Fiji media council ban and mystery detentions 'deplorable': Freedom Forum

A Pacific media freedom and advocacy group, the Pacific Freedom Forum, deplores the arbitrary ban on the Fiji Media Council celebrating World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2009.
The "authorities" in Fiji have refused the Fiji Media Council a permit to hold meetings to do with media freedom and advocacy.
"Under the so-called 'Emergency Decree', which passes for the Rule of Law in Fiji, the ‘authorities’ have specifically banned political and media related meetings, and this still further compounds the appalling human rights situation now operative in Fiji," says Pacific Freedom Forum chair Susuve Laumaea.
"The Fiji Media Council is an established national media advocacy and self-regulating body which has every right to join with international colleagues to locally celebrate what is an internationally recognized day commemorating and promoting freedom of speech and media responsibility..

"Arbitrarily refusing the nation's peak media association a ‘permit’ to celebrate World Press Freedom day is completely self-defeating. Fiji's harassed and intimidated journalists will nevertheless join in World Press Freedom Day celebrations, if only in their minds and hearts. Their situation will be widely recognised worldwide as Fiji under the current ‘authorities’ joins the ranks of countries where freedom of association and freedom of speech, fundamental human rights, are severely restricted under threat of arbitrary sanction, newsroom closure, and worse."

The Pacific Freedom Forum also deplores the reported refusal by the Fiji "authorities" to allow the Red Cross to visit a number of activists associated with the Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party, including Iliesa Duvuloco, reportedly detained for circulating a pamphlet critical of the current regime.
"The Red Cross has an internationally-recognised legal mandate to check on the welfare of detained people, irrespective of what side or position they may have taken in a conflict situation," notes co-chair Monica Miller.
"Clearly, denying the Red Cross access to these detainees is a gross violation not only of their fundamental human rights, but also of international law which mandates the Red Cross and similar organizations to access detainees to assess and provide for their safety and welfare."
Miller says the latest developments continue to point to a gravely deteriorating human rights environment in Fiji.

CONTACT:

PFF interim Chair
Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea
Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com

PFF interim co-Chair
Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa
Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.
We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance.
In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Archbishop Tutu Opens Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission

HONIARA, 28 April– Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu arrived here today on an official state visit to launch the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Solomon Islands, which will help to bring peace to communities still divided by violence during five years of civil unrest.

For the first time, thousands of Solomon Islanders will be able to speak publicly about the violence and abuse they experienced and witnessed from 1998-2003.  The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will provide a forum for victims and perpetrators to speak about the causes and impacts of that violence.

The retired African archbishop, known as “South Africa’s moral conscience,” is deeply revered in this largely Anglican South Pacific country, both for his role in chairing his own country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and for his consummate commitment to promoting human rights and opposing racism.

“Archbishop Tutu is an advocate for human dignity whose tireless efforts have helped millions of people around the world,” said Prime Minister Dr. Derek Sikua.  “His presence here this week will inspire Solomon Islanders to help to heal old wounds caused by the violence and civil unrest experienced during the ‘tensions’.  It represents a turning point in our efforts to move away from bitterness and resentment, and to create a shared future as a unified nation,”  said the Prime Minister.

The Solomon Islands experienced social unrest and organised violent conflict between 1998 and July 2003. The signing of the Townsville Peace Agreement in 2000, and the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands in 2003 -- which is an international peacekeeping and development mission -- brought an end to active conflict and restored law and order.  However, outstanding grievances remain unresolved in a society which still places high value on traditional means of reconciliation over formal judicial proceedings.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is an independent body, comprising three national and two international commissioners.  The Prime Minister announced the names of the Commissioners last Friday.  They are:  Fr. Sam Ata of Solomon Islands (Chair); Ms. Sofia Macher of Peru (Deputy Chair);  Mr. George Kejoa of Solomon Islands; Mrs. Carolyn Laore of Solomon Islands; and Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi of Fiji.

