PNGBLOGS

By JOE KRUPKA We may be outraged by the conditions on Manus Island - but are we prepared to face the truths about why our government continues to treat asylum seekers so abysmally, asks Zoe Krupka As legal proceedings against the processing centre on Manus Island begin, and Sarah Hanson-Young prepares to visit to the detention centre, we’re asking a lot of questions about the terrible conditions people seeking asylum in Australia are now forced to face. As the evidence of repeated suicide attempts mounts, we keep hoping for lessons to be learnt. Is it possible that we have learned the lessons from past human rights abuses? Can we face the possibility that what we are seeing in action is not ignorance but well-rehearsed cruelty? There is a recipe for suicide. The most recent research on the conditions that encourage people to kill themselves names a number of key factors that together create such despair and hopelessness that death becomes preferable to living.  These conditions are cre

By JOE KRUPKA We may be outraged by the conditions on Manus Island - but are we prepared to face the truths about why our government continues to treat asylum seekers so abysmally, asks Zoe Krupka As legal proceedings against the processing centre on Manus Island begin, and Sarah Hanson-Young prepares to visit to the detention centre, we’re asking a lot of questions about the terrible conditions people seeking asylum in Australia are now forced to face. As the evidence of repeated suicide attempts mounts, we keep hoping for lessons to be learnt. Is it possible that we have learned the lessons from past human rights abuses? Can we face the possibility that what we are seeing in action is not ignorance but well-rehearsed cruelty? There is a recipe for suicide. The most recent research on the conditions that encourage people to kill themselves names a number of key factors that together create such despair and hopelessness that death becomes preferable to living.  These condition

AFTER a few years when Australia's closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea, seemed to have drifted far from our thoughts, in recent weeks the relationship has intensified immensely. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill last month spent a week "down south", during which he delivered three especially stimulating and constructive speeches about the economic relationship with Australia. Before coming, he had barred economist Ross Garnaut, one of Australia's leading public intellectuals, from entering PNG. Garnaut consequently quit the chairmanship of PNG's biggest- earning company, Ok Tedi Mining. Partly as a result, O'Neill became embroiled in a fierce debate with BHP-Billiton. And the Australian government's new Pacific Solution for asylum seekers has been thrown into jeopardy by a legal challenge from PNG's controversial opposition leader Belden Namah. What's triggering such willing events? They emerged as separate skirmishes. But the context has magnified

AFTER a few years when Australia's closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea, seemed to have drifted far from our thoughts, in recent weeks the relationship has intensified immensely. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill last month spent a week "down south", during which he delivered three especially stimulating and constructive speeches about the economic relationship with Australia. Before coming, he had barred economist Ross Garnaut, one of Australia's leading public intellectuals, from entering PNG. Garnaut consequently quit the chairmanship of PNG's biggest- earning company, Ok Tedi Mining. Partly as a result, O'Neill became embroiled in a fierce debate with BHP-Billiton. And the Australian government's new Pacific Solution for asylum seekers has been thrown into jeopardy by a legal challenge from PNG's controversial opposition leader Belden Namah. What's triggering such willing events? They emerged as separate skirmishes. But the context has magnifie

By GOVERNOR GARY JUFFA, MP Women and children are always the most vulnerable in any society where crime is an issue…either directly or indirectly…Tonight, in Popondetta, Oro Province, I was once more witness to this awful predicament, a predicament that is fast becoming the norm throughout our Papua New Guinea. In this instance, I was very much glad to have been able to prevent a terrible situation, perhaps save lives, avert injury. At about 12.30am, a stone crashed on the roof of the guesthouse I reside in, waking me up. Outside desperate voices called out “Hold up! Hold up! Help!” I ran out outside to see what the commotion was about, my officers were already moving, armed and responding to the call, apparently a family living in a house across the street were being attacked by a gang of near 15 criminals, armed with knives, homemade guns and other rudimentary weapons. In a block of land where three homes were located, three families lived, public servants, ordinary folk. Women screa

