Sorcery-related claims and compensations claims impeding development in Papua New Guinea

BY ZACHERY PER in The National

 

SORCERY-related killings and compensation claims in Simbu are major impediments to development in the province.

These issues are cancers on the community, corrupting many Simbu people and encouraging them to be immoral.

This, in turn, is compromising the people’s Christian faith.

PNG Law Society president Kerenga Kua pointed this out on Tuesday during the opening of the St Arnold Janseen human development centre at Mingende, Simbu.

He said there had been rampant compensation claims submitted for lands occupied by the Government, mission stations and the Okuk Highway.

Most of the claims were fraudulent, he said.

Most of the claims were from practising Christians, he added.

Addressing the packed gathering at the Mingende Catholic mission cathedral, Mr Kua said: “I am happy to see the church filled to full capacity.

“But the challenge is for us to stop compensation demands and sorcery-related killings because we all claim to be Christians.”

Mr Kua made a personal contribution of K30,000 towards the initial establishment of the centre.

He commended Fr Joseph Sakite for being instrumental in establishing the centre.

Mr Kua said the centre had huge potential “to create social revolution for people to become industrious in their households and in the community”.

“The centre is like a small seed sown with huge potential to grow towards changing our lifestyle,” he said.

“I urge the people to support the church and avoid compensation demands and sorcery-related killings.”

The outgoing bishop of Kundiawa Catholic diocese, Rev Henk Te-Marsen, a vocal opponent of sorcery, said he had been vigorously fighting sorcery killings in Simbu for 47 years without success.

“The people must change, otherwise, the issues of compensations and sorcery-killings will remain to affect their livelihood,” he said.

Rev Henk vacated his seat to Bishop Anton Bal in Kundiawa yesterday in another ceremony.

 

The story really touched me and I hope it will touch your heart too!

I was walking around in a Target store, when I saw a cashier hand this little boy some money back.

The boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years old.

The cashier said, “I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll.”

Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him: ''Granny, are you sure I don't have enough money?''

The old lady replied: ''You know that you don't have enough money to buy this doll, my dear.''

Then she asked him to stay there for just 5 minutes while she went to look a round. She left quickly.

The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.

Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to.

“It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for Christmas.

“She was sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her.”

I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus would bring it to her after all, and not to worry.

But he replied to me sadly. 'No, Santa Claus can't bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.'

His eyes were so sad while saying this. “My Sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.''

My heart nearly stopped.

The little boy looked up at me and said: “I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.”

Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me: “I want mommy to take my picture with her so she won't forget me.”

“I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.'

Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.

I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. “Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?''

“OK” he said, “I hope I do have enough.”

 I added some of my money to his with out him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.

The little boy said: “Thank you God for giving me enough money!”

Then he looked at me and added, “I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give it to my sister. He heard me!

“I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.''

“My mommy loves white roses.”

A few minutes later, the old lady returned and I left with my basket.

I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started.

I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind.

Then I remembered a local news paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl.

The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state.

The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma.

Was this the family of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the news paper that the young woman had passed away.

I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial.

She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest.

I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever. The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine.

And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

 

This is beautiful please read:

A drunk man in an Oldsmobile

They said had run the light

That caused the six-car pileup

On 109 that night.

 

When broken bodies lay about

And blood was everywhere,

The sirens screamed out eulogies,

For death was in the air.

 

A mother, trapped inside her car,

Was heard above the noise;

Her plaintive plea near split the air:

Oh, God, please spare my boys!

 

She fought to loose her pinned hands;

She struggled to get free,

But mangled metal held her fast

In grim captivity.

 

Her frightened eyes then focused

On where the back seat once had been,

But all she saw was broken glass and

Two children's seats crushed in.

 

Her twins were nowhere to be seen;

She did not hear them cry,

And then she prayed they'd been thrown free,

Oh, God, don't let them die!

 

Then firemen came and cut her loose,

But when they searched the back,

They found therein no little boys,

But the seat belts were intact.

 

They thought the woman had gone mad

And was travelling alone,

But when they turned to question her,

They discovered she was gone.

 

Policemen saw her running wild

And screaming above the noise

In beseeching supplication,

Please help me find my boys!

 

They're four years old and wear blue shirts;

Their jeans are blue to match.

One cop spoke up; They're in my car,

And they don't have a scratch.

 

They said their daddy put them there

And gave them each a cone,

Then told them both to wait for Mom

To come and take them home.

 

I've searched the area high and low,

But I can't find their dad.

He must have fled the scene,

I guess, and that is very bad.

