Boeing 767-300ER finds new home . . . The Jackson International Airport came alive yesterday evening with the baptism and welcome of Air Niugini’s new Boeing 767-300ER, The National reports.
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare (second left) and his deputy Don Polye (left) could not deviate from being part of the official welcome party as they officially cut the ribbon to welcome the 194-seat aircraft to its new home.
Assisting with the ribbon-cutting was Air Niugini board chairman Sir James Tjoeng and State Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare. - Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU
THE six defectors of the ruling National Alliance party’s Southern region have returned to the fold, saying they are still loyal to Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his coalition government, The National reports.
And, yesterday, the party offered the olive branch to the rebels’ leaders Sir Puka Temu (Rigo MP), Milne Bay Governor Luke Crittin and Charles Abel (Alotau) to follow suit.
New NA Southern region leader Mark Maipakai said the door was still open for the trio, that they had not been sacked by the party.
At a Parliament House media press conference yesterday, the rebel group claimed that their defection last week to the opposition to support a planned motion of no-confidence in Sir Michael was an internal NA party matter, and they had not resigned from the party.
Their spokesman and Ijivitari MP, David Arore, said they had decided to return and support Sir Michael and their new regional leader Maipakai.
“We moved out as a group and now we have come back. We have not resigned and, therefore, we are still members of the party,” he said.
Those who returned, apart from Arore, were Moresby Northeast MP Andrew Mald, Central Governor Alphonse Moroi, Goilala MP Mathew Poia and Gulf Governor Pitom Titus Bombom.
South Fly MP Sali Subam was named but was not present to confirm his return.
Maipakai said the regional split in the party was over the Temu leadership but the group had reunited and was intact under his leadership.
Before the split, the Southern region had 11 MPs in the NA-led coalition but his had been reduced to eight with Temu, Crittin and Abel still with the opposition.
Immediately after the media conference, Maipakai an-nounced that they had a meeting with Sir Michael to iron out their differences and sought ministries in an anticipated cabinet reshuffle.
Earlier, the group had written an apology letter which was hand-delivered to the prime minister.
Maipakai said the Southern bloc remained committed to the prime minister until the 2012 elections.
Maipakai was elected regional leader and Mald his deputy during a regional party meeting last Thursday.
THE National Alliance has denied claims of a vacancy in the party’s political leadership, The National reports.
The party’s national president, Simon Kaiwi, said the Post-Courier’s front-page report on yesterday, claiming that Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare would step down before Aug 14, was grossly misleading.
He said it appeared that the report was fabricated by people who were ignorant of the NA constitution and did not know the basic processes of government and parliament.
According to the newspaper report, quoting Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye, the prime minister had told a party caucus meeting that he would step down before next month and hand over the top job of running the country to another person within the National Alliance.
However, Kaiwi said this was not true, adding that the party has a provision within the NA constitution for the nomination of its leadership.
He said there was no vacancy in the party leadership and Sir Michael was still the parliamentary NA leader.
According to the NA constitution, the selection of a new party leader is taken during party conventions by party members. The prime minister is elected by members of parliament, not by individuals and political parties.
It is understood that the party leadership issue would be one of the highlights at the NA national convention in Western Highlands’ Jiwaka region.
THE late Sir Brian Bell has been described as a great friend, an astute businessman and a true humanitarian and philanthropist, The National reports.
When expressing sadness at the knight’s passing, NCD Governor Powes Parkop said Sir Brian had progressively and successfully worked towards developing and rehabilitating the city since arriving in Port Moresby.
“I am very sad to hear of the death of Sir Brian Bell.”
He said Sir Brian’s contributions had been “through both his entrepreneurial endeavours and his humanitarian and philanthropic efforts.
“His keen business acumen has seen to the establishment of 10 retail outlets and more than 25 distribution agencies, not just in Port Moresby but all major commercial centres in PNG bringing employment to thousands of Papua New Guineans and quality, affordable services to individuals, companies and government departments throughout the country,” Parkop said.
“His humanitarian and philanthropic efforts are just as extensive.”
Sir Brian was on the board and committee of many charities, the notable ones being the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal and the Port Moresby GeneralHospital, which he served as chairman for a very long time.
“As chairman, Sir Brian directed the PMGH board the way he directed his many businesses – astutely and based on good business practices.
“He was always punctual and chaired his meetings concisely, always interested in outcomes.
“It was his dream to make PMGH the best in the country.”
