US Pacific Partnership provides medical support and training in Wewak and Vanimo

More than 50 members of the U.S. Navy joined Australian and Japanese naval personnel in Vanimo on June 25 for Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13) in Papua New Guinea.
A U.S.-sponsored annual humanitarian and civic assistance mission aimed at strengthening international relationships with partner and host nations in the Asia-Pacific, Pacific Partnership arrived in Vanimo from Wewak, where the exercise was based for the last 10 days.
“This is an awesome mission that has two big benefits: It directly helps improve health and education services in communities and it fosters two way learning between civil and military professionals from across the Pacific,” said Carlos Williams, U.S. Health Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby. “This exercise is a true partnership, bringing together the PNG Defense Force, the Department of Health, provincial government leaders, disaster relief agencies, hospitals, NGOs, and schools.”
“Pacific Partnership is an excellent program,” said Elias Kapavore, CEO of the Vanimo Provincial Hospital.
"We will support this program enthusiastically."
The Australian ship, the HMAS Tobruk, is anchored prominently just off the Vanimo coast, and will be joined tomorrow by the Japanese destroyer, the JDS Yamagiri. More than 100 medical professionals from Papua New Guinea, Japan, Australia, and the U.S. are providing surgical, diagnostic, and medical expertise.
Pacific Partnership cooperates with regional governments and military to improve response during disaster relief operations while providing humanitarian, medical, dental, and engineering assistance. This year, the Australian Defense Force has taken the lead for the operation in East and West Sepik.
Supporting Inclusive, Sustainable, and Transparent Economic Growth in Melanesia
"More than 4000 people attended medical training workshops and attended health fairs," said Regina Chinsio-Kwong, a US Navy physician, who participated in the Wewak exercise.
At health fairs in Wewak, local community groups promoted preventative health care, disaster preparedness, and provided information to stop sexually transmitted diseases and Gender Based Violence.
The Wewak Disaster Management Task Force was also launched during the Pacific Partnership.
"One of the greatest legacies of Pacific Partnership is the countless number of friendships that are forged with all Papua New Guineans," said Lori Christensen of the U.S. Navy. "We're ultimately here to learn from and support each other."

Australian Navy Medical Officer in Charge, Captain Greg, East Sepik Deputy Provincial Administrator Elizabeth Kaprangi, officials from the Provincial Health Department and the U.S. Navy’s Lori Christensen at the official opening of the Pacific Partnership Mission’s Health Expo in Wewak, East Sepik Province on June 15, 2013.

In addition to health programs, Pacific Partnership is contributing to engineering projects.
 "The response from the schools was overwhelmingly positive," said Australian Army Lieutenant David Bellas, overseeing engineering projects at two schools and a health clinic in Wewak.
"Students are still texting us thank you notes for refurbishing their classrooms."
 He is now leading four construction projects in Vanimo.
"We're privileged to have the Pacific Partnership in Vanimo," said Ashley Wayne of the PNG Defense Force.
 "Our medics look forward to joining you in the hospital, and we look forward to joining the construction effort."
Taking advantage of professional Rugby talent on the HMAS Tubruk, the Australian Navy will also conduct a three-day rugby clinic at Don Bosco School in Vanimo.
The last Pacific Partnership exercise in Papua New Guinea was in 2011, led by the U.S. Navy, working with local and regional partners to provide humanitarian assistance in Madang and Lae. Pacific Partnership formed following the massive 2004 Asian tsunami in which more than 230,000 in 14 nations died.
Since 2006, Pacific Partnership has visited 15 countries, treated more than 300,000 patients and built over 130 engineering projects.

Travel Air helps needy

 LOCAL airline Travel Air, owned by East New Britain businessman Eremas Wartoto, is stepping up to help needy air travellers with free tickets.

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up,” Wartoto.

Lucy Elphis, an elderly mother of four from Southern Highlands, was so grateful that Wartoto was at the right place at the right time to aid her.

Elphis had encountered problems with airfares for her return trip from Port Moresby to Mt Hagen.

Founder and chairman of the newly established domestic airline dubbed as Mangi Lo Peles, Wartoto gave away a free ticket to the young mother as part of the new programme called the Mangi Lo Peles Halivim Fare.

Ready to board…From left are First officer Suhaimi Ibrahim, cabin crew Carol Kilik, Mrs Elphis, Mr Wartoto, Capt Adrian Joseph , cabin crew Georgina Mariwanjik , and Hagen Port Manager Mr James Kops

Elphis was the first recipient of the free ticket under this new programme.

