PNGBLOGS

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill claims he is trying to improve the living standards of ordinary people and ensure they have access to basic services, but this is far from the truth. Confidential government documents show that, just like his predecessor Michael Somare, O’Neill is not only being bullied by the Chinese to give them preferential access to PNG resources – he is using PNG tax payers money to subsidize the Chinese.  The O’Neill government says the controversial Pacific Marine Industrial Zone in Madang province is one of its priorities to boost the national economy but has not revealed: •    The USD79 million dollars it is borrowing from the Chinese to fund the project will be plowed straight back into the Chinese company building the PMIZ rather than being invested in PNG companies and people •    China Shenyang International Corp has been contracted by the PNG government to design, build and supply equipment and materials for the PMIZ rather than the PNG government

The announcement by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea that he will raise concerns about human rights abuses in neighbouring Papua with Indonesia has been described as a departure in government policy. Peter O’Neill told local television that the plight of the Melanesians across the border in Indonesia needs to be brought to light. Professor Ron May of the Australian National University’s State, Society and Governance in Melanesia programme says the statement represents a change from PNG’s longheld position. He said successive governments have prioritised good relations with Indonesia over standing up for the rights of West Papuans. “There are a couple of people in parliament now however who have shown some inclination to take this on. But it also reflects the deteriorating situation in West Papua: we’re getting increasing reports of human rights abuses and reports of increasing activity amongst West Papuan separatists.”

The announcement by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea that he will raise concerns about human rights abuses in neighbouring Papua with Indonesia has been described as a departure in government policy. Peter O’Neill told local television that the plight of the Melanesians across the border in Indonesia needs to be brought to light. Professor Ron May of the Australian National University’s State, Society and Governance in Melanesia programme says the statement represents a change from PNG’s longheld position. He said successive governments have prioritised good relations with Indonesia over standing up for the rights of West Papuans. “There are a couple of people in parliament now however who have shown some inclination to take this on. But it also reflects the deteriorating situation in West Papua: we’re getting increasing reports of human rights abuses and reports of increasing activity amongst West Papuan separatists.”

The government of Papua New Guinea is seeking to extend a parliamentary ban on no-confidence votes from 18 months to two and a half years, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says. Mr O'Neill said extending the ban would allow governments to do more. Under PNG law, a vote of no confidence currently cannot be called in the first 18 months and the last year of a government's five-year term. "Those are options that the coalition partners agreed to in Alotau, and we've passed those issues over to the attorney general's office and other agencies responsible for drafting our legislation," Mr O'Neill told AAP. "What we want to do is create a stable environment where governments in the future can have an opportunity to carry out the policies that they commit to the nation during elections. "We feel strongly that 18 months is too short for any government to work, and for a government to be judged by the people on its performance (it) must be given time to do

The government of Papua New Guinea is seeking to extend a parliamentary ban on no-confidence votes from 18 months to two and a half years, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says. Mr O'Neill said extending the ban would allow governments to do more. Under PNG law, a vote of no confidence currently cannot be called in the first 18 months and the last year of a government's five-year term. "Those are options that the coalition partners agreed to in Alotau, and we've passed those issues over to the attorney general's office and other agencies responsible for drafting our legislation," Mr O'Neill told AAP. "What we want to do is create a stable environment where governments in the future can have an opportunity to carry out the policies that they commit to the nation during elections. "We feel strongly that 18 months is too short for any government to work, and for a government to be judged by the people on its performance (it) must be given time to

By CHRISTOPHER PAPIALI ‘I did all that I can to develop Papua New Guinea. It was very difficult in those days when teaching and learning materials did not reach us. One thing, for sure, I will remember is the little contribution I did to Madang province’, says Moses Gabuogi, the head teacher of Holy Spirit Primary School. Holy Spirit Primary School is a Catholic Agency school with over 1,129 students and 29 teachers (7 male staff, 22 female staff). It is ideally situated along Modilon Drive, right in the heart of Madang town. Next to the school ground are the Madang Catholic Cathedral, Sisters Convent and Community Hall, which therefore, makes it the biggest primary schools in the province. It is better, bigger and the learning environment is best with its spectacular aerial view that has a long profound history since 1964. Mr. Moses Gabuogi, is leaving teaching and administration career that spans more than 36 years, spending many painful hours in the classroom and attending to studen

