Monday, January 09, 2012
Somare: Probe politicians laundering money
GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare said allegations that some members of
parliament were involved in money-laundering was serious and should be
investigated, The National reports.
Sir Michael called on Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to come clean about the activities of his deputy and members of parliament in his camp.
“Papua New Guinea has signed many international conventions to condemn transnational crimes such as money-laundering, human trafficking and terrorism,” Sir Michael said.
“The allegations of money-laundering cannot be taken lightly and, if government resources are used such as the Falcon jet, then, a full investigation must be undertaken.
“Equally, it is disgraceful that members of parliament should be implicated in a money-laundering scandal.
“That aside, all past PNG governments have respected the sovereignty of other countries that have diplomatic missions in our country.
“We are not unique in the world in having border issues and our friendly relations has helped both countries deal with matters in a mature manner over the years.
“Therefore, as deputy leader of the O’Neill regime, Namah should not be making such outbursts until a complete report of the incident is available and, if need be, proper investigations are carried out.
“As it is, Namah reacted badly after the newspaper report last week.
“This is disgraceful behaviour as he had more than a month to lodge his complaint through the normal diplomatic means available to him.”
Sir Michael called on Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to come clean about the activities of his deputy and members of parliament in his camp.
“Papua New Guinea has signed many international conventions to condemn transnational crimes such as money-laundering, human trafficking and terrorism,” Sir Michael said.
“The allegations of money-laundering cannot be taken lightly and, if government resources are used such as the Falcon jet, then, a full investigation must be undertaken.
“Equally, it is disgraceful that members of parliament should be implicated in a money-laundering scandal.
“That aside, all past PNG governments have respected the sovereignty of other countries that have diplomatic missions in our country.
“We are not unique in the world in having border issues and our friendly relations has helped both countries deal with matters in a mature manner over the years.
“Therefore, as deputy leader of the O’Neill regime, Namah should not be making such outbursts until a complete report of the incident is available and, if need be, proper investigations are carried out.
“As it is, Namah reacted badly after the newspaper report last week.
“This is disgraceful behaviour as he had more than a month to lodge his complaint through the normal diplomatic means available to him.”
Indonesia admits to sending fighter jets
By ISAAC NICHOLAS
INDONESIA has admitted sending its jet fighters to intercept an aircraft carrying top Papua New Guinea officials, a move which has driven diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries to a new low, The National reports.
Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah has threatened to expel Indonesian Ambassador to PNG Andreas Sitepu from Port Moresby if the Indonesian government fails to provide an explanation for the incident within 48 hours.
The incident took place on Nov 29 when Namah and several senior government officials flew through Indonesian airspace en route to Port Moresby from Malaysia.
The Jakarta Post reported last Friday that the Indonesian foreign ministry had stated in a press statement that the interception by the air force was due to “technical issues”, specifically data differences, in regards to the aircraft’s flight clearance.
“The measures that Indonesia carried out, in this case the interception of the aircraft by the air force, were in line with existing procedures in Indonesia and other countries in general,” the ministry said.
“The national air defence command (Kohanudnas) was conducting an electronic identification with radar and a visual identification by intercepting (the aircraft) according to standard procedures, and no harm occurred,” it added.
The ministry further said Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa had explained the incident to PNG ambassador Peter Ilau.
“The PNG ambassador to Indonesia has expressed his appreciation for the Indonesian foreign minister’s explanation, and said he would convey the message to his government,” he said.
But the defence ministry refused to acknowledge the incident.
Ministry spokesman Brig-Gen Hartind Asrin said no aircraft had ever tried to intercept PNG’s aircraft as claimed by the PNG government.
“PNG’s deputy prime minister flew from Kuala Lumpur to Port Moresby on Nov 29, but nothing happened,” he said.
“I have talked to our defence attaché in Port Moresby, and there have been no complaints filed by the PNG government or any other fuss regarding the claim.”
Hartind said if any aircraft had tried to intercept the PNG jet, “they were probably from other countries”.
Two Indonesian air force fighters intercepted the Falcon Jet over Indonesian airspace on Nov 29 and was not reported until The National broke the story last Friday.
