PNGBLOGS

PNGBLOGS MP Sam Basil has criticized the Department of Conservation (DEC) for failing to regulate the mining industry in Papua New Guinea and ensure its operations are environmentally safe. "DEC has a responsibility on behalf of the Nation to ensure that mining operations are safe and will not damage the environment. Yet time after time the mines end up causing massive problems while DEC sits by and watches", says the MP. "We have already had massive pollution from Bougainville, Ok Tedi, Tolukuma and  Porgera mines and sadly now it is the same with the Hidden Valley project.  The PNG Government through DEC is telling the world that mining with pollution is normal in PNG and the people must accept that fact". Mr Basil has recently filed legal proceedings against the Hidden Valley mine in his constituency over its pollution of the Watut river. "It is not good enough for Minister Benny Allen to say DEC received an environmental audit report on the Hidden Valley mi

PNGBLOGS MP Sam Basil has criticized the Department of Conservation (DEC) for failing to regulate the mining industry in Papua New Guinea and ensure its operations are environmentally safe. "DEC has a responsibility on behalf of the Nation to ensure that mining operations are safe and will not damage the environment. Yet time after time the mines end up causing massive problems while DEC sits by and watches", says the MP. "We have already had massive pollution from Bougainville, Ok Tedi, Tolukuma and  Porgera mines and sadly now it is the same with the Hidden Valley project.  The PNG Government through DEC is telling the world that mining with pollution is normal in PNG and the people must accept that fact". Mr Basil has recently filed legal proceedings against the Hidden Valley mine in his constituency over its pollution of the Watut river. "It is not good enough for Minister Benny Allen to say DEC received an environmental audit report on the Hidden Vall

OP/ED So now we know. And that is, the Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare did not just give the Deputy Prime Minister’s job to Wabag MP Sam Abal, and then elevated him to the Acting Prime Minister’s post. He was “advised” by senior government ministers Moses Maladina, Peter Ipatas, Andersen Agiru, Paul Tiensten, Arthur Somare, Peter O’Neill and John Pundari to do that. It is interesting to note that, apart from Andersen Agiru, the others are leaders of the coalition partners in the National Alliance led government. We are sure, the Acting Prime Minister will get around to “acknowledging and thanking” these men, but what we want to know is why? What was their motive? Was it because Mr Polye was a threat to them? Was it because with Mr Polye, they would not get their way and view Mr Abal as a push over? The Opposition provides its own answer, claiming the “king makers” did what they did to serve their own interest, that they would not find Mr Polye an easy man to influence. Ho

OP/ED So now we know. And that is, the Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare did not just give the Deputy Prime Minister’s job to Wabag MP Sam Abal, and then elevated him to the Acting Prime Minister’s post. He was “advised” by senior government ministers Moses Maladina, Peter Ipatas, Andersen Agiru, Paul Tiensten, Arthur Somare, Peter O’Neill and John Pundari to do that. It is interesting to note that, apart from Andersen Agiru, the others are leaders of the coalition partners in the National Alliance led government. We are sure, the Acting Prime Minister will get around to “acknowledging and thanking” these men, but what we want to know is why? What was their motive? Was it because Mr Polye was a threat to them? Was it because with Mr Polye, they would not get their way and view Mr Abal as a push over? The Opposition provides its own answer, claiming the “king makers” did what they did to serve their own interest, that they would not find Mr Polye an easy man to influence

The National Online Former Madang governor Sir Peter Barter has called for a stop on the harassment on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his family. “Like many responsible citizens in PNG, I am dismayed and disgusted at the manner in which certain sections of the media, particularly in the newspapers, whipped up anti-Somare sentiments over the stepping down of Sir Michael, in regard to what appears to be an administrative or procedural rather than a substantive, alleged breach of the leadership code,” he said in a statement yesterday. “With just over 12 months to go, it is hard to imagine why he is being persecuted so relentlessly when the public knows he will not be contesting the elections in 2012. “I see him as an inspiring, encouraging and motivating leader. “He took the post as prime minister, not to be a manager or to organise, regulate and control processes but to represent his people and to lead,” Sir Peter said. “The unbalanced reports in the newspapers try to make Sir Mic

