THE government has been called on to wake up to reality and address the unrestricted build-up of illegal firearms in the country, The National reports.
Law and order sectoral committee chairman Graham Ainui said to do so, the government must look at the recommendations of the guns committee and start implementing them including the placements of moratoriums.
“The unrestricted build-up of illegal firearms towards the 2012 national elections in Papua New Guinea could trigger a civil war,” Ainui told participants of a three-day national development forum in Port Moresby last Friday.
He said illegal possession of firearms was high, starting with politicians right down to the grassroots and youths on the street.
“We have allowed a huge build-up of firearms to the point where, if anything goes wrong, it could trigger a civil war because of the amount of guns floating around,” he said.
Former police commissioner and anti-fraud consultant John Toguata said PNG was leading the Pacific nations as the worst in the possession of illegal firearms or weapons and, yet, it had failed to make any statements on the issue at the United Nations assembly in New York last month.
He said it was embarrassing that PNG did not make any statement to the international committee in relation to guns.
“On the ground, we do not have a report on the guns issue.
“At the international scene, PNG ranks badly in the possession of firearms.
“Based on the current assessment on the build-up of firearms, what we have in the country is most frightening,” he said.
The committee came up with specific recommendations after the government had petitioned them. The report, containing 244 recommendations, was submitted to Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare who accepted it and tabled it in parliament. However, it was never discussed.
Out of that came 16 recommendations to be implemented by the police force with the help of the law and justice sector but nothing happened due to funding constrains.
FORMER prime minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu said corruption in government is a serious issue and urged ministers and senior advisers in government not to fear giving advice against bad decisions, The National reports.
Sir Rabbie, who had worked as secretary and adviser to Sir Michael Somare during self-government and independence before becoming a prime minister himself, said he had not feared giving advice against some bad decisions by the government during those early years.
“Governance issues are now a major concern to the people; and corruption is increasing.
“It takes a few bad apples to spoil our good name.
“It takes a couple of bad apples to rank the government corrupt.” Sir Rabbie said.
He was speaking at the 43rd birthday anniversary and fundraising of Pangu Pati last Friday night.
“I am raising this issue because for any party or government, if we want to be prosperous, it is something we cannot turn our backs on. We must take it head on.
“I enjoyed working with our coalition partners including the National Alliance, People’s Action Party and the others.
“I have been secretary and adviser to the current prime minister.
“I know the prime minister better than most of you. I made it a point that if I have to make an advice against bad government decisions, I made it.
“You cannot allow fear of losing your job or ministry against going against bad decisions.
“There are certain values that we must jealously protect for a strong robust democracy,” Sir Rabbie said.
He said people aspire to better standard of living, wealth generation opportunities, better road infrastructure, better education and health services.
Sir Rabbie said this government and future governments had the advantage with greater resources at its disposal to improve infrastructure, education, health and law and order.
He said the challenge was to have appropriate policies to develop this country and bring it forward.
EXXONMOBIL is facing more protests for allegedly failing to consider local companies in contracts for the early works at the LNG sites, The National reports.
For almost three weeks now, there has been stop work at the project sites in the Southern Highlands, as landowners and workers in Hides, Komo, and Gobe protest poor working conditions and lack of participation by their companies in the early works.
Landowners there were also demanding the immediate release of business development grant promised by the government, totalling K120 million.
Now, landowners of Papa village outside Port Moresby have warned Exxonmobil they would sue the giant American if they were not given the control for the marine jetty at portion 152.
Papa is one of four impact village in the LNG project, and would be the most affect. That is why the villagers there formed a landowner company called Papa Resources Development Limited to bid for spin off businesses for the villagers.
They see the construction of the jetty as a project they can become involved in, with their backing of their Australian partner believed to be Leighton, a giant construction company with global reputation.
The cause for the Papa landowners, to be involved in this project, has in fact recieved the backing of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma, who have separately written letters in support of the villagers and their partner.
The prime minister wrote to Duma in July, instructing him to impress upon Exxonmobil the need for local content, the inovlvement of villagers and landowners in EPC3, or early works at portion 152.
In the letter, Sir Michael urged Duma to remind Exxonmobil that the government was an equity partner in the project and was obliged to ensure that local content was maximised “through meaningful participation by landowners like PRDL who have the support of reputable partners”.
Duma also wrote to Exxonmobil, telling them he was impressed with the partnership arrangement between PRDL and Leighton, and urged them to consider their bid.
He also stressed the importance of local content, or landowner participation in the project, saying both Exxonmobil and the government have a duty to promote the aspirations of local businesses in this life changing project.
