Australian aid worker carjacked in PNG

• From: AAP
• March 15, 2011 3:36PM

ANOTHER Australian aid worker in Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby has been carjacked at gunpoint.

The female AusAID employee was returning home on Sunday night with a female friend when robbed by four men, at least two armed with firearms.

According to a widely distributed email, sent to Australian officials by security personnel, there were no injuries.

"The offenders attempted to keep the driver in the vehicle.

"The driver refused and pushed past them and ran down the hill to the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

"This particular location has experienced a number of reported carjackings in recent times," the email read.

It is the third Australian and fourth person working for the Australian aid program this year to be robbed near their home in the popular diplomatic and expatriate area, Touaguba Hill.

But numerous PNG citizens have told AAP they are also suffering a spike in violent carjackings across the city.

Last month, an Irish female media adviser with PNG's national radio station and a male Australian law and justice adviser were attacked separately on the same road.

A week before, an Australian aid adviser was carjacked and suffered "serious injuries" in an attack.

Australian High Commissioner to PNG Ian Kemish at the time met senior police to raise concerns over the carjackings.

The spate in Port Moresby is being blamed on a shortage of police, lack of political will and numerous police being deployed to protect a massive ExxonMobil resource project.

The Economist magazine regularly ranks Port Moresby as one of the five worst cities in the world to live because of violent crime, corruption and the absence of basic infrastructure.

Last November, a young group of Australian volunteers travelling in Madang, on PNG's northeast coast, was carjacked, tied up and robbed, with one woman raped.

Putting pearls before swine in Papua New Guinea

By MALUM NALU

 

Last Sunday, Papua New Guinea saw yet another case of a non-government organisation, which tries so hard to bring hope and change lives of people in this country, falling victim to a senseless case of robbery which only brings more shame to the country.

It only leads us to ask ourselves what PNG is coming to when we steal from, rape and murder people who come in to help us, literally biting the hand that feeds us.

Pearls before swine refers to a quotation from Matthew 7:6 in the discourse on holiness, a section of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, implying that things (such as pearls) should not be put in front of people (or in this case, swine) who do not appreciate their value.

Thieves broke into HOPEworldwide (PNG's) 3-Mile office in Port Moresby and stole medical equipment, computers and staff belongings, and trashed the office.  

HOPEworldwide (PNG) is a Christian non-government organisation founded in 1994, whose mission is to bring hope and change lives by providing medical, educational, and social services to underprivileged Papua New Guineans. 

Those who know HOPEworldwide (PNG) country director, Tessa Te Mata, will know that she has made huge personal sacrifices to help the disadvantaged in PNG, including a well-paid diplomatic job to head up a small NGO with very few resources but full of people with great hearts.

"What is PNG coming to when thieves rob those who try to help the most-helpless?" she asked angrily when surveying the wreckage at the office.

 This is the third security incident in less than a week for HOPEworldwide (PNG).

 Last week, two of HOPE's staff at the 9-Mile clinic were attacked by a member of the public.

 Patients fled in terror and staff were traumatised by the incident. 

Nine-Mile is one of the busiest clinics in Port Moresby.  

HOPE also operates a HIV/AIDs outreach and counselling clinic - Helvim Bilong Yumi Project - at Lawes Road clinic. 

Operations were temporarily suspended last week after the husband of one of the main clinic's staff was car jacked in the car park. 

"HOPEworldwide (PNG) is not a rich organisation" Te Mata said.

 "We survive on donations and grants from overseas and here in PNG. 

"We barely have enough each month to pay our staff. 

"Yet, every year, our staff have to endure robberies and attacks, sometimes at gun point. 

"Every year, thousands of people depend on HOPEworldwide (PNG) for medical treatment and awareness about HIV/AIDs, diabetes and TB; we sponsor hundreds of children who would not go to school otherwise; we help dozens of farmers earn a living; and we have put millions of library books into schools across the nation. 

"Stealing from us is stealing hope and help from people like this."  

Te Mata called on the public to remember the work of faith-based organisations, NGOs and volunteers who work tirelessly for little or no pay. 

 "There is poverty and hardship in PNG," she said.

 "But instead of robbing each other we need to help each other.   

 "NGOs are here to help communities. 

"But communities need to help us too: do not shelter the heartless cowards who did this and do not buy cheap medical equipment or computers off the street because that encourages them to keep stealing.

"One day it might be your child or your mother we can't help because of break-ins like this."

It seems that, in PNG, we are self-immolating because of such animalistic behaviour by the lowliest of beasts.

The HOPEworldwide incidents add to a growing list of murders, rapes and robberies of NGO staff, overseas volunteers and church workers.

In one of the most-notorious cases, which made headlines around the world, an Australian youth ambassador on a surfing break in Madang was raped last November.

The victim was with three other Australians who had travelled to Madang's North Coast Road looking for surfing spots.

The four were carjacked, robbed and then taken to a secluded spot where they were bound to trees and the female raped.

Last month, a spate of car-jackings in Port Moresby gave rise to a climate of fear among some Australian officials, so much so Australia's High Commissioner to PNG, Ian Kemish, met with police chiefs to discuss their concerns.

One of these incidents included a male aid adviser working in PNG's National AIDS Council Secretariat (NACS) who suffered "serious injuries" in an attack in January during a car-jacking that required him to be flown to Brisbane for treatment.

In Manus, a Japanese volunteer was stoned by drunken youths in 2009, and had to return to his country to undergo brain surgery.

In February 2009, a team of foreign Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) doctors and nurses who were offering their services free of charge in Tari, Southern Highlands province, were evacuated after two of them were attacked by a drunk.

The world-renowned U.S. Peace Corps ceased operations in Papua New Guinea in 2001 due to security concerns.

And the list goes on, and on, and on.

Very soon, PNG will be ostracised from the rest of the world, as they will not want to put their pearls before swine like us.

Somare awaits fate as panel adjourns

By ILYA GRIDNEFF

AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent  

A three-member tribunal hearing allegations of misconduct by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare has adjourned to consider its final decision.

