Samson Komati’s arrest is reminiscent of Bryan Kramer’s arrest when he wasn’t a MP yet. We have come full circle under two prime minister’s where social media activists are arrested and jailed.
Here are a few things to remember as a social media commentator:
- Employees
If you have a complaint as a public servant, or if you have evidence of corruption or wrong doing, don’t post on social media. Use the procedures laid out in the Whistleblower’s Act, and lodge your complaints with the police, Ombudsman Commission or ICAC.
If it’s a “leader” as defined under the Leadership Code, make the complaint to the Ombudsman Commission. If he’s not a public official, or CEO of a company, go to ICAC or police.
ICAC and police can deal with all corrupt cases whilst Ombudsman Commission can only deal with those leaders currently occupying office.
Between ICAC and police, ICAC commissioners are all non-Papua New Guineans so potentially not politically affiliated. It’s still new so we don’t know how effective it will be.
If you post on social media, it’s not a formal complaint and no authority is required to investigate. Police can, but ICAC and OC don’t have to.
- Private Citizen
Say you’re not employed and have nothing to loose. You don’t need Whistleblower law’s protection, and you can basically go through the same agencies listed above.
- So what about social media?
Social media is proving to be more vibrant than traditional media in holding leaders accountable. Leaders are forced to respond when a post goes viral.
But social media doesn’t have an editor that ensures the information is correct. It opens you up to potential prosecution. It’s better to post facts that can be traced back to a legitimate source that is publicly available. For instance, if you claim someone owns a company we can search on Investment Promotion Authority website and verify it.
That’s a claim that is based on a legitimate source and is publicly available.
But if you say someone got paid corruptly, and the finance department does have a copy of the signed cheque, but it’s not on finance department’s website, it’s not publicly available even though it’s possibly a true claim. Finance department’s records are a legitimate source but it’s not public.
- Don’t get into a fight with the judiciary
I whatever you do, stay the hell out of the judiciary’s way. It’s a terrible idea to criticise a judge, and stand before and judge, to be judged.
PNG has 11 million people. Pick on one of them, not the judges.
I’m not saying it’s fair, I’m saying it’s a terrible idea, and record shows it’s a terrible idea. Ask Brian Kramer on how he was dismissed from office.
- Is it worth it?
I know we all want to be corruption fighters, but ask yourself if it’s worth it. If you’re the bread winner, leave the politics to others. It’s not worth it. Politicians never last. The one you mad at will be replaced. Or as always is the case, the corruption fighting politician you’re supporting with be on the same side as the corrupt politician you both are fighting to get rid off. All politicians are friends at some level. The people are used as tools of advocacy. It’s a caucus.
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