Dead at mine site

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

ARMED security guards and police reservists at the Porgera gold mine in Enga have been blamed for the death a landowner and the wounding of another last week, The National reports.

Police have confirmed receiving news of the death and shooting but could not give further details as investigations were continuing.

Reports alleged that the landowner was killed inside the mine site and his body dumped outside the camp last Thursday.

Highlands regional police boss Supt Simon Kaupa confirmed that the security guards were also enlisted as police reservists.

He was yet to receive a report from the local police force in Porgera.

Acting Porgera police station commander Snr Sgt Poko Itapa confirmed the killing and shooting but could not say much because investigations were continuing.

He said a landowner chief was allegedly shot by security guards as villagers fronted up at the company gate to inquire about the death of their relative.

Landowner chairman Mark Tony Ekepa told The National in a phone interview that relatives of the victim had protested outside the community affairs office last Friday at about midday.

However, he claimed Barricks security guards fired into the crowd and wounded Nixon Mangape, the chief landowner and chairman of Porgera Development Authority.

He said Mangape was trying to control the crowd and was not involved in the protest.

Police said that the empty bullet shells were found at the site of the shooting and were tendered in as evidence.

Porgera’s Paiam Hospital chief Dr Granda Granada said a person was rushed to the hospital with a bullet wound at the back of his buttock but was discharged after treatment as it was not severe.

He also confirmed that a body, found near the mine site, was brought to the hospital prior to the shooting but declined to comment further.

He said a post-mortem and x-ray results indicated a fractured neck bone and believed that the person could have died from blunt trauma, particularly caused by blunts things like sticks, metal or rocks.

The landowners said last Friday’s incident was not the first involving live bullets.

They said that numerous complaints had been lodged with the PNG government, the UN Human Rights Commission that included various reputable institutions around the globe.

“Shooting to death of defenceless landowners is serious human rights abuse. 

“Therefore, the Porgera Landowners Association calls on the PNG government and local NGOs to investigate the shooting and to allow law to take its course,” Ekepa said.

Bank workers continue strike

By PEARSON KOLO

 

BANK South Pacific workers nationwide are expected to continue their strike today despite a court order by the bank’s management declaring the industrial action illegal, The National reports.

The strike has already threatened all electronic banking systems with no bank officers available to attend to them.

Long queues were seen in all Bank South Pacific branches in Port Moresby last Friday as customers lined up to do their banking with only a skeleton staff attending to them.

Customers are expected to brace for a total blackout today.

Last Friday, more than 500 BSP staff in Port Moresby camped at the PNG Trade Union Congress headquarters and were visited by 20 affiliated union bodies of the PNG Trade Union Congress.

The presidents of the union bodies joined in and called for the sacking of BSP CEO Ian Clyne, saying he had turned a blind eye on the issue and gone overseas and had not taken part in the negotiations.

PNGTUC president Michael Malabag, who is also the president of the Public Employees Association said one of their calls was to call for the termination of BSP CEO.

Malabag’s call for Clyne’s sacking received wide applause from the striking workers.

Malabag and PNGTUC general secretary John Paska voiced strong words of encouragement among the striking bankers as reports circulated that the BSP management had issued instructions to the police to arrest the striking workers.

Malabag said the fight was legal as legitimate processes were followed with the sister unions stepping in when it was absolutely necessary.

He urged the workers to persist until they got what they wanted while room for negotiation was open.

“The biggest shareholders are the workers themselves; you can’t sack the workers who are shareholders. Do not fear intimidation and threats of sacking.”

The union asked BSP board chairman Noreo Beangke to step in and address the issue

The BSP workers numbering more than 1,000 walked off their jobs last Thursday with a good number camping at the TUC headquarters last Friday.

A meeting between the union executives and BSP management will take place today to decide whether the striking bankers would continue the industrial action or return to work.

 

Basil urges Sepik MPs to issue joint statement

MEMBER for Bulolo Sam Basil has called members from East Sepik including the prime minister to sit down with him and issue a joint statement over the recent clashes in Bulolo between the locals and Sepik settlers and a reported clash at the University of Papua New Guinea, The National reports.

Basil said it was in the best interest of the people that whatever was said and debated on the floor of parliament stayed in parliament.

“It will be good if we, as leaders from Bulolo and Sepiks sit down together and issue a joint statement, urging all our people and young ones to remain neutral and not take matters into their hands.

“I also call upon university students not to take these matters further because it will only spill onto the streets,” Basil said.

“Such actions by our young elites are uncalled for, and they should not be tolerated.”

He said he was also willing to go to the university campus and address students if invited.

“If the students want me to go and address a forum, I will do so gladly with my councillors from Bulolo, so that we can explain things properly.