The programme will help ordinary citizens who, because of unfortunate situations cannot afford their own fares to destinations of their preferences.

“The Mangi Lo Peles Halivim Fare will be prearranged for those in the category that has been seen for such assistance to change their lives for the better, providing hope where there seems to be no other way to,” Wartoto said.

“The underprivileged individuals must present their case with evidence to port managers on each domestic hub and they will only be considered eligible after their problems are wisely assessed.

“Travel Air management, upon evaluating their problem, will offer assistance to those individuals with criteria that will be fitting for that cause.

“A year has passed and Travel Air is generating remarkable favours with the ordinary citizens of this country.”

Four Chinese killed in PNG stabbings

Global Times | 2013-6-27 0:23:01 By Wang Fei

A view of a bakery where four Chinese expatriates were murdered in Port Moresby on Wednesday. Four Chinese nationals have been hacked to death in Port Moresby, with one reportedly beheaded in an attack condemned as "brutal and cowardly" by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Photo: AFP

 Four Chinese expats were stabbed to death in a store on Monday in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea (PNG), and one of them was beheaded, embassy officials confirmed to the Global Times.

Cao Junjun, a diplomat with the Chinese embassy in PNG, told the Global Times that three men and one woman, all in their 50s, were killed at about 9 pm local time on Monday. The four victims came from Shanghai and had been living in PNG for over a decade.

The store owners, Wang Chuanhai, male, and Jiang Qin, female, were both killed, while one of the store employees, whose identity is still unknown, was beheaded, said Cao.

China has urged PNG to take strong measures to protect the lives and property of the Chinese, and bring the criminals to justice as soon as possible, said Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the foreign ministry in a press conference Wednesday.

The store is a small supermarket and bakery located in the center of the capital. It was closed and eight Papua New Guinean employees were baking bread on the first floor when the attackers broke in.

A total of five Chinese staff members were on the second floor when they heard the noise.

Two went downstairs but didn't return, and the other three went down only to find the others had been killed.

The owner's young brother, Wang Chuanjiang, rushed back upstairs and shut the door. He was the only Chinese survivor.

Wang Chuanjiang saw one masked suspect, while the local employees, who all escaped unharmed, said they saw more than one. Only some of the cash in the store went missing, said Cao, adding that Wang Chuanjiang remains in good health.

Cao rushed to the scene one hour after the attack. All eight local employees had gone before he arrived.

They have now been located and are being watched by the police. An investigation is underway, said Cao.

Some relatives of the deceased flew to the city the next day, and more are applying for visas. The bodies are being kept in a local funeral home, Cao said.

PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill Wednesday condemned the killing in a statement, saying "I want to assure the government of China and relatives of those killed that police will get all the help necessary to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice."

Li Baohui, a staff member with the Economic and Commercial Counselor's Office of the Chinese embassy, told the Global Times that the office has informed all Chinese expats and the staff of Chinese enterprises and China-aid projects to try not to go out for the time being.

The incident has shocked Chinese residents in PNG. However, their business dealings are proceeding as normal at the moment, said Li.

ADB President Nakao meets PNG Prime Minister, officials and business leaders

Asian Development Bank

 

PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao yesterday wrapped up a two-day trip to Papua New Guinea (PNG) where he met with top government officials and business leaders and visited two key ADB projects. On Monday, President Nakao met with PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, PNG Treasurer and ADB Governor Don Polye, PNG Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Charles Abel, and other senior government officials and development partners to discuss the development outlook for PNG and ADB’s activities in the country.
Since joining ADB in 1971, PNG has received 75 loans worth US$1.5 billion, as well as one Asian Development Fund grant worth US$15 million, and 148 technical assistance projects worth US$62.8 million. PNG is ADB's largest partner in the Pacific in terms of loans for public and private sector development.
Earlier yesterday, President Nakao addressed the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce where he stressed that PNG must be more than an exporter of raw materials and must embrace innovation and new technologies such as mobile telecommunications that will open up new business opportunities and can help deliver health, education and other social services more effectively.
“To achieve sustainable growth, PNG must become more inclusive, more integrated and more innovative,” he said. “The government must use revenues effectively to restore and upgrade the national infrastructure network. It must ensure that different parts of the PNG economy are well connected and that the benefits of economic growth are shared equitably.”
He emphasised the importance of continued reforms of state-owned enterprises and improving transparency of resource revenue management. PNG also needs to work toward creating a financial system that supports small- and mid-sized firms, which have been a key source of innovation and job creation across the Asia and Pacific region.
During his visit, the President also visited the Rouna Power Station, which will be rehabilitated under ADB’s recently signed Port Moresby Power Grid Development Project, and Jackson’s Airport, one of the sites being upgraded under the Civil Aviation Development Investment Program.

