Wantok SING SING added to Boomerang Festival

by Paul Cashmere in Noise 11

The Boomerang Festival will feature a special performance from Wantok SING SING performing Wan Solwara Pipel.
Wantok SING SING represented Oceania at the London Olympic Festival and performed two shows at the Sydney Opera House in March.
The 17-member ensemble features Samoan street hip hop, reggae, dance and more from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, The Torres Strait Islands, The Cook Islands (Raratonga) plus Indigenous Australians including Frank Yamma, Djakapurra, accompanied by the amazing George Telek (Papua New Guinea), Vika and Linda Bull (Tonga), Airileke (Papua New Guinea), Albert David, Mariwo (Torres Strait Islands), Kas Futialo (Samoa), Tieni Ruapene (Rarotonga) – seventeen on stage in full costume under the musical direction of David Bridie.

Wantok SING SING

The show Wan Solwara Pipel is an epic journey that follows the songlines of the indigenous peoples of Oceania in an exuberant fusion of music and dance. Join the Pacific region’s most significant artists as they take to the stage in a powerful mix.
Boomerang Festival 2013 Line Up
Wantok SING SING
Performing Wan Solwara Pipel at Boomerang on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of October.
Gurrumul with The Queensland Virtuosi Orchestra
Archie Roach with Lou Bennett, Emma Donovan & Deline Briscoe and a Ten-Piece Ensemble
Ernie Dingo – Shellie Morris
Sean Choolburra’s 50 Shades of Black – Thelma Plum – The Medics
Tammy Anderson’s I Don’t Wanna Play House – Larissa Behrendt
Film Screening of Butcher Paper, Texta, Blackboard and Chalk – Arakwal Dancers
Boomerang Festival 2013
October 4 – 6, 2013
Tyagarah Tea Farm, Byron Bay

Telikom picks Huawei for national broadband network rollout

Telicompaper

 

Papua New Guinea operator Telikom has selected Huawei to roll out a national broadband network. The national broadband project is supported by shareholder IPBC and the government.

 The new network will deliver ADSL2+ broadband to over 80,000 premises in Papua New Guinea, with a further 8,000 locations to be connected to GPON technology at speeds of up to 100 Mbps. 

The project will also see the creation of a new high-speed broadband backbone – a long-haul microwave transmission network which will offer open access to both fixed-line and mobile operators. 

Telikom also said it will use the backbone to deliver LTE mobile broadband services in major urban centres.

 Furthermore, Huawei announced it will launch an ICT student sponsorship programme to train students on broadband technology so they can deploy and maintain the national broadband network in future years.

Reaching more survivors of family and sexual violence in Papua New Guinea

Medicins Sans Frontieres

Papua New Guinea 2012 © Philippe Schneider

Clinical Supervisor Martha Pogo provides training to a Department of Health nurse on providing essential care to survivors of family and sexual violence at 9 Mile health district clinic in Port Moresby.

A new Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) project in Papua New Guinea’s capital city of Port Moresby is bolstering access to quality medical and psychosocial care for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
At the 9 Mile Clinic, a health center in a busy Port Moresby settlement area, MSF has begun seeing patients and training local staff to provide integrated care. In the first month the team has already cared for dozens of survivors, and plans are underway to expand the project to more urban health centers and larger family support centers in Port Moresby’s main referral hospitals. This two-tiered approach means that survivors can receive care close to home at the urban health centers and access more in-depth care at the family support centers if needed.
Ultimately, MSF plans to work with health centers and referral hospitals in more remote regions of the country to provide direct care and clinical supervision with the goal of ensuring more survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Papua New Guinea have access to the clinical care they urgently need.

Close to Home

Clinical supervisor Martha Pogo says it is crucial that care is available close to home, because survivors cannot always easily access referral hospitals due to limited transportation options or the severity of their injuries.
“One lady who came in to the clinic had been beaten by her husband when she was two or three months pregnant,” says Martha. “Beaten, kicked, and punched all over, including on the abdomen. She lives just a few houses away, but she couldn’t come in straight away because she had a miscarriage after the incident and she was bleeding. She was so weak, she was crawling. When she could stand up and take one step at a time she walked right into the room and was seen by me. She was grateful she could walk in and get help because she didn’t have the strength to walk to the bus stop.”