“As the 2012 elections are fast approaching, I would like to once again appeal to serial general election candidates and recycled leaders not to politicise the issue at the expense of the Bulolo ethnic clash.

“There are opportunists who use pen names in letters to the editor, or on the ground, taking sides with either party of the conflicting groups, playing the blame game or publishing more unfounded accusations,” Basil said.

“I see how such things can help those affected and the vulnerable ones on ground zero.

“When the election writs are delivered by the governor-general in April to July 2012, then we all can play the political game.

“Today’s situation demands common sense to help in any way possible,” he added.

Basil said Morobe Governor Luther Wenge and himself might have not done enough, “but when we all come to properly analyse the situation, we will find that there are so many contributing factors that led to the situation”.

“Law and order, lack of funding, slowness of the provincial law and order committee meeting, disappearance of the uncertified report by the Wau urban LLG manager, police not enforcing the full force of the law on both sides of the conflicting parties, lifting the liquor ban by the magistrate at the request of the traders and, worst of all, politicking of this unfortunate issue.”

 

Appeal for Wampar LLG to help

By SAM BASIL

Bulolo MP

I would like to appeal to the President of Wampar local level government Peter Namus and the people of his constituency, especially the Gabsongkeg villagers, to help my district to accommodate the displaced Sepik settlers by providing temporary land if a relocation plan is embarked on by the committee.

The land, I believe, was identified and supported by Governor Luther Wenge and I stand behind the Governor to appeal for the understanding of the Wampar people at this time of need.

Bulolo District is a very important district hosting an operational mine operated by the Morobe Mining JV (MMJV),  contributing to the economy of Morobe through employment, businesses and royalties to the provincial and national government.

Bulolo District is one of the sister districts among the nine districts in the province.

 Therefore I appeal for their understanding for this temporary arrangement. 

Sam Basil

Bulolo MP

Do not politicise the Bulolo conflict

By SAM BASIL

Bulolo MP

As the 2012 elections are fast approaching, I would like to once again appeal to serial general election candidates and recycled leaders not to politicise the issue at the expense of the Bulolo ethnic clash.

There are opportunists who use pen names in letters to the editor or on the ground, taking sides with either party of the conflicting groups, playing the blame game or publishing more unfounded accusations.

 I see these cannot help the affected and the vulnerable ones on ground zero.

When the election writs are delivered by the Governor General in April to July 2012, then we all can play the political game.

Today's situation demands common sense from all walks of life to help in any way possible. 

Morobe governor Luther Wenge and myself may have not done enough,  but when we all come to properly analyse the situation,  we will find that there are so many contributing factors that has led to the re-emergence of the situation.

Law and order, lack of funding, slowness of the provincial law and order committee meeting, disappearance of the uncertified report by the Wau urban LLG manager, police not enforcing the full force of the law on both sides of the conflicting parties, lifting of the liquor ban by the magistrate at the request of the liquor traders and worst of all politicking of this unfortunate issue.

The office that I hold is not a private business that I own.

 It is a public office, therefore, every aspiring or recycled politician has every right under the sun to contest or recontest.

I will not run away with this office.

 It belongs to the people and the people themselves will decide who will be their next political leader.

The time will come when we all will hit the polls.

 I appeal to all people not to unnecessarily accuse or point fingers anymore.

 Let us all work together and leave the politics for the right time as guranteed for under the Constitution.

 

Hon Sam Basil

Bulolo MP

Appeal for all to closely work together to resolve the Bulolo issue

By Bulolo MP SAM BASIL

In light of the recent upraising ethnic clash in my district last week, I would like to appeal to all parties from the local tribes and the Sepik settlers to lay down their arms and allow for the national government led team under chief secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc to negotiate a way forward.

I appeal to all politicians from Morobe including the Morobe Governor to support in any way possible and to closely work together with all the stake holders on the ground, including police and  national government team, to find a way forward.

By addressing the conflicting parties separately will only send different messages which can hamper the efforts of the other negotiating parties such as police, national government, district administration and the other stake holders.

I would also like to appeal to provincial treasurer, provincial administrator and the governor to work together in this time of need.

Morobe Province is hard hit by the rise of cholera in Tewai Siassi electorate while ethnic clashes have taken their toll in Tewai Siassi, Finschhafen and Bulolo districts with the loss of lives.

The accusations of misapplication of funds from the administration against governor are not a new thing it has been brought to light by different administrators in the past.

 The issue continues to surface again, therefore, relevant authorities must step in to intervene against those claims because the last thing we want happening is to see total chaos in the Morobe administration in this time of need.

My district administration has spent over K100, 000 for voluntary repatriation, care centre rations, police and administration and has advised the Morobe provincial government through the then chairman of the provincial law and order committee Benson Suwang to carry on from there.

 The governor has given his assurance and support to continue from where I left, while the committee will find a way forward to deal with the genuine settlers.

