Somare out of hospital

Caption: Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare with his son and Angoram MP Arthur Somare at the Raffles Hospital.-Picture courtesy of BETHA SOMARE

GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare has checked out of Singapore's Raffles Hospital four months after he was admitted for open heart surgery, The National reports.
He was reported to have checked into an apartment in Singapore as his doctors had advised that he was not yet fit to travel back to PNG.
Sir Michael, who has been visited by a number of close friends, was served court documents in person last Friday at the Singapore Raffles Hospital in the presence of his son, Angoram MP Arthur Somare.
The service of the Supreme Court Reference, filed by the East Sepik provincial executive council, on Sir Michael was executed by Singapore-based lawyer Timothy Ng.
Sir Michael had been drawn in as a party to the court reference which sought to establish whether or not the election of Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O'Neill as prime minister on Aug 2 was constitutional.
Sir Michael was admitted in April at Raffles where he underwent three heart surgeries.
He had been in intensive care for most of that time when his family announced to the nation that the Grand Chief would retire from active politics.
Christian congregations around the country have been praying for the devout Catholic and father-of-five ever since he was hospitalised.
During that time, he lost his position as leader of the National Alliance party and prime minister of PNG.

Residents urged to keep city clean

Caption: NCD Governor Powes Parkop (second right) demonstrating the proper way of using the bins. With him are Hardware Haus staff.

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop is urging everyone to look after the city by disposing of rubbish in public places.

Speaking at the opening of the Bank South Pacific Go Green campaign at Ela Beach yesterday, Parkop said keeping the city clean was a continuous challenge that everybody had to take up.

"It is up to the public to take good care of recreation facilities if they want to live a safe and enjoyable life in the city," he said.

The BSP 'Clean up Ela Beach' exercise was a success yesterday as staff of corporate organisations in Port Moresby turned out at the popular beachfront to promote safe and healthy living.   

Parkop launched rubbish bins on wheels donated by Hardware Haus.

The bins will be placed along the beachfront.

About 1, 000 people, including business executives, staff members and relatives, picked up rubbish along the beach.

They were given plastic bags and hand gloves to use.

The rubbish collected was later disposed of at the city dumps by NCD Commission contractors.

The initiative was to demonstrate to people that business leaders were committed to keeping the environment clean, green and healthy for all.

The exercise was a joint initiative by Hardware Haus and BSP's Go-Green campaign, and supported by other corporate houses.

The plan is to make the event an annual exercise on Sept 23 and 24.

Parkop condemns killing

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has condemned yesterday's killing of a man at Sikirap Market in 9-Mile, Port Moresby, The National reports.

The man was John Sine Kaupa from Chimbu, who was the operations manager of Kuima Security Service.

He died from multiple bush knife wounds.

The fight left some critically-injured and properties burnt and was between two highlands ethnic groups.

Parkop said the main concern was the killing of a fellow human being in an alcohol-related violence.

 "I condemn the killing and appeal to the community to assist the police in bringing the perpetrators to justice," Parkop said.

He said the parties involved should respect each other and not let the violence escalate.

Parkop said the capital city was made up of different ethnic groups in the country and they should by now learn to live peacefully with each other.

"There are better ways to solve grievances. Resorting to fighting is not the solution. We have to learn to respect lives and properties," Parkop said.

He requested the relatives of the deceased to refrain from "pay-back killings".

Properties worth thousands of kina have been destroyed while opportunists and angry mobs looted trade stores at the scene.

The incident which happened yesterday morning has been what the NCD government strongly campaigned against in its bid to make the capital city safe and crime-free.

Police have already started investigations into the incident.

9-Mile violence leaves one dead

Caption: Two of the injured receiving treatment at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Story and picture by JUNIOR UKAHA

A senior figure in the security business is dead and two other persons critically injured after they were ambushed and attacked by Tari settlers at Nine Mile yesterday, The National reports.  

