Keith Jackson & Friends: PNG ATTITUDE

Why are there are no women in PNG’s parliament?

Dr Kerryn Baker was told that money politics and the bribing of election officials greatly affected the chances of women candidates succeeding

STAFF WRITER | Pacific Women | Australian Aid

CANBERRA - Papua New Guinea has a history of extremely low rates of women in parliament. Only seven women have ever been elected in over 40 years and no women were elected to the 111 seat parliament in 2017.

To try to find out what is stopping women from winning elections, Kerryn Baker spoke with a group of unsuccessful candidates and examined the impact of the introduction of the limited preferential voting system on them.

Dr Baker is a research fellow in the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University. In September 2017, she spent time with 26 women from all four of Papua New Guinea’s regions who had contested the 2017 national election.

In general, women contesting PNG elections have fewer financial resources than men running for election. The candidates identified this as a challenge, because well-resourced campaigns are often the most successful.

If we can’t change the government, let’s change the prime minister

Sir Mekere Morauta (left) calls for a joint effort in the PNG parliament to unite MPs in an effort to tip out controversial prime minister Peter O'Neill

SIR MEKERE MORAUTA MP

PORT MORESBY - The merger of PNG Party with the National Alliance is a very clear demonstration of the Opposition’s determination to do everything in its power to change the prime minister.

I am very happy to join National Alliance along with my PNG Party colleagues and together work with like-minded members on the other side to replace the prime minister.

The National Alliance is a well-established party with a record of stability and competent management. it has some outstanding members of parliament in its ranks.

PNG Party has a record of undertaking reform and restoring the country to good health following the havoc caused by a previous People’s National Congress government.

China & APEC: Australia outmanoeuvred - so what's next

Stars in their eyes - Peter O’Neill meets Chinese president Xi Jinping in Beijing

KEITH JACKSON

NOOSA – In early July the alarm bells would have rung to melting point for the Australian government.

This was when Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Pacific leaders to a 'pre-summit' (now being referred to as a "state visit") he will host in Port Moresby ahead of the APEC leaders summit on the weekend of 17-18 November.

Xi had gazumped APEC – and Australia, which had underwritten Papua New Guinea’s hosting of APEC and spent at least $100 million in doing so.

The invitation was revealed by PNG prime minister Peter O’Neill when he addressed the Fijian parliament in Suva on 9 July.

“The invitation from President Xi Jinping is for those Pacific countries that recognise the One-China policy,” O’Neill said. (That is, Pacific nations which have diplomatic relations with China and not Taiwan.)

O’Neill did not reveal what might be on the agenda of the summit, apart from saying “we want the Pacific to benefit from opportunities from Asia”.

The making and unmaking of Papua New Guinea

PHIL FITZPATRICK

TUMBY BAY - Here’s an inescapable truth. Papua New Guinea is Australia’s baby. We conceived it, modelled it and then launched it into the world with ‘Made in Australia’ firmly stamped on its bum.

Our creation was done in the tried and true Australian way known as ‘bush carpentry’. Our lackadaisical administrators pulled together over 800 disparate tribes using fencing wire and odd bits of wood and some rusty tin and called it a dinky-di nation.

We then tossed it the keys and said ‘go for it’.

We weren’t especially interested in who picked up those keys. We just turned our backs and went home. We didn’t even look over our shoulder to see how our cobbled together creation was faring.

Let us not repeat the mistakes we made on Bougainville

Ex PNGDF chief Singirok - "I was a seasoned soldier with a future, but a soft target for the government"

JERRY SINGIROK | Facebook

MADANG - As Bougainville is gearing up for a referendum in 2019 and as time passes - time being the biggest healer - I reflect on the journey we took from which there are very important lessons to learn.

Firstly we should never have had the Bougainville crisis. The government had no negotiating power against a multi-million corporate giant like Rio Tinto. Collectively we destroyed a province, communities and displaced and disintegrated hundreds of families.

Many mothers are now widowed and raising children without their fathers. Communities are split and deep emotions run through the minds of people affected directly or indirectly.

