John Giheno

John Giheno, CMG (1949 – 20 March 2017) was a Papua New Guinea politician and government minister.[1] Giheno served as acting Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 27 March until 2 June 1997, following the resignation of then Prime Minister Julius Chan.[2]

The Honourable
John Giheno
CMG
5th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
In office
27 March 1997 – 2 June 1997
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralWiwa Korowi
Preceded byJulius Chan
Succeeded byJulius Chan
Personal details
Born1949
Died20 March 2017(2017-03-20) (aged 67–68)
Political partyPeople's Progress Party
SpouseJulie Giheno

Prime Minister Julius Chan resigned on 27 March 1997, following a scandal regarding the hiring of foreign mercenaries to fight rebels on the island of Bougainville.[2] The use of mercenaries by the Chan government resulted in a Papua New Guinea Defence Force mutiny codenamed 'Operasen Rausim Kwik' and riots in Bougainville.[2] Chan stated that he resigned to preserve peace in Papua New Guinea.[2]

The Cabinet chose John Giheno, who was serving as the mining and petroleum Minister at the time, as acting Prime Minister until new elections could be held.[2][3] Giheno served as Prime Minister as a caretaker until new elections could be held in June 1997.[3] Sixteen government ministers in the Chan government, including both Giheno and Chan, lost their seats in Parliament in the June 1997 general election.

In the 1996 New Years Honours List he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).

References
  1. "Former MP John Giheno passes on, son pays tribute". The National (Papua New Guinea). 27 March 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017.
  2. "Premier Named in Papua New Guinea". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 1997-03-28. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  3. "Papua New Guinea - Politics". Commonwealth Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
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