Professional development of the defence force

By REGINALD RENAGI

As Papua New Guinea progresses further towards the next decade and beyond, the roles of our defence force in developing and maintaining a credible defence capability will no doubt go through a significant change.

Since independence, the roles of the PNG Defence Force have seen little change in both its structure and character.  Today, our military is at a crossroads.  Now is the time for the defence organisation to face up to some real issues, make long-term decisions and get on with those decisions. 

Defending our national security in the next decade calls for a complete re-appraisal of its outlook – not just the capabilities of the Force now, but on how defence conducts its future business from here on.

In future, the defence organisation must adapt to changes which affects military performance.

 Defence leaders must manage changes affecting the attitudes, motivations, “spirit” and moral values of those newly entering the military now to start new life-long careers as professional security practitioners.

The defence environment needs to change and the spectrum of change is both broad and dynamic.

 Defence executives must ensure the military can not continue in future by unduly straining old management maxims to new conditions.

 It is time our defence organisation must learn to live with rapid change, profit from it, thrive on it and not be absorbed with maintaining the status quo.

 The status quo is comfortable but it could get us killed.

A Defence organisation without an inherent built-in means of managing rapid change is without the means of its own preservation.

 Experience over the years has revealed that defence is not good at handling change quickly. 

We therefore, have some way to go before defence as an integrated Ministry can feel confident in its ability to successfully manage change.

Whilst the PNGDF has come a long way since independence, major events in recent times have now placed the whole professionalism of the force into some doubt.

For the future, the most important change needed in defence is to win.

 Winning on the battlefield tomorrow depends on how defence recognises its people and process today. 

Some serious cracks have shown up in our defence organisation in terms of way it does its business (processes) and the way it handles its people.

 The pulse of endeavour in our military is wavering and things are not so good as we face an undeniably serious personnel wastage problem.

Consequently defence is confronted with the social engineering problem of revamping the whole organisation to meet the changing aspiration and expectations of the people it needs.

 Let us not kid ourselves here, the truth is that reduction in experience levels continues because good people now do not feel strongly enough committed to this once proud and professional state security agency.

So unless defence genuinely comes to grips with decentralisation and streamline its process so as to enhance commitment and reduce frustration, people will continue to defect and without stable experience levels defence will become a second rate, a loser in the new corporate environment.

The PNGDF is becoming uncompetitive not because it is doing the wrong things but because it is not doing things right.

 It is not placing its people in an environment where they feel like winners. 

There seems to be a growing feeling that the PNGDF is becoming a second-rate team. 

Today, many service personnel perceive that the military is increasingly misunderstood by an uninterested public and increasingly cowed by a government which fails to recognise the uniqueness of the military, and make allowance for it.  

Moreover, the real exciting future challenge now seen by the writer may not be obvious to the government.

 It is well overdue now and lies in managing change better in the defence environment. 

The first and foremost is therefore that of reshaping and refocusing the whole defence structure and processes to better serve the aspirations of the kind of people we need, the type of people who can save us and pass the test. 

But what sort of people are we looking at to make our defence force an efficient organisation?  A professional team of men and women – highly educated, trained, motivated elite force and endowed with social prestige, i.e. a professional defence force in every sense of the word.

The only way our defence force is going to ensure professional development of its people is through an increased participation in appropriate levels of education and training programs, both here and abroad.  Education for most of us should really start on the day of enlistment, attendance at various training and education courses, by observations, experience, and most importantly and through self-administered education.

 It does not stop the day we retire but starts anew in another changed environment: “Civy Street” (or civilian community).

Dividing the learning experience of an officer, or a servicemen and women into either education or training is difficult. 

A better course is to consider that every learning experience professional service personnel undergo is part of one’s education as a professional military officer.

Some of it contributes directly to the officer or service personnel’s ability to carry out technical and mechanical tasks such as conning (i.e. driving a ship under certain controlled conditions), piloting an aircraft, or firing a weapon. 

Most is not directly related to a professional competency requirement, but is instead, stored in memory through intense continuous training sessions under combat conditions of pressure learning for possible future use.

Professionalism among military officers is much broader. 

The defence force officer of the future must manage deep grounding in a chosen warfare specialty including a wide range of professional knowledgeability in other specialist areas as well. 

The young officer of today must be increasingly professional in many areas.

 In this way, they will be better prepared to perform a multitude of tasks on short notice at any time in their careers, if they have had a broad education, and are widely qualified professionally. 

Early advanced education and professional opportunities will produce such smart and competent officers. 

In essence, our defence organisation must now need to facilitate a range of enhanced opportunities open to all ranks for increasing their professionalism, and in the case of an officer – there is no limit to the professional broadening he (or she) can achieve. 

All that is needed are initiative, aggressiveness and hard work.

This discussion covers several facets of what professional development of service personnel in the defence force of the future means; but how do we go about it? 

This calls for an efficient human resource planning program, and good career management strategies to be adopted in future.

