Save PNG Parliament

10 December, 2013

Dulciana Somare-Brash

misc

Save PNG Parliament

PNG Parliamentary Speaker Theo Zurenuoc’s decision to ‘cleanse’ the PNG national parliament building of traditionally carved indigenous totems, icons and embellishments has attracted widespread criticism. Papua New Guineans concerned about the preservation and recent desecration of their cultural heritage by a national leader have ridiculed the speaker’s justifications as akin to dishonorable. PNG National Museum and Art Gallery Director, Dr Andrew Moutu says the speaker’s advisors want ‘to make moves to amend the constitution, the section governing freedom of conscience and religious belief.’ Many online and print media critics are posing poignant arguments questioning the rationality of Zurenuoc’s public claim that the artifacts are the source of the ‘satanic’ influence over PNG legislators in recent times. Bloggers are concerned that opinions of anthropologists and scholars concerned with governance have been ignored over those of overtly evangelist advisors close to the speaker.

This article was written by

Dulciana Somare-Brash

Dulciana Somare-Brash has Bachelor Degrees in political science & international relations, and law from James Cook University. Her experience in politics and development ranges from employment with ABC/Radio Australia in Port Moresby, and later as Senior Research Officer at the Australian High Commission there. Most recently Dulciana has been PiPP's deputy executive director and director of operations in PNG.

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