Malum Nalu

Lawyer Tiffaney Twivey charged with contempt

2012-01-30T19:17:00.001+10:00

Lawyer Tiffaney Twivey has just been charged with contempt today apparentlyalong with the entire O'Neill/Namah National Executive Council because she gave advice on the amendments to the Prime Minister andNEC Act.

"They say it was-sub judice," she said tonight.

"This is complete rubbish - the amendmentscovered completely different issues than the court case.

"It is an act ofdesperation - and not to hide what you think."

Twivey added: "My firm - in documents signed by me - filed contemptdocuments last Tuesday, January 24, charging Arthur Somare and Peter Ipatas forcontempt for offering a bribe of K200,000 to Police Commissioner's lawyer AliceKimbu in return for her signing interim consent orders which would allow Fred Yakasato be Police Commissioner until the substantive case is heard.

"She refused andinformed the State.

"I filed the documents on behalf of the State andParliament.

" David Dotaona (Yakasa's lawyer) and Yakasa were arrested by the policeover this and charged with 'attempting to pervert the course ofjustice'.

"My clients have charged Somare and Ipatas with civil contempt.

"I am in Australia, returning tomorrow."

O'Neill/Namah government thanked for help to jails

2012-01-30T19:05:00.000+10:00

TheO’Neill /Namah government has been thanked for allocating a total of K97.4 millionunder the 2012 budget appropriations covering both the re-current anddevelopment components of budget to the Correctional Services Department, K9.6mfor the 2012 election component and K5m for jail maintenance in thesecond 2011 Supplementary budget.

First secretary to the Minister for Correctional Services (CS) Smith Sagaoexpressed this recently on behalf of Minister Sailon Beseo in Goroka during a ceremony to mark the completion of five renovated CIS houses at the BihuteJail.

Sagao said the department would be using the K9.6m election component of thebudget to participate in the 2012 national elections in which 400 servicemenand women were required to be engaged in election duties.

Thedepartment will also utilise the 2012 budget effectively to implement therecommendations of the three independent reports by Price Water House Coopers,the National Security Advisory Council and the International Red Cross andCrescent Movement, respectively highlighting CIS reform, security andhumanitarian issues.

The recommendations from these will be implemented throughthe newly-established Transitional Management Committee to reform CS and make thebudget work.

“Effective service delivery is thefocus of the O’Neill/Namah Government, and like all organisations, CIS has itsown success and failures, however the new Minister is looking at improvingservice delivery within the department’s rank and file,” Sagao said.

He said Beseo’s first move tobring reform into CS was the endorsement and appointment by the NationalExecutive Council of the new CIS acting Commissioner Martin Balthazar.

“Balthazar and his team weretasked apart from implementing the recommendations of the three independentreports, to work on amending the existing CIS Act to include payment ofpensions to retired CIS officers, setting up of the Prison Industries Authorityas a business arm of CS and rebuild/re-construct physical facilities of thejails,” Sagao said.

He further thanked the O’Neill/Namah government for making available K4.6 million to cater for the CS officers'7.6% salary increment late last year.

The occasion was witnessed by theCIS acting Commissioner Balthazar, contractor Kavare and jailcommanders from the highlands region and Lae's Buimo jail.

Fives new houses for jail staff in Goroka

2012-01-30T18:49:00.001+10:00

Correctional Service officers and jail commanders around the country were urged to focus on their primary role oflooking after prisoners rather than involving in other activities outside theirline of duties and abusing properties and their privileges.

Acting Correctional Service Commissioner, Martin Balthazar expressed these during a mini ceremony to mark thecompletion of five officer’s houses at Goroka’s Bihute Jail last Friday.

From right are CSMinister’s first secretary Smith Sagao, CS Acting Commissioner MartinBalthazer, managing director of Noru Supplies Patrick Kavare and CS executive officer to the office of the Commissioner, Superintendent DavidMelange and the Bihute Jail Commander Superintendent Simon Laken inspecting oneof the renovated houses

He said unlike other governmentdepartments, the CIS staff have been enjoying free housing, transport, electricity,and water at the Commissioner’s discretion and these can be abolished if staff were seen to be abusing them.

“On top of these existing privileges,the O’Neill / Namah government is giving salary increment, free education, freemedical service, no tax for workers receiving K10,000 per annum and below, and Ido not see any reasons why officer should not look after prisoners,” Balthazer said.

His comments follows the escape of22 prisoners from the Bihute jail last Monday, of whom 19 were remandees awaiting trial.

He said the breakout was allegedlycaused as all attention was focused on the death of a female officer and alsothe delay in announcing the promotion of officers.

Balthazar said the reasons wereunacceptable as security for the prisoners should be the paramount importance andconcern of the officers and promotions was not a big issue as it was an ongoing administrativeprocess and also that they were already enjoying more privileges.

He warned officers that they wouldpay a fine of K200 for minor offences and K1,000 or face dismissal forcommitting major offences.

“Any appeals will have to go to theNational Court as Parliament has dismissed the CS Appeals Tribunal in October2011,” Balthazar said.

Commencement of New Ireland province community projects

2012-01-30T18:28:00.002+10:00

Newcrest Mining Ltd and the New Ireland provincial government haveannounced the commencement of three key projects in New Ireland to improvecommunity health, education facilities and infrastructure.

The three highimpact projects in New Ireland are to be funded by Newcrest Mining Ltd inpartnership with the Governor of New Ireland Province, Sir Julius Chan.

New Ireland Governor sir Julius Chan (left) and Newcrest country manager Peter Aitsi at Palie

Newcrest Miningcountry manager, Peter Aitsi, said the three agreed projects were the first offive to be funded by Newcrest.

“As a gesture of‘goodwill’ to the people of New Ireland, Newcrest is making available K2million to fund high value impact projects which align with the New IrelandProvincial Government priority areas,” Aitsi said.

“The funding for theseprojects is above and beyond the requirements within existing agreements, demonstratingNewcrest’s desire to engage in effective partnerships with its keystakeholders.”

The three projectsare:

1. Funding for an additional doctor under the Australian DoctorsInternational Memorandum of Agreement with the New Ireland ProvincialGovernment (NIPG). This funding amountsto AUD$70,000 each year for three years or approximately K163, 000 per year, orK490,000 over the three years.

2. Providing concrete surfacing over the Namatanai (Moronai)Bridge and associated embankment work. Project budget K400,000.

3. Connecting and commissioning an existing generator and undertakingreticulation of the power system to Namatanai High School. Project budgetK300,000.

It was also agreed thatNewcrest Mining Ltd technical staff would work with the Public Works NewIreland to fully assess the scope for the Namatanai Bridge and Namatanai HighSchool projects as well as to reconfirm the budgets to complete the projects tothe required specifications. Sir Julius met with Aitsi last week after the adjournmentof Parliament. Their discussions led to thefirst three projects being signed off. During the meeting Aitsi reaffirmedNewcrest’s commitment to building a long and productive relationship with the NIPG.

Sir Julius in supportingthe partnership said “These projects indicate a new desire for a more co-operativeplatform between Newcrest and the New Ireland Provincial Government.

“The projects will positivelyimpact the lives of the People of New Ireland Province and signal a renewal ofthe economic and commercial life of the Province”.

Newcrest operates the LihirGold Mine in the New Ireland province.

“Getting agreement tocommence three of the five projects is excellent news”, Aitsi said.

“Newcrest and NIPG through these projects willtarget important areas such as health, education and infrastructure.

“This joint effort willsee the conversion of our efforts into projects with meaningful impact.”

The remaining two projectswill target the key area of health and are expected to be finalised soon.

Pardoned mutineers a dangerous precedent

2012-01-30T14:04:00.004+10:00

By REG RENAGI

The military I joined before independence was a professional outfit .
After 1975, general discipline in the PNG Defence Force was very tough.

Every servicemen knew the military regulations and what the overall consequences for serious breaches of service discipline - such as being involved in a military mutiny was.

Not today!

News has just reached the streets that by this afternoon we will soon know of some rogue soldier's demand for a pardon, as a result of last weeks' mutunity.

It seems certain now that the authorities will most likely give the soldiers who breached serious regulations of the PNGDF what they are demanding for.

If the soldiers involved in last weeks' mutuny are going to be pardened by this afternoon, then both the government and the defence hierachy will have then all compromised themselves.

This unprecedented decision alone will also greatly undermined the PNGDF command position and its future efforts to strengthen general discipline within all defence communities.

The bottom-line is: it is now open-slatter for anyone in the PNGDF (and the Royal PNG Constabulary) to be rebelious, disobey superior orders and take the law into their own hands...knowing they will always be pardoned by their own government?

A dangerous precedent has now been set by the powers-that-be!

Mutineers to be pardoned

2012-01-30T13:13:00.001+10:00

Just got news from my military contacts that PNG Defence Force soldiers who took part in the mutiny are granted amnesty and pardon.
Documents regarding this will be signed at 2pm today.
All arms have been handed in.
"Once it is signed everythng is put to rest once and for all," my source says.
"No arrest,no court case as assured by deputy prime minister and prime minister."

Amet says Somare faction will not support early elections

2012-01-30T12:48:00.002+10:00

Sir Michael Somare's "Attorney General" Sir Arnold Amet says the Somare faction is unlikely to attend Parliament and vote for early elections, NBC news reports on its 12pm bulletin.

O'Neill seeks court order restraining army from making appointments

2012-01-30T12:28:00.002+10:00

The Peter O'Neill faction is seeking a court order restraining the PNG Defence Force from making appointments, NBC reports on its 12pm bulletin.