While today, we have the basic ingredients of what makes up a defence force, it is far from being complete as an effective fighting force. 

The future of our defence force hinges very much on the government and leaders in defence investing heavily now in developing defence professionalism.

Today’s defence human resource needs to take full advantage of these educational opportunities.

  The professionalism of today’s servicemen must be improved upon steadily. 

What is required is to produce effective servicemen is a combination of wide educational and professional opportunity, not limited by age or rank. 

Finally, I specially urge the new defence command to continue to develop military professionalism through integrated and creative programmes of education and training initiatives for its defence personnel

.  I am equally confident that this will be a top priority for our defence force as it gears itself under a new revised reform programme within the next decade or so. 

 The writer is a former defence chief, now a master trainer in a private training school, researcher and writes as a hobby.

Australia Week: Yumi Piksa to continue producing films at University of Goroka

Caption:Ms Stephanie Copus-Campbell (Head of AusAID in PNG), Mr Wep Kanawi, HE Mr Ian Kemish, Ms Stella Lukula, Ms Klinit Barry and Ms Verena Thomas at the Komuniti Tok Piksa launching.

A film screening of Australian and Papua New Guinean short films last week, as part of the Australia Week celebrations in Port Moresby, was deemed a success.

The Papua New Guinean short films shown at the screening were those produced by the Yumi Piksa team last year at the University of Goroka.

The films which have been shown in Tahiti, Australia and on CNN (America) were premiered at the University of Papua New Guinea to both students and the public for Australia Week.

Audiences were welcomed to the screening on the night by Australian High Commissioner His Excellency Ian Kemish.

Deputy Head of AusAID PNG Ms Margaret Calla also spoke on the night emphasising the importance of short films and the continued support given to filmmakers in PNG by AusAID.

Australia Network was also present on the night and presenter Tania Nugent invited Yumi Piksa members attending the event to share their experiences with the audience.

Verena Thomas, facilitator of the workshop, Klinit Barry and Stella Lukula participants and emerging filmmakers emphasised the importance of working with the communities when making films in the Highlands.

For Yumi Piksa, as Klinit Barry said: “It is important to speak the same language as the community and develop trusting relationships with the people in order to develop engaging and meaningful films.”

The other highlight of the evening was the launching of the Komuniti Tok Piksa project based at the University of Goroka.

Mr Wep Kanawi of the National Aids Council Secretariat (NACS) officially launched the project and explained that it would be about using filmmaking in communities as a way to create more dialogue in PNG about HIV and AIDS issues.

Mr Kanawi stated that: “The Yumi Piksa films are real stories, about real people in real situations in real PNG. Papua New Guineans love storytelling and conversations that last a long time in their minds and more so in their hearts.”

NACS is a supporting partner of Komuniti Tok Piksa in collaboration with AusAID for the next 18 months.

The Australia Network will also work with Komuniti Tok Piksa this week to feature the project in an episode of its television program Pacific Pulse.

The short film screening of Australian and Papua New Guinean productions demonstrated how the medium of film is able to connect people from different nations, and how it strengthens the ties between Australia and PNG through the sharing and understanding of our stories.

The Komuniti Tok Piksa project is a collaboration between the University of Goroka and the University of Technology (UTS) Sydney, Australia.

Lead investigator is Professor Rick Iedema from UTS who is experienced in video communication for health communication and social change.

As part of the project, student and staff researchers from UOG will be trained to use video cameras to undertake research and to record community stories about HIV and AIDS in an effort to reduce stigma and to better understand its impact on local communities.

A response to claims that Australia interfered in PNG law

From PAUL OATES

A response has been posed to the PNG PM and Governor Wenge about their claims that Australia interfered with internal PNG law.
Check the comments to this article.
http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2010/03/png-take-interfering-australia-to-world-court.html

Landless Papua New Guineans - Is this the future?

By SCOTT WAIDE

We came to  Benny Mangua's village at about   Midday. This trip was for  a story of  how a foreign company  allowed into the country by the government of Papua New Guinea was treating the local  people - the original owners of the land.

I had packed a camera and several tapes not expecting anything major apart from a few disgruntled landowners who had not been paid their dues.  As I was going to  discover, I'd come to Kurumbukari mine site quite unprepared mentally.

            Benny Mangua  an  elderly man of  in his mid sixties greeted  a teammate of mine, Steven Sukot -  quite warmly but then whilst I shot a few seconds of  footage, the old man  broke down   and wept.   Steven responded  as any Papua New Guinean would – embracing the old man  and tried to calm him down as best he could.

            "My tears keep falling. I've lost my land. I've lost my home."

He continued to weep as I brought the camcorder  around to him and clumsily adjusted the audio settings . In 10 years  of  television this, to me,  was  truly a rare moment.  I never dreamed that I would  live to see the day   when this happened.  This was a Papua New Guinean landowner  who    had been forced off  his land by a foreign company.  Benny Mangua of the Mauri Clan  was  born and raised on this land on which his ancestors  had settled many generations ago.   In a matter of months, he had become a landless  Papua New Guinean.