Costigan up for big final farewell

By BRETT KEEBLE of Newcastle Herald

June 25, 2013, 10:43 p.m.

RECALLED: Neville Costigan at Knights training yesterday.

KNIGHTS forward Neville Costigan wants to win a premiership with Newcastle before continuing his career elsewhere next year.
The 28-year-old Papua New Guinea international and former Queensland Origin representative has confirmed speculation that this will be his final season at the Knights after coach Wayne Bennett told him they would not be offering him a new contract.
Costigan, who after four weeks in the NSW Cup has been recalled to the NRL squad to play the Titans at Hunter Stadium on Sunday, said there had been some interest from other NRL clubs but finishing his career with an English Super League club was the most likely scenario.
One of four Knights who won the 2010 premiership under Bennett at St George Illawarra, Costigan harbours no ill feelings towards the man who has coached him at three clubs.
"I have had a few offers elsewhere, and a couple overseas as well. I still feel like I've got plenty to give, I'm just lacking a bit of confidence at the moment, so I just need a fresh start to get myself back on track," Costigan told the Newcastle Herald after training yesterday.
"I turned 28 this year and hopefully I can play for another couple of years and repay someone for giving me another chance if I go somewhere else.
"Wayne sort of said they're going another way and they're looking at younger fellows like Simsy [Korbin Sims] and Alex McKinnon, and that's fair enough.
"I've had my time, and I'm happy to move on somewhere else and play some footy.
"I haven't spoken to my manager for a couple of weeks. Last time he said he'd had a few nibbles, but I just told him I want to concentrate on playing some good footy first . . . and just try to get back to the NRL."
Not interested in a mid-season release before Sunday's transfer deadline, Costigan said he hoped to achieve something special with the Knights before leaving at the end of the year.
"Definitely, if I do go overseas and if this is my last year in the NRL, I'm looking to make it a good one, so I want to get back into first grade and try to cement a spot for the last 10 games and hopefully more and try to make the semis," he said.
"All I can do is play some good footy for Wayne and the boys. This is a good bunch of blokes, we're all good mates, and I just want to play good for them and show I can still play some good footy.
"This is my third year here now and I want to play it out. I'm not a believer in moving mid-year."
● NSW Cup utility back Will Smith has become the latest Knights player to join Penrith.
The Newcastle-born 20-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Panthers, starting next season.

O'Neill condemns 'cowardly' murders

News

AAP

THE murder of four Chinese nationals in Port Moresby was a "brutal and cowardly" act, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said.

The four, understood to be three men and a woman, were stabbed to death about 7pm on Monday at a bakery they ran near the popular Koki market, just under 3km from the central business district.
Mr O'Neill was briefed on the murders by police commissioner Tom Kulunga on Tuesday.
"I condemn this brutal and cowardly attack on the four Chinese nationals," he said in a statement.
"I have been assured by the Police Commissioner that no resource will be spared to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be found and brought to face the full force of the law.
"I want to assure the government of China and relatives of those killed that police will get all the help necessary to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice."
Eight employees of the shop were held for questioning, but police say they have no immediate leads.
National Capital District superintendent Andy Bawa said the four victims were each stabbed repeatedly after an unknown number of perpetrators hopped a high fence to get to the shop.
"Knives were used to attack the victims, and there were many knife wounds on their bodies," Mr Bawa told The National newspaper.
"I want to assure the relatives, friends and international community that no stone will be left unturned as police will do its best to bring those responsible to justice."
Mr O'Neill called on the business community, especially those of Chinese and Asian origin, to remain calm and continue business as usual.

Rodney Pora has played last game for Whitehaven RL

News & Star

Rodney Pora has played his last game for Whitehaven. The international prop returned home to Papua New Guinea two weeks ago to be with his son, who was seriously ill in hospital.

Rodney Pora against London Skolars

And with Haven now well over half way through their league programme, the club did not see any prospect of a swift return to the UK.
“Rodney’s son is out of hospital and his condition has improved dramatically,” said chief executive Barry Richardson.
“Obviously we are pleased about that, and Rodney will want to spend some time with him, to make sure he is back on his feet. By that time, we don’t feel it will be practical to bring him back over here. We have only 11 matches left and don’t feel it would be cost-effective at this stage.”
Pora made a slow start to his Haven career after missing out on pre-season at the Recre but showed signs of major improvement after going through a rigorous fitness regime. And he scored his first try for the club in his final outing at London Skolars.
Fellow PNG international Jessie Joe Parker is Haven’s top try scorer this season, and Richardson has not ruled out future signings from that nation.
“We think it’s a good option,” he said. “The beauty of signings players from Papua New Guinea or elsewhere overseas, as long as of the right quality, is that they live in the town.”
PNG coach Adrian Lam expects plenty of British interest in his players after this year’s World Cup.

