Bogia bug threatens copra yield

By ANGELINE KARIUS

 

COPRA production could be drastically affected by up to 80% from the effect of the Bogia coconut syndrome, The National reports.

Provincial adviser Savi Godfried said the disease could easily wipe out most of the production yield from the coconut industry in the province.

He said the insect causing the disease was yet to be identified and authorities were awaiting the results of samples sent to Australia and the United Kingdom for testing.

“Our scientists are working to find the cause of and solution to the disease,” he said.

Godfried said the disease, which spread from one coconut tree to another, could prove costly to the rural farmers.

“Their chidren’s school fees, medical and food sources will be affected,” he said.

The coconut trees affected have their leaves turn brown, lose the nuts and the crown eventually falling off.

A public notice had been issued to warn locals of a possible epidemic.

Godfried said trees bearing betelnut and bananas had also been affected by the mysterious bug.

Meanwhile, the cocoa pod borer has spread to Karkar Island.

“Gradually, it will affect plantations along the North Coast,” Godfried said.

“Our current strategy is to empower communities to consider the application of pest disease management.

“The best practice management to improve cocoa condition in respective location includes cutting grass, digging drains, pruning shades, pruning cocoa trees, regular harvesting of dry pods, regular removal of dry and disease pods and burying infected pods.”

Police raid homes, attack villagers

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

POLICE, in their campaign against alcohol-smuggling, have left hundreds of people homeless and others injured during raids in the Margarima district, Southern Highlands, yesterday, The National reports.

District chief Kerry Mamai Lero said more than 100 homes and trade stores were raided and properties destroyed during the raid at Hiri in the lower Waghi local level government.

He said the raid started at the Olam villages and ended at Wapulaka village, a distance of about 10km.

Lero said the people had been left homeless and he asked for assistance, describing the situation as a “disaster”.

Attempts to get comments from provincial police commander Supt John Anawe in Tari were unsuccessful.

Police Commissioner Anthony Wagambie, when contacted last night, said he was not aware of the incident.

It was believed that the series of raids was conducted by armed policemen based at the LNG project site and at Tari.

The attack was said to be in retaliation for the recent burning of a police vehicle allegedly by locals.

Lero said the vehicle-burning incident took place when six Margarima policemen, in civilian clothes and allegedly drunk and led by station commander Snr Const John Sali, were returning from Mendi and were confronted by two youths.

He said an argument started and the local youths, who were also drunk, burnt the police vehicle.

He said while the youths were also at fault, the families and traders in the district should not be blamed for the incident.

Lero said the villagers had even volunteered to help police detain the youths who had allegedly burnt the vehicles.

Police sources, however, claimed that on the day of the vehicle-burning incident, more than 19 youths, armed with weapons and led by a local teacher, had stopped the police vehicle. Others joined them and overturned the vehicle before burning it.

Police said the villagers were angry that the officers had confiscated 150 cartons of beer from traders in the area.

Police had been conducting regular patrols in the area following a ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol put in place by the provincial executive council.

Hela leaders have condemned the vehicle-burning, saying it was the first time civilians had turned against police.

This was the second incident involving beer smuggling in the province this year.

An earlier incident resulted in the death of a policeman at Kaupena in Ialibu after a group of officers had intercepted villagers illegally transporting beer over the Kaguel River.

The body of the officer was found on the banks of the Purari River a few months later.

Meanwhile, reports from Mendi said people were still consuming alcohol despite the province-wide ban.

Opposition urges caution on Manus asylum seekers

The Opposition today called on the Government to treat with caution Australian government's indication of using Manus as the asylum seekers' processing centre again.

Deputy Leader of Opposition and Bulolo MP Sam Basil said that limited enforcement capacity in key authorities like customs, police, Port Services Ltd and immigration had resulted in reports of illegal immigrants arriving onshore in PNG and disappearing.

"Given our nation's vulnerability, bringing in active asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea poses a real threat of having unknown illegal immigrants escape into the nation," Basil said.

"Both Australian and PNG authorities must discuss intensely and intimately the potential dangers and implication of re-using the Manus processing centre before a final decision is made.

"The last thing Australia – and PNG – needs is to allow unidentified potential terrorists, guns-for-illicit drugs smugglers or even people smugglers to escape and build hives in Papua New Guinea."