"I've become like a parasite. I have no place  to stay."

He wasn't exaggerating when he said it. For Benny Mangua's  entire clan's land  area   contains   some   the  richest nickel deposits  in the Southern Hemisphere.   It is here that the Chinese owned company – MCC  - will begin  the  controversial  US1.4 billion  dollar  nickel mining project. 

            About 50 of his clan members left  for a temporary resettlement area – a forbidden,  sacred site where Benny Mangua's   ancestral spirits  dwell.   It was a kilometer from  where we were.   But sacred as it was to the Mauri Clan of Kurumbukari,   the site has been designated  as a stockpile area for nickel ore. 

            Only two houses now stand on Mauri clan land. Both  belong to  Benny Mangua's two sons - Peter Kepma and his younger brother,  John.   They've refused to leave.

            "There is a permanent relocation area. But the land belongs to another person... another clan, says Peter Kepma.  "If we go and live on the blocks of land there, we won't be able to plant food gardens or hunt." 

            MCC  began issuing  food rations  to the Mauri clan  since the relocation began. But the clan members say the food rations   can only last them a few days. 

            " The company is annoyed that we  made gardens here," John Kepma says pointing to  cassava and taro growing on the stockpile area. "Even where the forest is… they don't allow us to plant food. 

"But we have to. If we don't we'll starve to death."

            John Kepma chuckles as he tells me about the company's attitude towards local people. 

            "If we have a problems and we  try to bring it to the company's attention, they treat it like a criminal matter."

            Police have came to  his elder brother's house  eight times already. Peter Kepma is the more serious type. Quiet undemanding yet stubborn. 

"They tried to intimidate me," he says. "They came well dressed in their uniforms and carrying their weapons. But I told them: "You're not from China. You all own land just like me… I'm here because of my land. This isn't State land. This is my land and I've still got it."

To say "the  Mauri clan faces   a difficult future"  is a gross understatement.   As I filmed  along the track  leading to   the temporary  settlement,   a  five year old girl,   walks ahead of me. She is in  the shot nimbly picking her way through the kunai grass.  I can see the audio levels on  my camcorder peaking to the patter of her tiny feet on the yellow  nickel rich earth.

I wondered  if she  understood why the old man had wept in front of total strangers  about  half an hour earlier. 

He understood very well that  She would not have  the pleasure of learning  the  ways of old  on her  grandfather's land nor gather eggs from the forest   like her mother's mother did many years ago.  The old man understood  that unlike other Papua New Guinean's she   was leaving behind  the land  that sustained her ancestors for generations. She was leaving behind her past and future.

 

 

- Scott Waide  was  as a senior Journalist for EMTV and Producer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He  currently works as a  documentary producer. 

Conspiracy theories

From PAUL OATES

It has been suggested that PNG's ruling leaders are really not that bad at all. That PNG's current ills are merely an external conspiracy to undermine the PNG government.

This could be a very convincing and convenient argument if it were true. Afterall, PNG has long been dependent on external assistance in order to function and an external conspiracy theory could be a breath of fresh air to the current government if it were found to be true. Were this suggested piece of misinformation to be accepted by the majority of PNGians as the cause of PNG's current political impasse, if would relieve the pressure on the Somare government to change direction. In a stiff credibility test however, it is difficult to imagine how external influences are responsible for poor government health services, run down education, non existent public works and any amount of PNG's reported internal problems. The PNG media is consistently full of complaints that the PNG government is not effectively looking after its own people and that some PNG leaders are increasing becoming obsessed with the sole intention of retaining political power at any cost..

The regrettable position of the Prime Minister, as head of the PNG government, is that he must accept responsibility for his government's action or inaction. Currently, the only reaction by the PM and his government seems to be to attack anyone who suggests the government is failing in its duties. Its as if, as has been suggested, the PM and his team believe they are now above the law. Now this suggestion may have some merit when one examines the recent claims by Somare that he is the reincarnation of a Sepik crocodile River god. Those that remember Somare from his early days as Chief Minister might recall his observed frustration with organised religion.

Now it appears Somare has effectively set his country on an undemocratic path with the dismissive treatment of the PNG Constitution and Parliament. That being so, the next logical step is to rule without Parliament, a course that seems inevitable if the PNG PM continues to govern without allowing the Constitutional and legal system of his country to operate properly.

To function as a head of state without following the Constitution and the law is tantamount to dictatorship. To repeat an old truism, 'Those that turn their back on history are doomed to repeat it'.

"Dealing with a dictatorship is like dealing with a snake. If you tread on its tail, it will bite you. You must deal with its head." said a German woman as was explaining about her first hand experience with the German dictatorship during World War 2.

