364 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:2 (2009) Educational Alliance, said in June at personnel. The Australian government the ceremonial Mwâ Kâ totem pole in refused to apologize for the incident, Noumea, “Rebalancing among people calling it a cultural misunderstanding happens through the rebalancing of between Papua New Guinea’s “big thinking” (NC, 27 June 2008). man” culture and Australian norms david chappell and security procedures. This sparked public protests in Port Moresby and prompted the PNG Department of References Foreign Affairs to summon Australian Ambassador Michael Potts to explain. kol, Kanaky Online. Discussion group. http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/kanaky Diplomatic relations between the two countries were further strained in Le Goff, Christian. 2008. Accord de 2006 when the international fugitive Matignon: vingt ans après, rien n’est réglé Julian Moti was spirited out of Port à Noumea. Rue89 Web site, 28 April. Moresby to Solomon Islands in a clan- http://www.rue89.com /2008/04 / 28/ accord-de-matignon-vingt-ans-apres destine operation on a PNG Defence -rien-nest-regle-a-noumea Force aircraft. The Australian gov- ernment retaliated by banning PNG NC, Les Nouvelles-Calédoniennes. Daily. politicians from entering Australia. Noumea. http://www.lnc.nc Rudd’s trip to the country was the Neaoutyine, Paul. 2006. L’Indépendance fi rst such visit by an Australian prime au Présent: Identité Kanak et Destin minister in eleven years and was well Commun. Paris: Editions Syllepse. received by Papua New Guinea as a pir, Pacific Islands Report. rejuvenation of its relations with Aus- http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org /pireport tralia. The visit culminated with the TPM, Tahiti-Pacifique Magazine. Monthly. two countries signing a forest carbon Papeete. partnership whereby both countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emis- La Voie du FLNKS. New coalition bulletin sions caused by deforestation and published every two months. forest degradation. Following his meeting with Sir Michael, Rudd released the “Port Moresby Declaration,” stressing Papua New Guinea Australia’s commitment to a “new era The year 2008 began on a high note of cooperation with island nations of with a state visit by Australian Prime the Pacifi c.” The twenty-point declara- Minister Kevin Rudd from 6–7 March, tion outlines Australia’s plans related heralding the dawn of a new era to economic development across the between Papua New Guinea (PNG) Pacifi c, as well as their intentions and Australia. Almost four years of to help Pacifi c Island nations make diplomatic friction had begun in 2005 progress toward the United Nation’s when Prime Minister Sir Michael Millennium Development Goals; to Somare had to go through three pursue the Pacifi c Partnerships for security checks and remove his sandals Development; to work together with at the Brisbane airport for security other countries to meet the challenges pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 365 of climate change; and to achieve tures of District Support Grants and better outcomes for health and discretionary funds) or fi led them late education, among other goals (The or incomplete on many occasions since National, 7 March 2008). 1992 (rnzi, 8 May 2008; Radio Aus- On 16 September, the country tralia, 2 July 2008). In June, the then celebrated a rare accomplishment for chief ombudsman, Ila Geno, said the any of the multiethnic states in the investigation was “based on section 4 region: thirty-three years of political of the Organic Law on the Duties and independence as a thriving democracy Responsibilities of Leadership, which comprising multiple ethnic groups requires leaders to furnish to the with over 800 different languages. To Ombudsman Commission their annual commemorate the anniversary, the statements every 12 months while in Somare government launched the fi rst offi ce.” This was “the fi rst time since government-owned National Televi- the Leadership Code was enacted for a sion Station on Independence Day, PNG Prime Minister to be referred for signifying a monumental development prosecution on misconduct charges” in Papua New Guinea’s broadcasting (The National, 27 June 2008). history. Another blow to Somare’s repu- It was also a signifi cant year for tation came in November when an Sir Michael, the current and founding Australian newspaper reported that prime minister, as he celebrated his in April 2007 he had bought a three- fortieth anniversary in PNG politics bedroom apartment with a private (1968–2008). This makes him the plunge pool in inner-city Cairns for longest-serving prime minister in the a$395,000, through a deal brokered Commonwealth. As PNG political by a Gold Coast lawyer. Two months history has been plagued by numer- before, his son Arthur bought a ous votes of no confi dence, Somare four-bedroom home with his wife at became the fi rst prime minister in Trinity Beach, just north