Parkop said that one of the administrative matters he pushed hard for and achieved was the purchase of the hospital incinerator.
The Brian Bell group bought the incinerator for the hospital.
“Unfortunately, this is now lying idle as we await approval from the Department of Environment and Conservation.
“In my association with him, I have come to realise Sir Brian to be a man of principle and humility who always attributed his successes to PNG and its people and, so, endeavoured all the time to return to PNG (and this city) his time and efforts through his humanitarian and philanthropic endeavours.
“Sir Brian’s loyalty and generosity to PNG will, no doubt, be hard to fill.
“Through the most difficult times of Port Moresby’s and the country’s economic life, when he could have easily resigned and returned to Australia, Sir Brian persevered in his adopted country.
“City Hall has lost a visionary leader, Port Moresby has lost our leading citizen and friend, PNG has lost our immeasurable development partner,” Parkop said.
Warigiso (right) with DAL highlands regional office administration officer John Kawage.
By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL
A coffee farmer in the highlands has called on the Government to establish a lending bank solely for the coffee industry.
“Coffee is the major export revenue earner and involves the majority of the rural population, therefore it deserves a bank of its own,” says Francis Warigiso.
Warigisio, a long-time coffee farmer in Eastern Highlands province, claimed there was no commitment by the Coffee Industry Corporation and relevant government agencies in promoting the coffee industry and supporting small coffee groups and individuals.
He is a key figure in the success of the Namauka and Lupae coffee business development groups.
“Coffee industry makes a lot of money for the country but where is the money going to?” Warigisio wonders.
“I believe it is about time that the money is pumped into establishing a coffee bank – a bank that only coffee farmers can utilise.
“These are public funds that should be used in improving the coffee industry especially for the sake of the future generations.”
Warigisi, a onetime provincial politician who started producing coffee more than 20 years ago, suggested that a major coffee survey be conducted to seek the views of the coffee farmers and stakeholders.
“Many coffee farmers, producers, buyers and stakeholders are not satisfied with the services provided by CIC and other government agencies and will support moves to revitalise the industry,” he said.
Warigiso said coffee export licences were given to those who were not genuine in developing the industry.
The levy collected from coffee sales should be given back as a bonus to the farmers, he added.
From Fimito village outside Goroka, the enterprising farmer, who also grows rice, said any monies raised from coffee should be used wisely to improve the industry and to benefit the farmers who worked so hard.
More funding should be used to set up coffee nurseries in every district.
Warigiso said many Papua New Guinea-owned coffee groups were operating successfully because of good management.
These groups deserved more support from the government due to increase in costs of goods and services.
HIV/AIDS is already having a noticeable impact on
households’ ability to produce their own food.
Escalating labour shortages are reported in some African
countries due to high HIV/AIDS prevalence.
Food insecurity, labour shortage, loss of household income,
shift in the type farming practices and loss of knowledge on traditional method
of farming are some of the effects that HIV/AIDS could have on agricultural
development.
Until recently, HIV/AIDS was considered to be mainly a
health issue and programmes for combating the epidemic were managed by health
science and health-related organisations.
However, the impact of HIV/AIDS on development programmes experienced in
countries where HIV/AIDS prevalence is high, has forced the health and other
development agencies to approach the problem from different angles.
The epidemic is now
an important cross-sectoral development issue, which has far-reaching
implications for policy and programs at every level than currently envisaged by
leaders, policy makers and the public at large.
According the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the
United Nations, over seven million agricultural workers have died of AIDS since
it was first detected in 1982.
Studies conducted by FAO in
African countries with high HIV AIDS prevalence have found farming families
affected by the epidemic are substituting cash crops for crops which require
less labour.
FAO observed that Gwanda and Nakyerira regions
of Uganda
have abandoned coffee in favour of cultivated cassava and banana, which require
less attention and care.
Affected families have also
stopped cultivating rice in favour of maize and cassava. FAO also observed that
affected families in Zimbabwe
have replaced cotton and groundnut (peanut) with maize.
While the impact of HIV/ AIDS is not yet seriously felt in Papua New Guinea,
it is quite clear that the epidemic would have an impact on our agriculture and
food production system, if it is allowed to spread at the current trend and not
contained quickly (Figure 1).
This poses serious
challenges to our agriculture and food production system, as up to 85% of the
people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Therefore, the
agriculture sector cannot continue with business as usual but must join hands
with other partners to jointly address the epidemic.
Figure 1: Total number of HIV infections reported annually
from 1987 – 2008 in PNG. Source: UNGASS 2010, Country Progress Report Papua New Guinea.
