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Asia and Oceania
Papua New Guinea |
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Last reviewed: 06 August 2009 |
Country information
Politics
National politics are characterised by a plethora of political parties, coalition governments, shifting party loyalties and motions of no-confidence in the leadership (many of which have succeeded). There is considerable instability to political proceedings in PNG. Under present conditions, elected governments are guaranteed a period of grace 18 months after election before they can be subject to confidence votes. This also applies to the last 12 months prior to a general election, which are held every five years. The Coalition Government of 2002-2007 was the first to run full term.
Elections were held in June and July 2007. A coalition government was formed by the National Alliance Party with coalition partners taken from 12 additional political parties. The leader of the National Alliance Party, Sir Michael Somare MP retained his position of Prime Minister for a second consecutive term. Sir Michael was the first Prime Minister of PNG after it obtained independence in 1975 and subsequently during the periods 1982 - 1985 and 2002 - present. The sole female MP, Dame Carol Kidu, retains her position as Minister for Community Development.
Since independence, members have been elected by the first past the post system, with winners frequently gaining less than 15% of the vote. Electoral reforms in 2001 introduced the Limited Preferential Vote system (LPV), a version of the Alternative Vote. The national elections in June and July 2007 were the first to be conducted using LPV.
Human rights
PNG has ratified the following UN human rights treaties:
- International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination;
- Convention on the Rights of the Child;
- Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.
The people, including the police, are prone to extreme violence, although the Interior Minister periodically condemns the numerous instances of Police brutality, corruption and collusion. Human Rights Watch released a damning 124-page report in September 2005, entitled Making Their Own Rules: Police Beatings, Rape And Torture Of Children In Papua New Guinea. The judiciary is largely independent but slow. Remand prisoners can remain in custody for many months and prison conditions are poor. There is a de facto moratorium on the death penalty.
Men traditionally dominate PNG Society and gender imbalance runs deep. Rape and pack-rape of females of all ages are common, as is severe beating of wives and children. It is not legislation that is lacking but the enforcement of it.
The media in PNG is refreshingly open and the Constitution provides for free speech, including freedom of the media.