Sorcery in PNG can be a force for good

ABC

A three-day conference addressing witchcraft and sorcery killings in Melanesia is taking place at Australia's National University in Canberra.
Jeffrey Buchanan from UN Women in PNG says there is concern that the death penalty may push sorcery and witchcraft related attacks back behind the veil of silence.
"I have concerns about woman who are raped that ... [it] may lead to their murder," he said.
"The perpetrator may think [about] the evidence and he will kill the woman ... there is evidence internationally that that has happened where there is the death penalty."
Sorcery and witchcraft are mostly seen as a negative force, but not all of the beliefs are bad for society.

PhD candidate Salmah Eva-Lina Lawrence from the female-focussed matrilineal society in Milne Bay Province says there are fewer cases of violence in the region and women hold great knowledge.
"On traditional method of contraception or how to control their fertility, of course, this allows women to control their bodies so they have an enormous amount of freedom in that respect," she said.
"So to talk about sorcery and witchcraft only having negative connotations it is completely untrue where I come from."
Dame Carol Kidu agrees sorcery can be a force for good and she even employed one during her political life when she lost her voice while campaigning.
"I had to find someone to lift the blockage that had been put on me," she said.
"So I found someone who mixes Catholicism and traditional sorcery and he mixes both together ... and the blockage got lifted.
"Obviously the blockage got better for some reason ... whether it was the man who assisted in lifting the blockage ... my campaign team and manager had said, 'you have got no choice, you have got to do it'."
The forum has already heard that the growing level of inequality is fuelling the increase in the number of attacks, especially in PNG's highlands where there are hundreds of incidents a year.

Death penalty not a solution for sorcery killings: Dame Carol Kidu

By ABC Canberra correspondent Karen Barlow

Long-serving Papua New Guinea parliamentarian, Dame Carol Kidu, says the death penalty will not help solve the problem of sorcery-related violence in the country.

PNG's government last week voted to enforce the death penalty for a number of capital offences in an attempt to deal with the problem.
Dame Kidu has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat she is horrified by the recent sorcery-related killings in the country, which have mainly targeted women.
"There's a mass hysteria around it. What appears to be almost a reluctance of people to intervene, which would indicate that they also are afraid of sorcery and its implications," she said.
"Traditionally, in the few societies that I know about, whenever a sorcerer was killed, it was normally done by maybe a group of three people who would go out and kill them in the night in secrecy.
"It wasn't a public event ... that is completely new in the way that it's happening."

Audio: Dame Carol Kidu speaks to Pacific Beat (ABC News)

Dame Kidu says she is concerned about the impact public killings have on children in the communities.
"Children run to see the witch being burnt," she said.
"It's very worrying because that's their socialisation process, and that's why we have to find ways to counteract this as quickly as possible."
However, she believes re-introducing capital punishment is the wrong way to tackle violent crime.
"I, personally, do not support the death penalty as a solution to this, or as a solution to crime," she said.
"Global experience and research has shown it is not a solution to crime, and state-sanctioned killing does not, in my opinion, help bring us into a society for peace, prosperity, for the future.
"There is enormous scope for people being wrongfully killed because of the limited capacity for investigation in Papua New Guinea."
Dame Kidu is backed by human rights groups and the United Nations, which say any resumption of executions may affect PNG's international standing.
Dame Kidu believes in educating the public to recognise the killings as a crime.
"We've got to work in early childhood, too, in ensuring that we influence the educational processes into ... rejecting [their belief in sorcery] being manifested in this way," she said.
"This is wilful, premeditated murder and it has to be recognised as such."
Dame Kidu says it is also necessary to work on "transformative processes" to move the communities forward.
"I believe very strongly that we've got to introduce community conversations right throughout the country, and get communities taking control of these types of situations ... with very responsible structuring of the community conversations," she said.

PNG move on death penalty raises concerns for asylum seekers

AAP and Bianca Hall

Asylum seekers on Manus Island will be subject to the death penalty, the department of immigration has confirmed.
Papua New Guinea's parliament on Tuesday passed laws allowing execution by a range of methods, including hanging, electrocution, lethal injection, and firing squad, while repealing its contested sorcery act.