Speaking about the how the German dictatorship rose to power in the 20th Century, the initial steps along the road were to gradually weaken the powers of Parliament and then to abolish it and any other the checks and balances altogether. The powers of the country's President (the equivalent of PNG's Governor General) was effectively removed and given to Chancellor Hitler (the equivalent of the role of PM), and any opposition was then effectively eliminated and silenced.

At every point throughout the build up of the German dictatorship, while they still have an effective opposition in their Parliament, the German people could have stood up and demanded the slippery slide into dictatorship stop. The problem was that most people were too concerned with finding a way of relieving their suffering and domestic worries to take notice of what was happening to their country. In addition, all it would have taken is for Germany's neighbours to have demanded a stop to the process yet no one who had a voice made any statement of dissent because they were afraid of creating another war. Yet that is what they ended up with anyway.

Upon attaining political power, Hitler then rapidly suppressed public comment to the point that many people came to believe the propaganda they were told by the government controlled media was true. Those who then stood up against the tyrant were either murdered or had to flee their country.

While its not suggested that PNG and her PM is quite at this stage yet, unless the law is allowed to take its course, this is where it can easily lead. Remember, you don't have to go too far from PNG to find a military dictatorship so it can and does happen very easily. Fiji's press is now effectively muzzled and her court system is now controlled by the unelected government. No one would surely suggest that the current Fiji dictatorship was the result of foreign involvement. The current suffering of the people of Zimbabwe is also another salient example. Both were home grown revolutions and dictators.

Forewarned is forearmed.

Defence Force transports rubber from Manus

Caption: Galley Reach Holding factory assistant, Laki Iovai (second from left) with help from DAL rubber section staff, organises the uploading of the rubber after arrival in Port Moresby

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

The Government’s export driven and green revolution policies are well and truly serving the interests of the rural farmers.

This was evident especially for rubber growers in the Manus province who have faced difficulties in transporting their cup lump rubber for processing and export to overseas markets.

Thanks to the PNG Defence Force, the PNGS Seeadler was mobilised last week to assist in transporting 33 bags or 600kg of cup lump rubber from Manus to Port Moresby.

As part of its civil-military cooperation, the PNGDF has agreed to use its aircraft and naval vessels to assist rural and remote communities transport their agricultural produce to markets.

With the support of the commanding officer of the Naval Base in Lombrum, Manus, the shipment of the rubber was done on a trial basis, however, farmers and the provincial division of agriculture and livestock are very excited.

The successful outcome of the trial shipment will determine whether the PNGDF will continue to provide similar assistance in the future.

The shipped rubber from Manus was unloaded and transported to the Galley Reach Holding rubber factory at Doa in Central province.

The last shipment of rubber from Manus to Galley Reach factory was in 2004.

Manus agriculture advisor Benedict Bulungol said the assistance from the PNGDF was appreciated and a boost to morale of farmers who had struggled for many years to transport their produce.

He said rubber production was small due to lack of market, however, plans were in place to revitalise smallholder planting.

Currently, there are 126 farmers and there is potential to increase production to 100 tonnes per year.

Mr Bulungol said the strategy to revive rubber included conducting awareness and mobilising farmers, carrying out rehabilitation and introducing high-yielding planting materials, capacity building including training, transportation and marketing of cup lump rubber and establishment of cooperative societies.

He said the provincial administration, with the support of National Department of Agriculture and Livestock, PNGDF and relevant agencies aimed to win back the confidence of the farmers.

The support by the navy in transporting the rubber has rekindled the interest of farmers in the province, who have been waiting for such assistance for a long time.

“Rubber, like the other cash crops in Manus is an existing commodity and redeveloping the industry is the responsibility of the division of agriculture and livestock, the farmers, local level

governments and all stakeholders,” Mr Bulungol said.

“The rubber industry in Manus can be revived and has the potential to grow, given the right support from relevant stakeholders.

“The immediate beneficiaries are the farmers, women and children who have suffered for a long time.

“The revival of rubber will assist in providing cash income earning opportunities and improve the standard of living in the rural communities.”

Conservative coffee farming a way to go

Caption: The forests of Yus are critical habitats for Huon (or Matschie’s) tree kangaroos, an endangered species that is one of Earth’s unique creatures

 

By YVONNE NGUTLICK of CIC

 

 Coffee Industry Corporation’s extensive extension services have paid off again following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Programme (TKCP in Lae, Morobe province. 

 TKCP is a programme of the Woodland Park Zoo, a non-profit organisation based in Seattle, Washington, United States of America.

 It has offices in Lae and Cairns, Australia.

The TKCP works closely with Conservation International (CI) and other like organisations in PNG and throughout the world.

The MOU should see coffee farmers in the Yupna, Urawa and Som (YUS) areas of the Kabwum district producing coffee grown under environmental conservative practices that target gourmet coffee buyers who value such systems and offer premium prices.

 CIC’s extension services and firm commitment to local development through coffee shares the same vision as TKCP to improve the livelihood of communities.

