Is it time to bring back the kiaps?

BY PHIL FITZPATRICK

WHEN MICHAEL SOMARE WAS AGITATING for self-government and independence the kiaps were a prime focus of his anti-colonial rhetoric.

Along with the opposition, which was then mostly comprised of Highlanders, the kiaps were urging caution in the nation building process.

At the District Commissioners Conference in 1972, Somare said that the kiaps would have to be sensitive to the feelings of the government.

“These officers will also have to be sensitive to the feelings and aspirations of the political leaders representing both central and local government in the field.  Much has been said of the overbearing attitudes of some DDA officers. 

“This has often been unfair criticism because in the majority of cases such an attitude does not exist.  Unfortunately, in isolated cases it does exist.  I think I should make it clear that my Government will not tolerate over-bearing behaviour by any public servants.”

Most kiaps, especially their boss, Tom Ellis, were able to read between the lines and a lot of them started packing their suitcases.

Somare’s call was echoed by academics at the Australian National University, the University of Papua New Guinea, within the Australian Labor Party and at the United Nations.

As history records, Somare won the day and the kiaps became the scapegoats for everything that was wrong in Papua New Guinea.

When many of them reluctantly returned to Australia, their reception was not unlike that afforded to the Australian soldiers who had served in Vietnam.

It is only recently that a grudging recognition has been given to both groups.  Curiously enough this has come from the very academic institutions which derided them in the first place.

A few days ago I played host to an anthropology student who is writing a thesis about the early interaction between the kiaps and the Biami (Bedamini) people of the Nomad area in Western Province.

 His interest partly stems from the fact that his mother is a daughter of the famous Tabua clan of Daru.

In the process of assisting him, I did a trawl through my collection of Papua New Guinea papers.

Among other things, I rediscovered a collection of election posters from the 1968 House of Assembly elections.  I also found a copy of the Department of District Administration (DDA) Departmental Standing Instructions: General Field Administration, Volume One (I think volume two was the local government instructions) and a thin green covered booklet, lavishly illustrated, setting out the role of the department.

The booklet was very interesting.  In a nutshell it explained that the multifarious roles of the kiaps included collecting census data, running elections, developing agricultural and health projects, anthropological research, supervision of police and investigations, local court magistrate, supervision of correctional institutions, construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, wharves and airstrips, land surveys and purchase, land title claims and conversions, mining exploration liaison, setting up resettlement schemes, exploratory patrols, construction of patrol posts and base camps, border patrols and  liaison with the Indonesians, setting up and advising local government councils and mundane things like running banking; the list goes on and on.

This jack of all trades approach was what the kiaps were all about. Not only did they personally see that services and functions were effectively delivered within their rural bailiwicks they also acted as lobbyists for their patch in the excruciating process of extracting funds from Port Moresby.  Often they managed to create services and build infrastructure seemingly out of thin air.

Take the building of the Highlands Highway, for instance.  District Commissioner Ian Downs collected WW2 scrap metal and sold it to buy shovels and axes which he gifted to workers on the proviso that they try them out for a month or so building his road.

It was an equitable agreement for everyone concerned, especially the coffee and tea planters, both local and expatriate.

This made me wonder.  Now that the approbations revolving around the kiaps has finally died down and Somare looks like exiting ungraciously from politics would it be worthwhile to revisit the idea of a kiap system.

A few modifications will need to be made for these modern times but Peter O’Neill’s father was a kiap and he, of all people, should appreciate the value of the role.

Comments

[Tavurvur]

I would agree with Phil's comment on his own post, that is, the idea of bringing back Kiaps "is simply wishful thinking".

As Paul identified, the fundamental issue our leaders had with Kiaps was with "control" and the ability they had to influence our people.

There is no doubt that Kiaps played a vital role in all facets of nation-building in PNG, and as far as I am concerned, if we didn't have Kiaps - God only knows where we would be today.

But the idea of bringing back Kiaps in modern PNG, is quite bluntly, out of date. Even if a modern version of the Kiap was introduced, it is not the right answer.

[Moais Gabuar]

The kiaps did a great job during the pre-independence era of this country's development.

However, I do not see how and where a reintroduced kiap system would fit into todays administrative framework.

Furthermore, the roles of former kiaps as listed above have now been delegated to respective departments.

Today's District Administrators (DA's) play a somewhat downsized role of the kiaps less most of the functions. Even then, I still have my doubts about the idea.

[Michael Dom]

This is an interesting idea, but would the kiaps have exactly the same role or even welcome as before?

The overall outcome from the past group were admirable, but what suggestions on how such a role may be workable in todays PNG society, where Melanesian ethics is more than a little strained of late?

Wouldn't some argue that this idea is a return to colonialism?

Would such a role be accepted at the LLG level?

May be it's time for the next evolution?

[Phil Fitzpatrick]

I didn't have in mind bringing back geriatric Australian kiaps - rather, I meant setting up a similar system with new, young and fit PNG kiaps and kiapesses.

I cannot envisage any PNG politician handing over that sort of power any time soon however, so it is simply wishful thinking.

That aside, there's nothing wrong with my knees, Ilya, and I'm heading up there for a bit of bush bashing next week. My brother in law who is also an exkiap is currently out in the jungle scouting seismic lines.

[Ilya Gridneff]

Bringing back the kiaps would be a good idea, but I am not sure their knees or backs are up for it

Most would be in their 60s-70-80s?

[Paul Oates]

The system of administration the Kiaps' controlled was essentially fair, transparent, uncorrupted and provided rural government services while ensuring basic law and order prevailed. But therein lay the essential impasse. They were in control.

Those Kiaps who wanted to stay on were quite happy to follow directions from anyone in a position of authority, wherever they came from and whoever they were.

Their presence however created a dilemma for some emerging political leaders. Looking back, that was understandable, given the need for these newly emerging leaders to feel they had now achieved control over their own country’s destiny.

At a day of Shared History at the National Archives in Canberra in 2010, it was interesting to hear the then PNG High Commissioner, Charles Lepani, tell those attending that after a few years of Independence, Somare confided to him (Lepani) that maybe the PNG government might have to bring back the kiaps?

Perhaps it is now time to contemplate a PNG day of ‘Shared History’, at say a future anniversary of PNG’s Independence?

[Trevor Freestone.]

The Kiaps did an amazing job developing rural areas. They lived in close contact with the people and knew the local leaders using their authority to develop their clans.

They knew Independence was approaching and started training PNG patrol officers with the intention of continuing this unique PNG system after independence.

They created proud villagers who happily maintained roads to their village. They encouraged villages to build sanitation and safe water supplies. I can remember driving along local roads in the Chimbu and admiring the flower beds along the side of the road.

Then the local government system was introduced and the patrol officers played a really important role in guiding the local councils.

They were also responsible for encouraging the villagers to consider carefully who they elected if they were to get the most benefit from the council.

I greatly admired the work of these kiaps and was so sad when Mr Whitlam seemed to ingnore this system that had been specifically developed for PNG and instead introduced, almost overnight, systems that were suited to Australia not PNG.

I agree that mistakes made in the past should be considered when developing a new system that will modify the current system that does not seem to cater for the villager's needs these days.

PNG a great country with wonderful people deserves a system that benefits everyone.