Papua New Guinea: Corruption and Organized Crime Run Deep

Port Moresby - Since gaining independence in 1975, Papua New Guinea has been plagued by corruption and organized crime, with all subsequent governments being coalitions of multiple political parties and independent members who often change allegiances for pragmatic reasons.

Corruption Pervades All Levels of the State

• Corruption is a pervasive problem that affects all levels of the state
• Very few cases have successfully been prosecuted over the past two decades
• Funding for anti-corruption organizations has fallen to its lowest level in recent times, allowing corruption to thrive

Business Sector Also Rife with Corruption

• Vote-buying is widespread and there is no freedom of information legislation in place
• Papua New Guinea is perceived to be one of the most corrupt nations in the region, along with Solomon Islands

Judicial System Remains Independent but Faces Challenges

• Despite pressure from the executive, the judicial system remains generally independent
• However, it is poorly resourced, leading to lengthy detentions and trial delays
• Courts are slow to administer justice, and prison conditions are poor, understaffed, unhygienic, and overcrowded

Law Enforcement Agencies Face Corruption Issues

• Law enforcement agencies are rife with corruption
• Officers have been involved in drug trafficking, illegal arms trading, and fuel theft
• The country’s location between source countries of illicit commodities in Asia and large destination markets like Australia makes it an attractive transit location for organized crime

Economy Driven by Agricultural, Forestry, Fishing, and Mining Sectors

• Chronic youth unemployment remains a significant issue
• More than three-quarters of the population is employed in the informal sector, which lacks regulation and enforcement
• This leads to widespread labor and sexual exploitation

Limited Support for Victims of Organized Crime

• State support for victims of organized crime is extremely limited
• Most services are provided by international and local civil society organizations
• There is no witness protection program, deterring people from reporting and testifying

Media Environment Relatively Free but Faces Challenges

• The media environment in Papua New Guinea is relatively free
• However, there have been cases of targeted abuse towards journalists and attacks on the media have increased slightly in recent years

Papua New Guinea’s Commitment to International Efforts Against Organized Crime

• The country’s commitment to international efforts against organized crime is moderate at best
• There are no extradition treaties in place with countries whose citizens are heavily involved in organized crime
• Papua New Guinea’s legislation addressing organized crime is poor and outdated, and there are significant gaps in the working procedures between key agencies like the police, courts, and government

Conclusion

Papua New Guinea faces a complex web of corruption, organized crime, and economic challenges that require urgent attention from the government and international community to address.