The Papa villagers delivered their petition in Exxonmobil in Port Moresby last week, after they were told they would not
be considered for the marine jetty project which is worth about K1billion.
Papa village chief Nao Nao, who is also a director of PRDL, said section 129 of the Oil and Gas Act made it mandatory for Exxonmobil to consider their proposal favourably, and allow them to be involved in the project.
Nao said if their petition was not considered favourable, they would launch an action in court.
A court action would cause further problems for the project, which is already facing delay as a result of landowner protests.
It can reach two meters in its prime and has the ability to travel long distances.
Unable to fly because of its body weight, this animal has adapted well.
With its powerful claws, and muscular hinds, it defends well and is effective in overpowering preys.
Even in the presence of a hunting party, it can easily overpower, arrows, buckshots.
It indeed is a powerful animal.
However, like all animals, it has its vulnerabilities and for the cassowary, it is the prism above its head, its brain.
Meticulous planning, surveillance must be carried out before hinting it.
The conventional way many tribes in PNG catch them is by chasing a herd into dense scrubs by burning the forests.
There they will force the cassowary to adapt to this environment.
With the fear of losing its balance, the cassowary is left with little option but hide.
In this state, the hunt is virtually over as the big bird is fully exposed.
However, the fact that its alive, extreme caution is taken and usually from afar, the final blow is made.
The Finance Commission of Inquiry Report is burning through the cyber forest and has taken the crooked muruks into the dense scrubs to hide.
Maurice Sheehan has indeed confirmed the rumors of siphoning resources through institutional corruption at the Finance Department is very real.
From the inflammatory deed settlements to ridiculous retainer contracts, the report is clear; a bunch of folks simply stole a whole heap of money.
So as we sharpen our spears and walk closer to catch these crooked muruks, we have to respect its ability to strike first and therefore, careful planning must prevail.
The gag orders will be coming, the defamation suits are being prepared and the favorite for every criminal is to cut the paper trail and find ways of killing the hounds.
But this is the great news Papua New Guinea, they are busted.
You see, Sheehan's team has the paper trail, that's right sufficient evidence to throw them in jail.
Evidence cited in the report indicated fraud, false pretence and yes, misappropriation.
All are indictments and as such the Police Commissioner, Chief Ombudsman (OC) and the Public Prosecutor (PP) have the basis to move into enforcement mode.
Usually, the muruk will apply a gag order but they have two main limitations.
First, is time and secondly its specificity.
The latter is of particular interest.
If they want to stop its publication, distribution and so forth, it may do so but the evidence derived from the report cannot be stopped.
Therefore, it is essential that the Police Commissioner commences a clandestine operation to attain the evidence and commence the investigations.
The following needs to take place.
The Police Commissioner needs to instruct the Fraud Squad to attain all evidence collected from the Inquiry to commence building indictments to those implicated.
The beauty is, they virtually don't have to do anything as the evidence compiled is catalogue and clearly cited in the report.
These investigative officers than need to liaise with the OC and the PP so as to identify the appropriate charge.
Once this is ascertained, the PP can than issue a Nollie Proseque to issue indictments.With the evidence already present, the objective is for the police to immediately charge them.
As for those leaders, they should be killed in a Leadership Tribunal first.
This is because the leadership tribunal will remove them as leaders and this will allow, in theory, for them not to hold any leadership position.
Although one has to be mindful of the Diro case.
Nonetheless, this should proceed and thereafter, the PP should issue a Nollie on the leader for further prosecution.
In a similar approach, all lawyers citied in the report should be referred to the Lawyers Statutory Committee for immediate hearing.
This committee within the PNG Law Society is responsible for penalising lawyers of misconduct.
After this process has been exhausted, the PP should issue a Nollie as well.
Several factors are crucial.
First, the Fraud Squad needs to do this in a clandestine manner.
No public announcements, no statements as this will attract challenges.
You see, unlike previous inquiries, the evidence is not prima facie but substantive.Expert witnesses in the fields of forensic accounting, cyber crime experts and conventional investigators have done an exceptional job in compiling and cataloguing the evidence.
The Report makes explicit reference to their existence.
The second factor is the PP and his top Prosecutor to ensure the evidence is tight.
From the looks of things they are.
So when the Nollie is issued, charges occur simultaneously.
By pegging an indictment and charged taken, the rest is mere procedure.
However for many of them, their lawyers will probably tell them to enter verdict of guilty as this will give them some wiggle room for a plea bargain and this may mean a lesser conviction (reduced charge e.g. misappropriation, indictment,to false pretence summery) and sentencing (reduced time).