The MOU outlines the philosophies through which TKCP and CIC Ltd intend to work together over the next two years.

It focuses on delivering a series of technical trainings on garden management and quality improvement to coffee growers around the YUS Conservation Area of Kabwum district, under the broad project goal of improving livelihoods through coffee sales.

Given its isolation from main centers, the YUS areas derive their income from minor sales of fresh food and coffee.

 All smallholder coffee growers there are accessible only by air transport thus growers would be mobilised into groups to attain maximum possible income.

The CIC appreciates the opportunity to work with TKCP and to integrate conservation and landscape planning into its extension programmes.

This partnership should pave the way for CIC to gain an understanding of conservation in coffee production and an add-on to their much-admired extension services throughout PNG.

 

 

Goilala has great potential to produce temperate vegetables

Caption: Farmer Apo Airo and FPDA horticulture advisor for Southern region Michael Atuai displaying vegetables that can be grown in Goilala

 By GARY FAGAN of FPDA

GOILALA area has been found to be the greatest potential producer of temperate vegetables in Central province.

This is according to a recent finding of an agricultural technical team that has been tasked by Central province Governor Alphonse Moroi.

The team was sent out to all districts of the province in February to establish an agricultural development database for Central province.

The team visited all the districts the province, talking to people and identifying their development constraints and possible intervention strategies.

Fresh Produce Development Agency was also part of this technical team, and was represented by Southern region horticulture advisor Michael Atuai.

The development of the database, according to Mr Atuai, would be to identify possible projects and a pairing matrix would be used to prioritise projects.

With the identification of possible projects aimed at improving rural livelihoods, partnerships would be established with organisations and individuals with common interest to help the rural people of Central province.

Mr Atuai said “One of the major areas would be the LNG market and the need to establish potential production areas, improve the market chain and provide technical assistance, by sourcing both external and internal assistance.”

 “Of all the districts visited by the team, Goilala stood out as having the greatest potential of producing the temperate vegetables as similar to those to those grown in the Highlands of PNG.”

He added Mr Moroi believed that shortening the value chain, improving post-harvest practices and proper packaging of vegetables would see city residents enjoy high quality vegetables on a consistent basis.

“Central Province has the potential to make this happen, given the right kind of support from stakeholders and authorities,” Mr Atuai said.

 “Mr Moroi would want to see that that all other districts in Central province who have great land masses with huge potential for vegetable production would receive assistance.

“This would include establishment of some irrigation practices with some soil improvement to turn the large flat areas into productive areas.

“The Governor does not want the people of Central province to be bystanders, rather be partakers in major developments such as the LNG.”

Meanwhile, the FPDA would be a key partner in the whole activity.

The vegetable component of the agriculture sector would have high prominence due to Port Moresby being the biggest fresh produce market in the country.

FPDA would hence be playing a pivotal role in the whole market chain in the vegetable industry in Central province.

The current demand for food and the likely increase to come due to the LNG project would see demand rise further, therefore,  it would be wiser to mobilise resources closer to the market due to PNG’s poor marketing infrastructure where quality of fresh produce deteriorate very quickly n transit over long distances.

Apart from the direct royalty and employment benefits, the rural people of Central province will be empowered to take on and benefit from the LNG project by empowering the rural economic sector.

The coastal people are also very good seafarers and that potential will also be tapped into through assistance to be sought for marine products.

Another crop that is also to be looked into is the arabica coffee, which is grown in the higher altitudes, while robusta grows well in the lowlands.

Smallholder rubber producers and cocoa and coconut farmers will also be assisted through the agricultural development database currently being established.

Livestock activities are also being seriously considered due to large flat land masses in Central province.

Improved pastures and drinking water for the free ranging ruminant and other improved establishment for other animals like poultry and pigs would also be taken into account.

The team has also identified through consultation that infrastructure has to be in place and in good condition for successful agricultural production and marketing. Infrastructure includes marketing facilities, roads and bridges and airstrips to remote locations.

The need for district marketing depots has surfaced and the team is seriously considering district depots in Central province that will feed the main Boroko market facility that will be in place soon.

  

 

 

Papua New Guinea a 'failed' state

This article, author unknown, is circulating on the Internet

Papua New Guinea is on the verge of being a failed State.

The country is facing a very difficult future.

 The economy has grown slowly or come to a stop despite new LNG deals with foreign corporations, the outlook for growth is bleak because of the continued lawlessness and the continued corrupt practices revealed by the media and heavily promoted by the government of Michael Somare and Puka Temu.

Corruption is rife everywhere you look and however you look at it, it’s taken a toll on the lifeblood and development of this country, it’s a disease, it’s spreading in all facets of the government to even the lowest-paid individual in the office.

Law and order have broken down; we have seen in the past eight months an increase in the number of jail breakouts in Papua New Guinea and it is truly unsafe to go out or even visit at night.

Recently 12 hardcore prisoners with the aid of people in authority managed to escape Bomana’s high security prison.

