Comments on: PNG’s nominated women MPs bill http://themelanesian.org/2008/08/16/pngs-nominated-women-mps-bill/ a community of critics committed to putting people first Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:59:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Andrew Moutu http://themelanesian.org/2008/08/16/pngs-nominated-women-mps-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Andrew Moutu Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:59:03 +0000 http://themelanesian.org/?p=56#comment-33 This is a welcome and positive news about the possibility of increasing the number of women leaders to serve as the Members of Parliament in PNG. The proposed bill enacts an interesting distinction made between “nominated” and “elected” MPs and this creates a lot of questions: What kind of rights and powers will these “nominated MPs” have compared to “elected MPs”? Will the “nominated MPs “be part of political parties will they be given ministerial portfolios? Will they be allowed to vote in parliament or in the parties that they might belong to? Who are the nominated MPs accountable to and how does the leadership code apply to this class of “nominated MPs”? While we lament the minimal presence of women leaders in the last 30 years of PNGs political history, are women giving up now and seeking an easy way into a domain that is controlled and manipulated by male chauvinism? If we look around us, we will acknowledge that the last 30 years of PNGs political history is relatively peaceful compared to some other countries in the world, especially the regions of Asian and India. Those countries have gone through much worse political situations than PNG and in some of those countries women leaders have become the focus and marble of attraction in national political life. Below are some of these countries and their women leaders: BANGLADESH: Sheik Hasina and Khaleda Zia (former rime Ministers); INDIA: Indira Ghandi (former Prime Minister) INDONESIA: Megawati Sukarnoputri (former President) MONGOLIA:Suhbaataryn Yanjmaa (former President) PAKISTAN: Benazir Bhutto (former Prime Minister) PHILIPPINES:Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (president) and Corazon Aquino (former President SRI LANKA: Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (former President) and Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (former Prime Minister. Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike has made history as the world’s first Prime Minister some 10 years before Margaret Thatcher arrived on the scene as British Prime Minister. It seems that in those regions of the world when the going gets tough and rough so that the dark clouds of politics precipitate into a reign of terror and violence, women leaders emerge with a charisma and wisdom that draw and keep their countries under their feet and in hands close enough to their hearts. I am not prescribing a similar political recipe for women leaders to emerge in PNG. For instance I totally doubt that Bertha Somare can ever win the hearts of the Sepik as her father Sir Michael has been able to do in the last 4 decades of his political career. About this time last year I read in The National newspaper (17/08/08) an arresting story about the re-establishment of a ceremonial spirit house (korombo) in Rofundogum village in East Sepik Province. This story was written by Naomi Faik Simet who works with the Institute of PNG Studies in Boroko. Naomi’s account shows that if it were not an old woman, Rita, Rofundogum village would have totally lost its particular knowledge in recreating this sacred cultural institution. Rita became the envy of both men and women because of the kind of unique knowledge she alone possessed. I am wondering if there is any moral in Rita’s story? Sometimes I wonder whether there is anything more attractive in politics that women should crave for in the same way as men have managed to keep women away from it? Are there any ways that could make women leaders more attractive than the male chauvinism that women seek to resist and compete with? Andrew This is a welcome and positive news about the possibility of increasing the number of women leaders to serve as the Members of Parliament in PNG. The proposed bill enacts an interesting distinction made between “nominated” and “elected” MPs and this creates a lot of questions:
What kind of rights and powers will these “nominated MPs” have compared to “elected MPs”? Will the “nominated MPs “be part of political parties will they be given ministerial portfolios? Will they be allowed to vote in parliament or in the parties that they might belong to? Who are the nominated MPs accountable to and how does the leadership code apply to this class of “nominated MPs”?
While we lament the minimal presence of women leaders in the last 30 years of PNGs political history, are women giving up now and seeking an easy way into a domain that is controlled and manipulated by male chauvinism?
If we look around us, we will acknowledge that the last 30 years of PNGs political history is relatively peaceful compared to some other countries in the world, especially the regions of Asian and India. Those countries have gone through much worse political situations than PNG and in some of those countries women leaders have become the focus and marble of attraction in national political life. Below are some of these countries and their women leaders:

BANGLADESH: Sheik Hasina and Khaleda Zia (former rime Ministers);
INDIA: Indira Ghandi (former Prime Minister)
INDONESIA: Megawati Sukarnoputri (former President)
MONGOLIA:Suhbaataryn Yanjmaa (former President)
PAKISTAN: Benazir Bhutto (former Prime Minister)
PHILIPPINES:Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (president) and Corazon Aquino (former President
SRI LANKA: Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (former President) and Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (former Prime Minister. Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike has made history as the world’s first Prime Minister some 10 years before Margaret Thatcher arrived on the scene as British Prime Minister.