Tribunal chairman Roger Gyles today adjourned the hearing, then said it hopes to decide Somare's fate this week.
If the tribunal uncovers issues related to financial statements, the penalty would not be decided until next week, Gyles said.
The fourth day of the leadership tribunal in Port Moresby heard closing submissions from both sides relating to 25 allegations that Somare failed to lodge his financial records as far back as 20 years ago.
Somare told the court on Monday he had lodged his returns every year and suggested staff might have lost some records that were missing from the Ombudsman Commission.
But the commissioner who initiated the original investigation alleged that Somare had failed to lodge or did not lodge complete forms or did so late and thus breached his responsibility as prime minister.
On Monday, the tribunal decided not to suspend Somare as PNG leader for the duration of the trial.
On Friday last week, Somare's health was of concern after a brief breathing problem, and this week he was using a walking-stick.
Every day of the trial the packed courtroom has been a who's who of PNG's political elite, with numerous cabinet ministers supporting the prime minister, who's been at the forefront of the country's politics for over 40 years.

Cowards rob HOPEworldwide(PNG)

“What is Papua New Guinea coming to when thieves rob those who try to help the most helpless?” HOPEworldwide(PNG) Country Director, Tessa Te Mata asked angrily yesterday  when surveying the wreckage at their 3-Mile office in Port Moresby.
Thieves broke in on Sunday and stole medical equipment, computers and staff belongings and trashed the office.
This is the third security incident in less than a week for HOPEww(PNG).
Last week, two of HOPE’s staff at the 9-Mile clinic were attacked by a member of the public.
 Patients fled in terror and staff were traumatised by the incident.
Nine-Mile is one of the busiest clinics in Port Moresby.
HOPE also operates a HIV/AIDs outreach and counselling clinic (the “Helvim Bilong Yumi Project”) at the Lawes Road clinic.
Operations were temporarily suspended last week after the husband of one of the main clinic’s staff was car jacked in the car park.
“HOPEworldwide(PNG) is not a rich organisation” said Ms Te Mata.
“We survive on donations and grants from overseas and here in PNG.
"We barely have enough each month to pay our staff.
"Yet every year our staff have to endure robberies and attacks, sometimes at gun point.
"Every year thousands of people depend on HOPEworldwide(PNG) for medical treatment and awareness about HIV/AIDs, diabetes and TB; we sponsor hundreds of children who would not go to school otherwise; we help dozens of farmers earn a living; and we have put millions of library books into schools across the nation. Stealing from us is stealing hope and help from people like this.”
Ms Te Mata called on the public to remember the work of faith based organisations, NGOs and volunteers who work tirelessly for little or no pay.
“There is poverty and hardship in PNG.
"But instead of robbing each other we need to help each other.
"NGOs are here to help communities.
"But communities need to help us too - do not shelter the heartless cowards who did this and do not buy cheap medical equipment or computers off the street because that encourages them to keep stealing.
"One day it might be your child or your mother we can’t help because of break-ins like this.”

HOPE worldwide (PNG) is a Christian non-government organisation founded in 1994. Our mission is to bring hope and change lives by providing medical, educational, and social services to underprivileged Papua New Guineans.

Prime minister justifies his 1994-97 returns

By JULIA DAIA BORE and JACOB POK

 

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare yesterday said he has never had any other salary than his parliamentary salary ever since he entered parliament in 1968, The National reports.

He told the leadership tribunal investigating him that each year he had compiled his annual returns himself and denied failing to submit his annual returns of 1994 and 1995 to the Ombudsman Commission as claimed by the Ombudsman Commission.

Sir Michael maintained that he submitted all his returns from 1994 to 1997.

“I have always filled my annual statements every year all by myself. I know for a fact that I have fulfilled my obligations to fill my annual returns and submitted them to the Ombudsman Commission,” he said when cross-examined by the prosecuting lawyer, Pondros Kaluwin.

Sir Michael also maintained that he never received any income from his only business, a plantation he owned in Wewak.

“I have been living on a parliamentary salary from 1968 up until today; I do not have any other extra salary for any other businesses except for transport and travel allowances which are parliamentary benefits.”

He maintained all throughout the cross-examination that he had submitted all his returns.

However, Sir Michael said he fell behind in submitting his returns when he moved offices from being prime minister to being in the opposition and then having to move from Port Moresby to Wewak to be East Sepik governor.

The tribunal heard this was when he engaged family friend and accountant Glenn Blake to assist him with his overdue 1997-98 and 1998-99 annual returns.

The request was made in 2000, he added.

“If you indeed submitted the 1994 to 1997 statements of returns, then they would then be in the Ombudsman Commission’s file, is that right?” was Kaluwin’s final question to the PM, who said: “Yes, that is correct.”

Blake, who took the witness stand soon after, said he had filled out the OC’s required annual returns forms following the way previous forms had been filled up.

Asked if that was the first time he had filled these forms, he said “yes”.

Asked why he had not stated “nil” or “not applicable” where there was no required information, leaving blanks on the forms, Blake said he did not think that was required of him.

He added that when he left them blank, he had thought that they meant that there was no information for him to fill out on that space.

These included the parliamentary salary figures of the prime minister which, Blake insisted, he had great difficulties obtaining despite numerous attempts.

The tribunal continues today.

 

 

Prime minister defeats suspension

By JULIA DAIA BORE and JACOB POK

Legal eagles of the prime minister’s defence team Justine Wohuinangu (left), Ian Molloy and Kerenga Kua leaving the Waigani National and Supreme Court premises after they successfully convinced yesterday’s leadership tribunal that Sir Michael Somare should remain in office as prime minister for the duration of the inquiry. – Nationalpic by AURI EVA

