Advocacy Campaigns

PNG as a young and developing democracy has been plagued with issues of corruption and poor governance throughout its short 45 year history as a country. Although rich and abundant in natural resources, mismanagement and misappropriation of such resources along with public funds as generated by the State have crippled and impeded all facets of development within the country that are intended for citizens.

Lack of accountability and transparency as well as the absence of vibrant and effective discharge of functions and duties within the public service machinery as made up of state agencies who are tasked with implementing service delivery has further compounded this situation.

The result of such a scenario is that citizens are left out in both participating in the development process of PNG as well as equally benefitting from service delivery from the State while government conduct is allowed to go largely unchecked and regulated.
The 26 cases as contained in this report have been grouped under 6 different Clusters based on their distinct and thematic relationship with these clusters:

Risky state investments

Successive PNG governments have in the last decade invested public funding into venture that lack clear guidelines on their ownership, had no guaranteed return on investment. Unfortunately, the lack of accountability in State-funded business ventures has often led to the premature closure of the projects and the loss of millions of kina in public funds.

State Sanctioned land grabs

The lives of Papua New Guineans residing in rural communities revolves around land. It provides them their identities and guarantees the future of their children. Its significance to PNG compelled the drafters of the PNG Constitution to ensure land rights of the indigenous population is a critical feature of the law. But both Somare and O’Neill governments have in the last decade formulated controversial policies that created land leases that impinged on the rights of traditional land owners and legitimized land grabbing.

State Agencies Lacking Accountability

The lack of accountability and transparency by State agencies in the implementation of government policies can have dire consequences on development indicators and the well-being of society. Bureaucrats should ensure that their actions and decisions in the various capacities they serve in the government benefit of the public and the wider community. The lack of accountability and transparency can undermine good governance and result in poor development indicators.

State Abuse of Assets and Funds

Public confidence in the ability of government ministers and civil servants to protect State assets and financial resources and to use them for their intended purposes are at an all-time low. Institutions charged with the oversight of State assets and financial resources are overwhelmed by the increasing number of cases that they have to deal with on an annual basis, their tasks further challenged by the lack of capacity and resources.

State Laxness to critical bills

These bills are considered essential to the progress and future prosperity of Papua New Guinea. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and Whistle-Blower laws lay at the center of PNG’s fight against corruption, while the Sovereign Wealth Fund will ensure the nations’ riches are protected for the future generations. Failure to give these bills priority and move them in the National Parliament could have long-term ramifications for PNG citizens.

state travesty of justice

They are three cases of many in Papua New Guinea that show blatant disregard for the rule of law. A commission of inquiry chaired by three competent judges that recommend the immediate prosecution of 35 people; an international fugitive on the run from Indonesian authorities over his illegal receipt of $A57 million; and the policemen who fired their automatic weapons at harmless protesting members of the public and University of PNG students. Their ability to escape prosecution defies the odds and points to the impact that political patronage continues to have on democracy and the rule of law in PNG.