Baki takes NEC to court

Caption: Mr Baki (right) talking to private lawyer Jacinta Murray outside the Waigani National Court premises yesterday after his request for a judicial review was deferred to April 15 for substantive hearing. With them, at left, is assistant commissioner for investigations, Raphael Huafolo.

By JACOB POK

POLICE Commissioner Gari Baki has gone to court challenging a National Executive Council decision to appoint Tony Wagambie as acting deputy police commissioner operations, The National reports.

The move by the head of the police hierarchy came days after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest after failing to appear in court on numerous occasions to answer contempt charges taken out by Mr Wagambie on allegations of defying a National Court order last year to install him as acting deputy police commissioner operations.

Although Mr Wagambie is now on the job he was fighting for, he still pursued the contempt charges against Mr Baki because of the long delay and failure to attend court and act on court orders.

Cabinet’s appointment of Mr Wagambie as acting deputy police commissioner operations was gazetted last March 27 but was not effected until recently while the contempt charges against Mr Baki were pending in court.

Mr Baki voluntarily appeared in court on Monday and the bench warrant was set aside.

He was put on bail.

In a new twist of events yesterday, Mr Baki appeared before National Court judge Justice Ambeng Kandakasi along with private lawyer Jacinta Murray of Murray Lawyers, foregoing State lawyers, to seek a judicial review of the NEC decision.

However, Justice Kandakasi ruled in court yesterday that the application for review was related to the same issue that had led to the contempt proceedings.

As such, he said the matter would be discussed at the substantive hearing, slated for April 15.

He said the contempt proceedings had to be dealt with before other matters.

Also this week, former deputy police commissioner Geoffrey Vaki, who was sidelined on allegations of abusing a woman, was recalled to his position.

Media reports said a minute, dated March 12, from Mr Baki to Mr Vaki directed that the latter take up the job no later than 8am on Monday, March 15.

The minute also advised that Mr Wagambie will return to his job as commander Southern region

Moem ex-soldiers query finish pays

MORE than 100 Moem Barracks soldiers, who were discharged from the army in 2000, are urging the PNG Defence Force to speed up the settlement of their entitlements so that they can return to their villages, The National reports.

The 113 soldiers were retrenched 10 years ago but they are still staying in the barracks under trying conditions with only about K100 a fortnight to cater to their household needs including food, school fees for their children, medical expenses and other obligations.

A group of the ex-soldiers told The National yesterday that life at the barracks had become too difficult for them to bear as their school children could not attend higher educational institutions when they were still struggling to have an adequate meal daily.

They said younger soldiers who were trained by them and had served fewer than 10 years were retrenched and paid off between K60, 000 and K90, 000 but they were paid between K15, 000 and K20, 000.

“It is total injustice for the years of service,” they said.

They said many of them started serving the army before independence and the defence hierarchy now wanted to repatriate them with nothing to commemorate their loyalty, commitment and dedication to the nation.

Spokesman John Kapo said: “There have been several court proceedings on our grievances, the recent being at Waigani last September where the court ordered that we be paid before Christmas so that we could leave for our villages.

“We are still waiting.”

He said since 2000, a total of 11 ex-soldiers waiting for their entitlements in Moem had passed away and nine family members of soldiers in their group had also died.

“Most of us are reaching old age and do not wish to die in the barracks but in our villages where we can settle down with our families,” he said.

The ex-soldiers claimed the army was inhumanely treating them and appealed to anyone who could help to contact 76362102, 71358835 or 71316881.

Narakobi, a man of law

He was a role model to young lawyers: Kua

PAPUA New Guinea Law Society president Kerenga Kua has described the late Bernard Narokobi as a man who dedicated his entire life to the service of the rule of law.

“Every once in a while comes a man who expresses an ideology that gives an alternative way forward for a nation.

“For PNG, Mr Narokobi exposed the Melanesian Way as a doctrine and a path for developing PNG.”

Mr Kua said the Melanesian Way ideology was intended to enable PNG to forge its own unique path of development or as a compromise to blend the PNG ways, customs and practices into the western lifestyle, customs and practices.

