Wolfram Alpha, Google and the future of Internet search engines

Wolfram Alpha founder Stephen Wolfram

Wolfram Alpha page

A brand-new “search engine” called Wolfram Alpha, although it doesn’t call itself a “search engine”, is taking the world – Papua New Guinea included - by storm since its launch last Friday. Just a few days into its launch and Wolfram Alpha, http://www59.wolframalpha.com/, has already been compared to Google and Wikepedia, or some hybrid of the two.
I first heard of the launch of Wolfram Alpha on Channel Nine’s Today Show on EMTV a couple of days ago, while downing a cup of coffee before catching a PMV (bus) to work in Port Moresby, and was immediately hooked
I checked it out on the Internet and found out that, in short, the engine takes a term, like our capital city of "Port Moresby" or my birth date of “August 9, 1967", and instantly produces a scientific report with details (like up-to-date city population, map, current local time, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and approximate elevation culled from its extensive internal knowledge base.
I also found out that August 9, 1967, was a Wednesday; that I am now 41 years, nine months and 13 days old; that my birth day was the 221st day of 1967; I share the same birth day as American footballer Deion Sanders; and that I was born at the phase of a waxing crescent moon.
In other words, Wolfram Alpha’s not a search engine, which produces articles as results.
It's a knowledge engine that produces answers with explicit information.
It's still a work in progress, but the unveiling is enough to make some question whether it will change the way we search the Internet.But Wolfram Alpha really does provide answers.
No URLs come back in the results, only a page of often dizzyingly detailed and up-to-date information, like a research report culled by mad scientists with complete access to a universal library.
“Wolfram Alpha's long-term goal is to make all systematic knowledge immediately computable and accessible to everyone,” the engine says on its home page.
“We aim to collect and curate all objective data; implement every known model, method, and algorithm; and make it possible to compute whatever can be computed about anything.
“Our goal is to build on the achievements of science and other systematisations of knowledge to provide a single source that can be relied on by everyone for definitive answers to factual queries.
“Wolfram Alpha aims to bring expert-level knowledge and capabilities to the broadest possible range of people—spanning all professions and education levels.
“Our goal is to accept completely free-form input, and to serve as a knowledge engine that generates powerful results and presents them with maximum clarity.
“Wolfram Alpha is an ambitious, long-term intellectual endeavor that we intend will deliver increasing capabilities over the years and decades to come.
“With a world-class team and participation from top outside experts in countless fields, our goal is to create something that will stand as a major milestone of 21st century intellectual achievement.”
What has now made Wolfram Alpha possible today is a somewhat unique set of circumstances—and the singular vision of Stephen Wolfram.
Stephen Wolfram is a distinguished scientist, inventor, author, and business leader.
Born August 29, 1959 in London, Wolfram is a British physicist, mathematician, author and businessman, known for his work in theoretical particle physics, cosmology, cellular automata, complexity theory, and computer algebra
He is the creator of Mathematica, the author of A New Kind of Science (NKS), the creator of Wolfram Alpha, and the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research.
His career has been characterised by a sequence of original and significant achievements.
“For the first time in history, we have computers that are powerful enough to support the capabilities of Wolfram Alpha, and we have the web as a broad-based means of delivery,” the home page continues.
“But this technology alone was not enough to make Wolfram Alpha possible.
“What was needed were also two developments that have been driven by Stephen Wolfram over the course of nearly 30 years.
“The first was Mathematica—the system in which all of Wolfram Alpha is implemented.
“Mathematica has three crucial roles in Wolfram Alpha.
“First, its very general symbolic language provides the framework in which all the diverse knowledge of Wolfram Alpha is represented, and all its capabilities are implemented.
“Second, Mathematica's vast web of built-in algorithms provides the computational foundation that makes it even conceivably practical to implement the methods and models of so many fields. “And finally, the strength of Mathematica as a software engineering and deployment platform makes it possible to take the technical achievements of Wolfram Alpha and deliver them broadly and robustly.
“Beyond Mathematica, another key to Wolfram Alpha was NKS.
“Many specific ideas from NKS—particularly related to algorithms discovered by exploring the computational universe—are used in the implementation of Wolfram Alpha.
“But still more important is that the very paradigm of NKS was crucial in imagining that Wolfram Alpha might be possible.
“Wolfram Alpha represents a substantial technical and intellectual achievement.
“But to build it required not just unique technology and ideas, but also the experience of 20 years of long-term R&D and ongoing development of robust technology at Wolfram Research.
“Wolfram Alpha’s world-class team draws from many fields and disciplines, and has unique access to experts across the globe.
“But what ultimately made Wolfram Alpha possible was a singular commitment to the goal of making all the world's systematic knowledge computable.”

