Father and child reunion at Adelaide graduation

By MALUM NALU

There couldn’t have been a prouder Papua New Guinean father on Friday, Dec 2, 2011, than Wamel Kiage.

Rebecca Kiage hugs dad Wamel after graduation with her surrogate parents, well-known former Lutheran Missionaries Len and Claire Tscharke

Kiage, 64, of Masul village in Sinasina, Chimbu 

province, was in Adelaide, South Australia, for the graduation of his daughter, Rebecca.

Rebecca graduated from the University College London (UCL) – School of Energy & Resources in Adelaide for the award of a Master of Science – Energy & Resources, Policy & Practices on that day.

“I was a recipient of the Santos Scholarship which enabled me to partake in this study experience,” she tells me.

“There are 10 Santos scholarship awarded globally annually and I am a proud recipient of such scholarship. 

Father and daughter...Wamel and Rebecca Kiage enjoying Adelaide, South Australia

“UCL is ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the world.

“This is also the second time for dad to be overseas to witness my graduation as he was with me in Melbourne for three months in 2006, and witnessed my graduation at Monash University, where I was conferred the award Masters of Public Policy & Management.”

Rebecca, who was born in Lae on Aug 12, 1978, did her primary schooling at East Taraka PNG Bible Church, Lae International Primary School and Omili Primary School; Grades 7-10 at Lae High School; and Grades 11-12 at Bugandi Secondary School before going on to the University of Technology, where she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business Economics in 2000.

She was employed by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock as a policy officer until her resignation in January 2010 when she was awarded the Santos Scholarship.

Kiage arrived for the his daughter’s graduation at Adelaide airport after staying overnight in Brisbane and was picked by Ken Tscharke, son of pioneer Lutheran missionaries Claire and Len Tscharke, good parents of his and guardians of his daughter, and rushed straight to the graduation ceremony which started at 9am.

“All the while,” Rebecca admits, “I did not think he was going to make it but ‘God is good all the time' and the good Lord made sure all was possible.

“I had tears in my eyes when I saw him ushered to his seat.

“It was a day of celebration and I was happy both families - the Tscharkes and him - were present.

“Dad is a person who truly believes in education and how it can make a difference.

“That is why he is so vocal for education, not only for us his immediate children but to all our extended family members and the community in East Taraka, Lae.

“Dad and mum always go out of their way to be the surrogate parents for most drop outs and ensure they are placed back to the formal education system.

“Their house in East Taraka, Lae, is always a full house with kids from all provinces and all walks of life.

“Dad is also a popular figure with all the teachers at Gantom primary school, Taraka Primary School and Bumayong Lutheran High school and the Lutheran academics at Unitech and is respected by them.”

Kiage, who was so happy to meet up again with the Tscharkes, was a very proud man.

“I was so proud because I always rate education very highly,” he said.

“She (Rebecca) was the dux at Bugandi Secondary School (before going on to University of Technology, and then joining DAL after graduation).

“I can see that all my prayers are being answered.”

Kiage did Grades 4-6 at Asaroka in Eastern Highlands where he first met the Tscharkes, founders of the famous Asaroka Lutheran High School, before returning to Kundiawa, and then doing his secondary schooling at Goroka High School.

After that, he joined the then Department of Primary Industry before becoming a veteran Highlands Highway truck driver, clocking up 36 years under his belt.

“I worked with DPI for two years,” Kiage remembers.

“I worked at Kerowagi in Chimbu and Magarima in Southern Highlands.

“I then resigned and took up a job as a Highlands Highway truck driver for 36 years.

“I was with Pagini, Farmset, Cartrans, Hagen Hauliers and many others.

“I have four children and nine grandchildren.”

He urges all parents to bring up their children in a God-fearing Christian environment in which education is a high priority.

‘Healthy nation is a wealthy nation’

By MALUM NALU

Health Minister Jamie Maxtone-Graham today (Thursday, December 22, 2011) predicted a major shift in health from “curative” to “preventive”.

Preventive medicine or preventive care refers to measures taken to prevent diseases, or injuries, rather than curing them or treating their symptoms.

“We are going to have a paradigm shift,” Maxtone-Graham said at a press conference with National Planning Minister Sam Basil.

“We must look at this preventive health policy now.

“It’s a long term investment.

“Preventive health is very important.

“We don’t have to spend more money on health if less people get sick.

“I’ll be spending more time with National Planning working on this, as we want a smart nation with health-conscious people who live a healthy lifestyle.

“A healthy nation is a wealthy nation.”

Maxtone-Graham also reaffirmed Basil’s stance that the O’Neill-Namah faction was the legitimate government of Papua New Guinea.

Task Force Sweep team to receive additional K3 million

By MALUM NALU

National Planning Minister Sam Basil says additional funding of K3 million will be made to boost operations of the anti-corruption Task Force Sweep team.

He told reporters at Vulupindi Haus today (Thursday, December 22, 2011) that the team had achieved a lot since the change of government last August and must continue its work.

He was flanked by Health Minister Jamie Maxtone-Graham, his department secretary Dr Peter Kora and senior officers.