Somare vows to continue fight

2012-01-30T10:51:00.002+10:00

GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare, who maintains he is the legitimate prime minister of Papua New Guinea, said yesterday he will continue to uphold the Constitution, The National reports.
Sir Michael, whose claim to lead the government is backed by a Supreme Court ruling delivered last December, said in a statement: “If this is to be my last and biggest battle, I will fight for the Constitution, the underlying law that holds the very fabric of our democracy and democratic institutions together.
“Yes, I could call it quits and allow elected leaders that continuously sidestep our laws to take us to the brink of our democracy.
“But I am still the representative of my people and will continue to stand for what I believe is in their best interest.
“Parliament does not have absolute power and yet we are allowing this dangerous trend of violations and breaches to be legitimised by the one argument of majority rule,” Sir Michael, who was ousted last August after Peter O’Neill and his deputy, Belden Namah, garnered superior numbers in parliament, said.
“All past prime ministers respected the orders of the courts; from Sir Julius Chan, Paias Wingti, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, the late Sir William Skate and even Sir Mekere Morauta.”
He said O’Neill, with the support of the Speaker of Parliament (Jeffrey Nape) was the only illegitimate self-proclaimed prime minister who considered himself above the law and would not comply with court orders.
“This impasse is not about Michael Somare or Peter O’Neill. If we continue to trample on our laws to stay in power we are condoning illegitimacy. What law will we turn to in order to argue our rights?” he said.
“I do not want a country that is under the barrel of arms. I do not want a country where our security forces will compromise on the laws of this land for personalities.
“I stress that this impasse is about the law. Therefore, to suggest that I encouraged a coup is shameful in its simplicity.
“I want to set the record straight by saying, my government appointed Fred Yakasa and the matter is before the court. We also appointed Gabriel Yer as treasury secretary and the matter is also before the court.
“In the same way, we last week dismissed Commander Francis Agwi and replaced him with Col Yaura Sasa.
“If O’Neill is aggrieved he must take the matter to the same courts. He must not manipulate agents of the law in the manner that we have seen since he inappropriately took office on 2 August 2011.
“I appeal to the people of Papua New Guinea to look at the law and not at personalities. This issue is bigger than me and O’Neill.”
Lae-based Sasa, who is 60, led a short-lived mutiny involving about 30 other soldiers last Thursday when he placed Agwi under house arrest at the defence headquarters at Murray barracks.
However, the mutiny folded after 12 hours for lack of support from senior officers around the country.

How PNG’s latest political crisis unfolded

2012-01-30T10:48:00.004+10:00

From The National

Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare appoints a 60-year-old retrenched army colonel, Yaura Sasa, as commander of the country’s Defence Force.
In the early hours of last Thursday, Lae-based Sasa, a former military attaché to Indonesia, leads a small group of 30 soldiers to Taurama barracks in Port Moresby which houses the 1st Royal Pacific Islands Regiment where the mutineers detain their own commander, Lt-Col Francis Kari, under ``house arrest”. The group comprised members of the sea element, air transport squadron and recruits from the Goldie River training depot.
The group heads to Murray Barracks, home to the Defence Force headquarters about 17km south-east in hired vehicles where they take PNGDF commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi by surprise in his residence and also placed him under” house arrest”.
Sasa installs himself in Agwi’s office and calls a media conference at Murray barracks at 11am where he announces he has been appointed by Sir Michael as head of the Defence Force.
Sasa denies it is a military coup, that it is the ``normal process’’ of replacement of a commander by the government. He gives rival prime ministers Sir Michael and Peter O’Neill seven days to implement the Supreme Court’s orders re-instating Sir Michael as prime minister or he will be forced to take actions to uphold the Constitution.
Air Niugini announces it has suspended flights to centres with military camps – Wewak in East Sepik, Lae (Morobe), Vanimo (West Sepik) and Kiunga (Western). Australian prime minister calls on the PNG military to stay out of politics. “Australia needed a politically stable and economically successful neighbour so it was critical the situation be resolved as soon as possible with the PNG Defence Force chain of command,” Julia Gillard said.
Senior military commanders and officers snub a summons by Sasa to attend a briefing and their lack of support signals the end of Sasa’s grab for power.
At about 2pm, shots are fired at military police personnel who retaliated and arrested 15 men belonging to Sasa’s group.
After negotiations, PNG Defence Force chief of staff Col Tom Ur takes control of the barracks and disbands Sasa’s group allowing Agwi to resume command. The mutiny is over after about 12 hours.
A small group of Sasa’s men remain at Taurama barracks where they have been demanding a full pardon for their actions.
Sasa is arrested on Saturday and appeared in court yesterday on mutiny charges, police say. Sasa was spotted by chance at a lodge away from the Taurama barracks, where his supporters have been holed up with weapons since the failed mutiny. He will be held at Bomana prison outside Port Moresby pending his court appearance next month.

All quiet on army front

2012-01-30T10:43:00.005+10:00

By JEFFREY ELAPA

ALL is quiet in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force throughout the country as the man who led the failed mutiny is held in custody, The National reports.
At around 2am last Thursday, Yaura Sasa, a retrenched colonel in his early 60s, led a group of 30 armed soldiers and placed the commanding officer of the Taurama Barracks, Lt-Col Francis Kari under house arrest.
At around 5am, the group drove to the Defence Force headquarters at Murray Barracks in hired vehicles and took control of the gates as Sasa claimed to have taken over as the commanding officer of the force.
The rebel soldiers placed the commander, Brig-Gen Francis Agwi, and other senior military officers under house arrest. Among them was Col Walter Enuma.
However, the situation was stabilised when the group was disbanded and Agwi resumed control and command.
It had been alleged that several members of parliament funded the operation while Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has admitted appointing Sasa as commander of the Defence Force.
At around 6pm last Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and acting Defence Minister Belden Namah, accompanied by six ministers and politicians, visited the barracks and met with top military officials.
As soon as the mutiny was quashed, police started looking for Sasa.
Sasa was arrested at 8pm on Saturday and questioned yesterday Sunday morning. He was charged with one count of incitement to mutiny.
He appeared before a special court and had been remanded in custody at the Bomana jail.
Military establishments in the city, including Taurama and Murray barracks, were quiet while security was beefed up with armed guards at the gates to the barracks.
A visit to other establishments such as the Defence Force air wing and the maritime base also showed the situation was quiet and under control.
Reports received from other military barracks at Igam, Moem, Kiunga, Vanimo and Kerowil, in the Western
Highlands, indicated everything was under the control of Agwi, who resumed office 11 hours after the mutiny started.

O’Neill: Hunt on for plotters

2012-01-30T10:39:00.001+10:00

THOSE who incited last Thursday’s mutiny at Port Moresby’s Murray barracks, or played a part in encouraging it, will face the full force of the law, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said last night, The National reports.
O’Neill’s warning came after police arrested retrenched army colonel Yaura Sasa in Port Moresby last Saturday night and charged him with inciting mutiny.
Sasa, who led a group of 40 soldiers, placed PNG Defence Force commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi and other senior military officers under house arrest in an attempt to take control of the military.
The move was short-lived with Agwi restored to his position later that day.
So far, two members of parliament aligned to Sir Michael Somare – Andew Kumbakor and John Pundari – had admitted that their camp was responsible for getting Sasa to stage the mutinous act, O’Neill said.
He said Sir Michael issued a statement which suggested he had endorsed Sasa’s actions.
“Let me make this clear – no one is above the law,” O’Neill said.
“If there is evidence of politicians having a direct hand in this mutinous act, they will be subjected to the full force of the law,” O’Neill said.
“Retrenched colonel Sasa has been arrested, appeared in court and is in custody for his part in the drama last Thursday. He is being subjected to the law and others will follow as police gather more evidence in their investigations which are ongoing.”
O’Neill said it was “irresponsible and unbecoming for politicians to make public statements” urging the disciplined forces to break the law.
“It is shocking to see and hear politicians in the Somare camp make statements like this. It shows they have very little regard for the disciplined forces and the rule of law.”
He urged Sir Michael to stop holding himself out as an MP and prime minister.
“Sir Michael is not the prime minister and he is no longer a member of parliament and must move on in life,” he said.
O’Neill said since the Dec 12 ruling by the Supreme Court, a number of court proceedings had been in both the national and supreme courts which were yet to be determined.
“As law abiding citizens, we should wait for the courts to address these issues rather than get desperate and use the disciplined forces to break the law.
“It is becoming clear who is trampling on the law here. And I urge Somare to stop making public remarks aimed at inciting individuals and institutions to break the law.

Sasa charged with mutiny

2012-01-30T10:26:00.002+10:00

By JUNIOR UKAHA

YAURA Sasa, the man who led rebel soldiers in a failed bid to take over the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, was yesterday charged with inciting mutiny, The National reports.
National Capital District police chief Peter Guinness said the charge centred on Sasa putting senior members of the Defence Force, including commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi, under house arrest and occupying the commander’s office forcefully and illegally last Thursday.
Guinness said police were also seeking legal advice on laying charges of “false imprisonment” and “deprivation of liberty” against Sasa.
“Police are treating the matter very seriously.
“Investigations are continuing and we will arrest those soldiers involved in the mutiny and the civilians who funded their operations,” Guinness said.
If tried and found guilty, Sasa could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Appearing before a “special court” yesterday at the Waigani committal hearing, a calm Sasa said he did not regret his actions as they were carried out “to uphold the Constitution”.
Sasa, almost 60, from Morobe, who led the eight-hour mutiny, had earlier said he was commander of the Defence Force and his immediate task was to restore “the integrity and respect for the judiciary and Constitution”.
Sasa was picked up by members of the police mobile squad at 8pm on Saturday from the Peai Lodge on Mirigini Avenue in Boroko, NCD.
Guinness said Sasa was taken to police headquarters that same night, interviewed until the next morning and charged.
Guinness said because of the sensitivity, urgency and importance of the case, a special court had to be convened to deal with Sasa immediately.
Heavily-armed elite police officers escorted Sasa to court at around 2pm before he was taken to the Bomana prison.
“He has the right to bail and a lawyer. However, given the seriousness of his case, he must apply through the National Court to have his bail granted,” Guinness said.
Sasa will reappear in court on Feb 29

End of an era in Lae

2012-01-29T18:57:00.003+10:00

By REIMUND STRAUSS

Dear Mr Nalu, as we’ve gone finish“ 1998, it takes its time until news from PNG reachus.

Butthey still do!

