PNGBLOGS

We are the people of a free nation of blokes, sheilas and the occasional wanker. We come from many lands (although a few too many of us come from New Zealand ), and although we live in the best country in the world, we reserve the right to bitch and moan about it whenever we bloody like. We are One Nation but divided into many States. First, there's Victoria , named after a queen who didn't believe in lesbians. Victoria is the realm of Mossimo turtlenecks, cafe latte, grand final day, and big horse races. Its capital is Melbourne , whose chief marketing pitch is that "it's liveable". At least that's what they think. The rest of us think it is too bloody cold and wet. Next, there's NSW, the realm of pastel shorts, macchiato with sugar, thin books read quickly and millions of dancing queens. Its capital Sydney has more queens than any other city in the world and is proud of it. Its mascots are Bondi lifesavers that pull their Speedos up their cracks to keep

We are the people of a free nation of blokes, sheilas and the occasional wanker. We come from many lands (although a few too many of us come from New Zealand ), and although we live in the best country in the world, we reserve the right to bitch and moan about it whenever we bloody like. We are One Nation but divided into many States. First, there's Victoria , named after a queen who didn't believe in lesbians. Victoria is the realm of Mossimo turtlenecks, cafe latte, grand final day, and big horse races. Its capital is Melbourne , whose chief marketing pitch is that "it's liveable". At least that's what they think. The rest of us think it is too bloody cold and wet. Next, there's NSW, the realm of pastel shorts, macchiato with sugar, thin books read quickly and millions of dancing queens. Its capital Sydney has more queens than any other city in the world and is proud of it. Its mascots are Bondi lifesavers that pull their Speedos up their cracks to keep

PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and his deputy, Belden Namah, have instructed their foreign affairs and immigration departments to withdraw the citizenship granted last week to fugitive Indonesian tycoon Joko Tjandra. But Foreign Minister Ano Pala has defended granting the citizenship - providing PNG with another controversy before voting in the five-yearly national election starts tomorrow. Joko, 61, fled from Jakarta by private jet in June 2009, shortly before he was convicted by the Indonesian Supreme Court of fraud, sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and ordered to repay $57 million he had obtained illegally. Since then, Joko has spread his time between Singapore, Malaysia and PNG. The PNG constitution requires new citizens to have lived in the country for eight years, to be of good character, and to speak a local language. Joko is on Interpol's wanted list, and the Indonesian government has told PNG of its concerns on the issue. Mr O'Neill said he

PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and his deputy, Belden Namah, have instructed their foreign affairs and immigration departments to withdraw the citizenship granted last week to fugitive Indonesian tycoon Joko Tjandra. But Foreign Minister Ano Pala has defended granting the citizenship - providing PNG with another controversy before voting in the five-yearly national election starts tomorrow. Joko, 61, fled from Jakarta by private jet in June 2009, shortly before he was convicted by the Indonesian Supreme Court of fraud, sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and ordered to repay $57 million he had obtained illegally. Since then, Joko has spread his time between Singapore, Malaysia and PNG. The PNG constitution requires new citizens to have lived in the country for eight years, to be of good character, and to speak a local language. Joko is on Interpol's wanted list, and the Indonesian government has told PNG of its concerns on the issue. Mr O

Election observers say Papua New Guinea must dedicate itself to a violence-free election over the next two weeks, after a year of unpredictable political upheaval. The head of a group of eight election observers who will travel throughout PNG from Saturday, former Vanuatu prime minister Edward Natapei, says his team will keep a close eye on the voting, counting and results. "For Papua New Guinea, the conduct of credible elections is vital and has become even more critical to the country's future following the constitutional crisis and political uncertainty of recent months," he told reporters in Port Moresby. "These elections are critically important for the people of PNG as they elect their leaders and it is imperative that the electoral process is transparent, fair, credible and free of violence." The 2012 poll will be PNG's eighth since it gained independence from Australia in 1975. Citing the potential for electoral fraud, parliament voted in April to su

Election observers say Papua New Guinea must dedicate itself to a violence-free election over the next two weeks, after a year of unpredictable political upheaval. The head of a group of eight election observers who will travel throughout PNG from Saturday, former Vanuatu prime minister Edward Natapei, says his team will keep a close eye on the voting, counting and results. "For Papua New Guinea, the conduct of credible elections is vital and has become even more critical to the country's future following the constitutional crisis and political uncertainty of recent months," he told reporters in Port Moresby. "These elections are critically important for the people of PNG as they elect their leaders and it is imperative that the electoral process is transparent, fair, credible and free of violence." The 2012 poll will be PNG's eighth since it gained independence from Australia in 1975. Citing the potential for electoral fraud, parliament voted in April to su

There is a huge amount of money at stake for those who win the big prize of becoming MP because of all the LNG wealth likely to flow into the government treasury. More pressure than ever to find guaranteed ways to win the election. Here is what is already being planned by CERTAIN main political parties fighting to keep power. They all have a carefully mapped out strategy and it will be between them alone who will win this election. Some or if not, many of the followings have already happened and will happen this election. 1. Common roll update corruption is now finished. Those conducting the common roll updates have been bribed all over the country to make sure that the names of people in a particular electorate were either inflated or (in the case of areas with opposing candidates) were deflated. 2. Printing of common rolls: Bribery has also been widespread at this juncture to make sure the false figures actually get printed. 3. For the last month and more, the known election officers

There is a huge amount of money at stake for those who win the big prize of becoming MP because of all the LNG wealth likely to flow into the government treasury. More pressure than ever to find guaranteed ways to win the election. Here is what is already being planned by CERTAIN main political parties fighting to keep power. They all have a carefully mapped out strategy and it will be between them alone who will win this election. Some or if not, many of the followings have already happened and will happen this election. 1. Common roll update corruption is now finished. Those conducting the common roll updates have been bribed all over the country to make sure that the names of people in a particular electorate were either inflated or (in the case of areas with opposing candidates) were deflated. 2. Printing of common rolls: Bribery has also been widespread at this juncture to make sure the false figures actually get printed. 3. For the last month and more, the known election offic

By Susan Merrell It is madness, burning in the wild man's brain, There is madness, hidden in the hate and pain, And the madness, is something that they can't control, When there's madness burning in a madman's soul. (Apologies to Gary Osborne) BREAKING POINT I heard tell that of the three, two stood upright as their sentences were read, the third broke down and wept. It would seem to observers that for Captain Bola Renagi and Second Lieutenant Linus Osaba their own actions had been carefully considered and thus they stood stoic, steeled to the consequences.  Conversely, to that same observer, it would seem that, for Captain Namah, the reality of his actions were only just impacting.  Perhaps his bravery had been more than a little tinged with impetuosity and he was now finding the unimagined consequences too hard to bear.   And the consequences were harsh – six years hard labour.  For all three, this must have been a bitter pill to swallow, but none more so than for an