Defiant court ousted "prime minister" Peter O'Nell says crisis is over. Photo: Post-Courier

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Junior Ukaha and Jeffrey Elapa in Port Moresby

Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga has “stood down” the Port Moresby-based armed robbery response unit commanded by his rival Fred Yakasa as officials loyal to Peter O’Neill moved to consolidate the court-ousted “prime minister’s” hold on power in Papua New Guinea.

Kulunga disarmed the elite force, saying it was necessary to “maintain a good public perception” of the constabulary.

A Supreme Court split ruling declared O’Neill’s four-month prime ministership unconstitutional a week ago and ruled that former prime minister Sir Michael Somare should be reinstated.

The National's front page today.

But vowing that the week-long stalemate is over, O’Neill has insisted he is the legimate national leader.

MPs supporting O’Neill took over Morauta House last Friday, an action condemned by members of Somare’s faction.

The 73 members from the Parliament-elected government of O’Neill came in three buses and were escorted by police.

They drove to Morauta House where they conducted their National Executive Council meeting.

Government ‘hijacked’
Frustrated members of the Somare faction walked out and drove away, saying the executive arm of the government had once again been “hijacked”.

Kulunga said the armed robbery response unit (ARRU)  was not being disbanded but simply stood-down until the political upheaval had been resolved.

He said once that happened the unit would be re-commissioned.

“Your guns and vehicles will be returned to you at a later date,” he said.

“The conflict is not in the police force but between two political groups.

“But some people happen to be caught in between.”

Kulunga insisted he was the legitimate commissioner and warned members of the police force not to take advice from non-commissioned officers.

‘I’m commissioner’
“There’s only one commissioner and that’s me. I am the commissioner. I remain steadfast until a new appointment is made,” he said.

The armed robbery response unit was the group that prevented Peter O’Neill from entering Government House last Monday evening.

James Marape, the Tar-Pori MP and a supporter of Somare, said: “Today is a coup taking place and the cabinet has been attacked,” The National reported.

Speaking after his group was overpowered by the 73 members who walked in to take control of the office of Prime Minister and National Executive Council, he said they sat on the other side with their support for the Grand Chief to safeguard the constitution of the nation.

Other members who expressed dismay were the member for Moresby South Dame Carol Kidu and Bart Philemon.

As they were talking to the media, the O’Neill group came out of the Morauta Haus and told them to join their group and not to “waste time”.

Soon after the O’Neill government left, the Somare group returned and organised a media conference, maintaining that they were still the legitimate government according to the Supreme Court decision.

Source: The National