Exxon partner is confident about LNG project in Papua New Guinea

Australia's Oil Search says expansion is probably warranted

By Ross Kelly
Wall Street Journal

SYDNEY—A partner in Exxon Mobil Corp.'s XOM +0.92% Papua New Guinea natural-gas project said it is confident that enough new gas will be found in the country to justify a significant expansion of the project's processing facilities.
Exxon's biggest partner in the project, Australia's Oil Search Ltd. OSH.AU +0.63% , said sufficient natural gas probably exists in the country's highlands to warrant adding at least one refrigeration unit, known as a train, to chill natural gas into liquid so it can be exported to fast-growing markets in Asia.
Any major boost to the liquefied natural gas produced in Papua New Guinea promises to be a vital new source of profit for Exxon, which is attempting to arrest three years of falling production.
Expansion also would prove a windfall for Papua New Guinea's developing economy.
"By the end of the year, I think we'll have a pretty good idea as to the size and shape of the Hides field" in the highlands, said Oil Search Chief Executive Peter Botten.
A large increase in the amount of LNG pumped into Asia would make the gas market more competitive by creating a new source of supply for buyers in places such as Japan, South Korea and China.
The US$19 billion Papua New Guinea project began exporting chilled natural gas in May, putting the impoverished nation into the global energy market about three months ahead of schedule. The project's two existing trains are capable of producing 6.9 million metric tons of LNG a year, equivalent to about 8% of Japan's total LNG intake last year.
Exxon's oil and gas production has fallen since 2010 as the industry generally has struggled to find big deposits in countries that aren't hostile to foreign investment. The Papua New Guinea development is a key part of Exxon's efforts, along with exploration in Asia and projects in Canada and Russia, to improve performance.
The prospect of adding new refrigeration units to LNG projects is appealing to producers because costly infrastructure, such as pipelines, roads and storage tanks, has already been installed. Expanding processing is therefore a relatively inexpensive way to boost production.
Still, expanding the project would bring more LNG into the market, potentially driving down prices for producers such as Exxon, Chevron Corp. CVX +0.61% and Royal Dutch Shell RDSA.LN +0.73% PLC. Supplies in Asia are already expected to rise substantially in the coming years as a result of the U.S. shale-gas boom.
Papua New Guinea operators have an advantage over LNG developers in places such as Australia, where labor is more expensive. Buyers are also eager to diversify their supply sources to protect against the possible disruptions.
John Hirjee, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, estimated that Exxon's plant in Papua New Guinea will generate a return on investment of 19% over its life, potentially making the project one of the most lucrative in the Asian-Pacific region.
For Oil Search, which recently began exploring for oil in Iraqi Kurdistan, adding a third processing unit could be a quick way to increase earnings as investors question how it will maintain sharp gains in its stock price. The company's shares have almost doubled in price in the five years since construction on the LNG project began.
For Papua New Guinea's government, a decision to invest in new processing facilities would inject much-needed cash into the economy. Spending on the foundation stage of the project is already set to more than double the country's gross domestic product, according to some estimates.
Large investments in the country have led to quarreling between tribal landowners and lawmakers over how the proceeds should be divided.
Oil Search's Mr. Botten, a longtime resident of the country, said he was optimistic that rewards from the project would be distributed equitably. "The government has made the right moves in terms of setting up sovereign-wealth funds and various mechanisms for benefits distribution, but it's early days," he said. "Part of the solution is that the private sector works with government to help deliver services like health."
The country's high proportion of people with AIDS—as much as 0.7% of the nation's adult population, according to some estimates—is of particular concern.
Write to Ross Kelly at ross.kelly@wsj.com 

Lessons from the 1991 South Pacific Games

In light of the Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture, and the forthcoming PNG Games in November and Pacific Games next July, we should take some lessons from the past. 
Last November, while back home in Lae, I had a long discussion with 1991 SP Games chairman and former Lae MP Bart Philemon (that's us pictured) about the lessons we can learn for 2015. 

