Together we can stop witch burning in Papua New Guinea

Leo Igwe
Ethical Technology

I am writing to urge the international community to come to the aid of the Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea as it grapples with the menace of witchcraft or sorcery related violence. Witch persecution and killing has been going on in the country for too long and we cannot allow it to continue.
We need to take action now!

Leo Igwe was the Western and Southern African representative to IHEU, the International Humanist and Ethical Union. He has bravely worked to end a variety of human rights violations, including anti-gay hate, sorcery, witchcraft, ritual killing, human sacrifice, “untouchability”, caste discrimination, “child witch” superstition, and anti-blasphemy laws. He is presently enrolled in a three year research programme on “Witchcraft accusations in Africa” at the University of Bayreuth, in Germany.

The recent lynching of a 20-year old woman, Leniata Kepari for sorcery has revealed the urgency and complexity of the situation.  It underscores the imperative a pro-active approach. Even as the world is still trying to comprehend the reason for this savage act, the police in Papua New Guinea has reportedly saved two other women from being lynched. According to the report, the ‘two elderly women were tied to poles and people were preparing to set them alight over the death of an eight-year-old girl’. The girl’s relatives believed the women killed their child through sorcery and magic. A local witch doctor called a ‘glassman’ who claimed to have supernatural powers had identified the women as responsible for the child’s death.

But the police said the girl was gang-raped and killed by two people who were part of a lynch mob.

The Prime Minister has deplored the widespread killings associated with sorcery. Violence against women, he noted, was becoming too common in certain parts of the country. The government is asking people who are not sure of the cause of death of their family members to take the body to a doctor for an autopsy. In Papua New Guinea, most people do not accept natural causes of death and diseases. People attribute their misfortune to sorcery or witchcraft. In July, police arrested 29 members of a witch hunting cult who allegedly murdered and cannibalized their victims, believing they were sorcerers.

But  a local police chief has noted the problem of evidence- that the evidence for magically causing a death or illness is simply not there. "What evidence do they have to produce to court for sorcery-related killing and torturing?" He queried. ‘It is just a belief’. Mere belief indeed. Unfortunately, this is a realization which few people in the country entertain and can openly express. Most people in Papua New Guinea think witchcraft is more than a belief. That witchcraft is ‘real’. Hence the problem of witch burning continues.

The civilized world needs to help Papua New Guinea to stop this wave of violence. Countries and international institutions should remain indifferent in the name of respecting people’s culture, religion or tradition. Witch burning is not a cultural or religious practice that should be respected. Witch persecution is a violent custom that should be opposed, condemned and abandoned.

And we must ‘fight’ now to end it in Papua Guinea and in other countries in Asia and Africa.

Attributing the cause of death or disease to sorcery or witchcraft is not a pattern of thinking that should go unchallenged. Witchcraft accusation is often informed by a misconception and misdiagnosis of social conditions. Those who peddle such witch beliefs should be challenged and compelled to provide evidence. Those who exploit poor ignorant folks in the name of witchcraft should be exposed. Local authorities that handle witchcraft related cases should  be supported and assisted so that they can to make informed decisions. Those who accuse people of witchcraft and then attack or kill them should be made to answer for their crimes. The government of Papua New Guinea should ensure the rule of law, not that of a lynch mob, and strive to protect the rights of women and others who are often victims of witch persecution and killing.

The international community should muster the will and assist Papua New Guinea to resolve the issue of witch hunting. Tackling the problem of witch craze and hysteria in the country needs bold and courageous initiatives. The UN should mainstream efforts to combat witch persecution in its activities including by including programs to protect and empower women, children, elderly persons and people living with disabilities.

Through the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN should use international human rights mechanisms to pressure the government of Papua New Guinea to protect the rights of women in the country and bring an end to this violence. UNESCO should support programs to improve the quality of education. Such programs should include inculcating the values of peace, scientific and critical thinking. Witch hunting is an act of war against vulnerable members of the population. Witchcraft violence starts in the mind. And so, eradicating it requires programs that help reorient the minds of the people.

The World Health Organisation should put in place basic health education programs on the causes of death and diseases. People should be told that malaria is caused by parasites, not witchcraft(puripuri). And that there is no evidence that somebody can cause death or disease through sorcery. People should be encouraged to seek evidence-based medical care and counselling from trained doctors in clinics and hospitals, not ‘magical healing’ and ‘supernatural solutions’  from witchdoctors when they are sick.

UN Women should come up with initatives to empower women in the country and reduce their vulnerability to accusations and attacks. The UN Initiative on Ageing should launch programs to protect aging population from witchcraft suspicion and accusation. Very often, witchcraft in rural communities has a female or aging face. Through the UNDP, the UN can respond to the development challenges in the Papua New Guinea. Witch craze is often a symptom of underdevelopment or development failure. Most cases of accusation take place in rural areas where social infrastructure is lacking or is inadequate.

Australia, Britain, the US and other countries with development aid programs in Papua New Guinea should get involved in addressing the problem too. They should not use the narrative of colonialism as an excuse, or as a reason to turn a blind eye on this tragic situation. Helping a country to combat a harmful traditional practice is not colonialism but international relations at its best.

Also, religious organisations need to join efforts in combating witch hunts. Obviously faith groups face theological and creedal challenges in tackling the issue of witchcraft. Still they should -as they did in Europe- act to promote socio-cultural and religious reformation, and achieve an Enlightenment in Papua New Guinea. They should work and campaign  to end this dark age phenomenon in the country.