John Sine Kaupa, the operations manager of Kuima Security Services (KSS), was hacked to death by bush knife wielding men from at around 6am after he went to inspect a company bus that was allegedly damaged by the settlers earlier that morning.

The deceased, who is the elder brother of Anthon Kaupa and Jacob Kaupa, who own Kuima Security Services and Pacific Corporate Security Services respectively, was killed at the Sigirap Market.

The killing turned into an all-out ethnic clash with close to 10 homes razed when relatives of Kaupa from Chimbu,  who live at the 9-Mile Ridge,  mobilised with Eastern Highlanders and attacked the Taris, who they said, were responsible for the death of Kaupa.

Eyewitnesses said the mob from Chimbu razed the buildings, including trade stores, and looted a number of Tari-owned trade stores.

Eyewitness James Apa said a group of men from Tari armed with bush knives, axes and metal rods,  chased Kaupa from the vicinity of the market to a residential area belonging to a Margaret Yakari and killed him.

Apa said the men then left his decapitated body in a nearby drain and fled.

Kaupa was chopped on the forehead, right knee, hand, foot and face.

Eyewitnesses from the 9-Mile Ridge area said trouble started when a Kuima Security guard,  identified only as Francis,  had a confrontation with a Tari man early that morning.

Eyewitnesses said Francis jumped on a 25-seater bus belonging to KSS and was heading for work when the bus was ambushed by a mob from Tari who were drinking beer at a trade store near Sigirap Market.

Community leader James Mogia said the bus, including the guards, were attacked by the men who smashed all windscreens.

Mogia said the guards then radioed Kaupa, who went with reinforcements to verify the matter but was attacked, resulting in his death.

Eyewitnesses said a pump action shot gun that was in the deceased's possession,  and which he used to fire warning shots to disperse the mob,  was taken when he was killed.     

Johnna Kaupa, another elderly man from Chimbu, who works a security guard with KSS, was chopped on the head when the Taris turned on the reinforcements that went to investigate and retrieve the damaged bus.

An elderly Tari man, Pori Walepa, was slashed on his back and left shoulder during the ensuing clash.

Lest we forget: Today is World Humanitarian Day

The General Assembly of the United Nations has designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day, The National reports.

The day acknowledges and pays tribute to the 22 humanitarian staff that tragically lost their lives in Iraq in the massive bomb attack on the Baghdad Headquarters of the United Nations in 2003.

 It also honors all other humanitarian aid workers throughout the world who have lost their lives and safety in the aid of others, and those who continue to carry on this noble task and save the lives of others who suffer from natural catastrophes, wars and pestilence.

The word humanitarian is all about 'people helping people' without prejudice, but rather with willing hearts, care and compassion, and without expecting reward in return.

All around the world humanitarian workers help survivors of wars and natural catastrophes regardless of their race, nationality, religious or political beliefs.

Every year natural disasters and armed conflict affect millions of lives around the world, and often cause massive death and destruction.

We constantly see and hear in the news of world disasters, such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand and the current drought in the Horn of Africa. In 2011 in Papua New Guinea the Gulf, Madang, East and West New Britain and Central provinces suffered from severe flooding that affected many people and caused human suffering.

The cholera outbreak has also claimed hundreds of lives in Morobe, Madang, East Sepik, National Capital District, Central, Milne Bay, Gulf, Western provinces and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

People affected by natural disasters and conflicts are always in great need of immediate and long-term assistance to get on with the process of recovering their livelihoods.

They need more than comforting words - they need food, access to clean water, basic health services, a place for their kids to be educated, and the tools to help them quickly restore normalcy.

It is disheartening that, in some situations, humanitarian workers are victimised for the work they do helping people who need basic aid.

Sometimes, they are killed accidentally together with the people they were helping, but other times they are directly targeted, and this trend is on the rise around the world.

Whatever the reasons, the level of threats and number of deliberate attacks on aid organisations - our people, equipments and facilities - have risen dramatically.