Basil said K6m had been allocated for the team and it needed another K3m to continue its work in the new year.

“We (government) have suggested that we increase their funding by another K3m, and in doing so, accelerate their efforts to bring in the culprints,” he said.

“This is because they are having problems in investigating properties that have been purchased overseas.

“There are so many more millions to be retrieved by the state.”

Basil said since the team was set up, it had recovered about K50m for the government with this figure expected to increase to K100m next year, at a cost of only K6m.

He compared this to commissions of inquiry, which he said cost so much more, with no tangible benefits to government.

Basil also fired a broadside at officers within his department who did not release K5m for freight subsidies this year.

“My department didn’t roll out the funding,” he said.

“The officers concerned will be investigated.

“Such attitude also raises questions about the ability of my department to expand the K2.437 billion development budget for 2012.”

Basil said there was still a lot of confusion about which projects his department was running and which ones Department of Finance and Treasury was running.

“We’re all confused as to who runs these programmes,” he said.

Basil reaffirmed that the O’Neill-Namah government was now firmly in place.

“I’m very confident that my government now is in control,” he said.

“We have had very bad records of government spending out of budget in the past.”

Basil defuses angry crowd at Vulupindi Haus

By MALUM NALU

National Planning Minister Sam Basil today (Thursday, December 22, 2011) defused what could have been a nasty situation involving Southern Highlanders in Vulupindi Haus.

A huge crowd gathered outside the building today demanding that the government pay them immediately all outstanding claims relating to the LNG project.

As Basil and his departmental secretary Dr Peter Kora emerged from a press conference relating to a completely different matter, they were surrounded by a vocal group of landowner representatives, who had been allowed into the building.

They said they had been sent to Department of National Planning by officers from Department of Finance and Treasury.

Visibly-angry Basil and the landowners then went to finance and treasury, where a senior woman official denied telling the landowners to go to national planning.

Dr Kora was shouted down by landowners when he tried to speak, however, they were persuaded to quiten down and listen to him.

He said funds were available, however, there were so many people wanting to be paid and wanting projects to be set up.

Basil bluntly told them that some of them paid kickbacks to corrupt public servants and politicians to fast track their payments – which they cheered him for.

He told them to come back next Monday and discuss the matter, and that he was a new minister, who was not aware of the landowner complexities.

Basil quickly called up Southern Highlands MP John Kekeno and told him to help solve the problem next Monday

A thought for West Papua this Christmas

By POWES PARKOP

NCD Governor

As we approach Christmas and the New Year, we think about our loved ones and the time we are going to spend together at home or in our villages.

 Those who are leaving our city to be with your relatives in the villages or your country if you are non-citizen, I am sure are looking forward to a lot of fun, celebrations and exciting times ahead.

And you should be looking forward to such enjoyable times with your relatives and loved ones.

Christmas is not just a time for worshiping and welcoming the birth of Christ but it is also a time for happiness, celebration and fun.

 I wish those of you leaving our city for your villages and countries a joyous time with your relatives and friends.

Christmas is also a time to think about our neighbours, especially those unfortunate ones who might be languishing in jail or facing hardship due to low income or deprivation due to natural or manmade disasters.

It is not just a practice of Christmas but also a central part of the gospel of Christ that as Christians we must continue to reach out to those unfortunate, those facing hardship and those who are struggling to meet the basic of life for we are all children of God and it is God’s will and desire that we must love and care for each other.

This Christmas, as you spend time with your loved ones, I ask you to spare a thought for West Papua and our people of West Papua.

West Papuans are also God’s people and while we enjoy our Christmas and worship the birth of Christ, we will not be fulfilling our faith as Christians and failing the gospel of Christ if we continue to ignore the people of West Papua and their country like we have been for the last 50 years.

Among our mist this Christmas will be thousands of West Papuans who have fled their country and who have been born in Diaspora here in PNG.

 Many if not all of them are Christians like most of us in PNG.

 They don’t look any different to us because they are also Melanesians and are human beings.

They are our immediate neighbours.

They share the same island, culture, language, traditions and even ancestry as us. They are, however, not here by choice but due to the circumstance in the country.

 If they had a choice and could be guaranteed freedom which we take for granted in our country,  I am sure they would love to go back to their villages, home towns and cities in their own country to enjoy Christmas with their friends and loved ones and stay to rebuild their lives and their country.

Unfortunately, this is not possible.

In the 17th Century, their country, which is the western part of our Island of New Guinea was colonised by the Kingdom of Holland, a European country.

In early 1960s when they were preparing for Independence, they were invaded by the Indonesian army and eventually incorporated into the Republic of Indonesia in 1969 after a fake or fraudulent vote in which only 1,000 men were allowed by the Indonesian military to determine the future of these people.

These were handpicked officials that the Government of Indonesia had selected to decide the future of that country and its people.

As a result of this forced incorporation, thousand who rejected the takeover rebelled and were then forced into exile.

In 1962, a small group of West Papuans fled into PNG when the Indonesia army invaded.

After the 1969 forced annexation of their country by Indonesia, thousands fled their villages, home towns and cities and their loved ones to come to PNG.