The Bulolo MP said that he appreciated the economic returns this could mean for Manus and other commercial suppliers in the country.

 "I also recognise the gesture of goodwill this can be to Australia as the largest developmental partner and investors over the years to PNG," he added.

"However, what I fail to understand is why Australian does not want to use its own vast landmass and offshore islands, backed by a superior police, military and naval force, to process the asylum seekers who, after all want to enter Australia.

"Naturally, they should be contained and processed in Australia instead of Australian Government trying to enlist and endangering a smaller developing country like ours.

"At the end of day, a foothold in PNG is a terrorism beachhead that Australia would not want.

"Isn't that the reason for Australia's role in the Second World War in our seas, shores and jungles?

"I urge the PNG Government to weigh all issues related to this carefully and ensure that national interest and national security plays a paramount role in the final decision they make."

APEC launches ASPIRE prize for innovative scientists

Issued by APEC Industrial Science and Technology Working Group

Singapore, July 27, 2011 – To encourage innovation in the Asia-Pacific region, the APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE Prize) will be awarded in September 2011 to recognise young scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to both excellence in scientific research, as evidenced by scholarly publication, and cooperation with scientists from other APEC economies.  This year’s theme is “green growth,” one of the priorities for APEC USA 2011.

Ambassador Muhamad Noor said that the ASPIRE Prize builds upon APEC economies’ efforts to actively promote environmentally-sustainable economic growth and their desires to help member economies successfully transition to a clean energy future.

 

“APEC is an important facilitator for the best scientific minds from both sides of the Pacific Ocean to work on the region’s most pressing issues including climate change, energy efficiency  as well as sustainable forest management,” said Noor.

 

“Science and technology is a field with infinite possibilities. More often than not, the best innovations and solutions come about when people from diverse backgrounds are brought together.”

 

APEC encourages the development and application of industrial science and technology that improves the quality of life, while safeguarding the natural environment and achieving sustainable development.

 

APEC Industrial Science and Technology Working Group (ISTWG) Lead Shepherd, Wan Zaharah Wan Mohamad, said that the ASPIRE prize is a symbol of APEC’s commitment to promote innovative research and development, knowledge sharing, and scientific collaboration in the region, which hosts some of the world’s largest rainforests and marine resources.

 

“The ASPIRE prize will provide much needed recognition to the best scientists while continuing to nurture young scientists in the APEC region,” said Wan Zaharah Wan Mohamad. “We hope that the ASPIRE Prize will help raise the visibility of world-class research now being conducted by scientists in the developing APEC member economies,” she said.

 

Each APEC member economy is invited to submit one nominee under the age of 40 for the ASPIRE Prize.  The winner will receive prize money in the amount of $25,000 and is expected to be honoured at the Joint Ministerial Meeting on Energy and Transportation to be held September 12-13, 2011, in San Francisco, California.  U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu is expected to award the ASPIRE Prize. The ASPIRE Prize is sponsored by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and Elsevier.

 

For more information on submitting nominees, please contact Mr. Luis Enrique Vertiz, APEC Industrial Science and Technology Working Group Program Director, APEC Secretariat, at lev@apec.org. Nominations will continue to be accepted until 1 August 2011.

 

# # #

For more information, contact: Ai Ghee Ong at +65 6891 9671 or oag@apec.org or Michael Chapnick + 65 6891 9670 or mc@apec.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InterOil provides Gulf LNG project update

InterOil is not in the business of testing new technology nor will it ever use Papua New Guinea as a “guinea pig” for new technology testing, says InterOil chairman and CEO, Phil Mulacek.

Mulacek stressed today that all technology incorporated in InterOil’s Gulf LNG project in PNG’s Gulf of Papua was proven and was chosen after a rigorous assessment process.

He also said that InterOil already had world-class operators in its Gulf LNG project development team to develop and deliver a high quality world-class project for PNG.

“InterOil’s project management team includes experienced operators from major oil companies who have been responsible for world-scale LNG projects,” Mulacek said.

The InterOil CEO was responding to statements attributed to PNG’s new Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Minister Potape in a press articles published in PNG’s two daily newspapers, The National, on Tuesday and in the Post-Courier yesterday.

Mulacek confirmed that InterOil had made substantial progress on its Gulf LNG Project in the past 17 months.

