Undialu: Hela law and order is provincial and national importance
Hela governor Philip Undialu says law and order in the province is a matter of both provincial and national importance, particularly as Hela is host to the PNG LNG project.
Undialu said this in light of the Hela Provincial Assembly and Provincial Executive Council [PEC], having considered the recent ex parte Supreme Court stay order affecting the National Court proceedings on law and order in Hela, resolved as follows:
The Hela Provincial Government and Provincial Administrator are named respondents but were neither consulted nor consented to the application for the stay. We have been preparing to appear before the Resident Judge and provide evidence on the work being undertaken to address law and order.
"We reaffirm our full support for the Resident Judge and the National Court’s work in Hela. Law and justice are fundamental to the protection of our people and their rights, and the Resident Court provides an important avenue to examine these challenges and find lasting solutions."
"We respectfully call on Solicitor General Joseph Aka to withdraw or seek the discharge of the ex parte stay so that the substantive National Court proceedings can proceed.
"The summonses and directions were issued on June 2026. The Prime Minister is expected to participate on 12 September, and I am scheduled to participate on 17 September," he said.
He stressed that the Commissioner of Police and Commissioner of Correctional Services have important constitutional and statutory responsibilities to protect lives, maintain public safety and uphold law and order.
He said law and order is fundamentally a human-rights issue.
Governor Undialu emphasized that when people’s lives and property are at risk, every responsible institution must be prepared to account for what it has done and what more it will do.
He said if national agencies believe Hela’s law-and-justice capacity is inadequate, then come before the court, provide the evidence, explain the gaps and tell the people what additional support and action will be provided.
"We should be man enough to face the questions and guarantee that we will do better, rather than allowing court processes to become a means of avoiding scrutiny or accountability.
"If the stay is not withdrawn or discharged, the Hela provincial government will immediately take appropriate legal steps to object to and challenge it before the Supreme Court, in accordance with the law," he stated.
The governor said Hela hosts the PNG LNG project, generating billions of kina in economic activity. Law and order in Hela is therefore a matter of both provincial and national importance.
"We respect the independence of the courts and will not prejudge matters before them.
"Let the evidence be heard. Let every summoned person be heard. Let those responsible account for their constitutional responsibilities. Let the courts determine the issues according to law," governor Undialu said.