PNGBLOGS

LUKE MILLER New Zealand has 1504 of them, Indonesia has 3059, East Timor has 390 and poor Papua New Guinea has only 66. The leaked cables from the US State Department paint a picture of a region where the US diplomatic missions in Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia provide a constant stream of information back to the Pentagon, New Zealand punches above its weight and Papua New Guinea is all but ignored. But while the so-called “cablegate” release has so far provided a tantalising sketch of US interests in our region, it now appears part of a deliberate strategy by WikiLeaks to hold back the actual content of cables related to Asia and the Pacific. The reason for this delay was published in the last hour on one of their websites, with WikiLeaks announcing that the “embassy cables will be released in stages over the next few months. The subject matter of these cables is of such importance, and the geographical spread so broad, that to do otherwise would not do this material justice”

LUKE MILLER New Zealand has 1504 of them, Indonesia has 3059, East Timor has 390 and poor Papua New Guinea has only 66. The leaked cables from the US State Department paint a picture of a region where the US diplomatic missions in Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia provide a constant stream of information back to the Pentagon, New Zealand punches above its weight and Papua New Guinea is all but ignored. But while the so-called “cablegate” release has so far provided a tantalising sketch of US interests in our region, it now appears part of a deliberate strategy by WikiLeaks to hold back the actual content of cables related to Asia and the Pacific. The reason for this delay was published in the last hour on one of their websites, with WikiLeaks announcing that the “embassy cables will be released in stages over the next few months. The subject matter of these cables is of such importance, and the geographical spread so broad, that to do otherwise would not do this material just

Dr Satish Chand A series of explosions from November 25-27 in 1988 brought several power pylons to the ground and with it the giant Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), a gold and copper mine, located at Panguna in Central Bougainville, to its knees. BCL suspended operations as security deteriorated and was forced to close operations indefinitely six months later. The mine remains closed. The causes of the conflict on Bougainville are complex. What is clear, however, is that the 10 years of fighting that followed the first explosions left the economy in tatters and the people traumatised. Bougainville in this period fell from being the top performer on socio-economic indicators of the 20 provinces in PNG to the bottom. The North Solomons Province that now is the autonomous region of Bougainville had the second highest income per person as of 1983; beaten only by the National Capital District. Pre-conflict Bougainville hosted the largest mine in the country. The province led its

Dr Satish Chand A series of explosions from November 25-27 in 1988 brought several power pylons to the ground and with it the giant Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), a gold and copper mine, located at Panguna in Central Bougainville, to its knees. BCL suspended operations as security deteriorated and was forced to close operations indefinitely six months later. The mine remains closed. The causes of the conflict on Bougainville are complex. What is clear, however, is that the 10 years of fighting that followed the first explosions left the economy in tatters and the people traumatised. Bougainville in this period fell from being the top performer on socio-economic indicators of the 20 provinces in PNG to the bottom. The North Solomons Province that now is the autonomous region of Bougainville had the second highest income per person as of 1983; beaten only by the National Capital District. Pre-conflict Bougainville hosted the largest mine in the country. The province led i

Ilya Gridneff, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent December 17, 2010 Papua New Guinea's government has challenged a court ruling that found the governor-general's appointment was invalid and parliament must resit by January 20. As the year comes to a close, PNG remains in confusion regarding the legal status of numerous office holders and the stability of the National Alliance-led government. PNG's Post Courier newspaper reports the government is challenging the Supreme Court ruling, by arguing the court may have "misapprehended the constitution" and cannot order parliament to reconvene. Last week, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare voluntarily stepped aside to face a leadership tribunal for misconduct in office, regarding allegations he failed to lodge financial statements. Sam Abal is now acting prime minister, but it is not clear who is the acting governor-general, after the supreme court deemed Sir Paulias Matane's controversial June re-appointment invalid.

Ilya Gridneff, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent December 17, 2010 Papua New Guinea's government has challenged a court ruling that found the governor-general's appointment was invalid and parliament must resit by January 20. As the year comes to a close, PNG remains in confusion regarding the legal status of numerous office holders and the stability of the National Alliance-led government. PNG's Post Courier newspaper reports the government is challenging the Supreme Court ruling, by arguing the court may have "misapprehended the constitution" and cannot order parliament to reconvene. Last week, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare voluntarily stepped aside to face a leadership tribunal for misconduct in office, regarding allegations he failed to lodge financial statements. Sam Abal is now acting prime minister, but it is not clear who is the acting governor-general, after the supreme court deemed Sir Paulias Matane's controversial June re-appointment in

PAUL REINBARA a/PM and former GG, Nationalpic by Evah.Kuamin Today the National is reporting that acting Prime Minister Sam Abal and a couple of ministers flew out to Kokopo yesterday to see Sir Paulias Matane on behalf of the side-lined Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare. As reported Sir Arnold Amet who appears to be the spokesman of the group said they were there to “pay respects to the former GG”. After being the point man for the National Alliance party in legal matters Sir Arnold has turned himself into a laughing stock and has taken the acting Prime Minister with him on this joyride. This trip could pose a number of possible or likely options the Government under the leadership of Mr Abal are trying to commandeer on, pending the leadership referral brought to their leader Sir Michael. The likelihood of Sir Matane contesting the GG post is now a possibility as this was seen to be the work of Sir Michael to telling him (Sir Matane) that we are still on this and he should not give