The Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council in Papua New Guinea is being starved of funds by the PNG government and may have to shut down if AusAID follows the government lead.

The CIMC is an independent organization that brings together civil society, private sector and the government to develop policy and directly influence and monitor government decision making for the long term development of PNG. The CIMC was established by the National Executive Council (PNG's cabinet) after the National Economic Summit in 1998

The PNG government, led by Planning Minister Paul Tiensten, have become infuriated with public criticism of its plans by the CIMC and has frozen government funding.

This is the latest in a series of moves by the PNG government to stifle public debate that began with its attempts to outlaw public discussion of controversial amendments to Environment laws in 2010 and the banning of public rallies

Civil society is now waiting to see whether the PNG government's rejection of the concepts of public consulatation and constructive criticism will be endorsed by its major aid donor Australia. AusAID is a major funder of the CIMC and there are fears it will follow the PNG government's lead and cancel its financial support, thus striking a further blow to accountability and the fight against corruption.

Papua New Guinea's financial accountability was last week described as national disgrace and, with the government stalling over plans for a Commission of Inquiry into corrupt land deals affecting over 10% of the nations land mass, the need for strengthening community awareness and the public's hand in holding the government accountable has never been greater in PNG. 

The loss of the CIMC as an avenue for dialogue between the government and the people is likely to cause public frustrations to become even stronger, more direct and perhaps less constructive.