The National Online Former Madang governor Sir Peter Barter has called for a stop on the harassment on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his family. “Like many responsible citizens in PNG, I am dismayed and disgusted at the manner in which certain sections of the media, particularly in the newspapers, whipped up anti-Somare sentiments over the stepping down of Sir Michael, in regard to what appears to be an administrative or procedural rather than a substantive, alleged breach of the leadership code,” he said in a statement yesterday. “With just over 12 months to go, it is hard to imagine why he is being persecuted so relentlessly when the public knows he will not be contesting the elections in 2012. “I see him as an inspiring, encouraging and motivating leader. “He took the post as prime minister, not to be a manager or to organise, regulate and control processes but to represent his people and to lead,” Sir Peter said. “The unbalanced reports in the newspapers try to make Sir

Rowan Callick The Australian THE Bougainville mine's development was fast-tracked by the Australian government. This occured when pressure built at the UN for Canberra to grant early independence to Papua New Guinea. The mine was intended to provide the new nation with solid income in addition to aid. In the 17 years from 1972 to 1989, it contributed about 44 per cent of PNG's exports, about 17 per cent of the government's revenue, and 10 per cent of PNG's gross domestic product. It employed 2800 people. The mine had been built by Rio Tinto in the face of landowner opposition. Women -- through whom land in much of Bougainville is inherited -- lay down in front of bulldozers. It took until 1980 for the original compensation package to be signed with 600 families. PNG's decentralisation to 20 provincial governments resulted from Bougainville's threat to pull of PNG in 1976, a fortnight before Australia was due to declare it independent -- threatening to rob the ne

Rowan Callick The Australian THE Bougainville mine's development was fast-tracked by the Australian government. This occured when pressure built at the UN for Canberra to grant early independence to Papua New Guinea. The mine was intended to provide the new nation with solid income in addition to aid. In the 17 years from 1972 to 1989, it contributed about 44 per cent of PNG's exports, about 17 per cent of the government's revenue, and 10 per cent of PNG's gross domestic product. It employed 2800 people. The mine had been built by Rio Tinto in the face of landowner opposition. Women -- through whom land in much of Bougainville is inherited -- lay down in front of bulldozers. It took until 1980 for the original compensation package to be signed with 600 families. PNG's decentralisation to 20 provincial governments resulted from Bougainville's threat to pull of PNG in 1976, a fortnight before Australia was due to declare it independent -- threatening to ro

OP/ED National Court judge, Justice Graham Ellis, in an address to the people of Enga , urged them to maintain their change in their behaviour so that the province is safe for those who live there or visit. Justice Ellis said there has been a great thirst for justice in that province and he was happy that people were supporting his work to quench this thirst. In his own words, the good Judge said, “The change in the law and order in Enga Province has been caused by you, the people of Enga. The criminal cases that come to the National Court are the result of criminal behaviour. In the course of dealing with the result of criminal behaviour, we seem to have had an effect on the cause of that criminal behaviour. That is the most important change that has occurred in Enga Province this year. It is up to the people of Enga Province to keep that change in behaviour so that Enga Province is safer for those who live here and for those who visit here”. He told the people that what was achieved

OP/ED National Court judge, Justice Graham Ellis, in an address to the people of Enga , urged them to maintain their change in their behaviour so that the province is safe for those who live there or visit. Justice Ellis said there has been a great thirst for justice in that province and he was happy that people were supporting his work to quench this thirst. In his own words, the good Judge said, “The change in the law and order in Enga Province has been caused by you, the people of Enga. The criminal cases that come to the National Court are the result of criminal behaviour. In the course of dealing with the result of criminal behaviour, we seem to have had an effect on the cause of that criminal behaviour. That is the most important change that has occurred in Enga Province this year. It is up to the people of Enga Province to keep that change in behaviour so that Enga Province is safer for those who live here and for those who visit here”. He told the people that what was achie

