“I represent myself, I too represent myself, and I represent myself too…”

What happened in court at the Madang National Court house before Justice David Cannings on June 22nd impressed the public who was present, and seemingly was an eye opener for the Department of Trade Commerce and Industry Lawyer and other representatives if any were there.

All the landowners among the defendants, summoned to court to be restrained by the PNG Government’s Department of Trade Commerce and Industry Secretary, John Andreas and the Department itself, uprightly told the court, they will represent themselves. Noise is never allowed in the courtroom but anyone can sense the ‘Wow!’ impression going around the room, even Justice Cannings had a smile going on at that moment.

Now with this scenario in mind, the Madang Provincial Government lawyer had joined the case, which no one in the court room was aware of, until the lawyer spoke up and told the court that the Provincial Government should definitely be part of the case, but which side should it be on, the plaintiffs’ or the defendants?

Obvious giggling went around those in the room, when some of the defendants boldly saying ‘No’, at the lawyer’s back. The defendants were told by the court sheriff to keep quiet and let the lawyers do their jobs, but the scenarios were already gaining momentum, no doubt about that.

Once outside, journalists were everywhere asking questions trying to grasp what had just happened in the courtroom. At that instance, it was worked out that there were two sets of defendants present at the court summoned with the same interim order but with different names.

One of the papers summoned Frank Don Snr and Francis Gem, and the other summoned 11 defendants, 8 landowners along with Dr Nancy Sullivan, Dorothy Tekwie and Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather.

With the answers the plaintiff’s lawyer, Brian Waffi was giving to journalists, it seemed he clearly has no idea that a Senior Statesman, Sir Angmai Bilas, a landowner himself was summoned. A man who was part of the ‘Constitutional Committee’, now summoned by the Department of Trade Commerce and Industry, with regard to section 155(4) of the very constitution that he was part mentor of.

More questions from the journalists revealed that the summons were delivered on a 3rd, 4th party basis and not by the plaintiffs’ direct representatives. Of all the drama that played out in and outside of the court room last Monday, it was obvious that the Government people have not done their research and are clearly not prepared for what to expect from the defendants.

Meanwhile a very strong opposition is building up on the ground against this PMIZ landowners’ restraining order, revealed in a public gathering held on the weekend at the Riwo village. The youths outspokenly spoke of standing together with their fathers and fighting this fight.

“It may be before the courts but we will fight back. We know all too well that they are using the power of the courts to scare us away but we will not let that happen,” one of them said.

 

“Our hearts are pained because we have voted ghosts to represent us, but we will not go down without a fight,” said another.

 

The very elderly persons also stood up and told their stories, obviously with very emotional tones.

The case is due back on the 21st of July at the National Court House. The prominent figures among the defendants have filed human rights lawsuits against the Department of Trade Commerce and Industry, but what amazed most of us remains, the people, the land OWNERS represented themselves.

That is their POWER being exercised right there.