Death penalty not a solution for sorcery killings: Dame Carol Kidu

By ABC Canberra correspondent Karen Barlow

Long-serving Papua New Guinea parliamentarian, Dame Carol Kidu, says the death penalty will not help solve the problem of sorcery-related violence in the country.

PNG's government last week voted to enforce the death penalty for a number of capital offences in an attempt to deal with the problem.
Dame Kidu has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat she is horrified by the recent sorcery-related killings in the country, which have mainly targeted women.
"There's a mass hysteria around it. What appears to be almost a reluctance of people to intervene, which would indicate that they also are afraid of sorcery and its implications," she said.
"Traditionally, in the few societies that I know about, whenever a sorcerer was killed, it was normally done by maybe a group of three people who would go out and kill them in the night in secrecy.
"It wasn't a public event ... that is completely new in the way that it's happening."

Audio: Dame Carol Kidu speaks to Pacific Beat (ABC News)

Dame Kidu says she is concerned about the impact public killings have on children in the communities.
"Children run to see the witch being burnt," she said.
"It's very worrying because that's their socialisation process, and that's why we have to find ways to counteract this as quickly as possible."
However, she believes re-introducing capital punishment is the wrong way to tackle violent crime.
"I, personally, do not support the death penalty as a solution to this, or as a solution to crime," she said.
"Global experience and research has shown it is not a solution to crime, and state-sanctioned killing does not, in my opinion, help bring us into a society for peace, prosperity, for the future.
"There is enormous scope for people being wrongfully killed because of the limited capacity for investigation in Papua New Guinea."
Dame Kidu is backed by human rights groups and the United Nations, which say any resumption of executions may affect PNG's international standing.
Dame Kidu believes in educating the public to recognise the killings as a crime.
"We've got to work in early childhood, too, in ensuring that we influence the educational processes into ... rejecting [their belief in sorcery] being manifested in this way," she said.
"This is wilful, premeditated murder and it has to be recognised as such."
Dame Kidu says it is also necessary to work on "transformative processes" to move the communities forward.
"I believe very strongly that we've got to introduce community conversations right throughout the country, and get communities taking control of these types of situations ... with very responsible structuring of the community conversations," she said.

PNG move on death penalty raises concerns for asylum seekers

AAP and Bianca Hall

Asylum seekers on Manus Island will be subject to the death penalty, the department of immigration has confirmed.
Papua New Guinea's parliament on Tuesday passed laws allowing execution by a range of methods, including hanging, electrocution, lethal injection, and firing squad, while repealing its contested sorcery act.

Janet Kemo Fogodi was victim of a brutal attack in which a family member tried to murder her due to "sorcery". Changes to PNG laws will prevent people who commit violent acts from using sorcery as a defence. Photo: Brendan Esposito

It also vowed to extend the long-dormant death penalty to cover rape, robbery and murder.
Immigration department spokesman Sandi Logan said on Twitter that asylum seekers detained on Manus Island were subject to PNG laws "100%", but declined to comment further.

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Amnesty International deputy director for the Asia-Pacific, Isabelle Arradon, said the reintroduction of the death penalty was counterproductive.
"Papua New Guinea has taken one step forward in protecting women from violence by repealing the sorcery act, but several giant steps back by moving closer to executions," she said.
"The taking of a life - whether a person is beheaded by villagers or killed by the state - represents an equally abhorrent violation of human rights.
"The government has failed to heed calls from civil society to not start killing prisoners again."
Capital punishment is currently in place for treason, piracy and wilful murder but Papua New Guinea has not carried out an execution since 1954.
Amnesty says at least 10 people are on death row.
As well as reviving the death penalty, parliament also repealed its 1971 sorcery act, which provided a defence for violent crime if the accused was acting to stop witchcraft.
It means any black magic killings will now be treated as murder punishable by death following a spate of horrific public killings of women accused of sorcery, in which there is a widespread belief in PNG.
According to Amnesty, more than two-thirds of all countries in the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice with the last known execution taking place in the Pacific in 1982 in Tonga.
Arradon said countries were moving away from the death penalty, in part because there were no assurances it was an effective deterrent to crime.
"By passing these death penalty laws, Papua New Guinea will find it is on the losing side of history," she said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/png-move-on-death-penalty-raises-concerns-for-asylum-seekers-20130529-2nbdl.html#ixzz2UiLG5VCg

Amnesty rejects PNG death penalty bid

AAP

Amnesty International has criticised a move by Papua New Guinea to revive the death penalty as a regressive step for the poverty-stricken Pacific nation, branding it state-sanctioned violence.

The country's parliament on Tuesday passed laws allowing execution by a range of methods, including hanging, electrocution, lethal injection, and firing squad, while repealing its contested sorcery act.
It also vowed to extend the long-dormant death penalty to cover rape, robbery and murder, actions that Amnesty's deputy director for the Asia-Pacific Isabelle Arradon said were counterproductive.
"Papua New Guinea has taken one step forward in protecting women from violence by repealing the sorcery act, but several giant steps back by moving closer to executions," she said.
"The taking of a life - whether a person is beheaded by villagers or killed by the state - represents an equally abhorrent violation of human rights.

"The government has failed to heed calls from civil society to not start killing prisoners again."
Capital punishment is currently in place for treason, piracy and wilful murder but Papua New Guinea has not carried out an execution since 1954.
Amnesty says at least 10 people are on death row.
As well as reviving the death penalty, parliament also repealed its 1971 sorcery act, which provided a defence for violent crime if the accused was acting to stop witchcraft.
It means any black magic killings will now be treated as murder punishable by death following a spate of horrific public killings of women accused of sorcery, in which there is a widespread belief in PNG.
According to Amnesty, more than two-thirds of all countries in the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice with the last known execution taking place in the Pacific in 1982 in Tonga.
Arradon said countries were moving away from the death penalty, in part because there were no assurances it was an effective deterrent to crime.
"By passing these death penalty laws, Papua New Guinea will find it is on the losing side of history," she said.