The public should monitor this exercise as the crooks may cut deals to expose other deals.
As we go into the kill zone to catch this beast, spare a thought for the great men and women who are fighting the fight.
Many have endured assassination attempts, rape, marital problems, and whispered damage of their personal property.
In spite of these travesties, they plotted on to complete the inquiry.
May your passion for righteousness be endearing for generations to come.
And may God rise up leaders never to walk in the path of these crooked muruks.
The Governor of the Bank of PNG Mr Loi Bakani’s comment yesterday through the media regarding the reckless investments made by the Somare government by placing K5 billion of the people’s money into trust accounts held by the commercial banks is uncalled for.
The K5b belongs to the 6.5 million people of Papua New Guinea and any government that decides to play around with that kind of money to enrich the commercial banking system can be termed as a very bad investment deliberately executed for dubious reasons only known to them and their cohorts.
Not only that, but by placing billions of kina into hundreds of different trust accounts in the commercial banks also makes it untraceable, leaving funds vulnerable to theft and misappropriation because the process bypasses strict government procedures, guidelines and financial scrutiny.
We have seen the NADP, DSIP, RESI and other funds kept in trust accounts outside the Bank of PNG system and disbursed through hand written cheques often signed by ministers, finance secretaries or their appointees.
In 2004, 2005 and then again in 2008, Public Accounts Committee has repeatedly ordered Finance Department and Finance & Treasury Ministry to close down those hundreds of trust accounts held at the commercial banks.
The report explained precisely what the current Bank of PNG Governor has indicated including the concerns raised by his predecessor, Mr Wilson Kamit.
The order was ignored because they all think that they are above the law while continuing to open new trust accounts and closing down accounts with depleted funds.
At this point in time, there will be no way the ordinary grassroots people of Papua New Guinea will know about the billions that have been parked in those trust accounts, as by now all may have been spent.
It is strongly believed that more than half of those funds have been and will be stolen through misappropriation or theft.
The Somare regime commenced office after the 2002 national elections and two years on, the PAC delivered its report for the Financial Year 2004.
The committee reported that trust accounts had failed to ensure the proper and lawful handling of public monies, accountability by the trust account trustees and responsible officers.
By 2004 there were no improvements, and the auditor general could not audit the trust accounts due to lack of records or accounts for individual accounts.
The report also indicated that there was widespread and significant misconduct, and misappropriation by trustees including the Department of Finance.
Trustees continued to breach their duties and obligations with no fear of detection and punishments.
By that report alone I can assume that the agencies responsible to detect and punish are non-functional even to this day.
There was no register of trustees, accounts, bank accounts, trust instruments or monies held in trust accounts.
Neither the committee nor the government know or can ascertain the number of trust accounts, the amount of money in them, the true balance of trust accounts, the identity of trustees, the terms of trust instruments or any other incident of trusts with daily abuse and mishandled with regular overdraws.
The 2004 report was repeated again in 2005, and then worse still in 2008 and keeps on getting worse every year.
The windfall gains from the mineral sector pouring into those trust accounts - a good K10-K15b - may have been transacted through those trust accounts without the knowledge of all concerned agencies and the public.
Those monies have definitely been stolen as indicated by the PAC report.
For how long will we all keep on watching those legalised white collar criminals stealing from the public purse?
Something must be done now!
The Ombudsman Commission and the Auditor General’s office are deliberately underfunded and have no capacity to audit or conduct investigations.
Therefore, the public cannot count on these institutions; leaving the big question of what shall we all do now?
Do we just keep on watching these wild animals in sheep’s skin stealing our monies under our nose?
The recent appointment of the current finance Minister Hon. Peter O’Neil, as we all know, has broken the protocol and procedures of the political coalition parties from which he has two party MPs in government but was rewarded with a very powerful finance ministry.
That alone can leave us all to wonder if his predecessor Patrick Pruaitch - now under Leadership Tribunal - has purposely placed him there to protect something.
All monies in those trust accounts are rightfully owned by the 6.5m people of this nation and they must now raise up and question those in power as to why, since 2002 up until now, there is no accountability in all those missing billions from the trust accounts as those years reflects the regime’s time in power to this present day.
I believe that the only way to fix this problem is to have this eight-year old regime changed by that we can see proper investigations into all trust accounts.
Members of parliament and public servants who stole must be held responsible by the laws of this land.
Some laws needs to be changed including maximum penalty by execution for trustees who steal public monies amounting to more than K1m, and life imprisonment for stealing public funds amounting to no more than K500,000.00.