Signs

'Tis little things that can hurt a lot

A true story.

I’m just a simple, working-class Papua New Guinean, struggling to make ends meet as well as get over the death of my wife last year.

I live with my four young children in a one-bedroom unit at Gerehu, a suburb of Port Moresby.

We have this tiny little backyard stretch which we use to grow vegetables.

Some weeks ago, I bought cucumber and tomato seeds, which I sowed.

It became a daily ritual for my four young children to get up early in the morning and water and weed their vegetable patch.

The cucumbers grew up and started flowering, and every day, the little ones would tell me of how much they were looking forward to eating their cucumbers.

Last Friday, after work, I went home and wondered why they were looking so sad and sullen.

“Dad,” they chorused, “those big boys next door have pulled out our cucumbers.”

It broke my heart!

‘Tis little things like this that can hurt a lot.

 

Any gains from globe-trotting Prime Minister?

Editorial in The National, Papua New Guinea’s leading daily newspaper

 

PRIME Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare does seem to have travelled much in recent times.

Since the Bali environment summit, he has been on official or semi-official trips which have taken him to Africa, the US, Australia, the Philippines, China, Indonesia again last week and this week to Japan.

Each of those trips cost a fair size of taxpayers’ money and the gains are not immediately visible.

Still, in all fairness, the case of the globe-trotting Prime Minister must be put in perspective.

Are the businesses which the Prime Minister leaves unattended by his absence those that only he can perform and perform well?

Are they urgent?

Has the nation suffered by his frequent absences from office?

Similarly, are the businesses he chooses to attend overseas such that only his personal presence would bring the greatest amount of good for this nation?

Are such businesses important and urgent for the well-being of the nation of PNG?

In this age of international terrorism, is our Prime Minister not endangering his life by frequent trips?

There is yet another line of inquiry and that is that a wandering Prime Minister might actually be signalling that he has lost interest in the affairs of State.

Let us examine each of these closely.

The type of government we practice in PNG ensures that no position is left unfilled if the incumbent leaves it temporarily. When the Prime Minister or indeed any other minister is called away on business, there is always another minister who is appointed to act in his or her place.

In the case of the Prime Minister, it is always the Deputy Prime Minister and if both are away, the most senior minister would normally do the honours.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu has shown himself on the occasions he has been acting Prime Minister to act decisively and responsibly.

So in the time that the Prime Minister has been away, has any serious affair of the State been mishandled or mismanaged?

To our knowledge the Prime Minister’s regular trips overseas have not resulted in any serious mishandling of affairs of the State back home.

He is not missed – and in politics that can be read negatively too.

If his presence in country was not missed, of what importance were the trips that the Prime Minister has chosen to take personally rather than delegate his ministers, most immediately his Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal?

The Prime Minister’s personal presence at the global conference on the environment at Bali, Indonesia, had immediate appeal and put PNG on the map.

As a small country, PNG has always been a keen supporter of environmental issues from a nuclear-free Pacific to the Kyoto Protocol but nowhere has it made the impact that its position on the environment at Bali did.