The world can help and should help now. Let’s act to end sorcery or witchcraft related violence.

Together we can work to stop witch hunting in Papua New Guinea, in Asia, in Africa and around the globe.

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Leo Igwe, as a member of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, has bravely worked for human rights in West Africa. He is presently enrolled in a three year research programme on “Witchcraft accusations in Africa” at the University of Bayreuth, in Germany.

Companies expect more profits in 2013

Source: The National, Friday, February 15, 2013

AN overwhelming 68% of major Papua New Guinea companies surveyed by Business Advantage PNG feel that this year will be a more-profitable than last year.
The survey which was released yesterday says investments are set to grow even further and jobs growth will continue, although this may be lower than previous years.
The PNG 100 CEO Survey 2013 was conducted by Business Advantage International between late November 2012 and last month.
 The survey included senior executives from a representative sample of PNG’s largest companies from across all sectors of the economy.
The organisation, which carried out the PNG 100 CEO Survey 2012 last year that correctly predicted that PNG’s largest companies would record profits, expects another good year in 2013.
“With strong profits recorded  and expectations for further profit, investment and employment growth in the year ahead, PNG’s largest companies seem set for another good year in 2013,” Business Advantage PNG said.
“At a time when some are wondering if PNG’s boom is coming to an end, it’s a positive sign for the country and for those planning to do business and invest there.
“The PNG 100 CEO Survey will be back in 12 months to see how 2013 went in reality.”
Business Advantage PNG said investments were set to grow even further in 2013.
“It seems as if increased profits are encouraging PNG’s major businesses to invest further in Papua New Guinea,” it said.
“Almost 70%, compared with 57% in our last survey,  told us they were planning to spend more on plant, equipment and other assets in 2013 than they did in the previous year, with a further 17% saying they would match last year’s investment.
“Only 14% said they were planning to reduce their investment during 2013, a similar number to last year.”
Business Advantage PNG said there would be jobs growth this year, but maybe slower than previous years.
“Last year, 52% of PNG’s major companies said they intended to take on more staff in 2012,” it said.
“This evidently proved to be the case: the Bank of Papua New Guinea’s September 2012 Quarterly Economic Bulletin reported employment growth of 7% over the 12 months preceding.
“This year, we have more good news for new graduates and those hoping for a new job once the PNG LNG project construction phase comes to an end.
“Just under half of employers we surveyed said they were again expecting to increase their head count this year.”
“Existing jobs seem safe too: only 6% of companies surveyed were expecting to lay off staff.”
“Significantly, though, only 11% of employers surveyed said they were planning a ‘significant’ increase in staff in 2013—much less than last year.
“If these expectations tally with national statistics, we might anticipate a slight slowing of employment growth in 2013.”

Security, law and order, major issues for business

The National, Friday, February 15, 2013 

 

By MALUM NALU

SECURITY and law and order issues topped the list of major concerns for businesses in Papua New Guinea, according to results of a survey out by Business Advantage PNG.
This supports what the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been continuously saying.
The top 10 critical issues affecting businesses surveyed were security-law and order (4.37%); unreliable utilities (4.11%); shortage of expertise/skills (4.09%); logistics (3.89%); high employment costs (3.86%); lack of government capacity (3.83%)’ high real estate rental costs (3.83%); inflation (3.49%); competition (3.34%) and government red tape (3.29%).
“Top of the list were security and law and order concerns, with every company we surveyed ranking them as either ‘very important’ or ‘mission critical’ to their business,” Business Advantage PNG said yesterday, when announcing results of its PNG 100 CEO Survey 2013.
“This is a similar result to last year’s survey, suggesting the situation is not improving.
“PNG’s widespread skills shortage may be getting slightly less chronic, however, as last year’s top issue was rated slightly lower by companies in this year’s survey.
“It is now in third place behind the unreliability of PNG’s state-owned utilities, which received a similar rating from CEOs as it did last year.
“Corruption received a marginally lower rating this year for its impact on business, as did access to overseas markets, government red tape, high real estate rental costs, lack of available office and warehouse space, and lack of market research-intelligence.
“Meanwhile, competition, access to capital, lack of available land, lack of government capacity and high employment costs received a slightly higher rating in this year’s survey.
“Another issue canvassed by some respondents, particularly those involved in manufacturing, was the impact of lowering tariffs.
“Finally, last year we asked CEOs about their concerns surrounding PNG’s 2012 national elections.
“Most weren’t that worried about the possible disruption to their businesses, despite some sensationalist headlines in the media.
 

PNG: Like every place you’ve never left

This article was first published in The National Weekender on Friday, February 15, 2013

By MALUM NALU

Amidst the gloom, doom and satanic verses flying like wicked witches over Papua New Guinea last Saturday, following the Salem-style immolation of a young woman accused of witchcraft in Mt Hagen, I took to the Sogeri mountains to seek a breath of fresh air.

Just what the doctor ordered, so to speak!

Sogeri, for many years, has been a means of escaping from the sweltering heat and scorched landscape of Port Moresby.

While Moresby is dry as a bone for over six months of the year, Sogeri, invariably, is moist and green and its mountain air cooler.

The mountains, foothills, forests, savannah woodland, rivers and streams have long captured the imagination of many.

It goes without saying that when one goes to Sogeri, one returns to the city very much relaxed, and reinvigorated.

My good Tolai mate Joseph Pupua, managing director of Dreamhill Hire Car, picked me up at my 8-Mile home for the drive to Sogeri and on to Owers’ Corner, the start of the famous Kokoda Trail, to meet longtime former PNG resident, Robert Crittenden, and his two young children.

