PNGBLOGS

  By CHRISTOPER PAPIALI Michael Somare has survived in the parliament for more than 40 years. He is best regarded as the father of the nation. He is the longest serving MP in the Commonwealth, a record no other politicians can match. Some may see that as divine blessing to have the life of this man well lived in the years to come. He seem to have not coached an upcoming leader that will fill his shoes. Even at the ESP regional seat, some learned and respected Sepiks tried to topple him and Allan Bird knowing too well that he would, but could not do it. Questions have been tossed and even passed around as to why Sepiks still vote for him come the national election time. No one and even I am not here to answer that question. Is it to do with:a) his strong faith in God; b) sepik tambaran culture c) out of respect & age, or ......what? Some of the commentators have said that Somare was planning to leave his colorful political life for good, however, his son Arthur, Agiru, Patrick Pruai

  By CHRISTOPER PAPIALI Michael Somare has survived in the parliament for more than 40 years. He is best regarded as the father of the nation. He is the longest serving MP in the Commonwealth, a record no other politicians can match. Some may see that as divine blessing to have the life of this man well lived in the years to come. He seem to have not coached an upcoming leader that will fill his shoes. Even at the ESP regional seat, some learned and respected Sepiks tried to topple him and Allan Bird knowing too well that he would, but could not do it. Questions have been tossed and even passed around as to why Sepiks still vote for him come the national election time. No one and even I am not here to answer that question. Is it to do with:a) his strong faith in God; b) sepik tambaran culture c) out of respect & age, or ......what? Some of the commentators have said that Somare was planning to leave his colorful political life for good, however, his son Arthur, Agiru, P

Let me begin with officially announcing the declaration of our first two female winning candidates in, Delilah Gore, in the Sohe Open Electorate of Northern Province and Loujaya Toni in the Lae Open Electorate of Morobe Province. So it’s congratulations to the people of Sohe and Lae for election of their two new Members which now clearly demonstrates the realization of gender equality during this election. Right around the country, I am pleased to announce that declaration of winners have been made for 50 per cent of the total number of seats contested. And that means we are on target in completing the 2012 General Elections, and also on time for the Returning of the Writs and consequently advising the Governor General on whom to invite to form the Government. Elimination rounds are now being undertaken for the majority of the seats and declarations are being made promptly on completion of counting. I reiterate coming Wednesday’s date for all writs to be returned in order for me to for

Let me begin with officially announcing the declaration of our first two female winning candidates in, Delilah Gore, in the Sohe Open Electorate of Northern Province and Loujaya Toni in the Lae Open Electorate of Morobe Province. So it’s congratulations to the people of Sohe and Lae for election of their two new Members which now clearly demonstrates the realization of gender equality during this election. Right around the country, I am pleased to announce that declaration of winners have been made for 50 per cent of the total number of seats contested. And that means we are on target in completing the 2012 General Elections, and also on time for the Returning of the Writs and consequently advising the Governor General on whom to invite to form the Government. Elimination rounds are now being undertaken for the majority of the seats and declarations are being made promptly on completion of counting. I reiterate coming Wednesday’s date for all writs to be returned in order for me to for

By SANJAY BHOSALE Papua New Guinea has featured regularly in the international media in the last couple of weeks, and unfortunately, the coverage has been mostly negative. The sole exception has been the recent positive reports on the national election in a few Australian and New Zealand media outlets such as the ABC and Radio New Zealand International.  This was particularly the case after the initial problems with the common rolls, delayed polling and early poll-related violence receded and the elections got into full swing. Last week’s Hevilift helicopter crash in which two Australians and a New Zealander died understandably received widespread coverage in Australia and New Zealand.  The story featured prominently for nearly a week as the search for the missing crew continued until the discovery of their bodies in the Gulf province. Media outlets ranging from the online edition of the prestigious Time magazine in the United States to newspapers in countries such as Pakistan, have be

