PNGSDP calls on State to fund processing of CMCA compensation payments

Chairman of PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd, Sir Mekere Morauta, yesterday called on the O’Neill Government, Ok Tedi Mining Ltd and the Fly River Provincial Government to pay for the processing of CMCA compensation payments.

“If there is no financial support forthcoming from them, then the payments cannot be processed and many thousands of Western Province men, women and children will go without,” he said.

“They will not receive the compensation payments, which are rightfully theirs and are for many families their major source of cash income.

“The State, OTML and FRPG must act quickly to make sure the payments can be made and to ensure that the people do not suffer unnecessarily. It is their responsibility – they owe it to the people of Western Province.”

"In the past PNGSDP has paid for the processing of the payments by its subsidiary PNG Microfinance Ltd, from dividends paid to it by Ok Tedi.

"But since the O’Neill Government expropriated Ok Tedi, without compensation, no dividends have been paid to PNGSDP.

"Dividends from the company’s 63.4% shareholding in Ok Tedi were its only source of income, and when they were withheld PNGSDP had no means of paying for almost all of its programs and projects. This includes its annual financial support to PMF to enable the payments to be processed.

"PNGSDP has been helping PMF facilitate the CMCA payments since 2008 by paying approximately K500,000 a year out of the OTML dividends to cover payment processing costs."

But without the dividend income PNGSDP cannot continue to do its good work through community support like this, Sir Mekere said.

“PMF must now operate on a fully commercial basis if it is to survive and continue to provide banking services in Western Province,” he said.

“PMF is the only banking service provider for many people in Western Province and elsewhere, and PNGSDP is making sure that it survives. It is doing this by making it self-sufficient.

“We do not want to have to shut down Western Province branches, as we have had to with other operations such as Western Power, because of the expropriation.

“PNGSDP believes there are ample funds available from Ok Tedi, which is now owned 100 % by the State, to facilitate these payments.”

Sir Mekere said the small amount of interest income from investments available to PNGSDP was being used to protect the interest of the people of Western Province, who are the beneficiaries of PNGSDP’s sustainable development program.

:PNGSDP is doing this in the international courts by opposing the Government’s attempts to control the Long Term Fund, and seeking the return of the company’s shareholding in Ok Tedi," he said.

"PML has already written to the O’Neill Government, OTML and the FRPG asking them to fulfill their obligations to the people of Western Province by providing financial support to process the CMCA payments."

Lawyer’s assault warranted police action says Acting Deputy Commissioner Andrews

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Operations Jim Andrews said yesterday the actions taken by Boroko police to arrest four detectives involved in the assault of lawyer Sam Bonner was necessary under the laws and functions of police, as Director of the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate Mathew Damaru failed to comply with orders to bring the four suspects to Boroko for interviews and arrests.

Andrews said the remarks by Director of Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate Mathew Damaru on EMTV’s news telecast on Wednesday Oct 22 were "pathetic and misleading".

Andrews said Damaru had stated at his media conference that Bonner had refused arrest and therefore necessary force was applied to restrain and arrest him at the Waigani court premises, which was a misleading statement to the public.

 Andrews rebutted Damaru’s statement, saying Bonner was at the Waigani Court Premises in his gown when he was surrounded and assaulted by armed policemen several months ago.

 He said Bonner complained of serious assault in which he was scarred at the Boroko Police Station in the National Capital District. The matter was pursued by NCD police and four suspects were arrested at the office of the National Fraud and anti-Corruption directorate on Tuesday, which were normal follow-up arrests on the complaint laid.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Andrews said, “Damaru and the media are not the judge and juror to discuss how the assault happened. It is for the accused to prove that they acted within the confines of the law when the matter is heard in court.”

Commissioner Vaki directs immediate action on policemen consuming alcohol in uniform

Commissioner of Police Geoffrey Vaki has directed that members of the Special Services Division (SSD) pictured in uniform with alcohol in the Drum column of the Post-Courier newspaper on Tuesday be immediately identified and suspended from duty.
Furthermore, Commissioner Vaki has directed that the members be served Serious Disciplinary Offence Report (SDOR) and transferred out of SSD forthwith.
These actions are to be taken by Friday October 24, Commissioner Vaki directed in a minute to Acting Deputy Commissioner Operations Jim Andrews.
Vaki said it appears that Director SSD is not coming down hard on ill-discipline by SSD members nationwide despite his earlier directive for all commanders, provincial police commanders and the two metropolitan superintendents in Lae and Port Moresby to address ethical, dress and grooming standards and discipline.
Vaki said the report on the Drum column is "a testimony to a total decline in firm command and control".
"Contrary to what critics have been saying, I am taking a zero tolerance attitude to corrupt, abusive and ill-disciplined policemen or women. Enough is enough, as I have stated.
"Whilst not making any excuses, I ask that critics be more reasonable and constructive as I have been in the job only five months. Prior to my appointment and for five years I was fighting my case in the National Court.
"Anyone who knows me know that I am very passionate about discipline. I will hold all commissioned officers as well as non-commissioned officers accountable for the actions of their subordinates."

PM attends Indonesian presidential inauguration

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday attended the presidential Inauguration of the newly-elected President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Joko Widodo, in Jakarta.

He travelled to Jakarta on Sunday after briefly meeting with his Australian counterpart, Tony Abbot, to discuss the Regional Resettlement Arrangement (RRA) in Manus and strengthening of the presence of the Australian Federal Police in PNG. 

The Australian Prime Minister was travelling en route to Jakarta to attend the same event, when he stopped by to meet with O’Neill to discuss these issues.

Both leaders were invited to the Inauguration in Jakarta. Also in attendance were Heads of Government from the region and globally.

