Death of an MP, and the shattered dreams of a remote people

Daniel Kumbon

19 June 2015

An entry in the Crocodile Prize PNG Government Award for Short Stories

IT’S a heart- wrenching tale of the brief ascent to power, downfall and death of Takai Kapi, the former Member of Parliament for Wabag.

And it was all predicted in a dream – not by a fortune teller a village magician but by a respected chartered accountant, Larsen Levi.

Levi is a graduate of the PNG University of Technology. He had a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting.  He encouraged the late Kapi to stand for election in 1997 because he saw him win in a vivid dream which turned out to be true.

Kapi had graduated from the University of PNG with a BA in Political Science in 1996. At age 25, he was too young and lacked experience. He hadn’t yet grown the tough hide required to withstand challenges and complexities of modern day politics.

Levi relates the poignant tale from beginning to end.

“In my dream, I was about to cross a river after a big thunder storm. I stood on the bank wondering how I would negotiate a flooded river. Then I saw a tree with its bark freshly removed felled across the raging river. It was the only way to the other side. But the log was very slippery. But when I stepped on it my feet firmly griped the slippery surface. I found it very easy to walk across.

“I saw Paias Wingti on the other side clearing land to make new gardens, sweat flowing down his long beard, while Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Sir Mekere Mourata, Bill Skate and others were coming down the path to cross the river together.

“I became aware that I was on my way to parliament. Along the way Paul Torato gave me a business card with Bill Skate’s name printed at the top in capital letters. Takai Kapi’s name was also written in small type at the bottom.

“I woke up in a good mood and knew Bill Skate would win and become prime minister. I knew Takai Kapi would win too. My dream proved to be true.”

As soon as Kapi was declared winner in Wabag, they drove through the night to Levi’s house in Mt Hagen. Next day Paias Wingti and other newly elected members of parliament drove into the yard and requested to see Kapi.

“We lied that he was not in the house,” Levi said. “Immediately after Wingti left, Peter O’Neill and the late Fr Robert Lak came. Peter O’Neill was my classmate at Unitech so he did not hesitate to enter my house. He searched but could not find Kapi who was hiding in a cupboard in our bedroom.”

Kapi did not emerge until the pair left the premises.

Later that day, Rimbink Pato rang from Port Moresby and directed Kapi and Levi to go to Kagamuga Airport next morning and board a light aircraft that would take them to Kiburu Lodge near Mendi in the Southern Highlands.

Kapi and Levi were foolhardy. They changed the flight plan and first took the plane to Maramuni to thank the people, assuring them that the Wabag Open seat was now firmly in their hands.

“Instead of going direct to Mendi we flew to Maramuni,” Levi said. “On the way back we picked up Rex Paki at Wapenamanda to accompany us to Mendi but the pilot said we were low on fuel so we flew back to Mt Hagen. As soon as we landed, Tom Amaiu forced his way into the plane and grabbed Takai Kapi’s hands and dragged him out.

“I thought Tom wanted to tell him something important. But the way Takai was pulled out indicated otherwise. I saw him hastily being carried past the parking lot. I rushed out of the plane.

“Takai was a little man and it was very easy for Amaiu to literally carry him. I did not even think of explaining the situation to the pilot as I rushed out in fear for his safety,” Levi recalled.

He saw Kapi being driven off in a vehicle at high speed. Levi was abandoned at the airport feeling empty, miserable and sick. Later that night Kapi was driven home in good shape and Levi’s heart returned to normal.

Next day Rimbink Pato and Rex Paki rang them and directed them to board an Air Niugini flight to Port Moresby. Mr Paki had flown to Port Moresby after he witnessed Kapi being dragged from the plane.

The young first time parliamentarian from Maramuni was in for more shock as soon as they landed at Jackson’s International Airport. Levi recalls how they were abducted.

“Three men held us up at gun point and shoved us into a waiting car which sped out of the access gate between the domestic and international terminals. We were in total shock and did not know what was happening to us. Next instant we found ourselves at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. They shepherded us into a room on one of the top floors.

“More men came and they gave us a loaded pistol and told to shoot any intruder that entered. I had never used a gun in my life and it was scary. They assumed we knew how to use it and left the loaded pistol with us. Everything happened so fast as if in a dream.

“Anything we needed was provided for us on call. But we spent a terrifying night wondering who our attackers were. Early next morning we heard a knock on the door and our exhausted bodies tensed with fear and anxiety.

“When we heard Sir Michael Somare’s voice, we relaxed a bit and opened the door. Now we knew our kidnappers had been sent by Pangu Party officials. The Chief greeted us warmly and asked us to prepare to leave immediately. Down in the foyer we mingled with other men with anxious faces.

“We were directed to board buses which drove us straight to the airport. From there we boarded an Air Niugini F28 jet which landed us in Wewak and settled into the Winjima Beach Resort hotel. Later we were given a car to explore the East Sepik Province. We drove to Angoram and saw how close it was for Enga Province to be connected by road to the coast.”

But as Levi slept in the Winjima Resort hotel in Wewak, he had another disturbing vision in which he saw the downfall of Kapi. When he interpreted it, Kapi was visibly distressed and did not concentrate for most of that day.

It turned out, in reality, that Takai Kapi’s election win was to be disqualified by the Supreme Court, which ordered a by-election.

Daniel Kapi, the first runner-up, had challenged Takai Kapi’s win on the basis he was not qualified to nominate and stand for election. His name was not on the common roll as required by law.

His name, which had been on the previous 1992 common roll, was missing from the revised 1997 roll.

Back in Port Moresby, Bill Skate formed government. Takai Kapi crossed the floor and joined his ranks but nobody welcomed him. Kapi’s services were not needed now.

There was much more litigation, some of it very complex, but, in the end, for the luckless Takai Kapi, the Wabag Open seat had escaped him.

It was a devastating blow. The relentless pressure that built up on him from the day of his election win to his failed his court challenges to his loss in the by-election was too much to bear.

Gradually his health failed and he died a frustrated young man, full of remorse and anger. His passing left more than 12,000 Maramuni people heart broken.

first appeared in:      https://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2015/06/death-of-an-mp-and-the-shattered-dreams-of-a-remote-people.html.