The pivotal reasons behind Sir Michael Somare fighting for home rule in Papua New Guinea, highlighting the quest for self-governance and education.

Home Rule: The Vision of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare

By: Gerard IVALAOA. 12 Feb. 2025 WHY HOME RULE? In this article, I will share some of the many reasons why the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare led Pangu Pati in the fight for home rule and self-government during his tenure as Chief Minister in the second House of Assembly. Why was home rule such a top priority for the Chief Minister and leader of Pangu Pati? One major issue was that during the first House of Assembly, many of our forefathers—Papua New Guinea’s first politicians—were illiterate. They participated in question sessions using broken Tok Pisin, while Australians had been our colonizers for nearly 30 years. During this time, Australians had no real plans to educate Papua New Guineans. Instead, their efforts were primarily focused on missionary work, exploiting our natural resources, and destroying or looting our cultural artifacts. The policies passed during the first House of Assembly were designed in Australia and did not reflect the interests of the people of Papua New Guinea. As stated in Prelude to Self-Government: “All ordinances passed by the House of Assembly required the approval of the administrator and/or the Governor-General (acting on the advice of the Minister of External Territories).” This meant that policies were drafted in Australia and merely debated in Papua New Guinea. Furthermore, the public service structure established at that time was created to implement policies made elsewhere, rather than to facilitate internal governance. As noted in *Prelude to Self-Government*: “However, the current public service structure was designed to implement policies that had been made elsewhere, rather than for internal ministerial government.” During his first international trip to Africa, Sir Michael Thomas Somare observed significant differences in educational investment. He reflected in his autobiography, “It was clear that the British had trained many more Africans than Australians had trained Papua New Guineans” (Sana, p. 75). This disparity was evident in the way Australians often treated our elders with disrespect, referring to them as “boy” and regarding them as children. When Somare traveled to the United States for the first time, he was struck by the sight of hundreds of Africans studying there, many of whom returned to lead their own countries after graduation. This realization left him saddened, as he noted in his autobiography: “The Australians had spent so many years in our country without any real plan to educate Papua New Guineans” (Sana, p. 80). Thus, Somare’s fight for home rule was also a fight for the development of Papua New Guinea’s human resources. In an open forum at Wabag, someone asked Somare, “Where are the engineers, doctors, pilots, and teachers of PNG who will develop this country ?” Somare pointed to the women there and responded, “The mothers standing here will give birth to children who will gain the knowledge to run the country.” Related Posts: Sana: An autobiography of Michael Somare A Call To Ethical Leadership And National Unity – Honoring Sir Michael Thomas Somare Legacy In Papua New Guinea ADDRESSING CORRUPT FEATURES OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA POLITICS; by Dulciana Somare Brash A life of Grace and Patience; Eulogy of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare; Founding Father of The Independent State of Papua New Guinea Chief Sir Julius Chan’s Farewell Speech to Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. Somare Mentor Tells All Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare Dies at Age 84

Read more news and stories here. Watch online news and documentaries about Papua New Guinea here.