People who are behind this escape have been identified but knowing the weak laws and the laidback culture posed by everyone you will have to bet your life savings if there are people arrested to face justice.

In my mind I know nothing will happen.

The government is very weak in its approach in apprehending people implicated in crises that have started in the country.

 What I am saying here is that there is too much talk about this and that but when it comes to the crunch of arresting and putting criminals behind bars, the people in authority have a weak spot.

 We have had Commissions of Inquiry one after the other yet nothing is happening - no one is arrested; we know very well that Somare is protecting people close to him and himself.

 I thought that Sir Mekere was a renegade PM but at least he was not afraid to speak his mind; he brought much-needed changes to PNG.

The man we have now as PM has leeched this country’s lifeblood and the next generations of Papua New Guineans will pay for his stupid decisions.

The country’s borders are unmanned, an influx of illegal activities is taking place on and across these borders yet there is no stamp of authority or any concerns shown by this government to curtail issues there.

The country has become a safe haven for terrorists from Afghanistan and Pakistan who can easily bribe their way through the PNG/Indonesian border.

Under this current government's watch, high level white collar crime is rampant. Nepotism and wantokism is now taken to an all new levels with the appointments of cohorts that relate one way or another to Somare or the Somare business and political dynasty.

Should this downward trajectory continue, Papua New Guinea could become a "failed state”.

 Just last week the Public Accounts Committee lauded five out of the 1000+ government departments, agencies, provincial governments and statutory organisations on the rather poor and somewhat uncanny approach taken by them in reporting the financial management and administration of these organisations by State funds.

Violent crime rates are escalating, crimes against the family, crimes against humanity like those relating to sorcery are soaring, yet these are not that important to the ruling National Alliance Party -  they are only interested in consolidating their numbers because in the coming months there is likely to be a vote of no-confidence in Parliament.

 Recent rift between party stalwarts from two regions are now not having confidence in the leadership of Somare.

At first glance, such pessimism may seem misplaced.

 Despite the difficulties of governing a geographically scattered and ethnically diverse population of some 800 language groups, Papua New Guinea has remained intact.

 A peace process eventually brought an end to the devastating secessionist war in its province of Bougainville.

 Unlike many postcolonial states, Papua New Guinea has maintained a record of formal democracy since independence from Australia in 1975.

Changes of government have been regular and constitutional.

But the chaos, violence and fraud that marred the 2002 elections and the 2007 elections indicate an emerging crisis of governance and state legitimacy.

Somare’s handpicked Electoral Commissioner and cousin Andrew Trawen made it his business to ensure candidates from the National Alliance Party and those that were from the Highlands provinces of Southern Highlands, Enga, Western Highlands, Simbu, Eastern Highlands won their elections.

Documentary evidence of falsifying totals to propel voting numbers show there was widespread corruption and widespread bribery involved.

Anyone that Andrew Trawen saw as a treat to Somare was dealt with it diligently.

 There is now evidence that Paias Wingti was snubbed and robbed of the Western Highlands Regional seat by Andrew Trawen.

 It is clear, on the eve of being declared, Tom Olga made an SOS plea to Anderson Agiru,  who at that time was declared winner of the Southern Highlands Regional Seat.

MrAgiru was in Mt. Hagen at that time at the Highlander Hotel.

 He was visited by Tom Olga who pleaded with him to ask if Somare could intervene and help him dismantle the big threat.

Mr Agiru called Somare who was in Wewak at that time and updated him on the Western Highlands issue.

After 10 minutes a call from Michael Somare to Andrew Trawen made Tom Olga win the seat.

Clearly Wingti was robbed off his seat because he was a threat to the Government of Somare.

Australia will not be able to quarantine the consequences if its nearest neighbour falls apart.

The two countries are separated at their closest points by a short island hop across the Torres Strait.

Papua New Guinea's population is expected to double to nearly 10 million by 2025. Should internal conditions worsen for its people, Queensland - Australia's northernmost state - could become the front line for a potential flood of illegal migrants and refugees.

They could pose both a health and security risk, given the high rates of AIDS infection in Papua New Guinea.

The fragility of Papua New Guinea also has broader regional security implications.

 Weak states are easy prey for terrorists and transnational criminals.

Although Papua New Guinea has not been identified as a major target for transnational criminal activity, a small but significant firearms-for-marijuana trade across the Torres Strait, then inland to highly populated Highlands provinces by canoe and dingy via the Fly, Kikori and Purari Rivers has already contributed to the corrosive effects of rising crime and violence in Papua New Guinea's major towns and its Highland region.

This increased availability of, and resort to, arms makes conflict more protracted and difficult to resolve, particularly when warlords and criminals outnumber and outgun PNG police and the PNG Defence Force.

 Grim prognoses for the future of Papua New Guinea are growing, but the worst has not yet happened.

It has so far "muddled through" despite severe economic difficulties and political instability.