The environment is today the most important issue on the agenda of most governments. To be on top of environmental issues and to be recognised as a leader can bring tremendous goodwill and tangible benefits. There the Prime Minister has done well to be personally involved.

And as always, only heads of Governments can attend a Commonwealth Heads of Government meet, so the PM can be excused there. All the other trips could have been delegated to other ministers, many of them first timers who need the benefit of international exposure.

The Prime Minister does not need the experience and should only attend those conferences where his personal stature and seniority can gain PNG maximum benefit.

In this age of international terrorism, frequent trips by our Prime Minister abroad places him at greater risk of being involved in an incident and that would be a calamity that should be avoided.

The other matter is, of course, the cost of any one of these travels.

We would like to invite the Government to publish regular details of the cost of travels by any one of our important leaders, both public servants and politicians.

Along with this information, we would like to know what benefits there are that have come off these trips.

And finally, can we read in these frequent trips signs of a Prime Minister who is weary and perhaps no longer interested in the affairs of the State?

There is a thought but we are not qualified to answer this question either way.

Sepik agricultural college to be re-opened

Bush-covered classroom at Sepik Agricultural College. Pictures by PROF PHILIP SIAGURU

Entrance to the Sepik Agricultural College in Baiyik, East Sepik province, which is a ghost of its former self

Prof Philip Siaguru checking out a rundown classroom at the Sepik Agricultural College

The sad remains of a house at Sepik Agricultural College

The way it is now at the once-thriving Sepik Agricultural College

The once-thriving Sepik Agricultural College at is to be rebuilt under an ambitious plan spearheaded by the PNG University of Natural Resources & Environment (formerly University of Vudal) and East Sepik MPs including Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.
Details of the plan, which would cost several million kina and see the rundown college become a campus of the UNRE, were outlined at a meeting between university vice-chancellor Prof Philip Siaguru and East Sepk MPs Gabriel Kapris (Maprik, Minister for Commerce and Industry), Tony Aimo (Ambunti-Dreikikir, Correctional Services), Ronald Asik (Wosera/Gawi), Commerce and Industry secretary Anton Kulit, Investment Promotion Authority board chairman Prof Albert Mellam, staff of the national agriculture development programme (NADP) and support staff of the three MPs in Port Moresby last Friday (May 15).
Until its closure in 1992, the Sepik college at Bainyik, Maprik, was a lively agricultural training centre which produced quality extension officers for Papua New Guinea and overseas countries such as the Solomon Islands.
It is now, however, a shocking skeleton of its former self with rundown and vandalised property covered by thick grass.
Prof Siaguru gave a well-received PowerPoint presentation which started an animated discussion at the meeting.
The UNRE would provide K1 million under the NADP.
Mr Kapris at the beginning of this year wrote to Prof Siaguru to get the ball rolling, after similar letters to Pacific Adventist University, University of Techonology, Divine Word University and University of PNG failed to get any response.
He also allocated K100, 000 from his district improvement programme – with another K400, 000 to come – to kick start the project.
The re-opening of the Sepik college – to be tentatively known as Greater Sepik College of Natural Resources and Environment - also comes at a time when there is major agricultural development in East Sepik province through the K2.5 billion Sepik biofuel project by Cosmos Oil of Japan, and K900m agri-business development by Australian-based Chinese company SPZ Enterprises.
Prof Siaguru said a memorandum of understanding signed between South China Agricultural University and the UNRE last March would also work for the good of the re-opening of the Sepik college.
He plans for a feasibility study to commence as early as this month (May), a skeleton staff and infrastructure to be put in place next year and 2011, and the first student intake to be in 2012 for the diploma/degree programme in agriculture.
Under Prof Siaguru’s plan, the Sepik college would also cater for fisheries, forestry, tourism and the timely-subject of climate change.
“Total basic infrastructure establishment will be about K20m,” he said.
“At first enrolment in 2011, if all planning has been well, government funding should take over and the college should roll out on an annual budget of about K4m.”
Mr Kapris commented: “It’s very timely.
“The Asian Development Bank has also earmarked K1.2b for PNG.
“The timing is very right for us.”
Mr Aimo concurred: “I’m very happy with today’s meeting.
“Mr Kapris wrote to me for a master plan for development and this is now on the way to becoming a reality.”