Five Essential Services

The Port Moresby project builds on MSF’s experience in Papua New Guinea’s second biggest city, Lae, where more than 13,000 survivors of sexual violence were treated from the end of 2007 to June 2013. Recently, MSF successfully handed over the Lae project to Papua New Guinea’s Department of Health, but will continue to support the project remotely. At the 9 Mile Clinic, Martha is training nursing officers to provide the same minimum package of five essential services that are provided in Lae. This is a simplified treatment protocol that ensures patients receive the most urgent treatments—emergency medical care for wounds; psychological first aid; prophylaxis for HIV and medicine for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs); emergency contraception; and vaccination to prevent Hepatitis B and tetanus—all in one session.
Education is another important service offered at the clinic. For example, many patients are surprised to learn they can prevent HIV if they present within 72 hours of sexual violence. Martha says that knowledge about sexual violence and the importance of medical treatment for survivors is much stronger in Lae, where she worked for a year, than it is in Port Moresby. “It shows how far we’ve come.” However, there is still a long way to go.
Some patients have missed out on urgently needed treatment because of this lack of medical knowledge. Psychosocial nurse Rolling Morgan says one six year-old patient had been sexually abused by a family member a year ago and was still suffering from an untreated STI. After receiving treatment at 9 Mile Clinic her symptoms began to clear within a week. 
“For a little girl to have a chronic STI is horrifying and heartbreaking,” says Rolling. “That she was walking around for a year not knowing what had happened to her body, and that the doctors she saw weren’t aware or weren’t understanding, was [disturbing] on many levels. But it was wonderful to be able to . . . help medically.” 

A Need to Talk

In addition to providing direct medical care, the 9 Mile Clinic is gaining a reputation as a safe place where survivors can come and talk, whether they suffered sexual violence an hour ago or years ago. 
“We’re in a settlement area, not necessarily a safe area, but the clinic is turning into a place where people want to come and share their stories because they know that quality care is being offered,” says Rolling.
Martha Pogo recalls that the first patient the MSF team treated at the clinic was a teenager who had suffered sexual violence two years earlier but had never felt comfortable enough to share her story. “She wasn’t suffering from any medical condition; she just wanted to talk to someone. After two years, she finally felt we were the right people to talk to,” says Martha.

Long-Term Impact

In Port Moresby, MSF is working within existing health facilities to support and train local nursing officers. MSF has appreciated health facilities’ willingness to collaborate and learn new approaches. 
Ultimately, the MSF team hopes these nursing officers will be able to train their colleagues to provide the same five essential services. 
“It makes me really happy to see these young nurses so passionate about something new to them, and seeing that they’re the ones in charge of it. Hopefully this means that survivors of sexual violence will have access to the medical care they need for a long time to come,” says Rolling.
In addition to the project in Port Moresby, MSF works in Tari running a family support Center. MSF also supports primary and maternal-child health care in the Buin Health Center in Bougainville. MSF began working in Papua New Guinea in 1992.

Indonesian diplomatic manoeuvre delays West Papuan independence

Indonesia has invited the foreign ministers of four Pacific Island countries to visit its two easternmost provinces, Papua and West Papua, to see for themselves if the people want independence. The offer is something of a diplomatic manoeuvre, successfully delaying any consideration by the Melanesian Spearhead Group of an application for full membership by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation.