By CHRISTOPHER PAPIALI ‘I did all that I can to develop Papua New Guinea. It was very difficult in those days when teaching and learning materials did not reach us. One thing, for sure, I will remember is the little contribution I did to Madang province’, says Moses Gabuogi, the head teacher of Holy Spirit Primary School. Holy Spirit Primary School is a Catholic Agency school with over 1,129 students and 29 teachers (7 male staff, 22 female staff). It is ideally situated along Modilon Drive, right in the heart of Madang town. Next to the school ground are the Madang Catholic Cathedral, Sisters Convent and Community Hall, which therefore, makes it the biggest primary schools in the province. It is better, bigger and the learning environment is best with its spectacular aerial view that has a long profound history since 1964. Mr. Moses Gabuogi, is leaving teaching and administration career that spans more than 36 years, spending many painful hours in the classroom and attending to st

After decades of maintaining a relatively neutral stance, the Papua New Guinea government will finally make a strong representation to Indonesia to raise concerns over alleged human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian military in the West Papua region. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said in an interview with EMTV on Friday that the Foreign Affairs Department will deliver a diplomatic note expressing the concerns of Papua New Guinea citizens over the two Melanesian provinces of Papua and West Papua to the Indonesian government. The response comes days after representatives of more than 4000 Lutheran women called on Peter O’Neill to look into the difficulties faced by West Papuans. The public appeal for government attention to the West Papuan cause was made by Rose Muingepe, a Lutheran Women’s representative who was attending a conference in Mumeng outside of Lae City. “We are asking the government to raise the plight of the West Papuans on the floor of Parliament.  We know that wom

After decades of maintaining a relatively neutral stance, the Papua New Guinea government will finally make a strong representation to Indonesia to raise concerns over alleged human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian military in the West Papua region. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said in an interview with EMTV on Friday that the Foreign Affairs Department will deliver a diplomatic note expressing the concerns of Papua New Guinea citizens over the two Melanesian provinces of Papua and West Papua to the Indonesian government. The response comes days after representatives of more than 4000 Lutheran women called on Peter O’Neill to look into the difficulties faced by West Papuans. The public appeal for government attention to the West Papuan cause was made by Rose Muingepe, a Lutheran Women’s representative who was attending a conference in Mumeng outside of Lae City. “We are asking the government to raise the plight of the West Papuans on the floor of Parliament.  We know that wo

By JOSH FRYDENBERG JULIA Gillard was in New York last week on a much hyped UN Security Council campaign. Multilateralism is the dominant theme. But, closer to home, key bilateral relationships have been left to languish. While it is now well known that Indonesia, China and India have all been left off the Prime Minister's itinerary, there is another important country that receives scant attention. Papua New Guinea is our most immediate neighbour, one of great strategic importance. Since becoming PM, Gillard has not visited PNG, while her Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, clumsily created a diplomatic incident with his condescending language over a potential delay to PNG's local elections. Carr threatened that should there be any delay Australia would have "no alternative but to organise the world to condemn and isolate Papua New Guinea". Such a heavy-handed approach was not only disproportionate, but was severely damaging to the relationship we must seek to build with PNG a

By JOSH FRYDENBERG JULIA Gillard was in New York last week on a much hyped UN Security Council campaign. Multilateralism is the dominant theme. But, closer to home, key bilateral relationships have been left to languish. While it is now well known that Indonesia, China and India have all been left off the Prime Minister's itinerary, there is another important country that receives scant attention. Papua New Guinea is our most immediate neighbour, one of great strategic importance. Since becoming PM, Gillard has not visited PNG, while her Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, clumsily created a diplomatic incident with his condescending language over a potential delay to PNG's local elections. Carr threatened that should there be any delay Australia would have "no alternative but to organise the world to condemn and isolate Papua New Guinea". Such a heavy-handed approach was not only disproportionate, but was severely damaging to the relationship we must seek to