Today I read your article “End of an era in Lae”, about the latePaul Menzel, published in The National on Friday, November 25, 2011.

The sad news touches me very much, because during my three-and-a-half yearsin Lae my wife and I had a special relationship to Paul.

Did you even know thatPaul wasn’t his Christian Name, but, as far as I recall, Winfried!

Many lunchbreaks I enjoyed at his coffee shop.

In Decembers he offered DresdnerChriststollen to us, a very special and famous German Christmas cake from thetown of Dresden.

His mother,living there, sent it to Paul for Xmas allthe way from Germany.

His Coffee Shop was the place to meet for theGermans living in and coming to Lae.

Our friends Michael Schneider and his wifePhyllis, at that time living in Bulolo, married at Paul’s Coffee Shop in 1997.

The Morobe Administrator held the Wedding Ceremony there!

When returning to Germany, Paul gave us a beautiful carved tablet as a present at one of our last days in his Coffee Shop.

He then even wrapped itas protection for its shipment with our goods.

Months later, when our goods hadarrived in Germany, we cautiously unpacked the present, but something fell tothe floor.

It was a tin of Solomon Tuna, because his tuna sandwich had been myfavourite dish at theCoffee Shop!

That’s Paul!

We kept the tin for a very special occasion –it is still there after almost 14 years, as all the good memories of awonderful time in PNG.

By the way: Winfried is an old German name and means “friend of peace”.

This name fits for Paul, and we are sure that he finally found his peace.

Best regards,

Reimund Strauss

Freising - Germany

Col Yaura Sasa refused bail

2012-01-29T18:23:00.001+10:00

Colonel Yaura Sasa has been refused bail by the Waigani committal court and will spend tonight behind bars.
However, "Defence Minister" in the Somare regime, Andrew Kumbakor, told a news conference that Sasa was entitled to bail and he would push for that tonight.
Kumbakor claimed that soldiers at Taurama Barracks were behind Sasa and the Somare regime.

Glory days of Goroka

2012-01-29T17:51:00.000+10:00

By WILL MUSKENS

Dear Malum,

An acquaintance who does missionary work in PNG recently sent me your articlepublished in The National on August 5, 2011 about your reminiscenses of Gorokain the old days.

As an educational textbook seller I had given her some boxesof learning guides that she felt could be put to good use at a mission schoolin Wabag.

Your article brought back a flood of memories of my own time in Goroka.

From1971 to 1975 I was posted to Goroka, first as Assistant District Commissioner,followed by two years as the last "white" Council Clerk of GorokaLocal Government Council, handing over to my understudy Himony Lapiso in August1975 - after which I resigned to start my own small business in Queensland.

The 17 years I spent as a kiap (1958-1975) in PNG were the best years of mylife.

In a sense I grew up there because only a few months after completinghigh school in 1957 and at just 18 years of age I found myself on a DC-4 flyingfrom Brisbane to Port Moresby - to a job I knew very little about!

A few shortmonths later I was sent to Bundi Patrol Post (in a shaky old canvas Dragonbi-plane!) to caretake while the permanent Patrol Officer took a month's breakin Madang.

My experiences were certainly not unique - in the late 50's therewas a shortage of experienced field staff, and the only way was to expose youngblokes to the challenges of isolation and responsibilities of day-to-dayoutstation management.

Learning to speak fluent pidgin was crucial but occurredrapidly - after all, more often than not and especially when on patrol, therewere only the police constables and medical orderlies accompanying the patrols,and of course the village people, to talk with.

Before being transferred toGoroka I had been based for varying terms in Saidor, Madang, Kalalo (Wasu),Imonda, Green River, Kokopo, Rabaul, Pomio, and Aitape.

Like you, I developed a great affection for Goroka - it was always considered a"plum" posting for government officers, for reasons that youdescribed in your article.

A literal paradise - cool climate, spectacularscenery, fertile and bountiful land, and a population that was industrious andkeen to learn and improve their quality of life.

Goroka Council was always regarded as a model for local government in PNG - itpioneered combining urban and rural local government and was extremelysuccessful in serving the diverse demands of both communities.

We had somereally outstanding councillors back then - Atau Waikave, Akepa Miakwe, Iyape Norikave(?) and a wonderful gregarious character called Cr Bulmakau! Rural councillorsfar outnumbered the handful from the town, but they were able to strike aperfect balance between urban and rural development and the standard ofservices to both constituencies were of a very high standard.

In 1988, after an absence of 13 years, I took up an offer by the EasternHighlands Provincial Government to come back to Goroka to set up a new urbanauthority - the standard or urban services and amenities had deteriorated, forone rreason or another. They decided that the best way to get Goroka workingagain would be to separate the town and the rural districts into 2 separatelocal government entities because the single council was no longer capable ofhandling the demands of both interests productively.

For me it was in many ways a "homecoming" - how ironic that thePremier of EHP was Walter Nombe, who in the time I was ADC in the 70's, hadbeen my sub-distrcit office clerk!

My appointment was as Town Manager of the Eastern Highlands Capital Authority,with a board of 10 local leaders headed by Silas Atopare. It was an extremelychallenging time, especially in the first year as we struggled to findsufficient funds to get the Authority off the ground, and with some understandableresistance from the Goroka Council who were not very pleased to have the town,and inherent revenue (land rates etc) taken away from them.

My excitement to be back in Goroka was tempered by the sorry state of the town- garbage piled up along the streets, roads in disrepair, town water barely atrickle if at all, and domestic pigs roaming freely at night and totallydestroying the once beautiful parks and gardens for which Goroka was renowned.

The magnitude of the task ahead was immense, and apart from anything else, Iwas very conscious that here I was, a lone white man, in a way"recycled", with thousands of eyes watching my every move and readyto swoop if I put a foot wrong!

The three years that I spent as Town Manager in Goroka until 1992 surpassed myprevious experiences in PNG and included some really remarkable episodes, notleast the close working relationship between Silas Atopare and myself, but Iwon't bore you further with my ramblings.

Suffice to say that in a relativelyshort period the wonderfully dedicated personnel of the Town Authority, fromboard member to humble street sweeper, managed to restore Goroka to its formerglory, drawing praise from the broad community, and envy from other urbancommunities.

We demonstrated that it did not require the re-invention of the wheel to bringa town back to normal operations - all we had to do was to manage meagrefinances carefully, apply all the revenues to providing urban utility andpublic services, implement and enforce local laws dealing with littering andanimal husbandry, and inspire civic pride.

It is amazing what a community willdo to rise to the occasion when you provide good governance - Goroka in thoseyears even banned betel nut selling and spitting in all public areas, withoutstanding effect!

I still have enormous affection for Goroka (and PNG of course) and wish I couldstill be there.

Thank you for writing about "my town" - I now follow your blog andreally enjoy your comments and observations on contemporary life in PNG.

Kind regards,

Will Muskens
465 Simpsons Road
BARDON Qld 4065
(61) 419 658 494

Prime Minister for early election

2012-01-29T14:28:00.000+10:00

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill, shaken by last Thursday's mutiny by rebel troops, will move to dissolve parliament next month and go to early polls to end the current political impasse, The National reported last Friday.
He said he would seek his government’s blessing to bring forward the scheduled June general election.
O’Neill said this after announcing that the day-long mutiny by the 30 rebels, led by retrenched colonel Yaura Sasa, at Murray Barracks headquarters, was over.
Fifteen of the soldiers have been arrested and Sasa was being “dealt with” but O’Neill declined to clarify what this meant .
O’Neill said he would ask his government during the February session of parliament whether they should pursue the option of an early election.
“We are looking at going for early election as quickly as possible to end this political impasse and we hope the Electoral Commission is ready for early elections,” he said.
O’Neill said this last Thursday when he accused the Somare camp of inciting mutiny at the Murray Barracks and trying to illegally take over the Papua New Guinea defence force
“The dramatic situation at the Murray barracks yesterday morning demonstrates the desperate length Somare can go to wrestle government,’’ O’Neill said.
“Somare tried to cleverly manipulate an internal issue in the force to his advantage, to use the military to take government by force.”
O’Neill late last Thursday commended senior military officers for restoring control at Murray Barracks and thanked the public for showing restraint despite the drama.
O’Neill said issues relating to the soldiers’ grievances would be addressed - including ending the political uncertainty by dissolving parliament.
In a dramatic turn of events at Murray barracks last Thursday, a group of soldiers led by retrenched PNGDF Col Yaura Sasa detained Commander Francis Agwi at his residence.
“Yesterday (Thursday)morning, a group of soldiers illegally and unlawfully placed PNGDF Commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi under house arrest and tried to take control of the country’s defence force,” O’Neill said.
“Without any lawful authority, retrenched Sasa declared himself the commander, held a press conference and made political statements he had no authority to make.”
O’Neill said retrenched Sasa was not appointed by the government to replace Agwi.
“He has no legal and valid instrument to back his claim that he is the commander. He is a civilian who was misled by the Somare camp to carry out an illegal and unlawful act.
“The action by Sasa has no support of the rank and file of the PNG Defence Force. His attempt to take over the force has now been neutralised, and normalcy has been restored at Murray barracks.
“By his public statement, it is clear Sasa was used to stage this illegal act to call for the implementation of the Supreme Court decision. He has no authority to make this statement, He is a civilian who is not supposed to be at the barracks at all.
“As we are all aware, the Supreme Court handed down its decision on Dec 12.”
He said parliament took note of the decision and disposed of it by making a number of legislative changes and decisions, one of which was to reaffirm him as prime minister.
O’Neill said the Supreme Court decision, and the decision of parliament, were now the subject of various court proceedings before the National and Supreme Court.
He said the proceedings were initiated by both sides and awaiting the outcome of these proceedings.
“But what we have witnessed is a desperate attempt by Somare to trample on proper and legal processes to get into government,” he said.
O’Neill said Sir Michael had been looked after by the country for 45 years and he owed it to the seven million people of PNG.
“Sir Michael as the founding father of this nation should not be creating uncertainty,” he said.
O’Neill said those responsible for the drama at Murray barracks would be dealt with - including Sir Michael and those supporting him.