Philemon, who spearheaded the most-successful games ever at a cost of only K30 million (and refused a knighthood for it), says it is imperative that facilities and athletes are prepared in time for the K1 billion 2015 games in Port Moresby.
“Our main concentration for the (1991) Games was to get the venues ready, and making sure that athletes were well trained for the games,” Philemon told me.
“If these (2015) Games are going to be successful in terms of most medals won by Papua New Guinea, they should by now have already started down the road of engaging experts to come and help athletes with their training and so forth.
“Seek opportunities to engage athletes in competitions that are overseas to expose them to the level of international competitiveness.
“We won 94 medals – gold, silver and bronze - which is the most medals won ever since the Games started and the last time that we (PNG) won that number of medals.
“We’ve got about 18 months to go.
“This is the time we should really concentrate on individuals in individual sports who have potential to win medals, and also concentrate on team sports that have proven to be high-competitive in terms of winning medals.
Philemon emphasised the importance of the games village and venues done well in time.
“We can’t afford not to have the games village ready in time, “he said.
“The main venues should be ready early so that teams have the advantage of getting used to using those venues in preparation for the games.”
Philemon recalled that back in 1991, the Games cost just K30 million, with sponsorships being both in cash and kind.
“The national government contribution was only K3 million,” he said,
“We raised K12 million through corporate sponsorship.
“Of course, we had K600, 000 for Team PNG through Porgera Joint Venture two years before the Games.
“That assisted Team PNG greatly in terms of engaging coaches from outside to come in and train the national teams to compete in competitions overseas to prepare them for the 1991games.
“Kina was much stronger then, it was stronger than US and Australian dollars, so that assisted us in staging the games much cheaper than now.
“We had two main stadiums because the Games were split into two venues, one in Lae and one in Port Moresby.
“The one in Port Moresby, Sir John Guise Stadium, was funded separately by the Chinese government and the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae was funded through Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).”

Japan's Abe pledges 20 Billion Yen development assistance for Papua New Guinea

Jiji Press

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday Japan will provide 20 billion yen in official development assistance to Papua New Guinea over the next three years. 

Abe's ODA pledge came as he met with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill in Port Moresby on Thursday.

Japan is willing to help Papua New Guinea develop human resources and improve infrastructure for disaster prevention, Abe told O'Neill.

 In the meeting, Abe explained about reinterpretation of the Japanese constitution his government has made to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. O'Neill supported the move.

Abe sought Papua New Guinea's cooperation for recovering the remains of Japanese nationals, chiefly soldiers, who died in the Oceanian country during World War II. O'Neill assured continued cooperation.

Vodafone expands to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands

 By Anne Morris

Fierce Wireless Europe

Vodafone is extending its business activities to the somewhat exotic regions of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, after forming a non-equity arrangement with a local player.
The UK-based group said it has signed an exclusive partner market agreement with bemobile Limited, which trades as bemobile. The two operators will in future collaborate on the sale of a range of products and services to businesses and consumers.
For bemobile, the deal means its customers will be able to roam onto Vodafone's global network and gain access to a wider range of services as well as Vodafone best practices.
In turn, Vodafone's multinational corporate customers will benefit from the addition of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to their existing contracts for international managed services, while continuing to be serviced via a single point of contact.
"This strategic partnership with bmobile will enable us to expand our presence in Asia Pacific and extend the reach of our products and services across the region. It will also deliver enhanced roaming benefits for both our consumer and multinational corporate customers," said Stefano Gastaut, CEO of Vodafone Partner Markets.
According to the World Bank, the introduction of mobile competition in Papua New Guinea in 2007 saw a dramatic rise in the number of people who were able to afford a mobile phone for the first time.
A report from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) from January this year said around 2.7 million out of the country's total population of 7.2 million people now have a mobile phone. This number has risen from around 75,000 in 2005 and has been driven in part by the country's extremely poor fixed-line infrastructure.
"Although mobile reception is generally reliable, mobile data coverage is not. This, coupled with the extremely high cost of fixed-line and Internet connectivity, has left PNG with a single-figure Internet penetration rate," the EIU report added.
A BuddeComm report on the Papua New Guinea market that was last updated in January also noted that the country's three mobile network operators have increased accessibility to the mobile network from less than 3 per cent population availability to more that 80 per cent in less than a decade.
bmobile, which was acquired by the Government of Papua New Guinea through an 85 per cent shareholding in October 2013, competes with Citifon, which is owned by the country's only fixed-line operator Telikom Papua New Guinea (Telikom PNG), and Digicel.
Telikom originally owned bemobile, which was also the country's first mobile operator. The two companies have been separate entities since 2008, according to Telikom information.

Thousands greet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he visits a World War II battlefield in PNG

By Jemima Garrett and PNG correspondent Liam Cochrane and staff 

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited a Second World War battlefield in East Sepik Province as part of his two-day state visit to Papua New Guinea.