By SANJAY BHOSALE Papua New Guinea has featured regularly in the international media in the last couple of weeks, and unfortunately, the coverage has been mostly negative. The sole exception has been the recent positive reports on the national election in a few Australian and New Zealand media outlets such as the ABC and Radio New Zealand International.  This was particularly the case after the initial problems with the common rolls, delayed polling and early poll-related violence receded and the elections got into full swing. Last week’s Hevilift helicopter crash in which two Australians and a New Zealander died understandably received widespread coverage in Australia and New Zealand.  The story featured prominently for nearly a week as the search for the missing crew continued until the discovery of their bodies in the Gulf province. Media outlets ranging from the online edition of the prestigious Time magazine in the United States to newspapers in countries such as Pakista

WARARU, SOMARE & AIMO OUT! THE National Alliance’s hopes of forming the next government took a heavy blow when two of its key political tacticians failed to get re-elected yesterday. The first was Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s son Arthur, who lost his Angoram open seat to businessman and Pangu Pati candidate Ludwig Schulze, who polled 11,800 votes. Somare finished second with 10,624 votes. Joining the three-term MP on the scrap-heap was East Sepik Governor Peter Wararu Waranaka, who lost the Yangoru-Saussia open seat to former National Development Bank boss Richard Maru. Wararu polled 10,241 votes after the 25th elimination while Maru, an independent, received 13,121 votes. After his declaration at 5pm yesterday, Maru thanked the election officials and security personnel for delivering the elections for Yangoru-Saussia. Maru also thanked the people for the confidence they had in electing him. He said he had no time to waste but to be in government from day one in order to delive

WARARU, SOMARE & AIMO OUT! THE National Alliance’s hopes of forming the next government took a heavy blow when two of its key political tacticians failed to get re-elected yesterday. The first was Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s son Arthur, who lost his Angoram open seat to businessman and Pangu Pati candidate Ludwig Schulze, who polled 11,800 votes. Somare finished second with 10,624 votes. Joining the three-term MP on the scrap-heap was East Sepik Governor Peter Wararu Waranaka, who lost the Yangoru-Saussia open seat to former National Development Bank boss Richard Maru. Wararu polled 10,241 votes after the 25th elimination while Maru, an independent, received 13,121 votes. After his declaration at 5pm yesterday, Maru thanked the election officials and security personnel for delivering the elections for Yangoru-Saussia. Maru also thanked the people for the confidence they had in electing him. He said he had no time to waste but to be in government from day one in order

POMIO OPEN                PAUL TIENSTEN          People's United Assembly Party    RABAUL OPEN              ALLAN S. M. MARAT     Melanesian Liberal Party AMBUNTI-DREIKIKIR   EZEKIEL SIGII ANISI    People’s Progress Party MAPRIK OPEN              JOHN SIMON                 National Alliance Party KANDEP OPEN              DON POMB POLYE        Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party KOROBA- KOPIAGO      PHILIP UNDIALU           Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party TARI OPEN                     JAMES MARAPE          People’s National Congress Party MANUS PROVINCIAL     CHARLIE BENJAMIN    People’s National Congress Party MANUS OPEN                 RONNY KNIGHT       New Generation Party BULOLO OPEN                SAM BASIL                PNG Party MARKHAM OPEN            PAUL ISIKIEL            People’s National Congress Party NEW IRELAND                JULIUS CHAN            People’s Progress Party    KAVIENG OPEN               BEN MICAH              People’s Progress Party    NAMATANAI OP

By Patrick von Stieglitz   I have read Mike Head's article posted on w ww.pngblogs.com a couple of days ago and have found it to be the closest factual account of what is going on in PNG that I am quite surprised. I can add to the debate about Australian and US influence as I have recent experience with a company from Australia  called Australian Reef Pilots Pty Ltd  and their parent company Torres Industries a un listed public company also here in Australia. They on behalf of Australian Customs hold the Coast Watch contracts for North Eastern Australia and are actively engaged in PNG since December 2008. In November 2008 they chartered our ship Tateyama Maru to begin their, what I called at the time, a covert intelligence operation designed and created by ASIO on behalf of the Australian Government during late 2007 and early 2008 while Kevin Rudd was Prime Minister. If you read carefully through the attachment that I have provided, you will come across an article that I downloade