In 2010 alone, 242 aid workers were killed, injured or kidnapped and the loss of assets through violence and rose.

 Conflict dynamics are changing.

While more and more people count on aid workers for their survival, getting that aid to people is, in some situations, becoming much more complicated.

Humanitarian assistance is manipulated by groups involved in conflict, or aid workers are prevented from delivering aid because one group or another wants to exert control.

Despite these dangers, humanitarian workers remain committed to meeting the needs of people and to saving lives.

We remember those who have served in emergencies in PNG in the past and appreciate their tireless efforts.

Many of them have sacrificed being with their families and loved ones to serve in humanitarian duties during the twin volcano eruptions in Rabaul in 1994, the drought in 1997, the Aitape tsunami in 1998, and the civil conflict in Bougainville and many other incidences over the past 10 years, which have had immensurable effects on homes, properties and the lives of Papua New Guineans throughout the country.

Today, we recognise the achievement of humanitarian workers and the diversity of where they work and what they do.

Making sure those humanitarian workers can access the people they are trying to help, while ensuring that those workers are protected and respected for what they do, must remain a priority. Helping those in positions of power to understand the basic principles which underline humanitarian work, and that these principles are founded in international humanitarian law, must continue and intensify.

Let us all acknowledge, respect and support our humanitarian aid workers, as they play a very important role in our society and world.

They save lives and help give others hope in times of adversity and the chance to live and enjoy life thereafter. 

PM’s man leads race

By ZACHERY PER

THE leading candidate in the Kundiawa-Gembogl by-election has received just over 15% of valid votes – still way below the absolute majority of 24,834 votes – when the count was suspended after the 29th elimination last night, The National reports.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's People National Congress candidate and former minister Peter Waieng maintained his lead with 7,882 votes (15.87%).
His lead after 29 eliminations was closely chased by former agriculture minister and Chimbu politician Mathew Siune on 6,616 votes (13.32%).
PNG Democratic Party candidate Tobias Kulang, who did well at the start of the count last week was running third on 5,442 votes (10.96%) while People's Party candidate Paul Gend maintained his fourth place with 4,393 votes (8.84%).
Former Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Wagi Merimba was in fifth place with 4,348 votes (8.75%).
Others still in the race last night were Paul Moiwo with 3,286 votes (6.63%), William Gumayagl Ongugo on 2,960 (5.96%), Blaise Kal on 2,394 (4.82%), Alphonse Kawagle Palma on 2,241 votes (4.52%), John Naur Mangi on 2,167 votes (4.36%), John Tonar 2,167 votes (4.36%), John Kagl with 2, 039 votes (4.11%), Mark Philip on 2,024 votes (4.08%) and Peter Diniyagl 1,715 on votes (3.45%).
From a total of 52,378 ballots issued, 735 were ruled informal and 51,643 were allowed. But at the end of elimination 29 last night 1,976 ballots were exhausted.
From the 43 candidates running for the seat left vacant by the passing of Joe Mek Teine in April this year, 29 candidates who polled the lowest number of votes were eliminated and 14 are still in the race.
The elimination process continues today and a winner is expected to be declared this weekend.
Kundiawa open  returning officer James Piapia thanked counting officials, scrutineers for candidates, police and everyone who played various roles for ensuring the process of the by-election went smoothly.
He urged candidates and supporters to respect the new electronic counting system and the Limited Preferential Voting  system.

Leaders tell Agiru to respect Nipa people

 TWO community leaders from Nipa-Kutubu have called on Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru to stop messing around with future leaders and educated men from the electorate, The National reports.
Jordon Kium and Nakon Ipa wanted Agiru to focus on getting the new Hela province and leave their future Nipa-Kutubu leaders alone.
They also condemned the manner in which Agiru was allegedly dealing with their leaders by fighting over public service positions.
"William Powi and Lawrence Olkoben are from the Nipa-Kutubu electorate who are concerned about their people.
"Agiru should concentrate on getting a province for the Hela region," Kium said.
They also warned that such political games would only end in disaster "and Agiru will not be here to face the consequences".
"We do not want a repetition of past political conflicts between the Hela people and their neighbouring Nipa," Ipa said.

