An interview for Radio Australia has caused the suspension of Papua New Guinea’s Attorney-General. The interview, about Bougainville’s draft constitution, was given to the ABC in October.

Attorney-General Francis Damem told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat that the second draft of the constitution contained a number of “defects” and “anomalies” that would have to be addressed.

But, according to the ABC, those comments “caused outrage in the island province, particularly when they were translated into pidgin.”

Also angry were PNG cabvarchar(15) ministers, who had been waiting more than six months for the Attorney-General’s formal response to the draft.

PNG Justice Minister Mark Maipakai said the Attorney-General had no authority to make any statement about Bougainville.