This regime must be stopped now as billions of kina are continuously missing from the trust accounts.
If the new finance minister Peter O’Neil is keeping a tight lid on this issue then we must all be suspicious of him at all costs.
The 1960s and 1970s are remembered as a creative epoch in Papua New Guinea
history when some of the country’s best-ever poetry, prose, performances and
publications were produced.
These memories were rekindled at the Book2Buk2 conference at the University of PNG
this week by the great Peter Trist, a household name in PNG literature and
radio production at that time, as he took a spellbound audience at UPNG’s main
lecture theatre on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Trist, now 74 but still looking fit as a fiddle,
specifically discussed the influence of the inimitable Ulli Beier and his
equally-unflappable wife Georgina on the
development of PNG literature and also found time to talk to The National about his own experiences
in radio production.
Beier, still alive but not strong enough to travel at age
88, asked his good friend Trist to travel to PNG from Australia and make the presentation
on their behalf.
Trist hopes that the memories of those glory days of PNG
arts and literature will be a rallying call to the present generation of
creative Papua New Guineans.
“It could show them that was achieved once, can be done
again!” he extols.
“I know that would be my wish, and also Ulli’s
“The past, for all of us, is just another country – but is
also very useful.
“It contains our history and experiences that can be
inspirational, and of great value to the present time.”
An emotional Trist broke down while speaking about memories
of another day of the UPNG campus which he first entered 44 years ago.
“Along an often-muddy track leading from Boroko to the
‘swamp lands’ (as Waigani was known), this university grew rapidly as the first
centre of higher education in the country,” he recalled.
“Under the determined leadership of Dr John Gunther, the
first vice-chancellor, I was fortunate to be part of the inaugural staff from
1966.
“Some outstanding academics were soon assembled by Dr
Gunther.
“These included Charles Rowley, Ken Inglis, Anthony
Clunies-Ross, Gerry Ward, Frank Johnston, Ruth Latikefu, Ralph Bulmer and Ulli
Beier
Decolonising The Mind by the great Ulli Beier
“In Decolonising the
Mind, his vivid memoir covering those early years (1967-74), Beier recalls
the sense of excitement and promise felt among students (only 300 or so) and
staff at this university.
“This was understandable, as independence was approaching.”
Beier, as the inaugural senior lecturer in literature, had a
problem: where were the books relevant and accessible for his students?
Existing publications on PNG in those days were hard to
find, with propaganda pamphlets from the Australia department of territories
– insisting on the enlightenment of Australian colonial rule – not appealing.
Early novels were often racist and unrealistic, by writers
such as Beatrice Grimshaw, while adventure yarns by Errol Flynn (who wisely
gave up writing, for a career as a Hollywood
star), were inappropriate.
Equally unappealing were missionary tracts, World War 11
narratives from American and Australian perspectives rather than Melanesian,
and of course anthropological tomes by Margaret Mead, Malinowski and others.
None of these publications offered Beier any promising
material for young and enthusiastic PNG students.
In the university preliminary year in 1967, students were
taught sufficient English skills to follow a university course, with those who
opted to study literature armed with a tape recorder to record and translate
oral literature from their village.
Some of these translations were later collected and
published as parts of the Papua Pocket
Series, which are now being republished by the UPNG Bookshop.
Aia, Mekeo songs by the great Papuan ‘poet laureate’
Allan Natachee, first published in 1968, and reprinted by UPNG Bookshop in 2006
Beier produced 25 volumes of poetry, and the series was
continued (after his return to Nigeria)
by Prithvindra Chakravarthi, with a further 11 volumes, making 36 in all, and
have become collectors’ items worthy of republication.
In 1967, Vincent Eri, then a student, brought Beier a story
about Moveave in the Papua Gulf, and was encouraged to expand the story into a
novel.
Thus Vincent Eri became the author of the first Papua novel The Crocodile.
Another literary achievement during those crucial years was
the autobiography Kiki: Ten Thousand
Years in a Lifetime by Albert Maori Kiki.
The first PNG literary magazine was launched in this period.
Elegantly produced and designed by Georgina Beier, Kovave was published 1969-1971.
On the Beier’s return in 1974, a new journal was established
called Gigibori (1974-1978) with an
emphasis on PNG culture.
“During this time,” Trist remembers, “Ulli had become
director of the Institute
of PNG Studies.
“Here, his drive to produce relevant PNG material increased.
“The institute published 72 general publications on
folklore, architecture, art, religion and music; 36 discussion papers on
topical cultural, social and political issues; Wanpis, a novel by Russel Soaba; many works by John Kolia and the
journal Gigibori.