I was a seasoned soldier with a future in front of me, but I was a soft target for the government to bring more misery to an already broken community.

I was wounded badly at Panguna mine in 1994. I rescued women and children with troops under my command. My troops were human and vulnerable but had a duty, and under the circumstances did what they were supposed to do.

I revolted against a government who did not put people's welfare first. The government was too swift to end my career in 2000. But I made my mark as commander of the PNG Defence Force.

Top journalist exposes O’Neill-Temu drugs deception

Peter O'Neill and Sir Puka Temu - their consoling words on drug supplies have been found to be false

SIR MEKERE MORAUTA MP

PORT MORESBY - Research conducted by prominent television journalist and blogger Scott Waide has revealed that medical supply claims by health minister Sir Puka Temu are false and misleading.

Mr Waide’s research demonstrated conclusively that there is a critical shortage of medicine and other medical supplies across the nation.

It was conducted during the past week and published during a Facebook Live session on Thursday afternoon with further information available on Mr Waide's Facebook page and blog.

His work proves what we all know in our hearts – that thousands and thousands of people are suffering and dying because of the O’Neill government’s corruption, mismanagement and waste in the health sector.

Your fate is entirely in your hands, Somare tells Bougainvilleans

Dr Momis presents a Bougainville badged replica canoe (a mona) to Sir Michael Somare as the father of the nation farewells the autonomous region

ANTHONY KAYBING

BUKA - Sir Michael Somare has told the people of Bougainville the decision to decide the fate of the autonomous region rests solely with them.

“On 6 June next year the people of Bougainville will be given the privilege to choose whether to remain a part of Papua New Guinea or become an independent nation,” Sir Michael said in a thanksgiving address to mark his farewell visit to the region.

“You have a very experienced leader and statesman in Dr John Momis who will lead you in the right direction and you must be grateful that he is the one leading you, so you must support him,” he said.

“Prior to PNG’s independence, your president and I travelled throughout the country to gauge the views of the people on our path to eventual statehood.”

Answers still needed two years on from UPNG shootings

Comrades run away with a wounded protester after the student shootings - it was great good fortune that no one was killed

ALBERT SCHRAM

VERONA - In any democracy, even flawed ones, police or army shooting of university students who are peacefully protesting is taken very seriously. Not so in Papua New Guinea.

After the 8 June 2016 shootings on the University of PNG campus (which also caused great unrest at the University of Technology in Lae where I was vice-chancellor), an inquiry was promised by prime minister Peter O’Neill, who said that the police had only fired warning shots and tear gas.

But nothing has eventuated. It is now 28 months ago, and counting and I am leading the call for the promised inquiries, if they occurred, to deliver their findings.

Oro governor Gary Juffa like Mr Schram has qualms about the delay in investigating the shootings, which he puts down to a lack of police resources.

Call for transparency in government's luxury car deals

Lawrence Stephens - head of Transparency PNG wants government to come clean on APEC luxury car deals

STAFF REPORTER | Radio New Zealand

PORT MORESBY - Transparency International in Papua New Guinea has urged the O’Neill government to come clean on how it procured a batch of luxury vehicles for the APEC summit.

There's been a public outcry over the government's purchase of 40 Maserati cars and other luxury vehicles to use for transporting leaders at next month's summit.

The government says the vehicles have been committed to eventually be paid for by the private sector at no cost to the state.

Transparency's chairman Lawrence Stephens said the government had failed to reveal procurement documents, let alone a list of private sector entities willing to purchase the vehicles.

"We really do need to know what happened," he said.

Momis praises collaboration with PNG on road to referendum

William Samb, Minister for Bougainville Affairs

ANTHONY KAYBING

BUKA - Collaboration between the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the PNG National Government is gaining momentum as both entities work to prepare for next June’s referendum on Bougainville’s political future, president John Momis said as he welcomed Minister for Bougainville Affairs William Samb to the region.

Dr Momis was adamant that the continued growth in the relationship between both governments would enable the referendum to have credibility as the process unfolded in coming months.