Quick action by police prevents looting in Goroka, Mt Hagen and Kundiawa

From The National, Papua New Guinea’s leading daily newspaper (click to view this and other related stories)

QUICK action by police prevented opportunists from looting Asian-owned shops and supermarkets in Mt Hagen, Kundiawa and Goroka yesterday.
The strong police response was accompanied by condemnation of the looters’ actions by a host of politicians and civil society leaders including Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal, Eastern Highlands Governor Malcolm Kela-Smith, ousted Madang governor Sir Arnold Amet, Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta and PNG Trade Union Congress general secretary John Paska.
The Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby also expressed grave concern over the safety of its nationals and their businesses.
“It is our sincere hope that the PNG Government will take effective measures to prevent such incidents from recurring, so as to ensure a peaceful environment for all people in PNG to live and work safely and harmoniously,” a spokesperson for the embassy said.
Lae police, meanwhile, reported yesterday that two men had been killed in the mad rush to break into Chinese-run shops at Eriku last Thursday.
One of them was shot dead while another was trampled in the stampede.
Business activities in Goroka came to a complete standstill yesterday morning as anti-Asian protesters converged on the township calling for the removal of all Asian businesses.
Mr Kela-Smith addressed more than 5,000 protesters at the Peace Park and called on them not to loot shops and attack people.
He said he would convey their concerns to Parliament when it convenes this morning.
In Mt Hagen, police fired more than 50 gunshots into the air yesterday morning to disperse hundreds of people who had gathered at Pope John Paul oval.
Police said they had to fire in the air to chase the people away after they refused initial orders to disperse.
Similar police action stopped a group in Kundiawa from looting Asian-owned shops yesterday.
Simbu provincial police commander Supt Joseph Tondop confirmed last night that quick police action stopped a group of opportunists who tried to copy the situation in the other major centres.
Meanwhile, Enga provincial police commander Supt Michael Chare said the province was quiet.
Supt Chare said many Chinese-owned businesses in the province operated normally yesterday but were told to look out for any large gatherings near their shops.
He said his men were closely monitoring the business houses owned by the Chinese in Wabag town and also in Porgera.

Interesting material on the current controversy - mailed to me by someone I know

The number of ‘old Chinese’ in PNG is only about 1,000. The ‘new Chinese’ number around 20,000. It is estimated that 300 a week arrive in PNG without proper documentation. [Wikipedia – ‘Chinese people in PNG’]
There’s an interesting article I found entitled ‘Contemporary Chinese Community in Papua–New Guinea: Old Money versus New Migrants’ by James Chin, published in an academic journal last year.
Link - http://csds.anu.edu.au/volume_2_2008/117ChinCSDS2008Master.pdf
Chin makes these points:
1. The new Chinese were the biggest beneficiary of the sell-off by European business after the dramatic fall in the value of the kina in the late 1990s.
2. Among the new Chinese, the Malaysian Chinese appear to have some political ambitions.
3. The new Chinese are the biggest investors outside the oil and gas sectors. New foreign direct investment comes almost exclusively from the mainland Chinese and Malaysian Chinese communities.
4. Most mainland Chinese are investing in ‘reserved’ activities such as kai bars, bakeries, low end restaurants, and clothing stores that often bring them into conflict with local residents and the authorities. This conflict increases corruption, as many operators pay off police and immigration authorities when they come to check on illegal businesses.
5. The biggest number of illegal Chinese undoubtedly comes from mainland China.
6. Most of the Chinese groups (including the PNG Chinese) do not like the mainland Chinese and see them as crooks and ‘conmen’.
Chin also provides some interesting analysis:
1. PNGns associate Chinese with low-end businesses like kai bars and other direct economic competitors with nationals. This ill-will breeds suspicions, like the rumour that these kai bar owners sell nationals substandard food deemed unfit for human consumption.
2. There are growing calls for the government to act against mainland Chinese traders. The problem is that the bureaucracy (including the police) is so inefficient and corrupt that any actions it takes against these illegal operators are likely to be useless.
3. The increasing physical attacks against the mainland Chinese, in particular petty traders and kai bar operators, seems likely to increase.
4. The weight of mainland Chinese numbers and their important economic role mean they will soon dominate sections of the PNG’s economy.
5. It is almost certain that Chinese triads will establish a presence in PNG
6. Despite criticisms and complaints directed at the ‘new’ Chinese, Chin concludes that without them there would be no new investment in PNG. No one else has the necessary appetite for risk.

