SOMARE MUST STEP DOWN - NONGGORR


A constitutional lawyer in Papua New Guinea says Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare should have automatically stepped down or be suspended, after a tribunal was set up to look into alleged misconduct in office.

Doctor John Nonggorr says it's the first time in PNG's short political history a prime minister will face a leadership tribunal. The tribunal is made up of judges from the Supreme and Appeals Courts of New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.


Sir Michael is alleged to have failed, or lodged incomplete annual returns to PNG's Ombudsman Commission between 1994 and 1997.

The Tribunal will start the inquiry on March 10.

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says he will comply with the laws but will remain in office and allow the tribunal to rule whether he could be suspended or not. Constitutional lawyer Doctor John Nonggorr says Sir Michael should be made to step aside until the inquiry is complete.

"Clearly the leader ship tribunal says that the laws that apply, leaders under the leadership code is plainly clear that any person, whether it is the prime minister...or anyone else, once referred to a tribunal, then he or she must step down in performing his or her duties," he said.

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