P.M.’s advice resented

Press, 10 February 1983, Page 4

P.M.’s advice resented

NZPA Port Moresby The advice by New Zealand's Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, to Papua New Guinea not to push the French Government over the New Caledonia independence issue .has been strongly criticised by Papua New Guinea’s Minister of Justice, Mr Tony Bais. Mr Bais said from Wewak that Mr; Muldoon “had no right to dictate to Papua New Guinea on how it should approach the decolonisation issue."

Mr Muldoon confirmed at a Port Moresby press conference last Saturday that during talks the previous day with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Paias Wingti. and other. Ministers he had expressed his Government's view that the French should not be pressured further on the selPdetermination issue. "If an attempt is made to

speed up the (present decolonisation) process, you will get a strong, adverse reaction from the French," Mr Muldoon had said.

"I have said for a long time now that in 20 years none of (the French Pacific) territories will be colonial territories." However, Mr Bais said Papua New Guinea had a duty to support decolonisation measures through peaceful means.

"Papua New Guinea is a sovereign nation: We have had experience of colonialism. and we have the right to support . decolonisation processes in this region." he said.

"Mr Muldoon, who supported racism through sporting links when he failed to cancel visas for South Africa's 1981 Springbok tour, should be the last person to tell anyone to go slow on the decolonisation issue." •