| Subject: An article worth reading by all engan women and girls |
Author:
larsen
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Date Posted: Wed, Sep 17 2008, 11:54:08am
In reply to:
larsen
's message, "Independence: Wishing All Engans both in and Out of ENGA Province" on Wed, Sep 10 2008, 09:11:49am
An article worth reading by all engan women and girls. A good reading for the men too.
Encouraging and support engan women and girls to excel in all sectors of the engan economy and outside of it too.
Post Courier, Wednesday, 17 September 2008
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Rooney recalls first time as a jail bird
On September 11, 1979, 29 years ago, Nahau Rooney, Justice Minister then was jailed at Bomana for contempt of court.
This was front page news. The first PNG women minister jailed only four years after PNG’s independence.
Last Thursday (September 11), Mrs Rooney told the Post-Courier she recalls crystal clear the events of that day.
“I sat before a Supreme Court panel headed by the then Chief Justice William Prentice who ruled that I was guilty of contempt of court in relation to the case of the deportation of the then University of PNG lecturer Dr Ralph Premdas. I was shocked. I did not think this would happen,” she said.
“I was escorted out of the courthouse by three policemen while my husband walked at my side. I will never forget that day. I felt stripped off my pride and dignity, my rights as a normal citizen. I felt so degraded to be jailed. I was taken to Bomana jail and given two used blouses, skirts and underpants worn by a former prisoner,” she said.
The Chief Justice ordered Mrs Rooney to eight months imprisonment at Bomana for contempt of court.
It was over the case of Dr Premdas — who was a political lecturer at the UPNG. The then Somare government of which Mrs Rooney was cabinet minister believed.
The court had ordered her arrest after she wrote to the Foreign Affairs Minister to deport Dr Premdas when the court had advised otherwise.
She claimed Dr Premdas, an expert academic on contract to the university, was involving himself in politics by advising the then Deputy Prime Minister Sir Iambakek Okuk to overthrow the Somare government in a vote of no confidence.
Mrs Rooney demanded his deportation, however, was jailed because of that.
She was released 24 hours later when Sir Michael, the then Prime Minister used his discretion to order her release from prison.
Just last Thursday, Mrs Rooney was appointed one of the commissioners of the Accidents Investigation Commission.
She said she is happy and honoured to serve on the commission but she said the September 11 event will always a be a significant day in her life.
“I was jailed on September 11, 1979, the September 11, 2001 was the tragic twin towers bombing in New York and today September 11, 2008, I have been appointed a commissioner,” Mrs Rooney said.
“I believe and am proud to say despite the experience 29 years ago, I never lost my pride and dignity as a woman and citizen of this country.
“I will continue to strive for the progress and prosperity of this country as I have done since independence.”
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