“Reconciliation in Solomon Islands must be based on our traditional values and customs,” said Sam Iduri, Minister for National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace in Solomon Islands.  “The chosen commissioners bring a breadth of experience that ensures the Solomon Islands Commission will benefit from other international experiences, and also follow a process which is meaningful to Solomon Islanders.”

Financial and technical support for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been provided by a number of contributors, including the Governments of Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand; the European Commission; the International Centre for Transitional Justice; the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and the United Nations Development Programme.

“Reconciliation is the number one priority of the government, as it affects the ability of thousands of Solomon Islanders to participate fully in social, cultural and economic life,” said Knut Ostby, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative designate for Solomon Islands.  “We are truly fortunate to have one of the elder statesmen of truth commissions and victims’ rights here to assist with the formal opening of the Solomon Islands Commission. UNDP is proud to support this initiative.”

 

 

For information and press inquiries, please contact:

 

Mrs. Joy Kere, Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, Solomon Islands by e-mail at pspeace@pmc.gov.sb or finioa@gmail.com; and by telephone at (+677) 28616 or 96150.

 

Mr. George Atkin, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands by e-mail at gatkin@pmc.gov.sb; and by telephone at (+677) 21863 or 94555.

 

Ms. Christina Carlson, UNDP Honiara, Solomon Islands by e-mail at christina.carlson@undp.org ; and by telephone at (+677) 22747 or 96353; or (+881) 641414524.

 

Ms. Cherie Hart, UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok by e-mail at

Cherie.hart@undp.org; and by telephone at +66 8 1 918 1564

 

Ms. Julia Dean, UN Information Centre in Canberra by email at

jdean@un.org.au; and by telephone at +612 627 382 00

 

 

***

ABOUT UNDP: UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners. There are three UNDP Offices in the Pacific, based in Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea; as well as the Pacific Centre, UNDP’s regional programme and knowledge centre in Suva, Fiji, focused on Small Islands Developing States and serving 15 Pacific Island countries.

Pacific Freedom Forum relocates regional media freedom meet.

A regional media event aimed at promoting press freedom in the Pacific will bring reporters across the region to Apia, Samoa, May 6 to 8.

 The Pacific Freedom Forum, UNESCO and SPC ‘Building Courage under Fire’ three-day workshop and seminar was originally planned to take place in Suva, Fiji, to coincide with World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

 However, the event was relocated due to the Fiji regime’s imposition of emergency restrictions and repressive clampdown on the media since an appeals court ruling on April 9 declared the 2006 coup led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama illegal. 

 “While we felt that Fiji would have been the ideal workshop venue given our theme, we have a responsibility to ensure the funding support we received is used effectively, and this would have been impossible given the emergency regulations in place there,” says Pacific Freedom Forum chair Susuve Laumaea. 

 “Part of the cancelled event in Fiji was a regional UNESCO World Press Freedom Day celebration on May 3. The current emergency ‘laws’ there now make such an event illegal.

  “The Fiji media situation shows clearly how media freedom affects all Pacific Islanders, not just those who work in the media.  We want to look at ways to encourage that understanding, not just in our newsrooms, but across our communities and in the homes and minds of more Pacific people.”

 Laumaea is joining delegates from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and the host country at the media freedom workshop in Apia.

 The primary objectives of the Workshop are to provide Pacific journalists with the latest information, skills, and contacts to protect and promote media freedom in their countries as well as to firmly establish the Pacific Freedom Forum as a going concern. 

 “Overall, the intent is not to single out any one country, but to ensure the Pacific context of the universal right to free speech and expression of opinions gets some timely attention and forward-thinking debate from journalists to enhance their everyday work,” he says.

 Workshop trainers are Deborah Muir of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and leading Pacific journalist, author, and media commentator Kalafi Moala, of Tonga.

 

The ‘Courage under Fire’ event is made possible with UNESCO IPDC funding, and support from global media freedom watchdog IFEX.

