9-Mile violence leaves one dead

Caption: Two of the injured receiving treatment at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Story and picture by JUNIOR UKAHA

A senior figure in the security business is dead and two other persons critically injured after they were ambushed and attacked by Tari settlers at Nine Mile yesterday, The National reports.  

John Sine Kaupa, the operations manager of Kuima Security Services (KSS), was hacked to death by bush knife wielding men from at around 6am after he went to inspect a company bus that was allegedly damaged by the settlers earlier that morning.

The deceased, who is the elder brother of Anthon Kaupa and Jacob Kaupa, who own Kuima Security Services and Pacific Corporate Security Services respectively, was killed at the Sigirap Market.

The killing turned into an all-out ethnic clash with close to 10 homes razed when relatives of Kaupa from Chimbu,  who live at the 9-Mile Ridge,  mobilised with Eastern Highlanders and attacked the Taris, who they said, were responsible for the death of Kaupa.

Eyewitnesses said the mob from Chimbu razed the buildings, including trade stores, and looted a number of Tari-owned trade stores.

Eyewitness James Apa said a group of men from Tari armed with bush knives, axes and metal rods,  chased Kaupa from the vicinity of the market to a residential area belonging to a Margaret Yakari and killed him.

Apa said the men then left his decapitated body in a nearby drain and fled.

Kaupa was chopped on the forehead, right knee, hand, foot and face.

Eyewitnesses from the 9-Mile Ridge area said trouble started when a Kuima Security guard,  identified only as Francis,  had a confrontation with a Tari man early that morning.

Eyewitnesses said Francis jumped on a 25-seater bus belonging to KSS and was heading for work when the bus was ambushed by a mob from Tari who were drinking beer at a trade store near Sigirap Market.

Community leader James Mogia said the bus, including the guards, were attacked by the men who smashed all windscreens.

Mogia said the guards then radioed Kaupa, who went with reinforcements to verify the matter but was attacked, resulting in his death.

Eyewitnesses said a pump action shot gun that was in the deceased's possession,  and which he used to fire warning shots to disperse the mob,  was taken when he was killed.     

Johnna Kaupa, another elderly man from Chimbu, who works a security guard with KSS, was chopped on the head when the Taris turned on the reinforcements that went to investigate and retrieve the damaged bus.

An elderly Tari man, Pori Walepa, was slashed on his back and left shoulder during the ensuing clash.

Lest we forget: Today is World Humanitarian Day

The General Assembly of the United Nations has designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day, The National reports.

The day acknowledges and pays tribute to the 22 humanitarian staff that tragically lost their lives in Iraq in the massive bomb attack on the Baghdad Headquarters of the United Nations in 2003.

 It also honors all other humanitarian aid workers throughout the world who have lost their lives and safety in the aid of others, and those who continue to carry on this noble task and save the lives of others who suffer from natural catastrophes, wars and pestilence.

The word humanitarian is all about 'people helping people' without prejudice, but rather with willing hearts, care and compassion, and without expecting reward in return.

All around the world humanitarian workers help survivors of wars and natural catastrophes regardless of their race, nationality, religious or political beliefs.

Every year natural disasters and armed conflict affect millions of lives around the world, and often cause massive death and destruction.

We constantly see and hear in the news of world disasters, such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand and the current drought in the Horn of Africa. In 2011 in Papua New Guinea the Gulf, Madang, East and West New Britain and Central provinces suffered from severe flooding that affected many people and caused human suffering.

The cholera outbreak has also claimed hundreds of lives in Morobe, Madang, East Sepik, National Capital District, Central, Milne Bay, Gulf, Western provinces and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

People affected by natural disasters and conflicts are always in great need of immediate and long-term assistance to get on with the process of recovering their livelihoods.

They need more than comforting words - they need food, access to clean water, basic health services, a place for their kids to be educated, and the tools to help them quickly restore normalcy.

It is disheartening that, in some situations, humanitarian workers are victimised for the work they do helping people who need basic aid.

Sometimes, they are killed accidentally together with the people they were helping, but other times they are directly targeted, and this trend is on the rise around the world.

Whatever the reasons, the level of threats and number of deliberate attacks on aid organisations - our people, equipments and facilities - have risen dramatically.

In 2010 alone, 242 aid workers were killed, injured or kidnapped and the loss of assets through violence and rose.

 Conflict dynamics are changing.

While more and more people count on aid workers for their survival, getting that aid to people is, in some situations, becoming much more complicated.

Humanitarian assistance is manipulated by groups involved in conflict, or aid workers are prevented from delivering aid because one group or another wants to exert control.

Despite these dangers, humanitarian workers remain committed to meeting the needs of people and to saving lives.

We remember those who have served in emergencies in PNG in the past and appreciate their tireless efforts.

