Indonesia police fire rubber bullets on rally, 8 hurt

From: AFP

INDONESIAN police yesterday fired rubber bullets on students at a pro-independence rally in the restive region of Papua, in clashes that injured at least eight protesters, witnesses said.

Hundreds of police were deployed as around 300 people gathered outside the University of Papua in Manokwari, and a clash broke out with students hurling stones at the officers, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
Police then fired rubber bullets on the crowd and four demonstrators were hurt, the AFP reporter said, while another four were injured in clashes with officers.
The eight were taken to the local hospital but a doctor there indicated none of their injuries were serious.
Rally organisers, the youth secessionist West Papua National Committee (KNPB), also said four people were shot at the protest and taken to hospital.

Local reporter and activist Oktovianus Pogau said he was beaten badly by five policemen as he pulled out his wallet to present his press card.
"They punched me twice in the face and tried to strangle me. They hit other journalists and I saw at least two people get shot," Pogau said.
Manokwari police chief Agustinus Supriyanto declined to comment on the violence and would only say that the incident was being evaluated.
Police had rejected the students' request to demonstrate outside the university and ordered the demonstration be shut down.
The demonstration was one of several in Papua on Tuesday which were organised by the KNPB ahead of a meeting later in the day in London of international lawyers who are backing a Papuan independence referendum.
International watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the police action, saying the students had a right to protest.
"Police should stop the excessive use of violence in Papua. It should investigate officers who ordered the violence," Jakarta-based HRW researcher Andreas Harsono said.
The protests were the first major pro-independence rallies since Indonesian police shot dead KNPB's deputy chairman Mako Tabuni in June, which sparked a wave of anger that saw cars and homes set ablaze.
Papua - a vast, mineral-rich region in the east of Indonesia that shares an island with Papua New Guinea - has a mostly Melanesian population, ethnically different from most Indonesians.
Jakarta annexed the former Dutch colony in 1969 and has since faced a low-level insurgency

Bank of PNG opens its bill tap facility tomorrow

 By MALUM NALU

Bank of Papua New Guinea opens its bill tap facility, part of its liquidity management tools, to the public as of tomorrow (Thursday), as well as Friday and Mondays, The National reports.

Small investors can purchase Central Bank Bills (CBB)from a minimum K10,000 to a maximum K100,000 for fixed maturities in 28, 63, 91, 182 and 364 days.

The yield offered for each maturity at the tap will be the CBB weighted average rates determined at the weekly auction plus or minus a margin, which will not exceed 1%.

Trading under the CBB tap facility will be conducted at the Bank of PNG, ToRobert Haus ground floor.

The bill tap facility will be used to influence the price of money so as to achieve its objective of price stability.

“The objective of offering the tap facility is to encourage a wider participation by the general public, in particular small investors, in the securities market, hence contributing to the development of the retail market for government securities,” bank Governor Loi Bakani announced yesterday.

Bakani making the announcement yesterday.-Nationalpic by MALUM NALU

 “The tap facility is not intended to undermine the role of the commercial banks and other registered bidders who participate in the wholesale market for government securities.

“The tap facility is open to the general public, which includes individuals, private companies, church groups and others that are not registered bidders with the Bank of PNG.

“Licensed financial institutions such as commercial banks, finance companies, savings and loans societies, insurance companies, superannuation funds, micro banks and other registered bidders are not eligible to participate at the CBB tap facility.

“Government agencies or institutions and Bank of PNG staff are not permitted to participate in the CBB tap facility.”

Before investing in CBB tap, an investor must have a commercial bank account, and open a CBB account with an investor identification form with the BPNG.

“The total volume of CBBs to be traded on the market under the tap facility will be determined on a weekly basis by the monetary policy committee (MPC) and approved by the Governor,” Bakani said.

“Announcements will be done by the bank on the total amount on offer and term details.

“The application account must not be higher than the amount on offer for that week and only one application per term is allowed.”

Oil Search output falls

Oil Search still expects to achieve its full year production guidance despite a minor oil spill and loading terminal shutdown contributing to a 26 % plunge in quarterly output.
The company, Australia's third largest oil and gas producer, produced 1.33 million barrels of oil equivalent in the three months to the end of September.
It was a 26 % fall on the previous quarter and 11 per cent retreat from the September quarter in 2011.
Oil sales revenue of 685,000 barrels was 57% weaker and revenue was slightly offset by a higher average realised oil price of $US114.67 ($A111.60) a barrel but still 49 per cent weaker at $US107.8 ($A104.91) million.
The company expects production of 6.2 to 6.7 million barrels, having produced 4.59 million barrels for the first nine months of 2012, compared to 5.05 million barrels at the same time in 2011.
Oil Search had to suspend operations at its main producing fields in Papua new Guinea for most of August after an oil spill of up to eight litres at its Kumul Marine Terminal.
Bad weather hampered the investigation into the source of the spill, which was never found, and no spills have occurred since.
In better news, the company brough in French energy major Total earlier this month as a 50% partner in five onshore and offshore gas exploration projects in the highly prospective Gulf of Papua region.
Oil Search is a 29% partner in the $16 billion PNG LNG project due to begin production in 2014.
Oil Search shares were steady at $7.60.

PNG cricketers show passion and skills

The Chronicle

( from left ) Charles Amini, Norman Vanua, Peter Anderson (coach), and Toua Tom from Papua New Guinea cricket team . Photo Nev Madsen / The Chronicle Nev Madsen

TOOWOOMBA cricketers got a special treat Sunday when Peter Anderson and his team of Papua New Guinean cricketers rolled into town for their first representative game in the Garden City.   

And according to Mr Anderson, we might well be seeing a bit more of them now they are playing as part of the Webb Shield series for the first time.  