of Cairns, history to survive a full fi ve-year term for a$685,000. (One Australian dollar in offi ce (2002–2007) and seems likely was the equivalent of approximately to make it through his second (2008– us$.93 in 2007.) Arthur Somare 2012)—despite numerous affi rmations denied any suggestion of wrongdo- that he will retire from politics before ing in the purchase of his property, his term expires. explaining that it was to accommodate However, Somare’s celebrated his children studying in Australia. longevity in politics did not come with The legal counsel for the Ombudsman a clean slate. In June 2008 he was Commission, Vergil Narokobi, said referred by the PNG Ombudsman that the commission would investi- Commission—a political watchdog gate, but it is quite possible that the and institution that he helped cre- trans actions were legitimate (The ate—to the public prosecutor for National, 7 Nov 2008). alleged misconduct in offi ce. Somare Meanwhile, Opposition Leader was investigated over allegations that Sir Mekere Morauta said that the he failed to fi le his annual returns Somares owed it to the people to (statements accounting for expendi- reveal their assets and to explain 366 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:2 (2009) publicly how they obtained the real Sir Arnold Amet was ousted from estate. Sir Mekere, in the same year, his seat by an election petition fi led bought a riverfront mansion at New by businessman and former politi- Farm in Brisbane’s inner city under his cian Peter Yama. Comments made wife Roslyn’s name, for a$3.6 mil- by Prime Minister Somare during the lion. In another controversial case, it 2007 election campaign urging voters was alleged that the prime minister not to vote for polygamists or people did not declare his shareholding in the of shady character led the court to rule company Pacifi c Registry of Ships Ltd. in favor of Yama, who apparently has The offi cial registry showed that Sir three wives (The National, 12 Sept Michael is a shareholder “in trust for 2008). the Independent State of PNG.” All of In an election petition against these allegations have contributed to elected Western Highlands Governor overshadowing Sir Michael’s achieve- Tom Olga, a former prime minister ments in his political career and erod- and 2007 election contender, Paias ing his symbolic status as the “father Wingti, asked the court for a recount, of the nation.” alleging errors and omissions commit- The ruling National Alliance Party ted by Electoral Commission offi cials experienced a major setback when it during the polling and counting of lost a number of seats due to elec- votes. Wingti won a recount of all pro- tion petitions fi led after the 2007 vincial ballot papers in March 2008, general elections. On 21 February, the turning up gross anomalies and omis- National Court voided the election sions on the part of electoral offi cers, of Minister for Education Michael which resulted in the court declaring Laimo, a National Alliance Party can- the election of Governor Tom Olga didate. Laimo lost his parliamentary null and void. In what could have seat due to irregularities and illegal been a related incident, the Western practices committed during the 2007 Highlands provincial headquarters, elections. Steven Kami, a New Genera- known as Kapal Haus, was completely tion Party candidate, challenged the destroyed by fi re on 22 October 2008. election result on the grounds of gross It was believed that supporters of one errors, omissions, and illegal practices of the candidates were responsible for committed by Electoral Commission burning down the building. offi cials (The National, 22 Feb 2008). On 5 June 2008, the Autonomous The next setback came on 23 April Region of Bougainville lost its found- 2008 when East Sepik Governor ing president, Joseph Kabui, to a Peter Wararu Waranaka was unseated suspected heart attack. Kabui played because of a k50 bribe he had given an instrumental role at the height of a voter. (The PNG kina was the the Bougainville crisis and in the peace equivalent of us$.38 at the time.) This building and reconciliation process. resulted from an election petition fi led To succeed him, James Tanis, a former by contender and runner-up candidate separatist, beat thirteen other con- Gabriel Dusava. tenders to be elected president of the Then, on 11 September, former Autonomous Region of Bougainville Chief Justice and Madang Governor on 28 December. A new chapter in pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 367 Bougainville’s history began in April structural and policy challenges limit when the PNG national government its long-term growth potential. In and the Autonomous Bougainville order to stimulate private investment, Government (abg) signed a memoran- particularly outside the mining sector, dum of understanding on the transfer the critical priority is improving the of mining, oil, and gas functions to the business climate, especially by opening Bougainville government.