Janet Kemo Fogodi was victim of a brutal attack in which a family member tried to murder her due to "sorcery". Changes to PNG laws will prevent people who commit violent acts from using sorcery as a defence. Photo: Brendan Esposito

It also vowed to extend the long-dormant death penalty to cover rape, robbery and murder.
Immigration department spokesman Sandi Logan said on Twitter that asylum seekers detained on Manus Island were subject to PNG laws "100%", but declined to comment further.

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Amnesty International deputy director for the Asia-Pacific, Isabelle Arradon, said the reintroduction of the death penalty was counterproductive.
"Papua New Guinea has taken one step forward in protecting women from violence by repealing the sorcery act, but several giant steps back by moving closer to executions," she said.
"The taking of a life - whether a person is beheaded by villagers or killed by the state - represents an equally abhorrent violation of human rights.
"The government has failed to heed calls from civil society to not start killing prisoners again."
Capital punishment is currently in place for treason, piracy and wilful murder but Papua New Guinea has not carried out an execution since 1954.
Amnesty says at least 10 people are on death row.
As well as reviving the death penalty, parliament also repealed its 1971 sorcery act, which provided a defence for violent crime if the accused was acting to stop witchcraft.
It means any black magic killings will now be treated as murder punishable by death following a spate of horrific public killings of women accused of sorcery, in which there is a widespread belief in PNG.
According to Amnesty, more than two-thirds of all countries in the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice with the last known execution taking place in the Pacific in 1982 in Tonga.
Arradon said countries were moving away from the death penalty, in part because there were no assurances it was an effective deterrent to crime.
"By passing these death penalty laws, Papua New Guinea will find it is on the losing side of history," she said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/png-move-on-death-penalty-raises-concerns-for-asylum-seekers-20130529-2nbdl.html#ixzz2UiLG5VCg

Amnesty rejects PNG death penalty bid

AAP

Amnesty International has criticised a move by Papua New Guinea to revive the death penalty as a regressive step for the poverty-stricken Pacific nation, branding it state-sanctioned violence.

The country's parliament on Tuesday passed laws allowing execution by a range of methods, including hanging, electrocution, lethal injection, and firing squad, while repealing its contested sorcery act.
It also vowed to extend the long-dormant death penalty to cover rape, robbery and murder, actions that Amnesty's deputy director for the Asia-Pacific Isabelle Arradon said were counterproductive.
"Papua New Guinea has taken one step forward in protecting women from violence by repealing the sorcery act, but several giant steps back by moving closer to executions," she said.
"The taking of a life - whether a person is beheaded by villagers or killed by the state - represents an equally abhorrent violation of human rights.

"The government has failed to heed calls from civil society to not start killing prisoners again."
Capital punishment is currently in place for treason, piracy and wilful murder but Papua New Guinea has not carried out an execution since 1954.
Amnesty says at least 10 people are on death row.
As well as reviving the death penalty, parliament also repealed its 1971 sorcery act, which provided a defence for violent crime if the accused was acting to stop witchcraft.
It means any black magic killings will now be treated as murder punishable by death following a spate of horrific public killings of women accused of sorcery, in which there is a widespread belief in PNG.
According to Amnesty, more than two-thirds of all countries in the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice with the last known execution taking place in the Pacific in 1982 in Tonga.
Arradon said countries were moving away from the death penalty, in part because there were no assurances it was an effective deterrent to crime.
"By passing these death penalty laws, Papua New Guinea will find it is on the losing side of history," she said.

Whitehaven's Rodney Pora returns to Papua New Guinea

by Martin Morgan 

News & Star

Last updated at 08:52, Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Whitehaven prop Rodney Pora has returned home to Papua New Guinea to be with his young son, who is seriously ill in hospital.

Rodney Pora

The experienced international had been due to feature for Haven in yesterday’s Championship clash with Barrow Raiders, which they won 30-18. But on learning of his son’s condition, the club supported his decision to fly home.
“We wish him well, and hopefully everything will be all right,” coach Dave Woods said, post-match. “He’s at the airport waiting for a flight.
“It is disappointing that he’s had to go, but his family must come first, and we have to make sure we look after him that way.
“It’s very important that he gets home for his family.”
On Twitter, hooker Carl Sice later dedicated the derby win to Pora and fellow front-rower Dave Houghton, who also missed the game. Pora missed Haven’s pre-season regime and had been working hard on his fitness over recent weeks, rewarding Woods with his debut try last week.
“Jordan Hand stepped up and did a great job, and we brought in Bradd Crellin, who looked after the back-row area, so it worked out all right for us,” added Woods, who saw Crellin justify his selection with a dummy-half try yesterday.