PNG Party to remove Somare's face from K50 notes?

2012-01-29T14:02:00.005+10:00

Heard from Lae that PNG Party had a very interesting breakfast this morning.

Rumour is that they've already instructed the Central Bank to remove Somare's face from the next batch of K50 notes.

Yaura Sasa arrested

2012-01-29T12:30:00.001+10:00

Yaura Sasa, the retrenched military officer who was brought back to Murray Barrcks to lead last Thursday's mutiny has been arrested, the Sunday Chronicle reports today.
National Capital District police commander Peter Guiness confirmed the arrest last night.
Sasa was apprehended at about 8pm at the Peai Lodge at Mirigini Avenue, Boroko, by members of the police mobile squad under the command of Allan Manning after a tip-off.
"Sasa is a free man like you and me until he is formally charged," Guiness said.
As of 10pm last night, Sasa was still being interviewed by police at Boroka Police Station before he could be formally charged.

Will the 2012 General Election breach the Constitution?

2012-01-28T15:50:00.000+10:00

By Barry Holloway and James Macpherson

TheDanger

The next Parliament risksunconstitutional membership. Electionsfor provincial and open electorates could breach the Constitution.

Such a breach would undercut anational strength: our Parliament.

This Parliament needs to makeinformed decisions quickly so that elections to the next Parliament areconstitutional.

Achievementsof this Parliament

Parliament has enacted the firstchanges to its electorates since Independence.

Provision for Jiwaka and Helaprovincial electorates is the first change to boundaries of any electoratesince before Independence.

Amendment of the Constitution toprovide for women’s electorates shows willingness to consider radical changesby the overwhelmingly male majority.

These achievements can form afoundation for a stronger Parliament.

UnconstitutionalElections for Provincial Electorates

Elections to provincial electorateswill breach the Constitution. Section 126 of the Constitution requireselectoral procedures defined by an Organic Law. Parliament has repealed provisions in the Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections forelectoral procedures for Provincial MPs. Election of Provincial MPs could be challenged in Court.

Will Parliament amendthe Organic Law on National andLocal-level Government Elections to provide for election of ProvincialMPs?

Will Parliament gointo the next General Election in breach of Constitutional requirements forelections to provincial electorates?

UnconstitutionalNumber of Open Electorates

The number of open electorates inthe present Parliament and for the next Parliament breaches the Constitution. The OrganicLaw on National and Local-level Government Elections requires between 110and 120 open electorates. There are 89 openelectorates.

It is too late for a BoundariesCommission during this Parliament to recommend new electorates for the 2012General Election. To preventconstitutional crisis the Organic Law should be amended to provide a range ofOpen Electorates which includes 89 open electorates.

Will Parliament amend the OrganicLaw on National and Local-level Government Elections to make constitutionalthe number of Open Electorates?

Will Parliament gointo the 2012 General Election in breach of Constitutional requirements for thenumber of Open Electorates?

Women’sElectorates

Parliament has enacted amendments tothe Constitution to provide for women’s reserved electorates.

The gap in legislation parallelsthat for provincial and open electorates. The Organic Law on National andLocal-level Government Elections should be amended to provide fordefinition of the electorates and elections to them.

Will Parliament use the gap in the OrganicLaw on National and Local-level Government Elections to prevent electionsfor women’s reserved electorates in 2012?

Will Parliament use parallel gaps in the Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections forelections to provincial electorates and number of open electorates to preventelections to provincial and open electorates in 2012?

Timelines and the 2012 General Election

Constitutional laws require onemonth notice and two months opportunity for debate. Parliament’s Constitutional Laws and ActsCommittee must recommend on legislation before the first opportunity fordebate. Amendments to the Organic Law on National and Local-levelGovernment Elections require a three quarters absolute majority.

The Legislative Working Group,appointed by NEC, has drafted amendments to the Organic Law required to make constitutional:

Elections to provincial electorates;
The number of open electorates; and
Elections to women’s reserved electorates.

If these amendments are not enacted,the next Parliament will be unconstitutional.

The legislative program to create aconstitutional Parliament must start now.

Colonel Yaura Sasa a "one hit wonder"

2012-01-27T18:40:00.000+10:00

By REG RENAGI

After yesterday's "One-Day Wonder" petering out to a low key whimper by the end of the day...many people with good intentions have since asked me for my thoughts on this whole fiasco.

I told them it was most unfortunate that we had to come to this.

But before any self-righteous Christians amongst us cast the first stone at former retired colonel Yaura Sasa, let me say that he did have noble intentions.

But the former soldier went about resolving the current political impasse, the wrong way.

Many of you reading this have been avid critics of the government recently by complaining on FB that we should all times, safeguard our constitution and judiaciary.

Well believe it or not, that's what Yaura Sasa was in his 'misguided way' trying to do too, but did not succeed for many reasons.

The reasons are many, and I will not go into them here.

So I wanted to pen a good 25 word piece (a 30 second read) this morning, but our FB blogger Osborne Sanida beat me to it by summing up this whole thing very well.

So here is what he says as my "comment of the day" today.

"The Col may have good intentions, but obviously the method used to try to achieve those intentions was clearly illega

l. Using an illegal means to try solve an alleged illegal action doesn't make sense. "2 wrongs don't make a right"'.

Well said Osborne ...and that's what I would tell anyone thinking of doing something similar in future - PLEASE DON'T TRY IT!

To Watut with love

2012-01-27T18:33:00.000+10:00

ByMALUM NALU\

In June 2008, nine-year-old Ngaru Nen left home inMilwaukee, Wisconsin, USA to visit his father Aral’s home in remote Watut,Morobe province, Papua New Guinea.

It was the trip of a lifetime for Ngaru, who hadnever travelled out of America before, to his mama graun and it had a profound effect on his life.

The trip was a special one for Ngaru, because he isthe elder son of the Nen's and according to Sangark clan of Watut, needs to go throughan initiation ceremony and be declared as a chief.

One thing that bothered him was the large number ofchildren roaming around because of no schools, no school fees and no space.

Father and son...Aral and Ngaru Nen in Green Bay Packers colours

He was also surprised to learn that schools in Watuthad very little school supplies and books, and had to sit on the ground andlearn, because there were no classrooms.

“I could see that this really bothered Ngaru becausehe kept on asking me ‘why’,” his father recalls.

“I had to explain to him the truth of the situation,and also told him that it happens in many other very- remote areas in thecountry, and even urban areas.

Nen children Betty, Aral Jr and Ngaru having lunch with former PNG missionary Vins Ohlinger

Ngaru was heartbroken, so much so, that he vowedthat that upon return to USA, he would collect whatever books and schoolsupplies he could, and send them to the children of Watut.

Thus began a three-year labour of love, collectingbooks and school supplies, however, the young man hit an 11^th-hourhitch.

His dad, Aral, tried so many shipping companies,however, the fees were so high and father told son that the books would go toAfrica instead of Watut, as there was a Rotary club which could ship to thatcontinent.

Aral Nen (left) with school supplies for Watut children in 2008

A teary Ngaru was heartbroken and prayed for amiracle to happen.

God must have heard his prayers, for in far-off PNG,Morobe Mining Joint Ventures general manager - sustainability & external relations,David Wissink, turned Good Samaritan as he read about young Ngaru’s plight onFacebook.

On Monday this week, thanks to Wissink, a containerload of books and school supplies left Milwaukee for Lae, final destinationWatut.

“When I was in Papua New Guinea, one of the thingsthat struck me most was that so many people would go barefoot, be able to liveso far away from hospitals and also have no health care,” Ngaru tells me fromMilwaukee.

“I was also surprised that the schools in Watut hadvery little school supplies and books and had to sit on the ground and learn.

“I know I have a lot of books and supplies I candonate to them.

“I told my dad that, when I return to America, I'dlike to collect books and school supplies and send them to Watut schoolsbecause I feel sorry for all these kids.

“My dad and family agreed and helped me collectbooks and supplies over three years.

“Now we have a problem with transportation.

“My dad tried so many shipping companies but thefees were so high for us to afford.

“Sadly, one afternoon, my dad told me that, thebooks would go to Africa instead of Watut, because we cannot afford it andthere is a Rotary club which can ship only to Africa.

“Also, since our garage was so full of boxes ofbooks and winter was approaching, we needed to get rid of those books somehow.

“My heart was broken and I prayed in my heart thatthe Good Lord will know the struggles of my people and will help me get thebooks and supplies to Watut.

“While we were packing and taping the boxes forAfrica, my dad got a message from someone in PNG ( David Wissink of MMJV), offering to pay for shipping costs from mygarage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, to Lae, then to Watut.

“We thought it was some crazy guy, but the longer wecommunicated with him, it seemed real.

“I call him my guardian angel.

“Without him, this would not have been possible.”

AralNen first came to America in April of 1995 after meeting his wife, MaryJohnston Nen, at Dregerhafen High School in Finschhafen when she was anAmerican Peace Corps Volunteer teaching at the school.

“Iwas raised and brought up in Lae during the later part of the colonial era,” hetells me.

“Mydad was a police officer and we used to live at Bumbu Police Barracks.

Iattended Bumneng, St Paul and Igam primary schools during my childhood.

“Bumayongwas my high school and UPNG was my college.

“Aftergraduating from UPNG in 1982, I spent some time between Lae and Chimbu doingodd jobs.

“In1986, I completed a one-year post-graduate diploma in education and was sent toDregerhafen High school the following year to teach.

“Itaught there until 1991 and was transferred to Bugandi in 1992.

“In1993, I was again transferred to Lae High School.

“Iresigned from teaching the following year.

“WhenI first came to America, I had to get adjusted to life, culture, weather,people, food and many other things.

“Everythinghere is done in a different mode as PNG and I have to keep up, otherwise, Iwould

beleft behind.

“Ihad to work odd jobs at factories and supermarkets to get money to pay for my collegeschool fees in order to get my American teaching license.

