Pacific leaders must speak out against anti-media attacks in Fiji

Wednesday, March 11, 2009:  Another round of media-related incidents in Fiji this week has sparked condemnation and disgust from a regional media watchdog, the Pacific Freedom Forum.

Forum chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea says Pacific leaders must stand true to their promise of serving the region, and the promise of good governance and security for all Pacific people as committed within the Pacific Plan.

According to Fiji media reports, at 2am on the 10 March, three men broke into the private home compound of Fiji Times Editor Netani Rika and vandalised his car. They remain at large.  The same day, police waving search warrants scoured the newsrooms of the Fiji Times and Fiji TV on the pretext of finding letters quoted from during routine news reports.

“The nature of the letters and their sources are convincing proof that the search warrant exercise was not about protecting the public safety, but growing an atmosphere of fear amongst Fiji journalists,” says Laumaea.

“It also calls into question the process of securing search warrants in this instance, and what reasons or justifications were used to grant the warrants for letters whose contents seem so mundane in terms of the level of attention used.”

He says it’s time for Pacific Forum leaders to make known to Fiji their support of democracy and the critical role of the media in keeping Pacific communities informed.

“The latest round of incidents provide a disturbing picture of the level of fear-mongering blatantly being practised by Fiji’s law enforcers, against media professionals,” says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.

 “The Pacific Freedom Forum has long made clear its total condemnation of the current tactics from the Fiji regime clearly aimed at intimidating media workers from doing their jobs fearlessly and without favour,” she says.

“It is time for Forum leaders to step up and make known their concern over the ongoing campaigns and human rights abuses becoming ever more prevalent in Fiji.”

PM taken to task over 'slush funds'

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare has been challenged to present to Parliament documents showing that more than K4 billion, stashed away in various Government trust accounts since 2005, has not been used as “Government slush funds”, The National reports.

He has also been tasked to table in Parliament the details of all disbursements from these accounts as well as table a quarterly report to the Parliament on the operations of the trust accounts with details of all withdrawals and expenditures from them.

Sir Michael was also tasked to give reasons as to why sectoral funds allocated to the Health and Education departments, as well as the law and justice sector programme had been taken back and centralised under the Department of National Planning.

He was put to task by Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta in Parliament yesterday and responded, saying he would furnish the reports to Parliament with the assistance of Finance and Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch and National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten.

However, he gave the undertaking only after emphatically denying that the money was being used as “Government slush funds” as perceived by the Opposition and said he would have the documents tabled in Parliament to quell any suspicion, concern or cynicism over the lack of transparency in the allocation and disbursement of funds from trust accounts.

Sir Mekere told Parliament that the money, appropriated through supplementary budgets since 2005 and stashed away in trust accounts, had been removed from the scrutiny of the annual budget process and quarterly budget reviews.

He said as time passed, the public lost sight of the money, Parliament lost control over it and accountability was difficult to establish and enforced.

“The monies became Government slush funds,” Sir Mekere said.

 

Dad kills son over school fees

I read this story in The National this morning with tears in my eyes. It is a sad, but true story of the difficulties many families in Papua New Guinea have with paying school fees, whilst the government continues to turn a blind eye. When will this country ever learn that education and health are the two most-important things if it wants to develop? The young man didn’t deserve to die like this.

 

By ANDREW ALPHONSE in The National

 

A DISPUTE between father and son over payment of school fees ended tragically when the father stabbed his son to death at Koli village in Ialibu, Southern Highlands province, on Monday morning.

Ialibu police identified the deceased as 17-year-old James Lapua, a Grade 12 student at the Ialibu Secondary School.

Police said the father had sold a pig for K1, 300 last weekend.

Police believed the pig belonged to the son but was raised by the father.

As the son prepared to go to school that fateful morning, he asked his dad for part of the money for school fees from the sale of the pig.

Police said the father refused and an argument started during which the father went to his room, grabbed a knife and stabbed his son in the chest.

Police said Lapua died instantly.