Whitehaven's Rodney Pora returns to Papua New Guinea

by Martin Morgan 

News & Star

Last updated at 08:52, Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Whitehaven prop Rodney Pora has returned home to Papua New Guinea to be with his young son, who is seriously ill in hospital.

Rodney Pora

The experienced international had been due to feature for Haven in yesterday’s Championship clash with Barrow Raiders, which they won 30-18. But on learning of his son’s condition, the club supported his decision to fly home.
“We wish him well, and hopefully everything will be all right,” coach Dave Woods said, post-match. “He’s at the airport waiting for a flight.
“It is disappointing that he’s had to go, but his family must come first, and we have to make sure we look after him that way.
“It’s very important that he gets home for his family.”
On Twitter, hooker Carl Sice later dedicated the derby win to Pora and fellow front-rower Dave Houghton, who also missed the game. Pora missed Haven’s pre-season regime and had been working hard on his fitness over recent weeks, rewarding Woods with his debut try last week.
“Jordan Hand stepped up and did a great job, and we brought in Bradd Crellin, who looked after the back-row area, so it worked out all right for us,” added Woods, who saw Crellin justify his selection with a dummy-half try yesterday.

PNG parliament passes use of death penalty

By Eoin Blackwell, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

 

Rape, robbery and murder will attract the death penalty in Papua New Guinea after the country's parliament passed a series of measures aimed at deterring violent crime.
PNG's parliament on Tuesday also passed laws allowing for five types of execution - hanging, lethal injection, medical death by deprivation of oxygen, firing squad and electrocution.
The parliament also repealed the controversial 1971 Sorcery Act, meaning those convicted of killing accused "sorcerers" will be sentenced to death, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's spokesman, Daniel Korimbao, said in a statement.
"These are very tough penalties, but they reflect the seriousness of the nature of the crimes and the demand by the community for parliament to act," he said.
"Which method (of execution is) to be used will be determined by the head of state on advice from the National Executive Council (cabinet)."
Death by hanging has been part of PNG's criminal code since before independence from Australia in 1975, but has not been enforced since 1954.
Under the new amendments, the death penalty will be enforced for crimes such as aggravated rape, pack rape, or where the victim is a child under 10 years of age.
Kidnapping will carry a prison term of 50 years without remission or parole, while kidnapping for ransom carries life imprisonment without parole.
Theft of money between 5 million kina ($A2.4 million) and 9.99 kina million will attract 50 years without parole.
Theft of money or property worth 10 million kina or more will be punished with life imprisonment.
A series of violent murders and sex crimes this year prompted the PNG government to enact the measures in an attempt to deter crime.
In particular, women accused of being witches have been killed in increasingly gruesome public show-trials.
In one incident, a young mother, Kepari Leniata, was stripped and burned alive in a public market, while in another, a former teacher, Helen Rumbali, was beheaded.
Some killings have been carried while police were present, with officers powerless to intervene against large crowds of armed attackers.
UN Women, a division of the United Nations, has welcomed the repeal of the Sorcery Act, but declined to comment on the use of the death penalty.
"UN Women congratulates government on repealing the Sorcery Act and looks forward to new initiatives that will counter the rising violence against women and men, and bring an end to extra-judicial killings," an agency spokesperson said.
Church groups and civil libertarians have objected to the measures and pointed out police have trouble enforcing current laws.
"We have got current systems and structures in place that are not working, we can't even prosecute a shoplifter, and here we are trying to impose the death penalty," women's rights campaigner Esther Igo recently told Radio Australia.
"We believe that we should get our structures, the current enforcement system, working before we can look at an extreme penalty."
Mr Korimbao told AAP tougher drug penalties, alcohol licensing rules and stricter penalties for home brew have been temporarily deferred.
"They are still being worked on," he said.
Two weeks ago, Mr O'Neill apologised to women in PNG for the high levels of sexual and domestic violence they experienced and pledged to pass the stricter penalties - penalties he described as "draconian."

Rotary helps in PNG

Kiama Lake Independent Times

A SISTER club partnership between two Rotary clubs from different countries will be further cemented soon with the arrival of a shipping container in the Papua-New Guinea city of Madang.
Following a long association over several years, the Rotary Club of Kiama in District 9750 and the Rotary Club of Madang, Papua New Guinea, in District 9600 decided to take this step last November.
"Along with the mutual benefit for both clubs by the successful achievement of projects, this partnership is now happening in a practical way," Rotary Club of Kiama past president John Kenny said.

Kiama Rotarians Noel Edgell and Alan Schofield pictured packing the final items into the shipping container when it was bound for Madang.

"Taking pride of place in the container is a 'state of the art' barbecue trailer which will help significantly the Madang club's fund-raising efforts, as well as its community service activities."
"Several club members arrived around the same time as the container last week and the locals are delighted with the contents. In fact the barbeque as actually christened with a good old-fashioned Aussie barbeque last Sunday, much to the delight of the locals.
According to Mr Kenny, the barbecue trailer is an example of the power of Rotary to inspire community co-operation as a local Kiama business donated the trailer as a thank-you to the club for sponsoring a family member to the Honeywell Engineering Summer School.
"TAFE students completed the fitout as part of their practical training, and a local resident and Friend of Rotary met the costs of the barbecue units as well as providing a substantial share of the shipping costs."
A team of Kiama Rotarians and volunteers will be travelling to Madang in May.
"That will be a great occasion for a good old Aussie barbecue - PNG style," Mr Kenny said.
While in Madang the team will visit a school in Brahman, where the Kiama Club has previously built a girls' dormitory, to determine what other help may be needed.

Indonesia and PNG plan joint exploration in border areas

By Amahl S. Azwar, The Jakarta Post | Headlines | Wed, May 22 2013, 10:22 AM

Indonesia has agreed to team up with neighboring Papua New Guinea (PNG) to explore potential oil and gas reserves in border areas as the former shifts its oil and gas exploration focus to the eastern part of the archipelago.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said after a meeting with PNG Public Enterprises and State Investment Minister Ben Micah on Tuesday that the two countries would work together by establishing joint operations to explore oil and gas reserves.

