15 Facts About Anthony Siaguru

Sir Anthony Siaguru was a Papua New Guinean civil servant, lawyer, international diplomat, politician, sportsman and anti-corruption campaigner.

Anthony Siaguru was born on 4 November 1946 in the East Sepik Province of what is Papua New Guinea.

At the time Anthony Siaguru graduated, there was a strong demand for graduates who could play leading roles in the public service, as these positions were mainly occupied by Australians.

Anthony Siaguru negotiated PNG's associate membership of the European Union under the Lome Agreement, as well as the Torres Strait Treaty with Australia and a border agreement with Indonesia.

Anthony Siaguru played a major role in shaping PNG's foreign policy of "Friends to All, Enemies to None" and in persuading the prime minister, Michael Somare, to give diplomatic recognition to China.

Together with Mekere Morauta in the Ministry of Finance, Rabbie Namaliu in the Public Service Commission, and Charles Lepani of the National Planning Office, Anthony Siaguru became one of the so-called "Gang of Four" young Papua New Guinean senior public servants who coordinated policy development and government programmes.

Anthony Siaguru helped organise the 1982 election campaign for the Pangu Pati, which was led by Michael Somare.

In February 1990, Anthony Siaguru became deputy secretary-general for political affairs at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, serving for five years.

Anthony Siaguru returned to PNG in 1996 and went back to working with Blake Dawson Waldron.

Anthony Siaguru became a pioneering leader in the country's civil society.

Anthony Siaguru represented PNG on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council and was a member of the Policy Advisory Council of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.

Anthony Siaguru's writings were later published as a book, called In House in Papua New Guinea with Anthony Siaguru.

Anthony Siaguru launched the Integrity Pact at the time of the 1997 national elections, requiring politicians to sign a Charter committing themselves to transparent governance.

Anthony Siaguru died of 16 April 2004 in Brisbane, while undergoing treatment for liver cancer.

Anthony Siaguru was survived by his wife, Wilhelmina, who served for many years as Chairperson of PNG's Commission for Higher Education, whom he married in 1972, and three sons.