“The Ministry of Bougainville Affairs is the conduit between the ABG and the National Government, and Minister Samb’s arrival shows PNG’s commitment to peace building on Bougainville,” he said.

“The last Joint Supervisory Body meeting was a success that saw both governments consensually agreeing to important issues pertaining to the referendum.

“Paramount amongst these was agreeing to the question to be put.”

Women as peacemakers much needed at this time, says Momis

Momis - 'Through women's joint efforts peace in Bougainville was attained and maintained'

ANTHONY KAYBING

BUKA - The traditional roles of Bougainvillean women have been as custodians of the land and providers of the safety net within the community.

In more recent times these roles have been redefined to include peacemaker, to mark their contributions to the post-civil war Bougainville peace process.

Bougainville president John Momis congratulated the women of Bougainville during five days of celebrating their social contribution to the autonomous province last week.

“Women are an important stakeholder in peace building on Bougainville,” Dr Momis said. “It was through your joint efforts with our leaders, ex-combatants and government that peace was initially attained.

Momis calls for Bougainville solidarity & 90% turnout in referendum

John Momis - 'moral and legal obligation to honour peace agreement despite constraints imposed by PNG'

ANTHONY KAYBING

BUKA - Autonomous Bougainville Government president, Dr John Momis, said Bougainvilleans must present a unified front at the dawn of the referendum in order to secure a viable option for self-determination.

Dr Momis said if Bougainville can secure more than 90% of the popular vote at the referendum on its political future next June, it will have the bargaining power to negotiate with the PNG government.

“After the referendum vote we still have to negotiate with the national government before the referendum result is ratified by parliament,” Dr Momis said.

“Securing a majority vote on one option of the referendum question secures support from the international community and proves to the national government that this is what our people have chosen as the new path for our future,” he said.

The referendum question will ask people to choose between independence and greater autonomy.

“Apart from presenting a unified front it is imperative that we implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement,” Dr Momis said.

“It does not matter if the national government is failing to honour the agreement, we must continue to strive to implement it so that when it comes to the ratification of the outcome of the referendum we can proudly say that we implemented it in its entirety,” he said.

History can be dangerous but historians can find paths to truth

CHRIS OVERLAND

ADELAIDE - Reader Martin Auld has expressed the view that history is written to legitimise those in power and he has concluded that history can be dangerous.

In arguing this, Martin is echoing the words of George Orwell in his novel '1984' where he wrote that “who controls the past controls the future”.

In the novel, the ruling regime was constantly revising history to meet its current needs, even to the extent of fabricating new ‘historic’ records to erase inconvenient truths or falsehoods and replace them with new ‘facts’ that met its political needs.

As Orwell foresaw, we now live in an era where distinguishing between truth and falsehood has become very difficult at times. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are but two examples of leaders who routinely lie to their constituencies.

For PNG’s sake, let’s hope hosting APEC is for the better

APEC Haus, Ela Beach

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO | PNG Informal Economist

PORT MORESBY - In August, under a headline that read ‘APEC is for you PNG’, APEC minister Justin Tkatchenko said the benefits of hosting APEC would last for many years and would strengthen many sectors in the economy.

The minister’s statement seems to portray APEC as a defining event in Papua New Guinea’s history with its impact to resonate for many years to come.

As the date for the APEC leaders’ forum draws nearer, Papua New Guineans will get a chance to assess whether APEC 2018 lives up to its hype and transforms our fortunes for the better.

Or will it instead become a shadow that will haunt us for many years to come. For PNG’s sake, let’s hope for the former.

Big health donors defraud patients by ignoring corruption

The Silver Fox's Den - a diagram not directly related to this article but kindly provided by the folk at PNGi to show the network of companies established by David Johnson, the subject of our story earlier this week, Silver Fox goes to ground after APEC intervention goes awry

STAFF REPORTERS | The Tokaut Blog | Extract

You can read the complete PNGi article here

PORT MORESBY - Papua New Guinea’s health system is in crisis.