“InterOil achieved critical mass in its contingent resource estimate on February 16, 2010 with the independent resource assessment certifying a best case estimate of more than 8 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas and associated condensate.

“Since then, InterOil has entered various framework agreements, contingent on final investment decision (FID), on infrastructure and facilities with a start up capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in 2014 and potential expansion up to 10.6 mtpa, being the capacity referenced in the 2009 LNG Project Agreement with the government of Papua New Guinea,” Mulacek said.

He said InterOil was in the process of informing Minister Potape and his advisors, as it routinely does with the relevant PNG Government departments and advisors, on the structure and economics of the company’s Gulf project.

“This is a project aimed at bringing benefits to stakeholders, including the people of Gulf province and PNG, as soon as possible.

“We look forward to working with Minister Potape to bring the government and the people of PNG an economically-advantaged, modern LNG project as early as possible.

“InterOil believes that none of the technology proposed for the Gulf LNG project is new, being rather the use of existing technologies in new efficient configurations.

“The specific type and size of floating LNG facility fixed at a jetty InterOil will use its well within the operating envelope of existing floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels, and is a viable and economically-favourable option to accelerate LNG production from the project,” Mulacek said.

The PNG Government has previously provided statements of support and endorsed a separate floating LNG project being explored by State-owned Petromin prior to the appointment of the Minister to his current role over a month ago.

InterOil has operated in PNG since 1995, and proudly employs some 800 people throughout the country in its current operations.

 

Footnote: About InterOil

InterOil Corporation is developing a vertically-integrated energy business whose primary focus is Papua New Guinea and the surrounding region.

 InterOil’s assets consist of petroleum licenses covering about 3.9 million acres, an oil refinery, and retail and commercial distribution facilities, all located in Papua New Guinea.

 In addition, InterOil is a shareholder in a joint venture established to construct an LNG plant in Papua New Guinea. 

InterOil’s common shares trade on the NYSE in US dollars. 

 

Polye: NA constitution under threat

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

MEMBER for Kandep Don Polye said the National Alliance party caucus meeting in Goroka this week was not about fighting over the leadership but to comply with the party constitution, The National reports.

He said it was important that the party's constitution was upheld.

Polye said a deliberate breach of the constitution happened last week when the parliamentary wing of the party decided to elect Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal as the NA deputy highlands leader.

Polye said he was given a 30-day notice on July 4 as the deputy leader to call a meeting. However, he said the 30-day notice was to have expired on Aug 4. Therefore, he was calling the meeting this week in compliance with the constitution.

"All NA parliamentary members, executives, ordinary members and the administrators are obliged to follow the party laws.

"I do not condone the breaching of any laws including the national constitution as well as the party constitution. To break them means destroying democracy and good governance," he said.

He said there had been a disregard for the party's constitution and required that a meeting be called for members of the NA party to correct the wrong.

"I do not see any reason why the MPs should not attend. I am not calling them to vote for me," he said.

Meanwhile, Lands Minister Lucas Dekena said a meeting held between some of the members yesterday decided that because most of them would not make it to Goroka, the meeting this week should be postponed to allow everyone to attend.

He said many of them had not been aware of the Goroka meeting until they read about it in The National yesterday.

He said the acting prime minister would be attending a funeral at home and other members of parliament were away overseas.

However, a media statement from the prime minister's office yesterday claimed that the NA highlands leaders had confirmed their decision last week to appoint Abal as their deputy leader.

The statement named five MPs who asserted to the change in leadership in Port Moresby yesterday. They included Sani Rambi, Dekena, Benjamin Mul, Miki Kaeok and Abal.

Speaking from Mt Hagen, Western High­lands Governor Tom Olga said the leaders were standing by their decision last Wednesday.

When contacted yesterday, Mul said he did not want to be dragged into the issue and suggested that it was a matter for Abal and Polye to settle

Census officers threaten to burn forms

CENSUS officials in Lae have threatened to burn completed forms and pads in their possession if they are not paid their allowances, The National reports.

They are calling on  Morobe provincial administrator Kemas Tomala to sort out the matter urgently.

Interviewers at Lae’s ward six area covering the suburbs of East and West Taraka were outraged after they were not paid last Thursday.

They said they had completed their seven-day survey last Thursday and were expecting to be paid.