Key stakeholders in the agriculture sector need to
understand and prepare for the likely impact of HIV/AIDS on our food and
agricultural systems.
They need to develop strategies to address the likely impact
that HIV/AIDS would have, particularly in relation to food, nutrition, and
labour requirements.
It is important to explore which agricultural systems are
being or will be affected in what ways and what aspects of each agricultural
system are most vulnerable.
This will help identify and formulate strategies for the way
forward for sustainable agricultural development.
It is essential for agricultural research and development (R&D)
organisations to develop strategies to address issues concerning what is
happening, what is likely to happen, what can be done, what are the likely
responses, and gender issues.
It would appear that policies and strategies currently in
place aimed at promoting or improving agriculture in PNG have not given serious
enough considerations to the detrimental impacts and implications of HIV/AIDS.
NARI is aware of these issues and has initiated necessary
steps to address the problem effectively by mainstreaming HIV AIDS.
Not only is the institute concerned with minimising risks
and disruption and distress at its workplaces, but also with orienting its R&D
activities to minimise and/or alleviate the effects of the epidemic on farming
systems and agricultural communities.
To strengthen its commitment, the institute developed and
launched its HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy in 2007 which emphasises NARI’s
concern on the rapid spread of the epidemic, especially in the rural areas
where NARI’s work is focussed.
NARI workplace policy is intended to provide guidelines for the institute
practices with respect to its mandate and stakeholders, and the mainstreaming
of strategies to deal with the implications of the epidemic in its core
research and development activities.
While NARI and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector have
initiated steps at organisation level to address the epidemic, the way forward
is to approach the problem collectively, as the impact is likely to affect the
entire agricultural sector, from food crops to plantations and livestock.
The future impact of HIV/AIDS on agriculture will depend, among other
things, on finding ways to reduce the labour requirement by introducing less
labour-intensive methods of production and farm mechanisation with simple
agricultural tools.
It is anticipated that the
epidemic would intensify labour shortages, increase food insecurity, loss of
household income, shift in farming systems, and loss of knowledge about
traditional farming methods.
The HIV/AIDS and gender component of the Agricultural Research and
Development Support Facility funded by AusAID is one of the avenues that could
be used to bring together all stakeholders to address the epidemic
collectively.
This also presents an
opportunity to review and revise R&D programmes and design interventions to
address and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS.
This is the time to start thinking and acting seriously about
integrating HIV/AIDS in agricultural R&D programmes.
The task looks more complex than many may think and it is important for
the agriculture sector to act now.
Friends and family of longtime Goroka and Eastern Highlands
province resident, Richard Ashton Carver, are advised of his passing in Goroka
on Sunday, July 25.
Born 1st September 1916, died 25 July 2010.
A dinosaur from a bygone era, Richard was a man with a great work ethic,
great ingenuity and bucket loads of tenacity.Apart from his many achievements – he will
be most remembered for his tenacity and will to live – clearly demonstrated in
the past few years, where with the help of a few friends he ‘escaped’ from an
Australian nursing home, which had left him unable to move, bedridden, and
without all his mental faculties.Upon
returning back to PNG, he threw out his medication and little by little began
to move his body again.He progressed to a wheelchair, and only
two weeks before his death, Richard had progressed to the point where he stood
up and walked …… much to the surprise of all family members.His
speech, hearing and mental ability had all returned to normal.It
was true testimony to his fighting spirit and will to live.Dearly missed by friends and family.
Funeral Service: Wednesday 28 July 2010 at 1200 pm, St
JohnsLutheranChurch Burial: Wednesday 28
July 2010 at 4.00pmPark Ridge Estates
PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare has expressed deep sorrow over the death of businessman Sir Brian Bell (pictured) in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday, The National reports.
To many, Sir Brian, 82, could be described as a great man of the people; an honoured gentleman and citizen and a friend of Papua New Guinea.
Over the years, Brian Bell had become Mr B, a nametag that had stayed on until his death.
“Sir Brian has made considerable contributions to his adopted country Papua New Guinea for more than 50 years in business development and innumerable humanitarian causes.
“I take my hat off to this pioneer businessman who contributed to various organisations such as being chairman of the Port Moresby GeneralHospital until his death.
“He also served as deputy lord mayor of Port Moresby, a member of the PNG lands board, the Salvation Army advisory board and the PNG law and order committee.