SIR Michael Somare remains the prime minister of PNG for the duration of the leadership tribunal hearing alleged misconduct in office charges against him., The National reports.
This was the decision of the tribunal yesterday morning whose members conferred and agreed that the prime minister remains in office pending the final outcome of the tribunal, which seemed likely to conclude before the end of this week.
The two tribunal members who agreed on this decision were chairman Roger Gyles and Sir Bruce Robertson while Sir Robin Auld “reserved” his decision.
The decision was announced to a packed courtroom one at 11am yesterday following a 35-minute adjournment to reach that verdict on the issue of the PM’s suspension.
This became another first in the history of leadership tribunals in Papua New Guinea.
No other leader, covered under the leadership code, had come this far and remained in office while a leadership tribunal had proceeded with investigating allegations of misconduct in office against the incumbent.
All leaders have been suspended by automatic operation of the law upon the chief justice naming a tribunal but, in this specific instance because of some legal doubts raised over the standing of the prime minister, the chief justice, when naming the tribunal, had said the matter of suspension or not would be left to the tribunal to decide.
This – it did yesterday – creating a precedent and history.
Meanwhile, the prime minister, his accountant Glenn Blake who assisted him in filling out his annual returns forms and Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek took the witness stand later in the morning and in the afternoon and gave their accounts to support their arguments before the tribunal.
Manek was in support of the referral of the prime minister while Sir Michael stood in his own defence, supported by Blake.
Prosecuting lawyer Pondros Kaluwin had, at the start of the tribunal last Thursday, called on the tribunal to immediately suspend the prime minister pending the duration of the tribunal hearing, arguing that the tribunal had the discretion to do so under section 142(6) of the constitution.
The tribunal agreed with the parties to deal with the matter on
Monday, which was yesterday.
Yesterday, while the tribunal agreed with the discretion aspect of their role and commended Kaluwin for acknowledging this, adjourned at 10.22am for 35 minutes and returned at 11am to rule that “there will be no order of suspension” on the prime minister which, effectively, meant that Sir Michael will remain the prime minister throughout the tribunal.
He will perform all functions and powers of the prime minister.
The final outcome of the tribunal would, ultimately, determine the fate of Sir Michael.

Abortions skew sex ratios in Asia

From: AFP

March 15, 2011 5:42AM

ABORTIONS of female fetuses have led to a massive surplus of young unmarried men in India and China, raising fears of an outcast group that could threaten the social fabric, a study says.

The trend took root in the 1980s when ultrasound technologies made it easier for families to detect fetal sex early and to abort if it was not what the parents desired, according to the analysis, which is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Sons have traditionally been preferred over daughters in many parts of China, India and South Korea due to social, cultural and financial motivations. Sex-selective abortion is outlawed but can be difficult to enforce.

The phenomenon was first spotted in South Korea in the early 1990s, when the sex ratio at birth (SRB) - typically 105 male births to every 100 female births - rose to 125 in some cities.

Similar rises in male births were seen in China, "complicated by the one-child policy, which has undoubtedly contributed to the steady increase in the reported SRB from 106 in 1979, to 111 in 1990, 117 in 2001 and 121 in 2005," said the study.

India has seen "sex ratios as high as 125 in Punjab, Delhi and Gujarat in the north but normal sex ratios of 105 in the southern and eastern states of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh," it added.

In parts of China where a second child is allowed, after a daughter is the first born, the SRB for the second is 143, suggesting that many choose to abort a second girl fetus in favour of trying again for a boy.

Estimates of China's actual population difference in 2005 pointed to 1.1 million excess males, with men under 20 exceeding the number of females by about 32 million, according to the study, which was led by Therese Hesketh, University College London Centre for International Health and Development.

"These men will be unable to marry, in societies where marriage is regarded as virtually universal, and where social status and acceptance depend, in large part, on being married and creating a new family," said the authors.

Referred to in China as "guang gun", meaning bare branches, these men are presumed to be unable to bear fruit by coupling and raising a family.

"In China and parts of India, the sheer numbers of unmated men are a further cause for concern," said the study.

"Because they may lack a stake in the existing social order, it is feared that they will become bound together in an outcast culture, turning to antisocial behaviour and organised crime, thereby threatening societal stability and security."

Other concerns include the possibility that the surge of unmarried men will boost the sex industry, which has already expanded in India and China over the past 10 years.

However, "the part played by a high sex ratio in this expansion is impossible to isolate; there is no evidence that numbers of sex workers are greater in areas with high sex ratios", said the study.

Ninety-four per cent of unmarried people aged 28-49 in China are male, and 97 per cent of them have not completed high school, it said.

"Despite the grim outlook for the generation of males entering their reproductive years over the next two decades, there are encouraging signs," said the study.

A crackdown on sex-selective abortion in South Korea has resulted in a more normalised male-to-female birth rate in recent years, and China and India are both down from their peak SRBs due in part to public awareness campaigns and relaxed one-child policies.

But it will likely to be several more decades before the sex ratios return to normal, the authors said.

The article was co-authored by Zhu Wei Xing of Zhejiang Normal University in China.

Sinophillia or Sinophobia?