SMH THE United States fears that Indonesian government neglect, rampant corruption and human rights abuses are stoking unrest in its troubled province of West Papua. Leaked embassy cables reveal that US diplomats privately blame Jakarta for instability and "chronic underdevelopment" in West Papua, where military commanders have been accused of drug smuggling and illegal logging rackets across the border with Papua New Guinea. A September 2009 cable from the US embassy in Jakarta says "the region is politically marginalized and many Papuans harbor separatist aspirations". An earlier cable, from October 2007, details claims by an Indonesian foreign affairs official about military influence in West Papua. "The Indonesian official] claims that the Indonesian Military (TNI) has far more troops in Papua than it is willing to admit to, chiefly to protect and facilitate TNI's interests in illegal logging operations," says the cable, obtained by WikiLeaks and

SMH THE United States fears that Indonesian government neglect, rampant corruption and human rights abuses are stoking unrest in its troubled province of West Papua. Leaked embassy cables reveal that US diplomats privately blame Jakarta for instability and "chronic underdevelopment" in West Papua, where military commanders have been accused of drug smuggling and illegal logging rackets across the border with Papua New Guinea. A September 2009 cable from the US embassy in Jakarta says "the region is politically marginalized and many Papuans harbor separatist aspirations". An earlier cable, from October 2007, details claims by an Indonesian foreign affairs official about military influence in West Papua. "The Indonesian official] claims that the Indonesian Military (TNI) has far more troops in Papua than it is willing to admit to, chiefly to protect and facilitate TNI's interests in illegal logging operations," says the cable, obtained by WikiLeaks

BRISBANE COURIER MAIL EMERGENCY accommodation was being organised last night for 119 protesters after they made a risky journey in dinghies from Papua New Guinea to the Torres Strait. Immigration officials are expected to deport the group of PNG nationals today after they were intercepted in Australian waters on Wednesday. The group, which included some children, arrived on 11 boats, all of which have now been confiscated by the Department of Immigration. The protesters are being housed on Horn Island in a Customs detention centre, with the children accommodated in hotels on the island. The people belong to an organisation called Papua Australia Plaintiff United Affiliates. They want Australia to recognise that Papuans were not given a choice to remain Australians when PNG gained independence in 1975. They claimed twice as many people could join them within days, although the Department of Immigration vowed to return any more PNG nationals who entered Australia illegally to their homel

BRISBANE COURIER MAIL EMERGENCY accommodation was being organised last night for 119 protesters after they made a risky journey in dinghies from Papua New Guinea to the Torres Strait. Immigration officials are expected to deport the group of PNG nationals today after they were intercepted in Australian waters on Wednesday. The group, which included some children, arrived on 11 boats, all of which have now been confiscated by the Department of Immigration. The protesters are being housed on Horn Island in a Customs detention centre, with the children accommodated in hotels on the island. The people belong to an organisation called Papua Australia Plaintiff United Affiliates. They want Australia to recognise that Papuans were not given a choice to remain Australians when PNG gained independence in 1975. They claimed twice as many people could join them within days, although the Department of Immigration vowed to return any more PNG nationals who entered Australia illegally to thei

By: SAM BASIL MP The Supreme Court’s decision to reject the Deputy Speaker of Parliament’s application to challenge the Supreme Court’s Order to recall Parliament is welcome news to all, and a clear sign that our judicial system still functions to protect the Constitution on behalf of the people. We all know that the Deputy Speaker may have been pressured by the Speaker and the National Alliance Regime to once again play their game by challenging the judiciary's decision, so as to cling onto power. Now that the Prime Minister is being sidelined and the Speaker is now a/Governor General, the incumbent Regime will play the MPs down the ladder to protect its own interest .Thank God the Supreme Court corrected the situation regarding the Governor General as Parliament was unable to, as the Regime has been manipulating Parliament for eight solid years now. It is a disgrace that when the Supreme Court made its ruling clear that procedures were not followed, the Deputy Speaker should then

