PNGBLOGS

Dilung Gama and her daughter Martina    sit on bed in a small maternity ward   at the  Saidor Health Center.      Martina  who suffers from epilepsy,    gave birth near  their village  a few days ago.     The  child has been given away for adoption and Dilung  - who appears to be in her 60s  - says  they  did that because Martina has too many children.   She doesn’t say how many  children her daughter has   but she points to a boy behind her  and says: “That’s one of them.”              Like many other parts of Papua New Guinea,  stories about the  plight of women and children    is all too common.    We’ve become desensitized  to  images and stories that would cause panic and alarm  in other countries.               Martina is one of the lucky few  who have made it to a health center.   Her village was beside a road and  she was fortunate  that her relatives brought her to  Saidor in time.  Many others aren’t so fortunate.             “…For instance,  we get a  radio message that says

Dilung Gama and her daughter Martina    sit on bed in a small maternity ward   at the  Saidor Health Center.      Martina  who suffers from epilepsy,    gave birth near  their village  a few days ago.     The  child has been given away for adoption and Dilung  - who appears to be in her 60s  - says  they  did that because Martina has too many children.   She doesn’t say how many  children her daughter has   but she points to a boy behind her  and says: “That’s one of them.”              Like many other parts of Papua New Guinea,  stories about the  plight of women and children    is all too common.    We’ve become desensitized  to  images and stories that would cause panic and alarm  in other countries.               Martina is one of the lucky few  who have made it to a health center.   Her village was beside a road and  she was fortunate  that her relatives brought her to  Saidor in time.  Many others aren’t so fortunate.             “…For instance,  we get a  radio message that say

Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau must be thoroughly sick and fed up with the courts in Papua New Guinea because they keep losing legal cases. Yesterday’s ruling in the National Court, dismissing Rimbunan Hijau’s application to strike out proceedings brought by a local non government organisation, was just the latest in a long series of court decisions against the company dating back over the last decade. Rimbunan Hijau consistently denies its logging operations in PNG are illegal and unsustainable and employs a number of highly paid consultants and lobbyists to argue in its defence in the media and an international team of lawyers to argue its case in court. Yet court decisions suggests the allegations of illegal logging are true as are the claims of serious human rights abuses, of which more emerged last week with Rimbunan Hijau accused of flying police into its logging camps to quell protests by traditional landowners over illegal logging in their forests [1]. In 2

Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau must be thoroughly sick and fed up with the courts in Papua New Guinea because they keep losing legal cases. Yesterday’s ruling in the National Court, dismissing Rimbunan Hijau’s application to strike out proceedings brought by a local non government organisation, was just the latest in a long series of court decisions against the company dating back over the last decade. Rimbunan Hijau consistently denies its logging operations in PNG are illegal and unsustainable and employs a number of highly paid consultants and lobbyists to argue in its defence in the media and an international team of lawyers to argue its case in court. Yet court decisions suggests the allegations of illegal logging are true as are the claims of serious human rights abuses, of which more emerged last week with Rimbunan Hijau accused of flying police into its logging camps to quell protests by traditional landowners over illegal logging in their forests [1].

More Australian police could be sent to Papua New Guinea, under a plan to boost the country's underfunded and undisciplined police force. Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles, told reporters in Port Moresby on Friday PNG had raised the issue of policing during last week's ministerial forum between the two nation's in Canberra last week. Australia currently has 14 Australian Federal Police (AFP) members in PNG working with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) in a mentoring and support role, as well as one AFP liaison at the High Commission. "The sense of the need to have more police on the ground, more federal police, is certainly an issue that was raised on the PNG side, and it's certainly one we take very seriously and we're keen to assist," Mr Marles said. "We have undertaken with the government here to have a very short review into the needs of policing, which we will have a response to." "But no

More Australian police could be sent to Papua New Guinea, under a plan to boost the country's underfunded and undisciplined police force. Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles, told reporters in Port Moresby on Friday PNG had raised the issue of policing during last week's ministerial forum between the two nation's in Canberra last week. Australia currently has 14 Australian Federal Police (AFP) members in PNG working with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) in a mentoring and support role, as well as one AFP liaison at the High Commission. "The sense of the need to have more police on the ground, more federal police, is certainly an issue that was raised on the PNG side, and it's certainly one we take very seriously and we're keen to assist," Mr Marles said. "We have undertaken with the government here to have a very short review into the needs of policing, which we will have a response to." &q