Indonesia’s Papua province, located in the eastern part of the nation, shares a 760-kilometer land border with PNG. The two nations currently have a few territorial disputes along the border, in areas with poor infrastructure.

“The border possesses a huge amount of unexplored oil and gas reserves, according to data obtained by our team. Economically, it would be easier to jointly explore these untapped resources,” Jero said in Jakarta.

“This is also important to maintain security along our border.”

Jero did not go into detail on which blocks the two countries planned to develop, but said they would also focus on building more infrastructure in border areas to support the energy and mining partnership.

Separately, Micah said his country also hoped its national petroleum companies would form a joint venture with oil and gas firm PT Pertamina to jointly develop hydrocarbon reserves in the areas.

PNG has two state-owned oil and gas firms, namely National Petroleum Company of Papua New Guinea (NPCP), which focuses on LNG and oil projects, and Petromin PNG Holdings Ltd., which
controls the nation’s petroleum and mining assets.

According to Micah, a number of major oil and gas companies, including France’s Total SA and Royal Dutch Shell, were currently exploring oil and gas resources in PNG. US-based ExxonMobil’s latest Asia Pacific liquefied natural gas (LNG) project is in New Guinea.

Pertamina CEO Karen Agustiawan, who was also present at Tuesday’s meeting, said her company would sign a joint study agreement with PNG’s national oil and gas company to develop resources. “We are also interested in entering PNG,” she said.

According to interim upstream watchdog SKKMigas, one of the blocks located near the Indonesia-PNG border is the Warim block, for which American oil and gas firm ConocoPhillips won the contract in 1989.

ConocoPhillips drilled six wells and spent US$98 million on exploration activities from 1990 to 1998 before the government declared the area a protected forest. SKKMigas exploration chief Nugrahani said in a text message on Tuesday that ConocoPhillips had been offered a contract renewal, which would enable the contractor to explore the Warim block for another five years.

“They will be given 15 years to exploit the block should they find profitable hydrocarbon reserves,” she said.

Indonesia, which left the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2008, has set its sights on the eastern part of the archipelago for exploration following the maturation of major onshore oil and gas blocks in the western part.

Notorious PNG bank robber escapes prison

Source: AAP

A manhunt is under way for Papua New Guinea's most notorious bank robber, William Kapris, who has escaped from the country's main prison along with three others, police say.
Police launched the search for Kapris shortly after he escaped from Port Moresby's Bomana prison at 5pm NZT on Tuesday.
"He had two guns," a police media spokesman told AAP.
"Kapris was the one who led the break out.
"These prisoners are high-risk prisoners, the worst of the worst."
He could not say how Kapris or the other prisoners escaped.
"He definitely had inside assistance," the spokesman said.
Deputy Police Commissioner and Chief of Police Operations Simon Kauba said a manhunt is under way to hunt down the escapees.
Police had earlier said 33 inmates had escaped, but then radically revised down the figure to four, including Kapris.
The break-out will be thoroughly investigated and anyone who had any role to play in the escape will be severely dealt with, Kauba said in a statement.
Kapris is known in PNG for a series of robberies at Bank of the South Pacific branches.
This breakout marks Kapris's third high-profile escape from authorities.
In 2010, the country's most wanted serial bank robber escaped from custody in a Toyota truck after taking a warder hostage.
He was aided that time by a woman who, posing as a lawyer, pulled a gun on guards.
He was rearrested a short time later along with several jail staff who allegedly assisted his escape.
It was not the first time Kapris had escaped PNG's justice system.
Before being captured in 2008, he had been on the run for eight years after escaping police detention while convalescing at Port Moresby General Hospital.
The news comes as PNG's legislators prepare to debate tougher penalties for violent crime in the nation's parliament, including reactivating the country's dormant death penalty.

Gillard says Australia will stand with PNG

By Eoin Blackwell, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has paid tribute to Australia and Papua New Guinea's  abiding friendship, as she highlighted some significant challenges during her first speech on her first official visit to the island nation.
At a state dinner to mark the visit, Ms Gillard told guests Australia will stand with PNG, our closest neighbour, as it tackles a grim health, education and security outlook.
"I know you are committed to progress in these fields and Australia joins you as a partner," Ms Gillard said.
"The PNG government has a far-reaching agenda of reform and we will support and assist you in this vital work.

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"This is a period of unmatched opportunity for Papua New Guinea. I know how determined this generation of leaders is to translate that opportunity into benefits for the generations to come."
Mr Gillard's host, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill was elected in July last year on a platform of fixing PNG's ailing health and infrastructure, which had stagnated following years of corruption and neglect.
Listing the challenges faced by PNG, Ms Gillard referred to the security of women "who endure such particular horrors."
PNG has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, and some estimates suggest as many as 70 per cent of PNG's women have experienced sexual or domestic violence.
International attention has recently been focused on a series of gruesome murders of women over allegations of "witch craft".
Ms Gillard and Mr O'Neill will on Friday sign a joint declaration to boost co-operation between the two countries.
"This 2013 declaration points the way to a new level of co-operation based on mutual trust, respect and common values," Ms Gillard said.
"We must build relationships that stand the test of time during the pressures and changes that accompany the Asian century."
She said PNG was making progress in the form of the $19 billion Exxon Mobil lead PNG LNG project, which Ms Gillard is due to visit on Friday.
"We see the same signs (of progress) in the 41 billion kina in Australian investment and in your commitment to establish an effective sovereign wealth fund based on international best practice," she said.
Australia invests in the project through the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.
"Australia is by far the biggest destination for Papua New Guinea exports and the biggest source of PNG's own imports of goods and services."
Mr O'Neill said Ms Gillard's visit reflected the importance her government attached to the PNG/Australia relationship.
"The relationship remains important and I think relevant," he said, referring to a raft of official visits.
"Let me stress the government-to-government relationship is in good shape.
"We are neighbours and I always believe neighbours should get on well together and sort their differences amicably.
"I want us to agree during your visit that we will recognise a need to reflect the new maturity of our relationship at all levels."
Mr O'Neill urged Ms Gillard to ease visa restrictions for Papua New Guineans visiting Australia.
He said there were a list of about 40 countries who had an easier time getting to Australia.