Tuberculosis is at epidemic levels, polio has re-emerged, maternal and child mortality rates are among the worst in the world, malaria infections have increased nine-fold in just three years, no radiology treatment is available for cancer patients, rural health clinics lie empty and abandoned….

The list goes on and on.

Yet this is a health system that for decades has been financially and technically supported by some of the world’s largest multilateral agencies, the World Bank, the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and many others.

Why is their assistance so manifestly failing?

What should be the values of the people running PNG?

Martyn Namorong - PNG's Constitution provides guidance for a clear alternative pathway to the future

MARTYN NAMORONG

PORT MORESBY - At independence, Papua New Guinea adopted Christian values from missionaries who said Jesus was our saviour who would provide for us heaven.

Post-independence, the miners and loggers came along with other neoliberal capitalist missionaries from the World Bank, the IMF and other multilateral institutions and told us capitalism was the way to heaven.

Our forefathers believed in the message of Christ and gave their land and resources to the churches.

Today their children believe in capitalist economic development and are giving PNG's land and resources to the capitalists.

Whereas Christian missionaries called for repentance and behavioural change to attain salvation, nowadays we talk of foreign direct investment and economic growth to attain deliverance.

Transparency demands full disclosure of APEC vehicle purchases

Three Bentleys, 40 Maseratis and many luxury SUVs are said to have been purchased for the 3-day APEC forum in Port Moresby

KEITH JACKSON

PORT MORESBY – The Papua New Guinea chapter of Transparency International (TIPNG) has said the only way to stop allegations of corruption is for the government to be honest and transparent in its procurement processes.

Late yesterday TIPNG called for the government and the APEC Authority to publicly disclose the total cost involved in the purchase and import of 40 Maserati and three Bentley sedans and other luxury vehicles which generated controversy in PNG and internationally this week after it was estimated the purchases amounted to at least 40 million kina.

The organisation also said that the government needs to demonstrate that it had complied with public procurement processes.

APEC minister Justin Tkatchenko MP said the government had procured the vehicles in the expectation they would be later sold to private sector buyers after next month’s APEC leaders’ forum in the national capital.

Kramer’s shock allegation: 'The plan to have me assassinated'

BRYAN KRAMER MP

Sam Koim's response to Bryan Kramer's revelation can be downloaded at the end of this statement

MADANG - Two days ago I was contacted by former chairman of Anti-corruption Task Force Sweep, Sam Koim, to inform me he had received reliable intelligence that individuals with political connections were planning to have me assassinated.

Concerned about my safety Mr Koim went out of his way to contact me so that I would take extra care.

I responded I was banking on it but appreciated the head ups. It was no surprise, when you go after high level corruption it's only a matter time you are permanently silenced.

I accepted that fate a long time ago. The real threat won't come from our corrupt and stupid politicians but the foreign nationals who pull the strings from behind the scenes and profit from them.

I have briefed key members in Opposition that I expect to be killed for doing what I do and it is important they are clear on what to do next when that happens.

I don't normally share this information in the public domain, as any information I do share will only be after I am absolutely certain the information is credible without a question of doubt.

So how is it I never seem to be charged or sued over my reports?

Well provided what you publish is the truth you are protected by the law. However, wrongfully accusing someone, then you face civil and even criminal prosecution.

Now it's K2.3 million on Bentleys for APEC: but was there a tender?

Extract of an invoice for 3 Bentley Continental Flying Spurs at a cost of K2.3 million - did this deal go through an open & competitive tender as required?

SIR MEKERE MORAUTA MP

PORT MORESBY - APEC Authority documents reveal that the K2.3 million purchase of three super-luxury Bentleys for the prime minister, APEC minister and others was carried out through the Malaysian medical supplies company Borneo Pacific.

An invoice for the cars sent to APEC Authority CEO Christopher Hawkins comes from South Pacific Ventures of Kuala Lumpur, which describes itself as a business consultancy and health services provider in Papua New Guinea.

