Julius Chan
Encyclopedia
Sir Julius Chan GCL GCMG
KBE
(陳仲民, born 29 August 1939) was Prime Minister
of Papua New Guinea
from 1980 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1997. He is currently Member of Parliament
for New Ireland Province, having won the seat in the 2007 national election
. He is also the current Governor of New Ireland Province, since 2007.
Born on Tanga Islands
, New Ireland Province to Chin Pak (陳柏), a trader from Taishan
, China
, Julius Chan was educated at Marist College Ashgrove
in Australia
and first became actively involved in politics
in the 1960s. He was elected to represent the Namatanai district of New Ireland province in the pre-independence National Assembly in 1972 and was re-elected in 1977, 1982, 1987, and 1992. He was Deputy Prime Minister four times (1976, 1985, 1986, 1992-1994), and Minister of Finance twice (1972–1977, 1992–1994). He also held the portfolios of Primary Industry (1976) and External Affairs and Trade (1994). Chan became leader of the People's Progress Party
in 1970. He was knighted as Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1981, and appointed a Privy Counsellor
the next year.
He first became prime minister on March 11, 1980, succeeding the country's first prime minister, Michael Somare
. He served as prime minister until August 2, 1982, when Somare regained the position.
He ousted Prime Minister Paias Wingti
in August 1994 and took office on the dual platform of national security and appropriate economic management. In 1997, the Chan government's multi-million-dollar contract with Sandline International
, a mercenary
organization, to counter separatist guerrilla warfare
on Bougainville
caused the Sandline affair
, with immense public protests and a 10-day mutiny
by the underpaid national army. On 25 March 1997, during an inquiry that started on 21 March that caused five ministers to resign, the Parliament defeated a motion calling on Chan to resign (59-38). However, the next day, Chan and two ministers chose to step down, and John Giheno, a member of Chan’s party, became acting prime minister a day later. He regained the position on June 2, 1997, shortly before the national elections. Chan was defeated in the national election in June 1997 and was succeeded as prime minister by Bill Skate
on July 22, 1997. He remained out of Parliament until winning the New Ireland Provincial seat in the June-July 2007 election.
During the "horse trading" phase of negotiations following the 2007 election, he was nominated for the position of prime minister, with the backing of Mekere Morauta
and Bart Philemon, as an alternative to the large National Alliance
grouping which appeared likely to again be led by Somare. Parliamentary Speaker Jeffrey Nape
rejected Chan's nomination as a candidate and Somare won the vote to become Prime Minister without opposition on August 13, while 21 members of Parliament joined Chan's opposition group.
Chan married Stella, Lady Chan in 1966 and has four children: Vanessa Andrea, Byron James, Mark Gavin, and Toea Julius. His son Byron Chan has been Member of Parliament for Namatanai Open electorate, covering the south of New Ireland, since 2002.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
KBE
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...
(陳仲民, born 29 August 1939) was Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of 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...
from 1980 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1997. He is currently Member of Parliament
National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea is the unicameral national legislature in Papua New Guinea. It was first created in 1964 as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea, but gained its current name with the granting of independence in 1975....
for New Ireland Province, having won the seat in the 2007 national election
Papua New Guinean general election, 2007
General elections were held in Papua New Guinea from 30 June 2007 to 14 July 2007.For the first time, the election did not use first past the post , but rather Limited Preferential Voting, in which voters number...
. He is also the current Governor of New Ireland Province, since 2007.
Born on Tanga Islands
Tanga Islands
The Tanga Islands are an island group in Papua New Guinea, located northeast of New Ireland and part of the Bismarck Archipelago. The islands are the remnants of a stratovolcano which collapsed to form a caldera...
, New Ireland Province to Chin Pak (陳柏), a trader from Taishan
Taishan
Taishan is a coastal county-level city in Guangdong Province, China. The city is part of the Greater Taishan Region....