Gillard to visit PNG

By Eoin Blackwell, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

Julia Gillard will meet with her PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill (L) during her visit to Port Moresby. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard is expected to touch down in Papua New Guinea on Thursday afternoon, marking her first official trip to the Pacific Island nation.

In a visit lasting just under 48 hours, Ms Gillard is expected to meet with her PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill, his cabinet, and the opposition leader Belden Namah.
Ms Gillard and Mr O'Neill are expected to canvass a raft of issues during the visit.
Trade and enhanced defence cooperation will be the topics for the meetings, with PNG expected to raise concerns about visa processing for Papua New Guineans travelling to Australia.
PNG is also expected to seek Australia's help in boosting relations with Asia, as well as seeking Australia's help to host APEC in 2018.
"We are requesting (Australia) to assist us in using their experience when they hosted the meeting in Sydney, Mr O'Neill recently told Radio Australia.
"They would see what sort of issues they had to deal with when they hosted the event, so yes we are communicating with the Australian prime minister on that."
There is about $7 billion in annual trade between the two nations, while Australia also spends roughly $500 million a year in official aid to PNG.
The controversial Australian-run asylum seeker detention centre on Manus Island may also be discussed, with its legality currently before PNG's courts.
Ms Gillard is among a number of recent high-profile international visitors to PNG, which this time last year was crawling out of a political crisis sparked by the surprise elevation of Mr O'Neill to the prime ministership in mid-2011.
The mid-2012 election put the lid on the political turmoil and gave Mr O'Neill a massive parliamentary majority.
Since the polls, PNG has played host to Prince Charles, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Fijian dictator Frank Bainimarama, as well as a raft of Australian ministerial visits.
On Friday, Ms Gillard is expected to tour a Port Moresby market and a local primary school, and visit part of the $19 billion Exxon Mobil-led Liquefied Natural Gas project.
She will meet with business leaders while in Port Moresby, and attend a state dinner in the nation's parliament.
On Saturday she will visit Bomana War Cemetery before departing for Australia.
The last serving Australian prime minister to visit PNG was Kevin Rudd, who included Australia's closest neighbour amongst his first overseas trips after being elected in 2007.
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman is expected to visit Port Moresby next week.

Tragedy turns to triumph for unsung Panther James Segeyaro

By RAY GATT of The Australian

Penrith's James Segeyaro finds himself in the clear as he races to score one of his two tries against Parramatta at Centrebet Stadium last night. Source: Getty Images

It was  one of the toughest days he had ever experienced but James Segeyaro knew what his mate would have wanted him to do  
Just hours after young North Queensland player Alex Elisala tragically passed away, Segeyaro came off the bench last night to play a huge hand in Penrith's 44-12 demolition of Parramatta in an eight-tries-to-two rout at Centrebet Stadium.

Playing with a heavy heart, the 22-year-old Papua New Guinea international dedicated his two tries to Elisala, with whom he had become close friends during his previous two seasons with the Cowboys.
Segeyaro was too upset to talk after the match but it was clear where his thoughts were during the game: he celebrated both tries by pointing to the sky and beating his chest close to his heart.
Coach Ivan Cleary said he had left the decision to play last night with Segeyaro.

"We had a chat this morning. I wasn't sure what he was going to do today. It's one of those situations ... there's no playbook for that sort of stuff," Cleary said.

"But he was straight on the front foot and said the best way to honour his mate was to play. They were pretty close.
"James played very well but the hard part now will be the myriad of emotions he will go through in the next few days, and we will have to be mindful of that."
Segeyaro was one of several standout players for the Panthers as they overcame tremendous odds to record a near record win in the local derby.
Hampered by a heavy injury toll, coming off five successive losses and lacking confidence, Penrith was given little hope in the battle of the west.
But with halfback Luke Walsh in devastating form, the Panthers refused to follow the script, producing a spirited display to record only their second win of the season.
It was also Penrith's biggest win over the Eels at home and just a point shy of the club's biggest victory against them, a 39-6 thrashing at Parramatta Stadium last season.
The Eels were left shattered and that feeling was reflected in the words of devastated coach Ricky Stuart. He labelled the performance embarrassing while captain Jarryd Hayne described it as awful.
"It's embarrassing when your two best players are 19 (Kelepi Tanginoa) and 20 (Vai Toutai)," Stuart said. "Both are still trying to learn how to play the game, or first grade level ... and one of those (Toutai) is a winger.
"It's hard to know what to expect from this team ... seven games in and it is what it is."
Stuart admitted he was extremely disappointed with the effort. "Yes, I am (the most disappointed he has been)," he said. "It was embarrassing. It is going to be hard to make changes because we don't have a lot underneath to put pressure on players. As for tonight, I'll discuss it with the players but I won't play things out in the media."
And to make things worse, the Eels look like being without inspirational prop Tim Mannah for an extended period. He was carried off the field in the 61st minute with an injury that Stuart revealed could be a broken fibula. He will have scans today.
While Penrith led 16-12 at half-time, the highlight belonged to Eels winger Toutai, who revived memories of legendary Eels winger Eric Grothe Snr after going on a rampaging 20m run that saw him beat five defenders and then carry three over the line.
The Panthers, however, raced in 28 unanswered points in the second half.
PENRITH 44 (T Robinson 2 J Segeyaro 2 D Simmons 2 L Brown D Whare tries; L Walsh 5 M Moylan goals) PARRAMATTA 12 (J Hayne V Toutai tries; C Sandow 2 goals) at Centrebet Stadium. Referee: Jason Robinson, Gavin Reynolds. Crowd: 14,211.