They met at the ward six council office yesterday and claimed there was poor management of the census operation in the city.

They were supposed to be paid the standard allowance promised to them during their training last month.

They underwent a five-day training for the surveying exercise in which they were promised to be paid K125.

But at the conclusion of the survey, the interviewers got only K95 while their supervisors got K110.

Ahi local level government interviewers have also been waiting for the last two weeks to be paid.

Expat killed on way to meet caller

By JUNIOR UKAHA

 

A MYSTERIOUS phone call to an expatriate man resulted in his death on Saturday in Port Moresby, The National reports.

John Hulse, 62, of European-origin and who held dual passports of Australia and the United States of America, was killed and his body thrown near bushes on Napanapa Road.

NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop said, Hulse, after receiving a phone call from an unknown source, decided to meet the person and reclaim his lost passport.

Police said the caller rang Hulse from Napanapa and wanted to meet him there to give back his passport.

“He went there on Saturday but never returned until his body was found yesterday,” Tondop said.

He said the body was found about 200m from Napanapa Oil Refinery’s entrance by security guards.

Tondop said before meeting his fate Hulse last talked to his friends around 10am and told them of his plans.

Tondop said how the killers got Hulse’s number and what they wanted from him were not known.

Hulse was the operations manager of Alliance Group Ltd, a catering company that provides rationing for workers engaged by the LNG downstream plant at portion 152.

“Police found stab wounds on the corpse.

“I appeal to Baruni, Roku and Napanapa residents who may have seen Hulse or his killers to come forward and assist police in its investigation,” Tondop said

DSTP victory for Ramu NiCo

THE National Court in Madang has given the green light to Ramu NiCo, developers of the US$1.4 billion Ramu nickel project, to dump its waste into the sea off Basamuk in Madang’s Astrolabe Bay, The National reports.

In a landmark decision yesterday, Justice David Cannings said although there would be a significant environmental impact, he refused the landowners’ application seeking a permanent ban on the use of the deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) system to dispose of the nickel and cobalt wastes.

He also said in his 65-page ruling he was not convinced by Ramu NiCo’s assurance that the tailings from the Basamuk nickel and cobalt refinery would not be toxic.

Cannings also refused the ban application because the government had already approved the dumping through the DSTP system.

Also, there would be adverse consequences for the mine and investor confidence if it did not go ahead, he said.

The matter had been before the court since last March, delaying the project which started in 2008.

Immediately following the ruling, lawyer representing the plaintiffs, Tiffany Nonggorr said her clients were considering an appeal.

Ramu NiCo released a short statement saying it could now proceed with the commissioning of the mine in order to start full operation in line with the company’s intention that the project meet best international practice standards in design and operation of its DSTP System.

“While the Company is pleased with the outcome and the finding that DSTP is lawful, Ramu NiCo will not be making further comment on the court’s decision until it has reviewed the whole 65-page judgement with its legal advisers.”

Up to the end of last year, Ramu NiCo had spent US$1.3 billion out of the total development cost of US$1.4 billion.

It said yesterday the project was at the end of the construction stage and had been scheduled to start trial operation late last year.

Cannings found that it was difficult to predict what the overall effects of the DSTP would be but he highlighted three:  

. Smothering of benthic organisms which would affect the ecology of the bay;

.Food chain of the ecology to be affected; and

. Plumes, upwelling and ocean currents were likely occurrences to affect the Madang town area and north coast villages in the province.

He ordered the plaintiffs (landowners) must be consulted and kept informed by Ramu NiCo, the state and the Department of Environment and Conservation at least every three months on tailings and waste disposal issues for the life of the mine.

Land deal ends in arrest

By JACOB POK

 

A SENIOR government official was yesterday arrested and charged in connection with a K3 million land deal, The National reports.

Police confirmed that Acting Lands secretary Romily Kila-Pat, 43, of Hula village, Central, was brought to the Boroko police station yesterday afternoon.

Police alleged that he had used his position to extort a land title worth more than K3 million.

The police report said between Jan 20 and Jan 24 this year, Kila-Pat, while using his position as the secretary of lands, conspired with others and issued land titles intended for TST 4-Mile, to another person.

Kila-Pat allegedly signed the land titles and issued them to Eleana Tjandranegara, a PNG citizen of Indonesian origin.