 

The mother hugged the twins and said,

While wiping at a tear,

He could not flee the scene, you see,

For he's been dead a year.

 

The cop just looked confused and asked,

Now, how can that be true?

The boys said, Mommy, Daddy came

And left a kiss for you.

 

He told us not to worry

And that you would be all right,

And then he put us in this car with

The pretty, flashing light.

 

We wanted him to stay with us,

Because we miss him so,

But Mommy, he just hugged us tight

And said he had to go.

 

He said someday we'd understand

And told us not to fuss,

And he said to tell you, Mommy,

He's watching over us.

 

The mother knew without a doubt

That what they spoke was true,

For she recalled their dad's last words,

I will watch over you.

 

The firemen's notes could not explain

The twisted, mangled car,

And how the three of them escaped

Without a single scar.

 

But on the cop's report was scribed,

In print so very fine,

An angel walked the beat tonight on Highway 109.

He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare.

 

 

 

Animal power for rural Papua New Guinea

Story and picture by SOLDIER BURUKA

In some rural areas of PNG, the use of draft animals is becoming important in agricultue farming.
Draft animals can be used to perform a wide range of activities such as transporting produce to the market, ploughing and land preparation, carrying people to the gardens, and many others.
This photo, taken in the Bogia district of Madang province, shows a family enjoying a ride on a buffalo.

Papua New Guinea's coffee export earnings reach a new record high

Papua New Guinea’s coffee industry has set a record export earning of K508.8 million for the calendar year 2008.
The good news was announced in a statement by the governing Coffee Industry Corporation
This is by far the highest level record for the industry.
The previous record was achieved in 2005 valuing K457 million.
“The Coffee Industry Corporation is pleased to announce that this significant result for the country’s coffee industry was achieved on the back of higher prices, combined with higher export volumes,” said an elated CIC chief executive officer Ricky Mitio.
“From the total earnings, growers received 66% while exporters and processors retained 19% and 15% respectively.
“The CIC would like to commend our coffee growers and other stakeholders in the marketing chain who contributed in bringing production up above the one million bag mark after it plunged to a 14-year low of 848,800 bags in 2006.
“This has enabled all industry stakeholders to cash in on the risen prices on the world market.”
 Current Arabica prices are holding out at above the US$1.00/lb, (equivalent to K6.50/kg FOB for Y grade) level and growers have been urged by CIC to increase production though rehabilitation and planting new trees in their gardens to gain from higher prices again this year.
“Competition in the global market has placed the challenge on all industry stakeholders to encourage farmers to stick to coffee as a cash crop,” Mr Mitio said.
“Aggressive promotion of quality PNG coffee is also necessary to maintain markets and venture into emerging markets.”
Meanwhile, the district by district coffee rehabilitation programme funded under the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) has commenced in the Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands and Simbu provinces.
“This programme hopes to rejuvenate the current poor state of coffee gardens, especially in the smallholder sector,” Mr Mitio said.
“All growers are urged to work together with CIC to carry out this programme to increase production.”

Mount Hagen fuel crisis

Mount Hagen has run dry of all automotive, industrial and aviation fuel.

Fuel deliveries into the area were suspended after a landslip forced the closure of the Highlands Highway near Mindina.

InterOil Products Limited General Manager Peter Diezmann says the damaged section of roadway is impassable to heavy vehicles.

"Some sections of the Highway have been washed away down an embankment.

"In other parts, deep craters have appeared".

"The issue is one of public and environmental safety", Mr. Diezmann said.

"There is no way a vehicle the size and weight of a laden fuel tanker could attempt to negotiate this highly unstable section of roadway".

"The effects of any accident could be extremely serious".

It is the fourth time in recent months the Highlands Highway has been closed to heavy traffic due to flooding and landslips.

 "The situation has gone beyond critical, there is not even enough fuel available to ration", Mr.. Diezmann said.

"The nation's third largest city is now effectively without fuel and we do not know when fresh stocks will be able to be brought in".

"It is only a matter of time before industry, public transport and some important public services begin to wind down".

"I sympathise with our customers who rely on fuel for many facets of their private and business lives". 

"However, nothing can be done until the road surface has been made safe for traffic", Mr. Diezmann said.

"We hope authorities will act quickly to repair and replace the damaged sections of this important road link to the Highlands".

"The ramifications of delayed action could be extremely serious for the regional economy and the livelihoods of many Highland people".

"This is too important an issue for authorities not to act decisively and immediately", he said..

 

For further information

Susuve Laumaea

Senior Manager Media Relations - InterOil Corporation

Ph: (675) 321 7040

Mobile: (675) 684 5168

Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com  

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.”