Many of them have sacrificed being with their families and loved ones to serve in humanitarian duties during the twin volcano eruptions in Rabaul in 1994, the drought in 1997, the Aitape tsunami in 1998, and the civil conflict in Bougainville and many other incidences over the past 10 years, which have had immensurable effects on homes, properties and the lives of Papua New Guineans throughout the country.

Today, we recognise the achievement of humanitarian workers and the diversity of where they work and what they do.

Making sure those humanitarian workers can access the people they are trying to help, while ensuring that those workers are protected and respected for what they do, must remain a priority. Helping those in positions of power to understand the basic principles which underline humanitarian work, and that these principles are founded in international humanitarian law, must continue and intensify.

Let us all acknowledge, respect and support our humanitarian aid workers, as they play a very important role in our society and world.

They save lives and help give others hope in times of adversity and the chance to live and enjoy life thereafter. 

PM’s man leads race

By ZACHERY PER

THE leading candidate in the Kundiawa-Gembogl by-election has received just over 15% of valid votes – still way below the absolute majority of 24,834 votes – when the count was suspended after the 29th elimination last night, The National reports.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's People National Congress candidate and former minister Peter Waieng maintained his lead with 7,882 votes (15.87%).
His lead after 29 eliminations was closely chased by former agriculture minister and Chimbu politician Mathew Siune on 6,616 votes (13.32%).
PNG Democratic Party candidate Tobias Kulang, who did well at the start of the count last week was running third on 5,442 votes (10.96%) while People's Party candidate Paul Gend maintained his fourth place with 4,393 votes (8.84%).
Former Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Wagi Merimba was in fifth place with 4,348 votes (8.75%).
Others still in the race last night were Paul Moiwo with 3,286 votes (6.63%), William Gumayagl Ongugo on 2,960 (5.96%), Blaise Kal on 2,394 (4.82%), Alphonse Kawagle Palma on 2,241 votes (4.52%), John Naur Mangi on 2,167 votes (4.36%), John Tonar 2,167 votes (4.36%), John Kagl with 2, 039 votes (4.11%), Mark Philip on 2,024 votes (4.08%) and Peter Diniyagl 1,715 on votes (3.45%).
From a total of 52,378 ballots issued, 735 were ruled informal and 51,643 were allowed. But at the end of elimination 29 last night 1,976 ballots were exhausted.
From the 43 candidates running for the seat left vacant by the passing of Joe Mek Teine in April this year, 29 candidates who polled the lowest number of votes were eliminated and 14 are still in the race.
The elimination process continues today and a winner is expected to be declared this weekend.
Kundiawa open  returning officer James Piapia thanked counting officials, scrutineers for candidates, police and everyone who played various roles for ensuring the process of the by-election went smoothly.
He urged candidates and supporters to respect the new electronic counting system and the Limited Preferential Voting  system.

Leaders tell Agiru to respect Nipa people

 TWO community leaders from Nipa-Kutubu have called on Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru to stop messing around with future leaders and educated men from the electorate, The National reports.
Jordon Kium and Nakon Ipa wanted Agiru to focus on getting the new Hela province and leave their future Nipa-Kutubu leaders alone.
They also condemned the manner in which Agiru was allegedly dealing with their leaders by fighting over public service positions.
"William Powi and Lawrence Olkoben are from the Nipa-Kutubu electorate who are concerned about their people.
"Agiru should concentrate on getting a province for the Hela region," Kium said.
They also warned that such political games would only end in disaster "and Agiru will not be here to face the consequences".
"We do not want a repetition of past political conflicts between the Hela people and their neighbouring Nipa," Ipa said.

Olkoben says he is administrator

LAWRENCE Olkoben maintains he is still the le­gitimate Southern Highlands acting provincial administrator, The National reports.
Olkoben, whose three-month term as acting administrator expired on Aug 12, said the pro­vincial executive council had extended his term on Aug 4, eight days before his term expired.
He said the Supreme Court recognised him as acting administrator and dismissed an appeal lodged by former admi­nistrator William Powi on July 14.
He said any ap­pointment of the acting provincial administrator must have the recommendation of the council.
Olkoben said in his case, the council had recommended he acted until a permanent appoint­ment was made.
He said the prime mi­nister and cabinet had hijacked the normal procedures by appointing Powi without consulting the provincial council.

