Japan, Pacific island nations urge North Korea to denuclearise

mainichi.jp | May 19, 2018 


IWAKI, Japan (Kyodo) -- Japan and Pacific island countries on Saturday called on North Korea to take concrete actions toward denuclearisation by complying with United Nations' sanctions over its nuclear and missile development, as they wrapped up a two-day summit meeting in northeastern Japan.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (Mainichi)

In the joint declaration released after the gathering in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and leaders from 14 Pacific island countries expressed deep concerns over the North evading international sanctions by transferring cargoes at sea.

It is the first time for Japan and the Pacific island countries to mention the North Korean issue in their declaration. Japan has hosted a regional summit with the Pacific island nations every three years since 1997.

The participants at the eight Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting also noted the importance of the complete, verifiable and irreversible scrapping of all of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, while stressing the need of an immediate resolution of the abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s.

The declaration also touched on the importance of the maritime order based on the rule of law and welcomed the "free and open Indo-Pacific strategy," a policy the Abe administration has pushed ahead with in an apparent effort to counter the growing maritime assertiveness of China.

In a keynote speech at the outset of the summit, Abe pledged to support Pacific island countries in enhancing their maritime security capabilities, given their vulnerable coastal security.

"Japan will be unstinting in its assistance toward improving countries' capacity to 'protect the sea,' including each country's legal enforcement capabilities," Abe said.

"It is the rule of law that gives protection to the nations, big and small, for their inherent rights," he said.

"Safeguarding the sea and safeguarding the planet and humankind are one and the same. My country will continue to make efforts with you all," Abe added.

The summit also focused on building infrastructure, including ports.

To support their sustainable development, Abe promised continued assistance to the island nations to protect the environment and cope with climate change.

Abe also vowed Japan's engagement in human resource development and people-to-people exchanges involving 4,000 people over the next three years.

The forum brings together Japan, the 14 Pacific island nations, Australia and New Zealand, as well as French Polynesia and New Caledonia, both of which are French territories.

The 14 Pacific island countries are the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The previous meeting also took place in Iwaki, an area in northeastern Japan devastated by the massive 2011 earthquake and ensuing tsunami.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi co-chaired the meeting with Abe.

Japanese WWII veteran working to bring fallen soldiers back to their homeland

18 May 2018

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has paid tribute to Japanese World War II veteran, Masai Horie, who works to recover the remains of Japanese soldiers and bring them back to Japan.

Prime Minister O’Neill, Horie and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Horie, who was prisoner-of-war in Rabaul in 1945, is 103 years old, has traveled to Papua New Guinea 18 times and is a former member of parliament in Japan.
“It was an honour to meet Mr Horie tonight,” O’Neill said.
“His tireless efforts to bring his countrymen home is outstanding and has earned him the highest respect in both of our countries.
"Papua New Guinea is the final resting place of so many courageous men and women from both sides of the war.
“Our nation will always accord the highest respect to those still buried in our soil.
“We will continue to work closely with Japan in their efforts to repatriate the remains of the fallen, and return them to their homeland."

PM O’Neill arrives in Japan for PALM8

18 May 2018

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill, has arrived in Japan for the 8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (SOM8).

Prime Minister O’Neill with Prime Minister Abe and Ms Akie Abe

Held every three years in Japan, the PALM brings Pacific Island Nations together in discussion with Japan to develop initiatives for regional growth and co-operation.
Being held in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, from May 18-19, the Leaders’ Meeting has the theme “We are Islanders – Partnership towards Prosperous, Free and Open Pacific".
O’Neill welcomed the talks that he said will provide an opportunity for the region to engage with Japan on issues of mutual interest.
“Japan is very much involved in projects that strengthen economic advancement and enhance community development around the Pacific,” he said.
“Papua New Guinea is working with Japan on a number of initiatives that are strengthening infrastructure in our country, particularly as we prepare to host the APEC Summit in November.
"This includes the Port Moresby Sewage System Upgrade Project, the Reconstruction of bridges in East New Britain and capacity building support through the Volunteers Program.
“I look forward to the meetings over the coming days and discussion with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as we work together in the interests of improving regional infrastructure."
The PALM Leaders‘ Summit will be co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Japan, and the Prime Minister of Samoa,  as the current Chair of the Pacific Island Forum.