Olkoben says he is administrator

LAWRENCE Olkoben maintains he is still the le­gitimate Southern Highlands acting provincial administrator, The National reports.
Olkoben, whose three-month term as acting administrator expired on Aug 12, said the pro­vincial executive council had extended his term on Aug 4, eight days before his term expired.
He said the Supreme Court recognised him as acting administrator and dismissed an appeal lodged by former admi­nistrator William Powi on July 14.
He said any ap­pointment of the acting provincial administrator must have the recommendation of the council.
Olkoben said in his case, the council had recommended he acted until a permanent appoint­ment was made.
He said the prime mi­nister and cabinet had hijacked the normal procedures by appointing Powi without consulting the provincial council.

Powi: Southern Highlands' K40 milion abused in projects

By JEFFREY ELAPA

MORE than K40 million from the Southern Highlands provincial treasury has been abused within a matter of three months, according to the acting pro­vincial administrator William Powi, The National reports.
He alleged yesterday in Mendi that up to June, a huge sum of money from the provincial treasury was dis­bursed by the provincial government to shady projects.
He also claimed that a large sum of money was paid out within the first two weeks of this month, a few days before the National Executive Council re-appointed him to the post.
Powi is acting provincial administrator for a period of three months.
Supporters of Powi and the man he was to replace, Lawrence Olkoben, clashed in Mendi on Monday when he arrived to take up the post.
Powi claimed that the attack was orchestrated by Olkoben and his supporters to destroy the treasury records and documents by taking possession of the provincial treasury and the Agiru Centre.
Powi said acting provincial treasurer Kevin Pruno had informed him that K40 million from the provincial treasury had been expended over an alleged period of three months.
Powi said Pruno admitted that for all payments, Governor Anderson Agiru had listed payments detailing who should get how much and directed the officer of the provincial admi­nistrator and the provincial treasurer to issue Cash Flow Certificates and stamped what the governor wanted.
He said Pruno further admitted that Agiru had decided who should be paid and how much each person should receive, which was contrary to the Organic Law on the functions of the provincial go­vernors, administrator and treasurers.
But Pruno, when contacted, denied giving the report and said he had never written to any media regarding the K40 million payout during Olkoben's time.
"When Powi asked me, I told him that less than K20 million was disbursed between January and June this year," he said.
He then said K7 million was spent on projects, wages and for administration costs and not K40 million as reported.
Pruno said the payments were made according to the budget of the provincial government and ranged from K300,000 to K400,000 for each project from January to June this year.
He said for example the Nipa and Mendi technical colleges received K700,000 each from the K7 million.
Agiru, when contacted, said he could not comment on an allegation but stated that directions had to be given on where to spend money according to bud­get.
He said the province had an internal revenue of about K60 million and was still after the Kutubu and Moran royalties in Port Moresby.
"I do not know what money they are referring to, I have no idea," he said.
However, he said generally any money belonging to the province had to be spent on pro­jects as budgeted for.
He declined to comment further on Powi's "baseless" stories.
However, Powi had issued written instructions to Pruno to furnish him a detailed report on the usage of funds, verify and confirm whether the payments were budgeted for and whether they were in compliance with legal processes.
Pruno said the report was not ready and he could give it to the provincial administrator when completed.
However, Powi called on the national government to investigate the abuses which he alleged were "illegal, improper and went against the spirit of good governance".
"Provincial government and provincial governors are policy makers and do not have section 32 functions under the Public Finance Management Act.
"The national government must act immediately," he said.
Powi said the national government should recall Olkoben to Waigani to lay appropriate disciplinary charges against him for disobeying lawful directives and for instigating trouble in Mendi.
The police mobile units 09 and 05 from Tari and Mt Hagen had been dispatched in Mendi to protect state property and allow Powi to take control of the administration.
Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie is understood to be on the ground in Mendi.

