PNGBLOGS

IN A row boat at low tide, the distance between one of the best health systems in the world and one of the worst can can be easily travelled in less than 15 minutes. So it is not surprising that over the past decade some 200 people sick with tuberculosis have been bundled into boats by their families and ferried across this frontier, the narrow band of water separating Papua New Guinea (a nation ranked 137 out of 162 in the UN World Development Index) and islands that are outlying territories of Australia (ranked No. 2). After being examined at the islands' TB clinics, about one-quarter of the sick have been found to be infected with multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), a dreaded modern manifestation of a disease that still ranks among humanity's greatest killers. From the Torres Strait islands of Saibai and Boigu, the sickest are then flown to hospitals in Cairns, Queensland, where access to powerful second-line

IN A row boat at low tide, the distance between one of the best health systems in the world and one of the worst can can be easily travelled in less than 15 minutes. So it is not surprising that over the past decade some 200 people sick with tuberculosis have been bundled into boats by their families and ferried across this frontier, the narrow band of water separating Papua New Guinea (a nation ranked 137 out of 162 in the UN World Development Index) and islands that are outlying territories of Australia (ranked No. 2). After being examined at the islands' TB clinics, about one-quarter of the sick have been found to be infected with multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), a dreaded modern manifestation of a disease that still ranks among humanity's greatest killers. From the Torres Strait islands of Saibai and Boigu, the sickest are then flown to hospitals in Cairns, Queensland, where access to powerful second-line

The son of dumped Papua New Guinean leader Sir Michael Somare has vowed to bring his father onto the floor of parliament when it next sits, defying Speaker Jeffery Nape's decision to end the political veteran's 43-year parliamentary career. Arthur Somare, himself a suspended MP, has told local media he will bring the ailing 76-year-old Sir Michael into the chamber when parliament gathers on September 20. "Wefeel confident that there is no vacancy in the East Sepik provincial seat," Mr Somare is reported to have said in the Port Moresby-based newspaper, The National. The Post Courier reported a "visibly angry" Mr Somare as saying neither the prime minister, Peter O'Neill, nor Mr Nape could stop him "literally open[ing] the door to the chamber and bringing in the Grand Chief". Comment is being sought from Sir Michael. Sir Michael was dismissed from parliament on Tuesday by Mr Nape, who said the nation's longest-serving prime minist

The son of dumped Papua New Guinean leader Sir Michael Somare has vowed to bring his father onto the floor of parliament when it next sits, defying Speaker Jeffery Nape's decision to end the political veteran's 43-year parliamentary career. Arthur Somare, himself a suspended MP, has told local media he will bring the ailing 76-year-old Sir Michael into the chamber when parliament gathers on September 20. "Wefeel confident that there is no vacancy in the East Sepik provincial seat," Mr Somare is reported to have said in the Port Moresby-based newspaper, The National. The Post Courier reported a "visibly angry" Mr Somare as saying neither the prime minister, Peter O'Neill, nor Mr Nape could stop him "literally open[ing] the door to the chamber and bringing in the Grand Chief". Comment is being sought from Sir Michael. Sir Michael was dismissed from parliament on Tuesday by Mr Nape, who said the nation's longest-serving prime min

AAP Sir Michael Somare has been disqualified from Papua New Guinea's parliament just hours after making a dramatic return after a five-month absence. The 76-year-old former prime minister had arrived back in PNG from Singapore on Sunday to prevent the attempt by the government of Peter O'Neill to unseat him. Speaker of the house Jeffery Nape ended the 43-year career of PNG's first prime minister, affectionately known as the father of the nation, just before 6pm (AEST) on Tuesday. "It is now my solemn duty to advise you that by operation of Section 104(2) (d) of the constitution your former seat, East Sepik Provincial, is now vacant," Mr Nape said in a statement which he read out in parliament after Sir Michael had left the chamber. "I have advised the governor-general and the sergeant at arms of the parliament accordingly. I shall announce my decision to the parliament when it next meets." Mr

AAP Sir Michael Somare has been disqualified from Papua New Guinea's parliament just hours after making a dramatic return after a five-month absence. The 76-year-old former prime minister had arrived back in PNG from Singapore on Sunday to prevent the attempt by the government of Peter O'Neill to unseat him. Speaker of the house Jeffery Nape ended the 43-year career of PNG's first prime minister, affectionately known as the father of the nation, just before 6pm (AEST) on Tuesday. "It is now my solemn duty to advise you that by operation of Section 104(2) (d) of the constitution your former seat, East Sepik Provincial, is now vacant," Mr Nape said in a statement which he read out in parliament after Sir Michael had left the chamber. "I have advised the governor-general and the sergeant at arms of the parliament accordingly. I shall announce my decision to the parliament when it next meets."

Forty-eight years after Indonesia took over administration of West Papua from the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority, West Papuans continue to struggle for self-determination. Although West Papua is not often on our front pages, recent events there show that the fight for justice is not about to go away any time soon — even as Indonesian security forces employ increasingly heavy-handed tactics to quell unrest.  Thousands of West Papuans took to the streets in peaceful rallies across the province at the beginning of August calling for a referendum. Also last month, International Lawyers for West Papua held their ‘West Papua — The Road to Freedom’ conference in Oxford, UK . The conference brought together legal experts, parliamentarians and others to present "the strongest case to date that the people of West Papua have the right to self-determination under international law".  On 1 August unidentified assailants sprayed a small bus with bullets as i

Forty-eight years after Indonesia took over administration of West Papua from the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority, West Papuans continue to struggle for self-determination. Although West Papua is not often on our front pages, recent events there show that the fight for justice is not about to go away any time soon — even as Indonesian security forces employ increasingly heavy-handed tactics to quell unrest.  Thousands of West Papuans took to the streets in peaceful rallies across the province at the beginning of August calling for a referendum. Also last month, International Lawyers for West Papua held their ‘West Papua — The Road to Freedom’ conference in Oxford, UK . The conference brought together legal experts, parliamentarians and others to present "the strongest case to date that the people of West Papua have the right to self-determination under international law".  On 1 August unidentified assailants sprayed a small bus with bullets as

The people of PNG voted for their respective members to represent them. The PM is chosen from those elected members by numbers; not the GG. An overwhelming majority of the members of Parliament voted to oust Somare and replace him with O'Neill; that means the overwhelming majority of PNGs want Somare gone. If the process was not right then the Supreme Court will rule on it. It is not the prerogative of Michael Somare to bull-doze his way back in. That is the exact behavior that cost him his place in the first place he showed no respect for law or standing orders or correct procedure or the Judiciary. Here he goes again acting like a dictator as if the Parliament belongs to him and his cronies. It belongs to the people and the people have spoken through their duly elected representatives; 70 to 24. The 2007 General Elections was conducted under the rules of the now defunct Integrity of Political party scenario, and the GG did invite him to form the Government I am looking for polit