“He was at one time chairman of UPNG Foundation, the NCD South Pacific Festival of Arts (1980) and the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. Sir Brian also served as patrons of AIESECPNGUniversity and the Port Moresby City Mission.
“Apart from setting up a school just outside Port Moresby, Sir Brian also helped in offering scholarships and funding to many needy and deserving young Papua New Guineans.”
The man from Cinchilla, Queensland, has been in PNG for longer than he has ever been at home and, for most of his years here, he has been a citizen.
Sir Brian, CSM, KBE, C.St.J, was knighted by the Queen for his many contributions to business and charity in PNG.
“PNG has recognised his invaluable contributions and bestowed upon him a number of well-earned awards over the years,” Sir Michael said.
Sir Brian was also the honorary consul-general of Norway and Sweden.
“On behalf of Papua New Guineans, Lady Veronica and my family, I sincerely thank the late Sir Brian’s family for his many contributions.
“He will be remembered by many whose lives he touched,” Sir Michael said.
Sir Brian was an icon who had been at the helm of his business everyday since he began in 1961, and had singularly been responsible for building up a
quality conscious non-food mercantile, hardware, home and electrical appliances business in Papua New Guinea – expanding from Port Moresby to Lae, Kokopo, Madang, Mt Hagen and other smaller towns in the country.
Brian Bell & Company Ltd has become one of Papua New Guinea`s premier retailer, wholesaler and distributor of non-food and clothing products companies.
Through its extensive branch and distribution network, it offers a wide range of products and services to businesses, aid agencies, mining companies, government departments and individuals throughout the country.
Brian Bell`s retail network comprises 10 retail outlets and more than 25 distribution agencies in all major commercial centres in PNG.
ACTING Prime Minister Don Polye has made known his intentions to contest the prime minister’s post, The Nationalreports.
Polye said he would make public his candidacy at the National Alliance party convention in the Jiwaka region next month.
He told reporters that there must be a strike of balance between all the other regions of the country, with Paias Wingti being the only prime minister from the region.
“Now is the time to give a chance to the highlands region,” Polye said.
He was speaking after announcing the ministerial portfolios of the new ministers last Thursday.
“With the new ministries, I do not think the Somare-Polye government will fall.
“The opposition cannot go and oust a government when you do not have a notice in parliament,” Polye said.
He said the opposition was trying to mislead the public and create instability within government.
The new cabinet ministers and their portfolios are Lucas Dekena (Lands), Francis Potape (Climate Change), Moses Maladina (Trade), Benjamin Poponawa ( Civil Aviation and Immigration), John Pundari (Mining), Timothy Bonga (Forest), Guma Wau (Culture and Tourism) and Fidelis Semoso (Bougainville Affairs).
The climate change, trade and immigration are new ministries.
“I ask the people of PNG, the public and private sectors to accord the new ministers their full support and cooperation.”
Polye said the new team would be the backbone of the new-look Somare-Polye government, stressing that the team would not be moved in any political horse trading.
He said the aim of the new group was to go into cabinet to discuss and review some of the controversial and much debated issues such as the amendments to the Ombudsman Commission Act.
He said other bills brought before parliament would also be reviewed by the new leaders.
“Nation building is not only to do with individuals with picks and shovels, plants and equipment or saws and hammers,’’ Polye said. “It is more so with the building of the culture in the mind and heart of hard work, strive, thrifty, industrious, honesty and justice in Papua New Guineans, children, women and men.
“A society of high standard in values and principles is what we must build,” Polye said.
Trade Minister Moses Maladina said the Ombudsman Commission Bill was introduced as a private member’s bill and he would also bring that up in cabinet for further discussion.
THE stories of those brave men and women who fought in World War II to make it possible for us to have the freedom we enjoy today, must be properly documented and placed prominently in our national history, Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane said, The National reports.
Speaking at the 29th Remembrance Day ceremony in Port Moresby last Friday, Sir Paulias said this would “instil pride in us at their sacrifice and to remember them forever”.
“This history is an obligation for Papua New Guineans to remember the heroes who fought and helped, not just in the war, but also during the Bougainville crisis, so we can live to see this day,” he said.
Hosted by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, the celebration was themed “Building a strong and prosperous nation”, which Sir Paulias said was the reflection of the war, their efforts and the hardships and challenges that go into nation-building.
He said one such challenge was that children of today were not taught the importance and significance of Remembrance Day.
“I urge parents to ensure that their children understand the day and do not miss these ceremonies just because none of their relatives died,” the governor-general said.
