PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – The Papua New Guinea chapter of Transparency International (TIPNG) has drawn Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare’s ire over the past week for comments made to the press.  TIPNG board chairman Mike Manning told an anti-corruption seminar recently that a third of PNG’s budget is stolen by corrupt politicians.

Manning said that these politicians are not punished for their crimes, but are re-elected instead.  “Until we impose on people a sense of shame for doing wrong, we are never going to stop corruption,” he added.  Manning believes that the pervasive corruption in PNG is degrading the nation’s infrastructure.

In response, Somare challenged Transparency International to name names rather than make “hasty generalizations”.  He requested that if TIPNG has relevant information, that information be turned over to the police and relevant enforcement agencies.  “Otherwise,” he said, “they should stop playing power games under the guise of transparency.”

Somare and Transparency International have had some minor scuffles in the press before, most recently over the Moti affair and Somare’s alleged involvement in it.

For more information, please see:

Stuff.co.nz (AAP) – A third of PNG govt budget stolen each year – 06 December 2007

PNG Office of the Prime Minister – Name corrupt politicians, Sir Michael urges Transparency International – 10 December 2007

Pacific Magazine – Sir Michael Blasts Transparency International Comments – 18 December 2007