Either way, the Chinese are coming By ROWAN CALLICK in Islands Business   They are eagerly awaited for the fortunes they are said to bring islanders. And they are equally feared for the destruction they are alleged to have on traditional Pacific ways. Either way, the Chinese are coming. Many are already here in the islands, but the expectation of a far bigger Chinese presence is overwhelming. And the preparation is almost non-existent, in terms of Pacific understanding of the culture, politics, economy or language of China. Many visits are made there—but usually paid for by the hosts, and with an overwhelming focus on seeking financial and material benefits from a China perceived wrongly as wealthy. In fact, China's average wealth is lower than that of many islands countries. But its living standards have been growing very rapidly—for reasons which, for the most part, remain mysterious in the Pacific, because of its inadequate understanding of China: hard work, savings, a family focus on education, a government focus on building—and maintaining high quality infrastructure, and a priority on creating the settings needed for business success and thus for jobs, the core factor in development. In Papua New Guinea, Planning Minister Paul Tiensten has boasted that the country "can become the China of the Pacific." But, while he referred in general terms to "aligning itself with short and long-term government strategies," it is unclear which qualities of China he had in mind. As Australia and New Zealand review and prepare to restructure their aid programmes in the region, China's Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai stated clearly at the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Port Vila last August: "China will push forward its relations with the islands countries to a higher level." But the gap between islander expectations and China's capacity and desire to deliver is growing steadily wider as the performance of Pacific societies continues to trail their citizens' hopes. No Pacific country is in the top half of the 2010 UN Human Development Index. Many are turning to China, as the great success story of development in this new millennium, to lead the way. New exploiters At the same time, in some areas, the Chinese are being demonised as the new exploiters. The truth, as ever, is somewhere in between. And it is all the harder to discover and disseminate, since so few Pacific islanders have the experience and skills to understand and explain what drives China and Chinese business. Most Pacific leaders visit China with their hands out for personal or national favours, not with their notebooks open ready to observe and note how China has achieved its remarkable development successes. There is a wide expectation that the best way to achieve maximum material benefits is to set China up to out-perform its apparent Western "rivals" such as Australia, New Zealand and the USA. This assumes that diplomatic relations and aid are part of a big strategic game in which the winner takes all. This was indeed the situation when China and Taiwan vied for diplomatic partners in the region. But since the smart and very internationally minded lawyer Ma Ying-jeou won the presidency in 2008, that rivalry has largely been placed in abeyance. China has eight diplomatic partners among the islands states, Taiwan has six, and the two sides have tacitly agreed to leave the great game at that score for at least a few years to come. That gives the countries scope to focus not so much on "greasing" the politicians in power as on consolidating their relationships and their support for the countries that recognise them. China and Taiwan are also now especially keen to participate in regional programmes as "responsible stakeholders" in the international system. As he proved so often in his long career as an expert island-watcher, the late Professor Ron Crocombe was prescient in his final book, choosing as the topic "Asia in the Pacific Islands: Replacing the West." Compete for influence He said in terms of external military influence, the Pacific was known from the 1500s as "a Spanish lake", from the late 1700s as "a British lake", and from World War II "an American lake". Today, he said, the Asian powers are vying for that title, as China and Taiwan, Japan and India compete for influence. A century ago, Crocombe said, "Asians were among the least educated, poorest and lowest-status people in the region". Today, that has all changed. Asia is the main market for the commodities—minerals, oil and gas, timber, fish, tree crops—that the Pacific sells, and increasingly for tourism too. And as Crocombe wrote, "Islanders do not feature in business or politics in Asia—whereas Asians are prominent in business and influential in politics in the islands". Islands governments, he said, which after independence sought self-reliance, "now seek foreign investment—in fact, they plead for it". And as Japan, then Taiwan, Korea and Singapore, and now China, have enjoyed a surge of growth and surplus capital, they have risked some of it in the Pacific, focusing on extraction or speculation more than production, with fishing, logging, land and hotels common targets. Since the 1990s, Crocombe said, "conditions in the islands have attracted speculative 'frontier' enterprises from Asia seeking short-term gains using opportunistic techniques"—a polite term for corruption. The key goals of the aid policies of the larger Asian nations, he said, include islands' votes at the United Nations and at other international forums, and resources. "They try to influence the political and strategic positions of islands governments, as do Western donors, despite denials from all of them." New Asian paradigm But Crocombe believed that long after the tides of population, trade and investment have turned in favour of Asia, Western influences were likely to remain strong because of the English language, Western patterns of education, entertainment and organisation—and Christianity. He lamented that little was being done in the islands to prepare people to gain optimum benefit from the new Asian paradigm. "Responses are needed across the board—not just in foreign policy and practice, but in the preparation of teachers, curricula, media personnel, politicians, civil servants and the public, as well as adaptation of the economy to benefit from the new potentials." The biggest island nation, Papua New Guinea, is at the frontier of these new challenges, as so often happens. It is the first recipient of a major Chinese investment—the $US1.5 billion Ramu nickel mine being developed by one of the country's biggest state-owned businesses, Metallurgical Construction Corporation (MCC). The succession of problems encountered so far during the project's development—labour issues, landowner disagreements, environmental battles—have placed MCC on a fast learning curve. The company appeared to have expected that its strong relationship with Prime Minister Michael Somare and elements of the central government should be sufficient to ward off any challenges. But it has since learned the need to address all the stakeholders more directly, and has discovered the fiercely independent nature of the legal system in PNG. As Bougainville seeks under its new president, the veteran politician and former Catholic priest John Momis, to regain some of its once envied living standards, it is looking to reopen the copper mine closed 21 years ago at the start of the civil war and to attract investment from China—to which Momis was formerly the PNG ambassador. Momis has joined others in urging that China—to which he recently led a large delegation—be adopted as a model for PNG, stressing the country's success through opening its economy to foreign capital, technology and management skills. But at the same time as Sinophilia—a love of China—is growing in PNG and elsewhere in the Pacific, so is Sinophobia—a fear or hatred of China. Bernard Yegoria, a Papua New Guinean studying for a master's degree in international relations at Jilin University in China's north-east, said: "We witnessed the ransacking of Asian businesses in 2009, mostly targeting people of ethnic Chinese origin in major towns because of the disparity of wealth. "This Sinophobia is growing and could lead to a major social uprising. Chinese entrepreneurs were in PNG a long time before independence and contributed immensely to PNG's development as a sovereign nation. "But in more recent years, a new wave of Chinese immigrants and business activities has moved in a different pattern. "The Chinese have adapted to the changes in PNG society, backed by their guanxi (network) system that is similar to our wantok (relative) system. "We, on the other hand, have failed to evolve the way we do business. As a result, the lack of opportunity experienced by middle and low class citizens has led them to take out their frustrations on foreign-owned businesses"—with the new Chinese migrants, some of whose legality has come under question, in the front line. So at one level, politicians seek support from China, importers depend on Chinese goods, exporters look to Chinese markets, with businesspeople and officials constantly visiting China, as they have done last year for the Shanghai expo. At another very different level, there is a disconnect and intense mistrust between grassroots islanders and the new class of Chinese migrants, workers and businesses. The declaration of peace in the diplomatic war between China and Taiwan, which was especially hot in the Pacific, is a key factor that will permit both countries to start to address such poor perceptions, rather than focusing on consolidating their own supporters and seeking through chequebook diplomacy to entice more countries to join their banners. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu recognise Taiwan, the other eight islands countries recognise China. Taiwan's President Ma has admitted publicly that corruption was a side-effect of this diplomatic war, which involves a quarter of Taiwan's total diplomatic partners around the world. He told ISLANDS BUSINESS during a visit to Solomon Islands in 2010: "We wanted a framework that puts cross-strait relations and our foreign relations on the same plane. "As we have improved relations with China, countries which are China's allies have done the same with us.'' And Taiwan is now, he said, relaxed about its partners building links with China outside diplomacy. That regional visit helped him flesh out how Taiwan's new aid programme will function, with different countries hosting technical assistance programmes that can be tailored for most of the six countries—encouraging a return to healthier diets, operating on cataracts, advising on land reform, for instance. When Ma arrived in the Solomons, he was told bluntly what had to change. The Solomon Star editorialised to him on "the abuse of your taxpayers' money by MPs using Taiwanese aid money as a slush fund. We are begging you to put a stop to this". Ma said President Frank Kabui twice raised such concerns during a state banquet. "Ever since I got here," he said, he had been confronted about the corrupt use of Taiwanese aid. He said: "That is exactly our instruction to our ambassador here. We have a watchdog agency in our government structure, the Control Yuan. It is in charge of investigating bureaucratic activities, and our ambassador here knows that very well. "I sometimes joke to our ambassadors that they have to let their friends know I used to be the justice minister." For a rare moment, though, he wasn't smiling. "We've been accused before of doing things not quite acceptable by international standards," he said candidly. China and Taiwan are both offering scholarships to islanders, through the Pacific Islands Forum. As China's vice-minister, Cui said at the last Forum summit in Port Vila: "China is ready to maintain the high-level exchanges, deepen economic and trade cooperation, and further strengthen cooperation with Pacific islands' regional organisations." This is a side of China's Pacific strategy that appears to be rarely noticed—but is becoming increasingly important. China has been prepared, for instance, to provide Fiji with more material support as Western powers hold back until the country's military rulers hold elections, but this has been more modest than many—including the government—had hoped. Tai chi instruction on the Sukuna Park oval for public servants, while clearly beneficial, does not compensate for the country's economic downturn. Essentially, China wants to work cooperatively within the islands region—including with Australia and New Zealand, to which it has become as close as to any Western countries. It looks to Australia for crucial supplies of minerals and has a free trade agreement with New Zealand. The words of Vice Minister Cui need to be taken as they were intended. China will refuse to be played off as "siding" with any one country or group within the region, where its aid increased by six times from 2005-2008, filling—as Danielle Cave of Lowy Institute in Sydney puts it—"the gap left by US neglect," although Washington, waking up, did send its largest delegation ever to the Forum summit in Port Vila. Beijing lifting its game The Lowy Institute presented a report in 2009 that claimed "China lacks a coherent strategy for its aid programme in the Pacific—beyond checking and reversing diplomatic recognition of Taiwan [a goal now made largely redundant]—and tends to pursue short-term objectives. "China pledges aid in an erratic manner, funds projects without regard to recurring cost, and the secrecy surrounding its programme obstructs development outcomes and breeds suspicion." Beijing has worked since then to lift its game, in part by getting closer to other major aid donors in the region. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi stressed on December 2: "It's important to note that China-US relations in Asia and the Pacific region should be cooperative and win-win—not a zero-sum game." To turn win-win into an even better win-win-win, requires the Pacific to lift its game too, and to work to understand China and how it works in order to benefit more fully from its extraordinary rise without letting negative elements of that rise overflow into the islands

