12 Days to Sir Julius Chan Resignation - 1997 Sandline Crises

The year was 1997. Sir Julius Chan was prime minister for almost 32 months. Bougainville crisis was in its 9th year. His Story – Sir J’s 12 days to his resignation as the PM of Papua New Guinea.

Recommended read: Sir Julius Chan Life in Politics - A Review of His Book ' Playing the Game

1. 16th March: Beginning of Operation Rausim Kwik. On the night of 16 March 1997, the revolt began. By the time the night was over, the entire band of Sandline mercenaries had been disarmed and arrested. Prime Minister Chan did not find out until the next morning.

2. 17th March: PNG Defence Force Commander, Brig. Gen. Jerry Singirok demanded Sir Julius Chan (PM), Chris Haiveta (DPM) and Mathias Ijape (Defence minister) resigned within 48 hours (2 days); The prime minister Sir Julius Chan reacted by sacking BG J. Singirok, replacing him with CONTROVERSIAL Colonel Alfred Aikung.

3. 18th March: A boycott of classes began at the University of Papua New Guinea, in support of Singirok. Crowds of civilians blocked the roads around the barracks, and bomb hoaxes closed down government departments.

4. 19th March: 48th hour ultimatum expired, the protests turned violent, and some looting began. The situation grew darker for Chan when the Governor-General, Sir Wiwa Korowi, took out a newspaper advertisement that also accused the government of widespread corruption.

5. 20th March: The Australian government sent emissaries to Port Moresby, and threatened to withdraw financial aid altogether if the Sandline deal was not cancelled.

6. 21st March: All Sandline's personnel, with the exception of Tim Spicer, who remained to give evidence to the inquiry, were withdrawn.

7. 22nd March:  Civil strike continued, UPNG students met at forum square every day; Speaker of Parliament and former Prime Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu met with Chan and Singirok, and advised the latter (JS) that two of his demands had been met, and that Chan would resign only at the wish of Parliament.

8. 23rd March: Major Walter Enuma, a key Singirok supporter, said "We would like to see this thing off the streets and back into the political arena."

9. 24th March: Chan’s grip on power was fast eroding; 5 NEC ministers resigned, Sir Wiwa Korowi (GG) and Church leaders reiterated call for Chan to step aside pertaining to CoI into Sandline Crises.

10. 25th March: March Parliament session began, Bill Skate was ready to bring forth a motion calling on Chan to RESIGN. Sir Michael Somare amended Skate's motion, so it only called upon Chan to STEP DOWN for the period of the inquiry.

11. March 26th: Demonstrators celebrated the news that Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan had just "stepped aside."

12. 27th March: Chan realised that his position was hopeless.  John Giheno appointed acting PM.

The success of Operation Rausim Kwik was a victory for every Papua New Guinean from Buin to Bewani and Manam to Yalibu.

NRL Players Playing in Intrust Super Cup Final Games 2022

The NRL (National Rugby League) players had been called up to play in the Intrust Super Cup (ISC) final games in the past. These players potentially changed the outcomes of games at the ISC level.

The argument of teams taking on the challenge and either win or lose is one thing. But, is it fair?

Here are 5 reasons why the NRL players should not play any ISC final games:

1. The NRL fultime players have not played a single ISC game all season. They are slotted in last minute to just win a game. Fact.

For NRL players to qualify to play, the players must play some ISC games during the 2017 season. Probably 5 or more games. It is not late yet for the Intrust Super Cup management to come up with some control measures if the management does not have one yet. 

2. The NRL players are from eliminated teams - their teams have not made it to NRL finals. That means that they have rested well for several weeks. The players should not be included in ISC final games as it is not fair on players who have been leading the team to this stage.

3. The NRL players have experienced top level games all year. The level of competitions at NRL and ISC is different. Just getting an NRL player into a team to win the final is not fair competition.

Understandably, you want to get your NRL players to win a crucial game for you.  But you also want to give the player who shone in his absence a fair go. When it comes to choosing a player to play in the final games, NRL players are not an option as far as being fair to players is concerned.

4. The NRL players have had their chances to prove their worth in top division. If they had not proven to their coaches and teams that they can bring their teams to the NRL finals, why including those NRL players at ISC level? And would they have played if their teams had been in the NRL finals? 

Let them take their time off and prepare for next year. This is the best thing they must do.

5. The NRL players inclusion is damaging to teams' moral. From past experiences,  these players tend to leave vacuum in their teams when they aren't around. This can lead to the teams led by overlooked players who think they are not good enough.

In retrospect, it is okay to have the NRL players around during the preliminary rounds.  And also have them around in the finals.

What's not right is using an NRL player, in the final games,  who has not even played a single ISC game. An NRL player who had not played a single ISC match must not be allowed to play in the ISC finals.

Intrust Super Cup competition 

The Intrust Super Cup competition should have control over inclusion of NRL players especially in the final games. It is important that this happens to keep the integrity of the competition at the ISC level.