Phillipines President Duterte welcomes stronger ties with PNG

Address by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte at the State Dinner in Manila, 16 May 2018:

Today in our meetings, I have seen the true spirit of friendship and cooperation, having agreed to work together on matters of mutual interest, particularly in increasing an environment of trade and investment, and further strengthening the very important agricultural and fisheries sectors.

Tonight we have strengthened the foundations of mutual respect, not only at the official level, but more at a personal level.
The 35,000 Filipinos living and working in PNG and the hundreds of PNG citizens studying in the Philippines are living truth of friendship that we aim to strengthen in the the years to come.
The Philippines have further deepened our engagements in PNG as we support PM O'Neill's Chairmanship of this year's APEC Leaders Summit.
I am truly honoured for this evening's occassion, as this is your first official visit to the Philippines.
Today will reaffirm this relationship as we celebrate this opportunity to build on from strength to strength.
Today marks a new chapter where we chart a new destiny as sovereign states.

PM O'Neill thanks Philippines for ongoing relationship

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has thanked the President of the Philippines for the ongoing strengthening of relations between the two countries, that is delivering benefits in education, agriculture and healthcare.
He has completed an Official State Visit to the Philippines where he met with Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, senior government officials and business leaders.

O’Neill said the major outcome to come from the visit is the reassertion of how close the Philippines is to Papua New Guinea, both in geography and in cultural characteristics.
“Our two countries have many similarities, in our governance and legal processes, in our approach to business and in our Christian values," he said.

“The Philippines is a very community orientated country with respect for family and tradition.
“The islands of the Philippines also share very strong similarities with all island nations around the Pacific.
“Now as we increase our co-operation in areas such as agriculture and education, the bonds between our people will continue to grow.

“Papua New Guinea has a very close friend in the Philippines.
“We have had diplomatic relations for 43 years, but we have been friends for hundreds of years since Filipinos came with the missionaries.”

O'Neill has also passed on the concern expressed by President Duterte following the Highlands Earthquake.
“President Duterte extended his condolences the people of the Highlands Region and expressed sorrow for the loss of life in recent tragic earthquake," he said.

Commercial rice production to begin in co-operation with the Philippines

Price of rice to drop when PNG produces rice locally

Ensuring food security for Papua New Guinea into the future has been given a boost through an arrangement that will see hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice planted, and deliver a reduction in the price of rice in the country.
Speaking at the end of an official State Visit to the Republic of the Philippines last week, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill, said that a memorandum of understanding on agricultural co-operation has been signed that will lead to extensive rice cultivation.

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill speaking at the end of an official State Visit to the Republic of the Philippines

O’Neill said understanding has been reached with Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, and his government, to co-operate in the production of rice for the benefit of both countries.
“Food security is essential for the future survival of all countries in the world, because if we cannot find enough food for a fast increasing population everyone will suffer,” he said.
“Papua New Guinea and the Philippines have agreed to work together to enhance the food security for both countries.
“The Philippines will provide technical advice, private sector investment and people to guide our farmers to establish many thousands of hectares of rice production in Papua New Guinea.
“Rice grown at these farms will be sold in the domestic market in Papua New Guinea, and in the long term, rice not required for domestic consumption will be sold to the Philippines at market rates.
“This is an innovative approach to confront the looming problem of food security by drawing on the strengths of each country.
“Papua New Guinea has hundreds of thousands of hectares of fertile land that is suitable for rice production, and the Philippines has the technical knowledge and the investment capital.
“Our soil for rice cultivation has never been commercially farmed, and is rich in nutrient delivering almost twice the yield per hectare of most rice-producing areas in South-East Asia.
“This will be a public private partnership, with the Philippines Government providing technical expertise and facilitating private sector investment.
“The Papua New Guinea Government will provide regulatory support, strengthen relevant infrastructure in farming areas and encourage domestic investment.
“Rice production trials are already underway and the first commercial planting is expected to begin next year.”
O'Neill said the wide-scale production of rice in Papua New Guinea will also see the price of rice fall, as was the case when Papua New Guinea began producing its own fresh milk.
“When our own Papua New Guinea milk hit supermarket shelves this year, it sold at half the price of foreign milk, so the foreigners then also halved their price.
“They had been selling foreign milk at such a high mark-up, and that stopped when locally made milk entered the market.
“Papua New Guinea is standing up for itself against price gouging and market exploitation.
“We will continue to deliver the best results for our communities, we will enhance food security and get fair prices for our people.”
The memorandum of understanding, signed by the agriculture ministers of both countries, forms the basis from which both Governments and relevant stakeholders can advance project arrangements and then sign a memorandum of agreement.

