Commiserations to Meri Wau: Disappointing Outcome for Women Cadidates

I am disappointed that PNG did not vote in capable women candidates. Again, Lady Kidu will be the lone woman voice and it is a shame when considering that women are the backbone of our society. This country will not get anywhere until our women are respected, heard, and allowed to have their rightful place in the modern PNG society and are represented fairly on the floor of parliament. Many countries in the world have strong women in elected offices at every level. They are elected based on their leadership qualities, policies and qualification/experience irrespective of their gender. Our women can be strong leaders too. But how can they become strong and better leaders when, during elections, they are seen as mere women and not judged on the basis of their experiences, policies, qualifications, and leadership qualities? Even after over 30 years of political independence, we continues to view our women with the same stoneage mentality of our fathers and forefathers. And I am even more disappointed that the womenfolk of PNG did not go to the polls with a single mind to get better representation in parliament. This was an opportunity for women to change the balance of representation and it just went begging.

My commiserations goes to Meri Wau. I had alot of hope that the women of Bulolo/Wau would support one of their own, by giving her either their 1st or 2nd votes. It is sad that that did not occur. Like the Post Courier Editorial (below) says, it is time for the women of PNG to carry out a post-moterm. They will need to get organized, carry out awareness campaigns through PNG, right into the rural areas and educate womenfolks in the village level. Women have to lead the fight in the elections and start voting their own in order to get fair representation at the local, provincial and national levels. And the menfolk, like myself, who believe in fairness and equal participation will follow. I now will wait for 2012... so long folks!



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Post Courier Editorial
Friday 27th July, 2007

It’s all over for women candidates
THE worst nightmare for women in the 2007 general elections has happened. Not one of the nearly 100 women candidates who contested the elections in the hope of joining Dame Carol Kidu in the National Parliament has been declared winner of any seat in Papua New Guinea.
This is an indictment of the kind of society we are. We are truly a nation dominated by men in every aspect of life. Men dictate everything and decide who gets into power and who represents the women in Parliament. The women should now get together and conduct a post-mortem on how the elections went as far as women are concerned, looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the system of electing leaders and in particular women. There are many women in all walks of life out there in the community who can make a difference as Members of Parliament if given the opportunity to serve as national leaders. The challenge now is for the women to take the first step to prepare for the 2012 general elections. Don’t sit back and wait for 2010 before you start preparing. Start now and walk through this nation from Samarai to Vanimo, Lorengau to Daru and Kavieng to Kandep. Tell the nation why it is important for this nation to have gender balance in Parliament. Tell this nation what women are capable of doing for this nation. As the men take their seats in the 7th National Parliament, the women should start preparing for the 8th National Parliament. All good men should also rise up and support our women. The electorate must be educated and the time to do that is now. While we support the struggle of women to get into national politics, we also call on the women to be united and speak with one united voice. In order for that to happen women should first gather and conduct a post-mortem into why voters have rejected all except one woman candidate. The cause of this rejection must be fully established from the beginning in order for the women to chart a new course into the future. We call on all women’s organisations to get together and start the process now. While the wounds of the electoral defeat are still fresh and memories of the struggles on the campaign trail are as fresh as ever in the minds, it is time to talk.
In a few months time, everything will be forgotten and the women will return to business as usual. Until the next general elections