“Idid not last for more than three months, because I could not keep up with howthings are moving here.

“Ikept on going back to PNG and returning over some years before I got used todoing things here.

“Rightnow, I am fine living in America and PNG.

“Imade sure my children know where they came from by visiting their country and hauslain and getting to know theirpeople, tribes, and origin from my end.

“Iam currently teaching high school students here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“Mydaughter Betty Nen visited Lae, Finchhafen, and Kundiawa in June of 2005 and myson Ngaru Nen visited in 2008.

“Itry to save up every summer to visit mamagraun PNG.

“Itis very hard for me to forget about Watut and PNG.”

Nenknows he has to do his bit to help PNG move forward by way of assisting thosewho genuinely need help.

“Ihave sponsored two students from Bumayong High School, my ex school; one atGordon High School; set up and supportLae Volunteer Service to clean up Lae City; contributed money to send a Goilala family backto their village via AIDS Foundation; contribute to Sir Peter Barter'sMelanesian Foundation to help Manam volcano victims; contribute via Lae VolunteerService toward cholera victims at Angau and Sialum landslide victims; and alsoa Simon Mane from Chimbu, whose house was burnt down to the ground at Five-Milea couple of years ago.

“Mycurrent project is Lae Volunteer Service and Lower Watut Tournament, whichis held every June -July.

“Myson Ngaru's project was sponsorship of a grade five student at Bubia PrimarySchool two years ago and now the books and school supplies for schools in LowerWatut.

“Iknow I have a lot of blessings from God and I must not be greedy but mustextend or share them with those in need.

“Lookingback, I think I enjoyed Lae and PNG in the very good old days where respect,peace and harmony prevailed, unlike today

“Ilove those good old days where Lae was so peaceful, clean and many people knewhow to respect and live peacefully amongst each other.

“Ialso think that God has taken a good care of me and my family and is using usto help others.

“Mygreatest thank, to my parents Mr and Mrs Nen (deceased) for all theirsacrifices to bring me up to where I am now.

“Iwould also like to thank PNG and the tax payers for the education, experiencesand support though national scholarships.

“Withoutsuch support, I would not have made it.

“Iwould like to see the young generation of today to work very hard together inhonesty, pride, respect, love, peace, and put the people and the country in ourhearts.

“Getinvolved in preserving our wonderful cultural diversity and natural environment.”

Like father, like son and charitable Ngaru sweatsthat he will be back in Watut.

“When we travelled to Watut, I was so fascinated bythe beauty of the nature and how people use the environment to survive,” hesays.

“I love PNG and will save up to see my Sangarktribe, my land, my people and my two coconut trees I planted while there.

“God bless PNG.”

· mnalu@thenational.com.pg

Was it a military coup?

2012-01-27T07:38:00.001+10:00

This is what my brother, former PNGDF colonel, Reg Renagi, says about the whole shit:
"Was today a military coup?
"A military coup is a violent action taking by the military to over throw a government.Today, this did not really happened but the rogue elements of the PNGDF's action were still mutinious in nature.
"Military rules and regulations were directly breached so punishment must be metered out accordingly.
"The defence command must now take tough actions so that a clear and strong message goes to the troops in all defence communities that what happened today, must never ever be repeated in future.
"As a result of today's events in Defence Headquarters, Murray Barracks, here is what must happen now and quickly.
"Even if the mutiny situation has somewhat calmed down now with the renegade soldiers returning to their units at Taurama Barracks or elsewhere, the mutineers have seriously breached military discipline.
"Hence, the perpetrators of this highly illegal act against superiors and their own defence command must still be charged under the Military Code of Discipline, investigated and punished.
"In addition, after being tried; the renegade soldiers should then be handed over to the civil authorities for custody; followed by the appropriate civil legal proceedings before being sent to jail.
T"his very critical incident has now not only tarnished the good image and professional reputation of the PNGDF, but whatever credibility the military had until now with the government and public, has being lost forever.
"The military never crosses the line into the realm of politics, but sadly today it did, where it should not have dared ventured into; no matter what may be the compelling reasons.

Mutiny over

2012-01-26T18:21:00.003+10:00

Just got a call from Murray Barracks that Col Yaura Sasa and his mutineers have surrendered.

This has been confirmed by former PNG Defence Force officer Reg Renagi.

"I just spoke to my inner circle military contacts within defence headquarters now," he said.

"Things have quietened down now.

"General Francis Agwi's office keys have been returned to him.

"The renegade soldiers have also returned their arms back to their superiors.

"The situation within Murray Barracks is simmering down down so all's well, ends well."

NGO activist Noel Anjo calls on mutineers to step down

2012-01-26T14:30:00.000+10:00

Non government organisation activist Noel Anjo has given 24 hours to renegade colonel Yaura Sasa and his mutineers to step down or he would organise for NGOs and the public to march to Murray Barracks.
"I call on the renegade government to stop what they are doing," he told NBC radio.
"The O'Neill government is the legitimate government of Papua New Guinea.
"I'm giving them 24 hours to stop what they are doing, if not, NGOs and civil society will march to Murray Barracks.
"They are criminals.
"Apologise to the 6.7 million people of Papua New Guinea."

Air Niugini flights cancelled

2012-01-26T13:42:00.002+10:00

Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah has cancelled all Air Niugini flights to Wewak, Lae, Vanimo and Kiunga.
It is believed that PNG Defence Force troops based in these four areas will be brought in to bring down the mutineers.

Colonel Yaura Sasa warned to turn himself in by 4pm today

2012-01-26T13:07:00.000+10:00

Retired colonel Yaura Sasa has been warned by deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah to turn himself in by 4pm today or be arrested.

Namah made the call as Sasa claims to be in charge of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force after placing commander Francis Agwi under house arrest.

He has threatened to use"necessary actions" to resolve the country's political stand-off.

Sasa said soldiers under his control fired several shotsthis morning as they stormed barracks and took Agwi hostage under house arrest.

Sasa said the action did not amount to a military mutiny or takeover, butsaid he had been appointed commander by former prime minister Sir MichaelSomare.

He called on Sir Michael and primeminister Peter O'Neill to return to parliament to resolve what he called thecountry's constitutional impasse within seven days.

If that did not happen, he warned hewould use "necessary action" to "restore the integrity andrespect for the constitution and the judiciary."

"This is not a militarytakeover," he insisted.

Earlier, at Taurama Barracks, frustrated soldiers surrounded the commanding officer's house and demanded that he vacate the house.

"But he has locked himself in the house and refused to come out," a source said.

"The door of the house has been broken down by soldiers and the CO is still locked in one of the rooms. "They claim that the commander of PNGDF has been changed and therefore demand (CO) Lt Col Kari be removed.

"It's really a serious issue.

"These NCO soldiers could be charged for criminal offence because they have used brutal force to break and enter the house, demanding the removal of an officer of PNGDF, swearing, shouting abusive word to the CO to come out of the house.

"It could be politically motivated, I assume."

No further bodies recovered today

2012-01-25T21:11:00.001+10:00

No further bodies recovered at the landslide disaster site today, NBC news reports on its 9pm bulletin.
Work will continue after National Executive Council meeting tomorrow to discuss the issue.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill visited the disaster area today.

National Research Institute: Don’t monopolise rice industry

2012-01-25T20:29:00.002+10:00

THE National Research Institute (NRI) wants the governmentto abandon its plan to monopolise the rice industry, saying it’s devastating topeople’s welfare.

The government’s leading think tank is calling on thegovernment to learn from failed agreements like InterOil, claiming that asidefrom natural monopolies which can be justifiable, protectionist monopolies asin this case are generally considered to be detrimental to overall welfare.

“Current competitive markets in the rice industry in PNGhave proven to be of public benefit as the proposed rice monopoly has thepotential of undoing the benefits of competition including lower prices,variety of rice products and food security currently enjoyed by the general public,”it said,

According to NRI, terms and conditions of project proposalsshould be thoroughly screened by independent qualified experts apart from thegovernment team through a detailed cost-benefit assessment to not onlydetermine project viability but also the opportunity costs involved.

National Research Institute also raised the issues ofprofiteering and transfer pricing if Naima Agro Industries, a foreign-ownedcompany is going to be involved, arguing that the proposal promotesanti-competition and contravenes the ICCC Act (2002) that propagatescompetition and fair trading.

“At one point in time Trukai Industries monoplised the riceindustry in PNG and only through freeing up of the industry through competitionthat PNG has now a competitive rice industry with competitors, even thoughTrukai industries commands a larger market share,” NRI argues.

It is calling for a free and competitive market andsupports continued competition as it did for the mobile phone industry and theaviation industry.

Deal with institutional decay now (Part 2)

2012-01-25T19:47:00.001+10:00

By Dr HENRY OKOLE

Political Elites and State Legitimacy

As the new political elite around independence acquired personalinterest in the new state structure as well as continuing colonial institutions– including the economy - an opportunity to serve the public withoutreservation was then missed.

It came topass therefore that political elites and public servants carried out theirresponsibilities but with a foot each firmly placed in their respectivetraditional societies and the modern state.

To be sure, PNG was not unique in this regard.

All the same, it became a problem for thecountry when the state system was compromised by individuals who took advantageof public institutions and laws to serve their private ends – even whendecisions were legitimately taken.

What is seen today is the existence of a hybrid national politicalculture that has evolved over time out of the hundreds of cultural units.

It defines the way the government exist andstate institutions operate.

It is this political culture that offers legitimacyto the country’s political practices.

It does not mean that the practices arealways beneficial, lawful and public-centred.

It simply means that they are theway things are done, understood and sometimes condoned – i.e. the PNG way ofdoing things. Recognition and acceptanceoffers credibility and legitimacy.

Thisin turn becomes the basis for political authority.

State legitimacy therefore derives itsmeaning and intent from other additional sources of authority quite apart fromthe country’s body of laws and conventions.

The weakness of public agencies to impose the will of the state in turnreinforces the credibility and even public acceptance of these extra sources ofauthority.

The Weberian state’s claim to the monopoly of power is thenmarginally true in the country.