PNG mulls death penalty for sorcery murder

AFP

Papua New Guinea is considering introducing the death penalty for sorcery killings and rape after a spate of horrific crimes against women drew international condemnation.Attorney-General Kerenga Kua said public opinion had swung in favour of capital punishment after a series of brutal sorcery-related murders including beheadings and torchings, and the gang rape of a US academic.
Kua said he had received more than 100 petitions from human rights and other groups across the globe calling for urgent action on the violence against women.
"Those horrific, brutal, gruesome killings of the type that a woman was burnt alive to her death should attract death penalty," The National newspaper reported Kua as saying.
"Most of the people are ready for it and they want it now as they are fed up of the law and order problems in this country and they want to see a more liberal use of the death penalty."
In February a 20-year-old mother accused of witchcraft was stripped and burned alive in front of a crowd at a village market. Earlier this month an elderly woman was beheaded after being accused of black magic.
Also this month, an Australian was murdered and his friend sexually assaulted by a group of men, followed barely a week later by the ambush of the US researcher, her husband and their guide on a wilderness track.
She was stripped, had her hair cut to the scalp and was gang-raped by a group of nine men armed with rifles and knives before a sound in the forest frightened them away.
Kua said he had been monitoring the public mood on the issue and it was time the government "did something radical" to halt the crimes, which have undermined PNG's standing as a tourism and investment destination.
"My job is simply to do what the people want me to do. I cannot shut my eyes to the people's request. I'm not deaf, I'm listening; if they want it we will give it to them," he said.
The offences of treason, piracy and wilful murder are already punishable by death in the impoverished Pacific nation, but the country has not carried out an execution since 1954.
The Catholic Church condemned Kua's remarks as "giving in to the same vengeful streak in PNG culture that is part of our current problem", and said the death penalty would not be a deterrent to violent crime.

A warning of a downturn in mining in PNG

ABC

Papua New Guinea's Chamber of Mines and Petroleum says the global mining boom is definitely over and a current down turn, is likely to have a big impact on capital spending on exploration and financing for many existing and planned projects in PNG.

The Chamber's outgoing President, Doctor Ila Temu says there has been a significant drop in gold prices in recent times and with lower commodity prices, it will impact PNG government's 2013 budget and planned expenditure.
Firmin Nanol reports:
Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speaker: Doctor Ila Temu, Country Manager for Barrack Gold, PNG's Chamber of Mines and Petroleum elected Oil Search Managing Director, Gerea Aopi New Crest Mining's Country Manager, Peter Aitsi
Doctor Ila Temu who is also Country Manager for Barrack Gold in PNG says the Chamber wants the government to help planned and existing mining and petroleum projects get off the ground quickly.
He says the drop in gold prices and related impact on the mining sector could make potential investors think twice before investing in PNG.
Dr Temu says the PNG government needs to honour outstanding commitments both to landowners and developers of certain projects.He says the government also needs to build build and improve existing infrastructure in certain project areas so those projects could get off the ground soon.
Barrick Gold's PNG Country Manager, Dr Ila Temu says Barrick is also considering selling some of its projects in Australia due to the current global down turn in the mining boom.
He has also cautioned that the PNG government's 2013 budget will be impacted because revenue projections were based on high gold prices before the current down turn and drop in gold prices.
PNG's Chamber of Mines and Petroleum elected Oil Search Managing Director, Gerea Aopi as its new President during its annual general meeting last week.
Mr Aopi says the government needs to improve efficiency in its public service to ensure projects which are under exploration stage and others nearing completion before full production could finish soon.
He says the chamber will discuss certain issues affecting the industry with the government.
Meanwhile, the Chamber has urged the government to reconsider its position on a proposed review of its taxation regime.
The review panel include two former Internal Revenue Commissioners Sir Nagora Bogan and David Sode and former Australian Treasurer Peter Costello.
The Committee has started work already and is expected to submit its report and recommendations by the end of June this year.
The outgoing President Dr Ila Temu says the mining and petroleum sectors already pay well and above their normal company tax and it should not increase further.
The Chamber's Senior Vice President and New Crest Mining's Country Manager, Peter Aitsi also cautioned the government to be mindful of its expenditure.
PNG's Chamber of Mines and Petroleum is the peak industry association which represents the interest of over two hundred companies operating mining and petroleum projects in PNG.
President Gerea Aopi, Senior Vice President Peter Aitisi, Vice President Richard Kassman and out-going President Dr Ila Temu in a joint news conference issued the caution in Port Moresby today.

FGV mulls Papua New Guinea foray

By Zaidi Isham Ismail

New Straits Times

FELDA Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV), the world's largest crude palm oil producer, may venture into Papua New Guinea to increase its plantation land. President and group chief executive officer Datuk Sabri Ahmad said Papua New Guinea's government officials were impressed with FGV's businesses and operations during their visit here recently.

"They were impressed with the FGV model and have asked for our help to start oil palm plantations in Papua New Guinea. If all goes well, we will go there on a government-to-government level of cooperation.

"We are conducting feasibility studies and technical due dilligence and if we decide to go there, we can easily start with an initial 10,000ha. The land is suitable for oil palm and can either be greenfields or brownfields," Sabri told Business Times in an interview.

FGV currently has a RM4.4 billion war chest following its listing on Bursa Malaysia last June.

Sabri had said previously it would use part of the proceeds to buy more plantation land as oil palm land in Malaysia is limited, and also with many plantation companies having expanded resinto Indonesia.

He had said FGV was looking for land in Myanmar, Cambodia and more recently in Mindanao in the Philippines.

The latter plan, however, was put on hold following the Lahad Datu intrusion recently.

FGV currently owns a total of 350,000ha and manages another 500,000ha for the country's 112,635 settlers grouped under the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).

FGV has businesses in cooking oil, oleochemicals and refinery operations in 12 countries.

If FGV's plan materialises, Papua New Guinea will be its second overseas plantation land venture after Indonesia.

On its Myanmar venture, Sabri said the company is in the final stage of due dilligence with a local partner to start rubber processing activities in the country's south.

"We will buy natural rubber from local farmers and turn them into processed rubber. If it is successful, we may go further into rubber plantations by buying an initial 12,000ha," he added.

In December, FGV signed a memorandum of understanding with Myanmar's Pho La Min Trading Ltd.

Under the deal, a joint venture company will be set up to develop rubber business in three phases, starting with a processing plant.

On West Kalimantan, Sabri said FGV, which owns 14,700ha there, is in the final stage of a due dilligence to plant another 10,000ha at Kebun Patin Landak.