Test

New tanker helps ensure more reliable fuel deliveries

InterOil has announced a major new initiative aimed at improving bulk fuel delivers to the north coast and the islands.
The company has taken out a long-term lease on a modern oil tanker to service the ports in the region
The vessel, the Ipsilantis, was built in 2006 and is capable of carrying 3,200 tonnes of refined fuel.
It will service the ports of Kavieng, Manus, Wewak, Alotau and other ports as required on a monthly basis, delivering refined fuels from InterOil’s Port Moresby refinery.
InterOil Products Limited general manager Peter Diezmann says the vessel is particularly well suited to northern waters.
“She is state-of-the-art in design and construction and her moderate draft of five metres makes her ideal for ports with shallow drafts,” he said,
The Ipsilantis can carry the full range of refined fuels, unleaded gasoline (ULP), diesel and kerosene to domestic ports and will also be used for exports in the future.
“Her acquisition will help ensure we maintain reliable and regular deliveries to our network of bulk fuel terminal facilities.
“The vessel will greatly enhance our ability to service these important markets and will be of great benefit to our many customers there.
“Her acquisition is evidence of our continued commitment to properly service the entire nation with our full range of quality fuels”.

For further information
Susuve Laumaea
Senior Manager Media Relations - InterOil Corporation
Ph: (675) 321 7040
Mobile: (675) 684 5168
Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com  

Dinner & Pacific Island Art (please click to enlarge)

 

 

1943 Guide to Hiring Women (please click to enlarge)

Quite fascinating!

Pheremones and hormones

From Paul Oates in Queensland, Australia

Is Canoooodeling a word?
Is there true love in the animal kingdom?
These pictures would suggest there is.
It was a moooooving experience this morning in the cattle yards.
Suvista Richard and his girlfriend Suvista Fleur in what looks like 'the morning after'.