An autopsy carried out at Ialibu hospital hours later confirmed that the knife had pierced the youngster’s heart, causing his instant death.

The father had fled the scene and is hiding in the bush.

Police criminal investigation division (CID) officers are investigating the incident.

Jacob Iki, chairman of the Ialibu Secondary School board of management, confirmed the incident and condemned the manner in which the young man’s life was taken away.

Mr Iki, who is also Ialibu town mayor, described the killing as “senseless and barbaric”.

Mr Iki said Lapua was an outstanding student with a bright future.

He described Lapua as a well-behaved young man and a regular church-goer who was well liked by everyone in the community.

All classes at Ialibu Secondary were suspended yesterday in respect of young Lapua.

 

Moresby Arts Theatre markets and auditions

DO you believe you have a talent waiting to be uncovered?
Can you sing, dance or act?
Do you have an interest in sound or lighting equipment?
Are you a handyman or an artist?
 If you answered yes to any of these, the Moresby Arts Theatre (MAT) needs you.
MAT is a place that encourages, nurtures and teaches creativity through performing arts. Having a captivated audience admire your abilities through a story on stage can be the most rewarding experience of a lifetime.
Once you’ve had a go on or backstage, you will return time and time again as theatre can pull together and create friendships, memories and experiences like you’ve never had before.
The theatre knows no boundaries and encourages all to participate – so bring family members along.
One such chance to have a go at something new will be at auditions for MAT’s melody of Andrew Lloyd-Webber musicals, which will be held this Saturday (March 14) at 2pm.
Directed by Michael Cornish and Co-produced by Judith Bona and Brenda Wilmott-Sharp, this arrangement of famous songs from Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats and Phantom of the Opera has something for everyone.
If you don’t know any songs, feel free to come along and sing something you are comfortable with, there is always a part for everybody and songs can be learned along the way.
The MAT is continuously looking for ways to support the Arts in the country.
Creating a market for artists of all kinds is something MAT hopes to be able to do more of this year with the introduction of its Arts & Craft Market.
Interested sellers and buskers are advised to book ahead.
Whilst mum and dad check out the markets, kina-a-kid movies and a bouncy castle will be there to keep all members of the family entertained.
This is also on this Saturday from 10am-2pm, and will be held every second Saturday of the month.
For any enquiries, call (675) 325 3503.

Christine Anu performing tonight at the Gold Club

CHRISTINE Anu is finally here and performing tonight for the first time in Papua New Guinea  at what better place than the country’s party capital, Lamana’s Gold Club.

So who is she and where does she come from?

Anu was born in Cairns to Torres Strait Islander indigenous parents from Saibai and Mabuiag Islands.

She began performing as a dancer and later went on to sing back-up vocals for The Rainmakers.

Her first recording was in 1993 with ‘Last Train’, dance remake of a Paul Kelly song.

The follow-up, ‘Monkey and the Turtle’, was based on a traditional story.

After ‘My Island Home’, she released her first album, Stylin' Up which went platinum, and also gained her a position as a spokeswoman for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

In 1995, Christine won an ARIA Award for best female recording artist as well as a Deadly Sounds National Aboriginal and Islander Music Award in 1996 for best female artist.

Baz Luhrmann asked her to sing on the song ‘Now Until the Break of Day’ on his Something For Everybody album.

It was released as a single and the video then won another ARIA award and led to her being cast in Moulin Rouge!

It took five years for a follow-up to Stylin' Up to be released; 2000's Come My Way made her a mainstream star.

The single ‘Sunshine on a Rainy Day’ was a Top 40 hit for 13 weeks in Australia.

Come My Way went gold.

In 2000 she sang ‘My Island Home’ at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Closing Ceremony.

Anu has been nominated for 16 ARIA Awards.

She has also had a notable acting and TV career, appearing in Dating the Enemy-a 1996 Australian film starring Guy Pearce and Claudia Karvan, and then an Australian stage version of The Little Shop of Horrors in the same year.

Her stage career developed with a starring role in Rent in 1998 and 1999.

Anu was offered a role in a Broadway production of this musical but had to decline due to commitments in recording her second album.