Kulim (Malaysia) Bhd is another Malaysian planter in Papua New Guinea through its 48.7 per cent-owned New Britain Palm Oil Ltd.

Kulim, in turn, is 59.6 per cent-owned by state government investment agency Johor Corp.

Read more: FGV mulls Papua New Guinea foray http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20130429002909/Article/index_html#ixzz2RoPYcXZS

PTTEP considers energy investment in Papua New Guinea

National News Bureau of Thailand

Thailand's leading energy explorer is considering an investment plan in Papua New Guinea although the company has conceded that more time is needed before a conclusion is drawn.

Mr. Tevin Vongvanich, President and Chief Executive Officer of PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), revealed that the company's investment feasibility study has been underway in Papua New Guinea.

He stated that the plan was conceived to help Thailand achieve energy security in the future when local demand is expected to surpass domestic supply.

The President and CEO of PTTEP said Papua New Guinea is considered a possible investment destination as the country has been discovered with natural gas deposits and its liquefied natural gas development project has already begun.

Mr. Tevin added that the government of Papua New Guinea extended an official invitation to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during her recent trip to the South Pacific nation for Thailand to conduct an exploration project.

He said PTTEP is in the middle of data collection and analysis to determine the quality of the natural gas deposits and if the investment will be worthwhile.

PTTEP stressed that more time will be needed before a thorough study in Papua New Guinea can be completed and a decision can be made.

Papua New Guinea health workforce crisis: A call to action

World Bank

• Download report: Papua New Guinea (PNG) health workforce crisis : a call to action

• Papua New Guinea faces a health workforce supply crisis arising from:

(i)    the current severely constrained training system for new health workforce cadres;

(ii)    the rapid aging of the existing workforce – over half of the current health workforce will retire within a decade;

(iii)   the expanding demand for services over the next 10 to 20 years due to sustained increase of the population.

• The National Headcount Survey in 2009 shows that the size of the health workforce financed by the public sector has grown from 10,791 in 1998 to 13,063 in 2009. Since 2004, however, the pace of growth has slowed down markedly. The number of nurses, for example, dropped from 3,980 in 2004 to 3,618 in 2009.

• To respond to the health workforce crisis, the PNG government’s needs to deal with:

(i)    the immediate supply-side crisis (quantity);

(ii)    the qualitative side, including preservice and in-service training (especially for emergency obstetric care for existing staff);

(iii)   incentives to ensure staff are able to be deployed where needed, particularly in rural areas which is home to 80 percent of the population.

• Armed with information of supply and demand, the report provides five scenarios to draw out the implications for each health cadre and for all service delivery staff, including affordability. The five scenarios vary from no change in existing supply capacity to four alternative scenarios with supply adjusted to meet the postulated demand.

• The scenario most recommended envisages a new mix of direct service-delivery staff, which is not only affordable but also responds to the demand requirements for staff from the health system while leaving space in the recurrent health budget to boost quality. This scenario is driven by: (i) the growth in the resource envelope likely to be available for health and service-delivery staff; and (ii) the feasibility and speed with which preservice training can be ramped up to meet the demands of workforce attrition and the needs of a growing population.

PNG minister says conjugal bail will curb sex crimes

By ABC Papua New Guinea correspondent Liam Fox

Papua New Guinea's only female minister says some prisoners should be released on bail to have sex with their wives to reduce sex crimes.

Loujaya Toni, the minister for religion, youth and community development, has drawn a link between prison breaks and sexual assaults.
In a statement, she says when men escape after being locked up and deprived of sex they will "find a female … to vent their sexual aggression".
Ms Toni says the solution is to release low and medium-security prisoners on weekend conjugal visits in order to "prevent rising levels of sexual frustration".
She also says high-risk prisoners should be injected with drugs to "lower their sexual aggressiveness".
Her comments have been widely panned on social media sites.
Ms Toni declined an interview with the ABC.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce departs PNG

By Eoin Blackwell, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNOR-GENERAL Quentin Bryce has departed Papua New Guinea, ending a five-day state visit to the Pacific Island nation.

During her last day, Ms Bryce visited a library charity, Buk Bilong Pikinini, at the university of PNG in Port Moresby and announced the opening of a mobile library funded in partnership with Make a Mark Australia.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce has departed Papua New Guinea following a five-day state visit.

Buk Bilong Pikinini supplements the education of some PNG children through a library network in the rugged and infrastructure poor nation.
A planned trip south to Milne Bay was cancelled when a storm and poor visibility prevented the Army C-130 Hercules from landing, forcing Ms Bryce and her entourage back to Port Moresby.
It was the only hiccup in an otherwise busy week.
While in PNG Ms Bryce took part in Anzac Day commemorations around the country, as well as attending a women's roundtable discussion at Parliament House.
On Tuesday Ms Bryce paid her respects to Australian soldiers killed during the first and second world wars in Rabaul in East New Britain.
On Anzac Day she attended a dawn service in Port Moresby before flying to memorial services in Isurava and Kokoda.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/governor-general-quentin-bryce-departs-png/story-e6frfkui-1226630262354#ixzz2ReCFVZln

Black Cat trek recalls epic battles

By Kerri-Ann O'Sullivan

Special journey: Blaxland MP Jason Clare at the Australian War Museum for the launch of the 2013 Mateship Trek.

BLAXLAND MP Jason Clare will host the Mateship Trek in Papua New Guinea this Anzac Day.
Mr Clare is walking the Black Cat Track from Wau to Salamaua in Papua New Guinea with a group of Australians to commemorate the 70th anniversary of World War II campaigns in the area.
The Mateship Trek is a bipartisan program established four years ago to bring together young Australians from different backgrounds to learn about each other, their potential and Australian military history.
The trek will conclude with a dawn service at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Lae, where about 2800 men and women have been laid to rest. Almost 700 were killed in action on or around the Black Cat Track.
In January 1943, Australian forces defended the Wau airstrip against the Japanese.
On Anzac Day the order was given to surge towards Salamaua across what became known as the bloody ranges of northern New Guinea. Salamaua was taken by the Allies on September 11, 1943.
"The story of Kokoda is well known. Unfortunately, the heroic efforts of the Australian soldiers on the Black Cat Track a few months later have been largely forgotten," Mr Clare said.
"We need to fix this.
"That's what this trek is about. Walking in the footsteps of Australian soldiers, honouring them, learning their stories and making a commitment to live a life worthy of the sacrifices they made for us."
The Mateship Treks are held every two years.
The first, in 2009, was along the Kokoda Track. In 2011 the group retraced the path of the World War II prisoners of war in Borneo during the Sandakan Death March.