2009 Canoe Festival fundraising dinner flyer (please click to enlarge)

University stand non-negotiable, says Prof Siaguru

The newly-renamed University of Natural Resources and Environment (formerly University of Vudal) will not pull the plug on the rest of the 2009 academic year, says vice-chancellor Prof Philip Siaguru.
By the same token, he added, he would not tolerate students not attending classes and they would not receive any grades if they did not complete semester one.
Prof Siaguru said this after a report in the Post-Courier last Friday saying that the UNRE would close closes for the rest of the year.
Students have not been attending classes since last Monday over concerns about block courses and the grading system, which they want gotten rid of, as they claim it only allows for a small number of students at the top at the rest while the rest were below.
As of yesterday (Sunday), however, there was no clear indication as to when classes would resume, with Prof Siaguru to have met with staff last night and with dean Alan Quartermain today (Monday) to discuss on the next move by the administration.
Prof Siaguru, however, said a letter to the student body dated May 8  had been taken out of context by the Post-Courier.
The letter states quite explicitly about block courses, the current grading system, as well as the university’s position that its stand was “non-negotiable”.
Under the block arrangement, external experts on subject matters can move between campuses to teach, and did not limit the university to teaching campus students only as the whole country can be taught by videos, email and internet systems.
Whereas, under the current grading system, current percentages are 5% (A’s), 15% (B’s),
25% (C’s), and the rest D’s – “That is fair, as academic board cannot and will not drop its standard any lower, hence, compromising the quality graduates this university has been producing. The position is non-negotiable. This university will not drop its standards just to get more scholarships. Students just have to be good or better to earn that scholarship”.
Prof Siaguru said, in his first media interview since the stand-off began, as he has been very busy officiating at the LNG meeting between government and landowners at Kokopo, that “I did not say that I will close the university”.
“If the students do not complete the 13 weeks required for semester one, then the academic board cannot award them any grades for semester one.
“We (administration) have already made two attempts to get them (students) to come to the table and discuss, but they did not come.
“We invited the SRC executive to come for the meeting but the SRC president (Gibson Honjepari) is insisting that the administration must attend a forum and explain to the students.
“I am a seasoned university administrator and I know forums cannot solve anything.
“I told the students that the forum will not solve anything and invited them to a roundtable discussion, but they made it their position that the only avenue to discuss this is in a public forum with the students.
“I maintain that our role in the university is to teach the students not only in their chosen professions, but also proper governance, compliance, and to follow the rule of law.
“It’s not in our curriculum, but all institutions must make it their responsibility to teach students proper conduct, governance, compliance, and rule of law.
“I’m simply telling the students, ‘no, it’s wrong what you’re doing’, you cannot expect the administration to come and meet you in a public forum.
“This is a state institution and proper conduct must apply.
“I’m putting my foot down and saying ‘no’.
“The SRC president and his executive have allowed a minority of students to lead them and that’s wrong.
“A leader is elected to lead, not be led.”

Breaking news

A picture of the rioting in Goroka today by a Goroka-based photographer

A policeman in Goroka has been shot dead (to be confirmed) as rioting in the troubled Eastern Highlands capital continues. Another has suffered severe knife cuts to the head. Both men have been rushed to Goroka Hospital’s emergency.

Details to come.

Some pictures just do not need captions!

Something to put a smile on your face this Monday morning!

7 to 8 DIGIT NUMBERS FOR MOBILE PHONE NUMBERS (Please click to enlarge)

 

Police go on alert as anti-Asian uprising continues

Madang, Goroka shops looted

 

By PISAI GUMAR in The National

 

THE anti-Chinese traders’ sentiment that started in Port Moresby and flared in Lae last week reared its ugly head in the Madang and Eastern Highlands provinces at the weekend.

Elsewhere, police in Wewak, East Sepik province, and Mt Hagen in Western Highlands were patrolling the streets to prevent any rioting against Chinese traders.

In Port Moresby last Friday, acting Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu had instructed police to immediately investigate the incidents and deal with the ring leaders (see accompanying story).

He had also instructed the Department of Commerce and Industry to investigate claims that a number of the Chinese shops hit were operating illegally.

Four Chinese-owned shops in Goroka were emptied of goods and an undisclosed amount of cash in a nasty Sunday reveille when men, women and children ran riot at 6.30am.

At the gateway to the Eastern Highlands, Kainantu, the atmosphere was palpable but nothing happened as police kept a close tab.

In Madang on Saturday, however, in another morning raid, three shops were attacked by hordes of people believed to be squatters, at 7.30am.

Looters cleaned out one while three were left just as badly damaged when police arrived.

The incidents, like Lae where rioters came from Saw Dust, Kamkumung, West Taraka, 1 to 12 Miles settlements, were attributed to people from the sprawling squatter settlements of Parara, Pis Wara, and Genoka in Goroka and Sisiak 3 and Bukbuk settlements in Madang.

The Sisiak and Bukbuk settlers were joined by hundreds of other settlers in a force numbering hundreds to attack two new Chinese shops and a kai bar in the heart of Madang town.