The Indonesian military and police opened fire late yesterday on a gathering of West Papuan leaders. At least one person is believed to have been killed and hundreds have fled the capital The Indonesian military and police started shooting at around 2:37pm West Papua time, yesterday 19 October. Information about what exactly transpired are still sketchy but at least one person was shot (believed dead), scores have been arrested, hundreds have fled to the hills and jungle surrounding the capital, and the capital is in a state of lockdown.    A Papuan priest who was fleeing the shooting contacted New Matilda to report that an army truck passed him carrying Papuan participants who had been present at the Third Papua Congress. According to the witness they were "covered with blood" and had been "beaten and shot". The violence erupted at the conclusion of the Third Papuan Congress, a three-day gathering held at the Taboria oval (Zaccheus Field) in Abepura, du

The Indonesian military and police opened fire late yesterday on a gathering of West Papuan leaders. At least one person is believed to have been killed and hundreds have fled the capital The Indonesian military and police started shooting at around 2:37pm West Papua time, yesterday 19 October. Information about what exactly transpired are still sketchy but at least one person was shot (believed dead), scores have been arrested, hundreds have fled to the hills and jungle surrounding the capital, and the capital is in a state of lockdown.    A Papuan priest who was fleeing the shooting contacted New Matilda to report that an army truck passed him carrying Papuan participants who had been present at the Third Papua Congress. According to the witness they were "covered with blood" and had been "beaten and shot". The violence erupted at the conclusion of the Third Papuan Congress, a three-day gathering held at the Taboria oval (Zaccheus Field) in Abepura,

The O’Neill-Namah government has a solid development agenda and is looking to improve governance, invest in infrastructure and deliver better education and health services to Papua New Guineans. This was the crux of the message delivered by PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill during his lecture at the ANU last week at a Development Policy Centre event. In a speech that addressed the challenges facing Papua New Guinea with refreshing frankness, the Prime Minister outlined his government’s plans for reform ahead of elections slated for 2012. He also explained the reasons behind the change in government that saw him take the PM position in August this year. Citing leaders who became reckless during former PM Sir Michael Somare’s lengthy stint in hospital, as well as concerns over misappropriation of the PNG development budget, O’Neill said that MPs on both sides of parliament were left with no choice but to take “assertive and corrective action” to deal with those who were not pru

The O’Neill-Namah government has a solid development agenda and is looking to improve governance, invest in infrastructure and deliver better education and health services to Papua New Guineans. This was the crux of the message delivered by PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill during his lecture at the ANU last week at a Development Policy Centre event. In a speech that addressed the challenges facing Papua New Guinea with refreshing frankness, the Prime Minister outlined his government’s plans for reform ahead of elections slated for 2012. He also explained the reasons behind the change in government that saw him take the PM position in August this year. Citing leaders who became reckless during former PM Sir Michael Somare’s lengthy stint in hospital, as well as concerns over misappropriation of the PNG development budget, O’Neill said that MPs on both sides of parliament were left with no choice but to take “assertive and corrective action” to deal with those who were not

Whether you talk about merging the two airlines or the decision to terminate the Project Agreement with Interoil, or even to sack and appoint certain controversial persons to Boards of statutory corporations, this O'Neill Namah government does not have the legitimacy to govern this Country while the Jury is still out in the pending legal cases. Peter O'Neill does not have the democratic legitimacy to govern. His position is somewhat similar to Frank Bainamarama of Fiji who is a leader by the point of the gun, who usurped democracy. Australia and New Zealand have consistently upheld the rule of the law and disengaged with Frank Bainamarama. What has happened in the PNG Parliament is no different. What has happened is the subject of court proceedings at the Country's Highest Courts. We therefore in effect have a care taker government, not a real government with the legitimate mandate of the people of Papua New Guinea. The people will express themselves at the po

Whether you talk about merging the two airlines or the decision to terminate the Project Agreement with Interoil, or even to sack and appoint certain controversial persons to Boards of statutory corporations, this O'Neill Namah government does not have the legitimacy to govern this Country while the Jury is still out in the pending legal cases. Peter O'Neill does not have the democratic legitimacy to govern. His position is somewhat similar to Frank Bainamarama of Fiji who is a leader by the point of the gun, who usurped democracy. Australia and New Zealand have consistently upheld the rule of the law and disengaged with Frank Bainamarama. What has happened in the PNG Parliament is no different. What has happened is the subject of court proceedings at the Country's Highest Courts. We therefore in effect have a care taker government, not a real government with the legitimate mandate of the people of Papua New Guinea. The people will express themselves at

I refer to the on-going public media releases by the Managing Director of MRDC, Mr Augustin Mano. It is clear that he is using resources of the landowners to defend himself from all accusations leveled against him. I have been interested as a landowner in following his media releases and public information through MRDC websites and prints. There is only two points he seems to say in all of these media releases. First that he followed proper financial management procedure for all the landowner investments and secondly, he has improved the value of shareholders asserts since taking office as the Managing Director. While this may be true, he should wait patiently for normal investigation which has already been ordered to prove himself rather than constantly defending himself over the media. This investigation will confirm whether or not proper financial management procedure was followed. The Terms of Reference (TOR) should also find out if any ‘kick backs’ or bribes (as we commonly know

