By Serah Aupong – EM TV News, Port Moresby
A security briefing bulletin by InterOil last Friday has raised serious security concerns with the office of the Registrar of Political Parties and the Chief Secretary.
The security bulletin which tied a nationwide protest to alleged changes in the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties & Candidates are said to be baseless and incorrect.
The Chief Secretary, registrar of political parties and the constitutional law reform commission secretary were all present to discount the allegations made in Inter Oil’s security bulletin.
Chief Secretary, Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc says, “This statement in its totality is incorrect. Em bikpla giaman toktok. (It’s all a big lie)”
Dr Alphonse Gelu said the bulletin was attempting to “link the protest march yesterday to the revised organic law.” The bulletin states that “PM convicted of an offence cannot be stood aside and replaced until he is convicted. There is nothing in this organic law, we don’t know where they got that information from,” a frustrated Dr Gelu said.
In 2010 a Supreme Court decision found the OLIPPAC to be unconstitutional and abolished certain aspects of it. Since then a committee which includes the constitutional law reform has been set up to revise the law.
“To suggest that we are actually in contempt or that we are actually going against the supreme court is baseless,” Law Reform Commission Secretary Dr Eric Kwa said in support.
Dr Gelu said he has been in touch with InterOil and told them, “You have made a big blunder, just creating anxiety in the minds of people because it was circulated to all the businesses and organisations throughout Port Moresby.”
InterOil public relations said the security bulletin was intended for their staff only and not meant for the wider public.
The company statement is:
“The safety of our staff is priority and we have a responsibility to ensure their wellbeing at work. On this occasion, we advised their staff to avoid the protest which occurred in Port Moresby on Monday. We included in that advice our understanding of why the protest might occur and now accept that understanding was wrong, for which we’re sorry.”
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