Namah said the jet fighters were acting aggressively with the intention to intimidate.
“I am very angry. I demand an explanation.
“If I do not get an explanation within 48 hours, all diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea will be strained,” Namah said.
INDONESIA has admitted sending its jet fighters to intercept an aircraft carrying top Papua New Guinea officials, a move which has driven diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries to a new low, The National reports.
Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah has threatened to expel Indonesian Ambassador to PNG Andreas Sitepu from Port Moresby if the Indonesian government fails to provide an explanation for the incident within 48 hours.
The incident took place on Nov 29 when Namah and several senior government officials flew through Indonesian airspace en route to Port Moresby from Malaysia.
The Jakarta Post reported last Friday that the Indonesian foreign ministry had stated in a press statement that the interception by the air force was due to “technical issues”, specifically data differences, in regards to the aircraft’s flight clearance.
“The measures that Indonesia carried out, in this case the interception of the aircraft by the air force, were in line with existing procedures in Indonesia and other countries in general,” the ministry said.
“The national air defence command (Kohanudnas) was conducting an electronic identification with radar and a visual identification by intercepting (the aircraft) according to standard procedures, and no harm occurred,” it added.
The ministry further said Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa had explained the incident to PNG ambassador Peter Ilau.
“The PNG ambassador to Indonesia has expressed his appreciation for the Indonesian foreign minister’s explanation, and said he would convey the message to his government,” he said.
But the defence ministry refused to acknowledge the incident.
Ministry spokesman Brig-Gen Hartind Asrin said no aircraft had ever tried to intercept PNG’s aircraft as claimed by the PNG government.
“PNG’s deputy prime minister flew from Kuala Lumpur to Port Moresby on Nov 29, but nothing happened,” he said.
“I have talked to our defence attaché in Port Moresby, and there have been no complaints filed by the PNG government or any other fuss regarding the claim.”
Hartind said if any aircraft had tried to intercept the PNG jet, “they were probably from other countries”.
Two Indonesian air force fighters intercepted the Falcon Jet over Indonesian airspace on Nov 29 and was not reported until The National broke the story last Friday.
Namah said the jet fighters were acting aggressively with the intention to intimidate.
“I am very angry. I demand an explanation.
“If I do not get an explanation within 48 hours, all diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea will be strained,” Namah said.
Captain: I saw fighter jets retreating
THE captain of the Air Niugini Falcon jet has revealed being
intercepted by two Indonesian fighter planes despite numerous radio
prior clearance and radio contacts with Indonesian air traffic, The National reports.
An operations occurrence report submitted by Capt Christopher Smith said on Nov 29, he was in command of the flight P2ANW operating from Subong (Kuala-Lumpur) to Port Moresby with a crew of three and eight passengers.
“Between the hours of 0312z and 0320z we were intercepted by military jet aircraft in the vicinity of Makassar Vor on A215 Airway over Indonesian airspace at Fl390,” he reported.
Smith said that two days earlier, an Indonesian overflight permit was obtained via Universal Weather to operate a flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the permit was valid for a period of seven days which would cover subsequent flights.
“On the morning of Nov 29, P2ANW departed Kuala Lumpur (Subong) without incident transitioning through Singapore’s airspace, navigating on our assigned route of flight. At 70 distance measuring equipment (DME) while communicating with Jakarta control, we received a traffic alert (TA) on our traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) device.
“The approaching aircraft then descended further which required no maneuvering on our part. As the pilot monitoring (and sitting in the right seat) of his particular leg, I notified Jakarta that we just received a TA and gave them DME reading from Makassar,” he said.
“The air control responded by giving us a frequency change to contact Ujung (Makassar) control on 127.5.”
Smith said they responded by giving them a frequency change to contact Ujung resolution advisory giving them climbing instruction and to monitor vertical speed.
Capt Vincent Kipma (flying the sector from left seat) disengaged the auto pilot and complied with TCSA system commands to avoid a collision.
Smith said the TCSA showed the position of the aircraft to be off their left which Capt Kipma acknowledged visually as a military jet fighter.
He said he radioed Ujung control explaining what was happening and queried several times the reason for the engagement as they had not prior warning.