By: SAM BASIL MP The Supreme Court’s decision to reject the Deputy Speaker of Parliament’s application to challenge the Supreme Court’s Order to recall Parliament is welcome news to all, and a clear sign that our judicial system still functions to protect the Constitution on behalf of the people. We all know that the Deputy Speaker may have been pressured by the Speaker and the National Alliance Regime to once again play their game by challenging the judiciary's decision, so as to cling onto power. Now that the Prime Minister is being sidelined and the Speaker is now a/Governor General, the incumbent Regime will play the MPs down the ladder to protect its own interest .Thank God the Supreme Court corrected the situation regarding the Governor General as Parliament was unable to, as the Regime has been manipulating Parliament for eight solid years now. It is a disgrace that when the Supreme Court made its ruling clear that procedures were not followed, the Deputy Speaker shoul

The National Police promise to arrest Somare Jr Source:  The National – Thursday, December 23, 2010 By GABRIEL FITO MICHAEL Somare Junior, the son of sidelined Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, is being sought by Wewak police over a shooting incident last weekend allegedly targeting East Sepik Governor Peter Wararu Waranaka. Police said Wararu narrowly escaped death when a pump action shotgun was discharged, allegedly by Somare Jr, at close range at the governor’s home last Saturday evening. The incident occurred in front of Wararu’s wife and children, senior public servant James Baloiloi and provincial administrator Samson Torovi. East Sepik provincial police commander Chief Insp Charles Parinjo told Sir Michael, Wararu, National Alliance party branch executives and community leaders from the Yangoru-Saussia electorate (where Wararu is from) outside the Wewak police station yesterday that the alleged offender would be arrested and charged with the incident. He s

The National Police promise to arrest Somare Jr Source:  The National – Thursday, December 23, 2010 By GABRIEL FITO MICHAEL Somare Junior, the son of sidelined Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, is being sought by Wewak police over a shooting incident last weekend allegedly targeting East Sepik Governor Peter Wararu Waranaka. Police said Wararu narrowly escaped death when a pump action shotgun was discharged, allegedly by Somare Jr, at close range at the governor’s home last Saturday evening. The incident occurred in front of Wararu’s wife and children, senior public servant James Baloiloi and provincial administrator Samson Torovi. East Sepik provincial police commander Chief Insp Charles Parinjo told Sir Michael, Wararu, National Alliance party branch executives and community leaders from the Yangoru-Saussia electorate (where Wararu is from) outside the Wewak police station yesterday that the alleged offender would be arrested and charged with the incident.

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, BE SAFE AND SEE YOU ALL IN THE NEW YEAR, GOD BLESS YOU ALL, LET HIM GUIDE THIS GREAT NATION OF OURS BEYOND THIS NEW DECADE. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 FROM PNGBLOGS.COM Terry S Blog Admin

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, BE SAFE AND SEE YOU ALL IN THE NEW YEAR, GOD BLESS YOU ALL, LET HIM GUIDE THIS GREAT NATION OF OURS BEYOND THIS NEW DECADE. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 FROM PNGBLOGS.COM Terry S Blog Admin

PNGBLOGS MP Sam Basil has criticized the Department of Conservation for failing to properly regulate the mining industry in Papua New Guinea and ensure its operations are environmentally safe. "DEC has a responsibility on behalf of the Nation to ensure that mining operations are safe and will not damage the environment. Yet time and again the mines end up causing massive pollution problems while DEC sits by and watches", says the MP. With pollution from Bouganville, Ok Tedi, Misima, Pogera mines and recently the Hidden Valley Project Mr. Basil now confirms that PNG Government through DEC is now telling the world that Mining with pollution in PNG is normal business practice so all environmental cowboy are welcome to come and dig. Mr. Basil has recently filed legal proceedings against the Hidden Valley mine in his constituency over its pollution of the Watut river. "It is not good enough for Environment Minister Mp Benny Allen to say DEC received an environmental audit