Sean Dorney

Source: Correspondents Report | Duration: 5min 11sec

Topics: foreign-affairs, world-politics, new-caledonia, indonesia, papua

Transcript

SIMON SANTOW: Indonesia has invited the foreign ministers of four Pacific Island countries to visit its two easternmost provinces - Papua and West Papua - to see for themselves if the people want independence.
Those two provinces are the western half of the main island of New Guinea.
This offer is something of a diplomatic manoeuvre, successfully delaying any consideration by the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the MSG, of an application for full membership by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation.
Pacific correspondent Sean Dorney went to the two yearly meeting of the leaders of Melanesia's sub-regional organisation, held this year in New Caledonia.
SEAN DORNEY: Twenty-five years ago, the four independent countries in Melanesia - Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea - created a sub-regional organisation, the Melanesian Spearhead Group and one of its aims was to help the Melanesian people of New Caledonia, the Kanaks, get their independence from France.
That has not happened yet but France did agree to allow the Kanak independence movement, the FLNKS (Le Front de libation nationale kanak et socialiste), to take up full membership of the Melanesian Group.
Now, the Melanesian independence movement in West Papua - the Indonesian half of the main island of New Guinea - wants to join.
At the MSG's plenary session in Noumea, Dr Otto Ondawame, the vice chairman of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, put their case.
OTTO ONDAWAME: Our delegation come here as the lost son of Melanesia, to come here to ask for your support. We must unite and find a viable alternative to solve the longest conflict in our region.
SEAN DORNEY: Indonesia took control of what had been to then Dutch New Guinea in 1963 and six years later gathered just over 1000 tribal leaders together to vote in favour of becoming part of Indonesia.
It was called an 'Act of Free Choice' which the United Nations accepted.
Paula Makabory, from the Institute of Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights, was part of the West Papuan delegation
PAULA MAKABORY: Yeah, I think with all of this, the MSG recognise that the Act of Free Choice was a shameful choice for West Papua.
(Dancing and singing at Official Opening)
SEAN DORNEY: At the official opening of the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders meeting, the outgoing chairman, Fiji's military commander and prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, spoke of unity.
FRANK BAINIMARAMA: As a result of our shared vision for closer regional integration, MSG solidarity has never been stronger.
SEAN DORNEY: But Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Peter O'Neill, visited Indonesia instead of attending the MSG meeting while his stand-in, the deputy prime minister Leo Dion made it clear to the other MSG Leaders that PNG regarded West Papua as an integral part of Indonesia.
Fiji revealed that Indonesia had offered to host a visit by Melanesian foreign ministers and so Fiji suggested the membership application by the West Papuans be put on hold.
Vanuatu's prime minister Moana Carcasses made an impassioned plea on behalf of the West Papuans, and Sir Michael Somare, invited as an elder statesman, summed up the situation well although he was not referring directly to West Papua.
SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: In Melanesia we are also very divided. We are not united. We have to unite. The only course we can take is when we are united people you can beat your enemy.
SEAN DORNEY: In the end the communiqusaid the West Papuan's application would be considered after the foreign ministers of the MSG countries visited Indonesia.
However, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu insisted on the inclusion of two critical sentences. The first said that "Leaders endorsed that the MSG fully supports the inalienable rights of the people of West Papua towards self-determination..." and the second said the Leaders agreed that "the concerns of the MSG regarding the human rights violations and other forms of atrocities relating to the West Papuan people be raised with the government of Indonesia".
SEAN DORNEY: The reactions of the West Papuan delegation to the Communiquwere mixed. Dr Otto Ondawame was relieved.
OTTO ONDAWAME: We are very happy that our application has not been thrown out, but is still there on the agenda of the MSG.
SEAN DORNEY: But the secretary-general of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, Rex Rumakiek, doubted the value of a ministerial trip to Indonesia.
REX RUMAKIEK: They will come back empty-handed. They won't see the people they really want to see and that means it's a waste of time. Better to make a decision right now instead of going to Indonesia.
SEAN DORNEY: Melanesian foreign ministers' visit to Jakarta and the Papuan provinces should take place before the end of the year.
This has been Sean Dorney for Correspondents Report.

Tampering with the Constitution is simply a sign of entrenching power.

By PETER ANDREW KOLIP

 

At the recent People’s National Congress (PNC) Party Convention in Lae, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill indicated that the party will push to have the Constitution changed in some segments.

 I am not a lawyer but I must state here that this is a bad move.

 Being the largest political party in the current coalition, it will have no problems making the proposed changes.

 I am not a supporter of the Opposition either.

Anyway, the Opposition members were once in Government that changed the Constitution last time around, so this is for all MPs to know that no MP should support any move that is aimed at undermining the Constitution.

 The question is why do we need to change it?

What is wrong with the Constitution that it needs to be changed?

 Please tell the PNG public what is wrong with the Mama Law or any part of it for that matter so that it can be changed again and again.

 And who says we need to change the Constitution?

Not even the Prime Minister.

 Since the Constitution upholds the entire country, it is also proper that the entire country must have a say in changing the Constitution and not a select few.

 And know also that change can only be done through a wider consultation and not through a handful of MPs who we know too well are puppets.

The MPs represent the people and they should only speak on behalf of the people; not for themselves or their party colleagues.

Any MP who supports such a move should be voted out the in the next elections.

 It seems politics in this country has gone wayward.

 If PNC has its way and gets the Government to change the Constitution then the people of PNG including other political parties will get to know that the PNC Party is above the No. 1 Law of the land and that it is the only party to do so.

 The Constitution is there to guide us and that we follow it whether we like it or not.

The Constitution is NOT there for one to change it to suit one’s views and interests.

 It is there for a purpose and let it remain there and serve its purpose.

 It is insane and I believe the PNC Party executives must be ill advised.

If this trend of changing Constitution continues, who knows what may become of the future of this beloved country.

It must also be remembered that people power is the last bastion of hope there is if these insane moves to entrench power continue unabated.

 Political parties and or governments cannot continue to ignore people power.

Look at what is happening around the world.

 Please, Mr Prime Minister, be wise and don’t tamper with the Constitution.