East Sepik loses ‘money’ powers

By JEFFREY ELAPA

THE National Executive Council has suspended the financial powers of the East Sepik provincial government, The National reports.
Government sources said the council met on Wednesday and decided that all financial powers of the provincial government be withdrawn and reverted to Waigani.
Although the reason for the suspension has not been disclosed, it comes at a time when the East Sepik provincial executive council is seeking a Supreme Court reference on the election of the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill early this month.
It means that all financial powers are managed from Waigani, leaving the provincial government powerless to make decisions and expend funds for any purpose.
There are also talks around the corridors of power in Waigani that the government plans to remove similar financial powers from another provincial government soon. This, however, can­not be confirmed at this stage.
Text messages to members of the NEC to verify the suspension went unanswered.
A press conference scheduled for yesterday by O'Neill to in­form the nation about some of the NEC decisions was cancel­led and re-scheduled for today.
Responding yesterday to the government's decision to sus­pend the financial powers of the East Sepik provincial government, Angoram MP Arthur Somare said it was an unlawful and immoral act by an illegitimate regime.
"I strongly condemn this action to subvert a lawful special reference to the Supreme Court," Somare said.
"I call on the Ombudsman Commission, other constitu­tional office-holders and the public to see this latest ploy for what it is – a bold attempt to subvert the Constitution.
"This is a desperate action by a desperate group of politicians who are hungry for power and who are willing to destroy the constitutional foundations of our democratic society.
"These are desperate people who are willing to break the na­tion's laws to feed their hunger for greed and power."
Somare said it had been wide­ly speculated in the past two days that the government was conve­ning a National Executive Coun­cil meeting with the suspension of the East Sepik pro­vincial go­vernment high on its agenda.
"I'm sure the legal advice they received indicated that suspen­sion of the provincial govern­ment was only possible through a declaration of a national emergency, which would be impos­sible to prove,'' Somare said.
"As a result, they have adopted another illegal tactic by suspending the ESPG financial powers effective from Aug 18, 2011. An instrument to this ef­fect has been signed by Trea­surer Don Polye.
"Only evil-minded people can stoop to these levels.
"They have acted in this manner because they know that their Supreme Court case is weak. Their questionable re­gime is now attempting to financially cripple a court action that will show up the illegitimacy of their actions in parliament on Aug 2."

Ramu Agri Industries Ltd gives sweet K5,000 to Goroka Show

By MALUM NALU

Ramu Agri Industries Limited (RAIL) has given K5, 000 and 50 cartons of sugar sachets to the Goroka Show.

From left is John Piawu presenting the K5, 000 to chief inspector David Seine, deputy chairman of the Goroka Show organising committee. Looking on in the middle is Maurice Owens, national sales manager of RAIL

RAIL national sales manager Maurice Owens and marketing manager John Piawu presented the K5, 000 and sugar in Goroka yesterday.
While presenting the money and sugar to deputy show chairman Inspector David Seine, Owens said Ramu Sugar was a locally-grown product and RAIL’s focus was towards the cultural side of the Show.
The K5, 000 and sugar will go towards supporting the singsing groups that will participate in this year's show.
Seine thanked Owens and Piawu for travelling all the way from Gusap to make the donation and extended his appreciation on behalf of the organising Committee to the management of RAIL for coming on board to support this year's show.
He said RAIL had always sponsored the traditional singsing category and expressed his sincere gratitude for the support.
He said the sugar would be distributed to singsing groups for their morning tea and that should lighten the burden on the committee in feeding the singsing groups that would be coming from outside Eastern Highlands province.
Piawu said that RAIL hoped their support would assist in making this year's show bigger and better.
He said Goroka Show is the most-peaceful show in the country and that was attributed to the general peace-loving nature of Eastern Highlanders as well as the people in the organising committee.

