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Australian scheme to boost governance in Papua New Guinea

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THE first stage has been completed of an Australian program to improve governance in Papua New Guinea. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop signed a memorandum two months ago to establish a Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct in Port Moresby’s public service and university hub of Waigani valley. The program also aims to help build partnerships between Australian and PNG institutions. As an initial step, 27 senior PNG public servants partici­pated in an executive course run by the universities of Queensland and PNG. The Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australia and New Zealand School of Government, the Australian Public Service Commission, Canberra Institute of Technology Solutions and the Australian National University are also involved, planning leadership courses and developing university, certificate and diploma-level qualifications. The new precinct in Waigani will include a School of Business and Public Policy at the University of PNG and the adjacent Institute of

Oro Governor & Leader of PMC party Gary Juffa moves to Opposition

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PNGBLOGS  After a unanimous resolution today from the ruling party PNC, Oro Governor & Leader of the Peoples Movement for Change (PMC) Party Gary Juffa will move from middle bench to opposition. Governor Juffa was in the middle bench. The middle bench in PNG’s parliament has always been a place where individual MP’s not aligned with the parliament’s ruling party(s) or its leader(s) sit. Oro Governor & PMC party leader Gary Juffa not wishing to get entangled in corrupt practices or MP’s has always purposefully selected to sit in the middle bench since 2012 when he was first voted in. Today however after a unanimous decision by the PNC party, Governor Juffa must move from middle bench to opposition. It is also less than a year since leader of PNC party and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill sought to oust member for Kandep Don Poyle from government to opposition as ABC reported on 7th May 2014 “Don Poyle…was sacked by Mr O'Neill in March for refusing to sign a $AUD1.2 billi

O'Niell Speaks Out on West Papua

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Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill did something remarkable last Thursday. In a wide-ranging policy speech at a leadership summit in Port Moresby, he acknowledged the oppression of the people of West Papua. It was the first time an incumbent prime minister of Papua New Guinea has spoken directly about the rights of West Papuans in a public forum: Papua New Guinea today is a respected regional leader. After 40 years of undisturbed democracy, we are in a unique position to lead mature discussions on issues affecting our people in the region. Our leading role in encouraging Fiji to return to a democratically elected government and voicing our concerns about the plight of our people in New Caledonia are examples of our growing influence. We have also participated in the restoration of democracy and law and order in countries like Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. But sometimes we forgot our family, our brothers and sisters, especially those in West Papua. I think

The Ghost of the Past continues to haunt Indonesia & will Destroy Indonesia if it is not exorcised.

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By GABRIEL RAMOI - An Essay on West Papua Part One : O'Niell & the Force of Moral Persuasion The earth shattering reversal of a 40 year policy of Denial by PNG on the plight of West Papua announced by Prime Minister Peter on Thursday the 5th of February 2015 will come to be judged by history as the most important step taken by a sovereign state toward propelling West Papua towards Political Independence from Indonesia. It follow on the heels of that lone brave voice made by Moana Cacasses the Prime Minister of Vanuatu to the United nations on sept 29th 2013 to put West Papua back on the United Nations Agenda and responsibility to address civil rights violation inside West Papua. The Statement by the Prime Minister Oneil is a bold move and one that that has not be made lightly. It turns PNGs Foreign Policy on its head and will no doubt rattle Australia and will keep Academics busy in years to come analyzing the significance and consequences of that Decision. Just li

London ruling to drive PNG's LNG future

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THE AUSTRALIAN While the oil price collapse is the number one problem for producers everywhere, the outcome of an obscure arbitration process in London will have more influence on the future of Papua New Guinea's Oil Search. The ruling on the squabble between Oil Search and US-listed InterOil over pre-emptive rights in the huge Elk-Antelope gas resource will have ramifications beyond those companies. The prospects in PNG of French oil major Total also hinge on the outcome, as does the future shape of the country's liquefied natural gas sector. With the decision due by March, pressure is building from the PNG government for swift progress toward an LNG expansion in the country. A deal signed last month between the government and ExxonMobil paved the way for a third train at the US giant's new $US19 billion ($24 billion) PNG LNG venture using gas from the P'nyang field. But Elk-Antelope is widely regarded as the most economic of potential LNG ventures in Asia, a

Western Province Governor Arrested

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SOUTH PACIFIC POST Mr Wobiro, 55, was arrested and charged yesterday on four counts of misappropriation of funds totalling up to K7 million along with eight other counts of abuse of office. Other charges include four counts of abuse of office and four counts of conspiracy to defraud. Director for fraud and anti-corruption directorate Matthew Damaru said Mr Wobiro was arrested last year by the mobile squad for a different matter, a case that was withdrawn but may resurface when police are ready. The national fraud and anti-corruption directorate conducted the investigation upon complaints by the people of Western Province. After the interview at the national fraud and anti-corruption office in Konedobu, Mr Wobiro was taken to the Boroko police station cells where he was locked up. It is alleged that a Joint Provincial Budget Priorities Committee (JPBPC) meeting comprising three Open MPs of South Fly, Middle Fly and North Fly convened on November 21, 2

Sequel to the New Narrative on Infrastructure Development for PNG [ Part 2]

A case Study of The Sicomine ,  Mining Development Contract  between China &  the Democratic Republic of Congo By Gabriel  Ramoi When Xi  Jinping  became  Premier of China  the first   trip he  took outside of China in 2013 was not to Australia where  it imports most of its mineral from  nor did he go to the United  States to discuss world global security  issues with Obama in his role as a leader of an emerging world power  instead  Xi Jinping  travelled to the poorest Nation on earth ,  the  Democratic  Republic of Congo [  Formerly  Zaire] to  stamp his mark internationally  on the trajectory of Chinese  peaceful  intension to  engage  the world economically  by financing Infrastructure Development in that Country.  Xi Jinping  arrived in Congo  with two of his  State Banks   , The  China Development Bank and the Import Export Bank of China  to sign off a loan of  US$9.25 Billion to the Government of DRC to build essential infrastructure in that country in exchange for  Congo

Independent Police Complaints Commission

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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

HB KILLINGS – AN OPPORTUNITY LOST?

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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

INSIGHT INTO STATE vs TIENSTEN, KAVO & POTAPE

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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

How a serial liar and a court declared bankrupt/conman are selling off PNG Power

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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