Court halts PNG Parliament artifacts removal

FORMER Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has obtained a court order restraining Speaker Theodore Zurenouc from removing any cultural property from Parliament. 

Justice David Cannings ordered on Dec 31 that Zurenuoc and other defendants named in the court papers were restrained from moving, removing or destroying any cultural property in Parliament House. 

The matter returns to court on Jan 17 before Cannings. 

Cannings restrained Zurenouc and the other defendants from moving, removing or destroying artefacts, art works, adornments and totem poles from Parliament. 

The orders are in place until the National Court rules otherwise. 

Somare was represented by a lawyer from Koeget Lawyers who asked the court yesterday to grant an extension of time to effect service of court documents on Zurenouc. 

The lawyer said court documents had already been served on other defendants namely the Solicitor-General and L&A Construction Company.

Cannings granted the extension of time and ordered the matter be returned to him next Friday. 

The removal of the traditional artefacts from Parliament by Speaker Zurenouc last month created a lot of public debate over their displacement.  

ONE PNG / ONE PNG