Thousands of people greeted his party as they flew in to the provincial capital Wewak before travelling to the peace memorial and the Brandi battlefield.
3,000 school children lined the streets in their uniforms to welcome Mr Abe and his large entourage.
The Aitape-Wewak campaign was one of the final campaigns in the Pacific theatre of World War II.
It is the first time in 29 years that a Japanese prime minister has travelled to PNG and Mr Abe was joined by a 150-strong business delegation.
Mr Abe met his PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill and key government ministers in Port Moresby on Thursday.
Jenny Hayward-Jones, director of the Myer Melanesia Program at the Lowy Institute, says Mr Abe's visit is intended as a reminder of Japan's role in the region.
"This visit is a big signal to the region, and also to China, that Japan still has a stake in the region," she said.
"Its trade and investment interests are strong, and it has a political interest if its prime minister is prepared to spend two days in PNG and bring a huge delegation with him."
Earlier this week Mr Abe used a speech to the Australian parliament to remind his audience of Japan's long-standing links with PNG.

Horrors of war must never be repeated, says Japanese

AFP

PORT MORESBY: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Friday said the horrors of war must never be repeated as he visited a World War II battlefield in Pacific nation Papua New Guinea.
As many as 200,000 Japanese soldiers died during the brutal New Guinea campaign and Abe headed to the northern town of Wewak to honour all those who perished, where he was greeted by thousands of well-wishers.
He was also due to visit Cape Wom, the site of the Japanese Army’s surrender in PNG on the final day of a Pacific swing that also took him to New Zealand and Australia.
“We must not repeat the horrors of the war,” he said after laying flowers at a memorial, the Kyodo News agency reported.
“I pledged in front of the spirits of the war dead that Japan wants to be a country that thinks about world peace with its friends in Asia and around the world.”
His comments come at a time of heightened regional tension over Japan’s wartime record, with China and South Korea in particular raising concerns that Abe’s right-wing government is failing to face up to the country’s history of aggression.
Both China and South Korea were the object of Japan’s imperialist aggression in the 20th century and were outraged last year when Abe paid homage at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which honours war dead including several high-level officials executed for war crimes after World War II.
Japan’s use of sex slaves during its colonial expansion across Asia also still rankles China and South Korea.
While mainstream Japanese opinion holds that the wartime government was culpable, a small but vocal tranche of the political right – including Abe – continues to cast doubt, claiming the brothels were staffed by professional prostitutes.
Abe’s comments in PNG echoed those made in Australia during a historic address to a joint sitting of parliament in which he said Japan “is determined to do more to enhance peace in the region and peace in the world”.
The remarks came just days after Japan relaxed restrictions on the use of its armed forces in a controversial change in military policy that irked China.
Tokyo has formally endorsed a reinterpretation of a constitutional clause banning the use of armed force except in very narrowly-defined circumstances. — AFP

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/07/12/horrors-of-war-must-never-be-repeated-says-japanese/#ixzz37IM65F2J

Abe returns home after visiting New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea

Global Post

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe returned to Japan on Saturday after making a weeklong three-nation tour of New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

During the trip, Abe held summit talks with the prime ministers of each country -- New Zealand's John Key, Australia's Tony Abbott and Papua New Guinea's Peter O'Neill -- over such topics as trade and security.

==Kyodo

For a cleaner and safer Port Moresby

I received this note and picture from my good mate, Ron Gawi, who concurs with me on a cleaner and safer Port Moresby and PNG for all:

"Good afternoon bro. I continue to support you on your efforts at raising awareness on the state of filthiness of Port Moresby especially 'buai pekpek'. 
"See attached picture of a distasteful indecent graffiti painted across a fence opposite the Weigh Inn Hotel in Konedobu and can be seen going downhill from Burns Peak as you are passing the RPNGC headquarters looking straight ahead to the left and on a corrugated iron fence. 
"This repugnant graffiti has been there for many months and nobody seem to care or have any sense of decency, least of all NCDC to get do something about this disgraceful vandalism seen by the travelling public including overseas visitors.
"As a decent citizen, I will buy a can of grey spray paint this weekend and rid the wall of this embarrassing graffiti. 
"But my concern is who is responsible for this type of corrective actions ?
"Have a good weekend.

"Ron Gawi."