But several trends suggest that each year of "muddling" ultimately reduces the prospect of getting "through."

Living standards and annual per capita income have barely improved in Papua New Guinea since Independence.

 Mining revenues and generous foreign aid have not been invested in roads, schools and health services.

Infant and maternal mortality rates in Papua New Guinea are closer to those of sub-Saharan African countries than to the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.

 Population growth is high and job creation low.

The rising number of unemployed young people, particularly in urban areas, leads to demoralisation, feeding crime and civil unrest.

The extent of lawlessness scares off investors and tourists, reinforcing a downward spiral in which not enough jobs are created and law and order get worse.

Some doubt about the "muddle through" scenario must also arise from the erosion of the subsistence safety net that has enabled ordinary Papua New Guineans to weather hard times in the past.

Crime has spread to the countryside so that gardens and houses are no longer safe from thieves.

Villagers are robbed taking their coffee to market.

 Impassable roads and broken and unsafe bridges make local trade in goods difficult.

The resulting hardship is taking its toll on traditional village life, fuelling the movement of people into cities and towns.

For the past 28 years Australia has played the role of disinterested donor, respecting the sovereign right of Papua New Guinea to make its own choices by supporting its development since 1975 with more than $12 billion in Australian taxpayer funded aid.

But little development has taken place.

Moreover, the nature of aid makes it part of the problem, not the solution.

 Dependence on donors has enabled Papua New Guinea to live beyond its means; the government postpones the need to tackle problems because it can always be confident that international help will come to the rescue.

A fundamental review of Australian policy toward Papua New Guinea is urgently needed.

 Conditions must be enforced on how aid is used and dispersed.

But even strictly controlled aid is pointless if Papua New Guinea policies do not change. Without progress on basic issues like the economy, civil discipline and official prosecutions for corruption, no outside help, no matter how well-intentioned, will have an impact on the country's entrenched problems.

Papua New Guinea going to the dogs

By REGINALD RENAGI

Papua New Guinea is now on the verge of going to the dogs as Parliament just made the Ombudsman Commission a mere 'paper tiger'.

Here is what today's reality is in PNG now.

The Parliament unfortunately has become dysfunctional, Opposition is powerless, the government is power hungry and is totally incompetent to govern PNG properly.

The civil service is ineffective in its implementation of government policy.

The law cannot really protect the people's human rights.

 It is only for the rich men to buy protection at the people's expense.

Crime is worsening with the law and order situation not improving with no effective crime fighting strategies in place.

The constitution seems to be another useless piece of paper as it is not readily available to all and is not clearly understood by the people.

The law-enforcement and security agencies are all under-resourced, under-funded, under-manned and demoralised to be able to effectively carry out its constitutional roles, and operational responsibilities to the best of its capacity.

There does not seem to be any one key authority in place who can stand up to what the government is doing wrong.

 It is time for people power strategies to be put in place by civil society, and other concerned stakeholders of the public and community.

The PNG government has gone worse.

It just makes stupid laws to keep itself in power.

 What is going to happen now is more political abuses will follow in the next two and half years to the next elections in 2012.

 More resources of the people will be squandered by the few political elites and other corrupt cronies of the ruling coalition.

If nothing is done quickly now to educate this government, PNG risks a country-wide revolt.

The people have suffered for many years while their half-wit politicians play silly games in Waigani and are running the country on a crisis-basis daily.

Can Australia help here?

Not really.

It still has its head in the sand and has yet to see a potential national security threat on its door-step.

There are many ways to do something to stop what is happening in PNG but for now I will not state them here for obvious reasons.

This may be history but still needs restating here in light of what is happening today in PNG.

 The then Australian government made a stupid decision to wash its hands off PNG (when it was not even a united country) in 1975 to give that country away to its self-appointed simpleton leaders.

Governments have pillaged the country's resources in broad daylight with transnational corporations and special interests in broad daylight.

The current regime is no exception and something must be done now to stop it.

Australia can not help because its aid programme has failed to make PNG a better managed independent country.

I call on the Australian government and people to not waste any more of if its taxpayers’ money on PNG.

One effective way now is to immediately cut down Australian aid to PNG.

 There must now be an increase trade between PNG and Australia with a fair balance of trade in favour of PNG products.

Failing this, China will fill in the gaps for what PNG perceives as not getting a fair deal from its mate down-under.

More Australian taxpayers’ money is not the solution here.

What is needed now is a complete regime change in 2012 to throw the bastards out of the spirit house: Haus Tambaran.

This evil house has become useless to safeguard the national interests of PNG for all time without comprise, come what may.

The people must outvote the current mob and put in some real quality leaders in 2012.

 A real sad ending for Somare who cannot now effectively run PNG and safeguard its national interests.

Can anyone hear our grand chief's swansong playing in the background?

What a wasted 42 years of playing political games, and I'm just crying for my beloved country as I lament with my countrymen and women as to what the future now holds for our children and grand children in the next generation.

