Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, 2002: Papua New Guinea

摘要

Papua New Guinea has a federal parliamentary system, based on universal adult suffrage with periodic free and fair elections. The most recent general elections were in June. The judiciary is independent. The Government has constitutional authority over the Defense Force, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, and the National Intelligence Organization. Members of the constabulary committed serious human rights abuses. The population is just over 5.1 million, and there are more than 800 distinct indigenous languages.