Chiefs asked to respect law

The Opposition has called on

the delegation of just arrived chiefs from Santo, Malo, Pentecost and Tanna currently in Port Vila, to take heed of the wise words of the Paramount Chief of Ifira, Mantoi Kalsakau III and President of the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs, Chief Seni Mao Tirsupe, to respect the law concerning the 14 imprisoned MPs.

Chiefs still in the islands are also sincerely asked by the Opposition to stay home and not come to Port Vila to join their colleagues.

Tanna MP, Joe Natuman, says the traditional respect for chiefs stays in its place but their arrival in the Capital last weekend was “at a wrong time at the wrong place”.

MP Natuman says custom and law are two institutional sectors which should not be mixed.

“As chiefs, we make sure that there is a fence that surrounds our nakamal to provide safety then a similar fence also surrounds our nation. We as chiefs have to also respect this fence,” he says.

MP Natuman says he has deep respect for chiefs which was why he has not lodged a complaint to the police yet. He wants the chiefs who are now on the ground in Port Vila and those still in the islands, to reconsider what they plan to do and allow the law to take its course.

“I am deeply concerned that if I proceed to lodge my complaint, some of our highly respected traditional leaders could end up in jail,” he predicted.

“I am taking this opportunity to ask through the media for all chiefs to remain quiet while the law is allowed to be pursued.

“Let me stress here that the Head of State is mandated by law to carry out his duties to either pardon, commute or reduce a prisoner’s sentence.

“Let me add that the Head of State must be allowed to make his decision based on his free will and not due to pressure from the communities.

“Let us be mindful that we do not break the law. Please allow the Head of State to exercise his powers according to his own free will,” MP Natuman pleads.

Furthermore he says releasing a prisoner cannot be based on custom or politics. “The whole world is focusing on Vanuatu. We have to be very careful not to become the laughing stock in the eyes of the world”, he warns.

He says governance is breaking down, democracy is breaking down and the rule of law is also breaking down. “Chiefs have their roles to carry out in their communities but when it comes to the current situation here in Port Vila, the law must be allowed to prevail without any pressure from anyone,” he says.

The majority of concerns raised by public in the media so far go against the planned meetings of the chiefs.