Happy Birthday Mum!

Happy Birthday to Mum, Mrs Moasing Nalu, who would have turned 73 today, but who left us on September 2, 2009.

You're still the best Mum in the world and will always be remembered by your children, grandchildren, family and friends. We miss you so much

Feud rocks PNG Brussels embassy

By FRANK SENGE KOLMA

THE Papua New Guinea embassy in Brussels is embroiled in a bitter feud involving a Belgian national working there and her employer, that threatens to spill into the courts of Belgium, The National reports.
Belgian national Martine-Ghislaine Victoria Chaplin van Camp has complained of sexual harassment, of being locked out of her office and of not being paid for four months, among other things.
Brussels head of mission Ambassador Peter Maginde, in turn, had accused van Camp of blackmail, of removing sensitive documents and the embassy cheque book to her home.
Maginde had engaged a Belgian law firm to assist in reco­vering embassy property.
Whatever the truth of the matter, letters have been sent to the king of Belgium, the Queen of England as the head of state of PNG, the governor-general and the two governments repeating her accusations and making damaging remarks against not just Maginde but the work habits and character of the people of PNG.
According to van Camp, the king of Belgium had directed two of its ministers to attend to the matter.
Yesterday, a senior PNG Foreign Affairs Department officer confirmed that "several correspondence" had been received relating to the matter, adding the department had urged Maginde to resolve it.
In e-mail correspondence with The National, van Camp gave graphic accounts of the sexual harassment which she claimed took place within the embassy precincts.
It got to a stage, she claimed, where she had to stop wearing skirts and had to go into the ambassador's office accompanied by minister Alois Tabereng or third secretary Aileen Boi.
Maginde described her allegations as "absolutely false, without basis of evidence and there is no truth in it".
He said he had engaged a law firm to sue her for defamation and character assassination and to recover PNG government pro­perty.
In a letter to secretary Michael Maue on April 4, van Camp said: "Since Ambassador Peter Maginde seems unwilling to understand his obligations in respect of the legislation of his hosting country – despite the several reminders from the protocol of the ministry of foreign affairs to backpay my salaries and social security payments, as much as to provide local staff with legal contracts and their due social benefit payments – his Majesty Albert II, king of Belgium, has requested two of his state ministers to take this matter into their hands."
Van Camp confirmed she had taken her administrative work home as her office door lock was changed and she could not access her office and she could not continue because of the harassment.
Maginde responded this week by accusing her of trying to blackmail the embassy.
He said between April and May last year, she was informed that her performance level was not to "our expectations and she was taking many days off so we warned her to improve and comply with all the required instructions".
In the end, he said the situation was untenable and her employ­ment was terminated.
Maginde said: "She is almost 60 years of age and she claims that, due to her age, the embassy is responsible to employ her.
"We have said that is not pos­sible and, thus, have termi­nated her (employment) officially as of January but legally-effected as of April 2011 due to the three months' notice under the Belgian laws.
"She has been paid all her entitlements and benefits due under law.
"She says that if we terminate her, she would destroy me so that is her intention for the emails to everywhere and everybody."
He said the Belgian foreign affairs had been briefed and had asked her to return all government documents and financial accounts including cheque books.

Obama hails PM O’Neill

UNITED States President Barack Obama has congratulated Peter O'Neill on his election as the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, The National reports.
This is the second congratulatory message sent to O'Neill and his two-week-old government by world leaders.
The first congratu­la­tory message was sent two days after O'Neill was elected prime minister on Aug 2 by his Australian counterpart, Julia Gillard.
Gillard phoned O'Neill to say that Canberra was ready to work with him and his new government.
Gillard and O'Neill stressed the importance of continuing the strong bilateral relations that existed and other issues like the Manus asylum seekers processing centre and AusAID programmes in the country.
Obama congratulated O'Neill through the United States embassy in Port Moresby.
His congratulatory message read: "Dear Mr Prime Minister. Congratulations on your recent appointment as prime minister of Papua New Guinea.
"Our nations have a shared interest in the promotion of democracy and rule of law, the pre­servation of environ­mental and cultural diversity and stability and prosperity in the Pacific re­gion.
"I look forward to working closely with you and your government to promote these common interests, expand our bilateral economic ties and deepen our co-operation in the region.
"I am confident that through our combined efforts, we will strengthen the ties that bind our countries together and improve the lives of our people.
"Sincerely Yours, Barack Obama.