O’Neill will meet with President Widodo this morning to make his official acquaintance as well as discuss the Plan of Action to implementation of eleven MoU’s on trade and investment relations, business cooperation, border development and administration, development and technical cooperation and air services which were concluded during his official visit to Indonesia in June 2013.

In regional and international issues, Prime Minister O’Neill will seek reaffirmation of Indonesia's support for PNG's hosting of the APEC Leaders Summit in 2018.

He returns to PNG on this evening in time for the October Parliamentary session.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Ministers, Rimbink Pato (Foreign Affairs) and Ben Micah (State Enterprises).

PM O’Neill expresses nation’s gratitude for Gough Whitlam

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has extended his condolences to the family of former Australian Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam, following his passing overnight, and expressed the nation's gratitude for the role Whitlam played in Papua New Guinea's attainment of independence in 1975.
Gough Whitlam was appointed as an Honorary Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL), that carries the title of Chief, in recognition of his role in supporting Papua New Guinea to attain sovereignty and his enduring support to the development of the nation. 
O'Neill said the people of Papua New Guinea forever appreciated the steadfast support that Whitlam gave to the nation's move towards self-government and ultimately independence.
"Chief Whitlam will always hold a unique and special place in the history of Papua New Guinea as the Australian Prime Minister who worked with our founding fathers to achieve Independence for our nation," the Prime Minister said from Jakarta.
"Before he became Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam provided ongoing support for Papua New Guinea's emergence as an independent nation.
"When he became Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam worked closely with our then Chief Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, and other founding fathers to deliver self-government in 1973 and independence two years later."Gough Whitlam's Prime Ministership was almost synonymous with Papua New Guinea's transition to independence and the people of our nation express our gratitude.  The Whitlam Government was elected in the lead-up to self-rule and was in office on the day of Papua New Guinea's Independence."
O'Neill is currently in Indonesia where he attended the Inauguration ceremony for President Joko Widodo.  
He will hold a bilateral meeting with the President today before returning to Port Moresby in the evening.

Papua New Guinea-Australia PM’s meeting on Manus asylum seekers

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill had a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott today on the Regional Resettlement Arrangement (RRA) of asylum seekers at the Lombrum Regional Processing Centre in Manus.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was accompanied by Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison, stopped over for the briefing en-route to Indonesia.
At the briefing,  O'Neill expressed his support of the work done by officials from both countries in addressing the resettlement of the asylum seekers in Manus.
"We are pleased to have worked with your government on this important initiative,"  O'Neill said.
"The RRA, combined with Australia's other maritime patrol measures, have stopped maritime people smuggling in our region and the associated loss of life at sea."
 O'Neill added that after the unfortunate incident at the processing center in Manus, measures have been taken to improve security and management of processing at the center.
"There is now improved coordination between the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Services Authority (ICSA), Police and center security, installation of CCTV cameras and the refugee status determination process is progressing."
In terms of a refugee settlement policy,  O'Neill said due to lack of understanding and support for refugee settlement in PNG communities, he has instructed that a new policy be prepared with increased focus on consultations and building public awareness and support.
"The new policy will be considered by cabinet after these comprehensive public awareness and consultations are completed," O'Neill said.
O'Neill assured  Abbott that PNG is committed to the implementation of the RRA and given its sensitivities, requires time to work through this issues.
O'Neill is travelling to Indonesia to witness the inauguration of the newly elected President of Indonesia, to establish contact with the new president, discuss bilateral issues and to invite the President to visit PNG.
He is accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Rimbink Pato and Minister for State Enterprises  Ben Micah.

Tony Abbott visits PNG

ABC

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has flown to Indonesia to attend tomorrow's presidential inauguration of Joko Widodo in Jakarta.

On the way, Mr Abbott made an unexpected visit to Papua New Guinea.

The ABC understands Mr Abbott met PNG prime minister Peter O'Neill today and discussed the threat of the Ebola virus as well as resettling asylum seekers.

There have been problems with the Government's asylum seeker arrangements in PNG but Mr O'Neill has apparently said the resettlements will begin soon.

On Monday Joko Widodo will be sworn in as Indonesia's next president, taking over from Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who has been in the job since 2004.

Mr Abbott said in a video statement that Mr Widodo's inauguration was an important event for Australia as "Indonesia is a hugely important neighbour".

"It has the world's largest Muslim population, it is the world's third largest democracy and, along with India, it's the emerging democratic superpower of Asia," he said.

"Almost one million Australians visit Indonesia, including Bali, every year and over 17,000 Indonesian students study here in Australia each year."

Mr Abbott said he is looking to strengthen Australia's social and economic ties with the nation.

"On present trends, Indonesia will be the fourth biggest economy in the world by mid-century. This is why our foreign policy needs a Jakarta focus rather than a Geneva one," he said.

"There's the New Colombo Plan, which will see more young Australians study in Indonesia.

"There's the new Australia Indonesia Centre at Monash University which promotes greater understanding of Indonesia and its importance to us.

"And we have restored the live cattle trade which is now back to its pre-cancellation peak."

The Prime Minister said he is looking forward to meeting the new Indonesian president.

"The outgoing president, president Yudhoyono, has been a great friend of Australia. He has been a friend to successive Australian prime ministers since John Howard," he said.

"[Mr Widodo] now takes office with enormous goodwill - in his own country and in ours. Australia wants the new president to succeed."

Mr Widodo will come to office at a time when diplomatic tensions with Australia have settled, with a new code of conduct is in place after a recent spying scandal.

The issue of clemency for the Bali Nine drug smugglers however remains unresolved, with Dr Yudhoyono leaving the matter to his successor.