PNG parliament passes use of death penalty

By Eoin Blackwell, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

 

Rape, robbery and murder will attract the death penalty in Papua New Guinea after the country's parliament passed a series of measures aimed at deterring violent crime.
PNG's parliament on Tuesday also passed laws allowing for five types of execution - hanging, lethal injection, medical death by deprivation of oxygen, firing squad and electrocution.
The parliament also repealed the controversial 1971 Sorcery Act, meaning those convicted of killing accused "sorcerers" will be sentenced to death, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's spokesman, Daniel Korimbao, said in a statement.
"These are very tough penalties, but they reflect the seriousness of the nature of the crimes and the demand by the community for parliament to act," he said.
"Which method (of execution is) to be used will be determined by the head of state on advice from the National Executive Council (cabinet)."
Death by hanging has been part of PNG's criminal code since before independence from Australia in 1975, but has not been enforced since 1954.
Under the new amendments, the death penalty will be enforced for crimes such as aggravated rape, pack rape, or where the victim is a child under 10 years of age.
Kidnapping will carry a prison term of 50 years without remission or parole, while kidnapping for ransom carries life imprisonment without parole.
Theft of money between 5 million kina ($A2.4 million) and 9.99 kina million will attract 50 years without parole.
Theft of money or property worth 10 million kina or more will be punished with life imprisonment.
A series of violent murders and sex crimes this year prompted the PNG government to enact the measures in an attempt to deter crime.
In particular, women accused of being witches have been killed in increasingly gruesome public show-trials.
In one incident, a young mother, Kepari Leniata, was stripped and burned alive in a public market, while in another, a former teacher, Helen Rumbali, was beheaded.
Some killings have been carried while police were present, with officers powerless to intervene against large crowds of armed attackers.
UN Women, a division of the United Nations, has welcomed the repeal of the Sorcery Act, but declined to comment on the use of the death penalty.
"UN Women congratulates government on repealing the Sorcery Act and looks forward to new initiatives that will counter the rising violence against women and men, and bring an end to extra-judicial killings," an agency spokesperson said.
Church groups and civil libertarians have objected to the measures and pointed out police have trouble enforcing current laws.
"We have got current systems and structures in place that are not working, we can't even prosecute a shoplifter, and here we are trying to impose the death penalty," women's rights campaigner Esther Igo recently told Radio Australia.
"We believe that we should get our structures, the current enforcement system, working before we can look at an extreme penalty."
Mr Korimbao told AAP tougher drug penalties, alcohol licensing rules and stricter penalties for home brew have been temporarily deferred.
"They are still being worked on," he said.
Two weeks ago, Mr O'Neill apologised to women in PNG for the high levels of sexual and domestic violence they experienced and pledged to pass the stricter penalties - penalties he described as "draconian."

Rotary helps in PNG

Kiama Lake Independent Times

A SISTER club partnership between two Rotary clubs from different countries will be further cemented soon with the arrival of a shipping container in the Papua-New Guinea city of Madang.
Following a long association over several years, the Rotary Club of Kiama in District 9750 and the Rotary Club of Madang, Papua New Guinea, in District 9600 decided to take this step last November.
"Along with the mutual benefit for both clubs by the successful achievement of projects, this partnership is now happening in a practical way," Rotary Club of Kiama past president John Kenny said.

Kiama Rotarians Noel Edgell and Alan Schofield pictured packing the final items into the shipping container when it was bound for Madang.

"Taking pride of place in the container is a 'state of the art' barbecue trailer which will help significantly the Madang club's fund-raising efforts, as well as its community service activities."
"Several club members arrived around the same time as the container last week and the locals are delighted with the contents. In fact the barbeque as actually christened with a good old-fashioned Aussie barbeque last Sunday, much to the delight of the locals.
According to Mr Kenny, the barbecue trailer is an example of the power of Rotary to inspire community co-operation as a local Kiama business donated the trailer as a thank-you to the club for sponsoring a family member to the Honeywell Engineering Summer School.
"TAFE students completed the fitout as part of their practical training, and a local resident and Friend of Rotary met the costs of the barbecue units as well as providing a substantial share of the shipping costs."
A team of Kiama Rotarians and volunteers will be travelling to Madang in May.
"That will be a great occasion for a good old Aussie barbecue - PNG style," Mr Kenny said.
While in Madang the team will visit a school in Brahman, where the Kiama Club has previously built a girls' dormitory, to determine what other help may be needed.