“The areas of theatre, radio production and performance
promotion was where I had the closest association and support from Ulli Beier.
“Here at the university, in 1967, I founded the Drama and
Arts Society.
“Our aim was to involve the university with the wider
community and provide entertainment.
“This endeavour co-incided with Ulli’s arrival on campus, so
he was asked to join the society.
“Students involved included Leo Hannett, Meg Taylor, Kathy
Abel, Ekeroma Age, Leontine Ovia, Jerry Tamate, Rabbie Namaliu, Kumulau Tawali,
Kakah Kais, Pia Leitao, Russell Soaba, John Waiko, Tony Siaguru, John Saunana,
Peter Malala, John Kadiba, Elijah Titus, Janet Regione, Apisai Enos and Arthur
Jawodimbari.
“Many of these people were writers, whose plays were
produced, and others excellent actors.
“Most went on to outstanding careers after university.”
One memorable production was of Leo Hannett’s political
parable, The Ungrateful Daughter, in
which Hannett played an important role.
Students from Beier’s writing classes were motivated to use
drama to express their concerns, and to reach an audience through productions
by the Drama and Arts Society.
“Soon after came student’s own plays such as John Waiko’s The Unexpected Hawk; Rabbie Namaliu’s
comedies The Good Woman of Konedobu
and Kannibal Tours; Kumulau Tawali’s Manki Masta; Russel Soaba’s Scattered by the Wind; and Arthur
Jawodimbari’s The Sun.
“Most of these plays were performed in the forum area near
the library, where the concrete steps formed a sort of amphitheatre.
“Later, a performing space known as the Outdoor Theatre was
formed on the campus grounds, and was used for plays, dancing and festivals.
“With the formation of the Creative Arts Centre close to the
university (again an initiative of Georgina
and Ulli Beier’s) with its National Theatre Company led by Arthur Jawodimbari,
the drama role of the university was transferred.
“I was appointed as part of the arts centre board with Arthur,
Nora Vagi Brash, Jonbili Tokome, Rose Kekedo and William Takaku.”
Plays like MyBrother,
My Enemy by John Kasaipwalova (a satirical look at the conflict on PNG’s
border with what was then Irian Jaya), Peter Kama Kerpi’s Voices from the Ridge, comedies from Nora Vagi Brash such as Which Way, Big Man? were successfully
presented by the company and its paid troupe of actors/dancers.
“Ulli gave that great PNG actor/writer William Takaku his
Nigerian comedy The Fall (very
loosely based on Genesis),” Trist adds.
“Takaku translated the dialogue into Pidgin and the play’s
settings and characters into PNG references.
“The Fall’s
forbidden fruit, which in the Nigerian version was the fruit of the palmwine,
became PNG’s betelnut,
“Pekato Bilong Man,
as Takaku called his adaptation, was a great success and the play was included
in a country-wide tour.
“Unfortunately, many of the scripts for these plays were not
printed, and are now only memories.
“These ‘lost treasures’ include another William Takaku
adaptation.
“This was the classic Greek drama Medea, with dialogue changed to Pidgin and the Greek setting
transposed to the PNG Highlands.
“The play’s ‘outsider’, Medea, was played by the Australian
actress Helen Jones, whom William had met while both were students at NIDA in Sydney.
“Helen bravely performed in Pidgin and traveled with the
company on tour with this play.
“Sadly, this script was not preserved or printed.
“Examples like these show the need to have a printed record
of drama scripts, for future performers.”
THE 2010
budget would have a surplus of K533.3 million, 2.1% of the gross domestic
product (GDP), according to current estimates released by Secretary for Finance
and Treasurer Simon Tosali, The National reports.
Tosali said
the estimated surplus was due to the strengthening of global economic recovery
and strong domestic economic growth.
“The
additional revenue of K533.3 available would be spent through a supplementary
budget as government continues to have competing expenditure pressures such as
the LNG commitments and legal obligations,” Tosali told participants at the
three-day national development forum in Port Moresby organised by Consultative
Implementation Monitoring Council (CIMC).
He said
total expenditure was expected to be K7.6 billion this year, with K4.2 billion
in recurrent budget and just over K2 billion
for the development budget.
He
explained the higher recurrent budget in 2010 reflected the expected overspends
in personal emoluments, by national departments and provincial governments.
“The
Department of Treasury has taken action by establishing a payroll project team
to investigate the causes of these overruns … it has also written to the heads
of those agencies seeking their explanations of their overruns,” Tosali said.