Powi: Southern Highlands' K40 milion abused in projects

By JEFFREY ELAPA

MORE than K40 million from the Southern Highlands provincial treasury has been abused within a matter of three months, according to the acting pro­vincial administrator William Powi, The National reports.
He alleged yesterday in Mendi that up to June, a huge sum of money from the provincial treasury was dis­bursed by the provincial government to shady projects.
He also claimed that a large sum of money was paid out within the first two weeks of this month, a few days before the National Executive Council re-appointed him to the post.
Powi is acting provincial administrator for a period of three months.
Supporters of Powi and the man he was to replace, Lawrence Olkoben, clashed in Mendi on Monday when he arrived to take up the post.
Powi claimed that the attack was orchestrated by Olkoben and his supporters to destroy the treasury records and documents by taking possession of the provincial treasury and the Agiru Centre.
Powi said acting provincial treasurer Kevin Pruno had informed him that K40 million from the provincial treasury had been expended over an alleged period of three months.
Powi said Pruno admitted that for all payments, Governor Anderson Agiru had listed payments detailing who should get how much and directed the officer of the provincial admi­nistrator and the provincial treasurer to issue Cash Flow Certificates and stamped what the governor wanted.
He said Pruno further admitted that Agiru had decided who should be paid and how much each person should receive, which was contrary to the Organic Law on the functions of the provincial go­vernors, administrator and treasurers.
But Pruno, when contacted, denied giving the report and said he had never written to any media regarding the K40 million payout during Olkoben's time.
"When Powi asked me, I told him that less than K20 million was disbursed between January and June this year," he said.
He then said K7 million was spent on projects, wages and for administration costs and not K40 million as reported.
Pruno said the payments were made according to the budget of the provincial government and ranged from K300,000 to K400,000 for each project from January to June this year.
He said for example the Nipa and Mendi technical colleges received K700,000 each from the K7 million.
Agiru, when contacted, said he could not comment on an allegation but stated that directions had to be given on where to spend money according to bud­get.
He said the province had an internal revenue of about K60 million and was still after the Kutubu and Moran royalties in Port Moresby.
"I do not know what money they are referring to, I have no idea," he said.
However, he said generally any money belonging to the province had to be spent on pro­jects as budgeted for.
He declined to comment further on Powi's "baseless" stories.
However, Powi had issued written instructions to Pruno to furnish him a detailed report on the usage of funds, verify and confirm whether the payments were budgeted for and whether they were in compliance with legal processes.
Pruno said the report was not ready and he could give it to the provincial administrator when completed.
However, Powi called on the national government to investigate the abuses which he alleged were "illegal, improper and went against the spirit of good governance".
"Provincial government and provincial governors are policy makers and do not have section 32 functions under the Public Finance Management Act.
"The national government must act immediately," he said.
Powi said the national government should recall Olkoben to Waigani to lay appropriate disciplinary charges against him for disobeying lawful directives and for instigating trouble in Mendi.
The police mobile units 09 and 05 from Tari and Mt Hagen had been dispatched in Mendi to protect state property and allow Powi to take control of the administration.
Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie is understood to be on the ground in Mendi.

East Sepik loses ‘money’ powers

By JEFFREY ELAPA

THE National Executive Council has suspended the financial powers of the East Sepik provincial government, The National reports.
Government sources said the council met on Wednesday and decided that all financial powers of the provincial government be withdrawn and reverted to Waigani.
Although the reason for the suspension has not been disclosed, it comes at a time when the East Sepik provincial executive council is seeking a Supreme Court reference on the election of the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill early this month.
It means that all financial powers are managed from Waigani, leaving the provincial government powerless to make decisions and expend funds for any purpose.
There are also talks around the corridors of power in Waigani that the government plans to remove similar financial powers from another provincial government soon. This, however, can­not be confirmed at this stage.
Text messages to members of the NEC to verify the suspension went unanswered.
A press conference scheduled for yesterday by O'Neill to in­form the nation about some of the NEC decisions was cancel­led and re-scheduled for today.
Responding yesterday to the government's decision to sus­pend the financial powers of the East Sepik provincial government, Angoram MP Arthur Somare said it was an unlawful and immoral act by an illegitimate regime.
"I strongly condemn this action to subvert a lawful special reference to the Supreme Court," Somare said.
"I call on the Ombudsman Commission, other constitu­tional office-holders and the public to see this latest ploy for what it is – a bold attempt to subvert the Constitution.
"This is a desperate action by a desperate group of politicians who are hungry for power and who are willing to destroy the constitutional foundations of our democratic society.
"These are desperate people who are willing to break the na­tion's laws to feed their hunger for greed and power."
Somare said it had been wide­ly speculated in the past two days that the government was conve­ning a National Executive Coun­cil meeting with the suspension of the East Sepik pro­vincial go­vernment high on its agenda.
"I'm sure the legal advice they received indicated that suspen­sion of the provincial govern­ment was only possible through a declaration of a national emergency, which would be impos­sible to prove,'' Somare said.
"As a result, they have adopted another illegal tactic by suspending the ESPG financial powers effective from Aug 18, 2011. An instrument to this ef­fect has been signed by Trea­surer Don Polye.
"Only evil-minded people can stoop to these levels.
"They have acted in this manner because they know that their Supreme Court case is weak. Their questionable re­gime is now attempting to financially cripple a court action that will show up the illegitimacy of their actions in parliament on Aug 2."