrendered arms and submitted to Toeam Kulunga on Firday. This was the police unit which responded and carried our orders from Fred Yakasa. 

These policemen stood guard on all State properties in the city of Port Moresby including the Government House where there was a stand-off between politicians and the police. When ARRU surrendered to Kulunga, Fred Yakasa saw it coming that he will be arrested soon and charged with the offence of Mutiny and for issuing illegal orders. 

 Hence, he had no way to go to so went to the National Court and obtained Court Orders "restraining police from arresting him for leading a group of armed policemen to block the road to Government House.."

The case will be coming back to the National Court on Friday, 23rd December, 2011 for arguments on whether the interim orders obtained by Yakasa can be confirmed as substantive and further extended.

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