Tjandranegara was recently charged with stealing and conspiracy to defraud and is out on a K1,500 bail.

The subject property is described as section 387, allotment 19, Hohola.

The land was originally re­gistered as PATU 27 Ltd by TST 4-Mile, the mother company, when it obtained lease for the land in early 2001.

TST 4-Mile engaged a consultant to change the title of PATU 27 Ltd into its name (TST 4-Mile) and also apply to sub-divide the land into two allotments, allotment 22 and 23.

The consultant submitted an application to the PNG Lands Board which was approved by the NCD Physical Planning.

The Department of Lands and Physical Planning notified the consultant that the application was successful and was gazetted last Dec 20.

An agreement was reached and K24,116 was paid as annual rental by TST to the Department of Lands and Physical Planning.

But, before the land title was issued to TST, it was alleged that Kila-Pat and other senior officials conspired with Tjandranegara and issued the title of the same property to her.

Kila-Pat was released on a K1,000 bail yesterday evening.

He was issued a strict bail condition not to interfere with state witness, especially employees of Lands Department.

He was also warned against accessing any files in the department while police finalised their investigations.

Police expect to make more arrests in connection with this particular land transaction.

SPSN linking civil society with government

PORT MORESBY: Eight people have been appointed to two key decision-making bodies within the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen Programme.

The representatives come from a wide range of civil society and private sector roles.

Some will join the existing national government representatives on SPSN’s peak governance body, the Joint Governing Council (JGC), while others will be the first members of SPSN’s newly established National Grants Committee (NGC).

The newly-appointed civil society representatives for JGC are former Coffee Industries Council CEO Mr Ricky Mitio ML from Eastern Highlands, Ms Rachael Pokesy from Port Moresby, Mrs Cathy Rumints from Hagen and Mr Bonnie Keoka from Lae.

Members appointed to the NGC are Naomi Yupae from Eastern Highlands, Loa George Kevau from Port Moresby, Wasi Koni from Wewak, and Brian Paiferi from Bulolo.

SPSN programme director, Peter Aitsi congratulated the appointees, saying their wealth of experience in development and governance was crucial to SPSN and PNG.

“These individuals come from diverse backgrounds and will provide SPSN a strong community based perspective to ensure the programme continues to improve service delivery outcomes to bring about meaningful change to the lives of the rural majority,” he said.

“The appointment of civil society representatives will complement the existing expertise provided to the programme by its current national government members.

“Together,  this committee will ensure SPSN is well placed to bring together civil society, government and key stakeholders through offering resources and support, including grants, capacity building, networking opportunities and research.”

The members of the JGC will be led by National Planning and Monitoring Acting Secretary, Ruby Zarriga, as chair, with other representatives including Mollie Willie, deputy Secretary for Department for Community Development, Simon Kunai, director for local level government division at the Department for Provincial and Local Government Affairs, and Kath Taplin, acting counsellor governance, AusAID Port Moresby.

The JGC plays a crucial role in strategically guiding SPSN towards its goal of encouraging government to connect with civil society and other development partners to meet PNG communities’ needs.

This includes ensuring the programme is in line with PNG government’s priorities such as improved health and education outcomes, as well as working as much as possible within PNG government's own systems.

The NGC is the highest funding decision-making body in the SPSN structure, and will ensure that grants and other forms of funding support are provided to credible organisations to deliver real results to communities living in all provinces around PNG. 

The NGC’s first task will be to select 35 organisations for grant funding from over 250 expressions of interest that were submitted this year for SPSN’s medium and large grants programme. 

Programme Background:

 

SPSN is an Australian Government-funded initiative in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea that will contribute results to the government’s priority areas.

Its goal is to enable civil society with the state and others, to better meet the needs and priorities of men, women and children in communities across PNG.

SPSN supports improved good governance for service delivery that reaches the local level in PNG, including health, HIV, education, gender, and disability.

It provides civil society, government at all levels, and other key stakeholders with a range of support and resources, including grants, capacity building, networking opportunities and research.