On the
development budget, he said the increased development component is for the
payment of remaining business development grants related to the PNG LNG project
while grants and ITC had also increased this year.
Tosali said
total government revenue and grants of K1.8 billion was a lot higher than the
outcome last year and this due largely to the higher receipts from the mining
and petroleum tax (MPT) collected in the first of the year.
The higher
MPT estimate is due to an upward revision to commodity price assumptions.
“PNG’s
economy is expected to strengthen this year with the commencement of PNG LNG
gas project and other mining-related projects as well as a rebound in a number
o sectors following softer conditions last year.
“In
addition, growth is also expected to be supported by the improvement in global
trade as commodity prices of PNG’s major exports strengthens on the back of
growing confidence in the global economic recovery.”
These Papua New Guinean children are special; either
their parents are dead or have deserted them, The National
reports.
But, a loving couple, Marai and Hane Lagaru, and the PNG
Children Foundation have taken all 21 under their wing and care for them 24/7.
On Tuesday, they all gathered around a huge cake and blew
out the four candles, marking the foundation’s four years (Aug 17) in existence,
which would not have been possible without charitable hearts like founding
president Yiannis Nicolaou (of the Lamana fame) and long-time donor Sanjay Shah.
The Lagarus are supported by four housemaids, an
education supervisor and a driver, all operating out of their Boroko location.
They were joined at the celebrations on Tuesday by two
entrants of the 2010 Little Miss Princess fundraising quest and foundation
adviser Nene Sta Cruz, digging into the pizzas and cakes and an assorted supply
of fruit drinks, courtesy of Taurama Super Value Shop
(SVS).
A STUDENT,
who pleaded guilty to taking part in the bashing to death of a fellow student
two years ago, told the court yesterday he thought he was initiating the
deceased into his “cult group” and did not mean to kill him, The National reports.
The student
asked Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika for mercy, saying he wanted to continue
his schooling.
Salika
slammed authorities for allowing such practices to prevail.
He
described the practice of “generation system” as one of the many cases of the
government’s school system “falling apart” and “going back to the dark ages”.
“There is a
need for a big overhaul in our education system,” Salika told a packed Waigani
courtroom yesterday morning.
He said an
overhaul was needed to ensure discipline and order within schools.
“The
(education) system is falling apart; schools’ boards of governors do not seem
to care whether their schools have strict rules and guidelines for students to
follow.”
Salika
said: “There is no parental guidance of students; no parental discipline of
their children in homes. The system, everything has gone (backwards) to the
dark ages.”
Many
students from selected schools in the NCD were brought into court to see and
hear for themselves the consequences of being part of the “generation system”
or the cult of paitim bros, what could go wrong and the punishment that awaits.
The judge
was hearing the final submissions on sentence for a Grade 11 student in an NCD
school who had, two years ago, allegedly killed a Grade 6 student, aged about
12 or 13, while trying to initiate him into the “skelim bros” cult group.
The accused
student is a son of a policeman.
When asked
what he wished to say, the student pleaded “guilty” to the charge of one count
of manslaughter under section 302 of the Criminal Code Act.
The offence
was committed on Friday, April 27, 2007, between 10am and noon at Rainbow near
Gerehu.
Court
documents indicated that the accused was in the company of two others when the
killing occurred.
On that
day, the students had all skipped classes and were drinking homebrew. Afterwards,
they held the victim’s hands behind his back and took turns punching him on his
chest. The victim was knocked unconscious and, later, pronounced dead at the Port Moresby GeneralHospital.
Prosecution
lawyer Miglshi Giruakonda said cult practices were prevalent in high schools
and senior high schools throughout the country.
“These
psychological, demonic and satanic practices have compromised the future of our
elites.
“It is time
for all stakeholders to join forces and fight this evil that has taken over our
schools.”
Dick Korowa
Kipoi, counsel for the accused, asked for a wholly suspended sentence because
the accused was sorry for his actions.
YOUNG
mothers in East New Britain are selling
new-born babies cheaply at the Kokopo market for money to sustain their daily
needs, The National reports.
Kokopo town
mayor Albert Buanga revealed this yesterday after receiving two cases in which
two young women, aged in their early to mid-20s, sold their infants to a local
family.
Buanga said
the young mothers were single and had wanted to discard their unwanted babies
by selling them cheaply for cash.
This, he
said, was illegal and against Christian teachings and principles.
According
to the mayor, the transaction of cash sale for the babies had been between K100
and K150 which, he added, was a cheap and fast way of getting rid of the
infants.
Buanga
condemned this type of business which he described as immoral and portrayed
total disrespect for the souls of the newborns.