I refer to the on-going public media releases by the Managing Director of MRDC, Mr Augustin Mano. It is clear that he is using resources of the landowners to defend himself from all accusations leveled against him. I have been interested as a landowner in following his media releases and public information through MRDC websites and prints. There is only two points he seems to say in all of these media releases. First that he followed proper financial management procedure for all the landowner investments and secondly, he has improved the value of shareholders asserts since taking office as the Managing Director. While this may be true, he should wait patiently for normal investigation which has already been ordered to prove himself rather than constantly defending himself over the media. This investigation will confirm whether or not proper financial management procedure was followed. The Terms of Reference (TOR) should also find out if any ‘kick backs’ or bribes (as we commonly k

BEHIND Papua New Guinea's resource-fuelled growth - 9 per cent this year - and its febrile uptake of mobile phones and social media lies a world, hidden in misty valleys and on remote islands, of grinding poverty. We might have learned more of such poverty's true dimensions from a national census conducted in mid-year. But there are growing signs that the census, already postponed for a year because of inadequate funding, has effectively failed. Such issues need to weigh on the minds of leaders from PNG and Australia as they meet in Canberra today. While Julia Gillard holds talks with new PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, eight PNG ministers, including former prime minister Mekere Morauta, will be meeting a group of Australian counterparts. The Australians, who will include Finance Minister Penny Wong, Trade Minister Craig Emerson and Pacific secretary Richard Marles, will be led by Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. They will discuss replacing the 12-year-old bilateral aid agree

BEHIND Papua New Guinea's resource-fuelled growth - 9 per cent this year - and its febrile uptake of mobile phones and social media lies a world, hidden in misty valleys and on remote islands, of grinding poverty. We might have learned more of such poverty's true dimensions from a national census conducted in mid-year. But there are growing signs that the census, already postponed for a year because of inadequate funding, has effectively failed. Such issues need to weigh on the minds of leaders from PNG and Australia as they meet in Canberra today. While Julia Gillard holds talks with new PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, eight PNG ministers, including former prime minister Mekere Morauta, will be meeting a group of Australian counterparts. The Australians, who will include Finance Minister Penny Wong, Trade Minister Craig Emerson and Pacific secretary Richard Marles, will be led by Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. They will discuss replacing the 12-year-old bilateral a

Developers hover as 5 million hectares, and national pride, are signed away in 99-year leases that have raised fears of corruption. A LAND grab of 5 million hectares of Papua New Guinea, 11 per cent of its territory, has taken place quietly and apparently bloodlessly since 2003, half of it being signed over in the past two years. But tension over one of the controversial leases has reportedly turned violent in the past week, with police chiefs investigating allegations of brutality by officers flown into the site in Pomio, East New Britain, by a logging company. Police confirmed in an ABC news report that loggers financed the crackdown against local protesters who claim their traditional land was taken without their authority. The Pomio lease is one of 72 deals being investigated by a commission of inquiry in Port Moresby. Under the deals, title to the land, most of it densely forested, has been transferred from local customary ownership to the state and vested with a range of landown

Developers hover as 5 million hectares, and national pride, are signed away in 99-year leases that have raised fears of corruption. A LAND grab of 5 million hectares of Papua New Guinea, 11 per cent of its territory, has taken place quietly and apparently bloodlessly since 2003, half of it being signed over in the past two years. But tension over one of the controversial leases has reportedly turned violent in the past week, with police chiefs investigating allegations of brutality by officers flown into the site in Pomio, East New Britain, by a logging company. Police confirmed in an ABC news report that loggers financed the crackdown against local protesters who claim their traditional land was taken without their authority. The Pomio lease is one of 72 deals being investigated by a commission of inquiry in Port Moresby. Under the deals, title to the land, most of it densely forested, has been transferred from local customary ownership to the state and vested with a range

Global corporations are lining up to extract mining, gas and petroleum resources, but the country's complex land ownership system is making it difficult to pass on the benefits Peter O'Neill's first two months in office as Papua New Guinea's prime minister have seen him having to apply political damage control more often than he may have expected. There was the tidying up after members of his new-look cabinet moved to suspend certain provincial administrations – including that of East Sepik which, as the power base of Sir Michael Somare, had just launched a legal challenge to the parliamentary ruling that dramatically ousted PNG's longtime prime minister and enabled the ensuing vote that saw O'Neill replace him. Then O'Neill was kept busy clarifying the government's position on the prime ministerial jet. Though he announced that this luxury item from the Somare era would be sold, it was being used to ferry his ministers around the country. But the bigges