ALL those who altered Papua New Guinea’s national anthem sung at the opening of the Pacific Games on July 4 have violated the law, says former chief justice Sir Arnold Amet.
Sir Arnold also called for the law enforcement agency, the police, to investigate and prosecute those who were implicated.
He said Papua New Guinea was a Christian country and those who omitted the phrases that gave praise and acknowledge God had offended the people.
“All those who were involved in the alteration and knowingly allowed the words to be altered and sung are guilty of the offence under Section 10Y of the Act and should be investigated and prosecuted,” he said in reference to the Constitution and the National Identity Act.
“Those who sang the altered words are also guilty of the offence, for they knowingly sang the unauthorised altered words,” Sir Arnold added.
“The further unilateral alteration by the omission of a whole phrase that acknowledges and gives thanks to the God of this Christian nation for his kindness, his wisdom and love is absolutely unconscionable, an insult and offensive to this whole nation whether individuals be Christian or not.
“Such a deliberate and approved omission can only be the actions of people who have no respect for God and the heritage of this Christian nation.
“My advice to those who were responsible for this insult and offence to the many millions of believing and practicing Christians in this country is that you have chosen the wrong place, time and national symbol of our national anthem to insult and offend us.
“We practising Christians pray that, if you have any conscience you will be convicted about the error of your intentions, because you have insulted and offended us.”
He described the alterations as an act of “sacrilege”, which means blasphemy, violation, disrespect, irreverence and desecration of one of PNG’s national symbols.
Sir Arnold said Section 3 of the Constitution declared five national symbols — national flag, national emblem, national motto, national seal and national anthem.
“It is absolutely implicit that each of these five national symbols shall not be violated. They are sacred symbols of nationalism and national pride. Peoples and nations throughout history have gone to war over the violations of such national treasures.”