Ministers of agriculture from PNG and Philippines sign the agreement.

O'Neill said the memorandum of agreement will be finalised between before the APEC Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby in November this year.

A tribute to Moses Tau

By REUBEN AOPI

Papua New Guinea’s singing sensation Moses Tau was born on May 16, 1969, the very same day he died.

The late Moses Tau

Moses Gou was then adopted by his elder sister, hence,  the change of his surname to Tau (as reported by his biological sister, Alice Gou, during an interview with PNG TV, shortly after he had passed, May 16, 2018 on his birthday) when he turned 49.
Little did she know that a star was being placed in her arms to love and to be raised. God Bless the people of Barakau for that and for many other great things.
Moses Tau was what Papua New Guineans came to know.
 He later adopted   a very catchy and extravagant stage name, Moshanty.
 I grew up in a tiny island called Daru.
We had a tape recorder which belonged to my elder brother, Wesley.
 Moses and the Reflections was the name of the cassette we had along with a CD from his album Moses Says Aloha.
They played endlessly.
The style of music he had was superb and contagious.
The type that would leave you tapping your foot and the next thing you know, you’re swaying your hips.
 I’m typing this with no regrets as I have my headphones blasting with "Penekovu Medu bona Hurehure’’, which means rain and waves in the Motu language.
 A song sung about a canoe.
One of my personal favourites.
He was a vibrant soul, one who literally lit up the room whenever he entered.
Moses was full of joy and always eager to help out, no matter what the problem was.I
 will always be grateful for that.
In 2016, we had our Christmas Party here in Digicel’s HQ.
 I was told to phone Moshanty and have him join us as per my boss' request.
I was starstuck and lost for words when he picked up on the other side of the line.
An absolute privilege it was.
Fans gathered and took to social media to remember and commemorate his life.
Let's bid him farewell as we mourn the loss of a lively, dignified soul.
 A soul that brought joy and fulfilment to many, and whose legacy will live on forever.
You would feel the heat and love in the air every time he took the stage.
 He knew what his audience wanted and delivered it with passion and humour.
A bloody entertainer he was and will forever be remembered for that.
Moshanty was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty.
 He actively participated and performed at various medical fundraisers, weddings and family gathering without fail.
He was also an advocate for the LGBT Community in Papua New Guinea.
 LGBT persons in Papua New Guinea face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents.
Attitudes towards LGBT people are greatly influenced by churches and the Melanesian way of life as the majority of Papua New Guineans claim to be believers of the Christian faith.
Despite all that, he lived his life to the very fullest,  if I may put it that way and to which many would agree with me.
He was never afraid of what came his way. Talk about the struggles one has to endure every day.
A legend, period.
All over Papua New Guinea he was a symbol of selfless humanity.
All over the Pacific, a standard-bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a local talent who transcended nationality. Someone with natural nobility who was classless.
He proved in the years he walked on this earth that he needed no royal title to continue to generate his particular brand of magic.
Papua New Guinea has lost a legend.
1969-2018
May your soul rest in peace,  Moses Tau AKA Moshanty.
Bamahuta, Emau, Iawo.

About the author

Reuben Aopi

Reuben Aopi was born in Daru Island on Oct 8,  1988.
His father Pala Aopi was a painter, and his mother Sibaio was a retired nurse.
Both have gone to be with our Lord.