357 days to go

357 Days To Go Before the Pacific Games on July 4, 2015: Driving past Gordon Market this afternoon, while taking my kids out shopping, we came across smelly sewerage openly pouring out onto the road between the market and Gordon Police Barracks, something we thought had long been attended to.

358 days to go

358 Days To Go Before the 2015 Pacific Games on July 4:  2015:Walking to Waigani yesterday, I come across the drain which flows into the Sir John Guise Stadium - main venue of the 2015 Pacific Games - which reeks of smelly sewerage and is chock-a-block with plastic and other trash. 

Are we going to leave this till the last minute?

Abe reinforces Pacific relations as China seeks island toeholds

By Makiko Yanada / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer 

 China’s maritime expansion goes far beyond repeated intrusions into Japanese waters around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture and territorial disputes with the Philippines and Vietnam, as the nation has been reaching for Pacific island nations, which have thus far been under the influence of the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

China has adopted an anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) strategy against U.S. forces, in which it establishes a so-called first island chain that extends from Honshu to Okinawa, past Taiwan and on to the Philippines, and a second island chain that stretches from Guam to Papua New Guinea and Micronesia. Palau and other island countries can be found in between the first and second island chains.
For China, the Pacific island states are strategically vital as they offer anchorage sites for China’s warships in the vast Pacific Ocean. On the back of great capital resources, China has been trying to win over local governments of those countries through financial support for constructing government buildings and other public facilities.
Resource development by Chinese firms has also been promoted at a rapid rate in such countries. China also deepened military exchanges with Papua New Guinea and Fiji through reciprocal visits by high-ranking military officials and other actions.
Amid such a situation, relevant countries such as Japan, the United States and Australia feel an increasing sense of caution against China because, should the current situation continue, the Pacific Ocean could become the “sea of China.”
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe chose Papua New Guinea as one of his destinations during his first Oceania tour over strong concern regarding China’s expansion. At a summit meeting between Abe and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, scheduled for Thursday, they are expected to agree to bilateral cooperation mainly in the development of natural gas.

Abe also is seen to announce that Japan will provide support for building and improving infrastructure in the country through official development assistance programs.
Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand have begun taking measures to strengthen maritime security cooperation by setting up a Pacific defense ministers’ meeting with Papua New Guinea and other countries last year, in addition to the Pacific Islands Forum, where leaders of Australia, New Zealand and 14 small island countries and territories meet.
The United States launched a fund to preserve the environments in Pacific island nations in March, while also gearing up support from the U.S. Coast Guard for maritime patrol activities by those island countries.

360 days to go

360 Days To Go Before the Pacific Games on July 4, 2015: Yesterday, I stopped outside SP Brewery, Gordon, to take pictures of the flags and banners for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who visits PNG for two days starting today, when I came across this very public drain next to the bus stop spewing sewerage and full of trash.

The Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture has been going on for the last two weeks and ends tomorrow.

PNG court dismisses police application to set aside Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's arrest warrant

By Liam Cochrane, PNG Correspondent
ABC
 

PNG District Court rules against a police move to have Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's arrest warrant set aside.

PNG's Acting Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki at a media conference last month. (Credit: ABC)

Papua New Guinea's District Court has dismissed an application by the Acting Police Commissioner to have the arrest warrant against Prime Minister Peter O'Neill set aside.

Audio: PNG Correspondent Liam Cochrane with the latest from Port Moresby's District Court (ABC News)

The decision follows the National Court ruling earlier this week to uphold the arrest warrant as well as legal action in the Supreme Court yesterday to appeal against that judgement - an action which has been adjourned to next Thursday.
It is more than two weeks since Prime Minister O'Neill was issued with an arrest warrant after the country's anti-corruption agency Taskforce Sweep accused him of authorising fraudulent government payments worth millions of kina to local law firm, Paraka Lawyers.
PNG Correspondent Liam Cochrane told Pacific Beat that Friday's District Court ruling was consistent with the earlier National Court decision to allow Mr O'Neill's arrest warrant to stand.
In making a decision on Acting Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki's application, the judge noted that it was the responsibility of the Police Force to execute the arrest warrant.
"Regular listeners will know from our previous conversations though, that there's very little chance of that happening," Liam Cochrane said.
"The current Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki has indicated he's not going to do that and in fact gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court [on Thursday] that he would not pursue the arrest of the Prime Minister."
With consistent decisions in the District Court and the National Court, it's now up to Thursday's appeal in the Supreme Court to make a further ruling, he says.
That appeal is by Mr O'Neill himself with his lawyers appealing against the National Court decision that the arrest warrant stands.
There are two more appeals against the National Court decision - one by the Finance Minister James Marape and also by the State.