“Children of today and tomorrow have the obligation to remember these brave people because their rights to be remembered far outweigh our rights to forget.”
Sir Paulias said we all must remember and know that it was when Australia realised that they were alone in the war that indigenous people of PNG assisted them, adding that this led to their continued relationship between both nations today.
“There is no greater love from a man than to lay down his life for another, and it is this selflessness and humility which are some of the key virtues in our
constitution that we must embrace and practice to build a strong and prosperous nation,’’ he said.
“Let us emulate spirit and dedication of our heroes.”
Floriculture is one of the new endeavours currently being promoted strongly in East New Britain to provide womenfolk the opportunity to cultivate and sell plants and flowers to contribute to household income generation.
Last weekend a first-of-its-kind flower show was held at Vunapope Diocese Hall to make the public more aware of this potential.
The flower show is only the second project under the East New Britain Women and Youth in Agriculture partnership with National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), Cocoa Coconut Institute (CCI) and Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL).
The first project is the commercialising of taro in which the women in agriculture have promoted the great potential in exporting taro as a cash commodity.
Pictured here are some mothers in ENB displaying their plants.
CIC staff led by company secretary Sally Maladina (standing at back),while from right Kaiyo Kana, Rose Romalus, Matei Labun and Ingu Bofeng discuss in their group
By AUGUSTINE DOMINIC of CIC
The Coffee Industry Corporation can effectively deliver its services right down to coffee farmers and stakeholders in the districts level with a new business plan drawn up recently.
Chief executive officer of CIC Navi Anis said during the closing of a two-week planning workshop in Lae last week that the plan highlighted specific issues that CIC needed to prioritise and design projects to implement the needed service.
He said the business plan translated the revised PNG Coffee Industry Strategic Plan (PNGCISP), 2008-2018 to achievable and measurable objectives and projects for implementation.
The plan targets both the remote and accessible areas of Papua New Guinea that grow either Arabica or Robusta coffee.
Depending on project priority and funding, CIC aims to improve its services to the districts under the six main thematic areas: productivity; scale of production; marketing systems; information and communication; legal and policy; and capacity building.
Workshop facilitator Dr Simba Simbanda encouraged the participants, especially from CIC, to believe in themselves and take ownership of the plan in order to implement it and achieve the desired results.
The workshop was funded by the Australian Research and Development Support Facility (ARDSF) via AusAID and is a follow-up of various other workshops being held since 2009 and early 2010 to translate the PNGCISP into achievable plans.
Various workshop participants expressed great satisfaction for gaining the programme planning knowledge.
Manager for CIC’s industry regulation and compliance Sam Menaga said such knowledge was offered at university level and was gained over a number of years, however, he was fortunate to be part of the process.
CIC board director James Korarome shared similar sentiments and encouraged CIC staff to work together to being the services to coffee farmers and other stakeholders.
“When I was outside, I complained a lot that CIC was not doing much for the coffee farmers in the country, but since I became involved in the programme planning process of CIC, I can understand the constraints that CIC faces to deliver its services,” he said.
That’s the problem. Where to, now, Oz? With a driver who has really only taken the car out on sunny Sundays so far?? First days in commuter traffic have resulted in dents and embarrassment. Good neighbour SBY doesnt appreciate the big "detention centre" scrape on his friendly parked vehicle, but he's keeping quiet, hoping his Aussie counterparts grow up and learn manners and respect sometime soon. Remember the Lombok Agreement, Julia?
And you have further impoverished Australia's standing in the Pacific by taking such a clumsy, insular, pedantic stance over Frank Bainimarama's regime and its ongoing management of Fiji. Confrontation will produce nothing positive in Melanesia and Pacific society. This culture is - and this is a weakness as well as a positive element- one where Winston Churchill's famous admonition to “Jaw, jaw, not war, war," is the basic rule of the game. A game which will be played out regardless of big-daddy intervention from the two regional metropolitan nations.No skill, no savvy,no street-smarts at all, in the official Australian relationships with Fiji and with PNG.
Gillard looked good on TV despite the gratingly “Melbourne painter-and-docker" variant of our normal Australian accent. In practice she is making the same sort of errors as Kevin did, firing from the hip without consultation. Is this the product of supreme self-satisfaction as it was in Kev, or simple naivety? Gillard herself was intimately concerned in the design of some of the most damaging projects of Rudd's time at the wheel.Only implemented a few short months ago, like the home-insulation scheme resulting in the deaths of installers, and the scandal-ridden schools building program- these matters are still reverberating loudly
So it’s hard to be at all enthusiastic about Labour this time round, let alone supportive when it is born in mind that Labour is cosying-up bigtime with the Greens for preferences, ushering in the spectre of Green control of the Senate. May providence not allow this!!
