LLG chiefs slam suspension of Morobe powers

By ELLEN TIAMU and RIGGO NANGAN

SEVERAL Morobe local level government presidents claimed yesterday that the national government has also withdrawn their province's financial powers, The National reports.
Morobe will be the second provincial government to have its powers suspended after East Sepik, although, no formal announcement had been made of the action taken against Morobe.
Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah alluded to Northern and Enga facing similar fates while visiting Popondetta last week.
Wampar LLG president Peter Namus said the province had not received any notice from the auditor-general citing abuse of funds.
"Therefore, any withdrawal of Morobe's financial powers is unwarranted," he said.
Namus said the LLG presidents hoped cabinet was not reacting to allegations at the whims of certain national politicians.
He warned that the people would be the biggest losers if Morobe's financial powers were withdrawn.
He claimed no audit had been done on the provincial accounts and was suspicious of cabinet's action.
The conditions for a suspension of a provincial government would be warranted if the auditor-general had established that there had been an abuse of funds or if the minister (or special investigating committee) finds an abuse of power by the provincial government as stipulated by section 51 of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments.
Based on the AG's findings, the National Executive Council (cabinet) then directs the province to take corrective measures to fix the anomaly or anomalies.
If this is not done, then, cabinet can withdraw all or any of the powers and functions, a process which the presidents alleged had not been followed.
East Sepik and Morobe provincial governments had their financial powers stripped by cabinet on Aug 12.
Morobe had filed legal proceedings in the National Court challenging the decision.

Kulang wins Kundiawa-Gembogl by-election

By ZACHERY PER

PNG Constitutional Democratic party candidate Tobias Kulang is the new member for Kundiawa-Gembogl, The National reports.
He is the first member of the newly-formed party and the last to be declared a member of the seventh National Parliament before next year's general election.
Kulang polled 12,038 votes at the end of elimination 41 to muster 51.145% of the total 23,537 ballots remaining, to be declared winner ahead of People's National Congress (PNC) candidate Peter Waieng who managed 11,499 votes (48.85%).
Kulang was declared the winner at 5.30pm yesterday by returning officer James Piapia.
Kulang picked up 2,118 votes from the 40th elimination of former MP Wagi Merimba who was fourth with 6,596 votes and surged to the top with 11,517 votes.
At the 41st elimination of another former MP Mathew Siune, Kulang picked up 521 votes to win the by-election.
At his maiden speech at the declaration, Kulang emphasised that he was among a new generation of leaders to lead the people to prosperity and salvation.
He promised to lead Kundiawa-Gembogl under a clear vision to set a new destiny for the people and steer them towards positive progress and rural development.
"I will do my best to serve with a vision to bring changes within these few months remaining before the general election."
Kulang said one of his priorities would be to fix the Kundiawa-Gembogl road.
He comes from Kegesulo at the foot of Mt Wilhelm.
Witnessing the swearing-in were Deputy Governor of Chimbu Teine Sogan, Simbu administrator Joe Kunda, Assistant Commissioner of Police Simon Kauba, Chimbu elections manager Steven Gore Kaupa, police, counting officials and PNG Electoral Commission staff.
Speakers commended the peaceful conduct of the candidates, supporters and the people of Kundiawa-Gembogl.
Kauba said the people demonstrated that they had matured, understood and respected the process of electing leaders.
"I commend police and the people, especially candidates and their supporters, for their good behaviour during the by-election process," he said.

Somare out of hospital

Caption: Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare with his son and Angoram MP Arthur Somare at the Raffles Hospital.-Picture courtesy of BETHA SOMARE

GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare has checked out of Singapore's Raffles Hospital four months after he was admitted for open heart surgery, The National reports.
He was reported to have checked into an apartment in Singapore as his doctors had advised that he was not yet fit to travel back to PNG.
Sir Michael, who has been visited by a number of close friends, was served court documents in person last Friday at the Singapore Raffles Hospital in the presence of his son, Angoram MP Arthur Somare.
The service of the Supreme Court Reference, filed by the East Sepik provincial executive council, on Sir Michael was executed by Singapore-based lawyer Timothy Ng.
Sir Michael had been drawn in as a party to the court reference which sought to establish whether or not the election of Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O'Neill as prime minister on Aug 2 was constitutional.
Sir Michael was admitted in April at Raffles where he underwent three heart surgeries.
He had been in intensive care for most of that time when his family announced to the nation that the Grand Chief would retire from active politics.
Christian congregations around the country have been praying for the devout Catholic and father-of-five ever since he was hospitalised.
During that time, he lost his position as leader of the National Alliance party and prime minister of PNG.

Residents urged to keep city clean

Caption: NCD Governor Powes Parkop (second right) demonstrating the proper way of using the bins. With him are Hardware Haus staff.

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop is urging everyone to look after the city by disposing of rubbish in public places.

Speaking at the opening of the Bank South Pacific Go Green campaign at Ela Beach yesterday, Parkop said keeping the city clean was a continuous challenge that everybody had to take up.

"It is up to the public to take good care of recreation facilities if they want to live a safe and enjoyable life in the city," he said.

The BSP 'Clean up Ela Beach' exercise was a success yesterday as staff of corporate organisations in Port Moresby turned out at the popular beachfront to promote safe and healthy living.   

Parkop launched rubbish bins on wheels donated by Hardware Haus.

The bins will be placed along the beachfront.

About 1, 000 people, including business executives, staff members and relatives, picked up rubbish along the beach.

They were given plastic bags and hand gloves to use.

The rubbish collected was later disposed of at the city dumps by NCD Commission contractors.

The initiative was to demonstrate to people that business leaders were committed to keeping the environment clean, green and healthy for all.

The exercise was a joint initiative by Hardware Haus and BSP's Go-Green campaign, and supported by other corporate houses.

The plan is to make the event an annual exercise on Sept 23 and 24.

Parkop condemns killing

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has condemned yesterday's killing of a man at Sikirap Market in 9-Mile, Port Moresby, The National reports.

The man was John Sine Kaupa from Chimbu, who was the operations manager of Kuima Security Service.

He died from multiple bush knife wounds.

The fight left some critically-injured and properties burnt and was between two highlands ethnic groups.

Parkop said the main concern was the killing of a fellow human being in an alcohol-related violence.

 "I condemn the killing and appeal to the community to assist the police in bringing the perpetrators to justice," Parkop said.

He said the parties involved should respect each other and not let the violence escalate.

Parkop said the capital city was made up of different ethnic groups in the country and they should by now learn to live peacefully with each other.

"There are better ways to solve grievances. Resorting to fighting is not the solution. We have to learn to respect lives and properties," Parkop said.

He requested the relatives of the deceased to refrain from "pay-back killings".

Properties worth thousands of kina have been destroyed while opportunists and angry mobs looted trade stores at the scene.

The incident which happened yesterday morning has been what the NCD government strongly campaigned against in its bid to make the capital city safe and crime-free.

Police have already started investigations into the incident.

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.