Three or two Arms of Government?

What was starkly evident over the last few months in this standoffhas been that the traditional separation of powers among the three arms ofgovernment now exist in law and theory only.

There are in effect only twofunctional arms of government: the judiciary that for a large part has alwayspersevered to maintain its independence, and the executive.

What has transpired is the latter has slowlyusurped the authority of the legislature.

This caused Hon Carol Kidu to describe the situation as having a “parliamentarydemocracy with NEC dictatorship.”

Theexecutive dominates everything even to the point where perhaps it is fair tosay that the opposition can either be accommodated or isolated – depending onthe mood of the government of the day.

The fact that there is a gravitational pull towards the government sideis to be expected.

To survive, most MPssee the need to align themselves with the government of the day just to ensurethat they have access to pork barrel resources and other perks.

However, byswelling the side of the government over the opposition, legislature itselfloses its grit in its oversight role.

The parliamentary committee system has not been functioningproperly over the last 20 years.

The committees normally should have cateredfor the backbenchers in the government as well as members of theopposition.

Instead we have seen theincreasing use of Vice-Ministers which again strengthens the arm of theexecutive.

The committees have importantroles to play to enhance oversight in Parliament, shore up accountability inthe public service and establish another opening for dialogue between MPs andthe public.

Then there is the role ofthe Speaker’s office that is supposed to be impartial.

In all, there is a serious need to reviseParliamentary Standing Orders.

While ‘majoritarian rule’ isthe core of our Westminster system of government, it does not bode well withweak political parties and voters’ perception of MPs who are judged asdeliverers of tangible goods and services - and much less as legislators.

Therein lay the principal causes ofparliamentary instability: (1) a legislative design that consistentlyguarantees the dominance of the executive over the legislature, and (2) voterswho mistake their elected representatives for deliverers of goods and services,which in fact is the role of the state.

The MPs on their part entertain the expectations of the voters becauseit matters for their political careers.

Then there is the role of money politics that has conveniently servedas a lubricant either to form or break coalitions.

Money politics is palatable to power politicsgiven that securing the executive comes down to amassing the numbers on thefloor of Parliament through financial inducement, be that as personal gain orconstituency projects.

Another trend associated with the dominance of the executive hasbeen a propensity to amendment existing laws and provisions to suitcircumstances of the day.

Understandably, such changes can only be done withsufficient numerical strength in Parliament.

The rather raucous manner in which piece-meal amendments have been made,or new pieces of legislation have been pushed through without proper debate,have led to poorly conceived government undertakings over the years.

For instance, the merits of the provincialgovernment reforms in 1995 are yet to be fully understood today.

The present women’s bill is in danger ofbecoming another farcical law if its potential implications are not alignedproperly with the existing political reality on the ground.

Possible Way Forward

If it took a national consultation process under the ConstitutionPlanning Committee (CPC) to place the foundation of the country in the early1970s, perhaps it is high time a similar exercise is commissioned to review thepillars of the state.

It is truly a pitythat the consultation process that was set up to lay the ground work for thePNG Vision 2050 was not capitalised on to assess the merits and performance ofstate institutions.

ACPC-like consultation process SHOULD NOT be a licence to alter the NationalConstitution.

On the contrary, it shouldoffer opportunities to explore ways that protect and strengthen theConstitution.

Very often, it is not theprecepts of the Constitution and other laws that are out of vogue with realityin the PNG society.

Rather, the laws areoften unfairly projected against people’s conniving actions and behaviouralissues. Inherent to our politicalculture has been a tendency to “bend the rules” to accommodate private interestsrather than allow the rules as intended to guide community conduct.

Without public consultation, the onus toaddress issues of institutional decay will be in the hands of the MPs.

The challenge therefore is a question ofpolitical will.

And even if politicalwill is granted, it then becomes a question of whether MPs will be willing tomake the hard choices that may end up jeopardising their politicalcareers.

Moreover, a nationalconsultation process would allow more credibility and legitimacy to theproposed changes.

For all of the above, thecountry needs to go back to the starting blocks and allow the public to decidewhat is best for them.

Terms ofreference for the review can be appropriately drawn up, but the underlying rationaleis that it is high time the public stands up and remind the MPs that they aremere caretakers of their interests.

Thedanger with not doing anything is it is almost guaranteed that anotherstandoff, perhaps of another type, is bound to happen. The pillars of the stateare already out of synch with the political reality in the country.

* Dr.Henry Okole is a Senior Research Fellow under the Institutional StrengtheningPillar at the National ResearchInstitute

Deal with institutional decay now

2012-01-25T19:20:00.001+10:00

ByDr HENRY OKOLE

I invariably give a dual response whenever my views are sought onthe current political impasse in PNG: the developments that led to the twolegitimacy claims to the prime minister’s post.

The other response I give relates to a serious problem of institutionaldecay in the country.

This is not a new subject and has been raisedsporadically in the past.

Institutional decay stems from the inability ofexisting institutions (be they laws and inherent features of the governmentsystem and public service) to accommodate change as society undergoestransformation.

Change is an inevitableprocess and therefore parts of the state structure ideally should be reviewedor reformed where and when deemed necessary.

The O’Neill-Somare stand-off can be solved, provided the two sides agreeto measures that can allow an opportunity to unlock the stalemate. Institutional decay is enduring and wouldincapacitate the state system if not addressed promptly with constructivesolutions.

Political Will and Survival

An apologetic argument is often invoked stipulating that we are ayoung democracy and therefore we should falter first in our attempts before weperfect our democratic and administrative practices.

Frankly, I do not subscribe to such a lameexcuse.

This line of reasoning issimilar in assumption to the now defunct linear-stages-of-growth model that waspopularised by development economists in the 1950s – 1960s.

It suggested that developing countries couldachieve the development status of the major capitalist countries if only theycan replicate the appropriate economic and investment policies.

The fact is, the success of democratic andeconomic growth depends on smart planning, good leadership and the rightattitude to drive policy implementation.

Hence, countries need to deal with characteristics inherent to them asthey try to achieve the shared universal democratic goals.

Furthermore,such an apologetic argument would hold if PNG was trying to do its best but yetfalling short due to reasons such as limited manpower or scarce financialresources.

That is not the case.

Theblatant disregard for proper governance and administrative practices byindividuals in places of responsibility seems to suggest that these qualitiesare not prioritised.

We elect some individuals into Parliament who for onereason or another are more focused on the content of the public purse more thanthe people’s welfare in general.

Thepublic service that is supposed to brace the main pillars of the state has beenoverly politicised since the 1980s.

Neither should one say that there have notbeen any warnings of perils ahead if appropriate changes were not made.

Individuals and civil society organisationsas well as the donor community have consistently offered warnings and suggestionson a plethora of issues while giving the legitimate right to PNG governments tomake policy choices.

The politics behind thethree waves of public reform during the 1980s - 1990s revealed the type ofthinking and resolve that should have served on hindsight as reference pointsfor self-reflections as to why reforms were necessary in the first place forparticular sectors and areas.

Initiatives to undertake decisive reforms were often killed off byneglect and procrastination. Maintaining the status quo was often regarded asnecessary for political survival.

Forinstance, the first-past-the-post electoral system was already producingunrepresentative results in the 1980s given that more candidates were winningseats with smaller percentages of votes.

Yet the country had to wait anothertwo decades before the electoral system was changed.

Sir Mekere Morauta, asprime minister, knew that procrastination was not an option.

Under the conceptof ‘Date with Destiny’, he instituted important reforms.

Apart from the change of electoral system tothe limited preferential voting system, Sir Mekere also saw through theadoption of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties andCandidates (OLIPPAC), and the controversial privatization programme thatcovered some state owned enterprises.

Regardless of successes and failures ofthe reforms in hindsight, the point is Sir Mekere saw the value in institutingchange.

State Building in PNG

Understanding institutional decay should start with a proper graspof how the PNG state was built.

Our state system was superimposed on thousandsof ethnic and social groups starting around the 1950s but more so in the 1960s.

Political institutions that were developed and refined over hundreds of yearselsewhere were introduced to PNG in less than 20 years.

The first national elections were held in1964 for the House of Assembly and a mere 11 years later, PNG was grantedsovereign statehood with all the trappings of a fully-fleshed modern state.

The rushed transition of authorities from colonial control toindependence left the state institutions with little room forpreparations.

The small band of educatedelites was overawed by responsibilities at hand, though on hindsight theyperformed admirably.

However, the state institutions were simultaneously leftopen and vulnerable to opportunism and manipulation by actors and agents who,by virtue of their vantage positions in the state hierarchy, found it to theirconvenience to step into gaps for personal enrichment and benefits.

The factthat there were overlapping forms of authority, both formal and informal, leftthe fate of the state at the mercy of those within its hierarchy.

Then there was the design of a new constitution that would definethe identity of a population that had a limited sense of nationalism and whoseclaim to a national history were derived from developments in two separatecolonial territories.

A national visionwas framed into a constitution and substantiated through a preliminary nationalconsultative process with an audience, many of whom were relatively ignorant ofthe significance of statehood.

Thevision was steered in part by the inspirations drawn particularly from formerAfrican colonies.

In essence, whattranspired was the development of a ‘home grown’ constitution for a peoplewhose thoughts and aspirations were guided to a future ideal society.

The process required the adoption of foreignpolitical institutions and a public service while an impending vacuum was aboutto be created by the departing Australian colonial administration.

In this milieu, democracy and the rule of lawwas expected to take root.

TheWestminster model of government was considered most appropriate for thecountry.

*Dr. Henry Okole is a Senior Research Fellow under the InstitutionalStrengthening Pillar at the NationalResearch Institute

Harnessing the internet for agriculture development

2012-01-25T17:09:00.003+10:00

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

INTODAY’S information age, new developments in informationand communication technologies (ICT)are offering many exciting opportunities and new challenges in rapid andeffective dissemination of agricultural innovations and technologies to stakeholders.

Withsuch technologies, exchange of information andexpertise to a large number of people is also possible.