 Many of them and their children and grand children continue to live among us to this day.

In 1984/85 thousands more fled about an aborted uprising against the Indonesian Government to demand independence.

Many of these people languish in refugee camps in PNG, both recognised and unrecognised.

Some of them eventually reached Port Moresby and set up camp at 8-Mile, only to be evicted two years ago by former Government Minister and Member of Parliament Sir Peter Lus and his company.

Many of these people would be facing a miserable Christmas again because our Government has not been able to relocate them to secured land after their eviction and the prospect to go back to West Papua continue to be remote due to increased militarisation of their country by the Indonesian army.

Today in West Papua, just the act of raising the Morning Star, their national flag, will invite more than 15 years in jail under Indonesian law.

You don’t have to say anything or do anything.

As long as you raise or display the morning star flag, you will receive 15 years jail sentence.

     As we approach Christmas, spare a thought for West Papua and West Papuans. These are Melanesians, people whom we share same ethnicity, traditions, cultures, values, ancestry and land.

By some cruel and evil plans and circumstance of history they are forced to become part of another country against their choice.

Today thousands of them live among our mist, some in poor appalling conditions and many in refugee camps which our Government has long forgotten or neglected.

Think of those still back in West Papua who would love to have Christmas as free people, running their own country, singing their own songs, making their own mistakes and learning their owns lessons as they build a future for themselves and their children.

Remember they too are people of God and they are your immediate neighbours.

They don’t just need your thoughts and prayers; they need your support so that they can be free in their own land and celebrate Christmas in peace.

You can help the people of West Papua by writing to the Government of PNG to take a more dignified approach to Indonesia about West Papua.

 Instead of pretending that West Papua is not our concerns or is an internal matter for Indonesia to resolve, we should take a human rights and Christian stand where we recognise that they have a right to live in peace and freedom, away from fear and violence and that as people of God they need our care and attention too.

 If you are a citizen of another country going to your country for holidays, you can do the same this Christmas by writing to your Government to raise its concerns with the Government of Indonesia to release the people of West Papua so they can freely determine their own future as equal and free people of our world.

 It would be really a meaningful Christmas if we take such steps this Christmas to think and take action to reach out to our neighbours, the West Papuans

A Merry Christmas to you all.

May our people of West Papua be able to celebrate a free Christmas soon.

Women's bill fails to be passed

Parliament failed again today to muster numbers to pass the Equal Participation Bill for women.
The house voted voted 67 - 7 for the bill.
The only female MP, Dame Carol Kidu,  with MPs from the Somare faction where not present in parliament for today's vote which would have guaranteed 22 seats for female parliamentarians.
Leader of government business Moses Maladina says the government will take the bill up to parliament again at another date.

Governor-General recognises O'Neill as legitimate Prime Minister

Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio has recognised Peter O'Neill as the legitimate Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
In a surprising twist of events today, Sir Michael wrote a letter to O'Neill, which was read to Parlaiment today, saying how apologetic he was.
He said both sides must reconcile as soon as possible for the good of the country.
Following that, the O'Neill Cabinet quickly lifted its suspension of Sir Michael as Governor-General. 
O'Neill and his Cabinet are now at Government House meeting with Sir Michael.

Parliament fails to pass women's bill

Parliament could not pass the women's Equality and Participation Bill, which had its second reading today, as it did not have the required majority of 73.

Parliament voted 58-3 for the bill, which will be entertained again tomorrow.

O'Neill Cabinet lifts suspension of Governor-General

The Peter O'Neill National Executive Council has lifted the suspension of Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.

O'Neill and his Cabinet are now at Government House to meet Sir Michael.

Chief Secretary recognises O'Neill as Prime Minister

Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc says he recognises Peter O'Neill as the legitimate prime minister of Papua New Guinea and not Sir Michael Somare.
Zurenuoc, who has met both O'Neill and Sir Michael, said while the Supreme Court has restored Sir Michael as prime minister, he did not have the numbers to rule.
"We accept the fact that the Supreme Court has restored Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister," he said.
"However, in our system of government, the majority rules.
"Despite the court restoring Sir Michael, he is not in control of the government."
Zurenuoc today had an urgent meeting with all his department secretaries regarding the current political impasse in PNG.
"I told them to get on with the job of running government," he said.

Somare expected to make more changes

The Sir Michael Somare faction is expected to make more changes to the public service this week, NBC news reports.
This follows on from its Police Commissioner Fred Yakasa and Treasury Secretary Gabriel Yer last week.

Somare camp urged to attend Parliament

The Sir Michael Somare faction has been urged to attend Parliament but to no avail, with only Dame Carol Kidu attending today for the second reading of the women's bill.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Peter O'Neill faction, Belden Namah, maintained in Parliament today that O'Neill was the legitimate Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
The O'Neill faction expects to pass the 2012 national budget this week.

Dame Carol Kidu attends Parliament

Dame Carol Kidu, the only woman MP in Papua New Guinea and a member of the Sir Michael Somare faction, is attending Parliament today.
She is the only member of the Somare faction to do so when the Equality and Participation Bill is set to go for second reading to be passed into law to give 22 reserved seats for women.