PNG's New Law restricts and prohibits Citizen's Constitutional Rights , says O'Neill
The People’s National Congress Party leader condemned the Government’s passing of the new law, adding that it was essentially nothing more than a re-wording of the current “disastrous state of emergency” Act, under a different name.
“There is no specified end to the new SOE as a declared health emergency according to the way this Act is framed,” the former prime minister said.
“This is because once a declaration of an emergency is made, it can continue for months or longer until the Government provides advice to have the declaration revoked.
“In any democracy, this abandonment of due process and personal liberty for an undetermined period of time is cause for great alarm.
“This Act undermines the national constitution and gives ultimate power to the controller and also attempts to restrict and prohibit citizens’ constitutional rights that are provided for under the Constitution.
“The current SOE and its extension has been all about power and control.”
O’Neill said it remained to be understood why the Government insisted that dealing with the coronavirus should be a police-led operation.
“Managing the Covid-19 threat is a healthcare issue, and it is an economic issue, and it should only become a police issue if there is non-compliance with Government instructions that are intended to maintain public safety.
“The state of emergency has already caused extensive damage to our people and the economy through the use of heavy-handed security measures.
“There is no reason to believe that the undemocratic measures, including those that have hurt businesses and caused job losses, and the abuse of human rights, will not continue indefinitely.
“This Government caused unnecessary hardship on so many of our people when there was no need to do this.
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