NGOs demand K430 million compensation from Indonesia

By JEFFREY ELAPA

A GROUP of people led by non-governmental organisations yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the Indonesian embassy in Port Moresby – and demanded K430 million compensation from Jakarta, The National reports.
The group demanded an apology from the Indonesian government over its handling of the “airspace” drama last November in which it scrambled two fighter jets to track the private Falcon jet carrying three PNG government ministers and others from Malaysia to Port Moresby.
The incident is currently the subject of a diplomatic row between the two neighbouring nations.
From 7am yesterday, the group of people led by the Morobe Coalition for Justice and Peace and other NGOs arrived at the gates of the Indonesian embassy to present a petition to the ambassador.
It demanded an apology and compensation of US$250 million (K435.55m) for the Indonesian military’s treatment of the PNG leaders travelling in a civilian jet.
The banners put up around the embassy and the gate leading to the embassy described Indonesia as a “Terrorist in the Pacific”. It is accused of continuously intimidating and harassing innocent citizens and leaders of PNG – like what the world’s largest Muslim nation is accused of doing to West Papua.
Other placards read ‘Indonesian bullying act of terror”, “respect our sovereignty”, “We are a democratic society free from intimidation”. Others read “Indonesia must apologise and pay US$250 million” – the amount they said Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah was carrying.
The protestors were advised by the office of the prime minister that officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs would receive the petition on behalf of the Indonesian embassy.
Police mobile squad units from Mt Hagen and McGregor, in Port Moresby, negotiated with
the protesters to remove the banners and free the embassy area so that their petition could be presented at the National Archive forum oval.
Acting secretary for Foreign Affairs and Immigrations Alexis Maino said he had not received any petition

Namah denies carrying US$250m

DEPUTY Prime Minister Belden Namah has denied carrying US$250 million on the Air Niugini Falcon Jet flight to Port Moresby as claimed by the Indonesians, The National reports.
Namah said it was a joke and a shame for the Indonesian intelligence to say that he was laundering huge sums of money into the country.
“If they are talking about money-laundering, they need to look further and find out which country tops the list of money-laundering in the world.
"Not PNG.
“It is the first time to learn that someone in PNG was bringing a lot of money into the country and I deny that. I have never handled US$250 million,” Namah said.
“This is an outrageous defamation of my character as a vibrant young leader of this country.
“This is poor and rubbish intelligence,” he said.
Namah, who is a former PNG Defence Force captain, said he was a graduate intelligence officer and, for the Indonesians to say and act in an aggressive manner and use their military jets is an act of intimidation and aggression on a civil plane owned by the government of PNG.
He said the plane and the passengers’ belongings had to go through customs’ clearance, a requirement for all international flights in and out of a country.

O'Neill and Namah make peace

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his deputy Belden Namah reportedly made peace late yesterday after a war of words following the Indonesia fiasco.

Namah had called for O’Neill’s resignation earlier yesterday.

But late yesterday, O’Neill and Namah embraced each other, which was on a picture on the front page of the Post-Courier.

This blog hits the half million mark!

This blog http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/ is just about to hit the 500,000 mark and is also rated by international rankings agency Alexa as one of the biggest and most-popular websites in Papua New Guinea http://www.alexa.com/topsites/category/Top/Regional/Oceania/Papua_New_Guinea.

I'll have to get a bottle of champagne tomorrow.

Peter O'Neill: I will not resign

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has rejected calls by his deputy Belden Namah to resign.

Namah today called on Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to resign.

He says his fate will be decided in parliament Tuesday week, January 17, 2012.

Namah attacked O'Neill in today's FM100 radio talkback show with Roger Hauofa. 

However, O'Neill told a press conference today that he would not resign, and stressed the need for "mature" leaders.

Namah, meantime, did not attend a press conference this afternoon after he surprised many people with his call for O'Neill to resign. 

Protest to Indonesian embassy

Peaceful protest march to Indonesian Embassy by a small group of people today to protest against the incident over Indonesian airspace involving Air Niugini's Falcon jet and two Indonesian fighter jets.
They have been told to give their petition to PNG Foreign Affairs, who will pass it on to the Indonesian Embassy.

Namah calls on O'Neill to resign

Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah has called on Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to resign.

He says his fate will be decided in parliament Tuesday week, January 17, 2012.

Namah attacked O'Neill in today's FM100 radio talkback show with Roger Hauofa.