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Julius Chan was educated at Marist College Ashgrove
Marist College Ashgrove
Marist College Ashgrove is a Roman Catholic day and boarding school for boys, located in Ashgrove, a northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and first became actively involved in politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
in the 1960s. He was elected to represent the Namatanai district of New Ireland province in the pre-independence National Assembly in 1972 and was re-elected in 1977, 1982, 1987, and 1992. He was Deputy Prime Minister four times (1976, 1985, 1986, 1992-1994), and Minister of Finance twice (1972–1977, 1992–1994). He also held the portfolios of Primary Industry (1976) and External Affairs and Trade (1994). Chan became 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...
in 1970. He was knighted as Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1981, and appointed a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
the next year.
He first became prime minister on March 11, 1980, succeeding the country's first 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...
. He served as prime minister until August 2, 1982, when Somare regained the position.
He ousted Prime Minister Paias Wingti
Paias Wingti
Paias Wingti is a Papua New Guinean political figure. He served as the third Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea between 1985 and 1988, and again from 1992 to 1994.Wingti is a member of the Jika Tribe of the Western Highlands province...
in August 1994 and took office on the dual platform of national security and appropriate economic management. In 1997, the Chan government's multi-million-dollar contract with Sandline International
Sandline International
Sandline International was a private military company based in London, established in the early 1990s. It was involved in conflicts in Papua New Guinea in 1997 causing the Sandline affair, in 1998 in Sierra Leone and in Liberia in 2003 Sandline International was a private military company based...
, a mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
organization, to counter separatist guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
on Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
caused the Sandline affair
Sandline affair
The Sandline affair was a political scandal that became one of the defining moments in the history of Papua New Guinea, and particularly that of the conflict in Bougainville. It brought down the government of Sir Julius Chan, and took Papua New Guinea to the verge of military revolt...
, with immense public protests and a 10-day mutiny
Mutiny
Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly situated individuals to openly oppose, change or overthrow an authority to which they are subject...
by the underpaid national army. On 25 March 1997, during an inquiry that started on 21 March that caused five ministers to resign, the Parliament defeated a motion calling on Chan to resign (59-38). However, the next day, Chan and two ministers chose to step down, and John Giheno, a member of Chan’s party, became acting prime minister a day later. He regained the position on June 2, 1997, shortly before the national elections. Chan was defeated in the national election in June 1997 and was succeeded as prime minister by Bill Skate
Bill Skate
Sir William Jack Skate KCMG was a Papua New Guinea politician and statesman. He was the son of an Australian father and a native PNG mother...
on July 22, 1997. He remained out of Parliament until winning the New Ireland Provincial seat in the June-July 2007 election.
During the "horse trading" phase of negotiations following the 2007 election, he was nominated for the position of prime minister, with the backing of Mekere Morauta
Mekere Morauta
Sir Mekere Morauta, KCMG is a Papua New Guinean political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea between 1999 and 2002, and later as Leader of the Opposition. He is the sitting member for Moresby North-West in the national parliament, and he was until recently the...
and Bart Philemon, as an alternative to the large National Alliance
National Alliance Party (Papua New Guinea)
The National Alliance Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 1995 by Bernard Narokobi, Moi Avei, Bart Philemon and Masket Iangalio, who invited Sir Michael Somare to lead them to the 1997 elections after he had been sacked as leader of the Pangu Party.National Alliance...
grouping which appeared likely to again be led by Somare. Parliamentary Speaker Jeffrey Nape
Jeffrey Nape
Jeffrey Nape, CMG is the Speaker of the National Parliament and twice acting Governor-General of Papua New Guinea. He was elected speaker by the members of the parliament on May 28, 2004, and then immediately became acting governor-general because that office was substantively vacant...
rejected Chan's nomination as a candidate and Somare won the vote to become Prime Minister without opposition on August 13, while 21 members of Parliament joined Chan's opposition group.
Chan married Stella, Lady Chan in 1966 and has four children: Vanessa Andrea, Byron James, Mark Gavin, and Toea Julius. His son Byron Chan has been Member of Parliament for Namatanai Open electorate, covering the south of New Ireland, since 2002.