“Dr Narokobi took that philosophy with him, even to the bench where he served as an acting judge for a short while and during that term he firmly held the view that there was an important role for our customary laws to play amongst the laws of this country,” he said.

“For instance, in one criminal case, he ordered the payment of pigs as adequate compensatory payment for a criminal offence (that judgment was set aside by the Supreme Court on appeal).

“This goes to prove his commitment to ensuring that the customs of this country were recognised and allowed to play an important role amongst the mostly Western-styled legislation and common law.

“It takes a man of courage and a high degree of intellect to be able to do that. It is to espouse a unique brand of philosophy and to defend and implement it too.

“Dr Narokobi was such a man,” Mr Kua said in a public statement yesterday.

He also said Dr Narokobi was one of the first Papua New Guinean lawyers who dedicated his life to the service of the rule of law.

“Dr Narokobi has set a very high level of moral, ethical and professional standard and all young lawyers should aspire to set such standards.

“His life will be an inspiration and a role model for lawyers for generations to come.

“Lawyers mourn his death and convey their heartfelt condolences to the children, grandchildren and relatives of the late Dr Narokobi, one of Papua New Guinea’s most distinguished lawyers.”

Rotary Club of Lae celebrates 50 years serving the people

Caption: Rotary Club of Lae is a major supporter of Angau Memorial Hospital over the years

One of the biggest challenges for Papua New Guinea has long been making sure that everyone regardless of gender and background receives the best-possible support and foundation in order to live successful and happy lives wherever they may be.

As simple as this may seem, it has somewhat and at times been a difficult task for appropriate institutions to carry out.

Recognising these shortfalls and servicing them where appropriate is by far one of the greatest achievements of the Rotary Club of Lae.

The club this year marks a historical 50 years serving PNG and its people.

The club currently has a registered membership of 20 committed individuals who come from various organisations in Lae.

Their passion to support communities in need all over PNG is really what drives these tireless individuals to volunteer their time and effort to ensure the development and successful implementation of community projects.

Since its inception on Dec 26, 1959, the club has supported multiple projects in the area of health, education, community development and individual development nationwide.

Some of its most notable achievements have been:

· The expansion and eventual building of two new children’s ward at the Angau Memorial Hospital worth over K500, 000 in 2005;

· Sending children suffering from cancer to Camp Quality locations in Australia for treatment;
· Most recently the club supplied and installed many water tanks in affected areas to assist overcome the outbreak of the cholera epidemic; and

· The ‘Rotary against Malaria’ project through their ‘adopt a village’ strategy by supplying treated mosquito nets to villages most affected by the illness. In PNG, this is a committed investment of $US150 million which translates to over K441 million

“The Rotary Club of Lae extends its gratitude to many, many sponsors both organisations and individuals who have dug deep to assist various causes,” the club said in a statement.

“To name them would not fit these pages and would not do justice to their commitment and support over the years.“It is an amazing gesture of goodwill and contribution to the Rotary Club of Lae and from there on to the people of Papua New Guinea.”

Last respects for Narakobi

Parliament was suspended yesterday as Members, led by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare (pictured) and Speaker Jeffrey Nape, viewed and paid their respects for the late Bernard Narokobi as he lies in State at the Grand Hall. A funeral service will be held this morning before the body of the late Mr Narokobi is flown home to Wewak and onto his Dagua village for burial.

 