Rachael, Robert and James Crittenden at Owers' Corner last Saturday.

Returning to PNG was like a homecoming for the family, whose trek was organised by Sydney-based company, Kokoda Trail Expeditions.

With my eldest son, Jr, we rolled up to Owers’ Corner, singing along to Creedence Clearwater Revival on this glorious Saturday morning.

“Just about a year ago, I set out on the road,

“Seeking my fame and fortune, looking for a pot of gold.

“Things got bad, and things got worse, I guess you will know the tune.

“Oh! Lord, Stuck in Lodi again”

 Crittenden, a household name in the Southern Highlands because of his work and association with the people there from 1978-2006, had just completed a nine-day Kokoda trek with daughter Rachel (24) and son James (28).

Robert Crittenden taking a breather along the Kokoda Trail.

Among his many publications is a book, Like People You See In A Dream, which gives the people’s side of the story of the explorations by legendary Australian explorer Jack Hides in the 1930s.

Crittenden and wife, Janis Baines, lived in a Southern Highlands village,  and in 1983-1986 she worked as the Highlands regional nutritionist funded by Save the Children for the Health Department.

Their son, James, was born in Goroka in 1984 so PNG is very close to their hearts.

“I’ve gotten to the stage now where if I don’t do it (Kokoda Trail) now, I’ll never do it,” Crittenden tells me at the hauswin at Owers’ Corner, “so I brought two of my children back to Papua New Guinea so they could see something of what their father did, or what their father saw, rather, which is why I really enjoyed being here: patrolling, walking, going through the villages.

Rachael James Crittenden taking a dip at Eora Creek.

“I thought the best way to do that was to do the Kokoda Track (Trail).

“In fact, when I first came to PNG in 1978, Owers’ Corner was one of the first places I came to see or what I was shown by people from the university.

“Also, the first three nights I was in PNG, I was with (legendary PNG explorer) Jim Taylor in Goroka.

“I wanted my two children to experience something of the hardness of walking the Kokoda Track, to realise that Kokoda Track is not just a white Australian story, of the army fighting the Japanese.

Isurava, one of the most-sacred sites of the Kokoda Trail, where some of the heaviest fighting along the trail took place.

“It’s a story of the Motu-Koitabu and the Koiari, of the Papua carriers.

Isurava.

“But more than that, it’s a story of a way of life that has been in existence for thousands of years.

“We can walk that track, we can get exhausted, we can say how brave the Australians were.

Rachael, Robert and James Crittenden in a stream along the Kokoda Trail.

“We’ve got the choice; we can walk that track and see the views, see the sunset, the way of life.

Breathtaking scenery along the Kokoda Trail.

“We can go back to our comfortable ways of life in Moresby, or in Brisbane or in Canberra, and yet, the way of life on the track is not all that idyllic.

Rachael Crittenden and her porter along the Kokoda Trail.

“It’s hard, and it’s a hard way of life.

“There’s little choice if you’re born on the Kokoda Track.

“What choice do you have of the ‘supposed’ good things in life?

River crossing along the Kokoda Trail.

“I think that is often not so much ignored, but forgotten, when people do the Kokoda Track.

“I hope I’ve imparted something to my children, as to why I’ve been in Papua New Guinea for the last 30 years.”

Tired bodies.

Crittenden’s son, James, a professional tree-climber, says the trek was hard but very rewarding.

“This is the first time I’ve come back to PNG since I was born here,” he says.

“I was born up in Goroka in 1984; I’ve lived in Mendi for a couple of years.

“It’s really good to come back.

“It’s a really beautiful country and I’d really like to come back some time.”

Daughter Rachael does a lot of walking in Australia but Kokoda tested her to the max.

“I really enjoyed the trekking,” she says.

Rachael Crittenden...up to the challenge.

“I do a lot of walking back home, but this was the hardest.

“It was good to see the villages and how they live.”

Crittenden first came to PNG in 1978 to do his PhD with the Australian National University, was affiliated with the geography department at University of PNG, and worked with the Southern Highlands provincial government to do his research.

He and wife, Janis Baines, lived and worked in the Nembi Plateau of Southern Highlands.

“Southern Highlanders made me feel very welcome,” Crittenden says.

“After four or five years, I left to go back to Australia.

“I went to teaching at university, but every year, I came back through the department of agriculture and the department of finance and used to work with them on a number of agricultural projects throughout the country.

“On reflection, it’s been a privilege for me to have been here in Papua New Guinea for the last 30 years.

“I came here in 1978, worked as a Papua New Guinea public servant, then a consultant, and then an AusAid consultant, so very different perspectives.”

Returning to PNG and walking the Kokoda Trail, for Robert Crittenden, was like coming back to a place he’d never quite left.

 Robert Crittenden in a moment of reflection along the Kokoda Trail.