We, The Opposition are deeply concerned that our beloved country, Papua New Guinea is fast becoming a ‘Banana Republic’ courtesy of the O’Neill-Dion led Government. We say, with both anger and sadness, that the O’Neill-Dion Government is in itself, a serious national threat to the independence, sovereignty and security of our country. A true peoples’ government jealously guards; it’s laws, it’s administrative systems and processes, it’s land, it’s sea, its air space, it’s natural resources, its borders and indeed it’s national sovereignty and security. It is absolutely clear that this government does not care at all. This government has proven time and time again to be grossly reckless and negligent in safeguarding the welfare and interests of Papua New Guinea. This government is compromising our National Sovereignty and Security, and our credibility as a mature, safe and credible national state. This government has skilfully diverted public attention by trumpeting across the country h

We, The Opposition are deeply concerned that our beloved country, Papua New Guinea is fast becoming a ‘Banana Republic’ courtesy of the O’Neill-Dion led Government. We say, with both anger and sadness, that the O’Neill-Dion Government is in itself, a serious national threat to the independence, sovereignty and security of our country. A true peoples’ government jealously guards; it’s laws, it’s administrative systems and processes, it’s land, it’s sea, its air space, it’s natural resources, its borders and indeed it’s national sovereignty and security. It is absolutely clear that this government does not care at all. This government has proven time and time again to be grossly reckless and negligent in safeguarding the welfare and interests of Papua New Guinea. This government is compromising our National Sovereignty and Security, and our credibility as a mature, safe and credible national state. This government has skilfully diverted public attention by trumpeting across the co

I wrote this in response to some of our members who need some background information about Djoko Tjandra and have queries whether he is an international fugitive or not. Let us keep up the good fight and endorse that DJOKO MUST GO! You will also note that now the NAIMA RICE PROJECT has failed and has been canned by Agriculture Minister Tommy Tomscoll, the same actors are now pushing a ridiculous submission to build a giant building to be funded by the STATE on valuable STATE land by the same company.  It is sickening that this year is starting on this sinister note! Can ANO PALA and PUKA TEMU explain their fascination with DJOKO TJANDRA and NAIMA? MUST we continue to be insulted by these so called leaders? WHOSE INTERESTS ARE THEY SERVING WE MUST ASK? Djoko TJANDRA is now out of PNG on a fraudulently acquired PNG PASSPORT traipsing around the world on VISAS he has obtained using this passport while he is wanted in INDONESIA for embezzlement, a crime for which he has been CONVICTED! I W

By BELDEN NAMAH MP, Leader of Opposition, I want to make it known to Papua New Guinea. This press conference is to put to the people of Papua New Guinea facts surrounding the mystery jet that arrived into Papua New Guinea on the 17th of this month. There are facts surrounding the issue Papua New Guinea needs to know that I need to make clear to Papua New Guineans including the foreign community. Who is actually the big fat liar in this whole situation? I made myself very clear on Thursday. As I entered the arrival and departure VIP lounge at the international terminal, I saw the Foreign Affairs Minister for Papua New Guinea Hon. Rimbik Pato, the State Own Enterprise Minister and Hon. Ben Micah. In their company was the Foreign Affairs Minister for Vanuatu. If Ben Micah is denying that he was not there then I must have seen his ghost. You know it is really sad when senior Ministers, it is really sad when we see the Prime Minister of this country telling lies to the public, to the people

By BEN ELTHAM - New Matilda The difficult art of government has many challenges, and its practitioners know many failures. But there is something about asylum seeker policy that seems especially corrosive to Australian democracy. If you need a recent example, look no further than the legal challenge being brought by Papua New Guinea opposition leader Belden Namah to Australia’s immigration detention centre on Manus Island. Namah plans to challenge the legality of the centre in PNG’s Supreme Court. He argues that the PNG Constitution protects individuals against detention without charge, and that asylum seekers being held there have not been charged with any crime. The Gillard Government has already lined up to attack Namah, describing his challenge as political. Labor Cabinet Secretary Mark Dreyfus told Sky News today that "I think when you’ve got the Opposition Leader in Papua New Guinea bringing a proceeding in the Supreme Court in Papua New Guinea, it does smack of politics to