Legal action by the Police fraud squad

Meanwhile the Police fraud squad has also been in court in Port Moresby, trying to get legal backing so they are not required to hand over the file relating to the corruption investigation into Prime Minister O'Neill.
"They don't want to hand it over to the new Police Commissioner, effectively," Liam Cochrane said.
"So it's an urgent application to stop that and the judge adjourned that until Tuesday next week to hear whether they will or will not be forced to hand over [the file]."

PNG PM Peter O'Neill says he'll respect court decision to allow police to pursue arrest warrant

ABC

Photo: Peter O'Neill says it is for it for all citizens to respect the court's decision. (AFP: Aman Sharma )

 

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says he will respect the court's decision to allow the police commissioner to pursue an arrest warrant against him.

In his ruling, Justice Ere Kariko said only in the clearest cases of abuse of police power should the court intervene in a police investigation.
He said in this case there was no such evidence of abuse of power.
At a media conference in Port Moresby on Tuesday, Mr O'Neill said it was for all citizens to respect that decision.
"I will respect the decisions of the Police Commissioner in the handling of any investigation," he said.
"All I have sought, as I am entitled to as is the right of any citizen, is to have an unbiased independent police investigations into any allegation.
"I have a duty to not allow bad precedent to be set for the future - by allowing a sitting Prime Minister to be arrested without clear and unbiased evidence of any wrongdoing."
Mr O'Neill was issued with an arrest warrant after the country's anti-corruption agency Taskforce Sweep accused him of authorising fraudulent government payments to a local law firm, Paraka Lawyers.
The recently-appointed acting police commissioner Geoffrey Vaki has not indicated whether he will arrest the man who gave him the job less than two weeks ago.
Mr O'Neill says he has told police he is ready to assist with proper and lawful police inquiries.
"This is the same approach adopted by leaders in our partner countries when they have been confronted by allegations," he said.
Mr O'Neill is continuing to deny any wrongdoing over the letter authorising payments, which he says is a forgery.
"I want to assure you without any qualification, that the letter did not originate from my office," he said.
The recently-sacked Police Prosecutor Thomas Eluh says he believes the evidence shows Mr O'Neill has a case to answer before the courts.
"The evidence is very overwhelming, it's very, very strong," he said.
"On the face of it, there is prima facie evidence for the prime minister and anyone else who is involved in this to come forward and be answerable to the law."

'Sad moment in our history'

Mr O'Neill has also criticised the former chairman of the now-disbanded Taskforce Sweep, Sam Koim, for speaking to foreign media.
Mr Koim last week told the ABC's 730 Australia should be keeping a close eye on any investigation as a large amount of its taxpayers' money has been used to develop Papua New Guinea.
Mr O'Neill says involving Australian aid in the discussion is "almost beyond belief".
"While never taken seriously, his demands would have caused hardship to small business and undermined medical and health programs in our nation," he said.
"The politicians and small group of police who colluded in this sad moment in our history should hang their heads in shame.
"They have put greed and ambition ahead of decency and fairness, and they have caused unnecessary tension within our community."

Puma Energy acquires InterOil’s downstream assets for US$525 million

By EnergyAsia on July 1, 2014 in Blog, Public Stories

 (EnergyAsia, July 1 2014, Tuesday) — Puma Energy, one of the world’s largest independent midstream and downstream companies, has acquired InterOil Corp’s oil refining and fuels marketing businesses in Papua New Guinea for US$525.6 million, the two companies have announced.

With the takeover of InterOil’s 28,000 b/d refinery in Port Moresby, a network of 52 retail service stations fuel terminals, 30 fuel depots and aviation facilities, Puma Energy said it will become Papua New Guinea’s main fuels supplier.

The Singapore-based firm said it plans to use its extensive experience in fuel storage, distribution and refining to link the Papua New Guinea fuel market with its global operations. It said it plans to retain InterOil staff and manage operations locally.

Puma Energy said it will fund the acquisition from its existing bank facilities and available cash on balance sheet.