A senior
welfare officer interviewed regarding the issue also condemned the act by the
young women.
“Lives
cannot be sold as a commodity; biblically it is wrong.
“It is bad
for society and labels the society as corrupt,” he said.
Babies, he
said, should not be victimised in such a way.
He said
children’s lives should be protected and not commercialised.
The officer
urged the division of community development in the province to seriously look
into the matter and address it promptly.
He said
awareness on unwanted pregnancies should be conducted immediately.
“In this
way, young mothers and women will know that there are procedures involved if
they are unable to care for their children,” he said.
The police
sexual offences squad in Kokopo also confirmed the reports, saying that the
first case was reported earlier this year.
The case
involved a young mother who sold her newborn baby for K500 to a family from
Bitavavar village in the Kokopo-Vunamami urban LLG.
Police
intervened and told the family to return the baby or make legal arrangements
through the civil court for adoption.
Several
mothers The National spoke to at the new Kokopo market confirmed that they had
seen two young women with the infants at the market just before midday
yesterday.
They had
informed other women that they were selling the infants for prices ranging
between K100 and K150.
The
community development office in Kokopo could not comment on the matter as
officers were awaiting direction from the office of the director of child
welfare and protection services in Port
Moresby.
Meanwhile,
Buanga had appealed to the public to report any persons selling babies to the
urban town authority or the welfare section of the community development
office.
A MERGER of
two airlines is not such a bad thing and no one should fear it, Transport and
Works Minister Don Polye said yesterday, The National reports.
Polye told
The National the proposal for Airlines PNG and Air Niugini to merge was his,
and he was floating the idea among fellow ministers and industry stakeholders.
He said the
government’s “open sky” policy would attract more competitors to the country as
PNG becomes an attractive destination for commerce, trade and holiday.
“Our skies
will get busier as we have seen with the entry of Qantaslink and Virgin Blue.
“The merger
proposal might be the best option for both airlines (APNG and Air Niugini),” he
said.
“Air
Niugini may not like this, but it must remember the playing field has never
been even. Air Niugini has survived over the years, and re-fleeted through
massive capital injection from the government.
“APNG may
not be government-owned and funded, but it is about 30% PNG-owned. It has
served the country well, flying to some very rural and tough areas and is
helping to deliver our development programmes.
“It might
have debt, or suffered losses, but that will be taken into account when
determining equity in the merger.”
He said his
advice was that a merger would save both airlines K150 million, give the merged
entity a better capital base to work from and remove the need for capital
injection by the government.
“I believe
this strategy is best for both airlines going forward.
“I have
discussed this with the prime minister and he is supportive.”
Polye said
the merger proposal would be thoroughly discussed.
THE Civil
Aviation Safety Authority investigators (CASA) have finally made a breakthrough
into the crash that killed pilot Christopher Kaines in the mountains of Myola,
along the Kokoda Trail, on Aug 7, 2008.
Captain Christopher Kaines...his plane crash is shrouded in mystery
CASA has
discovered that the Cessna 206 flown by Kaines – a very experienced pilot – was
unregistered and had no certificate of airworthiness.
As well, it
has been found that operator Joe Maule Rice, was conducting illegal charters
without an air operator’s certificate.
Charges are
expected to be laid soon against Rice in relation to the crash that killed
Kaines, as well as several others including running an illegal flight training
school at Six-Mile in Port Moresby, fraud and assault.
Rice, when
contacted yesterday and asked to comment on the allegations, denied any
knowledge of them, swore at and threatened this reporter and hung up.
There were
several unanswered questions as to the flight plan –if any was given to CASA,
the air worthiness of the Cessna, and why the operator disappeared since the
death of Kaines.
Reporters
probing the crash have since 2008 been hitting a brick wall at CASA when trying
to get information on the crash.
A
well-placed aviation source, however, has broken the silence in an exclusive
interview with The National.
The source
said Rice purchased the aeroplane from TropicAir on as-is-where-is condition.
At the time, it was unregistered and had no certificate of airworthiness.
“It’s known
that he was conducting illegal charters without an air operator’s certificate,”
the source said.
Rice kept a
low profile after the crash but then emerged from obscurity by setting up a
flight school charging huge amounts of money for fees, when he was not known to
be a pilot.
“Now, the
bloke (Rice) is actually known to be conducting an illegal flight school
without the appropriate licences or qualifications and is known to be charging
large sums of money from young, aspiring pilots,” the source added.
Kaines,
from Gassam village on SiassiIsland, Morobe, is
survived by four young children.
