PNGBLOGS

Introduction On 9 October 2012, the International State Crime Initiative (ISCI) released a report , The Demolition of Paga Hill , documenting a forced eviction that took place in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, on 12 May this year. Dozens of homes in the area of Paga Hill were demolished by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. Those residents who resisted or photographed the forced eviction, were attacked with sticks, iron rods and machetes . At one stage police even fired live rounds at bystanders. The demolition was conducted in order to make way for a luxury estate being spearheaded by the Paga Hill Development Company (PHDC) – a company largely run from Australia. PHDC’s Chairman and Secretary is Gudmundur Fridriksson, an executive who heads the North Queensland, Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership. [1] Since the publication of our report, Gudmundur Fridriksson, along with PHDC Director, George Hallit, [2] have made a number of serious allegations

By Dr KRISTIAN LASSLETT International State Crime Initiative (ISCI)  In a recent ISCI report on the demolition of Paga Hill, the prominent businessman Rex Paki received mention. According to Investment Promotion Authority records, he had been intimately involved in the Paga Hill property development during 1997-2000. ISCI queried Paki’s involvement in light of serious allegations laid against him by two Commission of Inquiries, two Public Accounts Committee inquiries, an Auditor General special investigation, and PNG’s Supreme Court. Following the publication of our report, social media commentators noted with concern that Rex Paki has also been appointed to the Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP) Board of Directors, by PNG’s Treasurer. According to PNGSDP’s 2011 Annual Report , Rex Paki is “a member of the Board of Bank of PNG and is the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority”, as well. After these concerns were aired in PNG’s blogosphere, a su

By Dr KRISTIAN LASSLETT International State Crime Initiative (ISCI)  In a recent ISCI report on the demolition of Paga Hill, the prominent businessman Rex Paki received mention. According to Investment Promotion Authority records, he had been intimately involved in the Paga Hill property development during 1997-2000. ISCI queried Paki’s involvement in light of serious allegations laid against him by two Commission of Inquiries, two Public Accounts Committee inquiries, an Auditor General special investigation, and PNG’s Supreme Court. Following the publication of our report, social media commentators noted with concern that Rex Paki has also been appointed to the Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP) Board of Directors, by PNG’s Treasurer. According to PNGSDP’s 2011 Annual Report , Rex Paki is “a member of the Board of Bank of PNG and is the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority”, as well. After these concerns were aired in PNG’s blogosp

By GOVERNOR GARY JUFFA MP I believe that we are mandated as leaders to represent the people of our nation, the 7 million shareholders of Papua New Guinea. I have found that this is not the case for some. It appears that rhetoric and clever application of distraction and evasion abound and there are those who now having entered Parliament, appear to be concerned about interests that are not shared by the people. Djoko TJANDRA, an international criminal fugitive wanted by the Supreme Court of INDONESIA for embezzling $US 62 Million and ILLEGALLY in Papua New Guinea, was protected in parliament by several elected members who profusely fought to claim he was a Papua New Guinean and who shied away from their responsibilities by claiming it was not their area of concern. Discussions with many elected leaders show that they too are concerned. Thanks to their efforts to expose, it is now being learned that the citizenship committee never actually endorsed TJANDRA's citizenship....it was a