Papua New Guinea’s population in 1999 was estimated at 5.2 million people, with a growth rate of 2.3%. The economy of Papua New Guinea was largely dependent on its agricultural sector, which accounted for around 40% of the country’s GDP. This was supplemented by the services and manufacturing industries. Foreign relations in 1999 were largely positive with the country enjoying strong ties with many Pacific Island nations and the wider international community. Politically, Papua New Guinea had been an independent nation since 1975 when it formally adopted a democratic system. The ruling party at this time was the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), which had been in power since 1997. In 1999, Bill Skate was Prime Minister and had been since 1997. See ethnicityology for Papua New Guinea in the year of 2018.
Yearbook 1999
Papua New Guinea. Visit Countryaah official website to get information about the capital city of Papua New Guinea. About 60 people lost their lives in tribal battles that raged in the Eastern Highlands province in March. The combatants used modern light weapons that were probably stolen from the army.
- Also see Abbreviationfinder.org to see the acronym of PNG which stands for Papua New Guinea and other definitions of this 3-letter abbreviation.
The so-called reconciliation government on the island of Bougainville was replaced by an election in May by a People’s Congress that appointed Joseph Kabui as chairman. The year before, a peace agreement had been concluded between the PNG government and the island of Bougainville’s rebel army, which for nine years fought in vain for independence.
In June, Prime Minister Bill Skate dismissed four of the coalition government’s ministers and replaced them with members of the opposition. Shortly thereafter, nine ministers left the government, and in early July Bill Skate found it too good to resign himself before the opposition had the chance to conduct a planned vote of no confidence. New government leader was Mekere Morauta, leader of the People’s Democratic Movement. Morauta was supported by 99 of the Parliament’s 105 members. The Foreign Minister was appointed veteran politician and PNG’s first Prime Minister Michael Somare, who was also given responsibility for the sensitive issues regarding Bougainville.
Morauta’s measures to stabilize the currency, balance the budget and privatize state-owned companies won confidence with the World Bank, which in November promised PNG a $ 300 million aid program linked to ongoing restructuring. During the year, among other things, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget reduced by 40%, and a temporary ban was introduced on foreign trips for ministers and government officials.
HISTORY
The state is made up of two originally distinct regions. Papua, formerly a British protectorate (1884-1906), later an Australian colony, and the constitutive archipelagos of New Guinea of NE, a former German colony, administered by Australia since 1914 (since 1921 with mandate from the League of Nations). After the Japanese occupation (1941-45), the UN entrusted the territories to Australia in trust and in 1949 a joint administration was established that delimited the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. In 1971 the territory took on its current name, in 1973 it obtained self-government and on September 16, 1975 full independence. Since then, coalition governments have succeeded in a substantially stable political framework. During the 1990s, one of the country’s main problems was the re-explosion of the secessionist movement on the island of Bougainville, led by the Bougainville revolutionary army (BRA). An agreement was signed in 1998 which provided for the cessation of hostilities, but the most extremist wing of the BRA refused to lay down their arms. On the international level, the country, while maintaining a privileged relationship with Australia, it intensified relations with Europe and the USA, while the harsh Indonesian repression of the Papuan independence movement in Irian kept relations between the two states tense. In December 1998 a government of reconciliation was established in Bougainville, to which only some of the leaders of the independence movement adhered. During 2000 negotiations continued with the independence movement and in 2001 a peace agreement was signed which provided for the future holding of a referendum on the state of the island. The 2002 legislative elections saw the return to power of M. Somare, father of national independence. His government, which faced an explosive social situation, characterized by the spread of crime and AIDS, was confirmed by the 2007 elections. In March 2011, following Somare’s protracted absence from the country due to health problems, Parliament removed him from office by appointing P. O’Neill as prime minister, party leader at the opposition People’s National Congress; the Supreme Court, initially expressed in favor of Somare’s reinstatement, in December established the legitimacy of O’Neill’s appointment, reaffirmed by the parliamentary elections of June-July 2012 which registered the victory of the People’s National Congress led by O ‘ Neill, reconfirmed in the office of premier after the elections in August 2017. A serious political crisis resulting from an agreement on the exploitation of gas signed with the companies Total and ExxonMobil.
November
The Supreme Court intervenes
November 30
The opposition’s planned vote of confidence – and thus a looming government crisis – is postponed when the Supreme Court wants more time to decide when the next session in parliament will be held. The opposition wanted a rally on December 1, but loyal members of parliament want Parliament to be closed until April 2021.
Faithful to the government make their counterattack
November 17
Parliament’s loyal members of parliament gather and adopt the 2021 budget and adjourn the next session of Parliament until April 2021. This is done to avoid a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Marape.
Statement of no confidence threatens Marape
November 13
Several ministers, including the deputy prime minister, are stepping down from government cooperation and appear to be moving to the opposition. A majority is voting to temporarily close parliament until December 1, when a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Marape is planned. The challenge against Marape comes a few days before the country is to be visited by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