Jimmy Maro (left) ofNARI showing these officers representing various organisations on how enterdata into a horticulture database. With Web 2.0 tools, this process could covera lot more people, with them also contributing in the process

One such technology that ismaking this possible is the second generation internet or Web 2.0.
Web 2.0 is amini internet revolution that is proving its effectiveness among users,enabling each user to share his or her knowledge, opinions, insights,experiences, and perspectives with each other.

Web 2.0 is proving to be a different way of working together andsharing information using free tools on the internet.

It is something thateverybody could use and benefit from using it. Web 2.0 includes discussion forums,blogs and wiki style encyclopedias, where users actively contributing to thesites.

Web 2.0 doesn't just give us information, but interacts withusers while giving that information. In other words, one as a reader alsobecomes a writer.

It is unlike a one-way street media where we can read anewspaper or listen to report on television, but we have very limited abilityto give our thoughts on the matter.

Web 2.0 tools, on the other hand, is a two-way street that givesus the ability to share our thoughts.

While Web 2.0 tools are alreadybeing used to share information and expertise in agriculture development issueselsewhere, the Pacific including Papua New Guinea is lacking behind.

This is so with limited or nointernet access.

While this may be so, efforts arebeing made to explore the use of social media or Web 2.0 tools to shareinformation and expertise relating to agriculture development in the region.

With support from regional andinternational organisations such Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Technical Centre for Agriculturaland Rural Cooperation (CTA), Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural ResearchInstitutions (APAARI), Global Fund for Agricultural Research (GFAR) inpartnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), efforts willbe made during 2012 to see how best to use Web 2.0 tools and ICT in general toshare information and experience for agriculture development in the region.

A number of training workshops are beingplanned to discuss the opportunities offered by the social media and also thechallenges of using these applications.

The workshop will look at the role of theinternet and how social media can facilitate information sharing andcollaboration among organisations and experts in the region.

The SPC is spearheading this in the region andis hoping member countries and relevant organisations have in place relevantinformation and communication technology (ICT) policies to facilitate thisprocess.

SPC is working towardsensuring the use of ICT tools such as the mobile telephone and internet toolssuch Web 2.0 are fully appreciated and used by the people region to improvetheir livelihoods.

Lack of access to internet in many countries in theregion is not allowing the people to fully realise the benefits andcapabilities of the different Web 2.0 tools.

SPC is currently using Web 2.0 applications in its ICTsector and thereby creating a new environment conducive to economic and socialdevelopment, and organisations in the regions will do likewise.

Director of land resources division of SPC,Inoke Ratukalou, says technology, particularly those relating to the internetand computers, is transforming our lives at unbelievable speed and is makingconversations, dialogue and interactions possible.

He believes that Web 2.0 is changing the way we do things and the way we perceive thingsand it empowers people to create awareness about the impacts of global issuessuch as climate change, environmental degradation, sea level rise and foodsecurity through the use of digital media, social networking tools ande-learning technologies.

It also gives avoice to people.

Ratukalou says CTAand other organisations that are in the forefront of Web 2.0 training andapplications in agriculture development in ACP countries recognise the need toimprove management of agricultural information in the region and will partnerwith his organisation to see how best the people in the region can tap intousing these tools.

Through this collaboration, countries in the regionwill discuss on the adoption and further dissemination of appropriate, lowcost, simple and replicable internet-based technologies and applications.

In PNG, some reports have indicated an increase in theuse of the internet and social media tools such as blogs and Facebook.

However,the use of these facilities is still a struggle for the agriculture sector andefforts will be made to promote the use and application of Web2.0 tools to enhance effective information exchange.

With support from regional andinternational partners, efforts will be made to promote the use and applicationof Web 2.0 and social media tools in providing information to users inagricultural innovation and market chains especially through participatory andopen information and communication exchange.

While this remains a challenge in PNG,we believe it is possible to make some progress through collaborative efforts.

Vele Ila’ava is new DAL acting Secretary

2012-01-25T16:46:00.002+10:00

ByMALUM NALU

Department of Agriculture and Livestock has a newacting Secretary.

He is Dr Vele Pat Ila’ava from Viriolo village,Central province.

New DAL acting Secretary Dr Vele Ila'ava

Ila’ava, a former CEO of the Cocoa Coconut Instituteand team leader of the technical advisory team involved in preparing PNG Vision2050, took office as of Monday, Jan 16.

He replaces Anton Benjamin, who has been acting inthe position after his contract expired last year.

During a brief handover ceremony, Ila’ava commendedBenjamin for his leadership and contribution to the department, commodityinstitutions and the agriculture sector in general.

Ila’ava said his immediate task was to position thedepartment to provide the leadership and assistance for key stakeholders in thesector to get on with their activities and business.

He is committed to establishing a positive andconstructive dialogue with key stakeholders in the sector and is lookingforward to working with them.

He said as a key player in the nation’s PNG Vision2050, the challenge for the department and the agriculture sector was how bestto leverage and manage the huge financial gains from the energy and miningsectors to build a vibrant and sustainable economy for the future.

Ila’ava met with senior management of DAL andoutlined his plans for the department as expected by the government.

He has instructed senior officers to work on oneimpact project for each of the 20 provinces, which would be submitted forfunding through the National Agriculture Development Programme.

After planning the road map and work plan for thenext three months, he plans to meet with commodity boards, donors and privatesector next month.

Lae clash an outcome of development issues

2012-01-25T16:13:00.005+10:00

By Dr GAE GOWAE

The recent ethnicclash in Lae is a spill over problem of lack of development in the otherprovincial centres of PNG, particularly the Highlands and the Momase provinces.

Very often theoutsiders living in Lae and Port Moresby claimed that they develop these twocities and not the locals from which these two cities are located.

The questionis, ‘then why couldn’t they develop their own centres the same as Lae and PortMoresby?’

The fact of the matter is that Lae and Port Moresby are the centresof opportunities and that’s why these people migrate to these two centres tolook for opportunities to make their livings, thus creating social issues.

After 36 years ofindependence, the townships of other provinces are both stagnant ordeteriorating while Lae and Port Moresby are expanding.

However, these two so-calledcities in PNG are slowly turning into traditional village-style livingenvironments.

People left their villages and come to live in these two citiesin the settlements and convert the overall living environments of these twocities into traditional village-style living environments.

The high risebuildings and modern office complexes are overshadowed by these villagelife-style living environments with the ugly beetle nut spittle and the filthlying around the place.

A very degrading environment compared to the smallcities of the neighboring Pacific Island countries, which are of very high livingstandard environments.

One wonders, whatare the aspirations of the so-called political leaders in terms of the developmentsin their own electorates and provinces?

Every politician should have theaspiration to develop their electorate and province to provide equalopportunities to their people.

The recent PNGMillennium Development Goals (MDGs) reports showed that the NGI region isranked number one in terms of the overall development indices, followed by theSouthern region, Momase and the Highlands region the last.

Relating theseindices to urban migration showed that the majority of settlement dwellers arefrom the Highlands region, followed by Momase, Southern and NGI region theleast, which clearly reflected the developments on the ground.

Every province andits leaders should compete for equal development opportunities for theirpeople.

Urban settlement and law and order problems can be resolved if equalattention is given to the development of each province.

More importantly, regionalgovernance should be encouraged with the revitalisation of RegionalSecretariats with clear functions and funding to create regional developments.

Highlandsregion with so much natural resources by now should have the third or if notthe second biggest city in the country.

It is totally unfair that the revenuesgenerated from the region are used elsewhere while the provincial centres fromthe region remained stagnant.

The onus is on the leaders from the Highlandsregion to make it happen reflecting the level of revenues generated from theregion, not to mention the billion dollar LNG project in the new Hela Province.

Aconcerned citizen

DrGae Gowae

P.O.Box 74

University

NationalCapital District

Tel:326 7227

Fax:326 0369

Email:gygowae@gmail.com

Kokopo MP Patrick Tammur passes away

2012-01-25T11:09:00.000+10:00

Kokopo MP and Communications Minister in the Somare regime. Patrick Tammur, passed away in Port Moresby this morning.
He had been suffering from diabetes and had one of his legs amputated in Singapore last year.
A son of firebrand Tolai leader, the late Oscar Tammur, Patrick Tammur came to power in 2007 when he ousted longtime Kokopo MP and former Prime Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu.

MP: Two villages hit as people slept

2012-01-25T10:17:00.001+10:00

LOCAL MP Francis Potape told Radio Australia’s Tok Pisin service, the massive landslide completely covered two villages as people slept, The National reports.
“The landslide is about a kilometre long and about 300 metres wide.
“There are people buried underneath and a number of them are, from what I have heard, children,” he said.
Tari resident Joseph Warai told Radio Australia about 40 people were missing.
“About five big trucks have also been covered and gardens and houses all destroyed,” Warai said.
Officials from the National Disaster Centre in Port Moresby were expected to travel to the area today to assess the damage.
The Australian High Commission told Radio Australia that all Australians reported to be in the area had been accounted for.
A project spokeswoman said the main road in the area had been cut, and work at the site and a nearby airfield had stopped

Bodies retrieved as search begins

2012-01-25T10:07:00.000+10:00

By JUNIOR UKAHA

FOURTY bodies have been recovered as the search continues for villagers trapped in their homes after a major landslide hit them at dawn yesterday, The National reports.
A bus and another vehicle with people on board were also believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Locals from Belopa village and officials from ExxonMobil continued searching yesterday.
They said it could take months to clear the area.
The landslide hit the village between 3am and 6am yesterday.
Tuguba-Bebogo landowner leader John Gana, whose garden and property were damaged by the landslide, said the disaster was the biggest witnessed in the area.
The villagers are blaming drilling activities in the area as the cause of the landslide which hit villagers from Belopa near the Tumbi quarry area, in Hides 4-Nogoli Junction.
Luke Andaya, Esso highlands community liaison officer who is at the village helping the families affected, said it was a natural landslide caused by forces of nature.
Andaya, who yesterday called The National from the scene of the landslide, said: “The exact number of people and homes buried is not yet known.
“We believe most of the people did not make it (escape) because it occurred early in the morning.”
He said soil moved by the landslide was about 50m high in some places and covered a 2km area in Belopa.
Enoch Beropo, the occupational health and environmental safety officer with Wagner Ltd, a sub-contractor with Esso Highlands, said 40 bodies had been pulled out while the search for others continued.