Indonesia and PNG plan joint exploration in border areas

By Amahl S. Azwar, The Jakarta Post | Headlines | Wed, May 22 2013, 10:22 AM

Indonesia has agreed to team up with neighboring Papua New Guinea (PNG) to explore potential oil and gas reserves in border areas as the former shifts its oil and gas exploration focus to the eastern part of the archipelago.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said after a meeting with PNG Public Enterprises and State Investment Minister Ben Micah on Tuesday that the two countries would work together by establishing joint operations to explore oil and gas reserves.

Indonesia’s Papua province, located in the eastern part of the nation, shares a 760-kilometer land border with PNG. The two nations currently have a few territorial disputes along the border, in areas with poor infrastructure.

“The border possesses a huge amount of unexplored oil and gas reserves, according to data obtained by our team. Economically, it would be easier to jointly explore these untapped resources,” Jero said in Jakarta.

“This is also important to maintain security along our border.”

Jero did not go into detail on which blocks the two countries planned to develop, but said they would also focus on building more infrastructure in border areas to support the energy and mining partnership.

Separately, Micah said his country also hoped its national petroleum companies would form a joint venture with oil and gas firm PT Pertamina to jointly develop hydrocarbon reserves in the areas.

PNG has two state-owned oil and gas firms, namely National Petroleum Company of Papua New Guinea (NPCP), which focuses on LNG and oil projects, and Petromin PNG Holdings Ltd., which
controls the nation’s petroleum and mining assets.

According to Micah, a number of major oil and gas companies, including France’s Total SA and Royal Dutch Shell, were currently exploring oil and gas resources in PNG. US-based ExxonMobil’s latest Asia Pacific liquefied natural gas (LNG) project is in New Guinea.

Pertamina CEO Karen Agustiawan, who was also present at Tuesday’s meeting, said her company would sign a joint study agreement with PNG’s national oil and gas company to develop resources. “We are also interested in entering PNG,” she said.

According to interim upstream watchdog SKKMigas, one of the blocks located near the Indonesia-PNG border is the Warim block, for which American oil and gas firm ConocoPhillips won the contract in 1989.

ConocoPhillips drilled six wells and spent US$98 million on exploration activities from 1990 to 1998 before the government declared the area a protected forest. SKKMigas exploration chief Nugrahani said in a text message on Tuesday that ConocoPhillips had been offered a contract renewal, which would enable the contractor to explore the Warim block for another five years.

“They will be given 15 years to exploit the block should they find profitable hydrocarbon reserves,” she said.

Indonesia, which left the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2008, has set its sights on the eastern part of the archipelago for exploration following the maturation of major onshore oil and gas blocks in the western part.

Notorious PNG bank robber escapes prison

Source: AAP

A manhunt is under way for Papua New Guinea's most notorious bank robber, William Kapris, who has escaped from the country's main prison along with three others, police say.
Police launched the search for Kapris shortly after he escaped from Port Moresby's Bomana prison at 5pm NZT on Tuesday.
"He had two guns," a police media spokesman told AAP.
"Kapris was the one who led the break out.
"These prisoners are high-risk prisoners, the worst of the worst."
He could not say how Kapris or the other prisoners escaped.
"He definitely had inside assistance," the spokesman said.
Deputy Police Commissioner and Chief of Police Operations Simon Kauba said a manhunt is under way to hunt down the escapees.
Police had earlier said 33 inmates had escaped, but then radically revised down the figure to four, including Kapris.
The break-out will be thoroughly investigated and anyone who had any role to play in the escape will be severely dealt with, Kauba said in a statement.
Kapris is known in PNG for a series of robberies at Bank of the South Pacific branches.
This breakout marks Kapris's third high-profile escape from authorities.
In 2010, the country's most wanted serial bank robber escaped from custody in a Toyota truck after taking a warder hostage.
He was aided that time by a woman who, posing as a lawyer, pulled a gun on guards.
He was rearrested a short time later along with several jail staff who allegedly assisted his escape.
It was not the first time Kapris had escaped PNG's justice system.
Before being captured in 2008, he had been on the run for eight years after escaping police detention while convalescing at Port Moresby General Hospital.
The news comes as PNG's legislators prepare to debate tougher penalties for violent crime in the nation's parliament, including reactivating the country's dormant death penalty.