Tribunal says Somare can remain prime minister during misconduct hearing

A leadership tribunal has ruled Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister can continue as the country’s leader while it hears allegations of misconduct against him, Radio New Zealand International reports.

The three-member tribunal bench has decided two-to-one in favour of Sir Michael Somare remaining in the top job.

The tribunal is into its third day of hearing 25 allegations that the Prime Minister failed to complete or did not file financial statements from as far back as 20 years ago.

From the witness box Sir Michael has told a packed courtroom he had always submitted his financial records to the Ombudsman Commission.

But the Prime Minister also said that missing financial statements central to the prosecution’s case could have been lost when he moved office or changed jobs, or been lost by a staff member.

Sir Michael was also asked about his financial earnings relating to his statements, and said he never received any extra pay.

 

Julia Gillard under the microscope

From JOHN PASQUARELLI

 

 Juliar's performance in the US should have been a few weeks earlier – she would have won an Oscar!

The 16-year-old Juliar who declared she was a socialist and a feminist when she joined the Labor Party,  became the misty-eyed Juliar PM  when speaking to the US Congress about America's battle during the Cold War and its trip to the moon. 

The young Juliar was an active member of the Socialist Forum which was just a rebadged Communist Party of Australia that  wanted to scrap ANZUS and get US bases out of Australia,  something Juliar's speechwriter obviously wasn't aware of.

 Juliar and her union backers have another hurdle ahead – placed in their path by none other than mining billionaire Gina Rineheart,  who out of the blue has called for us to bring in unskilled Asian guest workers to help out in remote areas of Australia,  which is amazing given that mining today in Australia demands highly skilled workers which includes fluency in English. 

 Is Rineheart in a time warp – back to the days of coolies using picks and shovels? 

What's concerning is that it appears she has made this announcement without consulting with her team? 

More ammunition for serial electioneer Pauline Hanson?

Lihir mine gets OK for K3.5b upgrade

By JASON GIMA WURI

 

THE Lihir gold mine last Friday received the green light to upgrade the capacity of its processing plant at a cost of K3.5 billion, The National reports.

The upgrade will help secure the economic future of the mine on Lihir Island by extending both its life and production outlook.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Port Moresby for the ministerial approval in principle (AIP) of the capacity upgrade, Newcrest chief operating officer Greg Jackson said the approval was the next to last step in what had been a rigorous and thorough approval process.

“In extending the financial security of the mine, it also extended the social and economic development opportunities for the people of Lihir, the New Ireland province and the state through royalties, taxes and opportunities,” Jackson said.

The mine has thus far contributed more than K5 billion to the economy since 1997.

He acknowledged the contribution of all stakeholders during the rigourous consultation process, with particular reference to the Lihir landowners, government departments and authorities, the New Ireland provincial government, the interdepartmental working group and the minister who had personally visited the mine during the consultative process.

He said the plant upgrade was scheduled for throughput ramp up in 2013.

 

 

Tribunal to decide on Sir Michael's fate today

By JULIA DAIA BORE and JACOB POK

 

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare will today know his fate on whether or not he will be suspended from office by the leadership tribunal hearing misconduct allegations against him, The National reports.

This will follow arguments by lawyers from both sides on whether or not the prime minister should be suspended.

Today may see both Sir Michael and accountant Glenn Blake taking the witness stand.

Last Friday, the prime minister’s defence team filed two affidavits at 12.30pm – that of Sir Michael and Blake – just before the tribunal convened at 1.30pm and served the documents to the prosecuting team (from the offices of the public prosecutor and the Ombudsman Commission).