In 2003, she appeared as Kali in The Matrix Reloaded and played the character on the video game Enter the Matrix.

In 2004, she became a judge on Popstars Live, a television quest broadcast on the Seven Network similar to Australian Idol.

The programme failed to achieve a similar level of success, leading to network executives to pressure the judges to offer harsher criticism of the contestants.

Anu refused, leading to her resignation as a judge that year.

In a statement issued on her departure, she said: "I chose to play a positive role model and wanted to encourage these young people in their endeavours, rather than criticise them.

“Although leaving Popstars Live was a difficult decision for me to make, I do feel somewhat relieved that I can now focus on my music."

Anu is a mother with two children - Kuiam (born 1996) and Zipporah Mary (born 2002).

So that’s her biography wrapped up in a nutshell, so make sure you don’t miss out on your opportunity to see her live at the Gold Club tonight.

Members free entry with proof of card, and non-members K40.

 Be in early to get the best seat in the house. See you at the Gold Club!

 

40 years of darkness for Papua New Guinea

By Dr Kristoffa Ninkama

South Simbu

 

SIR Michael Somare led PNG to self-government in 1973 and independence in 1975.

Since then, he has served continuously in various capacities either as Prime Minister or Opposition leader for 40 years.

The question I would like to pose is: “Is PNG better off now than it was 40 years ago?”

The simple answer is: “No.”

In the 40 years that Sir Michael has been in politics in PNG, the following occurred:

1. The people of PNG continued to rely on the infrastructure left behind by the Australian administration. Roads, bridges, administrative headquarters, schools and aid posts have fallen into disrepair. Successive governments failed to carry out infrastructure development projects. It is the Government’s fiduciary responsibility to maintain and continue infrastructure development. So for 40 years, roads, bridges, schools, health services, administrative buildings, transport and communications have fallen into ruins. Is this something to be proud of?

2. The general health and well-being of the people have steadily declined. Many Papua New Guineans are dying of preventable and treatable diseases and HIV/AIDS is threatening to decimate a generation. Malaria, TB and sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise as all the health centres and aid posts built in the colonial days are no longer functioning. The provincial and referral hospitals are grossly underfunded, understaffed, poorly equipped and lacking basic medicines. The health services are so primitive that PNG politicians have been flying to Australia with their families to seek medical treatment. So for 40 years, the people of PNG had been deprived of their very basic right to decent health services.

3. The education system in PNG has been on the downward spiral. Schools lack basic essentials like decent classrooms, chairs, desks, library books, audio-visual aids, books, pencils and other essential learning aids to give a child an opportunity and a fighting chance to attain a decent start to attaining knowledge and literacy. The majority of school-aged children are not attending schools and the literacy levels of the average Papua New Guinean is on the decline.

4. The citizens of PNG are resorting to cargo cultism, sorcery, sanguma, etc, because the level of ignorance in our societies is on the increase. An ignorant society spells disaster for a nation.

5, Law and order problems are escalating. Port Moresby is a virtual prison. The citizens of PNG’s major towns live in constant fear of something awful happening to them. Can you imagine living in fear in your own house in your own country every day of your life?

6. For 40 years, successive politicians and their families have done very well for themselves at the expense of the people they represent. Our politicians can afford to own expensive vehicles, buy properties in Australia, educate their kids in private schools and overseas, seek private hospital treatment overseas, etc. Are all these possible from a mere politician’s salary?

7. More than 85% of the people are struggling on a daily basis with malnutrition; hook worm infestation, rotting teeth, swollen tummies, chronic malaria infestation, unclean water sources, no access to decent health services, roads, bridges, communications, electricity, etc. These basic services had been denied to our own people.

8. Government institutions are failing at an alarming rate and millions of dollars have been swindled from the Finance Department under Sir Michael’s watch. Yet, he has remained quiet.

9. I am sick and tired of hearing our politicians say PNG is a rich country. I have not seen one toea of these proclaimed riches filtering to my people in the villages. Is this something to be proud of?

