When it comes to fellow citizens: We’re hypocrites!
28 September 2011
BY MARTYN NAMORONG
I WISH TO share an item from Facebook that has really got me fired-up. It was posted by prominent lawyer Tiffany Nonggorr [pictured].
Tiffany was writing in response to comments made by ‘out of touch’ Papua New Guineans who claim to be in touch.
These ‘out of touch’ Papua New Guineans wouldn’t want to see the National Capital District Governor spend money on providing drinking water to people who live in squatter settlements.
It is these people in squatter settlements to do the manual labour jobs that pay crap wages. They clean offices, homes and streets, or work as security guards, shop assistants and construction labourers.
Yet many ‘out of touch’ Papua New Guineans still believe that they are a liability to society.
They don’t steal millions from trust accounts. They don’t take out court injunctions to suppress investigative processes. They don’t fly out of the country when wanted by police. Instead they are beaten, tortured and killed by the police force.
While we are more than willing to accept tax holidays for major multinationals which already have too much money, we bitch about helping our fellow citizens.
I’ll leave the rest to Tiffany:
A society should be judged by the way it treats the most disadvantaged in its society. As a government, it has to look after all the people not just those who are capable of earning and paying taxes.
Mineral resources boom and yet hundreds of thousands of people have no access to water in Moresby. I went to a settlement at the bottom of 2 Mile Hill, but on the top side.
There was one water tap for 100 families - and the young adults I met were third generation settlement dwellers - no language, no village - just the settlement.
People, particularly women, were trying to make a better life but it was all just so hopeless, just so tragic. I couldn't believe that this was PNG.
We went there to provide outreach - free medicals from susu mamas for mums and bubs - and I could not believe the entrenched poverty and hardship with no end in sight.
The only way forward is access to water, free quality education and free medical service - we give Ramu Nickel a 10 year tax holiday - but we can't give these people access to water!
A Christian country? You gotta be kidding me!
Christian country or not means nothing because we can't say we're a christian country when in fact we have 4,000 muslims and also other faiths in PNG.
Secondly, if PNG is really a christian country, it would be so corrupted and spoilt as it is, true Muslim nations never break their strong laws.
So how can we say we're christians when we don't follow and respect our own religion and it's laws, and thae laws of our nation.
Thirdly, the founders of human rights said 'when the values of life are threatened, the only rightfull means is rebellion, it is done to save the people.
I say, by the truth that conjures me to God, that sometimes justice comes by the barrel of the gun. If the people can not stand up, the gun will. In SHP, they want to fight for resources, but that is not a good cause; fight for the suffering little children in the Six-Mile dump, who eat thrown away flourballs, don't go to school and beg around all day.
What does the future hold for such a child? Why, I cry when I see a mother siting by the roadside under a tree, and she shhhs her two your children who are so hungry and crying for food. The mother is looking away from them and holding the baby in her hands.
When I see such sights, it gives me great anger, I just want to help them, but there's nothing I can do. Where is my country heading I wonder?
If you are reading this from POM, please look around you, you will see how our country is falling into taters right before you.
The peasants (poor people's) revolution is coming, for we dearly need it. It will get rid of all the greedy foreign corporations that control our goverment, chase out all the illigal aliens, and give us a chance to start over fresh....yu ting wanem (what doest ye think)?
Posted by: Gelab Job Zigu Piak | 30 September 2011 at 02:29 PM
I pray, some elements of the new regime are reading such articles and commentaries. We meed to and must right our focus, processes and priorities. We are scarificing our children and their future through selfish political priorities. Politics may be one thing, but life or our children and future of this nation must be the determing factor in our policies, our action plans, and our implementation and observances of these polices for the common good of everyone in PNG.
Posted by: Basil Peutalo | 28 September 2011 at 08:14 PM
"A Christian country? You gotta be kidding me!" Hypocrites!! Most of us cannot even put into practice what we are commentating, observing and writing about! Tiffany and Namorong as well as many other commentators/writers about the social divides within PNG highlighted one fundamental factor. We, Papua New GUineans, especially those of us who are well educated, well awared, well connected and well "fired up" cannot translate our perspectives, views and concerns into action to right the issues that are raised in such articles such as those of Tiffany, Namorong, Fr John Glynn and so forth...In my experience and involvement, my biggest hurbdle is getting positive response from the powers-that-be and all social and political machinery that are set up to get the country moving forward to those stated national goals and principles. Translating ideals into practicalities and commitments to this process is one of our biggest problem. Systems that are set up seem to be self-serving, inward looking and too much aloof in its importance!!!
Posted by: Basil Peutalo | 28 September 2011 at 07:57 PM
Tiffany, you have just seen a 'sneak preview' of life in some Moresby settlements.
This is real life, I mean the way they live.
Every time I visit my uncle and his family at one of the settlements in Moresby my eye tear-bags break!
Posted by: Tom'riesa | 28 September 2011 at 04:54 PM
Great to hear that your are 'fired up' by Tiffany's web posting.
Unfortunately, however, only a tiny minority of Papua New Guineans have access to the web - facebook, your blog, etc.
The deplorable situations described by you and Tiffany will only change when a critical mass of Papua New Guineans are 'fired up' and force change.
How can this 'firing up' be brought about among the masses who have little access to media of any kind?
Posted by: Daniel Doyle | 28 September 2011 at 09:09 AM