The response, he said, was to report to the next reporting point which was Makassar.
“An unidentified voice (presumably the military jet pilot) said to contact Ujung without other instructions.”
Smith said he looked out his window and saw two fighter jets to their right and 500ft below retreating.
“As a crew, we began to analyse the event, trying to determine the reason for such a bizarre confrontation.
“We were on course and on altitude.
Both Jakarta and Ujung’s radio transmissions were poor but readable.
“In an effort to cover all options, I asked Ujung control if they had overflight permit on file and they responded with an affirmative.
“A phone call was made to Universal Weather from the flight phone explaining the engagement and to check the validity of the overflight permit and they acknowledged that it was also valid.”
The Indonesians had also admitted to scrambling two fighter jets to escort the Falcon over their airspace on its way to Port Moresby
An operations occurrence report submitted by Capt Christopher Smith said on Nov 29, he was in command of the flight P2ANW operating from Subong (Kuala-Lumpur) to Port Moresby with a crew of three and eight passengers.
“Between the hours of 0312z and 0320z we were intercepted by military jet aircraft in the vicinity of Makassar Vor on A215 Airway over Indonesian airspace at Fl390,” he reported.
Smith said that two days earlier, an Indonesian overflight permit was obtained via Universal Weather to operate a flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the permit was valid for a period of seven days which would cover subsequent flights.
“On the morning of Nov 29, P2ANW departed Kuala Lumpur (Subong) without incident transitioning through Singapore’s airspace, navigating on our assigned route of flight. At 70 distance measuring equipment (DME) while communicating with Jakarta control, we received a traffic alert (TA) on our traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) device.
“The approaching aircraft then descended further which required no maneuvering on our part. As the pilot monitoring (and sitting in the right seat) of his particular leg, I notified Jakarta that we just received a TA and gave them DME reading from Makassar,” he said.
“The air control responded by giving us a frequency change to contact Ujung (Makassar) control on 127.5.”
Smith said they responded by giving them a frequency change to contact Ujung resolution advisory giving them climbing instruction and to monitor vertical speed.
Capt Vincent Kipma (flying the sector from left seat) disengaged the auto pilot and complied with TCSA system commands to avoid a collision.
Smith said the TCSA showed the position of the aircraft to be off their left which Capt Kipma acknowledged visually as a military jet fighter.
He said he radioed Ujung control explaining what was happening and queried several times the reason for the engagement as they had not prior warning.
The response, he said, was to report to the next reporting point which was Makassar.
“An unidentified voice (presumably the military jet pilot) said to contact Ujung without other instructions.”
Smith said he looked out his window and saw two fighter jets to their right and 500ft below retreating.
“As a crew, we began to analyse the event, trying to determine the reason for such a bizarre confrontation.
“We were on course and on altitude.
Both Jakarta and Ujung’s radio transmissions were poor but readable.
“In an effort to cover all options, I asked Ujung control if they had overflight permit on file and they responded with an affirmative.
“A phone call was made to Universal Weather from the flight phone explaining the engagement and to check the validity of the overflight permit and they acknowledged that it was also valid.”
The Indonesians had also admitted to scrambling two fighter jets to escort the Falcon over their airspace on its way to Port Moresby
Prime Minister: Indonesians here to stay
By ISAAC NICHOLAS
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has reassured Jakarta that his government has no intention of expelling the Indonesian ambassador or closing the Indonesian embassy in Port Moresby over the Nov 29 Falcon jet incident over Indonesian airspace, The National reports.
In direct contrast to his deputy Belden Namah’s 48-hour ultimatum last Friday which included recalling PNG embassy staff in Jakarta, O’Neill said yesterday that he was satisfied with the Indonesian government response to the mid-air incident involving the Air Niugini Falcon jet.
In a statement, he also reassured Indonesia of maintaining diplomatic relations.
O’Neill said he was satisfied with Indonesia’s immediate formal response on Saturday to the Falcon being tracked by two Indonesian air force combat aircraft on Nov 29 while en route home from Malaysia.
The government formally protested diplomatically to Indonesia last Friday.
The aircraft was on a private charter, not official mission, he added.