We have had enough of politicians changing the Constitution every now and then.

The founding fathers in their wisdom designed the Constitution to serve a grander purpose.

Your concern should be on how to make your government function within the confines of the Constitution and to focus on changing how people in this country can become wealthy and prosperous, changing people’s attitudes, changing the entire public service machinery for better service delivery and so on.

There are far better things to do than changing the Constitution itself when it is the only guide you will ever need.

 Thank you

 Peter Andrew Kolip

 PO Box 1286

Lae

Morobe Province

Lae Market facilities need attention

By BAPA BOMOTENG 

Lae Market goer

The beautiful and abundant fresh food market in the whole country, Lae market needs attention badly. We have bought and traded in the market for years, but continue to pay little attention to the welfare of the vendors, the buyers and the sellers. 
 About time the Lae City Authority, Morobe Provincial Government and the National Government paid attention.  
 Smaller markets in other centress have got aid agencies funding, what about Lae City? 
 The good Lae market continues to be crowed and a health hazard with waste disposal problem, toilet facilities in dire need of improvement with increased population and usages. 

Kaukau (sweet potato) sales at Lae Market

 Lack of proper storage facilities Lack of rehabilitation of sitting and display benches need either construction and a major extension is needed to cover the entire trading area.    
The question continues to be asked what happens to the gate collection.   
The recently announced improvement continues to favour non-Morobeans sales section in the already roofed section. 
 Why are the Morobean mothers and daughter being desecrated as aliens in their own city let to pay fees and get nothing but beating from the rain and the scorching sun?  
 It goes begging to see them standing and sitting in the sun and dripping wet in the pouring rain whole day while non-Morobeans enjoy the shelters of the entire building.   
The Markham’s, Wains, Bukawas, Salamuas, Situm, Boana and the good Wampars. 
 Can’t they be accorded a decent shelter from rain and the weather? 
 This is not a rationalistic statement. 
 It’s about equality, respect and recognition of the 
 What has James Khay done for the Lae market apart from collecting gate fees?  
 Dear Lae MP and Governor Kelly Naru, mothers spoke and petitioned recently.
 Nothing much has happened. 
 Morobe mothers are being sent to vending outside the fencing encroaching into the already crowded streets.   
 May be the biometric system will make room for new market, that’s about another fiive years’ time. What can we do in the meantime? 
  If we cannot improve on what we already have, what guarantee do we have we will get a new market?  
 Please see the plight of our mothers and daughter from the fringes of Lae city trying to make ends meet. 
 We are punishing them more so by charging gate takings but not providing the needed comfort to trade in a decent environment.

Landslides take toll on key PNG highway

PORT MORESBY, 4 July 2013 (IRIN) - A vital highway, long regarded as the single most important road in Papua New Guinea (PNG), is slowly being destroyed by landslides.
“It’s not a highway any more,” Peter Kama, a businessman and community leader in Chimbu Province, a mountainous region in PNG’s central highlands, told IRIN. “The landslides are destroying the road and threatening the livelihoods of the people around it.”

Photo: David Swanson/IRIN

Okuk Highway is PNG's main highway

Landslides affecting the 700km Okuk Highway have been common in the past decade. Engineers say the road is outdated and poorly maintained, and that its drainage system has deteriorated.
Torrential rains during the annual rainy season from November to April, deforestation from farming, along with increased volumes of traffic due to resource development have compounded the problem,” Godfree Umba, managing director of Kaia Works, a civil engineering company working on the highway, told IRIN.
Chimbu Province, through which the road runs, has seen seven major landslides in the past decade, experts say.
On the night of 9 May, at least 200 families lost their homes and livelihoods when a major landslide left a 300-metre wide gap in the highway at Waigar in the Kerowagi District of Chimbu. Andrew Pera his wife and two children lost the only coffee trees they had and were left with no fertile land to plant new ones, he said.
In 2012, a landslide in Hela Province, in which dozens lost their lives, affected more than 2km of the highway, which connects the mountainous highlands to the coastal city of Lae.
The PNG National Department of Works, which is responsible for road maintenance, says landslides are not only destroying the highway, but also food gardens and homes, in a country where 85 percent of the population rely on subsistence farming.
The government says it is well aware of the problem and is in the process of taking action.
“We are not waiting for the entire infrastructure to collapse and slow down the economy before we take action in addressing this enormous challenge,” PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told the Australia-Papua New Guinea Business Council at its recent forum in Port Moresby.
In February, experts predicted that up to 35,000 people were affected by landslides and flooding during the last rainy season.