Walking On A Tightrope

He could find himself sharing the same house with those who may have been his arch rivals not so long ago.

With Papua New Guinea's politics being unpredictable, anything could happen to Somare, especially with a possible no confidence vote still hanging over him.

The real test for Somare's power-base came after former Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta led his PNG Party to join the Government.

Morauta, who felt disturbed by manoeuvrings in the Opposition aimed at toppling the prime minister, decided to make the move as a matter of principle.

Morauta in a speech to Parliament to formally announce his party's move said that he gave up the position of Leader of Opposition as a matter of principle, and to put the interest of Papua New Guineans first.

He was well aware of the number swell that he would create, saying the party would not pressure the Prime Minister to accommodate them in a cabinet reshuffle.

He brushed aside speculations about the party's position concerning a vote of no confidence against Somare.

"Much of the speculation is the product of a plan by certain parties and individuals to win power at any price, hoping to use the numbers of the PNG Party by splitting it, isolating my leadership and forcing a position on the party that would compromise my principles.
"My principles are not for sale. Nor are those of the party I lead. After much discussion, PNG Party members have resolved, democratically and legally, to move to the government bench, rather than support a no confidence motion," Morauta said.
He added: "It has always been my position that a vote of no confidence should only be supported if it would result in a better government than the one replaced.

"The information from the architects of the proposed vote of no confidence failed to convince me that a better government was in the making.

"It appeared to me and the PNG Party that support for such a government would not be in the best interest of the country."
He said the interests of all Papua New Guineans should be put ahead of personal interests. Unfortunately, the very personal interests he was going to prevent took the better of others in the government ranks, driving them to accelerate their plot to remove Somare even before he could decide on a reshuffle to accommodate the PNG Party.

Somare, who was well aware of what was happening behind his back, decided to go public in a perceived attempt to discourage the plotters.

When welcoming Morauta and his party, Somare said during the first 21 months, the real opposition had come not from the official Opposition but from within the coalition ranks.

"The threat of a vote of no confidence has come from within the government. The threat of political stability has been caused by the manoeuvrings from within the coalition government more so than from outside," he said.

He called for the cooperation of all individual members and political parties to put the interest of the people and the country first.
"We need to do everything to use the remaining term of this seventh parliament to really turn this country around for the better."
The appeal, however, had no impact. After so much uncertainty, Somare decided to put his foot down by removing his deputy PAP (People's Action Party) leader Moses Maladina and the PNC party with its leader Peter O'Neill from government.

He appointed new ministers to replace the six sacked.

Somare told reporters at Government House during the swearing-in of the ministers that the changes were to "remove the sources of instability" in the current government coalition.

"In consolidating the position of the coalition government, I will also appoint several vice ministers or parliamentary secretaries," Somare said.

"The acceptance of PNG Party into Government and political manoeuvrings that intensified in recent weeks had helped shape the changes that I now make."

The new 28-person cabinet has 8 NA members, followed by PAP (5), PPP (3), PNG Party (3), Pangu (2), Melanesian Alliance (2), URP (2), United Party (1) and National Party (1).

The Prime Minister has not named a deputy prime minister, and is keeping the Public Service ministry vacant for the time being.
It became obvious whom the plotters were talking to when one of them, the leader of PNC, O'Neill, was elected to lead the Opposition in a unanimous decision.

"My leadership will not be questioned. This is a unanimous decision and my party is solidly intact," O'Neill declared in a press conference shortly after his election.

Parties that were represented at the conference included the United Resources Party, the Christian Democratic Party, the People's Labour Party, the PNG Party, the People's Progress Party, and PNC.
The People's Action Party was expected to join the group, but its leader Maladina, sacked as deputy prime minister, did not turn up.
Maladina held his own press conference an hour earlier and declared his PAP's support for the prime minister. Opposition minders were putting the Opposition's number at 43 with the inclusion of Maladina and his PAP faction, but that number would be reduced by 13 with PAP remaining in government.

Political manoeuvrings continued with speculations of Maladina being re-invited into the government fold as we went to press.