CEO Pierre Eladari said: “We have been impressed by InterOil’s business, its strategic asset base, its customer portfolio and the quality of its management and people. There are many parallels between our global businesses and that of InterOil’s – in particular the importance of expertise in logistics, guaranteeing the reliable and secure supply of high quality fuels to our customers.

“We believe strongly in Papua New Guinea and its future growth prospects, and see many opportunities for continued investment in infrastructure and in the skills of our employees to build upon the historic success of InterOil’s business, and to position PNG as a strategic hub within our regional portfolio. This investment marks an important step in the execution of our regional strategy and offers considerable synergy with our developments in Australia and the broader Pacific region.”

InterOil said the sale, which followed an unsolicited approach from Puma Energy, will enable it to focus on its upstream and liquefied natural gas (LNG) businesses.

InterOil’s chief operating officer Jon Ozturgut said:

“For the past 10 years, the refinery and distribution businesses have contributed to InterOil’s business model and Papua New Guinea’s development.

“However, our upstream and LNG business has become core to the company’s growth and, as a result of the success we have had in discovering and monetising gas, the time is right to focus on this part of our business. The transaction immediately provides additional capital to fund our upstream and LNG

UN urges Papua New Guinea to halt 'witch hunting'

DW

With experts pointing to a "growing pattern" of sorcery-related assaults, UN rights adviser Signe Poulsen tells DW the Papua New Guinea government is failing to protect the victims and bring the attackers to justice. 

There is growing concern about the Papua New Guinea's reported failure to prevent crimes related to the use of black magic, sorcery and cannibalism. The United Nations, which has repeatedly slammed "the growing pattern of vigilante attacks and killings" of persons accused of sorcery in the Pacific nation, now urges the government in Port Moresby to effectively and immediately investigate such cases.
The murder of Kepari Leniata made headlines around the world in February last year. The 20-year-old was stripped naked, tied up, doused in petrol and burned alive in front of a crowd by relatives of a boy who died following an illness in the city of Mount Hagen, according to multiple reports. Her attackers claimed she had caused his death through sorcery.
In 2012, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women found sorcery was often used as a pretext to mask the abuse of women in PNG.
With the level of witchcraft-related violence seemingly on the rise in the island nation, UN human rights adviser Signe Poulsen says in a DW interview, the government in Port Moresby must do more to tackle the issue and criticizes leading officials for bringing back the death penalty, saying a fair trial and certainty of punishment would be a better deterrent.
DW: How widespread is the belief in sorcery in Papua New Guinea?
Signe Poulsen: Belief in sorcery and witchcraft is widespread throughout Papua New Guinea, both in rural and urban areas. The beliefs vary between communities, and in some contexts have resulted in violent responses against persons accused of practicing sorcery or witchcraft. The profile of those accused also vary, and although in many communities women and girls have become victims, in other areas men have also been targeted.
Why would someone be suspected of witchcraft?
In many cases, allegations follow a sudden death or illness in the community. However, some observers have also pointed out that issues such as social stress and change, poverty, uneven development and disputes over land also may play a role in some cases.

Some cases of recent killings, such as that of Kepari Leniata, have been very public with large crowds involved.

How widespread is the practice of murder for suspected sorcery?
Our office has not compiled statistics on this. However, local media have reported a number of cases of killings this year.
Who are mostly the victims?
Most of those reported to have been killed or attacked are women. Those who attempt to protect the alleged sorcerer are sometimes themselves accused of sorcery. Family members of the accused can also be at risk, including spouses and children.
Who is responsible for sentencing the suspected sorcerers to death?
In some cases, allegations apparently escalate to the point of killing, without a "sentencing" process. In other cases, individuals may be called in to identify the sorcerer. There are reports of community leaders getting involved, and in other cases accusations may come from relatives of someone who has died suddenly. Some cases of recent killings, such as that of Kepari Leniata, have been very public with large crowds involved.
What has the government done to tackle this issue?
There are indications that the government in Port Moresby is serious about addressing the problem. However, it faces a number of challenges. In May 2013, the first of a series of notable steps taken by the Government was the repeal of the Sorcery Act 1971, legislation which perpetuated violence against accused sorcerers by criminalizing this practice and providing mitigating provisions for any harm done to a person accused of sorcery.