O’Neill accepted and thanked the Indonesian government for its high-level explanation that the incident arose out of a “discrepancy of the original flight clearance authority” issued by the Indonesian government for the Falcon aircraft.
According to the Indonesian government, the approval for the Falcon jet to use Indonesian airspace was for the period Dec 3-17 and not Nov 29, the day of the incident.
The Indonesian government was carrying out further investigations internally to verify if there was any formal approval granted for the Falcon Jet to use Indonesian airspace on Nov 29.
O’Neill said Jakarta further explained that its air force aircraft engagement with the Falcon jet was to “visually identify the aircraft and followed both their strict domestic standard operating procedures and normal international aviation practices” that deal with such situations.
When it was established that the aircraft belong to the PNG Government, the Indonesian fighter jets retreated, he said.
O’Neill was reassured that there was “never any ill-intention or threat posed to the Falcon jet and its passengers and flight crew by the Indonesian fighter aircraft.
He described the incident was most unfortunate and directed relevant authorities, including Air Niugini and Civil Aviation Authority, to carry out further internal investigations on the flight clearance arrangements for the Falcon flight and to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
“All international civil aviation rules and regulations must be upheld at all times for any international flights by PNG aircraft.”
O’Neill reiterated that it was vital that both PNG and Indonesia continue to maintain diplomatic presence and dialogue in the respective capitals as they strengthen existing bilateral cooperation.
“As close and friendly neighbours in the Asia Pacific region, it is in both our interest to ensure that the bilateral ties build on solid foundations that have already been laid, over the years need to be safeguarded and sustained.”
He also directed that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade solely take charge of this important bilateral matter with Indonesia.
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has reassured Jakarta that his government has no intention of expelling the Indonesian ambassador or closing the Indonesian embassy in Port Moresby over the Nov 29 Falcon jet incident over Indonesian airspace, The National reports.
In direct contrast to his deputy Belden Namah’s 48-hour ultimatum last Friday which included recalling PNG embassy staff in Jakarta, O’Neill said yesterday that he was satisfied with the Indonesian government response to the mid-air incident involving the Air Niugini Falcon jet.
In a statement, he also reassured Indonesia of maintaining diplomatic relations.
O’Neill said he was satisfied with Indonesia’s immediate formal response on Saturday to the Falcon being tracked by two Indonesian air force combat aircraft on Nov 29 while en route home from Malaysia.
The government formally protested diplomatically to Indonesia last Friday.
The aircraft was on a private charter, not official mission, he added.
O’Neill accepted and thanked the Indonesian government for its high-level explanation that the incident arose out of a “discrepancy of the original flight clearance authority” issued by the Indonesian government for the Falcon aircraft.
According to the Indonesian government, the approval for the Falcon jet to use Indonesian airspace was for the period Dec 3-17 and not Nov 29, the day of the incident.
The Indonesian government was carrying out further investigations internally to verify if there was any formal approval granted for the Falcon Jet to use Indonesian airspace on Nov 29.
O’Neill said Jakarta further explained that its air force aircraft engagement with the Falcon jet was to “visually identify the aircraft and followed both their strict domestic standard operating procedures and normal international aviation practices” that deal with such situations.
When it was established that the aircraft belong to the PNG Government, the Indonesian fighter jets retreated, he said.
O’Neill was reassured that there was “never any ill-intention or threat posed to the Falcon jet and its passengers and flight crew by the Indonesian fighter aircraft.
He described the incident was most unfortunate and directed relevant authorities, including Air Niugini and Civil Aviation Authority, to carry out further internal investigations on the flight clearance arrangements for the Falcon flight and to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
“All international civil aviation rules and regulations must be upheld at all times for any international flights by PNG aircraft.”
O’Neill reiterated that it was vital that both PNG and Indonesia continue to maintain diplomatic presence and dialogue in the respective capitals as they strengthen existing bilateral cooperation.
“As close and friendly neighbours in the Asia Pacific region, it is in both our interest to ensure that the bilateral ties build on solid foundations that have already been laid, over the years need to be safeguarded and sustained.”
He also directed that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade solely take charge of this important bilateral matter with Indonesia.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
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