How a Tobruk Rat turned Pacific hero

AAP

NEIL Russell is turning 96 next month and he needs a walking stick to get around, but this extraordinary digger was on the winning side in two of the toughest WWII campaigns in the Middle East and the Pacific.

Captain Russell is one of a handful of surviving Rats of Tobruk, who successfully defended the crucial Libyan port and gave the German forces their first major setback of the war in 1941.
With little time to enjoy the victory, however, he was shipped off to Papua New Guinea, where he played his part in delivering the first blow to the advancing Japanese forces.
As a 25-year-old first lieutenant, he helped stop the Japanese from taking Port Moresby in the 1942 Battle of Milne Bay.
He was made a captain and after the war awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal - the second highest medal for valour behind the Victoria Cross.
The Brisbane resident, who turns 96 on May 18, says when the order came to fix bayonets and charge, his company "stormed the enemy stronghold".

"And the Japs shot off like a Bondi tram," he said.
His son Doug says his father's dry Aussie humour helped him deal with stressful, life-threatening moments.
"During the heat of battle, someone said to him, 'What's the time?'" he said.
"He said, 'Time for a Capstan' (a brand of popular cigarettes at the time)."
Capt Russell will take part in the Anzac Day march through Brisbane today from 10am (AEST).
The march will start at the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets.

Hidden Valley a problem child — Newcrest CEO

by Allan Seccombe, 24 April 2013, 10:29

THE Hidden Valley mine in Papua New Guinea was a "problem child" and three key areas had come under focus to bring costs down, Greg Robinson, CEO of Australia's Newcrest Mining, which shares the project with Harmony Gold, said yon Tuesday."Hidden Valley is our problem child on a negative cash flow basis to us and we continue to see poor results," Mr Robinson said during a presentation on Newcrest's March-quarter results. Newcrest is Australia's largest gold miner and has guided the market to expect output of 2-million ounces to 2.15-million ounces of gold for this financial year.
Like its peers in South Africa, Newcrest is struggling with the fall in the gold price, strong Australian and Papua New Guinea currencies and rising costs. It has already cut 150 jobs.
Newcrest shares Hidden Valley with Harmony as well as the Wafi-Golpu exploration project that promises to be a large copper and gold mine.
Hidden Valley produced 18,988oz of gold for Newcrest, and Harmony will report similar results when it releases its third-quarter results on May 3. Hidden Valley produced 20,649oz for Newcrest in the December quarter. Harmony declined to comment on Mr Robinson's view, citing a closed period ahead of releasing its own results.
Hidden Valley's cash cost in the March quarter, which included production of 205,651oz of silver, was A$1,790/oz, up from A$1,584 in the previous quarter.
Mr Robinson said the partners were addressing the continuing problems at Hidden Valley, with them taking delivery of a primary crusher in May instead of this month, as had been expected. This would allow the mine to ramp up production from a high-grade part of the mine using conveyor belts to move the ore to the processing plant instead of relying on an expensive trucking option.
"It's a big priority," Mr Robinson said. Mine management was looking at ways to improve metal recoveries at the plant and it had brought in an independent operational review team to reduce costs by between 20% and 30% in the "very short term".
"We will continue to review the viability of this operation in particular after the primary crusher is in place and that we've taken the appropriate steps. We hope once we've done those, we'll have this thing back in a reasonable return profile ."
With Newcrest becoming "stingy" with its capital, analysts quizzed Mr Robinson about Wafi-Golpu, a $4.9bn project that has attracted criticism for Harmony from some analysts who argue it should focus on returning capital to shareholders rather than spend billions of rand on this project.

G-G attends Anzac dawn service in PNG

AAP

GOVERNOR-GENERAL Quentin Bryce has paid her respects to current and former Australian soldiers at an Anzac Day service at Papua New Guinea's Bomana war cemetery.

At today'smorning's ceremony, Ms Bryce was joined by PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Australian High Commissioner to PNG Deborah Stokes, as well as her PNG counterpart Sir Michael Ogio.
More than 2, 000 people armed with glow sticks crowded into Bomana, located about 19km outside of Port Moresby.
"Wherever we come from and wherever we go, this is a day that gives pause and silence to our journey," Ms Bryce said in a short speech.
"A moment to remember the Australian soldiers, merchant navy men and airmen - and members of the Papua New Guinea local forces - who died defending this territory and ours.
"The tranquility of this clearing belies the desperate, bloody confrontations of the Kokoda campaign that took place beyond."
Bomana is final testing place to more than 3,000 soldiers killed serving in Papua New Guniea.
Australia and PNG formed close ties during World War II, with Australian soldiers being aided by locals known as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.
Ms Bryce will later fly to Isurava and Kokoda to pay her respects at memorials in both locations.
Anzac Day will mark the fourth day of Ms Bryce's five-day state visit to PNG.

Through a veteran's eyes

By Gaye Pattison and Allison Jess (ABC Local)

 

Bob Iskov has an important role. The 92-year-old was a member of the 2nd/14th Battalion who fought along the Kokoda Track during World War II. While many members of his former battalion have passed away or do not want to talk about their war experiences, Bob is one of the one's who "needs" to do it. 

Word War II veteran and retired Lieutenant Bob Iskov (Gaye Pattison - ABC Local)

"I think there is a message to pass on particularly to the younger generation.