By Patrick von Stieglitz   I have read Mike Head's article posted on w ww.pngblogs.com a couple of days ago and have found it to be the closest factual account of what is going on in PNG that I am quite surprised. I can add to the debate about Australian and US influence as I have recent experience with a company from Australia  called Australian Reef Pilots Pty Ltd  and their parent company Torres Industries a un listed public company also here in Australia. They on behalf of Australian Customs hold the Coast Watch contracts for North Eastern Australia and are actively engaged in PNG since December 2008. In November 2008 they chartered our ship Tateyama Maru to begin their, what I called at the time, a covert intelligence operation designed and created by ASIO on behalf of the Australian Government during late 2007 and early 2008 while Kevin Rudd was Prime Minister. If you read carefully through the attachment that I have provided, you will come across an article that I

By Erasmus Baraniak We never asked for Australia's help with the elections. Australia is the one who rushed around and organized it for us. But instead of fixing the problems, Cranstein and his country staked the EC with so many experts from Cardno Davies and deliberately screwed up our Electoral Rolls and organisation. We have recently found the common rolls were never updated and all the problems pointed out to the EC many many times in writing were never fixed. Instead they pushed us to run toward the cliff of election failure deliberately. WHY? That is the question we must begin to ask and answer logically. Now we have an Australian High Commissioner, a foreign diplomat to this country, having the temerity to run a weekly column about whats wrong with this country and how it could be better and what Australia is doing here. This is in breach of every diplomatic code ethics and the rules of engagement as diplomats to another country. It is in breach of diplomatic protocol that

By Erasmus Baraniak We never asked for Australia's help with the elections. Australia is the one who rushed around and organized it for us. But instead of fixing the problems, Cranstein and his country staked the EC with so many experts from Cardno Davies and deliberately screwed up our Electoral Rolls and organisation. We have recently found the common rolls were never updated and all the problems pointed out to the EC many many times in writing were never fixed. Instead they pushed us to run toward the cliff of election failure deliberately. WHY? That is the question we must begin to ask and answer logically. Now we have an Australian High Commissioner, a foreign diplomat to this country, having the temerity to run a weekly column about whats wrong with this country and how it could be better and what Australia is doing here. This is in breach of every diplomatic code ethics and the rules of engagement as diplomats to another country. It is in breach of diplomatic protoc

GARAMUT POLYE and O'NEILL WINNERS, NAMAH? Find below the official results of the PNG 2012 National Election which will be updated after an electoral winner has been declared by the respective returning officer: Peter O’Neill (Ialibu-Pangia Open, SHP) – People’s National Congress [Primary Vote] Retains seat; 3rd Term. Charlie Benjamin (Manus Provincial) – People’s National Congress [Elimination] Beat Michael Sapau, Triumph Heritage Empowerment; 2nd Term. Ronny Knight (Manus Open, Manus) – New Generation Party [Elimination] Beat Job Pomat, People’s National Congress; 1st Term. Don Polye (Kandep Open, Enga) – Triumph Heritage Empowerment [Primary Vote] Retains seat; 3rd Term. Patrick Pruaitch (Aitape-Lumi Open, WSP) – National Alliance [Elimination] Retains seat; 3rd Term. Byron Chan (Namatanai Open, New Ireland) – People’s Progress Party [Elimination] Retains seat; 3rd Term. John Simon (Maprik Open, ESP) – National Alliance [Elimination] Beat Gabriel Kapris, People’s National C