The provincial government came short, but I cannot blame them here, as we all understand that the administration does have some serious cash flow problems, as recently highlighted by the provincial treasurer.

The recent clash was liquor related and I call on provincial government lawyers to deal with the matter forthwith to bring back the ban.

 Numerous concerns were raised when the ban was lifted by the liquor operators in the district.

The liquor outlet operators must now choose between the lives of innocent people and their profit driven motives.

 This is not the first time they have challenged the liquor ban in the district as they have done so since the Watut/Biangai conflict in 2009.

There was also another delay caused by the Wau Bulolo urban manager, who was given the task by the law and order committee to furnish a report for the committee to present to the provincial government, quantifying the damages and other factors that had contributed to the ethnic clashes.

The Wau Bulolo urban manager has since disappeared into Port Moresby with the report, which has practically stopped the provincial law and order committee to pursue its cause in advising the provincial administration and relevant aid organisations such as Red Cross, AusAID and others who only rely on official report and confirmations before their engagement.

With the high level investigation team being sent from the police headquarters and the disappearance of the Wau Urban manager with the report to Waigani swamp, this can only mean that this situation of Bulolo has been politicised.

 I am now appealing to the government especially the Prime Minister Sir Michael that if those orders came from him, then we have to put our differences aside, and deal with the people - especially the suffering and the displaced mothers, children and elderly people.

I commend the latest initiatives by the Prime Minister's Department through chief secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc to have sent a team to the ground last week under instructions from the Prime Minister.

 I look forward for their advice and assistance and as my joint district planning and budget priorities committee is ready to step in by redirecting programme funds should urgent needs arise.

I appeal to the chief secretary and the provincial administrator to help locate the Wau Bulolo urban manager in Waigani and send him back into Wau with the uncertified report to the Morobe administration.

 The urban LLG office and the market has been locked since his absenteeism and the Wau culverting programme is about to commence, for which we need him on the ground to assist.

I would also like to convey our thankyou and gratitude on behalf of the affected people to various business houses in Lae together with Morobe Mining Joint Ventures and PNG Forest Products for their help in donations in keeping the care centre up until the recent incident.

 Your timely help and assistance will go along way of us knowing that you all do care for us the people of Bulolo and Morobe in such a difficult time.

Should the care centre situation stabilise, your continued assistance will be welcomed by all, and in particular I as political head of the affected district appeal for your continued support.

Now that the national government through the Prime Minister's Department is taking the lead on this issue, my support is there and ready for the next course of action upon the advice and support from Waigani.

Sam Basil

Bulolo MP

Tanglefoot, a control for coffee green scales

By YVONNE NGUTLICK of CIC

The name sounds quirky but Tanglefoot may be the answer to coffee farmers’ woes against the coffee green scale pest.

Coffee green scales

Tanglefoot is a jelly-like substance that stops the movement of ants up and down coffee trees.

It is non-poisonous to ants, other organisms and humans.

Pasting Tanglefoot on the tree stump near the base effectively prevents the ants from climbing up and down the tree accessing aerial parts of the crop.

Applying tanglefoot to coffee tree stump to prevent ants climbing

Coffee green scales are currently the most-serious pest affecting the coffee industry in Papua New Guinea.

They are soft scale insects.

They are oval-shaped, flat and pale green in colour.

Green scales are often associated with ants and ‘sooty mould’ fungus.

The ants and fungus feed on the honeydew excreted by the scales.

The scales suck the sap of mature and young coffee trees, reducing growth and eventually causing the death of the tree.

The presence of ants also provides protection for the scales from their natural enemies, like ladybird beetles and parasitic wasps.

Trials conducted at the Coffee Industry Corporation research station on using Tanglefoot in controlling green scales are encouraging.

The length of time to achieve complete control is three months.

 Control takes longer compared to recommended conventional methods of spraying and pruning that provide fast knockdown effect.

Tanglefoot, unlike conventional methods, poses no risks to the natural coffee environment and promotes sustainable control of the pest.

Following are important points to consider in order to attain such level of control:

• Tanglefoot needs to be adequately applied around the stump with 10-15 cm width and layer thick enough to avoid quick drying; and
• Arial canopy of the tree must be independently stand-alone. This means branches must not come in contact with branches of adjacent trees, particularly the infested trees, to avoid ant access from these trees.

Tanglefoot

Manufactured in the United States of America, Tanglefoot is not new in PNG, but new for the coffee industry. 

In the 1930s, Tanglefoot was trialed on coconut trees in Manus province to prevent coconut treehoppers. Climatological conditions in that coastal island province deteriorated the use of Tanglefoot but may prove otherwise for coffee, especially for farmers in the cooler Highlands provinces where green scales are rife.

Tanglefoot can be purchased from leading agricultural suppliers.