The affidavits were then submitted by counsel representing the prime minister, Ian Molloy, to the tribunal during the hearing.

The tribunal, comprising chairman Roger Gyles and members Sir Bruce Robertson and Sir Robin Auld, asked public prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin what he thought of the late affidavits and he said he needed time until today to peruse the documents before replying.

The tribunal agreed to Kaluwin’s request and adjourned at about 2.30pm, setting 9.30am today to reconvene.

Outside court, counsel assisting the hearing Kerenga Kua said the prime minister’s team would ask for Sir Michael and accountant Blake to take the witness stand.

In his affidavit filed last Friday, Sir Michael stated: “I am aware of my obligations to give the Ombudsman Commission annual financial returns pursuant to the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.

“Initially, I had personally completed my returns and lodged them.

“It has never been my intention not to comply with my obligations in respect of my financial statements.

“I have completed my statements honestly and to the best of my ability.

“However, through pressure of the business of government, the need to travel between my electorate and Port Moresby, and on overseas visits and the constant demands on my time, I acknowledged that my returns fell behind. I regret that.”

Sir Michael stated also that in 2000, he had engaged Blake, an accountant and family friend, to assist him with his outstanding returns and provided Blake the forms for May 1997-98 and May 1998-99.

In Blake’s affidavit, he stated that he came to know the Somare family through his business association with Arthur Somare at the time.

Blake confirmed being asked in 2000 by Sir Michael to assist him with his outstanding returns.

“I remember, specifically, asking him whether there were any earlier outstanding returns and he told me that he had prepared all the previous returns and they had been lodged.”

In relation to the returns being incomplete, Blake stated having difficulties obtaining Sir Michael’s salary details from the parliamentary salary section.

“I was unable to obtain an actual figure from parliament for any one year. No pay advice slips or certificates are issued and, frankly, despite my best endeavours, they were simply unable to tell me what Sir Michael had been paid in any one year.”

Relating to blank spaces in the forms, Blake said it was his “oversight”, adding that the intention was that the blank spaces were to indicate that there was, for instance, no income of that category derived.

Blake expressed being shocked at the Ombudsman Commission’s allegations about the missing statements, saying: “This came as a bombshell to me because it referred to outstanding returns for the years 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97. 

“I have never heard of this before and, of course, it did not accord with what Sir Michael had told me when I was asked to prepare the 1997-98 and 1998-99 returns.

“I looked for any correspondence from the Ombudsman Commission on the subject and could find none.

“I then noted from the Ombudsman Commission’s letter of Oct 18, 2006, that the last correspondence from the commission on the subject was February 1998.

“There was apparently nothing subsequent to Feb 1998 and, certainly, nothing that I have seen.

“If I had any inclination during that eight-year period, that there were allegedly earlier outstanding returns, I would have acted to resolve the situation,” Blake stated, adding that Sir Michael had remained adamant that he had completed and lodged all his returns earlier; prior to those that Blake had been asked to take on to complete for Sir Michael.

In the final paragraph of his affidavit, Blake stated that under the current situation, with the missing returns for 1995, 1996 and 1997 that could not be located anywhere, he had now gone ahead and prepared “new returns” for those same years which Sir Michael had signed and filed last Friday.

He added that had he been aware they had not been lodged, as claimed now, he would have attended to them at the same time he had prepared the returns for the years 1997 and 1999. 

 

 

Office: PM in perfect health

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare is fine, confident and looking forward to facing the leadership tribunal this morning, The National reports.

There have been concerns about his health as he slid down his seat in a temporary lapse during the hearing last Friday morning.

The office of the prime minister has denied any serious health problems, saying Sir Michael will be at the tribunal today.

Spokesperson and the prime minister’s daughter Betha Somare told The National over the weekend that Sir Michael, who did not want to keep the tribunal waiting, had rushed up the ramp at the Supreme and National Court and was out of breath once seated.

She said the prime minister’s short lapse in the courtroom was not serious, but the public prosecutor called for a short adjournment as a precaution.

“He (PM) did not want to keep the judges waiting so he rushed up the ramps and was out of breath. He is fine, confident and looking forward to facing the tribunal tomorrow (this) morning,” she said.

The prime minister’s office also denied speculations that he had again collapsed at his home and was rushed to a private hospital and then flew out of the country for medical treatment at the weekend.

The prime minister had been going abroad for regular medical checks but last Friday’s lapse was unrelated.

Sir Michael is facing charges of misconduct in office for failing to submit his annual returns to the Ombudsman Commission between 1994 and 1997.

The prime minister’s morale and confidence had been boosted by his entire cabinet ministers attending the leadership tribunal last Thursday and Friday.

 

 

Waves hit Wewak

By GABRIEL FITO

 

THREE waves swept through the township of Wewak and its coastal villages last Friday night, destroying thousands of kina worth of properties, The National reports.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Wewak residents living near along the coast were evacuated to Wewak Hill and Kreer Heights following the warning from the National Disaster and Emergency office that a possible tsunami would hit between 9pm on Friday and 2am on Saturday morning.

The tsunami alert was issued around the Pacific when a giant earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter Scale hit Honsu in Japan last Friday.

Back in Wewak, the only road to Second Royal Pacific Island Regiment base at Moem, which runs along the coastline, was battered and filled with debris and sand making it impassable for most vehicles.

A section of the road from Pukpuk Bridge to Petrus Point which was partly washed away by the recent king tide in December 2008 was made worse by last Friday’s waves.

All vehicles from Moem village and the army barracks are now using an access road which runs through swamp land on the eastern coastline to Sawarin village near Brandi Secondary School.

Wewak rural LLG president Francis Hevu toured all coastal villages on Saturday morning and sympathised with his people.

He said like the Moem Barracks road, the road to Cape Wom Memorial Park on the western end of Wewak was mostly washed away and he feared that these national government institutions would have no more roads linking to Wewak town.

These roads were built on swamp land between mangroves and sea but with last Friday’s waves, the sea had extended its shoreline onto the roads.

This means that if a tsunami or king tide were to strike, all roads would be completely destroyed.

Local villagers and settlements in town as well as shops and offices located less than 200m away from the shoreline were flooded.