60 killed in landslide disaster

2012-01-25T09:55:00.002+10:00

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

MORE than 60 villagers reportedly died and many more unaccounted for after a major landslide buried homes, vehicles and properties at dawn yesterday, The National reports.
The disaster near the Tumbi quarry of the PNG LNG project near Hides, Southern Highlands province, occurred between 3am and 5am.
Papua New Guinean authorities were responding.
According to initial reports, the whole side of a nearby mountain collapsed covering an area stretching about 2km and 500m wide.
It cut off road access to the Komo international airport construction site, LNG conditioning plant site and the Komo township.
LNG developer Esso Highlands in a statement said that the landslide occurred around 6am.
“It is unclear where the landslide started, or what caused it. Esso Highlands has been in communication with government, including the national disaster and emergency relief office.
“Our main concern is for the safety and well-being of our workforce and the community in the area. We have offered our support to the government and the local community.”
Hides Gas Development Company chairman Libe Parindali said it was a major national disaster at the heart of the LNG project.
He said initial reports from the disaster site puts the figure of 60 people buried alive when the mountain side came down after heavy rain.
It caused a landslide stretching 2km from the mountain covering Tumbi quarry into Tagali river, burying everything in its path.
“From initial report more than 60 people, a couple of vehicles, buses and heavy machines and trucks are underground,” Parindali said.
He said people from Enga, Western Highlands and parts of the region had settled in the area looking for work with the PNG LNG project.
He said project developers were cooperating with the locals to search for bodies.
“The main focus now is to retrieve the bodies of those buried. It will take time to get the bodies out,” Parindali said.
Major contractors MCJC and CCJV and the project developers have agreed to stop construction activities and mobilise their resources in the disaster area.
The HGDC board met with its management team comprising general manager Richard Champion, JV manager Andrew Pitman and human resources advisor Rueben Aila.
The company announced an initial support funding of K20,000 to assist the retrieval of bodies.
Its business partners KK Kingston will provide relief assistance including water bottles, torches and food supply.
The company was willing to pay return airfares for an officer each from the Red Cross, National Disaster and Emergency and Department of Petroleum and Energy to visit the disaster site and assess the damage.
Juha Landowner leader Hengebe Haluja told The National by mobile phone that 42 houses, including a guest house in which 20 guests were staying overnight, were buried.
He said three vehicles, five heavy machinery including graders and excavators and 20 constructions workers were believed to be buried under the landslide.
“The road from Hides PDL 1 to PDL 7 has been cut off by 700m to 800m wide roadblock.”
Haluja has called on Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma, Treasury and Finance Minister Don Polye and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to visit the disaster area.
Another leader, Peter Laki, said it was a major tragedy that needed immediate government attention for the sake of the PNG LNG project.
Laki said the people of Hides were in mourning for their tribesmen who were buried alive.
“It will take months to recover the bodies considering the amount of dirt that has piled up from the landslide.

An eyewitness account of today's landslide disaster in Southern Highlands

2012-01-24T21:12:00.000+10:00

Family near miss...the family is trapped

On top of where 10 houses used to be

Road from Tari to Hides


Villages buried under the earth

At0600hrs this morning, it was very calm, still and quite. Family’s were stillsleeping, while the mothers woke up and prepared breakfast for their family, others were preparing to taketheir stalls and stuff to the road market when all over sudden, without warning........the land slide and covered the entire village.

Tumbiarea has three villages and is located along the road leading to Hides 4 and Komo.The three villages are along the road and are scattered in hamlets. Some live abit further up in to the side of the mountain.

When theland slipped, it covered the three-villages, the people going to the market, a 2-seater with passengers inside and a Land Cruiser from Komo, nine employees fromvarious companies waiting for pick-up and other unaccounted people.

From anestimated figure including the three villages it is believed that 100-plus peoplehave been buried under the earth and that includes, mothers, children, fathers,their relatives, vendors, employees and the passengers in the two-vehicles plusthe unaccounted.

It isreported that a HGDC vehicle is also buried under the earth hence yet tobe ascertained. Two rivers on both side of the village are buried and dam is buildingup slowly at the top. If the river banks give way, it will cause more damage tothe villages living further down the river.

We arenot yet sure whether some of our local guards are buried under the earth. Wewill do stock take and see. It is a very sad and a tragic day for all of us.One or the other it will also affect us.

We justpray that the good lord will give strength and peace to the relatives of themissing one’s.

Conspiracy bid claim

2012-01-24T20:48:00.005+10:00

By JUNIOR UKAHA

THE ongoing leadership tussle claimed another victim yesterday with police charging a prominent lawyer with perverting the course of justice, The National reports.
Plainclothes detectives arrested David Dotaona after he walked out of a court room in Port Moresby yesterday morning.
Police claimed he tried to bribe a police lawyer into signing legal documents recognising his client Fred Yakasa as the police commissioner.
Yakasa had gone to court seeking orders that he was the legitimate police chief because Sir Michael Somare had appointed him.
Dotaona has been representing Yakasa since his appointment by Sir Michael following the Supreme Court ruling on Dec 12. The Peter O’Neill-led government appointed Tom Kulunga to the job.
He was charged with one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice, contrary to section 136 of the Criminal Code.
Dotaona’s arrest followed an operation order by NCD-Central assistant commissioner of police Francis Tokura on Jan 11. It called for him and Yakasa to be arrested immediately after the National Court ruling and conveyed to ACP Crimes for processing.
Deputy police commissioner (operations) Simon Kauba said Dotaona, in his position as Yakasa’s counsel, and others allegedly attempted to bribe Kulunga’s lawyer to sign documents to recognise Yakasa as the police commissioner.
“Lawyer David Dotaona was arrested and charged with attempting to solicit a bribe to pay off Police Commissioner Toami Kulunga’s defence,” he said.
Kauba said it was a “conspiracy bid” to have legal documents signed to declare Yakasa as the duly appointed acting Police Commissioner.
“Dotaona allegedly colluded with two senior politicians and attempted to solicit a substantial amount of money to bribe Kulunga’s legal counsel. This criminal matter came to light after the intended victim filed a sworn affidavit and tendered it as evidence to police investigators,” he said.
Kauba said the interim restraint order obtained by Yakasa on Dec 16 last year, restraining police from arresting him explicitly extended only to members of the police force linked with him, adding that Dotaona was not protected under that order.
He said the matter was quite serious and police had to respond quickly.
Dotaona was alleged to have committed the offence between Jan 7 and Jan 8 while the case between Yakasa and Kulunga was pending in court.
NCD metropolitan supt Peter Guinness said Dotaona was picked up by police at 9am and taken to ACP Crimes Mark Kanawi at police headquarters.
Then he was taken to the Boroko Police Station at around 3pm and formally arrested and charged.
Dotaona was later released on a K2,000 police bail and would appear before the Waigani Committal Court at 9am today

Somare accused of recklessly spending K76.6 billion

2012-01-24T20:44:00.001+10:00

SIR Michael Somare’s regime has been accused of spending K76.6 billion in the past six years without the country seeing any tangible changes, The National reports.
Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah, while launching his PNG Party’s first provincial electoral office at 14-Mile outside Lae last Saturday, said a few “selfish and corrupt ministers” in the Somare regime had benefited from the money.
He claimed they were the same people fighting to have Sir Michael back as prime minister so they could have access to state funds to benefit themselves and their families.
He called on voters to be careful who they gave their ticks to in the general election.
The Vanimo-Green MP said the government wanted to make sure that the people got what was owed to them.
He mentioned the free education policy and free medical services for the people.
He revealed initiatives by the government to push for 100% ownership of resources by landowners with the government receiving taxes and fees benefits.
A new ministry - ministry of religious affairs - would be created by the government with one tenth of the country’s budget to be used to further the work of recognised Christian churches in the country.
“The prime minister and I have a good working relationship and believe in the cause to change the nation,” Namah said.
The government was also committed to making sure work on the Lae port begins next week, he said

Team to assess K5 billion rice project

2012-01-23T16:53:00.001+10:00

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

A STATE negotiating team will assess the K5 billion Central province commercial rice project that will see Papua New Guinea produce rice on a larger scale, The National reports.
Agriculture Minister Sir Puka Temu told parliament last Friday that the Central commercial rice project was initiated by the former Somare government under the leadership of Ano Pala.
The project is valued between K3 billion and K5 billion.
“As far as the injection of capital is concerned, it covers 60,000 to 100,000ha of land which will be the first of its kind in the country.
“For the past 30 to 35 years no investor has put his hand up to invest this kind of capital in commercial rice production,” Sir Puka said.
He said commercial rice production was a high risk low yield area and this would be the first time an investor was looking into this possibility.
“The challenges are there and the previous and the current government are assessing particular deed of agreement.”
Sir Puka expressed disappointment at the sector for jumping up and down, including taking out a full-page advertisement.
“I do not know where they are coming from. Issues raised through the media are that the proposal is anti-trade.”
Sir Puka said there was an assumption that the price would increase but the government was looking at that among other issues.
He said the exclusivity of the import of rice for a specific period was under negotiations.
Sir Puka said the state negotiating team comprised Treasury and Finance, National Planning, Internal Revenue Commission, Environment and Conservation, ICCC and Lands and Physical Planning.
“Some people are putting the cart before the horse but, at the end of the day, national interest must come first.”
He said for commercial rice production, “PNG does not have land and the single biggest land available is in the Kairuku-Hiri area where landowners and leaders have agreed to venture into this project”.
“Rice must be exported and become cheaper. The long term gains negate the short term pains,” Sir Puka said.
He said the Trukai agreement would be reviewed this month and the government hoped to come with a win-win situation for all parties.