Borneo Pacific and South Pacific Ventures are both controlled by a Malaysian family which is close to prime minister Peter O’Neill and other senior politicians, businessmen and public servants.

The family has extensive octopus-like business interests in PNG, and is currently rumoured to be starting a brewery in partnership with the prime minister.

Silver Fox goes to ground after APEC intervention goes awry

David (Silver Fox) Johnson - from his Linked In account

KEITH JACKSON

NOOSA – If I may mix a couple of metaphors, it seems that former Melbourne Grammar boy cum rumoured O’Neill government ‘fixer’, David (Silver Fox) Johnson, has gone to ground after setting the cat amongst the pigeons.

On Wednesday last week, PNG businessman Emmanuel Narakobi shared on Facebook a post by airline company, Ajot, about how it had, on behalf of the PNG government, flown 40 luxury Maserati sedans from Milan to Port Moresby for use during next month’s APEC forum.

Their purchase and means of eventual disposal have been subject to conflicting stories from various PNG ministers including the prime minister. Let us just say the whole deal – which involved in some capacity former Sri Lankan cricket great Aravinda de Silva – is very murky.

Minutes after Narakobi shared the article, he was contacted by a person with a Facebook account called ‘Silver Fox’, who messaged: “You must immediately take down posts of Maserati [or] APEC security act will be inacted [sic]”.

Exams defer national strike until Thursday 25 October

KEITH JACKSON

Gov Gary Juffa, Gov Allan Bird and Bryan Kramer - Planning a nationwide boycott for Thursday 25 October

PORT MORESBY – Opposition members of parliament have deferred  a nationwide strike in Papua New Guinea until Thursday of next week because the protest would have clashed with this week's Grade 12 examinations.

The boycott is to protest against the O'Neill government “colluding with overseas opportunists to steal from our people”.

At a meeting last night, the organisers decided to avoid the strike conflicting with the major national exam, which is sat by 28,000 students.

In the wake of the continuing ‘Maserati scandal’, Oro governor Gary Juffa, East Sepik governor Allan Bird and Madang MP Bryan Kramer together with former prime minister Sir Mekere Morauta, now an MP, issued a call to people to join in the strike by staying home in a show of a nonviolent defiance.

Their call resonated even louder today when The Australian newspaper revealed that three new Bentley Flying Spur limousines worth a total of over $960,000 (K2.5 million) had been added to the APEC luxury vehicle fleet. The newspaper had obtained an invoice for the Bentleys made out to PNG's APEC CEO Chris Hawkins.

Pauline Hanson, dysfunctionality & the politics of profligacy

Dr Albert Schram, pictured here on his Sunday hike in Italy, knows a Maserati when he sees one.

PHIL FITZPATRICK

TUMBY BAY - In her simplistic way, the extreme right wing politician Pauline Hanson says that if Papua New Guinea can afford forty luxury Maserati vehicles it doesn’t need Australian aid.

It is the same sort of logic that many people use when arguing for a cut to welfare payments. The argument goes that if they just spend the money on cigarettes, booze and poker machines and refuse to get a job they don’t deserve to get it.

We all know that most people forced onto welfare struggle to make ends meet and carefully manage their money.

It is just the irresponsible minority that gives them a bad name and forces more and more strictures on everyone.

The Papua New Guinea government has now further and decisively demonstrated that it is a similar irresponsible minority.

The Maserati purchase is now a fecund symbol of the unbridled extravagance and irresponsibility of the O’Neill government.

PNGi takes Ockham's razor to APEC Maserati furore

STAFF REPORTER | The Tokaut Blog

PORT MORESBY - A storm of public criticism and protest has erupted after the publication of photographs showing the delivery of 40 Maserati luxury supercars to the O’Neill government.

The white-jacked Maserati Quattroporte cars were shown being off-loaded from two chartered Boeing 747 aircraft at Port Moresby’s Jackson’s airport.

The luxury cars have been brought to Port Moresby to chauffeur world leaders and other VIP guests around the capital for three days during next months Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

The public furore has put the PNG government onto the back-foot as locals fume at the highly visible excess in a country where basic health, education and transport infrastructure and services are in a deplorable condition and public health outcomes are among the worst in the world.