Coconut industry cries for support

Source: The National, Thursday, February 14, 2013 

 

By MALUM NALU

NEWLY-appointed executive director of Asia Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) Uron Salum, from Karkar Island in Madang, says the coconut industry is a very important one that must be supported by all Papua New Guineans.
He said in these trying times, when copra prices were at an all-time low, PNG should be looking at producing more of other coconut products such as bio-fuel, timber and virgin coconut oil.
“I think everybody sitting in this room understands the importance of coconut in real terms, as known by every family in this country, but downplayed because of lack of proper policy to back up and be able to bring that to reality in terms of economic support to our country,” Salum told reporters.
“Coconut, over time, has been just known for its by-product, copra, which has been one of the major injustices to the coconut itself.
“Our much advanced neighbours in Asia are fairly advanced in (coconut) technology.
“There’s coconut water bottled by them and sold in Port Moresby for K10 for a one-litre bottle.
“Processed coconut is being sold to Papua New Guineans when we have it behind our houses.
“This crop, and this particular tree, is referred to in the Asia-Pacific as the ‘tree of life’ and we know that in reality.
“God’s given us a great gift that we have not exploited to the fullest.”
Salum said on his Karkar Island, which has the most coconut trees in PNG, bio-fuel was being used widely.
“It performs a lot better than the diesel fuel,” he said.
“You could sell your copra for a copra buyer for 30t per kg, but if you sold it to a bio-fuel distributor, you get K1.
“This is not determined by the world market price for copra or coconut … this is determined by the petroleum market.
“It’s the value-adding and downstream processing of coconut that will revolutionise just about every home in the country, a quantum leap.”
Salum said PNG should be looking at coconut timber and virgin coconut oil – areas in which Fiji has become a world leader.
“We (PNG) are so far behind,” he said.
“We have the highest number of senile coconuts in the Pacific.
“That’s a disadvantage on one part, but a very big advantage in one part in that we have coconut timber, which is one of the highest quality furniture materials.
“The virgin coconut oil that is going out now and being made in villages, has very, very high quality chemical compounds which have very good health benefits.
“Coconut is a very important industry that needs to be supported.
“The tree is far more important than a lot of people think it is.”
Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru says the coconut industry in PNG makes a smaller contribution than other major cash crops such as oil palm and coffee, however, is still a strong influence through direct employment, export earning, GDP contribution, and food production.
He said PNG produced 146,526 tonnes of copra in 2011 and only 70, 366 tonnes in 2012, due to low prices.
Maru said copra exports in 2011 were only 44% of average, and in 2012 only 32% of average.
He said through APCC, the PNG government could:

• Seek increased replacement or new plants;
• Develop an early warning system on potential coconut bio-security threats;
• Innovate research;
• Undertake a country-wide appraisal of coconut smallholder farms and plantations;
• Address domestic market issues; 
• Benefit from sharing of experience and deve­lopment of technology;
• Actively promote and pursue opportunities with credible investors for domestic and export promotion of traditional coconut products such as dessicated coconut, coconut cream/milk, shell charcoal, activated carbon coir fibre, and virgin coconut oil;
• Address quality requirements that are critical in established markets overseas by establishing PNG copra quality standards; and
• Identify investment opportunities in the coconut value chain.

 

Freight help for coffee farmers

Source: The National, Thursday, February 14, 2013

SMALLHOLDER coffee farmers in remote areas of Papua New Guinea have received more than K600,000 in net benefits over a five-year period under the government-funded freight surety scheme carried out by Coffee Industry Corporation.
CIC chief executive officer Navi Anis said without this programme, farmers in remote parts of PNG would have received less than K200,000 and big volumes of coffee would have been lost due to lack of transport.
He said the freight scheme had contributed more than US$2 million to foreign exchange earnings in the five-year period since 2008.
“Given the high cost of transport and subsequent drop in farm-gate prices, farmers in the remote parts of PNG have been deprived of basic social and economic services,” Anis said.
“Such a programme asthe  coffee freight scheme is doing its best to keep farmers from not only engaging in coffee production, but also improving their social and economic livelihoods.
“The objective of the programme is to facilitate market access for coffee growers in the remote areas by assisting in transporting coffee to the nearest marketing depots, facilitating processing, and marketing.”
He said MPs in coffee-growing areas should look at the plight of farmers in terms of market accessibility and assist them in building proper airstrips, roads and sea ports.
Anis thanked the government for allocating K4 million to CIC for the coffee freight scheme this year.

Coffee earnings fall 48%

Source: The National, Thursday, February 14, 2013

 

LAST year’s coffee export earnings plunged a massive K448 million, or 48.4%, from the previous year’s figure of K926 million, the Coffee Industry Corporation said yesterday.
Actual export receipts were only K478 million last year.
“Provisional production figures for last year totalled 808,458 bags, which is equivalent to 48,508 tonnes,”  CIC said
“It is estimated that the final production figure should be around 1.02 million bags, 30% lower than the 2011 historical production level of 1.4 million bags.”
However, CIC chief executive officer Navi Anis said that the proportion of free on board (FOB) prices received by growers last year averaged 61%, which was 1% higher than that of 2011.
“The low export earnings reflected the low export volumes and subsequent downward correction of export prices observed throughout the 2012 calendar year,” he said.
“Despite, a strong export performance observed in the first quarter of last year due to high carry-over stocks from 2011, actual coffee production during the year could not sufficiently prop exports ahead due to low volumes of coffee reaching the markets.
“As a result, total export volume dropped by 24% to 55,495 tonnes last year.
“The lower volume was mainly attributed to off-year biennial production cycle as well as election-related activities that disrupted farmers to bring coffee out onto the markets.
“Nonetheless, 2013 is an on-year for PNG in its biennial cycle of coffee production and is anticipated for a good crop of one million bag mark level.
“Impact projects undertaken by CIC to boost production are coffee rehabilitation, coffee nursery project, coffee freight scheme and grower mobilisation.”

PNG court denies order for refugee ban

By Eoin Blackwell, 

AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

A PAPUA New Guinea court has rejected an application for a temporary ban on asylum seeker transfers from Australia to Manus Island.