"I like to think that the kids in some of the schools are taking a great interest in the War and what led up to it and I hope that makes sure it doesn't happen again, that is my biggest concern."
Iskov and his battalion arrived on the frontline of the Kokoda Track in 1942. The Kokoda Track campaign was a significant battle in World War II between the Japanese and the Allied forces - who were mostly Australian.
He says Anzac Day should always be remembered for the sacrifices and the mateships made in combat. During the Kokoda battle he says the role of the local Papua New Guinean villagers, fondly known as the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angles, should always be remembered.
"The usual jollity and fun and games ceased as we realised we were going into a serious situation, people kept their thoughts to themselves.
"You couldn't afford to be scared; you couldn't afford to show it 'cos you didn't want to let your mates down.
"One of the greatest fears we had was not being killed but being wounded and left behind. Perhaps to be slaughtered by the Japanese or left in the jungle to die."
The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels saved many soldiers lives.
"(During a battle) One of my boys Bruce Cooper, he was a tough Kalgoorlie miner, he got a bit of shrapnel in his backside, we put him on a stretcher with another few who had been wounded... A group of Fuzzy Wuzzy's were brought in and took the stretchers away from us. They went way into the bush and the wounded spent the next 29 days in the hands of the Fuzzy Wuzzy's who kept them supplied with food but they would have had no medical supplied... Bruce Copper survived, the story is the maggots got into his backside and kept the wound clean otherwise he probably would have got gangrene and not survived.
"We could not have fought without them because they carried our rations, our stores, our ammunition and they had to carry enough food to feed themselves... They did it with a smile on their face.
"When I was in New Guinea just recently people came up to me in the street the woman doing the bedroom in the hotel I was staying at came up and said 'I want to thank you for saving our country'. She gave me a kiss on the cheek and put her arms around me and she was genuine.
"There is still a huge bond between Australian and the Funny Wuzzy's and that will never die."
Bob Iskov lives in Wangaratta in north east Victoria.

Man killed aunt over accusations she was a witch in Papua New Guinea

AFP

A PAPUA New Guinean who accused his aunt of sorcery and killed her with an axe has been jailed for 30 years.

Saku Uki Aiya, 21, was found guilty of the "senseless, barbaric and brutal" killing after a two-day trial in Enga province in the impoverished Pacific nation's northern highlands.
The ruling comes days after the United Nations urged a tougher stance on such murders.
The National newspaper cited local police commander Sergeant Simon Mek as saying it was the first sorcery-related killing in the area to reach a national court.
"So many such cases are reported but rarely go through to the high court as relatives accept their own customary ways of settlement in the village courts," Mek said.
There is a widespread belief in sorcery in PNG, where many people do not accept natural causes as an explanation for misfortune and death, and there have been a spate of recent high-profile cases.

A PNG woman was set alight in Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea in February after being accused of sorcery. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

The beheading of an elderly woman accused of witchcraft earlier this month prompted the UN to demand the government in Port Moresby tackle the scourge.
The UN urged an end to extra-judicial killings linked to accusations of sorcery and renewed calls for the government to repeal the Sorcery Act 1971, introduced to aid the passage of witchcraft cases through the courts.
While the act criminalised the practice of sorcery, critics say that granting the phenomenon legal recognition has led to an increase in false accusations.
"The UN is deeply disturbed with the increasing reports of violence, torture and murder of persons accused of practising sorcery around the country," the UN said.
"These vigilante killings constitute murder and must not be treated with impunity."
In Aiya's case, the court heard he blamed his aunt for the death of his brother and with two accomplices, who remain at large, went to her home in 2010 and bludgeoned her on the neck and head with axes and knives.
In jailing him, Justice Mekeo Gauli said accusations of sorcery were becoming more frequent, the newspaper reported.
"In my view some are using sorcery as an excuse to terminate someone's life though the suspect may not be a sorcerer," the judge said, urging people to use the courts to settle disputes and not take the law into their own hands.

Australian Governor-General pays tribute to diggers in PNG

ByEoin Blackwell, 

AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

GOVERNOR-GENERAL Quentin Bryce has laid a flower at the grave of the first Australian fighter killed in World War I during her state visit to Papua New Guinea.

Ms Bryce paused at the grave of W.G.V. Williams at Bita Paka war cemetery in Rabaul on Tuesday, the second day of her visit.
Seaman Williams died on September 11, 1914, following a skirmish with the Germans on the site where the cemetery is now located.
Bita Paka is the final resting place of more than 400 Australians killed in two world wars.
Ms Bryce also laid a wreath at a memorial to members of Lark force who died in East New Britain and on the Montevideo Maru.
The sinking of the Japanese transport ship almost 71 years ago carrying prisoners of war and civilians from Rabaul is considered Australia's worst wartime maritime disaster.
After arriving in New Britain aboard a Royal Australian Airforce C130 Hercules, Ms Bryce travelled to a health clinic to deliver medicine and medical supplies.

She visited Kokopo primary school, where Ausaid has built two schoolrooms, to meet students and plant a tree.
At a lunch in her honour at the Kokopo beach bungalow, former PNG governor-general Sir Paulias Matane told Ms Bryce she and Prime Minister Julia Gillard were an inspiration to women in PNG.
Ms Bryce said the treatment of women was a grave problem in the Pacific island nation.
"It's the most important human rights issue in the world and it's a very grave issue in this country," Ms Bryce said.
"The world must take action in every country.
"It's time we heard more men speaking out."
Sir Paulias said PNG must face up to its treatment of women and confront the violence in society.
"We are going to do our best to change the thinking of these people," he said.
Violence against women is an endemic problem in PNG and has been brought to international attention following the burning murder in February of 20-year-old Kepari Leniata, accused of witchcraft.
More recently, a US academic was pack-raped near Madang on the nation's east coast.
Ms Bryce also visited the Family and Sexual Violence Unit at Kokopo police station for a private conversation with survivors of domestic violence.
On Wednesday Ms Bryce will meet with women's groups at PNG's Parliament House in Port Moresby.
On Thursday she will attend a dawn service at Port Moresby's Bomana war cemetery, before flying to Isurava and Kokoda to lay wreaths at memorials there.
She will return to Australia on Friday.