The PNG government has made a number of claims to try and justify their apparent extravagance and to deflect criticism. Unfortunately those claims do not stack up to any serious scrutiny.

Let’s start with APEC Minister, Justin Tkatchenko’s first press statement on the affair.

It doesn’t start well. It is dated 10 November 2018. Clearly a mistake. Perhaps someone was in a hurry or it had to be released ahead of schedule?

Was Silver Fox's crude attempt to censor citizen on APEC's behalf?

David ('Silver Fox') Johnson's communications to Emmanuel Narakobi - was Johnson acting with the authority of APEC or as a freelancer?

BRYAN KRAMER MP

PORT MORESBY – Last Wednesday, respected young entrepreneur Emmanuel Narakobi shared on Facebook an article showing the arrival of the controversial million kina Italian luxury cars at Jacksons International Airport.

He shared a post by airline company, Ajot, that flew the cars to Port Moresby. Minutes after posting the article he was in-boxed by a person with a Facebook account called ‘Silver Fox’ providing his number and insisting Emmanuel call him immediately.

The message read - “You must immediately take down posts of Maserati … APEC security act will be inacted [sic]”.

The person then messaged Emmanuel on SMS - “Need you to immediately take down FB posts concerning recent airport photos ... It is a security risk under APEC joint task force ... Please call me, David Johnson”.

Question & questions for Bougainville independence referendum

John Momis and Peter O'Neill sign the joint statement (Joseph Nobetau)

KEITH JACKSON

PORT MORESBY – At a meeting here on Friday, Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O’Neill and Bougainville president John Momis agreed the important question to be put to Bougainville voters at next June’s referendum on the autonomous province’s political future.

The question gives the voters a choice of opting for greater autonomy or independence, the precise wording being, “Do you agree for Bougainville to have (1) Greater Autonomy or (2) Independence”.

The question itself raises other questions. Why has it been framed in the way it has? What is 'greater autonomy'? Is the offer of 'greater autonomy' as the alternative to 'independence' a successful demand by Momis or a clever distraction by O'Neill?

I'm sure these matters will soon be addressed by people smarter and better informed than I.

The agreement came late on Friday after weeks of delays at a meeting of a joint supervisory board attended by the chairman of the Bougainville Referendum Commission, former Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahearn.

Bertie Ahern has personal experience of travails of civil war

Peter O'Neill and Bertie Ahern (The National)

GARRY ROCHE

DUBLIN - One of the reasons former Ireland prime minister (Taoiseach), Bertie Ahern was chosen to head the Bougainville Referendum Commission is that he has been involved with successful conflict resolution processes in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Ukraine and with the Basque people of Spain.

Ahern’s parents and grandparents themselves experienced the trauma of revolution and civil war.

His father, Cornelius (Con) Ahern, was involved with the IRA (Irish Republican Army) way back in the 1920’s in the Irish war of independence against the English.

Ireland did gain independence from Great Britain but immediately civil war broke out between the IRA members who accepted the proposed treaty with Britain and those IRA members who opposed it.

Con Ahern, who opposed the treaty, was on the losing side of the civil war, and as a result was imprisoned in the ‘Tintown’ prison camp in Curragh, County Kildare, for some of that time being on a hunger strike.

Citizens react in anger as govt tries to explain Maserati purchase

2018 Maserati Quattroporte S GranLusso Sedan

HELEN DAVIDSON | The Guardian | Extracts

SYDNEY - Papua New Guineans have reacted with anger at its government importing a fleet of Maseratis to drive international delegates around the APEC conference next month, amid a health and poverty crisis, struggling economy, and ongoing efforts after a devastating earthquake.

The PNG government has defended its decision, expressing confidence that all 40 luxury cars will be bought by the “private sector” after the two-day event, leaving the government with no financial burden.

The cars, which cost between $200,000 and $350,000 each in Australia, were flown in from Milan on two Boeing 747-8F charter planes this week, with the costs covered by “the private sector”, according to the minister for APEC, Justin Tkatchenko.