Legislation was also passed which provided for the death penalty for killings resulting from allegations of sorcery and witchcraft. However, I must point out that the OHCHR does not believe that the death penalty is an effective measure. We believe it is rather the certainty that perpetrators will be apprehended and dealt with through sound judicial processes that will serve as a deterrent.
During last week's consultation to develop a national action plan against sorcery- and witchcraft-related violence, participants developed a multi-sectoral approach which will be used to address violence resulting from sorcery and witchcraft accusations, and protect victims.
Nevertheless, the killings are still taking place. What are the shortcomings of the government's current approach?
At the local level, civil society and local police, public legal service providers, magistrates, health workers and village leaders have in some cases worked together effectively to prevent violence and protect those facing allegations of sorcery.
However, in numerous cases, those accused of attacks against alleged sorcerers have not been brought to justice. The police force in some cases does not have the resources or personnel required to stop attacks. In some cases, officers themselves have reportedly been complicit in attacks. Police officers also face challenges when investigating attacks. Victims and witnesses have in some cases been unwilling to speak out. There is no victim and witness protection programme in PNG.
What must be done to stop this practice?
To be effective, approaches must be multifaceted and part of a comprehensive program. First, there must be an end to impunity for those who incite or commit acts of violence against individuals accused of sorcery and witchcraft. These crimes must be promptly investigated and perpetrators brought to justice in fair trials. The establishment of a victim and witness protection programme would also be of importance if efforts to bring perpetrators to justice are to be effective.
Secondly, there is a need for broad based human rights and peace education, including education targeting health workers, judicial actors, community leaders, schools and police among others.

"Belief in sorcery and witchcraft is widespread throughout Papua New Guinea, both in rural and urban areas," says Poulsen

Third, there needs to be a program designed to provide support to victims and their families. Survivors of allegations of sorcery and witchcraft in many cases become displaced and impoverished, lose their social networks, and are at heightened risk of further violations.
Finally, there is a need to recognize and protect individuals who put themselves at risk to help those accused of sorcery and witchcraft. One way of strengthening and providing such support could be through the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission.

Signe Poulsen is based in Papua New Guinea where she works as an adviser for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Right (OHCHR).
The interview was conducted by Gabriel Domínguez.

Pilot error contributes to PNG crash

ABC

A report has found pilot error contributed to one of PNG's worst aviation disasters.

Twenty-eight people died when an Airlines PNG Dash 8 crashed near Madang in October 2011.
Many of those killed were travelling to Madang for a university graduation ceremony.
The Accident Investigation Commission's final report found the pilot damaged the plane's engines on descent by throwing them into reverse after an alarm sounded warning that the plane had reached its maximum speed.
The Commission's CEO David Inau explained the findings to Liam Fox.
Presenter: Liam Fox
Speaker: David Inau, CEO Accident Investigation Commission
INAU: What happened was that on descent, the pilot selected flight idle, so that he can descend at towards Madang. But in this instance, the damper that has auto pilot inputs to control the descent was unserviceable, so the pilot had to manually fly the aircraft from top of descent down to Madang.
Now, in the descent profile, he selected flight idle so that he can get a good rate of descent going, so he can arrive at Madang, but in the process, there was some cloud in the air, so he had to fly around the clouds to get below the cloud as quickly as he can.
The two pilots did not notice the air speed, the air speed had increased, they may have had the nose down too far, the air speed increased to the end approaching the maximum of speed, the warning horn came off. When the warning horn sounded, the pilot in command reach across, selected the power levers and moved them into the beta range. Initially, they were in forward flight, but when he selected reverse flight, the propellers turned into reverse pitch and in the process, damaged the propeller gear box.
FOX: So by trying to slow down, he's accidentally gone into reverse, is that right?
INAU: We cannot ascertain why he selected reverse in flight. He has not revealed anything to us, but when he selected the beta range, which made the propellers go into reverse cycle, that's when the gear box failed.
FOX: And would a pilot normally ever move into beta range while they're in the air?
INAU: There is a strong warning in the flight manual and it's in the report that beta range cannot be used in flight. It's only for ground operations.
FOX: And then once this situation had happened the report says that the crew did not respond to any of the alerts by implementing emergency procedures. Is that correct, and what were those emergency procedures?
INAU: We had the flight data recorder, and the cockpit voice recordings, which indicated to us that there was a total lack of attention to what had happened and the correct procedures to follow after such an event were not followed to try and get the air speed control, the rate of descent control so that they can probably have more time in the air and make sound decisions to landing at a suitable location.
FOX: One of the things that was not done, was extending the landing gear and the use of flaps. What would potentially have happened if those were used?
INAU: Well, with the flaps, extension of the flaps, you may, the speed, the stall speed would have been reduced, so you can fly in at a lower speed and if the landing gear would have been used, it could have assisted in the impact on touching down on the riverbed there.
FOX: So it could potentially have lessened the force of the impact?
INAU: Could have, but we cannot confirm that, but it could have.
FOX: So in laymen's terms, if someone, a member of the public is reading this report or indeed a relative of someone who die, this could be summarised as a crash resulting from pilot error?
INAU: Well, that's what is reported in the papers and the media here in Papua New Guinea at the moment. We have stated the facts in the report. Whatever the readers want to use, and get out of that report, it is their views as well.
FOX: The crash wouldn't have happened if the pilot didn't throw the engines into reverse while near top speed, that's correct though, isn't it?
INAU: Yeah, that is correct.
FOX: The aspect about that emergency procedures weren't followed once the plane got into trouble, what has Airlines PNG done about that particular aspect?
INAU: Ah, Airlines PNG have not indicated publicly to us yet, but one thing that has emanated from all this is that now all, as of today, all Dash 8 aircraft throughout the world are now by law required to have beta lock out system, where selecting the levers past the flight idle gate will not put the props into reverse.