Waieng leads in Chimbu

By ZACHERY PER

PEOPLE's National Con­gress party candidate and former Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Peter Waieng was still ahead midway through the by-election elimination pro­cess when counting was suspended last night after the 22nd elimination, The National reports.
Waieng maintain­ed a comfortable lead with 7,328 votes, a difference of 1,988 votes over his nearest rival and former agriculture minister Mathew Siune (5,240).
The six candidates who were eliminated yester­day included Francis Iwa­inde, John Siune Kela, Francis Otto Gugl, Kiak Bagle, Siune Kua and John Sie Wigle.
After the distribution of their preference votes among the remaining 21 candidates, PNC's Peter Waieng led with 7,328 votes, Siune was second on 5,240, PNG Constitutional Democratic Party candidate Tobias Kulang was third with 4,917 votes, People's Party man Paul Gende fourth on 4,180 and former Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Wagi Merimba was running fifth on 4,047 votes.
A total of 381 ballots had been exhausted after last night's elimination leaving the 21 surviving candidates sharing a total of 51,643 votes.
Chimbu provincial election manager Steven Gore Kaupa said at the Kundiawa Lutheran Day High School the elimination would slow down when the elimination reached the 900 and more than 1,000-vote mark.
Kaupa said they were on track to complete the counting before Aug 26.

Writs date conflicts with day of prayer

THE date set for the return of writs for the Kundiawa-Gembogl by-election coincides with the National Execu­tive Council (NEC) declared public holiday on Aug 26, The National reports.
When Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio issued the writs, he set Aug 26 as the date for the writs to be returned, which falls next Friday.
According to yesterday's newspaper reports, there were "three public holidays remaining this year and 12 public holidays for next year".
Attempts to get comments from PNG Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen were unsuccessful.
However, it was understood that a new date would be set for the return of writs.

PM urged to make wise decisions

By SAMUEL RAITANO and JEFFREY ELAPA

LEADERS in Mendi, Southern Highlands,  want Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Public Service Minister Bart Philemon to make some wise and sensible decisions on the administration of the province, The National reports.
It comes as the National Executive Council reinstated William Powi as acting administrator for Southern Highlands.
Lawrence Olkoben was acting in the position.
It led to a clash last Monday between their supporters in Mendi town.
Olkoben was appointed by the Somare go­vernment while Powi was appointed last week by the O'Neill government.
Powi's move to occupy office on Monday was resisted by Olkoben's supporters and
resulted in the clash which left some people injured and properties damaged.
Both men are understood to be from Nipa, a section of the highway that leads to the LNG project hub, Tari.
The leaders in Mendi said if politicians continued to promote their own cronies to be  adminis­trators in Southern Highlands, there was a potential for chaos, anarchy and bloodshed in Mendi and elsewhere in the province.
Community leaders from Hunjahumap, Wogia, Longo, Kiburu, Lai Valley, Upper Mendi, Lower Mendi and the surrounding communities and LLGs want the government to appoint someone neutral to administer the pro­vince.
They wanted the government to appoint someone from Mendi or Lai Valley.
 Meanwhile, Governor Anderson Agiru claimed  the earlier appointment of Olkoben was done through proper procedures.
Agiru said that Powi's appointment was a "rushed move" by the prime minister.
The court registry in Mendi has denied a report that a court case had been filed by Olkoben against Powi.
Powi had earlier this year challenged the Southern Highlands provincial executive council in its decision to have Olkoben appointed.
The matter is still pending in court.
Meanwhile, police in Mendi said the situation in town was still tense following Monday's fight.
Sources from Mendi said people were openly carrying bush knives around the town's streets.

