A lot of things that have transpired in the last few months have created an aura of confusion, doubt and anger in the populous. With the university students continuing their boycott and the NGOs and Trade Union Congress expressing concern over the government’s handling of the nation’s affairs; there is a strong feeling of uncertainty and anxiety.  

The police, as usual, were in no mood to entertain any dissent.  The hierarchy of the police made sure of that when they issued warnings to the public not to take part in any protest.

I wondered if we would ever experience a protest march to exercise our freedom of speech and conscience in this country. It seems just about every protest in Port Moresby has been deemed illegal.

Media freedom is constantly under threat from a hostile government. Even social media, the only forum available to Papua New Guineans for debate and expression, is increasingly coming under the government’s microscope.

The recent attempt by the government to introduce a bill to combat cybercrime is the latest step in its fight to outlaw opposition. This attitude is uncalled for, especially when democracy allows for the creation of government and opposition to ensure proper checks and balances to maintain and strengthen transparency, accountability and good governance.

The term “opposition” is not limited to the floor of parliament but includes students, interest groups and the public. In PNG the parliament is not an effective arm of democracy because it oftentimes it just bulldozes through pro-government agendas.

The way we have gone about suppressing our people’s conscience and freedom in the last decade or so makes me wonder if it is time to reconsider democracy’s future in PNG.

Political stability is not enough to say we have a vibrant democracy. China, still a communist country, has enjoyed long period of political stability. In our attempts to regulate freedom of speech, PNG is moving closer towards a centralised authoritarian system like that of China.

Papua New Guinea needs people to exercise their democratic rights. We need to give our people and democracy a fair go. So far, sadly, we are not willing to do so. We are not helping when the custodians of the law abuse their power to circumnavigate the law or violate people’s rights. For instance, informal market vendors are abused and harassed or members of the public bashed.

A tolerant constituency does not necessarily mean it agrees with the government’s views. PNG has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world. A tolerant constituency may not even know the government’s views.

And a government which claims a mandate to govern through the ballot box cannot necessarily claim to have the favour of the people due to widespread cases of vote rigging.

I have often felt secure when I see police officers patrolling the streets but I did not feel secure on Monday.

The police presence was aimed at thwarting gatherings and it made me realise that the fight against corruption is only given lip service in this country. Are we cowards or is it because this country has lost its democracy?

On numerous occasions, the erratic, unpredictable and unprecedented conduct of our government and its institutions in undermining the mechanisms of justice has raised questions about the vibrancy of our democracy.

Anarchy, elements of a police state, kleptocracy, theocracy, guided democracy and dictatorship are just some of the words that describe our chameleon system of government. PNG has exhibited traits of all of them since we gained independence.

Thank God we have not surrendered our democracy to extreme forms of government. Yet I cannot help but ask how long we can go on like this before that happens.

No one person in this country should be allowed to exercise unrestrained power to derail justice and undermine the rule of law.

No one person or group is above the law.

At the same time no individual or group should have their rights denied or suppressed. Democracy was tested on Monday and it was found to be a threat. Is it time for PNG to reconsider its fate?