“These are soldiers who have served the PNG Defense Force and this country with loyalty and distinction,” Commodore Peter Ilau said to Attorney General and Justice Minister Dr. Allan Marat.
“Most of them have gone past the age of 55 and have lost the remaining dignity they once enjoyed. It saddens me to see decorated soldiers of this nation in this group of plaintiffs, now walking the streets to make ends meet, because we have decided to litigate what is a simple administrative matter.
“It is my humble plea that we deal with them in an honorable humanitarian manner consistent with the manner now undertaken by my administration.”
This was Commodore Ilau’s plea in a letter dated June 4 to Dr. Marat to exercise his powers in clearing a check of $4.9 million was made payable to number of ex-servicemen early this year but was abruptly stopped.
The delay in clearance and restoring them back on the payroll has seen 13 ex-soldiers die without being discharged lawfully from the Force.
In his letter to the Attorney General, he said a defense council meeting had resolved for his office and the ex-soldiers to settle out of court because they were not discharged lawfully under the PNGDF Manual of Personnel Administration.
Acting Attorney General William Duma endorsed the position of the PNGDF and urged them to discharge the ex-soldiers lawfully.
“It is on this basis the PNGDF then sought to reinstate the plaintiffs, and pay them their salaries backdated to the time they were removed from the payroll. My officers proceeded the calculations and liaised with the Department of Treasury for appropriate funding to be allocated to this exercise.
The check of K12,919,600 paid to Amet Lawyers in January this year was the completion of the first part of the administrative process employed by my officers in pursuance of my directive. I am advised the check represents the backdated salaries of the plaintiffs. But it was not cleared because a senior lawyer who was acting purportedly on behalf of the commander had given contrary advice on the matter, resulting in the check having been stopped,” he said.