 

 

CONTACT:

 

PFF interim Chair

Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea

Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com

 

PFF interim co-Chair

Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa

Mob    684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

 

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.

We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance.

In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Papua New Guinea aid misspent, says Kevin Rudd

Article in today's on line Courier Mail News


AID money to Papua New Guinea has been misspent on consultants rather than teachers and health services, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.

In a joint news conference in Canberra with PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare yesterday, Mr Rudd said the pair had discussed historical problems with aid delivery.

"Too much has been consumed by consultants and not enough delivered to essential assistance in teaching, in infrastructure, in health services on the ground in villages across Papua New Guinea," Mr Rudd said.

The effectiveness of aid to PNG needed to be tied to UN mandated Millennium Developments Goals, so outcomes from foreign aid spending could be measured.

Asked about poverty in PNG, Sir Michael said no one starved in the Melanesian nation even as kids roamed the capital Port Moresby where their parents searched for work.

"You've probably seen one or two in Port Moresby, kids who come to look for opportunities for education and health. When they miss out, then they of course roam the streets," he said.

"No one is starving in Papua New Guinea. We always have something to eat."

Sir Michael said food was in abundance everywhere in Papua New Guinea.

"Everywhere in Port Moresby alone, if you've been in Moresby you see the hills and mountains have gardens," he said.

"They have sweet potato gardens, tapioca gardens, they have bananas and I don't think anyone in Papua New Guinea starves."

Sir Michael said his country did not have the poverty of Africa.

"We are a village society. When one village is poor, the other village helps."

The PNG government had allocated 980 million kina towards building education, health services and infrastructure in the villages, the largest amount since the nation was granted independence in 1975.

The challenges of rural development in PNG

Inequalities in Developing Rural Communities in Papua New Guinea - A Pangia Perspective

Author Stanley Kuli Liria

As a Third World country, rural development is a major concern in Papua New Guinea.
The Constitution, through goal Nos. 1 and 2 of the national goals and directive principles (NGDPs), provides for equal development for every individual and every society.
Government policies and development framework such as the medium term development strategies (MTDS), and the provincial and district development plans provide the platform to enhance visions for rural development embraced in Goal Nos. 1 and 2 of the NGDPs.
In that respect, the focus for rural development is founded on the Constitution, and therefore, it is an important sector.
However, whether rural development plans in the form of MTDS or provincial and district development plans are implemented to achieve their purposes depend first and foremost on the leaderships provided at various levels of our government and administrative structures.
They must take the lead to budget for and implement the plans which will start up rural development.
Ad hoc approaches are not only destructive for initiatives for properly-planned rural development pathways, but are more likely to disorient social order in the rural communities.
Inequalities in Developing Rural Communities in Papua New Guinea – a Pangia Perspective, a new book by author and lawyer Stanley Liria, presents an analysis of challenges in rural development in PNG with respect to the Wiru society of Pangia in Southern Highlands Province.
It draws its analysis of development issues based on the author’s first hand field research and experiences.
Fittingly, the book will be launched by Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, at Tunda Primary School in Pangia, Southern Highlands, next Friday, May 8.
“As in any traditional community in Papua New Guinea, the Wiru showcases the challenges rural development encounters due to the impacts of competitions in elections and the ‘bigman’ culture, conflicts between the customs and the introduced or Western cultures and the modern laws, influence of cultures and traditions on social relations, and aspirations of the people against realities in life,” Mr Liria says.
“It also reveals that while the elected leaders play a pivotal role in guiding rural development, the rural people must be willing to accept change in their communities because change of attitude by individuals to adopt fair and equal relations in family or community is a positive path for rural development.
“Through its analysis and observations reached for the Wiru society, it poses a challenge to those concerned with rural development.
“This book should therefore be of special interest to district and provincial administrators, planners, development partners, leaders, researchers and school children or any one concerned with rural development.”
Stanley Kuli Liria comes from Tunda village of Pangia in SHP.
He is a practicing lawyer and principal of Liria Lawyers.
He has a bachelor of laws degree with honours from the University of PNG in 2000 and got admitted as a lawyer in 2001.
He has also practiced law with established law firms based in Port Moresby.
Mr Liria is a member of the upper secondary legal studies subject advisory committee for the newly-introduced subject of legal studies course for upper secondary school students in PNG.
Apart from engaging in legal practice, he has shown special interest in research and writing on issues affecting PNG communities.
His writing is aimed at educating majority of the less-educated Papua New Guineans to appreciate their rights, freedoms, obligations and values in society which seem marginalised by the growing desire for rural development and relations in society.
He is also the author of A Law Awareness for Papua New Guinea – Our Guide to the Rule of Law, which was published in December 2004.
The 200-page book is on sale for K100 from publisher Niugini CrossRoads Ltd, P.O Box 82, Konedobu, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea, telephone + (675) 321 0616, mobile + (675) 6907536, facsimile + (675) 321 0463, and email ncrossroads@datec.net.pg or lirialawyers@datec.net.pg.