 He said the entire team grew up in circumstances fairly unimaginable to most of us pampered Aussies and their enthusiasm was an inspiration.  

 And if local cricket enthusiasts get a chance to see the team in action, he recommends they take it.

"Nearly all of these players came from the same village in PNG, a third world country where 20 of them will live in a little hut," Mr Anderson said.
"They're a fantastic, well-mannered and humble group of people and they have so much passion.
"They just love the game and I don't over-coach them.
"There are three or four who are easily world-class."
He said the enthusiastic group has been following a gruelling schedule and in the past week have played two 50-over games, two T-20 matches, completed a two-hour fielding session with the International Cricket Council, a club game on Saturday and then on to Toowoomba Sunday.
Monday you'll find the team in Burleigh Heads playing yet another match, but Mr Anderson said they would be slotting in some time to relax in the surf.
To find out more about the fast-growing world of PNG cricket see cricketpng.com.

PNG takes PM's golf title in Fiji

ByRashneel Kumar

Fiji Times

PAPUA New Guinea (PNG) won the Pearl Prime Minister's Golf Challenge 2012 Four Men Team Progressive Ambrose event at the Pearl Resort Golf Course in Deuba on Saturday.

Led by their Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, the PNG side defeated their Fijian counterpart by five strokes.
Fiji skippered by the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau had some top local golfers but they failed to overcome a strong 40 teams PNG side to win the inaugural tournament.
Tournament co-ordinator Iliasa Labaibure was thrilled with the level of competition between the teams from both countries.
He said good weather and perfect greens contributed to the success of the tournament.
"The competition was really good. We got to see some good golf today (yesterday) and the participants really enjoyed the day," Labaibure said.
Labaibure said the successful inaugural tournament had set a good platform for the event next year.
He said the challenge was on Fiji to snatch the title from PNG next year.
"This was the first year for this tournament and we expect and bigger and better event next year."
The Fijian team had the likes of former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, Minister for Sport Viliame Naupoto, Sir Jim Ah Koy, Ratu Isoa Gavidi, Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto and Sir Timoci Tuivaga, to name a few.

Papua New Guinea is here to help Fiji: O’Neill

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, looks out at Suva City from the roof top of the Grand Pacific Hotel on Saturday. Photo: NAVNEET NARAYAN

By ELLEN STOLZ of Fiji Sun

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has reassured current and potential investors that his Government will continue to support Fiji.
“We have no trouble stating that Fiji will return to a democratically elected Government and the assurances we are getting from the Prime Minister and the rest of the leaders from the Government shows us it is happening,” Mr O’Neill said.
The PNG head made these comments as he was given a tour of the Grand Pacifi c Hotel in Suva on Saturday.
He said: “We see no reason why our investors should not continue to invest in Fiji. We have every confidence that the economy will continue to do well in fact we know it will improve.”
He also applauded the efforts done to the ‘Grand Lady’ or the Grand Pacific Hotel and said: “At times we tend to forget about buildings that hold so much historical value. I know that by the time the work on the hotel is complete that it will once again become a historical landmark for Fiji.
We cannot wait to see the project completed in 2014.”
The Fiji National Provident Fund, the National Superannuation Fund of Papua New Guinea and the Lamana Group, also of PNG, have come together to collaborate on the project.
The collaboration also indicates growing ties between the two Melanesian Spearhead Group countries.
Mr O’Neill also reaffi rmed PNG’s position when it came to Fiji and encouraging investors to the region and the country.
“We have a lot of Fijian investment going into PNG also and we are encouraging that and we encourage more investment from PNG to Fiji.
“Trade between our two countries has increased every year and we look forward to that continuing because it provides a lot more opportunities for our services in terms of employment and also income earning opportunities,” Mr O’Neill said.
He added that countries like Australia, New Zealand and others in the region were starting to engage with Fiji more and that the sooner Fiji returns to more engagement with the Pacific the better.
Of closer Melanesian ties, Mr O’Neill said: “We will discuss about labour mobility within the region.
“I think that Fiji has a lot of skilled people who can find employment in our country and we are trying to relax some of our visa requirements so that many of them can enter the workforce easily and this is also vice versa from people from PNG to come to Fiji and work.”

2014 Elections
On the 2014 elections, he said: “The Papua New Guinea Government has offered to assist wherever we can both fi nancially and in terms of technical support if we are required to do so; we stand ready to assist Fiji in whatever capacity we can,” he said.
“The discussions that we have had with the Prime Minister indicate that the framework for the constitution is going well and the consultations with the stakeholders are going well and we are happy with the progress that has been made so far,” he said.

F$82m marina development project launch

ByAna Madigibuli

Fiji Times

Monday, October 22, 2012

THE Pearl South Pacific Resort and Spa launched its $82million marina development and apartment plan on Saturday.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill launched the project in the presence of Fiji and PNG government officers and business stakeholders.
He said the unveiling of the marina development plan for the Pearl Pacific Resort by Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) was an example of capitalising on investment opportunities.
"I commend MRDC, Petroleum Resources Kutubu, and Mineral Resources OK Tedi for the strategic investment. I've been told that the Pearl Resort has a reputation as a popular destination for tourists," said Mr O'Neill.
Pearl Resort managing director Augustine Mano said they were happy with the investment.
"The new expansion will include 92 two and three-bedroom apartments which can be divided into a total of 126 rooms and sold as part of the inventory of the existing resort," he said.
"The Marina apartments will be centered around an exclusive pontoon marina development that will allow approximately 36 private mooring berths plus luxury superyachts berth on the river frontage."
He said it would be the first for Fiji and the South Pacific.
"Within the marina complex will be a bar and grill that will overlook the boats and marina boardwalk," he said.