PNG-Indonesia talks today

Caption: Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare chatting with Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono upon arrival at the Jackson International Airport, Port Moresby, yesterday afternoon for a two-day visit. Yudhoyono and his wife, Ani, later met with Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane at Government House. Today, the two leaders will hold bilateral talks before the Indonesian delegation leaves for home.

Sir Michael, Yudhoyono to discuss bilateral relations

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare and Indonesian president Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will hold bilateral discussions this morning to further existing relations.

This will be followed by the signing of two memoranda of understanding and exchange of letters at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The two countries will sign the Defence Coooperation Agreement, Double Taxation Agreement and Letters of Exchange in Agriculture.

Sir Michael and Dr Yudhoyono are also likely to touch on climate change and regional stability through groups such as Asean where Indonesia is supporting PNG’s move to become a full member.

The Garuda Airlines plane carrying the presidential delegation touched down at 3pm yesterday and Dr Yudhoyono and first lady Ani Bambang Yudhoyono were given red carpet treatment and traditional welcome by local dancers.

Hundreds of people gathered at the airport to catch a glimpse of the Indonesian leader while school children lined the airport area waving PNG and Indonesian flags.

Dr Yudhoyono, on his first visit to PNG, was greeted with a 21-gun salute as soon as his foot touched PNG soil, arriving from Sydney, Australia, after a three-day visit there.

The president and Mrs Yudhoyono were met by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal, Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi, Defence Minister Bob Dadae, Provincial Affairs Minister Job Pomat and Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma.

Dr Yudhoyono was then invited by PNG Defence Force commander Brig-Gen Francis Augwi to inspect a PNGDF guard of honour before leaving for Airways Hotel.

The president and his wife later paid a courtesy call on Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane and Lady Kaludia at Government House.

The delegation included 13 government ministers and three members of parliament. Last night, there was a formal dinner at Crowne Plaza for the economic and trade ministers and officials attended by Commerce Minister Gabriel Kapris.

The official visit ends today when the 200-member delegation leaves at 12.30pm for Indonesia.

Seifline helps abused women

ABOUT 200 physically abused women were saved from “living hell” through calls to crisis hotline Famili Seif in the past 11 months, The National reports.

National Capital District Commission’s Yumi Lukautim Mosbi (YLM) project coordinator Rabura Aiga said calls to the hotline enabled YLM and police to rescue the distressed women from the clutches of violence.

The Famili Seif line is a safety and crime prevention initiative by YLM and G4S (Protect Security) with mobile phone company Digicel providing the communications infrastructure.

Mrs Aiga said the hotline received 37,992 calls between last April and March.

“Of the total calls, 18,172 were abusive calls from men,” she told participants at a seminar organised by Soroptimtist International (SI) to mark International Women’s Day.

She said prompt responses to 240 of the calls helped the women to flee to a more secured environment.

SI PNG Chapter president Bubby Mohan said the organisation’s goal this year was to set up a Soroptimtist Haus to provide vocational training, counselling and literacy classes to abused women and girls.

A charity event titled Bollywood Night, scheduled for April 7, will be hosted with the aim of raising funds for the Haus.

British High Commissioner to PNG David Dunn noted that the large number of abusive calls from men showed that a lot of work was needed to tackle the problem.

The commission had, over the last three years, supported the Port Moresby-based Haus Ruth women refuge centre and joined the Meri Seif Ples initiative last August.

 

 

PM pays tribute to Narokobi

THE death of former diplomat, politician, lawyer and author Bernard Narokobi is a loss of one of the country’s exemplary leader who never lost touch with the aspirations of the Melanesian people, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has said, The National reports.

“Mr Narokobi was a humble man who dedicated his life to the development of a legal regime that incorporates Melanesian values.

“His life work was to ensure that our values are entrenched in all aspects of modern PNG life.

“His service to PNG was outstanding and is reflected in the offices that he held throughout his professional life.

“Mr Narokobi was a lawyer, writer and philosopher, Member of Parliament, and for the most part, was party leader of the Melanesian Alliance Party.

“Even before becoming an MP, Mr Narokobi played a significant part in the Constitutional Planning Committee that put together PNG’s National Constitution,” Sir Michael said.

He said Mr Narokobi held important positions such as speaker, leader of the opposition, and attorney-general.

“He also played a role in the Bougainville talks against secession in 1975 and later during the crisis in 1989.

“In 1996, Mr Narokobi joined me and a small group of parliamentarians to go into Bougainville at the height of the crisis to negotiate the release of hostages in Laguai.

“He was an exemplary leader and took his role as an elected representative of the people literally and seriously.

“He was a humble man who did not lose touch with the aspirations of the Melanesian people.

“I first met Mr Narokobi in Brandi Intermediate Primary School.

“He was the second intake of students when he attended my class.

“Even then, I could see that he had a great appetite for learning and showed great potential.

“I am pleased to have been a part of his life and will always remember him and his contributions to this country.”