SHP locals want ‘powers’ stopped

THE people of Southern Highlands are calling on the national government to immediately withdraw the powers of the Southern Highlands provincial government, The National reports.
Many people rang from Mendi, Southern Highlands, while others  from the province living and working in other provinces also rang to call on the government to withdraw the financial powers of the provincial government.
They have also condemned the current administrative struggle between reappointed provincial administrator William Powi and the former and sidelined administrator Lawrence Olkoben.
Senior lawyer Marley Nandi said the government should immediately withdraw the financial powers back to Waigani while an independent investigation team was established to look into the rot in the province.
He said the province had become a milking ground for people since the time of the late Dick Mune, the Hami Yawari regime and the Agiru government.
He said that provincial administrators also needed to be investigated as many unscrupulous activities have been going on in the manner in which the funds of the province have been used.
He said that the recent investigation and jailing of seven people involved in the fraud was just a tip of the iceberg as many such people were still on the run and an immediate investigation was required.
Former member for Kagua-Erave David Basua said so much money into the province's coffers from the resources but it lags in development as the huge sums of funds are squandered by people in authority.
Meanwhile Southern Highlands National Alliance secretary Terence Perene called for another declaration of state of emergency.
He said there were many thing wrong with the governance of the province and it was time the national government intervene to correct it.
He said the coming election was also a threat as more guns were brought in to the province while such weapons were brought into the town without anyone being arrested by police as in the recent clash between the two groups over the administration position.
Basua also condemned the action of the two groups and stated that the position was not a birthright for few people.
He said any credible Papua New Guinean can apply for the position and not just the cronies of politicians and people from one district.
Leaders from Lai valley and surrounding villages of Mendi town have also expressed similar sentiments.

Group cuts off Telikom services

By GABRIEL FITO

ALL telecommunication services in parts of East and West Sepik have been disrupted after people purporting to be landowners unplugged solar panels and heaped rubbish onto the helipad preventing the helicopter from off-loading fuel at the Mt Albawagi repeater station at Dagua in East Sepik, The National reports.
Telikom workmen have made unsuccessful attempts this week to fly in fuel as the helipads were still covered with debris.
Mt Albawagi landowners' chairman Paul Amit said the problem was not caused by the landowners of Woginara but opportunists from Magopin village.
He lodged another complaint at the Wewak police station yesterday
Anit apologised to those who were affected by the actions of the perpetrators, saying the problem had been caused by an outside group.
He called on Telikom management to meet with the landowners immediately to resolve the issue of landowners' chairmanship so opportunist did not take advantage of such situations by disrupting vital services.
The Telikom customer service manager in Wewak could not be reached for comment as she was out of the office yesterday, but an employee confirmed the disruption of services.

‘Blake was forced out'

INDEPENDENT Public Business Corporation managing director Glen Blake was forced out by the new Minister for Public Enterprises Sir Mekere Morauta and did not voluntarily resign as claimed in a newspaper report, The National reports.
Sources said the former minister Arthur Somare said Sir Mekere told Blake to go shortly after taking office, saying his services were not needed.
State entities had performed exceptionally well, making huge returns through sound and prudent management of the state's enterprises since 2002 when the National Alliance-led government took office.
They said there might be a return to a sale of all entities as was the case when Sir Mekere was prime minister.
The government businesses had made "significant progress from insolvency to profitability and marketable organisations", the sources said.
Some notable performances were made by PNG Power and Post PNG, which had improved from being insolvent entities into becoming the best performing entities.
The sources said too much money had been paid to foreign consultants during Sir Mekere's leadership.
The source said decisions were likely to be manipulated by international organisations like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to privatise and sell state entities that were now performing very well.