A number of bush material houses on the beaches were brought down with canoes and dinghies either broken or washed inland.

A hamlet at Moem village had all its water wells covered by debris and salt water and locals said their main need now was for clean water to drink and cook with.

Hevu said he would seek assistance from the provincial disaster office today.

Meanwhile, there were unconfirmed reports of damages caused by the earthquake to the Murik Lakes area, the islands and other coastal villagers outside Wewak.

Wewak General Hospital, which is surrounded by sea on both sides, was also reportedly affected, however, the hospital’s CEO or provincial disaster office could not be reached for comments yesterday.

Think, discuss and stand behind your conclusions

From JOHN FOWKE

Today there is an increasing inclination among Papua New Guineans who have access to the net to post their views, their praise and their criticism in a wide variety of PNG-orientated blogs and in the daily and weekly papers.

 This is the sign of freedom and fairness which should prevail in a country with the sort of constitution PNG possesses.

 But in what seems a complete negation of such an assumption, almost none of these hundreds of commentators is willing to sign his or her own name!

As well, all of these people allocate blame and portray the manifest weaknesses and injustices faced by ordinary citizens, aspects of life in PNG

which are continuously featured in the news; and which have been featured time and again for more than the past decade. 

Very few however are able to come up with reasoned practicable solutions-  and this is what I find so extremely frustrating; this is why I continue to contribute my own views even though I receive the occasional rebuke for my pains.

Of course, I dont apologise at all.It would make me happy if others, born PNGans, took over my very minor role here. In a land where so great a number of the young and educated are apparently so insecure within their own society that they are not prepared to state their opinions over their given names, nor do anything much but criticise, is it not pointless to pine almost daily for " a new charismatic leader" or " a return to the application of principles in leadership as opposed to convenience and personal greed" as we read so often?

In a society so shy of making a strong stand upon any principle is it likely that such potential leaders are present and willing to come forward in any number?

These problems will not be resolved by  suggestions for confrontational activity like "civil disobedience" as has been spoken about recently.

 Any such an effort if it came to pass would be seen as a rebellion, and rightly so. It would be put down by the rulers of the nation using force as necessary.

This is not something to be considered.

 PNG's big problems are:

 ( 1) too many working citizens at all levels are both lazy and dishonest within the workplace. This applies in commerce as well as within the hugely-inefficient public service. 

 ( 2) the citizenry, the electorate, is not connected to the parties and has little idea at all of the role parties and MPs should desirably play. This major disconnect is fully responsible for the powerlessness of  PNG's people to effect changes and remedies to unfair, inefficient and dishonest practices in the public sector

Civil disobedience is not an effective  remedy for these issues even if it was not contested by the authorities.

Focused electorates and well-managed elections are the way ahead.

The remedy lies in a focused electorate which selects its MP on the basis of the quality of the individual, allied to a signed and witnessed agreement to serve the electorate through the medium of its local level government (LLG). This by constantly consulting with the LLG/s, carrying out agreed instructions, and reporting back in person to the LLG, as well as by depositing funds allocated for discretionary development in an account accessible only via approvals stemming from the LLG's annual budget.

In this situation the ward councillors will combine to watch over and effectively control  government inputs within the LLG area; schools, aid-posts, policing and roads and buildings; and focus needs and demands via the MP and the LLG chairman to government.

This arrangement will be opposed, naturally, by PNG's established political class which has luxuriated in a level of freedom and unilateral decision-making which has led to present-day dissatisfactions.

There will be a contest here, but wise MPs will see that there is the advantage of  long-term tenure for those who play the game.

An assurance of security which has always been notably absent in PNG politics.

The parties have always been too fluid, focused on momentary advantage rather than good policy, to provide the basis for lasting success for even the best of the nation's MPs.

Such a movement for change might very well be backed by a renewed effort by PNG's Christian community; a commitment to combine to enter the field as a second  nation-wide  focus group in support or in coalition with the L:LGs.

 Here may lie the seed for stability, honesty and full equity in the commonwealth of  PNG.

 The end of powerlessness and the beginning of true nationhood.

Somare health scare at PNG hearing

By LIAM FOX of ABC

The health of Papua New Guinea's elderly Prime Minister has caused a commotion at a tribunal investigating allegations of official misconduct.

A breathless Sir Michael Somare arrived late to the leadership tribunal that is hearing allegations he failed to properly lodge several years financial returns.

After he took a few doses from an asthma puffer, the 74-year-old's head rolled back and he appeared to be on the verge of fainting.

His daughter and official spokeswoman Betha Somare gasped audibly and rushed to his side.

The proceedings came to a halt as several other people crowded around the elderly statesman.

But after a few sips of water Sir Michael laughed off their concerns and told the tribunal he was fit to continue.

The tribunal has been adjourned until Monday.

Cocoa research vital for PNG

By SENIORL ANZU in Canberra

More cocoa research is needed to improve the understanding of nutrition-related limitations to cocoa production in Papua New Guinea, according to a new technical report published by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Canberra.
This is one of the four main recommendations in the latest ACIAR publication on PNG cocoa Nutritional status of cocoa in Papua New Guinea.
The other recommendations were for the PNG cocoa industry to produce appropriate nutrient management practices for the different regions of the country; establish effective pathways to adoption; and engage in education and capacity building initiatives for continued improvements in nutrient management research and extension.
The documentation follows a study led by the PNG Cocoa Coconut Institute (CCI) with Australian partners in 63 locations covering nine provinces countrywide recently.
Supported by ACIAR, the study was aimed at determining the nutrient status of cocoa in PNG, and to recommend further steps to determine if there were nutrient-related constraints on productivity, and how they might be overcome.
Information was gathered through cocoa block holder surveys in the 63 locations and plant and soil sample analysis from these sites, stakeholder workshops and research trials at the Tavilo research centre, East New Britain.
The report indicated that there were no external market constraints to low productivity of PNG cocoa but common factors were lack of appropriate agronomic knowledge, land shortages, low level of block maintenance, labour shortages and theft.
The devastating cocoa pod borer pest had drastically reduced cocoa yields in the country with annual production in East New Britain alone, the most-important cocoa-producing region “fell by over 60% to approximately 8,000 t” in 2009.
“PNG cocoa is known for its good and consistent quality, with particular flavour, high fat content and large beans,” the report said.
Quality and demand for PNG cocoa were good, partly due to good germplasm and quality control but productivity was the main limitation to increased income from cocoa.
It said: “For the cocoa industry to recover and prosper, it is essential that management of smallholder cocoa blocks improves dramatically.”
This includes widespread replanting and demonstrations using the integrated pest and disease management package.
The plant tissue samples were analysed at Waite Analytical Services in Adelaide and soil sample analysis done in Townsville by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The leaf sample analysis demonstrated widespread nutrient deficiency in nitrogen and iron – “with 95% of sampled blocks falling below the critical level for nitrogen and 89% for iron. Phosphorus deficiencies were encountered in about one-quarter of the blocks sampled”.
ACIAR has been involved in partnership with PNG research and development organisations in carrying out some of the necessary research in an array of agriculture, forestry and fisheries issues and this was one of them.
The report also noted the eminent need for capacity building within CCI and National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) in the areas of, among others, field trials, data processing, sampling, methods of analysis, training and exposure.