It seems that in those regions of the world when the going gets tough and rough so that the dark clouds of politics precipitate into a reign of terror and violence, women leaders emerge with a charisma and wisdom that draw and keep their countries under their feet and in hands close enough to their hearts. I am not prescribing a similar political recipe for women leaders to emerge in PNG. For instance I totally doubt that Bertha Somare can ever win the hearts of the Sepik as her father Sir Michael has been able to do in the last 4 decades of his political career.
About this time last year I read in The National newspaper (17/08/08) an arresting story about the re-establishment of a ceremonial spirit house (korombo) in Rofundogum village in East Sepik Province. This story was written by Naomi Faik Simet who works with the Institute of PNG Studies in Boroko. Naomi’s account shows that if it were not an old woman, Rita, Rofundogum village would have totally lost its particular knowledge in recreating this sacred cultural institution.
Rita became the envy of both men and women because of the kind of unique knowledge she alone possessed. I am wondering if there is any moral in Rita’s story? Sometimes I wonder whether there is anything more attractive in politics that women should crave for in the same way as men have managed to keep women away from it? Are there any ways that could make women leaders more attractive than the male chauvinism that women seek to resist and compete with?
Andrew

]]> By: Dorothy Tekwie http://themelanesian.org/2008/08/16/pngs-nominated-women-mps-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Dorothy Tekwie Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:56:53 +0000 http://themelanesian.org/?p=56#comment-28 After posting this article I accidentally came across a press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on 25 August, 2004. Apparently in 2004 Lady Carol Kidu did make another submission to the National Executive Council, at that time for two women to be nominated under section 102 of the constitution, a provision for nominated members. The Prime Minister, Sir Michael in his statement said " the National Executive Council has considered a submission proposing the invocation of Section 102 of the National Constitution for two women to be nominated by Parliament, as nominated Members of Parliament. According to the statement "only in-principle approval was given" pending advice from Attorney General. He also said "If the legal advice suggests that enabling legislation is required, then NEC will consider it". That was four years ago and now we have another submission for four women. We have no idea what happened to that "legal advice". It would be very sad if this second attempt is bogged down with the usual excuses. Lady Kidu has done her home work this time by consulting with members of the NCW, provincial women's councils, key women leaders in the community and even engaged Dr Eirc Kwa a PNG constitutional law expert to do all the necessary work to enable the bill to proceed without administrative and legal red taps. The Prime Minister has the prerogative to push and shove bureaucrats to move on this matter but as in all things to do with advancement of women citizens, it was left on the dying ambers. The ball is now in the Prime Minister's hands and knowing that 50% of his audience waiting on the sidelines are women, he should go for the goal - gave Lady Kidu the chance to make her dreams come through. After posting this article I accidentally came across a press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on 25 August, 2004.

Apparently in 2004 Lady Carol Kidu did make another submission to the National Executive Council, at that time for two women to be nominated under section 102 of the constitution, a provision for nominated members.

The Prime Minister, Sir Michael in his statement said ” the National Executive Council has considered a submission proposing the invocation of Section 102 of the National Constitution for two women to be nominated by Parliament, as nominated Members of Parliament.

According to the statement “only in-principle approval was given” pending advice from Attorney General. He also said “If the legal advice suggests that enabling legislation is required, then NEC will consider it”.

That was four years ago and now we have another submission for four women. We have no idea what happened to that “legal advice”.

It would be very sad if this second attempt is bogged down with the usual excuses. Lady Kidu has done her home work this time by consulting with members of the NCW, provincial women’s councils, key women leaders in the community and even engaged Dr Eirc Kwa a PNG constitutional law expert to do all the necessary work to enable the bill to proceed without administrative and legal red taps.

The Prime Minister has the prerogative to push and shove bureaucrats to move on this matter but as in all things to do with advancement of women citizens, it was left on the dying ambers.

The ball is now in the Prime Minister’s hands and knowing that 50% of his audience waiting on the sidelines are women, he should go for the goal – gave Lady Kidu the chance to make her dreams come through.

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