Oh, the poor Engans. All those cassowaries and pigs ready to be slaughtered to celebrate 40 years of what?

Forty years of being in the dark ages?

 

Kill the 'sacred cow - the Melanesian Way'

By JOHN FOWKE
 I can tell you the reason for the story of declining services and declining prosperity, the declining well-being of the people of PNG.
It’s very simple.
 As coined by a group of Papua New Guinean intellectuals in the eighties, the problem is “The Melanesian Way”.
There. It’s been said.
The big, silent, grey elephant which has loomed in the background, nameless but recognised by many, is out in the open.
Tackle this elephant, or at least recognise it, everyone.
Recognise it for the handicap that it has become in the struggle for modernity and fair distribution of the nation’s wealth.
The three decades of increasing puzzlement, of critical editorials, and of irate declarations by such as Malcolm Kela-Smith, MP ... have  been three wasted decades, unless the whole experience is realistically summed up, now, and an appropriate antidote to the problems  applied to the developing wounds on the body of this young nation.
The Melanesian Way is the way of a fractured multi-tribal society.
A society which existed triumphantly, successfully, and entirely independently for tens of thousands of years.
Within this society, land, the possession of land and resources sufficient for the tribe’s or clan’s subsistance needs, land was the single, prime, and most-often considered fact of life.
The clan’s land must be protected and perhaps opportunely extended in any way possible.Without land and hunting and fishing resources sufficient to its needs, the clan or tribe was literally nothing.
Such a condition was the result of bad planning, inept political moves, and ultimately, physical weakness in battle.
The result would be annihilation as a clan or tribe.
The anger of the ancestral spirits would haunt the remaining, fugitive remnants of the people, no matter that they might be absorbed into other clans sympathetic to them.
It was the absolute end, and such an end was never to be contemplated.
This was also the basis of the way of the ancient Britons and the way of the wild tribes of northern  Germany, people whom even the might of Caesar’s army was never able to completely subdue or completely disposess.
All of us, at some time in the history of humanity, have lived under “The Way”.
In PNG, historically, the law which governed life applied 100 per cent to one’s own group, and only in terms of one’s own advantage to one’s neighbours.
Right from when one lay at one’s mother’s breast one learned that within the clan all were brothers and sisters. Outside the clan, all were enemies.
Within the clan was solidarity and trust.
Outside the clan was the enemy, albeit of various grades.
Thus evolved a set of ethics and moral appreciations which, within an overarching customary system, provided a practical set of safeguards and an acceptable level of justice.
A dispute-resolution system evolved which, while often draconian, even violent, worked within the nature of the culture.
 Here, where a lie was told or a pig stolen from an enemy, these were not crimes, nor even misdemeanours so far as one’s clan-brothers were concerned.
Only within the clan were such acts classed as crime.
Disputes arising in the clan could be fatally disruptive, and a long-winded methodology involving mediation, negotiation and the payment of some form of compensation-in-kind evolved.
Even though this was sometimes inconclusive, and inevitably a long-drawn-out process, it was preferable to outright fighting within the clan.
Here, in the foregoing two paragraphs, is a concise outline of The Melanesian Way. While it served the people well for as long as they remained out of communication with the developing industrialised, class-based, nationalistic polities of the rest of the world, it is demonstrably not compatible with the course of modernisation in which PNG is engaged.
The tribal ethical matrix, where honesty is confined  to a limited number of relationships and by nature encourages nepotism,combined with the propensity to talk and procrastinate endlessly  rather than to face difficult ethical, management, and disciplinary problems constitute the big, grey elephant that no-one wants to talk  about.
Perhaps the Melanesian Way has become a sacred cow.
Kill the sacred cow.
Look at life and the future straight in the eye, and begin to keep pace with the rest of the world, PNG.
Directness, honesty and responsibility in government are the marks of an effective, fair society.
Social history and ancient customs belong in the school curriculum, in museums and story-books, not in the management methodology of a modern nation.

·        John Fowke has spent most of the past forty-eight years living and working in rural Papua New Guinea.