But Justice David Canning ruled on Thursday that lawyers acting on behalf of opposition leader Belden Namah be granted permission to visit the centre on Lombrum naval base, to interview detainees to see if they require legal assistance.
"It is ordered that the administrator of the centre shall forthwith administer to all persons accommodated in the centre be afforded their rights under section 42 of the constitution," Justice Canning said.
Presiding over the human rights division of the National Court, Justice Canning said the standing of Mr Namah to bring the case still needed to be determined, as his rights were not directly affected.
But in rejecting the interim injunction application, Justice Canning said there were serious questions to be answered.

" ... The plaintiff has a serious, not speculative case," he said.
"However, the questions of ultimate success are tempered by questions of whether the plaintiff has sufficient interest in the matter."
Justice Canning also said he did not think the interests of justice would be served in granting the interim injunction order.
"I do not see any injustice to the plaintiff or any other persons, including the asylum seekers presently at Lombrum or those who might imminently be transferred there, that would result from a refusal of the interim injunction," he said.
"I can by contrast see that the defendants would reasonably perceive an injustice if the court were to, without being fully satisfied that something unconstitutional or unlawful had occurred, to injunction arrangements that had been entered into in good faith by two independent governments.
"The plaintiff appears to be seeking to enforce the human rights of asylum seekers, but does not name who they are and has made no attempt to join them in the proceedings."
Mr Namah's lawyer, Loani Henao, said on Wednesday afternoon he had received orders from his client to enjoin the asylum seekers in the matter.
However, he said two previous requests to enter the facility had been denied.
The government of PNG has filed a motion to dismiss the proceedings, arguing the National Court does not have the authority to deal with the constitutional questions raised by the case.
The court is expected to resume on Thursday afternoon.

Aiton wants PNG to unearth a new Stanley Gene

by Tom Coates, RLWC2013 

 13 Feb 2013

Papua New Guinea hooker Paul Aiton has issued a rallying call to the people of Hull, ahead of the Kumuls’ clashes with Samoa and France at MS3 Craven Park at Rugby League World Cup 2013.

Paul Aiton

Craven Park is home to Super League outfit Hull KR, with whom Stanley Gene built a famous career in the UK following his strong performances for PNG at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.
And Aiton hopes to utilise the nation’s links to the city of Hull and mobilise a partisan crowd behind PNG at RLWC2013.
“We have the link with Stanley and Makali [Aizue] having played over there, and both players still have a great following over in Hull,” Aiton told LoveRugbyLeague.com.
“I really hope we can rally the support of the Hull KR fans at the tournament. We’re based over in Hull and I know Stanley feels a great love for the city.
“He played for Hull KR and Hull FC, and I hope we can get supporters from both sides of the divide down at Craven Park for the games.
“In return, I’d like to think that people weill enjoy the way we play and the passion we show whenever we pull on the shirt of our nation.
“We play hard, we play expansive footy and we like to entertain the fans.”
Aiton also believes that RLWC2013 could help uncover the next big star from PNG, 18 years after Gene made his mark on British soil.
“Not too many players have been picked up. I’ve been involved with the Kumuls for a lot of years now and I’ve played alongside some very talented young players,” he said.
“I’m very surprised that so many haven’t been given a chance. I don’t know if they are undiscovered, or that clubs just don’t want to take the chance.
“But I definitely think we could unearth another Stanley Gene at RLWC2013. There are a lot of players who could make it over here.
“I’ve found the Super League very welcoming and I’m sure there’ll be some perfect match-ups between British clubs and PNG players looking for an opportunity.
“Stanley’s obviously enjoyed his stay, and he’s enjoyed a fantastic career with a few clubs, and I can see no reason why another PNG player can’t follow in his footsteps.
“Plus, there’s a good network of PNG players over here now, which would really help make the transition a smooth one.”
And, while Aiton is hoping to depend on vociferous backing from the terraces at RLWC2013, he knows for sure that the team can also count on PNG’s own fanatical Rugby League fan base back home.
“There’ll be so many tuning into watch the games on TV this Autumn, and I can tell you that the stories people hear about how fanatical the fans can be are completely true,” said Aiton.
“They just love the game. When a Kangaroos side comes over to play PNG it’s unbelievable. They’re rock stars to the people of PNG and they get treated that way.
“You’ll get hundreds turning up when they arrive at the airport, just so fans can say they’ve seen these players in real life.
“Rugby League is the number one sport in PNG and we want to do our nation proud at Rugby League World Cup 2013.
“We can’t wait for the challenge.”
Papua New Guinea face France at MS3 Craven Park on October 27, and return to the venue on November 4, when Samoa provide the opposition.
The Kumuls’ group campaign then culminates on November 8, when they travel to Headingley to take on defending champions New Zealand.

Cott Oil and Gas secures stakes in PNG licences

Proactive Investors

Cott Oil and Gas now has 50% interests in two petroleum exploration licences that have gas and liquids potential in the southern part of the Papuan Basin, Papua New Guinea.
The company has fulfilled the farm-in commitments on PPL 435, which is held by Kina Petroleum , and has together with Kina been awarded PPL 436.
PPL 435 and 436 cover a total area of 18,436 square kilometres with the latter traversing the proposed western gas pipeline to the southern port of Daru.
Partner Kina has identified three substantial prospects and a number of leads. Evaluation work is also ongoing to develop the prospects and leads to drilling targets.

