PNGBLOGS

LIAM FOX, ABC Sediment from a gold mine washing down a river in Papua New Guinea has destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of villagers. The Hidden Valley mine, which is half-owned by Melbourne-based Newcrest Mining and South African miner Harmony, is offering compensation to those affected. Some villagers are eager to take what is on offer, but others are not rushing to sign up. Michael Ansu's life in the village of Witipos, next to the Watut River in PNG's Morobe province, began to change in 2006 - that's when Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) began building its gold mine upriver. Now, his livelihood is ruined. "The sediment destroyed our garden, destroying our water, our drinking water. We have no fish in our water," he said. The silt choking the river has also crippled the important local industry of small-scale alluvial gold mining. Even the course of the Watut River has changed in places. MMJV accepts sediment washed by rain into the river during th

LIAM FOX, ABC Sediment from a gold mine washing down a river in Papua New Guinea has destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of villagers. The Hidden Valley mine, which is half-owned by Melbourne-based Newcrest Mining and South African miner Harmony, is offering compensation to those affected. Some villagers are eager to take what is on offer, but others are not rushing to sign up. Michael Ansu's life in the village of Witipos, next to the Watut River in PNG's Morobe province, began to change in 2006 - that's when Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) began building its gold mine upriver. Now, his livelihood is ruined. "The sediment destroyed our garden, destroying our water, our drinking water. We have no fish in our water," he said. The silt choking the river has also crippled the important local industry of small-scale alluvial gold mining. Even the course of the Watut River has changed in places. MMJV accepts sediment washed by rain into the river during

By SCOTT WAIDE      Tucked away behind  the Nobnob mountain  on Madang’s North Coast is a small school – the Nobnob primary school.  Its students are the liveliest bunch of  youngsters  I’ve met this year.   Keen to learn and well behaved even when the teacher is not there.     But like many schools through out Papua New Guinea the  fibro classrooms   show the wear and tear of the  generations of kids who came through this school.    Like many others, I was just passing through to get to a vintage point  where I could get a few take still photographs  of Madang town in the  far off distance.   Walking into a classroom, a met a teacher. I asked If it was alright if I took a few pictures of the school and the children.   Nobnob primary doesn’t have   luxury of  brand new classrooms  but it does have a well maintained playing field and a  tiny library . I guess, that’s what’s really important to kids – being able to play and enjoy growing  up and being a

By SCOTT WAIDE      Tucked away behind  the Nobnob mountain  on Madang’s North Coast is a small school – the Nobnob primary school.  Its students are the liveliest bunch of  youngsters  I’ve met this year.   Keen to learn and well behaved even when the teacher is not there.     But like many schools through out Papua New Guinea the  fibro classrooms   show the wear and tear of the  generations of kids who came through this school.    Like many others, I was just passing through to get to a vintage point  where I could get a few take still photographs  of Madang town in the  far off distance.   Walking into a classroom, a met a teacher. I asked If it was alright if I took a few pictures of the school and the children.   Nobnob primary doesn’t have   luxury of  brand new classrooms  but it does have a well maintained playing field and a  tiny library . I guess, that’s what’s really important to kids – being able to play and enjoy growing  up and

THE CRITIC Two years ago, the former commander of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, retired Major General Jerry Singirok, raised concerns about the state of the PNGDF. He said in very plain terms that the "army" was in no position to protect the country from an internal security threat similar to that on Bougainville.  Singirok rose through the ranks as a veteran of the Bougainville war then became known as the commander who called on Prime Minister Julius Chan to resign when the government chose to hire Tim Spicer's Sandline mercenaries to end the Bougainville crisis. Singirok believes the country is nearing a tipping point in terms of its internal security. As a member of the Guns Committee he has, on many occasions, said that the police are outgunned, the Defense force limited and inadequate with a little over 2000 men and women while landowners and criminal gangs stockpile weapons for various reasons.  That internal security threat has become more co

THE CRITIC Two years ago, the former commander of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, retired Major General Jerry Singirok, raised concerns about the state of the PNGDF. He said in very plain terms that the "army" was in no position to protect the country from an internal security threat similar to that on Bougainville.  Singirok rose through the ranks as a veteran of the Bougainville war then became known as the commander who called on Prime Minister Julius Chan to resign when the government chose to hire Tim Spicer's Sandline mercenaries to end the Bougainville crisis. Singirok believes the country is nearing a tipping point in terms of its internal security. As a member of the Guns Committee he has, on many occasions, said that the police are outgunned, the Defense force limited and inadequate with a little over 2000 men and women while landowners and criminal gangs stockpile weapons for various reasons.  That internal security threat has become m

Sydney Morning Herald Papua New Guinea's Sports Minister wants the national rugby league coach and administration sacked after a dismal performance in the Four Nations tournament. Amid scathing public criticism of the Kumuls' wooden result, Sports Minister Philemon Embel said the poor result jeopardised their hope of entering a team in the NRL by 2014. "I feel that rugby league in PNG will die a natural death under the present leadership," Embel said in a statement. "I want to see Adrian Lam return as the coach of the Kumuls and return them to their winning Pacific Cup standards. "I cannot support the current rugby league administration and I am very disappointed that unnecessary changes were made against my concern and advice only weeks before the Four Nations." It was always going to be a tough slog for PNG, who lost every game against Australia (42-0), New Zealand (76-12) and England (36-10). Complaints have filled PNG newspaper letter pages for week