Liquor smugglers raze cop's vehicle

 By JAMES APA GUMUNO

ALCOHOL smugglers overpowered a team of Margarima policemen on Sunday and set a new police vehicle on fire  in the Hela region, Southern Highlands, The National reports.
Highlands divisional police commander and assistant police commissioner Simon Kauba yesterday said police had been following a tip-off when they stopped a vehicle transporting cartons of alcohol.
But he said the smugglers turned around, pushed the new police 10-seater Landcruiser into a drain and set it on fire.
He said the attack took place near the border of Margarima and Nipa on Sunday afternoon.
He said about 20 people on the vehicle overpowered the seven policemen and attacked them before running away with the cartons of beer.
Kauba said the police vehicle, which was only a few months old, was destroyed in the fire.
He said he had yet to get a full report from the Hela new provincial police commander.
Kauba said community leaders from Margarima surrendered three of the suspects to police yesterday.
He said police went into the area yesterday and talked to the leaders. He expected those still at large to be handed over to police too.
He appealed to the leaders to work closely with police in their district to maintain order.
Kauba said this was a bad sign for the ExxonMobil, the developer of the natural liquefied gas project, in the Hela region.
He said the Southern Highlands provincial government had banned alcohol in the province last year and the ban was still in place.
He said he could not understand why the locals attacked the officers and set their vehicle on fire when they were only carrying out their duty.
Kauba said the alcohol smugglers did not have any respect for law and order.

 

Corpse of expat found

 A partially-burned corpse of a white male was discovered yesterday afternoon at Napanapa outside Port Moresby, The National reports.
The body is believed to be that of an expa­triate who police said was reported missing last Saturday.
Calls made to NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop last night were directed to his voicemail, but police sources said foul play had not been ruled out.
Police said security guards of a company had gone to check on a bushfire near the Napanapa project area and came across the body about 10m from the main road.
Police were called in and took the body to the PMGH morgue.
They said while the corpse’s identifiable features fitted the missing person’s description, a post-mortem would be conducted to confirm his identity.
Police said the person, reportedly missing, was the general manager of a catering company in Port Moresby.

 

Ahi census stalled

 CENSUS operations in the Ahi local level government area of Lae have been stalled since last week because the interviewers are holding onto census pads, The National reports.
This means the population between Bumbu compound to Poahom area bordering Situm, in Nawaeb district, have not been accounted for yet.
Disgruntled census officials spoke out over the weekend, saying they had been protesting for two weeks and had since held on to all 300 pads containing the forms for 65 respondents. 
The interviewers said there were around 360 officers covering the area who had yet to be given their advance payment of K40 a day for the seven-day counting exercise.
They claimed there was no training manual but they were expected by authorities to collect high quality data.
The officials said they were instead asked to accept a meal allowance of K105 for the seven-day period of the census.
The prolonged rainy period since last month also did not help interviewers who have been visiting the Ahi local level government office at Malahang for their payments.
The group of interviewers did not want to be named out of fear of being targeted individually by the authorities. 
Ahi census coordinator Kissu Lucas could not be reached for comments

 

Two die, houses razed after clash at Sogeri

 TWO men are dead, several families are homeless and one person is in a critical condition at the Port Moresby General Hospital after an argument resulted in the killing and burning down of homes during the early hours of Saturday morning at the Owers Corner, outside Port Moresby, The National reports.
Sogeri police station commander Stanley Baroro said a weekend getaway for some Southern Highlanders at Owers Corner with a group of Goilala settlers living there turned sour after an argument resulted in the fight between the two groups. 
Baroro said from reports received the group was getting high on drugs while drinking alcohol.
Baroro said since the Southern Highlanders were visitors there, they were outnumbered and fled but were chased and attacked by the Goilalas, resulting in one of them being killed.
He said the body of the deceased was then mutilated and left on the roadside.
The matter was reported to police but before any action could be taken, relatives of the deceased, who learned of the killing, mobilised in two 25-seater buses, searched the the city for any Goilalas and abducted two innocent men from the Manu Autoport Market, bound them and headed for Owers Corner.
Police said the relatives then converged on the settlement and burnt down several houses. 
While the Southern Highlanders were busy burning and destroying property, the duo decided to make a run. 
One was cornered and chopped to death with petrol thrown over him before he was set alight while the other was chopped, suffering multiple deep wounds.
He is in a critical condition in hospital.
Baroro, who condemned the killings, said the senseless barbaric acts were symbolic of those in the Stone Age and that while policemen were trying to uphold justice by conducting investigations, the Southern Highlanders decided to use their own tactics.
“We are in the 21st century, modern PNG. We cannot allow people to payback at will using jungle justice,” he said. 
“I am appealing for both sides not to do any more harm, to respect each other and the law and to cooperate with police.”
Four Goilalas were questioned in relation to the deaths.

