Allan Marat
Encyclopedia
Allan S. M. Marat CBE
is a Papua New Guinea
n politician
. He served as Minister for Justice and Attorney General in Prime Minister Michael Somare
's Cabinet
from August 2007 to May 2010. In May 2010, he publicly stated that major mining projects in the country brought little benefit to local communities, workers or businesses. He also "questioned legislation affecting the Ombudsman Commission". Prime Minister Somare consequently asked him to resign immediately, which he did. As a consequence of his resignation, Marat informed the Prime Minister that his Melanesian Liberal Party
would "cut ties" with the government. He was replaced as Attorney General and Justice Minister by Ano Pala
.
He has also served previously as Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Governor-General
.
In August 2011, Peter O'Neill
became Prime Minister in the wake of a parliamentary motion of no confidence
in the government of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal
(standing in for Somare while the latter was hospitalised for a heart condition). O'Neill appointed Marat as his Minister for Justice, and Attorney General.
In November, as the Supreme Court
prepared to hear a case on the legitimacy of the O'Neill government, Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah
ordered the supension of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia
, as Injia was facing charges of "breaching a contempt order, and mismanaging court finances". The government said Injia's removal had nothing to do with the pending case on the government's legitimacy. The Supreme Court responded by ordering Namah's arrest, and that of Allan Marat.
He was, for a time, leader of the People's Progress Party
, until he was ousted from that position in October 2003. He is now a member of the Melanesian Liberal Party
.
He was the first Papua New Guinean to obtain a doctorate
in law at the University of Oxford
. His thesis was on the "official recognition of customary responses to homicide in Papua New Guinea".
Marat was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours for "service to law, the national government and the East New Britain
community".
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is a Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as Minister for Justice and Attorney General in Prime Minister Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
's Cabinet
Cabinet of Papua New Guinea
The Cabinet of Papua New Guinea functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the government system of Papua New Guinea...
from August 2007 to May 2010. In May 2010, he publicly stated that major mining projects in the country brought little benefit to local communities, workers or businesses. He also "questioned legislation affecting the Ombudsman Commission". Prime Minister Somare consequently asked him to resign immediately, which he did. As a consequence of his resignation, Marat informed the Prime Minister that his Melanesian Liberal Party
Melanesian Liberal Party
The Melanesian Liberal Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. The party won 2 out of 109 seats in the 2007 General Elections.Following the 2007 election, it initially supported Prime Minister Michael Somare's government, as Party leader Allan Marat was appointed Attorney-General and...
would "cut ties" with the government. He was replaced as Attorney General and Justice Minister by Ano Pala
Ano Pala
Ano Pala MP is a Papua New Guinean politician. He is Member of Parliament for Rigo , and is a member of the National Alliance Party. In May 2010, he was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Prime Minister Michael Somare's Cabinet, replacing Allan Marat who had resigned after...
.
He has also served previously as Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Governor-General
Governor-General of Papua New Guinea
The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea is the viceregal representative of Queen Elizabeth II, known in Tok Pisin as 'Missis Kwin', Papua New Guinea's head of state, performing the duties of the Queen in her absence...
.
In August 2011, Peter O'Neill
Peter O'Neill
Peter Charles Paire O'Neill, CMG is the current Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. He is the leader of the People's National Congress and represents the constituency of Ialibu-Pangia.-Biography:...
became Prime Minister in the wake of a parliamentary motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
in the government of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal
Sam Abal
Samuel Tei "Sam" Abal is a Papua New Guinean politician. Abal, who previously served as Foreign Minister from August 2007 to December 2010, became the Deputy Prime Minister of the country in a cabinet reshuffle by Michael Somare on 7 December 2010...
(standing in for Somare while the latter was hospitalised for a heart condition). O'Neill appointed Marat as his Minister for Justice, and Attorney General.
In November, as the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea
The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has been the highest court of Papua New Guinea since 16 September 1975, replacing the pre-Independence Supreme Court and the overseas appellate tribunals from 1902 to 1975 of the High Court of Australia and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council...
prepared to hear a case on the legitimacy of the O'Neill government, Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah
Belden Namah
Belden Namah is a Papua New Guinean politician and former military officer.In the 1990s, he was an officer in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, with the rank of captain. He was involved in the aftermath of the Sandline affair in 1997...
ordered the supension of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia
Salamo Injia
Sir Salamo Injia Kt is a Papua New Guinean judge. Injia became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea in 2008, succeeding Mari Kapi....
, as Injia was facing charges of "breaching a contempt order, and mismanaging court finances". The government said Injia's removal had nothing to do with the pending case on the government's legitimacy. The Supreme Court responded by ordering Namah's arrest, and that of Allan Marat.
He was, for a time, leader of the People's Progress Party
People's Progress Party
The People's Progress Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It is led by Sir Julius Chan, and has 4 of 109 seats in parliament.It was founded in 1968 by Chan, who was Prime Minister from 1980 to 1982 and 1994 to 1997. Chan’s second government was brought down by the Sandline Affair and...
, until he was ousted from that position in October 2003. He is now a member of the Melanesian Liberal Party
Melanesian Liberal Party
The Melanesian Liberal Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. The party won 2 out of 109 seats in the 2007 General Elections.Following the 2007 election, it initially supported Prime Minister Michael Somare's government, as Party leader Allan Marat was appointed Attorney-General and...
.
He was the first Papua New Guinean to obtain a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in law at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. His thesis was on the "official recognition of customary responses to homicide in Papua New Guinea".
Marat was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours for "service to law, the national government and the East New Britain
East New Britain
East New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea, on the north-eastern part of the island of New Britain and it also includes the Duke of York Islands. The capital of the province is Kokopo, not far from the old capital of Rabaul, which was largely destroyed in the 1994 volcanic eruption...
community".