Kaukau has big potential for PNG

By JOEL G WARAMBOI

Kaukau variety Beerwah Gold

Agriculture is the livelihood for more than 85% of the population in Papua New Guinea.
As our population continues to grow at 2.3% per annum, there will be demands for increasing food production to ensure food security.
The main staple foods and their annual production are sweet potato or kaukau (2.9 million) banana (700,000), yam (300,000), taro (350,000) and cassava (80,000) tonnes respectively.
Globally, more than 133 million tonnes of sweet potato is produced annually, and it is the seventh most-important crop after wheat, rice, maize, potato, barley and cassava.
In PNG, it is the most important crop both in terms of production as well consumption.
The top producing provinces are Southern Highlands (620,000), Eastern Highlands (470,000), Western Highlands (425,000), Enga (340,000) and Chimbu (294,000) tonnes respectively.
Smaller volumes are produced in Morobe (195,000), East Sepik, Bougainville and other places.
As a staple food, it provides about 64% of the energy needs for people.
At the current population of 6.5 million, per capita consumption is about 2.2 kg/person/year.
Its production is predominantly semi-subsistence.
Almost all of the sweetpotato is consumed at home as food, while a small amount is used for pig feed.
An increasing amount is being sold locally and or traded in distant markets of Lae, Port Moresby, Rabaul, and some mine sites.
Sweet potato has become a cash crop in PNG in recent years.
One major factor that has contributed to this trend is the rapid increase in urbanisation and population in major towns and cities.
Also, by value to weight, sweet potato is relatively cheaper and is affordable by low-income earners and families compared to imports like rice.
The farm-gate value of the sweetpotato industry in PNG is unknown.
By comparison, although Australia’s annual production is only 34,000 tonnes, their industry is worth A$40 million.
During transportation to markets, huge post-harvest losses occur because of improper handling, packaging, rotting and bruises.
The crop has high moisture, and is voluminous, and often fetches low market prices. Some studies have shown that, about 30% of the crop is already rotten on arrival in Port Moresby.
In monetary terms, this is K30 lost for every K100 that was supposed to be earned by the farmer.
There is no processing of the crop in PNG, unlike in China, where 10% of it is processed into foods like chips, crisps, snacks, bakes, breakfast food, candy and canned roots.
As livestock feed, it is fermented and reconstituted with either fish, copra or soybean meals for poultry and pigs.
Industrially, it is processed into starch, ethanol, bio-fuel, pigments, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, plastics and modified starches.
In the 1990s, the food processing and preservation unit at University of Technology in Lae did some product development work looking at flour, fries, chips, crisps, composite flour bread and other foods.

Kaukau flour

Most of this work was done on highlands varieties.
At around the same time, National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) scientists working on the Pacific regional agricultural programme in Keravat, East New Britain did similar work on lowland varieties.
Currently at the University of Queensland in Australia, a major research project is looking at the processing and utilisation options of PNG sweet potato.
Of the 25 varieties studied, the research has generated information on the flour-yielding ability, nutritional content (minerals, protein), starch pasting and gelatinisation properties, as well as determining starch granule morphology and particle sizes, all of which are very important traits required to optimise processing and utilisation options of the crop.
The study has also addressed the issue of identifying suitable varieties for end-use qualities by determining the starch, amylose and sugar contents.
This is critical to recommend suitable varieties for different products.
Food is the cause of many lifestyle diseases in the world like diabetes, obesity and hipolipdermia, and PNG is no exception.
This study using an in-vitro (test tube) technique has also found some beneficial starch fractions called resistant starches (RS) in the PNG sweet potato varieties.
The RS basically escapes digestion in the small intestine and is beneficial to human health because it do not increase the level of blood sugar leading to some of the diseases mentioned above.
The sweet potato varieties with very high RS fractions were L3 and L135, and these varieties are available in NARI.
Another exciting component of the research is on extrusion processing, using sweet potato flour to make snack foods from white and orange fleshed sweet potato varieties.
The results are promising and have the potential to be introduced in PNG, especially for small to medium scale cottage industries which may be interested to make snack foods from sweet potato.
The same technology can be used to process other foods like potato, taro, cassava, banana and sago.
A lot has been said about agriculture as being the backbone of PNG.
In 2005, the PNG Government put in place the green revolution and export-driven economic recovery strategy.
For the agriculture sector, this strategy was aimed at improving production and creating market demands for our crops to meet the growing domestic demands and also to seek export market opportunities.
However, to date, no substantial investments through possible avenues such as the public investment programme (PIP) or the national agriculture development plan (NADP) have been made to boost production, as well as to develop and upscale processing technologies to realise the full potential and contribution of the sector to PNG economy.
Downstream processing and value addition has the potential to benefit en masse, raise the economic value, and create market demand for local crops.

Scientist Joel Waramboi doing research into kaukau

It will also improve food security and cash income levels, increase trade and replace/substitute imports, thereby contributing to broad-based economic growth and improvement in the living standards of the people.
• Joel G.Waramboi is a senior scientist with the National Agricultural Research Institute, and is currently doing his PhD at the University of Queensland, Australia. Copies of publications on this research are available and interested persons can contact him on j.waramboi@uq.edu.au