Rubbish in the park

Rubbish in the park.I wish that our people do not litter so much as these pictures of Jack Pidik Park at 5-Mile in Port Moresby, taken yesterday, show.

Tribesmen from Papua New Guinea visit ahead of plans to build village in NYC

Mundiya Kepanga, a ritual wig man, and Fabian Paino, a well-known Malagan carver, visited New York City for the first time to attract tourists to their home.

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Sunday, June 15, 2014

 

Two tribesmen from Papua New Guinea hit the city last week to lure tourists to their island homeland.
This June, a Papua New Guinea village will be built in New York City, and Mundiya Kepanga and Fabian Paino flew in for the event — their first time in the big city.
Papua New Guinea, located around 100 miles north of Australia, is home to 7.5 million people with more than 800 languages and cultures.
"We had quite a large task of bringing that kind of diversity of Papua New Guinea to America,” says spokesperson Ally Stoltz.
Kepanga and Paino had the typical tourist experience — including a run-in with the Naked Cowboy — but their trip had a deeper purpose.

David Handschuh/New York Daily News Mundiya Kepanga checks out some 'I Love New York' T-shirts. Enlarge

 

David Handschuh/New York Daily News Mundiya Kepanga and Fabian Paino help the Naked Cowboy into a mask. Enlarge

 

“Essentially, they’re here to build a bridge,” Stoltz says. “They’re building a bridge back to Papua New Guinea, and inviting Americans to continue the journey that they started here today and actually visit.”
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Lost Australian soldiers buried with full military honours after nearly 70 years

Remains of two men killed by Japanese near the end of second world war laid to rest in PNG cemetery

 Australian Associated Press
 

The Bomana war cemetery in Port Moresby. Photograph: Alan Porritt/AAP

 

Two Australian soldiers killed by Japanese forces near the end of the second world war have been buried with full military honours.
Lance Corporal Spencer Walklate and Private Ronald Eagleton, both members of Z Special unit, were buried in a ceremony at the Bomana war cemetery, Port Moresby, on Thursday.
Their remains were recovered on Kairiru Island, off the north coast of Papua New Guinea, last year after a search by the army's unrecovered war casualties unit.
Both were members of an eight-man Z Special patrol in what was called “operation copper” to Muschu Island in April 1945 which aimed to investigate Japanese naval guns which could imperil the allied landing planned for Wewak.
The mission was a disaster. Japanese forces discovered the Australians and hunted them down. One, sapper Mick Dennis, managed to swim to the mainland, and survived.
It was thought Walklate and Eagleton drowned as they and others tried to escape. But it emerged they managed to reach Kairiru where they were captured, tortured and beheaded.
Dennis, 94, plus soldiers from the Special Air Service regiment and the 1st and 2nd Commando regiments provided the funeral party on Thursday.
Army chief lieutenant, General David Morrison, said the army was committed to honouring every Australian soldier lost in combat.
“We must never forget those who served before us, and whose legacy we live to today,” he said.
Brian Manns, manager of the unrecovered war casualties unit, said the funeral was the culmination of years of work.
“The investigation took several years and involved an immense effort,” he said.