 

Kase is acting health secretary

 HEAD of the AusAID-funded capacity building service centre and former deputy secretary in charge of policy and administration with the Department of Health, Pascoe Kase is the acting secretary for Health, The National reports.
Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Sasa Zibe officially announced the appointment yesterday in the presence of senior health executives, management and staff and development partners at Aopi Building’s conference room.
“I welcome the decision of the government to appoint Kase in an acting capacity,” he said. 
“I have confidence in him that he will provide able leadership during this time when we have many exciting developments taking place in the department,” Zibe said.
“He is no stranger to this role. In his previous capacity as deputy secretary, he been acting secretary for health on a number of occasions and possesses good working knowledge of the operations of the department.”
Kase said: “It is good to be back after a while.”
He thanked the government for having confidence in him, saying it was a privilege and a honour.
“While I am looking forward to working with the rest the team, I know it is not an easy job. 
“There are many challenges that we still need to overcome and there are achievements and progress that we can work on to ensure that they become a scheme of success,” Kase said.
Zibe said Kase would remain in the position for six months while the government looked for a permanent replacement

 

Pundari lauds work by MMJV

 THE national government is impressed with Morobe Mining Joint Venture company for setting the benchmark in waste management and environmental standards, The National reports.
Minister for Mining John Pundari said in the history of mining in PNG, the operator of the Harmony gold mine in Morobe was the first to have well-established and controlled waste management and environment practices which others should follow.
“This is a challenge to other mines in the country and that is the only way to do business in the country. 
“This is the kind of changes we want to experience in the industry as well as other extraction industries in PNG,” Pundari said.
He claimed other mining operations in the country did not have such an impressive waste management standard.
Meanwhile, Ramu nickel and cobalt mining operations in Madang were being delayed pending a National Court ruling.
Pundari said mining operations had ceased for some time while the Yandera mine, also in Madang, was awaiting the outcome of the court case.
Other mines, including Ok Tedi, had completed their independent studies and were operating.
Pundari said his department would be reviewing all Mining Act policies.

 

Petroleum minister rejects 'guinea pig' operations

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

THE government will not accept petroleum companies which have no proven records to operate in the country, The National reports.

Petroleum and Energy Minister Francis Potape said, after the ministerial review forum held at the Institute of Public Administration last Friday, he would also ban companies wanting to use technology not internationally-proven and accepted.

“PNG is not a guinea pig where technology can be tested,” he said.

“We will not allow technology that has not been accepted and that has not been internationally practised and approved.

“Any companies that want to develop petroleum projects in the country must also use and apply technology that is proven and satisfied internationally because PNG government will not entertain companies testing new technologies here.”

He said if companies such as InterOil wanted to test a floating LNG facility, then they should go elsewhere because such technology had never been practised anywhere in the world.

Potape, who has a master’s degree in engineering, said such technology would not be tested in PNG.

He said the proposed Antelope LNG project was questionable as they did not have a proven track record in the petroleum industry.

However, he said if the company wanted to operate a gas project, they should look for other partners with experience in the industry with a record of operating world-class projects.

“If InterOil wants to develop the Antelope project, it has to look for a world class partner to operate so that it can develop both the upstream and midstream facilities here in the country,” he said.

“This also applies to new and interested companies that want to develop petroleum projects in the country.”

Potape said he had spoken to the directors of InterOil in Singapore last week and informed them of the government’s expectations.