PNG opposition wants asylum seekers to join suit

By EION BLACKWELL
AAP PNG Correspondent

The lawyers challenging the constitutionality of the Australian detention centre on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island say they are seeking to invite the asylum seekers there to join the legal action.
One of the lawyers acting on behalf of PNG's opposition leader, Belden Namah, said on Wednesday he had received instructions to ask the asylum seekers to join the application against the centre.
Mr Namah's lawyer, Loami Henao, said they were seeking permission to visit the temporary detention centre on Manus to interview detainees for this purpose.
The lawyers were also seeking a temporary injunction in the Court of Human Rights of the National Court against any further transfers on the grounds the 274 detainees were being held illegally under PNG's constitution.

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Justice David Canning said he would rule on the temporary injunction at 1200 AEDT on Thursday.
The government's lawyer, Peter Kumen, said the Migration Act gave Minister of Immigration Rimbink Pato the power to create a processing centre.
He also argued that the case was a matter for the Supreme Court, and not the National Court circuit.
Justice Canning disagreed.
"These people are detained, aren't they?" Justice Canning asked.
"They can't go to the beach and do a bit of fishing unless they get permission ... they can't just walk out and have a spin around."
"It appears there is in excess of 200 people being detained."
"This is a case where these refugees did not come into the country of their own accord," Mr Henao said on Wednesday.
"They were seeking asylum in another country. They are asylum seekers as far as Australia is concerned.
"They are not asylum seekers as far as PNG is concerned."
The state did not have the right to detain asylum seekers without giving them access to a lawyer of their choosing, Mr Henao added.

ADB happy with Lae port progress

Source:  The National,Wednesday, February 13, 2013

By MALUM NALU

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the K700 million Lae port project and expects it to be completed by the end of next year, ADB vice-president Stephen Groff said.
He told The National after visiting the project yesterday the Papua New Guinea government should be planning now on how it would be using the port once it opened.
The ADD is funding 70% of project costs while the PNG government shoulders the rest of the 30%, with China Harbour Engineering as the major contractor.
“I’m very positive about it. I think that it will be critical that the government anticipates what the use of the port will be.
“It’s not just completing the port and deciding how you’re going to use it,” Groff said.
“The government needs to be thinking now about what the uses will be, what possible private sector partnerships that could be engaged to be part of the port.
“As far as physical completion and progress is concerned, we (ADB) are very happy, but the government needs to pay close attention to this and think ahead about what they’re going to use the port for.
“This is a critical piece of infrastructure for the Highlands Highway, so you need to think ahead in how you’re going to use this port for imports and exports, and moving goods in and out of the area.
“What we don’t want to see at the end of 2014 is physical infrastructure (port) is turned over (by ADB to government)and there’s a couple of years before the port is really active.
“We would hope that the port would be fully functional and active sometime in 2015.”
“We believe that would possible if the government is working now very hard in anticipating what the demand will be, doing preparatory work to enable them to start fully using the port immediately in 2015.”

Asian Development Bank pushing for SOE efficiency

Source: The National,Wednesday, February 13, 2013 

By MALUM NALU

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) is pushing for efficiency in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and not privatisation, according to the bank’s vice-president Stephen Groff.
Groff, who is in the country on a three-day visit, told The National in an interview yesterday that SOE reforms were important in many countries, and not just PNG.
“I think one problem when we talk about SOE reforms is people often equate SOE reforms with privatisation,” he said.
“We’re not advocating privatisation in all instances.
“We’re advocating corporatisation, we’re advocating increasing efficiency and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the institutions because the challenge is if state-owned enterprises are operating ineffectively, they drag on limited resources that the government has.
“If government has a chance in investing its limited revenues in high productivity areas and low productivity areas, if given the chance, all governments would invest in areas where the return for the activity is highest.
“Problem is in many SOEs, productivity is very, very low.
“Return on the investments is very, very low, which in turn drags on the economy in general because you take away scare resources away from education investments, health investments, and put them in some SOEs that are not functioning pretty good.
“So you’re not translating the investments into better activity and better returns.
“Since many SOEs are involved in provision of services, that is almost a double whammy, because not only is the government going to spend its money instead on investing in infrastructure, you invest these resources in an SOE that is not only inefficient but also providing poor services at the end of the day.”
Groff said the people, who ultimately should be the beneficiaries of revenue, were instead getting a poor deal.
“They (people) are not getting the kind of services they need in order to function as effective members of society and effective contributing members of the economy,” he said.
“This is why we think that SOE reform is incredibly important.
“Again, I stress that this is not just PNG.
“PNG is just one country through the Pacific and through Asia.
“I think the controversy last year was around our Finding Balance report, and again, Finding Balance was a very accurate title.”
Groff said the report focused on making individual SMEs more efficient and more effective.

Rescued

Source: The National,Wednesday, February 13, 2013 

 