Other shops, Asian and national, were forced to close doors.

According to Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Chief Insp Augustine Wampe, women, children and men, numbering in the thousands, flocked onto the streets and prevented traffic flow.

Police and private security guards were also outnumbered.

Mr Wampe said the people walked into four Asian shops and completely emptied them of deep freezers, radios, TV screens, washing machines and groceries.

The looted shops, which estimated their losses at K250, 000, were PMK restaurant and retail, Kim Restaurant, Saveu retail and wholesale and the Goroka Yacht Club.

Others that were damaged included Hot Spot, Bintangor, SP Brewery and Trukai Industries.

In Madang, provincial police commander Chief Insp Anthony Wagambie said police apprehended 15 youths.

He said settlement youths took cue of the Lae and Port Moresby incidents last week and mobilised and entered J&Z Trading as it opened for business at 7.30am.

Last Friday, Chief Insp Wagambie said he had warned all shop owners in town not to open before 8 o’clock on Saturday morning to give time for police to prepare.

So as soon the doors were opened and the youths rushed in and emptied the shop, a routine patrol police responded immediately, he said.

A back-up police Mobile Squad arrived and dispersed the crowd and apprehended 15 suspects.

The looters ran into the market and took refuge among the crowd, stopping police from shooting.

Meanwhile, the Madang town market will remain closed today to control further trouble, ousted governor Sir Arnold Amet said last night.

Sir Arnold also went on Radio Madang to appeal for calm in the province, urging citizens to refrain from causing any further trouble.

He said the provincial government, the Madang Urban local level government and police decided yesterday to close the market to business and appealed to citizens to keep gatherings of people to a minimum to avoid any possibility of trouble.

Traffic in and out of Madang was also being closely monitored, Sir Arnold said.

 

Media Pool Competition

Click http://2008telikommediapoolcompetition.blogspot.com/ to visit the site of the Media Pool Competition in Port Moresby, which keeps Port Moresby journalists, their friends and supporters occupied every Saturday.

I do play for a team called Freelancers, however, remain strictly off the grog.

 

Malum

 

Still waiting, and waiting and waiting for an apology and compensation from Timothy Bonga

Now that Timothy Bonga has been recycled as MP for Nawaeb, and made chairman of the Powerful Public Accounts Committee, perhaps he can apologise to me and compensate me for the beating that I received at his hands in 2007 before the elections.

The Taiwanese government and media have also implicated Timothy Bonga and Dr Florian Gubon in the US $30 million deal from money that was supposed to come to Papua New Guinea.

Apart from that scam, the good people of Nawaeb and the rest of Papua New Guinea should know that for no apparent reason, outgoing Eda Ranu executive chairman Mr Bonga harassed, insulted, and then assaulted me at the Lamana Gold Club on Friday evening, May 4, 2007.

The incident happened as I was about to leave Lamana after a few 'Happy Hour' drinks with workmates.

Mr Bonga confronted me as I was leaving – out of the blues - and accused me of working together with Lae MP and New Generation Party leader Bart Philemon to bring him down.

He made reference to the recent newspaper reports about his payout from Eda Ranu.

I denied this, saying that I was no longer working as a fulltime journalist (at that time, I was working with the government), and walked out to catch a taxi, but Mr Bonga followed me outside where he punched me, pushed me to the ground, and then proceeded to kick me in full view of security guards.

I suffered a black eye, a sore face and a painful back.

This was a criminal matter, which I wanted to pursue further with police, but decided not to, lest his election chances be jeopardised.

I met him in late 2007, at a Port Moresby supermarket, and he made a verbal committment to sort me out, however, this has not been the case.

In true Papua New Guinea style, it is only fitting that Mr Bonga compensate me, my family, and my friends, given that he has already received his big pay cheque from Eda Ranu , is now Nawaeb MP and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and has publicly confirmed benefiting from Taiwanese money.

Malum Nalu

Port Moresby