PNGBLOGS

By Peter Moorower Will an establishment of an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) similar to the one established in the UK and other developed countries help solve the ongoing police killings, brutalities, harassments, bulling, misconducts etc., in PNG and restore public confidence? PNG is currently witnessing and reporting on numerous daily police misconducts including deaths of citizens caused by careless policemen right around the country. Currently, almost all cases of police –caused deaths, brutalities, harassments and misconducts etc., reported to the police by the public are only investigated by colleague policemen. With policemen investigating offences committed by their fellow colleague(s) poses the question of independency and impartiality of the investigation and more importantly the delegated powers. The purpose of such investigation is to allow for ultimate justice to prevail and to create public confidence. However, it appears that few reported cases get

By PAUL AMATIO The killing of the two innocent men at Hanuabada last week seems to be losing momentum for the rest of the city except for the Motu Koitabuans and other relatives. I for one find it totally incomprehensible that the MKs decided against a citywide protest march. I assure you NCD would have come out and supported you. Why did you call it off? We are aware of your cries for everything including compensation for your land, the lack of basic amenities and services in the village, the deteriorating state of infrastructure in the village and the poor support you get from everyone, especially those whom you yourselves have elected to represent your interests in public forums like Parliament and the MK Assembly. This is an opportunity for you people to present and make certain concrete claims which must be addressed. It is unfortunate that it has taken the loss of two innocent lives to create this opportunity but it MUST be seen as an opportunity to right these wrongs which hav

By BRYAN KRAMER Part 3.1 Comparison and Analysis of the three Cases Paul Tiensten was convicted and sentenced to 9 years for the charge of misappropriation when he dishonestly applied K10m to Travel Air as seed capital when the funds were committed for rural airfreight subsidy. Tiensten filed an appeal in the Supreme Court which was eventually dismissed. Tiensten's case was unique where his mere direction in his capacity as the Minister to the officers of Department of National Planning & Monitoring to facilitate the release of the K10m payment to Travel Air was sufficient to convict him. Some readers believe the Courts erred in finding Tiensten guilty and raise a number of arguments in his defence such as: 1) It was never proven Tiensten benefited from the K10m proceeds. 2) The element of control of the property - in this case the K10m - was not with the Minister but with the Secretary who is the Section 32 Officer. A Section 32 Officer, as per the Finance Management Act, is

By JAMES PARAKISAN The bankruptcy of PPL under Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and State Enterprises Minister Ben Micah should not surprise anybody in Papua New Guinea.  Virtually all State-Owned Enterprises are in the same condition, destroyed by political interference, corruption and incompetence. When the illegal and unnecessary State of  Emergency in the power sector was announced, it handed personal control of PPL to Minister Micah - himself a bankrupt and konman. That is like putting a vampire in charge of the Red Cross Blood Bank. Why was this done - there is no rational explanation available? While he has been Minister for State Enterprises - and Minister responsible for ensuring that the PM gets his cut from as many deals as possible -  Micah has become very rich, with overseas assets including properties, vehicles and bank accounts. In the meantime SOE service standards decline and the people suffer. But the Prime Minister and his favorite Mi