Widow Betty Kuyei surrounded by children Chris Kaines Jr, Emerald, Story and answer admire a newspaper picture of their father
They are
son Chris Kaines Jr from first wife Betty Komes and daughters Emerald, Answer
and Story from second wife Betty Kuyei.
They have,
since the tragedy, been making emotional pleas to CASA to release details of
the plane crash which killed their father.
Gas, rocks, fish and our blue chip companies are raking billions of kina every year.
Our country will become an El Dorado where our cities will be perched with gold.
Our landscape will have opulent mansions and the people will have wealth like never before.
Highways will be built and cars from every make will traverse on them.
Super malls will spring up and they will be our playgrounds.
However, like the enchanted city, conquistadors will come from all corners of the earth to marvel at its spectacle and burn with lust to consume its riches.
They will shower us with their way of life, fill our bank accounts with emeralds and pollinate their beliefs.
In all, our way of life will change.
The question on everyone’s lips is the change for better or for worse.
I don’t know but what I do know is that change usually attracts conflicts and conflicts if not managed properly, may cascade into a cesspool of war and destruction.
Anti-Chinese sentiments in Ramu Nickel, Highlands, Manam, Sepik and Porebada conflicts among landowners are all signs of conflicts. Even conventional challenges such as crime are now moving into another realm, high flying executives, business tycoons and rogue politicians are now the new face of raskols.
There is talk of the Yakusa, Triad and Mafia converging on our shores and taking a stake of our real estate. Papua New Guinea, the drums of war are reverberating in our homeland and they will no doubt threat our way of life. You see war is consumptive, destructive and for those unfortunate souls that have witnessed it, they have scars that will remain in their memories for eternity. Carnage, the scent of putrification, destitution and loss, war is destructive.
Although nations pledge to avoid wars, they have become an integral part of diplomacy, economics, politics and even development.
Like in ancient times, modern armies fight anything and anyone.
From a foreign enemy, insurgent population to fundamentalists, governments have a powerful resource.
Make no mistake; Papua New Guinea has this resource.
The men and women of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force are trained killers.
They have been schooled in the art of war.
They have hid in pillboxes with future generals, flew in cockpits with top guns, sailed the seas with admirals and have been inside some of the most-secured facilities in the world where warheads contain a payload that can sink the Papua New Guinea mainland.
They are trained to have unquestionable loyalty to the people of Papua New Guinea.
So when our elected leaders tell them to jump out of a plane to kill an enemy, establish a forward base to bring relief supplies to our people who have been decimated by natural disasters, catch rouge vessels that steal our marine wealth, they do it without hesitation. Whether they perish in the swamps of WesternProvince, drown off Nukumanu or die in the cockpit somewhere in the Owen Stanley ranges, they live to protect the freedom we enjoy.
So we have the capacity to fight.
Our boys and girls in uniform can adapt operational and tactical engagements but they still remain uncertain on one crucial intelligence: they don’t know who our enemy is and neither do we.
An astute student of war will probe the question, remove the chain of command and the entire infrastructure will collapse.
From hunting in the caves of Afghanistan for Bin Laden to bombing Hitler’s Eagle Nest, command control must be eliminated.
So where is the command control in this case?
Is it the Chinese, Sepiks, Highlanders, Porebadas, Manams, foreign governments, gangsters, raskols, businessmen, politicians?
No, the enemy is us.
When we stand by and allow the fabric of our democracy to dwindle because of an old man’s insatiable appetite for power, denying health and education services to the masses because it’s not in my personal interest, fund gangsters to protect crime syndicates, we are all guilty of war crimes.
But there is a resistance and it is led by the millions of Papua New Guineans who rise up every day and pray for the peace of PNG.
As they travail in the presence of God for hope and change, a new generation is rising. From energetic human rights supporters, internationally-acclaimed environmental advocates, God-fearing CEOs, patriotic government officials, intellectual freaks, coffee growers, mariners, pilots, bankers, buai sellers, fisherman, they are rising to the call.
The battlefields are road blocks where a constable refuses a bribe and charges the driver for drink driving, board members vote against a unscrupulous deal, court rooms where prosecution of criminals is upheld, district treasuries where misappropriation is averted, primary schools where children joyfully recite there ABCs, aid posts where a mothers survive child birth.
There is nothing to fear PNG being an El Dorado: this is our inheritance, let us cross the river and take charge of it.
Sure, the current of corruption will be sting, the sharp rocks of death will spike our heels, piranhas of deceit will swarm us but it’s worth the fight because our people deserve a nation of opportunity, security and prosperity.
