Transcript
JULIUS CHAN: I think they would like to see that their rights are protected and the system of the majority may not be the system that suits all the smaller provinces like mine, and to allow Port Moresby/Waigani to just make unilateral decisions affecting everybody regardless of size and the difference. I think that would be quite dangerous and I think that would be opening up a possible division for the future. Our more educated people, I would think, would want to have a greater say in the way they govern themselves.
JOHNNY BLADES: Do you worry about the way the parliament has gone over the years to the way it is now, so much power in the executive?
JC: The government really, under the current leadership, was not bad, I think. but they started to have such a big majority and naturally they don't listen anymore. And you look at some of the countries like in Africa, they use the system to legitimise themselves and now most of them have become dictators. Although we still operate like a parliamentary system, the majority is so huge that opposition don't have any more chances to talk, and they (government) can cut off any debate they like, and all the private members bills are being put off. Yes, I think we could begin to lose the lustre of good governance.
JB: Is there a chance that there could be a discussion about maybe changing the system, as you say maybe more decentralisation or looking at an alternative to the Westminster system, is the government looking at that?
JC: The government is so busy building all these international venues and all these things, I don't they have enough time to look at the law. The law... is invisible. Whereas having bigger stadiums and conference centres, that development of an international image that hypnotises people into thinking that is Papua New Guinea. But where the masses, the 99% of our population live, actually the environment has not changed very much. Yes I would say if we don't do something to decentralise the power, to make the provinces more responsible for themselves, I think.. if Bougainville is any indication - of course in that case they were fighting for their rights and the national government controlled their rights, but beyond that they were looking for a way to be able to control their own rights the way they think best for Bougainvilleans - and if that is a guide, we should take heed of that.
JB: Do you think that if Bougainville opts for independence at the referendum (expected before end of 2019) do you think Waigani will approve? PNG's national government has the final say, doesn't it?
JC: Well, yes and no, because the national government made it possible for them to have a referendum, and either we trust the national government or we don't. If you make a deal, you keep a deal. And the deal is, by a certain date, they should have aa referendum and decide their future. And I would say, I would condemn the national government if the national government failed to live up to its promises. But then again, they don't live up to many other promises. So I would say there would be trouble.
JB: The country is well known for big mines, and some of them have had big consequences for people Obviously the big mines don't help that many local people. We've just seen it so many times. Do you think it's a pattern that's not necessarily good for the majority?
JC: Yes... It's not bad in the short term. They do create jobs for the people etc. and provide an income to the government. We have to be frank. To be frank, they do not help the people where the resources come from. There is no principle of derivation that gives back to where the resources come from. And that is a total violation of the goals and principles of our constitution. So you're quite right, the big mines don't help us very much. In fact, they talk nice at the start of everything, but once they get in and start making money, they're almost a government unto themselves. I'm facing a lot of problems now (in New Ireland) in the case of Lihir. They have been here for twenty years and there's no ring road around Lihir, no extension of power supplies or water supplies.