POLICE saved two women from being burnt alive in Mt Hagen where a 20-year-old mother of a baby girl was thrown into a fire and burnt two days earlier.
Assistant Police Commissioner and Highlands Divisional Commander Teddy Tei said last Monday, two women were tied to pillars by relatives of a girl they were accused of killing through sorcery.
However, Tei said the eight-year-old girl the women were accused of killing was “gang-raped and killed by two known suspects”.
The women, from Enga’s Kandep district, were being tortured near Kagamuga Airport in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, were saved by officers who arrived after receiving a tip-off from a witness to the attack.
Tei said police rescued the two women and also arrested 20 suspects who were now behind bars at the Mt Hagen police cell.
He said the relatives of the girl, also from the Kandep, accused the two elderly women of performing sorcery and killing the girl on Jan 29.
The relatives of the deceased engaged a man claiming to possess supernatural powers, commonly known as “glassman” who identified the two women as sorcerers and blamed them for the death of the girl.
Tei said the “glassman” and the two rape-and-murder suspects, together with those ready to set the two women on fire, tied up the women.
“Police know their identities and they will be arrested sooner or later,” Tei said of those who managed to escape from the suspected group.
He appealed to the people not to take the law into their own hands to attack innocent and helpless people.
“What evidence do they have to produce to court for sorcery-related killing and torturing?
“It’s just a belief,” Tei said.
Relatives who were not sure of the cause of the death, were encouraged to take their love ones to the hospital and ask the doctors to carry out post-mortem to determine the cause.
He said people with other motives usually accused others of sorcery.
Tei said the “glassman” was money-driven and could point at anybody to obtain money.
The 20 suspects arrested would be interviewed
and charged accordingly by the police criminal investigations unit.
Tei said police would also arrest and charge the relatives if they helped or assisted in the interrogation and torturing of the two women.
He said police expected to arrest more people in relation to the torture and killing of Kepari Lanieta last Wednesday.
It is understood that police are also looking for Lanieta’s husband for questioning.
Tei said the cases were a priority and they were working hard to solve them.

Uron Salum to head international coconut body

Source: The National, Tuesday, February 12, 2013

PAPUA New Guinean Uron Salum has been appointed as executive director of Asia Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), a regional inter-government organisation based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
His appointment is for three years beginning this year.
Salum was appointed at the 49th session of the APCC held in Fiji last month and was the PNG government’s nomination on behalf of Pacific island member countries.
He was one of two candidates for the position.
Salum, 53, from Karkar Island in Madang, has long and extensive experience in the coconut industry.
He holds a bachelors degree in accountancy from University of Technology in Lae.
Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru says the coconut industry in PNG makes a smaller contribution than other major cash crops such as oil palm and coffee.
However, Maru said that coconut still has a strong influence through direct employment, export earning, gross domestic product contribution and food production.
He said PNG produced 146,526 tonnes of copra in 2011 and only 70, 366 tonnes last year due to low prices.
Maru said copra exports in 2011 were only 44% of average and last year only 32% of average.

Anti-PMIZ to visit Philippine tuna canneries

Source: The National, Tuesday, February 12, 2013

By MALUM NALU

THE government, in a bid to appease landowners protesting against it over the controversial Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang, is taking them to the Philipines to see for themselves how such projects are run.
Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister, Richard Maru said approval had been granted by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for him and his acting department secretary Gerard Dogimab, to take the landowners to General Santos City.
He said this when asked what the status of PMIZ was.
“The main issue is that they (complainants) have been misled by environmentalists and greenies,” Maru told reporters.
“They were led to believe that if we start a marine park, we are not only going to overfish but also that the environment will be totally polluted.
“We want to prove to them that there is no such thing.
“We want them to look at big marine parks, like the one in the Philippines.
“They want us to take them to the Philipines to take a look at the big marine parks there.
“Once they are convinced that there will be no pollution (at PMIZ), we can proceed with construction.
“That’s the last bit to do now.
“That will be sorted out over the next two weeks.”
Maru said a major investor from France had already been secured and there must be no hold-ups to the project.
“Obviously, we have a big investor from France and we are keen on moving the project along,” he said.
French fishing company Sapmer-Piriou Joint Venture plans to spend US$500 million in a project to be based at PMIZ, which will employ about 2,500 people.
It will build a 300m-long fisheries wharf, a value-added tuna processing plant, a 400m dry dock and a shipyard.
 

Chocolate factory planned for Wewak

Source: The National, Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A CHOCOLATE factory will be set up in Wewak, East Sepik, pending the outcome of a feasibility study to be carried out by the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry.
Leading Papua New Guinea downstream food processing entrepreneur Micky Puritau, founder of Paradise Spices, has been engaged by the department to lead the team carrying out the study.
The company, no newcomer to PNG cocoa and chocolate production,  already exports PNG vanilla, chilli, pepper, galip nut, cardamon, tumeric, nutmeg, cocoa nibs, ginger, cinnamon, virgin coconut oil and pure vanilla extract to many countries around the world.
Puritau says there is no reason why a chocolate factory shouldn’t be a goer in the country.
“Many overseas companies have told us that chocolate is not viable in this country,” he said.
“I’m totally against this.
“We’ve proved it in the vanilla industry.
“With exports of vanilla, we were getting margins of 40%, but when we produced finished products, we were actually getting 200-500% margins.
“I don’t see any reason why chocolate can’t also reach these margins.
“We have the production on the ground, the issue is when can we do it (produce chocolate).”
Puritau says PNG’s cocoa industry will be on to a winner with the establishment of a chocolate factory.
“Let me say that it’s going to be a successful chocolate company.
“You don’t have to look for markets as there are markets already available.
“People who say that there are no markets are actually telling you lies.
“We believe that downstream processing is the way to go for this country.”
Puritau said Paradise Spices had already proved that chocolate could be produced in the country.
“We did some small-scale chocolate production and I can tell you this: the quality of the chocolate we produced was of high, premium value,” he said.
“Good taste.
Maru said Wewak was chosen because cocoa production in East New Britain, formerly the largest producer in the country, had been decimated by the dreaded cocoa pod borer (CPB).
“Wewak, not because I come from there, but because East Sepik is now the leading cocoa producer in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“East Sepik is also close to the mass market of Indonesia.
“I will start work with my team on the feasibility study into a new chocolate factory in Wewak.”

