Dear ACT NOW! supporter,
As we reported in last week's UPDATE, Prime Minister Michael Somare has been repeatedly undermining Papua New Guinea's democracy.
In recent weeks Somare has:
- Adjourned Parliament for 4 months to avoid a vote of no confidence,
- Orchestrated the re-election of the Governor General without a vote,
- Bulldozed legislation through Parliament that gives legal immunity to foreign companies,
- Tried to ban public discussion on the Environment Act amendments,
- Refused to accept a community petition with over 20,000 signatures, and
- Publicly threatened to kill one of our brightest young leaders, MP Sam Basil (”Mi warnim yu nau. Yu go arasait mi bai kilim yu.” in English, “I am warning you, when you go outside I will kill you”).
We need to send a message to the Prime Minister that his behaviour is being watched and that we find his arrogance and disrespect completely unacceptable. But we don’t believe he will take any notice of any message that is sent directly to him.
So instead, we are asking you to send a message of support to MP Sam Basil - a message that will be copied to the Prime Minister and some of his senior Ministers.
Sam Basil has stood out over the last three years as a shining beacon of the type of leader PNG needs.
Young and inexperienced maybe, he has refused to get caught up in the mob mentality of party politics and refused to chase the money.
Time and again this young leader has stood up and, often alone, spoken with common sense, dignity and integrity about the important issues facing PNG, issues like service delivery, corruption, the Environment Act amendments and health care.
ACT NOW! and send a message of support to MP Sam Basil - a message that will be copied to the Prime Minister.
In speaking out Sam Basil has shown up the hypocrisy of most MPs who stay silent, blindly follow the government so they can line their own pockets with the millions of kina that are tossed their way, and he has shown how our democracy should operate.
As we have come to expect of Mr Basil his response to the Prime Minister was dignified and poignant "If they do kill me at least I can say I stood up for this country" he said.
But Sam Basil does not deserve death threats, he does not deserve abuse. Sam Basil deserves the support of everyone who believes in a better future for our country.
Please take a moment to ACT NOW! and send an email to Sam Basil offering him a few words of encouragement and support.
Best wishes
The ACT NOW! team