{{short description|Papua New Guinea politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} '''Allan S. M. Marat''' CBE (born 28 September 1954) is a Papua New Guinean politician.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pngec.gov.pg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nominations.pdf?sfvrsn=0 |title=Nominations By Electorate |publisher=PNG Electoral Commission |accessdate=15 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712121652/http://www.pngec.gov.pg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nominations.pdf?sfvrsn=0 |archive-date=12 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He served as Minister for Justice and Attorney General in Prime Minister Michael Somare's Cabinet from August 2007 to May 2010.<ref>[http://www.postcourier.com.pg/pdfsfront/300807-PC-frontpage.pdf "Somare's Cabinet"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927065036/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/pdfsfront/300807-PC-frontpage.pdf |date=27 September 2007 }}, ''Post Courier'', 30 August 2007</ref><ref>[http://24hdanslepacifique.com/archives/actualites/?p=4045 "Rencontre des chefs de la police de Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235035/http://24hdanslepacifique.com/archives/actualites/?p=4045 |date=3 March 2016 }}, Radio Australia, 2 June 2009</ref><ref>[http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2009/May/05-15-08.htm "PNG JUDICIARY UNDER STRESS"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224105128/http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2009/May/05-15-08.htm |date=24 February 2016 }}, ''The National'', 14 May 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/pays-zones-geo_833/papouasie-nouvelle-guinee_578/presentation-papouasie-nouvelle-guinee_3547/composition-du-gouvernement_3091.html "Présentation de la Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée: Composition du gouvernement"], French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 29 August 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/ra/programguide/stories/200812/s2439318.htm "PNG Justice Minister receives death threat"], Radio Australia, 5 December 2008</ref> In May 2010, he publicly stated that major mining projects in the country brought little benefit to local communities, workers or businesses. He also "questioned legislation affecting the Ombudsman Commission". Prime Minister Somare consequently asked him to resign immediately, which he did.<ref>[http://24hdanslepacifique.com/breves-du-pacifique-409 "Démission de l’Attorney General de Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707062143/http://24hdanslepacifique.com/breves-du-pacifique-409/ |date=7 July 2011 }}, ABC Radio Australia, 10 May 2010</ref><ref name="RNZI_53474">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=53474 |title=PNG gets new Attorney General and Justice Minister |date=10 May 2010 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=19 September 2011}}</ref> As a consequence of his resignation, Marat informed the Prime Minister that his Melanesian Liberal Party would "cut ties" with the government. He was replaced as Attorney General and Justice Minister by Ano Pala.<ref name="RNZI_53474"/>

He has also served previously as Deputy Prime Minister<ref>[http://www.pngembassy.org/yearinreview_2.html Embassy of Papua New Guinea to the Americas], 2003</ref> and Acting Governor-General.<ref>[http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/speech.php?id=455 "Speech: ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL JEFFERY AC CVO MC GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA ON THE OCCASION OF DINNER HOSTED BY THE HON DR ALLAN MARAT, ACTING GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917155418/http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/speech.php?id=455 |date=17 September 2009 }}, 3 August 2008</ref>

In August 2011, Peter O'Neill became Prime Minister in the wake of a parliamentary motion of no confidence in the government of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal (standing in for Somare while the latter was hospitalised for a heart condition). O'Neill appointed Marat as his Minister of Justice, and Attorney General.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-p/papua-new-guinea.html Cabinet of Papua New Guinea] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813024602/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-p/papua-new-guinea.html |date=13 August 2011 }}, CIA Factbook, 18 August 2011</ref>

In November, as the Supreme Court prepared to hear a case on the legitimacy of the O'Neill government, Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah ordered the suspension of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, as Injia was facing charges of "breaching a contempt order, and mismanaging court finances". The government said Injia's removal had nothing to do with the pending case on the government's legitimacy. The Supreme Court responded by ordering Namah's arrest, and that of Allan Marat.<ref>[http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=64345 "More turns in PNG judicial saga with orders for arrest of senior cabinet ministers"], Radio New Zealand International, 11 November 2011</ref>

He was, for a time, leader of the People's Progress Party, until he was ousted from that position in October 2003.<ref name="RNZI_6990">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=6990 |title=Ousted PNG coalition party leader says resultant instability a threat to foreign investment |date=19 October 2003 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=19 September 2011}}</ref> He is now a member of the Melanesian Liberal Party.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080530031639/http://www.thenational.com.pg/083007/nation1.htm "Cabinet named"], Isaac Nicolas, ''The National'', 30 August 2007</ref>

He was the first Papua New Guinean to obtain a doctorate in law at the University of Oxford. His thesis was on the "official recognition of customary responses to homicide in Papua New Guinea".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=MNr4iH0C4zYC&dq=Allan+Marat&pg=PA66 ''Exchanging the past: a rainforest world of before and after''], Bruce M. Knauft, University of Chicago Press, 2002, {{ISBN|0-226-44635-2}}, p.66</ref>

Marat was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours for "service to law, the national government and the East New Britain community".<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/jun/13/queens-birthday-honours-list-commonwealth "Queen's birthday honours list: Commonwealth"], ''The Guardian'', 13 June 2009</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59093 |date=13 June 2009 |page=2 |supp=y }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Michael Ogio}} {{s-ttl|title=Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea|years=2002–2003}} {{s-aft|after=Andrew Baing}} {{s-end}}

{{Deputy Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marat, Allan}} Category:Living people Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford Category:Members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea Category:1954 births Category:Government ministers of Papua New Guinea Category:Deputy prime ministers of Papua New Guinea Category:People's Progress Party politicians Category:Melanesian Liberal Party politicians Category:Justice ministers of Papua New Guinea