Any ideology of the faith-driven, "handed-down as immutable truth" kind is a proven curse to humanity - and we in Australia need the Greens and their patronising " just do it like we say, theres a good boy/girl" attitude just like we need the crazier versions of guitar-driven evangelical Christianity or militant Islamists as political leaders and opinion -makers.
Neither of the major Australian parties has any good, solid, experienced front-row forwards, nor any dazzling wingers. Very ordinary, unexceptional and almost entirely unproven in real-world matters.Once upon a time the two main parties were driven by beliefs derived from life-experience. labour was powered by experienced union officials, socialist lawyers and activists in left-wing causes. Liberal/National conservatives were led and pushed by everyday business people from small to very big, capitalist/business-minded lawyers and an occasional academic who had the guts to stand up and speak out in an environment domibnated by socialist thinkers.
Today, all any of them care about is getting their shiny bums on the seats inthe big house in Canberra.Power and the chance to rule is what turns them all, almost without exception, on.
So the only way for us voters, one step forward at the risk of half a a step back, is to vote for the Mad Monk's Mob.Regardless of our feelings about hairy little men who run around in tiny underpants and nothing else.
So as to avoid an unproductive period of subjection to social-engineering originating in a Green-influenced Senate. Let’s hope this era is not a long one. Talk about Hobson's choice!
A soldier of the Papua Infantry Battalion in January
1941. It was a patrol of the PIB that on July 23 1942, at Awala, first
encountered the Japanese advancing from the north Papuan coast up the Kokoda
Track. Picture by AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
Papua New Guinea carriers on the
Kokoda Track in August 1942. Captain GH ‘Doc’ Vernon, the medical officer for the carriers
on Kokoda wrote: “…the immediate prospect before them was grim, a meal that
consisted only of rice and none too much of that, and a night of shivering
discomfort for most as there was only enough blankets to issue on to every
man.” (Vernon, quoted by Victor Austin, To Kokoda and Beyond: The Story of the
39th Battalion, 1941-1943). Picture by AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
Papua New Guinean
stretcher bearers tending Private A Baldwin 2/33rd Battalion, on the
Kokoda Track, October 1942. Of the care of the bearers, Captain Henry ‘Blue’
Steward, Regimental Medical Officer, 2/16th Battalion, wrote: “With
four men each side of a stretcher, they took it in turns to sleep and to watch, giving each
wounded man whatever food, drink or comfort there might be. “ (HD Steward,
Recollections of a Regimental Medical Officer). Picture by AUSTRALIAN WAR
MEMORIAL
Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel
statue at the war museum at Kokoda.-Nationalpic by MALUM NALU
By MALUM NALU
Remembrance Day falls tomorrow (Friday July 23) - a public holiday - but surprisingly few Papua New Guineans continue to know the significance of the day.
Thousands of young people do not seem to know the sacrifices of their grandfathers during World War 11 and ensuing conflicts such as the recently-ended one on Bougainville.
Remembrance Day is held on July 23 in recognition of the first engagement between PNG troops of the native Papua Infantry Battalion and Japanese troops on that day in 1942 at Awala near Kokoda.
The PIB fought in Buna, Gona, Sanananda and Kumusi in the Northern Province alongside Australian soldiers.
Tomorrow marks the 68th anniversary of the first engagement by PNG and Australian forces against the invading Japanese in WWII.
Out of the chaos and death that followed came the enduring heroism of the Kokoda Trail, and the special relationship that has bound PNG and Australia ever since.
It was on this day, in 1942, that Japanese troops landed on the northern coast of New Guinea and unexpectedly began to march over the OwenStanleyRanges with the intent of capturing Port Moresby.
Had they succeeded, the mainland of Australia would have come under dire threat.
Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the first engagement between the opposing troops, and from that engagement, as the Australian force was progressively outnumbered, began the long fighting withdrawal over the Owen Stanley Range.
The 21st Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Potts DSO MC, was rushed to New Guinea and within days, its 1, 500 men were closing in on the precarious OwenStanleyRanges in an attempt to position themselves to stop the advance of the Japanese forces - now building up to over 10, 000 men.