No response for Kapris no-show

By JACOB POK and GEEJAY MILLI

ALLEGED bank robbery mastermind William Nanua Kapris only appeared in one of his two scheduled court hearings at the Waigani National Court yesterday morning, The National reports.
He did not show up at the Boroko District Court later on in the day, making it the second time that he had consecutively "missed" his hearing on charges of escaping from lawful custody and possessing an unlicenced firearm.
Police prosecutors and District Court magistrate Danny Wakikura also could not provide any explanations as they themselves had spend the whole morning waiting in vain.
Mr Wakikura then adjourned the matter to tomorrow.
Back at the Waigani National Court, Kapris briefly appeared and sought directions for hislawyers to visit him and provide legal advice.
Not looking well Kapris, however, confidently entered the room in an orderly manner escorted by Correctional Services officers.
When the court convened and found out that some of the committal matters in Kapris' alleged bank robberies were yet to be mentioned in court, National Court judge Justice Ere Kariko adjourned the matter to April 20 for further directions hearing.
That was when Kapris stood up, and said in pidgin: "Mi laik askim kot long givim tok orait long loya blong mi long kam lukim mi long kalabus na toktok long kot bilong mi. Bikos nau yet, ol woda i no tok orait long ol loya long kam lukim mi." (I would like to ask the court to issue directions for my lawyers to come and see me in prison and provide legal assistance. Correctional officers were not allowing any of my lawyers to visit me.)
Justice Kariko agreed to the request, stating that the accused has the right to consult his lawyers.
Counsel David Dotauna confirmed that he would assist Kapris on the matter, and was instructed to file and serve his legal representation notice.
However, the judge ruled that any other visitations would have to wait until proper procedures and directions had been established with the respective lawyers concerned.
The lawyers were instructed to turn up on Friday and further discuss the issue of visitation.
When contacted and queried on why Kapris did not turn up at the Boroko District Court, all the Correctional Services could say was that "Kapris did appear in court".
Kapris has been under tight security surveillance and has not been allowed to see a lawyer.

Ex-army chief recalls lessons from Sandline

By OSEAH PHILEMON

THIRTEEN years after the Sandline mercenaries were forced to leave Papua New
Guinea, the Government has still not learnt any lessons from the Bougainville crisis, former PNG Defence Force commander Major Gen (retired) Jerry Singirok said yesterday, The National
reports.
Today, March 17, is the 13th anniversary of the Sandline crisis.
Gen Singirok, the man who masterminded the departure of the Government-hired mercenaries to put down the Bougainville rebellion, said the Bougainville crisis presented lessons before the PNG Government about the need to invest in and strengthen national security, yet nothing has been done about it.
The Bougainville crisis also had lessons about the need for the Government to be extremelycareful in trying to engage foreign security companies to work in PNG, especially in big resource projects.
"Now with the LNG project in the Southern Highlands, the Government has allowed developers to bring in foreign-owned security companies who have no appreciation of the local customs, cultures and the people.
"These companies are dismantling the police and Defence Force by recruiting their best men to work on the project sites with promises of better pay and conditions," Gen Singirok said.
"With lousy pay and service conditions, police and Defence Force personnel are living below poverty line.
"That is why they are taking up offers to work as security personnel for foreign-owned security companies at the LNG project," Gen Singirok said.
"Has anyone done any due diligence checks on these foreign security companies?" he asked.
Gen Singirok said the foreign-owned security companies came here with one purpose, to use maximum force against landowners or anyone who tried to frustrate work on the project.
"The presence of foreign-owned security companies in PNG poses a great threat to the country.
"I want to know what their rules of engagement are, what types of firepower they have and who authorised them to have high-powered firearms.
"The use of foreign private security companies happens in countries where the state has failed to provide the needed security.
"This situation does not exist in PNG and so the Government needs to reassess its own attitudes towards security issues surrounding the big project," he said.
"If they are not careful with what is happening in the LNG project area, the situation there can be much larger and far worse than Bougainville," Gen Singirok warned.
"Conditions are ripe for a major crisis if the Government is not careful.
"Firstly, there is a serious breakdown of law and order in Southern Highlands province right now.
"Secondly is the massive build-up of illegal firearms as a result of lack of control by State law enforcement agencies to contain the influx of these firearms.
"Thirdly is the lack of border control on the PNG-Indonesia border as well as the PNG-Australian border.
"The fourth issue is the obvious lack of Government investment in Defence Force, police and Correctional Services.
"These are the concerns that all add up to what I call a very serious threat to our national security by governments in office," Gen Singirok said.
"My greatest fear right now is that we are now setting the stage for another Bougainville crisis in Southern Highlands because all the right conditions are there."
He said the social issues afflicting the people of Southern Highlands province had not been adequately addressed by the Government before the start of the multi-billion-kina liquefied natural gas project.