GARAMUT POLYE and O'NEILL WINNERS, NAMAH? Find below the official results of the PNG 2012 National Election which will be updated after an electoral winner has been declared by the respective returning officer: Peter O’Neill (Ialibu-Pangia Open, SHP) – People’s National Congress [Primary Vote] Retains seat; 3rd Term. Charlie Benjamin (Manus Provincial) – People’s National Congress [Elimination] Beat Michael Sapau, Triumph Heritage Empowerment; 2nd Term. Ronny Knight (Manus Open, Manus) – New Generation Party [Elimination] Beat Job Pomat, People’s National Congress; 1st Term. Don Polye (Kandep Open, Enga) – Triumph Heritage Empowerment [Primary Vote] Retains seat; 3rd Term. Patrick Pruaitch (Aitape-Lumi Open, WSP) – National Alliance [Elimination] Retains seat; 3rd Term. Byron Chan (Namatanai Open, New Ireland) – People’s Progress Party [Elimination] Retains seat; 3rd Term. John Simon (Maprik Open, ESP) – National Alliance [Elimination] Beat

VANIMO-Green MP Belden Namah is furious after accusing brothers Arthur and Sana Somare of trying to board his private jet at Boram Airport, Wewak, East Sepik province. The aircraft had stopped over to refuel on its way back from Southern Highlands late on Wednesday. “It is an act of terrorism when they walked onto the tarmac of the airport and boarded my private plane without proper authorisation,” he said. Namah said what Arthur and Sana did was criminal in nature and they should be made to answer for what they did.The incident, however, could not be confirmed with airport authorities. The two Somare brothers could not also be reached for a comment. Namah denied a newspaper report that the plane was carrying ballot papers, ballot boxes and a huge sum of cash.“I do not go around carrying ballot papers or huge sums of cash in my plane,” he said. Namah’s national election coordinator Kotu Akema said he was still traumatised by the incident at the Boram Airport.Akema claimed that they wer

VANIMO-Green MP Belden Namah is furious after accusing brothers Arthur and Sana Somare of trying to board his private jet at Boram Airport, Wewak, East Sepik province. The aircraft had stopped over to refuel on its way back from Southern Highlands late on Wednesday. “It is an act of terrorism when they walked onto the tarmac of the airport and boarded my private plane without proper authorisation,” he said. Namah said what Arthur and Sana did was criminal in nature and they should be made to answer for what they did.The incident, however, could not be confirmed with airport authorities. The two Somare brothers could not also be reached for a comment. Namah denied a newspaper report that the plane was carrying ballot papers, ballot boxes and a huge sum of cash.“I do not go around carrying ballot papers or huge sums of cash in my plane,” he said. Namah’s national election coordinator Kotu Akema said he was still traumatised by the incident at the Boram Airport.Akema claimed that th

“Some of the benchmarks for democratic processes have been met, but several significant challenges remain to be addressed for the future.” The Commonwealth Observer Group has been present in Papua New Guinea since 16 June 2012. During this time we have met with a wide range of stakeholders, including the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC), the Integrity Commission, representatives of political parties, civil society, media, the international community, and other national and international observer groups. Commonwealth teams have observed voting in all four regions and 16 of PNG’s 22 provinces. Our teams were also able to observe some counting in four provinces and the National Capital District. While deployed, our observers met with electoral officials, police, candidates, scrutineers, and ordinary voters in order to build up a larger picture of the conduct of the electoral process. We are aware that due to the extended polling schedule, voting is yet to be completed in some provinces at

“Some of the benchmarks for democratic processes have been met, but several significant challenges remain to be addressed for the future.” The Commonwealth Observer Group has been present in Papua New Guinea since 16 June 2012. During this time we have met with a wide range of stakeholders, including the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC), the Integrity Commission, representatives of political parties, civil society, media, the international community, and other national and international observer groups. Commonwealth teams have observed voting in all four regions and 16 of PNG’s 22 provinces. Our teams were also able to observe some counting in four provinces and the National Capital District. While deployed, our observers met with electoral officials, police, candidates, scrutineers, and ordinary voters in order to build up a larger picture of the conduct of the electoral process. We are aware that due to the extended polling schedule, voting is yet to be completed in some provinc