The brigade also engaged the ill-trained but gallant militia 39th Battalion at Isurava in the foothills on the far side of the range.
In 1942, a seldom-used track climbed from the small village of Buna on the north coast of Papua, over the OwenStanleyRanges and on to Port Moresby.
The track was fairly easy up the slopes through Gorari and Oivi to the village of Kokoda, which stood on a small plateau 400 metres above sea level, flanked by mountains rising to over 2000 metres.
It then climbed over steep ridges and through deep valleys to Deniki, Isurava, Kagi, Ioribaiwa, Ilolo and, at Owers’ Corner, linked with a vehicle road leading from plantations in the hills above Port Moresby down to the coastal plains.
Between Kokoda and Ilolo, the track often climbed up gradients so steep that it was heartbreaking labor for burdened men to climb even a few hundred yards.
Much of the track was through dense rainforest, which enclosed the narrow passage between walls of thick bush.
At higher levels the terrain became moss and stunted trees, which were often covered in mist.
From July to November 1942, this was the setting for a bitter campaign to prevent the fall of Port Moresby.
On January 23, 1942, the Japanese landed at Kavieng on New Ireland and at Rabaul on New Britain where they quickly overcame the Australian defenders.
On March 8, the Japanese established themselves firmly at Lae and Salamaua in Morobe.
But the famous Battle of the Coral Sea from May 5 to 8 averted a Japanese sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby.
The American success at the Battle of Midway in June not only destroyed Japan's capacity for undertaking long range offensives but also provided the Americans with the opportunity to move from the defensive to the offensive.
The Japanese, who were regularly bombing Port Moresby with 20 to 30 bombers with fighter escort, decided on the overland attack across the OwenStanleyRanges.
On the Kododa Trail the Australian 7th Division resisted the Japanese General Horii's overland attempt to capture Port Moresby, and the advance was halted within 30 miles of the city.
A small force of Australians known as ‘Maroubra Force’ arrived at Buna on July 21, 1942, as the first Japanese force of 15, 00 men landed at Gona, eight miles to the west.
The first engagement between the opposing troops was on July 23, 1942, and from that engagement, as the Australian force was progressively outnumbered, began the long fighting withdrawal over the Owen Stanley Range.
Kokoda is a small plateau on the north-east slopes of the Owen Stanley Range and possessed a small airstrip the retention of which, for at least as long as it would take Australia to fly in supplies and reinforcements, was of great importance.
However, the remnants of Maroubra Force, exhausted by a month's constant fighting, were unable to achieve this.
Valiant though their effort was, even recapturing the plateau after being driven out, the Japanese need was of equal importance.
They needed a forward base at Kokoda for their drive over the ranges along the Kokoda Trail to Port Moresby and they struck before the Australians were able to muster sufficient strength.
The initiative now remained with the Japanese and Australian withdrawal began again -through Isurava, Alola, Templeton's Crossing, Myola, Efogi, Menari and Nauro until at Ioribaiwa Ridge, beyond which the Japanese could not be permitted to penetrate, a final stand was made.
From August 26 to September 16 in 1942, Brigadier Potts's Maroubra Force, consisting of the 2/16th Battalion, together with the 2/14th, the 2/27th and the militia 39th and scattered elements of the ill-trained 53rd Battalion - outnumbered and outgunned by an estimated five to one - fought the Japanese to an eventual standstill on the ridges overlooking Port Moresby.
Two main battles were fought during that period (Isurava August 26 to 29 and Brigade ‘Butchers' Hill from September 6 to 8).
In general, the desperately tired but determined force kept themselves between the Japanese Major General Horri's South Sea Force and Port Moresby - defending, retreating and then counter-attacking in a masterly display of strategic defence.
Conditions were almost indescribable.
It rained for most of the time, the weary men endured some of the most difficult terrain in the world and they were racked by malaria and dysentery.
But they kept on fighting, making the enemy pay dearly for every yard of ground.
They bought time for those being prepared to come up from Port Moresby to relieve them.
The Australians, however, had a surprise in store for the enemy.
This was in the form of 25-pounder guns brought from Moresby to the road head at Owers’ Corner and then laboriously dragged into position at Imita Ridge, opening up on the enemy's barricades.
It was now the turn of the Japanese to suffer what the Australians had suffered in the preceding two months.
Australian shelling smashed Japanese defences and aggressive patrols inflicted severe losses.
On the morning of September 28 the Australians were closing in and it became evident then the Japanese were withdrawing.
