Failing 'Big Men' Allowing The Rise Of Mercenary Servants

I think it was March 1997 when I was first abruptly introduced to the phenomenon of 'mercenary soldiers' in the infamous 'Sandline Crisis' right on our very own solid shores. The word 'mercenary' is often used as an adjective to imply being 'influenced by greed; working merely for reward.' The popular example noun is hired soldier. Mercenaries are considered heartless. They have no loyalty to state or country or its citizens but are in it, or whatever service that they are hired, for themselves. I wonder how many good citizens, especially in the public sector, have been turned into mercenaries and are currently pretending in the service of our country? Increasingly citizens are disheartened and are taking the mercenary pathway. I don't blame them, especially when the 'big men' are constantly perceived to be not doing the right things. The 'big men' are expected to inspire a shared vision, challenge existing processes, encourage the heart and enable the subordinates to act. They are expected to be just and fair in propagating positive influence from their positions at the top echelon of our contemporary society. In their failings they are allowing the mercenary attitude to blossom and flourish below them.

Our 'Big Man' Concept Can Still Be A Force For Good

PNG is a Melanesian country and a collectivist society still deeply rooted and steep in tradition. The status of ‘big man’ must not be rubbished or dismissed in a hurry as ancient or antique. In PNG people work for their leader and in return the leader looks after people’s collective interests. Modern day ‘big men’ still wield dominant influence on the masses. They can be a force for good if we put in the right ideas into their heads. For instance, when the US colonized Japan right after WW2, five star US Army General Douglas MacArthur ran a program to put the idea of democracy in the Japanese heads. He started off with the Emperor of Japan who at the time was very eligible to be prosecuted for all the WW2 war crimes. But Gen. Douglas reverted to let him walk free in the promise that he will use his influence to convert all Japanese to accept ‘democracy’. He said Japanese’s are humans, they have minds, they can be converted if we put in the right ideas in their minds but we must start with the person they look up to. Japanese at that time before the war believe that the emperor was a direct descendant from the Sun god. Similarly our ‘big man’ concept can be leverage off to propagate positive influences.

Why A Positive Justice Perception From Our ‘Big Men’ Is Important

An attitude is an evaluative tendency to respond to some specific object, situation, person or a category of people. Our individual values and beliefs influence our attitudes. Attitude toward justice perception can have a critical effect on citizens' behaviour toward our country and our GoPNG. Positive citizens' attitude makes an important contribution to good governance of our country at all levels. GoPNG will want from its citizens commitment to the country and good citizenship behaviour. But ‘big men’ leaders of the country must create in us, the citizens, a positive perception of justice especially in distributive justice and procedural justice. Distributive justice concerns the distribution of common wealth, resource and power. Procedural justice on the otherhand concerns the following of established processes and procedures. Citizens perceive justice if the decision-making processes and procedures and punishment are applied consistently across people and across time, free from bias and based on facts. Justice perception is influence by both individual and PESTEL environmental factors. But a positive justice perception will often rest on leadership (i.e. understanding importance of positive justice perception), structure (i.e. having policies, processes and procedures in place) and discipline (i.e. commitment to every time following the structure). In the absence of a positive perception of justice, the mercenary pathway looks attractive and rewarding where every person exist for themselves.

Now see the case below from the lens provided above!

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ROYAL PAPUA NEW GUINEA Constabulary - MEDIA STATEMENT

Thursday December 13th 2018

11 Policemen Rearrested And Charged For Stealing

The cases of 12 policemen charged for being in possession of stolen properties were struck out of Court but eleven of them were rearrested and charged by members of the Policing the Police Task Force Team for the same offences.

The 12 policemen, appeared in court today charged for stealing valuable items at the height of the 2018 APEC security allowance saga, which led to the storming of parliament by disgruntled members of the Police and Correctional Services. Members of the Policing The Police Task Force Team (PPTFT) set up by Commissioner Gari Baki acted four days later by raiding the Kila and Badili Police Barracks in the National Capital District, where these 12 policemen were arrested and some of the stolen properties were recovered.

The 12 policemen acussed of stealing were named as:

Constable Collins Sina, 36-year old;

Constable Llyod Laka, 25 year old;

Raja Kala, 35 year old;

Constable Warimo Vavine, 42 year old;

Constable Keith Bobby, 43 year old;

Constable Henao Pokana, 28-year old;

Constable Morgen Rancha;

Senior Constable Manu Kila, 44-year old;

Senior constable Ane Is, 43 year old;

Constable Kila Ute, 37 year old;

Constable Geno; and

Sergeant Richard Gei, 55 year old.

They were locked up at the Boroko police station cells but later released on K300 bail each until their appearance today at the Boroko District Court House. Police prosecutors cited flaws in the charges and requested for amendments to be made at today’s hearing but the lawyer representing the accussed policemen objected and the case was struck out of court.

The flaws include the insertion of incorrect information pertaining to the date and place of the alleged offences. The policemen were allegedly in possession of water dispensors believed to be stolen from the Sir John Guise Stadium after prison wardens and police personnel protested and rampaged at the parliament on November 20 soon after the conclusion of the 2018 APEC Summit in Port Moresby.

Upon receiving the court’s decision, the accused were momentarily delighted but upon their exit from the court house, eleven of them were rounded up again by members of the PTPTFT and charged accordingly.

Constable Morgen Rancha escaped from the court house today but is expected to be arrested and charged soon.

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Chief Superintendent Dominic D. Kakas, BEM,

DPS Director Media Royal PNG Constabulary

Ph. (675) 3226 241 (Media Unit)

Mobile: 75430557

Email: [email protected]