Inequalities in Developing Rural Communities in Papua New Guinea – A Pangia Perspective
ISBN 13: 978 - 9980 - 86 - 091 – 0
Publication Date: 2009
Binding: Softcover
Written by STANLEY KULI LIRIA
Star Printers

New sawmill for rural Bulolo village

Caption: The wokabaut sawmill at Timini village today. Picture courtesy of SAM BASIL via BlackBerry

A wokabaut sawmill was launched at Timini village in Mumeng, Morobe province today (Tuesday, April 28, 2009) as part of the Bulolo district building & maintenance programme (BDRMP).
The sawmill will be operated by trained operators and will supply timber deckings for the district's road maintenance programme.
After the launching, the operators were tasked to mill timbers for the new Patep/Munanung Bridge and carry out repairs for the Latep/Leklu Bridge.
 Other bridges that will benefit from this programme will be Manianda, Biaweng (three) and others.
This programme will also see cash being injected back into the tree owners’ pockets back at the village level.
A long-term arrangement will see each of the six local level governments of Bulolo electorate owning one wokabaut sawmill for its programmes.
Also during the ceremony, 13 boxes of books were donated to Timini Primary School courtesy of Hope Worldwide, AusAID, New Zealand AID, Nestle (PNG), Consort Shipping and Express Freight. Management.
 Headmaster Simon Koaria and board chairman  Aaron Nathan were there to receive the books and convey their thanks to the various sponsors.

Preserving Port Moresby’s WW11 history

Thomas Richard Auhava at the crash site of Australian ace air John Jackson, after whom Jackson's Airport is named, at Mt Lawes behind Laloki