Review of LNG grants sought

Source: The National, Tuesday, February 12, 2013

By MALUM NALU

PAYMENTS of business development grants (BDGs) to LNG project landowners in Angore, Hela, have been put on hold until a review into use of all past grants is completed.
This was announced by Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru yesterday after concerns about how these grants – running into millions of kina – have been used since the signing of the Kokopo umbrella benefits sharing agreement (UBSA) in 2009.
Of a total government appropriation of K120 million – dished out to licenced areas in Hela, Western and Central – about K106 million has already been spent, with K14 million left.
Of this, K12 million is yet to be paid to Angore petroleum development licence (PDL) 8 landowners.
National Executive Council (NEC) appropriation of BDGs for all licences areas include: LNG plant site Portion 152 (K17 million), LNG pipeline area (K16 million), Hides PDL 1 (K20 million, K700,000 remaining), Kutubu PDL 2 (K10 million, K1 million remaining), Gobe PDL 3 and 4 (K8 million), Moran PDL 5 (K6 million), Moran PDL 6 (K4 million), Hides PDL 7 (K15 million), Juha PDL 9 (K11 million) and Angore PDL 8 (K12 million yet to be paid).
Maru said millions of kina had been squandered, with nothing to show because there had not been any proactive and systematic processes put in place for effective and continuous monitoring.
“There are many allegations that BDGs have been used on pokies, etc, and not on starting businesses for impacted landowners,” Maru said.
“By law and by agreement, the nature of BDGs were not cash handouts, but were intended for business capital to empower local communities in the project impact areas.
“There will be a freeze on all payments of the BDGs until the review is complete and a new BDG policy is structured.”
Maru said the review would start after he undertook a visit to the impacted areas to verify with landowners if grants given to them were used for their intended purposes.
He and chief secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc will lead a government delegation to these impacted areas.
Maru said the prime minister fully backed his moves to conduct the review and all Hela MPs would be asked to join the government review team.
“We must go and meet with the impacted landowners, get firsthand what the issues are and incorporate both landowner views and positions before we work out the way forward,” he said.
“This would be a major exercise involving the strengthening of the local content mechanisms on the ground and the relevant agencies of state.
“I am concerned that so far, there are no systems to ensure that public funds were used for spin-off businesses that will directly benefit impacted communities today and beyond the life of the project.”

Ramu Nico firms tri-nation bonds

Source: The National,Monday,  February 11, 2013 

 

PAPUA New Guinea’s first US$1.6 billion nickel project and fifth largest in the world has the potential to promote and further strengthen the mutual benefits and cooperation between China, Australia and PNG when it reaches its production capacity.
Chinese Ambassador Qiu Bohua highlighted this during his brief visit to Ramu NiCo project’s Basamuk refinery in Madang last Friday to convey the embassy’s greetings and best wishes to Ramu NiCo staff and management on the eve of Chinese Spring Festival.
Qiu was warmly welcomed by board chairman of Ramu NiCo Zhao Shimin, Philip Allcorn, general manager Basamuk refinery and other senior staff and management of the company.
After receiving a site safety induction given by Ramu NiCo’s training manager Jeffers Heptol, Qiu took a guided tour of the Basamuk refinery where he displayed great interests in the progress of the load commissioning and sent his seasonal greetings to the site staff.
“Ramu NiCo is not only China’s largest investment project in the Pacific Islands region, but also the first large-scale project jointly invested by China, Australia and PNG.
“We should make untiring efforts with earnest and down-to-earth spirit and strive for more sincere cooperation efficiency soon, to benefit the people of the three countries and to compose a new chapter of cooperation among China, Australia and PNG.” Qiu said.
He also shared his idea with the company’s management that Ramu NiCo should work towards enhancing the awareness of cooperation and win-win mechanism for the three countries.
He said China did not have a long history of full participation in international economic cooperation but would learn and draw advanced managerial experience and technologies from advanced countries to build a world-class nickel project in Ramu NiCo.
Qiu encouraged the management to promote and intensify awareness on safety and prevent all the potential safety hazards and achieve work safety with zero accidents.
“Ramu NiCo is a world-class large-scale mining enterprise with complicated mining, ore slurry transportation and metallurgical processes as well as high technical standards,” he said.

French group eyes fish project

Source: The National,Monday, February 11, 2013 

 

A French fishing company will spend US$500 million in a fishing project in Papua New Guinea, according to Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru.
He met the representatives from Sapmer-Piriou Joint Venture in Singapore last month.
The joint venture intends to go into a fish-processing facility in PNG.
“Sapmer-Pirious Joint Venture will build a 300m-long fisheries wharf, a value-added tuna processing plant, a 400m dry dock and a shipyard,” Maru said.
“The total cost of their investment is about US$500 million.
“The company has expressed strong interest to lease land at the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ, in Madang).
“Negotiations are being finalised for a project agreement to be signed between the project promoter and the state.”
Maru said this was important, given the duty-free access market into the European Union market for PNG canned tuna and tuna loins, with the project expected to employ about 2,500 people.
“I am very supportive and keen on this project and have proposed to the investors to also include a shipbuilding yard as the first in the country and to teach our people on new trades,” he said.
“The company has shipbuilding operations in Vietnam and Nigeria and I’m insisting that similar operations be merged with the fish-processing plant.”
Maru said the company must also include a waste management processing facility in its plant to avoid environmental damage.
He said the project, when implemented, would be the anchor investment project at PMIZ.