Gillard says Australia will stand with PNG

By Eoin Blackwell, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has paid tribute to Australia and Papua New Guinea's  abiding friendship, as she highlighted some significant challenges during her first speech on her first official visit to the island nation.
At a state dinner to mark the visit, Ms Gillard told guests Australia will stand with PNG, our closest neighbour, as it tackles a grim health, education and security outlook.
"I know you are committed to progress in these fields and Australia joins you as a partner," Ms Gillard said.
"The PNG government has a far-reaching agenda of reform and we will support and assist you in this vital work.

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"This is a period of unmatched opportunity for Papua New Guinea. I know how determined this generation of leaders is to translate that opportunity into benefits for the generations to come."
Mr Gillard's host, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill was elected in July last year on a platform of fixing PNG's ailing health and infrastructure, which had stagnated following years of corruption and neglect.
Listing the challenges faced by PNG, Ms Gillard referred to the security of women "who endure such particular horrors."
PNG has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, and some estimates suggest as many as 70 per cent of PNG's women have experienced sexual or domestic violence.
International attention has recently been focused on a series of gruesome murders of women over allegations of "witch craft".
Ms Gillard and Mr O'Neill will on Friday sign a joint declaration to boost co-operation between the two countries.
"This 2013 declaration points the way to a new level of co-operation based on mutual trust, respect and common values," Ms Gillard said.
"We must build relationships that stand the test of time during the pressures and changes that accompany the Asian century."
She said PNG was making progress in the form of the $19 billion Exxon Mobil lead PNG LNG project, which Ms Gillard is due to visit on Friday.
"We see the same signs (of progress) in the 41 billion kina in Australian investment and in your commitment to establish an effective sovereign wealth fund based on international best practice," she said.
Australia invests in the project through the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.
"Australia is by far the biggest destination for Papua New Guinea exports and the biggest source of PNG's own imports of goods and services."
Mr O'Neill said Ms Gillard's visit reflected the importance her government attached to the PNG/Australia relationship.
"The relationship remains important and I think relevant," he said, referring to a raft of official visits.
"Let me stress the government-to-government relationship is in good shape.
"We are neighbours and I always believe neighbours should get on well together and sort their differences amicably.
"I want us to agree during your visit that we will recognise a need to reflect the new maturity of our relationship at all levels."
Mr O'Neill urged Ms Gillard to ease visa restrictions for Papua New Guineans visiting Australia.
He said there were a list of about 40 countries who had an easier time getting to Australia.

Gillard to visit PNG

By Eoin Blackwell, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

Julia Gillard will meet with her PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill (L) during her visit to Port Moresby. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard is expected to touch down in Papua New Guinea on Thursday afternoon, marking her first official trip to the Pacific Island nation.

In a visit lasting just under 48 hours, Ms Gillard is expected to meet with her PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill, his cabinet, and the opposition leader Belden Namah.
Ms Gillard and Mr O'Neill are expected to canvass a raft of issues during the visit.
Trade and enhanced defence cooperation will be the topics for the meetings, with PNG expected to raise concerns about visa processing for Papua New Guineans travelling to Australia.
PNG is also expected to seek Australia's help in boosting relations with Asia, as well as seeking Australia's help to host APEC in 2018.
"We are requesting (Australia) to assist us in using their experience when they hosted the meeting in Sydney, Mr O'Neill recently told Radio Australia.
"They would see what sort of issues they had to deal with when they hosted the event, so yes we are communicating with the Australian prime minister on that."
There is about $7 billion in annual trade between the two nations, while Australia also spends roughly $500 million a year in official aid to PNG.
The controversial Australian-run asylum seeker detention centre on Manus Island may also be discussed, with its legality currently before PNG's courts.
Ms Gillard is among a number of recent high-profile international visitors to PNG, which this time last year was crawling out of a political crisis sparked by the surprise elevation of Mr O'Neill to the prime ministership in mid-2011.
The mid-2012 election put the lid on the political turmoil and gave Mr O'Neill a massive parliamentary majority.
Since the polls, PNG has played host to Prince Charles, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Fijian dictator Frank Bainimarama, as well as a raft of Australian ministerial visits.
On Friday, Ms Gillard is expected to tour a Port Moresby market and a local primary school, and visit part of the $19 billion Exxon Mobil-led Liquefied Natural Gas project.
She will meet with business leaders while in Port Moresby, and attend a state dinner in the nation's parliament.
On Saturday she will visit Bomana War Cemetery before departing for Australia.
The last serving Australian prime minister to visit PNG was Kevin Rudd, who included Australia's closest neighbour amongst his first overseas trips after being elected in 2007.
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman is expected to visit Port Moresby next week.