“Maserati Quattroporte sedans have been secured and delivered, and are being committed to be paid for by the private sector,” he said.

Oz foreign minister to PNG to check how things are going

Foreign minister Payne -  issues of corruption, refugees & Maseratis off the agenda

KEITH JACKSON

CANBERRA – Australia’s foreign minister Marise Payne will fly to Port Moresby today for a two-day visit.

Her visit is stated “to engage with Papua New Guinean leaders and to advance Australia's strategic and economic partnership with our closest neighbour.”

“Our bilateral relationship is broad and deep, with strong people-to-people links built on shared history and values,” Senator Payne said.

“In my meetings with PNG ministers, I will discuss Australia's support for PNG's hosting of the upcoming APEC meeting and explore opportunities to promote our shared regional and global priorities.

“I will officially open PNG's new satellite internet system, a critical investment by Australia which will increase capacity by approximately 30%. Together with the new Coral Sea Cable, Australia is supporting the digital transformation of PNG's economy,” she said.

New independent corruption commission has no independence

EDDIE TANAGO | Act Now!

PORT MORESBY - The Papua New Guinea government’s announcement of a so-called Interim Independent Commission Against Corruption is an insult to the nation and an abuse of the ICAC name.

An ICAC must be independent from government and free from any political interference, but what the prime minister has announced fundamentally fails both tests.

Peter O’Neill and his government have been pledging to establish an ICAC since 2012, yet all that has been announced is a politically-driven body set up to investigate political opponents.

The ‘interim ICAC’ is being directed on what it can investigate by the National Executive Council [Cabinet] and is housed in the Department of the prime minister.

It is not even clear whether there is any legal basis for an ‘interim ICAC’ or whether its investigations will have any legal validity.

‘We have sovereignty over B'ville, don’t interfere': Pato

PNG foreign minister Rimbink Pato addresses the UN general assembly - 'don't meddle in Bougainville'

STAFF REPORTER | Niu FM Pacific Radio News

PORT MORESBY - Papua New Guinea's foreign minister Rimbink Pato has told the United Nations general assembly that international meddling in the upcoming Bougainville independence referendum won't be welcome.

He told the global leaders that PNG is keen for the referendum commission, which will be led by former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern, to begin its work.

But he says all stakeholders, while welcome in the work of the referendum, must not undermine PNG's sovereignty over Bougainville.

"We want to emphasise that the work of partnership, should in no way - and I repeat in no way - undermine the sovereignty of Papua New Guinea over its territory in accordance with international law."

The referendum Bougainville’s political future on will be held on 15 June next year.

Why PNG goes for high interest loans: to avoid scrutiny

CHRIS OVERLAND

ADELAIDE - The post global financial crisis era (Americans call it ‘the great recession’) of virtually free money is drawing to a close.

After years of quantitative easing (let’s call it ‘printing money’), the world's central banks are slowly but surely beginning the tricky process of pulling excessive liquidity out of the world economy.

The aim is to carefully defuse the world's enormous debt bomb without causing an explosion.

Also, thanks in part to Donald Trump's massive tax cut for America's corporations and wealthy individuals, interest rates on US Treasury Bonds are heading towards 3% pa and beyond.

Reflections on our 43rd year of independence

Students in Huli dress mark the 43rd anniversary of Papua New Guinea independence

IAN LING-STUCKEY CMG MP
| Shadow Minister for Treasury & Finance

PORT MORESBY - On the occasion of our 43rd anniversary of independence from Australia on 16 September 1975, it is timely to reflect on how our great country has been going over the last twelve months.

On balance there is a pretty mixed report card, with some good achievements and some clear problems.

Our 43rd year started in a thrilling way with our wonderful PNG Hunters team winning the Queensland rugby union grand final by defeating Sunshine Coast 12-10.

This was important for lifting national pride and also making clear to our friends in Australia that PNG is a force to be reckoned with as the win was achieved in only the fourth year of competition.