The impromptu Schwimmer War Museum at Laloki outside Port Moresby

US dog tags, shaving handles, keys, coins and other items

US machinery from WW11

Assorted bottles from WW11

Some time ago, a friend of mine asked me to be a tour guide for a retired American WW11 veteran, who is also a bit of a history buff.
The old American wanted to be shown all the prominent WW11 sites around Port Moresby, war relics, Bomana war cemetery, as well as the start of the Kokoda Trail at Owers’ Corner.
To prepare for the job, I had to be well-versed in the WW11 history of Port Moresby, so I brought down all my old books down from the shelves, made notes, as well as searched the Internet.
The big day came, and I showed the US veteran such places as Burns Peak, Paga Hill and the wreck of the Macdhui near Tatana Island before we hit the highway bound for Bomana war cemetery and Owers’ Corner.
We made a brief stop at what used to be the site of Schwimmer Drome at Laloki, on the banks of the great river of the same name, where we inspected all the WW11 relics at an impromptu war museum run by Gulf man Thomas Richard Auhava.
By 1944, Port Moresby had six airfields, one of which was Schwimmer.
Jackson was the largest of these, and was named after Australian ace pilot John Jackson, leader of RAAF Squadron 75, who was killed in a dogfight against Japanese planes over Port Moresby on April 28, 1942.
The wartime airfields were Kila Drome (3-Mile) airfield for fighters and bombers; Ward Drome (5-Mile) airfield for heavy bombers and transport planes; Jackson (7-Mile) main airfield still in use today; Berry Drome (12-Mile) fighter and medium bomber base near Bomana; Schwimmer (14-Mile) fighter and medium bomber base; Durand (17-Mile) fighter and medium bomber base; Rogers (Rarona, 30-Mile) fighter and medium bomber and Fishermen’s (Daugo) emergency landing strip on offshore island.
Schwimmer Drome, according to various airmen who served from it, was the “eye and mind” of the 1942-1945 Pacific War, because it was from here that aerial surveillance missions of Japanese positions were made.
The US airmen forming the 8th Photo Squadron commanded by First Lieutenant Karl Polifika, a Russian, first landed at Schwimmer on May 2, 1942, and flew from Schwimmer until July 27, 1944, when the squadron moved to Durand Strip.
There are also other squadrons from the US Air Force like 435th Bomb Squadron, 3rd Attack Group assigned to do fragmentation bombing, 43rd Bomb Group assigned to do long-range bombing missions, 39th Fighter Group and 9th Fighter Group.
Mr Auhava has, over the years, been collecting the numerous war relics in and around the site of the old Schwimmer Drome in a labour-of-love.
He is fighting a lonely battle against scrap metal hunters and dealers, who without any scruples, do anything to get an extra buck.
He has brought a proposal to the National Museum and Art Gallery in Waigani, Port Moresby, for funding to set up a proper museum.
Mr Auhava has been living at Laloki for the last 20 years and knows every nook and cranny in the area.
“Over the years,” says the former PNG Defence Force soldier, “I’ve been collecting these war relics and I’ve been featured in newspapers.
“Because of this media publicity, tourists started visiting, and I’ve decided to start a proper museum.
“The proposal for the museum has been signed by the landowners already and will be handed over to the National Museum.”
The war relics include human bones, helmets, dog tags, tools, hand grenades (defused), bombshells, bullets, coins, jerry cans, 1940’s Coca-Cola bottles and assorted paraphernalia.
One of the prized possessions of the collection is the remains of the plane of Australian air ace, John Jackson, after whom Port Moresby’s famous Jackson’s International Airport is named.
Jackson crashed on the hills overlooking Laloki after a heroic dogfight against Japanese fighters.
Mr Auhava, originally from Iokea village in Gulf province, is a self-taught historian and is a walking encyclopaedia as I found out.
“History is very important,” he extols.
“This generation, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to know anything about the war.
“Historical sites like Schwimmers should be preserved for educational purposes, tourism, etc.
“These relics should be preserved and protected.
“Scrap metal vendors are getting their hands on these war relics.
“If we lose these war relics, we lose history.
“People are just taking them out and selling them to scrap metal dealers.
“I decided to bring them all to one place and take care of them.
“After that, I began to find out about the place itself, its history.
“I borrowed some WW11 books from a historian and did research.
“I realised that it (Schwimmers) was a WW11 US airbase.”
According to Mr Auhava’s proposal to the National Museum, a museum built under the name ‘Schwimmer War Museum’, would be a fitting tribute to the thousands of Americans and Australians based in Port Moresby during WW11.
It would focus on history, war surplus material protection, a site for educational excursions and a shrine for the future generations.
It would also protect war relics from being sold to unscrupulous scrap metal dealers and would promote community tourism values
“I’m submitting a proposal to the National Museum to see if they can gurantee a budget for the (Schwimmer) museum, because these relics are State property which I’ve been protecting,” Mr Auhava said.
“The government talks so much about war surplus materials, and yet, they are not putting their money where their mouth is.
“Looking after these relics is hard work, for which I’m not paid.”