The chase, with the Australians the pursuers, was now on.
The Japanese, despite sickness and hunger, were still formidable and tenaciously defended all the places in their withdrawal as the Australians had in their retreat some weeks earlier.
Kokoda was entered on November 2 and this was the beginning of the end of Japanese hopes in Papua.
The campaign now entered a phase known as ‘The Battle of the Beaches’.
The Japanese were bottled up in the area from where they had begun their drive against Port Moresby some months previously - Buna and Gona.
This final campaign began on November 19, 1942, and ended on January 22, 1943, when all organised resistance by the Japanese in Papua ended.
Lt Col Honner DSO MC, who commanded the gallant 39th in the campaign, later wrote of these men in the foreword to Peter Brune's book 'Those Rugged Bloody Heroes': "They have joined the immortals."
Of those that did not survive, he wrote: "Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free."
In his usual combatitive rapid-response style of firing from the hips to a recent Admiral's commentary, our intrepid Moses does not quiet answer his own question, the title of his article: How will Julia Gillard help Papua New Guinea become independent and fight corruption through good governance? There are many answers to this question.
John Fowke either avoids answering the big issue questions stimulated by the article: "What should Australia do about PNG", or denies that AusAid is an ongoing problem. He does not quiet say What Australia should do about PNG, but right away gets stuck into so-called PNG's middle-class, as if such a class system exists at all. Not now, but maybe in the future.
The response would have been helpful if it touched upon certain key areas requiring some change in future. So do we still keep AusAid considering its ineffectiveness to date ('boomerang aid'), or do we try to make it better, hoping it brings good results in future.
Some previous attempts in recent times resulted in unsatisfactory outcomes. So do we scrap AusAid by substituting it with Trade (AusTrade) in a partnership arrangement between the two countries in future? I think so too.
What Australia should do about PNG makes the suggestion for new PM Julia Gillard to rethink Australia's current aid arrangements with PNG and it is time to make a major paradigm shift in its policy towards PNG (and smaller Pacific Island Countries or PIC). In future, Australia would better serve PNG by implementing a new strategy of doing more bilateral trade relations with PNG. Ms Gillard must now consider increased trade relations with PNG than just the gesture of giving aid away to PNG.
Presently, AusAid has come under much criticism that much of it boomerangs back to the donor country with recipients not having much to show for it over time. In reality, many PNGeans see AusAid more of a one-way handout approach and is at best materialistic. More over, AusAid must not be seen as the only way Australia can help PNG by delivering AusAid materially, with advice and instruction.
I agree with Moses for the educated middle-class working together to turn the country around is agreed with, but this is every citizen's job from PM Somare to the villager in rural PNG. This collective nationwide strategy of getting everyone working together and not just the middle-class doing an honest day's work will take a long time, but change; no matter how hard and long will eventually come to PNG.
But it is only one approach. To improve good governance, PNG's national workforce must work in synergy. This will be a long-term strategy and must be consolidated over time from a domestic resource-base than externally from Australia though its aid program.
On the other hand, the solutions to political corruption are many. What PNG needs today and in future is a more multi- strategy approach. Unlike AusAid, a new policy strategy must be designed by both PNG and Australia's input for mutual benefits.
While AusAid has worked to an extent for many years, its long-term effectiveness is being questioned more and more in recent years following complaints by recipients in the Pacific. For years PNG raised many concerns to the Australian government about AusAid's shortcomings ('boomerang aid'), and how it can be improved in future.
Despite DFAT's best efforts over the years to improve AusAid's inherent deficiencies, recipients like PNG are still complaining that AusAid effectiveness needs to be improved with locally targeted projects planning being directly factored into the government's own development plans, so it can be better managed and progress monitored and tracked along pre-determined milestones.
However, there is a much bigger problem with AusAid for a long time so what are needed are helpful insights and suggestions.
hope DFAT planners reads this for Foreign Minister Stephen Smith to some good policy advice to Julia Gillard on alternative ways to help PNG more than her predecessors by making a major policy shift from 'Aid to Trade'.
Today, AusAid is seen more a one-sided policy that could be contributing one way or another to political corruption in PNG. Getting AusAid right has proven somewhat elusive for many years despite several AusAid reviews with proposed solutions, with a view to getting some good results.
A new trade policy between PNG and Australia under a partnership framework is very much needed, because it will have more added benefits than the current aid arrangements. I have confident Julia Gillard will go one up from where both John Howard and Kevin Rudd left off.