Polye throws down gauntlet

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

THE National Alliance party leadership has been further thrown into confusion with a row over who is the rightful highlands deputy party leader, The National reports.
Kandep MP Don Polye said he remained in that position. 
But, last week, the party's parliamentarians elected Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal to the position in Polye's absence.
Polye said the position would be contested at the party's highlands caucus in Goroka on Thursday. 
Polye had also challenged party members, who wanted to contest the National Alliance highlands' deputy leader position, to do so at the Goroka meeting. 
"Therefore, I remain deputy leader NA highlands and I call on all leaders from the region to turn up for the meeting,'' he said.
"I call on Abal to come to the meeting and contest the leadership."
Polye maintained he was elected to that position through the normal democratic process and no one, including Abal, could take the lea­dership away from him unless through the party caucus meeting in Goroka.
Polye said he would respect the decision of that meeting on who should hold that position.
"Leadership cannot be sold or bought but is something that is earned," he said.
"Every time when I am out, he (Abal) tries to take away my leadership at the cabinet level and calls for meetings to get me out. 
"But we have to follow the constitution of the party," he said. 
"I welcome such ac­tions through the normal democratic process of election that is through the secret ballot.
"It is a sad day to use threats to wrestle power from me.
"We've got to practise and encourage the norms and laws in place. 
"We cannot use un-constitutional and unethical processes to obtain leadership because it is a public thing."
Abal was last week suspended by the party for two months. 
But, on the same day he received his suspension letter, Abal was elected deputy leader of National Alliance by the highlands 
parliamentarians at a meeting in Port Moresby.
Polye pointed out that under section 10 of the party constitution, he should have been the one to call the meeting in the presence of the party executives – which was not done.
He said last week's meeting was not recognised because many procedures, as outlined in the party constitution, had not been followed.
He said he, as the duly elected leader, should have been given a 30-day notice to call a meeting.
"If not followed, then the members can call for election," he said.
Polye said the meeting this week would be conducted properly with all minutes taken and proper processes followed in accordance with the constitution.
"Until then, I am still the party deputy leader of National Alliance highlands and supported by the party executives," he said.

The reality of the angels; medals presented to Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels

By JOHN FOWKE

The legend of the "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels"; forgotten founders of a free PNG.
It is well that we reflect on the recent presentation of medals to 34 of the
last of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels by Australia.
The "Angels" and the RPC members and the PIB members plus the New Guinea Constabulary members and others who came over the border into Allied territory to serve their country are all of similar status as returned
servicemen/ war veterans everywhere in countries aligned with the Allies
against the Axis forces of Germany and Japan.
They had records-of-service, many suffered wounds and serious illness, and many lost their lives.
 At long last a few are being paid the honour and respect they richly deserve.
But the accolades come from another land, not from within their own nation.
These men, those few who survive, and their compatriots now long-gone, are
not given very much thought or regard outside their immediate families, in
the land they fought to save.
The land which became Papua New Guinea- a land free and independent and proud to stand among the democratic nations of the world.
The freedom and the independence now enjoyed by PNG would never have come about if the Allies, including the native-born conscripts and combatants, had not resisted Japan.
The rather silly, even demeaning imagery of the "faithful, simple, black Fuzzie Wuzzies", created in a poem published in the Australian Womens Weekly in 1943 is largely responsible for the myth that these men gave service and gave their lives for the Australians.
An image which conceals the reality.
An image which ignores the fact that these native-born men were fighting for the freedom and the future of the land of  many tribes which would one day become Papua New Guinea.
That few of the ordinary populace understood this at the time makes no difference.
It is the truth.
Today's  PNG youth and their parents have been led to believe that the war fought in their land was one between outsiders, having no relevance to the village people who were simply pushed about and suffered consequent privations for no reason of any validity to themselves
In fact,  the native-born war-veterans are the true pioneers of the PNG nation, the true heroes, the preservers of freedom and the rule of their own society within their own land.
Forget about all the young men in  long white socks and nylon shirts who sat up late in the 'sixties, planning their journey upon the developing pathway for independence from Australia.
The majority saw the pathway as one firstly for their own benefit.
 For their own rise to privileged "Blakmasta" status, status which coalesced into today's largely selfish and under-achieving political class; the ruling elite with little heart for the people.
Few, if any at all ,of this generation of self-promoting "lidaman" have shown signs of incipient heroism, of a level of honesty,generosity and idealism which might have lifted the nation out of the deep, dark, smelly drain in which it walks today, onto a sunny, happy road which the old war-veterans had every right to expect.
Lets see some real respect and real regard expressed with humility by today's generations for the truth of the contribution to the nation of the Fuzzy Wuzzies.
 Let's teach the truth in the schools as a measure towards the one-ness which is lacking in this nation of many tribes; let's have parades and services in every district centre on "the day" each year.
Respect for forefathers is embedded deep within the PNG psyche.
 Let's focus this talent of ours upon the  memory of the old veterans, and for our own sake.
We who have benefited from their service and their sacrifice.