Posts

Showing posts with the label HIGHLANDS BLOC

KILL THE GUN CULTURE IN PNG

OP/ED Students at two schools in the Highlands will now go without their teachers because they were killed in a tribal fight at Minj in the Western Highlands. In that fight, Police tell us that guns were used. On the same day, three villagers from Kandep walked into our office in Mt Hagen and told us that some 300 firearms are in the hands of communities who are engaged in a conflict. They revealed that over 75 men have been killed in the conflict that has raged for a number of years. The breakdown of law and order, the proliferation of violence now increasingly blamed on guns, and the inability of the Police or the courts to exercise authority because of various reasons, are more obvious features in PNG today. According to Police, there is overwhelming evidence to show that major crimes over the last 15 years or more have been exacerbated by the use of illegal guns. Tribal fighting, robbery, break and enter and murder involve the use of guns. We can therefore assume that without guns,

KILL THE GUN CULTURE IN PNG

OP/ED Students at two schools in the Highlands will now go without their teachers because they were killed in a tribal fight at Minj in the Western Highlands. In that fight, Police tell us that guns were used. On the same day, three villagers from Kandep walked into our office in Mt Hagen and told us that some 300 firearms are in the hands of communities who are engaged in a conflict. They revealed that over 75 men have been killed in the conflict that has raged for a number of years. The breakdown of law and order, the proliferation of violence now increasingly blamed on guns, and the inability of the Police or the courts to exercise authority because of various reasons, are more obvious features in PNG today. According to Police, there is overwhelming evidence to show that major crimes over the last 15 years or more have been exacerbated by the use of illegal guns. Tribal fighting, robbery, break and enter and murder involve the use of guns. We can therefore assume that without g

SOMARE MUM ON FUTURE

Image
OSEAH PHILEMON Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has not made any announcement yet as to his political future and who is likely to succeed him if and when he decides to retire officially from politics. This is despite the much anticipated announcement coming from the highlands where he was visiting recently. All the hype about the eminent changeover of leadership in the ruling National Alliance Party that dominated Papua New Guinea’s political landscape for weeks leading to a political blood bath in Port Moresby seemed to have dried up—at least for now—as opposing parties retreat to their corners to plan their next move. The National Alliance Party was to have had a conference in the newly-created province of Jiwaka in the central Highlands but that conference was suddenly postponed. But no new dates of the meeting has been set. Jiwaka is the home of the National Alliance President Simon Kaiwi who is vying to contest the seat of governor in the 2012 electi

SOMARE MUM ON FUTURE

Image
OSEAH PHILEMON Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has not made any announcement yet as to his political future and who is likely to succeed him if and when he decides to retire officially from politics. This is despite the much anticipated announcement coming from the highlands where he was visiting recently. All the hype about the eminent changeover of leadership in the ruling National Alliance Party that dominated Papua New Guinea’s political landscape for weeks leading to a political blood bath in Port Moresby seemed to have dried up—at least for now—as opposing parties retreat to their corners to plan their next move. The National Alliance Party was to have had a conference in the newly-created province of Jiwaka in the central Highlands but that conference was suddenly postponed. But no new dates of the meeting has been set. Jiwaka is the home of the National Alliance President Simon Kaiwi who is vying to contest the seat of governor in the 2012 ele

ARTHUR GROOMED TO TAKE OVER AS PM, POLYE NOW A WINDOW DRESSER....

Image
PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare has abrogated the National Alliance constitution to hand power over to his son. While the heat is on for Sir Michael to step aside and allow his deputy Don Polye to take over the top job, a ploy has also been engineered to dismantle the support of the National Alliance Highlands bloc for the latter. With the Minj national convention now deferred, concerns have been raised that Mr Polye is being marginalised while Sir Michael makes it conducive for his son to take over the top job. NA party president Simon Kaiwi has said the postponement was a result of recent political events and its implications on the party while Mr Polye reaffirmed his commitment to Sir Michael and the party yesterday. “As far as I know, the position of the NA leadership is filled and there is no vacancy. “The leader is currently Sir Michael and I totally support his leadership,” Mr Polye said. Cracks have emerged within the ruling party as late as the appointment of eight new minis

ARTHUR GROOMED TO TAKE OVER AS PM, POLYE NOW A WINDOW DRESSER....

Image
PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare has abrogated the National Alliance constitution to hand power over to his son. While the heat is on for Sir Michael to step aside and allow his deputy Don Polye to take over the top job, a ploy has also been engineered to dismantle the support of the National Alliance Highlands bloc for the latter. With the Minj national convention now deferred, concerns have been raised that Mr Polye is being marginalised while Sir Michael makes it conducive for his son to take over the top job. NA party president Simon Kaiwi has said the postponement was a result of recent political events and its implications on the party while Mr Polye reaffirmed his commitment to Sir Michael and the party yesterday. “As far as I know, the position of the NA leadership is filled and there is no vacancy. “The leader is currently Sir Michael and I totally support his leadership,” Mr Polye said. Cracks have emerged within the ruling party as late as the appointment of eight new minis