Marley ‘big rubbish, gras nabaut tanim tanim’ - Somare

23 May, 2008 in Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Water by John Burton | No comments

It has been a confusing week for Sino-Pacific relations.

First, Sir Michael Somare said human rights is wussy Western nonsense and the schools are falling to bits because the students all look like Bob Marley.

He received a rounded applause from members when he talked about forgetting the western concept of “free man” and “freedom” to instill discipline in children … “When we came out, we behaved like students, not big rubbish, gras nabaut tanim tanim … the Education Department must … bring back corporal punishment…” (The National 22 May 2008).

Anybody would think he had never addressed the General Assembly and PNG had not signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

But it’s the ‘Taiwan Dollar’ scandal that’s getting him really sweaty. He has referred the Post-Courier to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee for its front-page story last Friday in which the contents of a communique were outed, signed by his acting Foreign Minister, Paul Tiensten, in September 2006, claimed by the paper to relate to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and PNG.

(Recap: it’s about the Pacific’s vast oceanic resources, boast the Taiwanese.)

Incredibly, pundits believe Sir M got Post-Courier editor Oseah Philemon, who is not in parliament, mixed up with deputy opposition leader Bart Philemon (no relation) who is. Small matter, the world’s press have been reporting the story all month.

 
Marley: “big rubbish, gras
nabaut tanim tanim”		   GA: “I am here today
to talk about
forgettable
western concepts”

In other news, the Global Peace Index ranks PNG (95th) and Jamaica (96th) as more peaceful places than the United States (97th).