By BEN ELTHAM - New Matilda The difficult art of government has many challenges, and its practitioners know many failures. But there is something about asylum seeker policy that seems especially corrosive to Australian democracy. If you need a recent example, look no further than the legal challenge being brought by Papua New Guinea opposition leader Belden Namah to Australia’s immigration detention centre on Manus Island. Namah plans to challenge the legality of the centre in PNG’s Supreme Court. He argues that the PNG Constitution protects individuals against detention without charge, and that asylum seekers being held there have not been charged with any crime. The Gillard Government has already lined up to attack Namah, describing his challenge as political. Labor Cabinet Secretary Mark Dreyfus told Sky News today that "I think when you’ve got the Opposition Leader in Papua New Guinea bringing a proceeding in the Supreme Court in Papua New Guinea, it does smack of pol

THE winner in the constitutional challenge to the Manus Island asylum-seeker centre just launched in Papua New Guinea will be the PNG judiciary, whatever the ultimate verdict. Whether the Peter O'Neill government or opposition leader Belden Namah - scourge of judges - is declared the victor, the courts will have showcased their ability to frustrate the nation's politicians. It is a serious challenge the Gillard government's Pacific Solution is facing in the PNG courts. The independence of the PNG judiciary was an important sub-theme in last year's political drama as rival prime ministers and governments struggled for supremacy - eventually resolved decisively in O'Neill's favour at the July election. Luther Wenge, a former acting judge who became for a decade the elected governor of Morobe province, won a succession of constitutional challenges. The most important were his overturning in 2002 of the 10 per cent value added tax, PNG's then new GST - ripping a

THE winner in the constitutional challenge to the Manus Island asylum-seeker centre just launched in Papua New Guinea will be the PNG judiciary, whatever the ultimate verdict. Whether the Peter O'Neill government or opposition leader Belden Namah - scourge of judges - is declared the victor, the courts will have showcased their ability to frustrate the nation's politicians. It is a serious challenge the Gillard government's Pacific Solution is facing in the PNG courts. The independence of the PNG judiciary was an important sub-theme in last year's political drama as rival prime ministers and governments struggled for supremacy - eventually resolved decisively in O'Neill's favour at the July election. Luther Wenge, a former acting judge who became for a decade the elected governor of Morobe province, won a succession of constitutional challenges. The most important were his overturning in 2002 of the 10 per cent value added tax, PNG's then new GS

Australia's offshore processing faces a fresh legal threat, as Papua New Guinea's Opposition Leader alleges asylum seekers are being held illegally on Manus Island under PNG's constitution. Two Australian lawyers say Opposition Leader Belden Namah's challenge has a good chance of success. Mr Namah launched proceedings on Friday in the National Court of Papua New Guinea, claiming the processing centre was the result of ''many abuses of PNG law and of ministerial powers'' ''Our claim, that the asylum seekers detention scheme is unconstitutional and that the detainees on Manus are held illegally in PNG, has never been legitimately addressed by the government and must now be answered in our highest courts,'' he said. The opposition's legal team would also seek an injunction to have asylum seekers released from the processing centre, and to prevent PNG from receiving or detaining any more asylum seekers from Australia. The memorandum of un

Australia's offshore processing faces a fresh legal threat, as Papua New Guinea's Opposition Leader alleges asylum seekers are being held illegally on Manus Island under PNG's constitution. Two Australian lawyers say Opposition Leader Belden Namah's challenge has a good chance of success. Mr Namah launched proceedings on Friday in the National Court of Papua New Guinea, claiming the processing centre was the result of ''many abuses of PNG law and of ministerial powers'' ''Our claim, that the asylum seekers detention scheme is unconstitutional and that the detainees on Manus are held illegally in PNG, has never been legitimately addressed by the government and must now be answered in our highest courts,'' he said. The opposition's legal team would also seek an injunction to have asylum seekers released from the processing centre, and to prevent PNG from receiving or detaining any more asylum seekers from Australia. The memor