In response to Peter O’Neill’s Independence Day message

Peter O'Neill - a message empty of meaningful content and nothing that might serve to engage people's hearts.

CHRIS OVERLAND

ADELAIDE - Periodically, all political leaders feel the need to play the role of statesman. This is when they seek to rise above the noise, dysfunction and mundane squalor of ordinary politics and articulate a noble and worthy vision for the future of the nation.

These speeches usually are carefully crafted pieces of work, where the language chosen and the sentiments expressed are calculated to inspire the hearer to believe that the nation can and will, by harnessing the collective talents, energy and commitment of the people, become wealthier, greater and nobler.

This is often accompanied by reference to elements of national mythology, drawing upon shared ideas of nationhood, as well as notions that qualities like resilience, creativity and industry, supposedly at least, are possessed in abnormal abundance by the nation.

Such speeches are often carefully rehearsed, so that the tone, cadence and rhythm can be choreographed to achieve maximum impact upon the hearer and, especially, to appeal to their emotions.

Only independence will appease Bougainvilleans, O’Neill told

Bougainvilleans, bearing their flag, marching for an independence day that has yet to come

PATRICK MAKIS | PNG Post-Courier/Asia Pacific Report/Pacific Media Watch

BUKA - The people of Bougainville will only accept independence from Papua New Guinea and nothing else, says concerned Bougainvillean and independence hardliner Gabriel Moses.

And no amount of greater powers or autonomy will appease the people – especially after the loss of more than 15,000 lives during the 10-year Bougainville war.

Moses was speaking in reaction to comments made by Papua New Guinea’s prime minister, Peter O’Neill, this week, who reportedly said that the PNG Constitution did not permit the granting of independence to any province or region in the country.

“It is hard to compensate the 15,000 to 20,000 lives that were lost during the conflict even with K20 million or 100 pigs or even greater autonomy, free and just association or whatever,” said Moses.

Embracing the future - we must believe in ourselves

PETER O’NEILL CMG MP | Prime Minister

PORT MORESBY - We must prepare our communities to adapt to changes in the modern world.

This includes dealing with natural disasters brought about by climate change so we can protect our people.

We must better adapt to the evolving global economy, so that we not only insulate ourselves from economic shocks – but we must take advantage of economic opportunity for our people.

Our country has products that the world wants and needs to buy.

This is not just our oil and gas resources, but we have renewable resources that are in high demand.

Is the world’s latest breed of ‘strong men’ leading us to chaos?

CHRIS OVERLAND

ADELAIDE - Now that we are some 50 years or so into the post-colonial era, it is painfully apparent that many former European colonies are struggling to make a go of independence.

It turns out that creating and maintaining a viable democratic nation state is much harder than anyone previously thought, including those of us fortunate enough to live in places like Australia.

As our recent local troubles have shown rather graphically, we cannot afford to take for granted that democratic norms will persist if those we elect decide to ignore long standing conventions and put spite, revenge, self-interest and ambition ahead of the national interest.

Is there a middle class in Papua New Guinea?

Dr Benedict Imbun is a Papua New Guinean expert in human resources, business ethics and business administration working in Sydney

BENEDICT Y IMBUN

SYDNEY - The development status of a country is arguably judged on the size of a middle class in the population more than any other characteristic such as economic and social indicators (e.g., levels of economic growth, infrastructure, educational and health achievements).

One of the primary reasons could be that the size of the middle class in many ways typifies not only the consumption pattern of the country, it also nurtures relevant economic, social, and political beliefs, values and ethos which forms its fabric.

The argument would be that aspirations a middle class harbours usually perpetuates and consolidates the mode of socio-economic and political achievements of the country, so is there such a middle class in Papua New Guinea?

In recent years, commentators and scholars have observed an emerging middle class in PNG increasingly spurred on by the country’s unprecedented economic growth since the 2000s. Others have lamented the ‘very limited’ growth in the middle class, making it difficult as a force to be reckoned with.

The argument in this narrative would be that the middle class as a social group in PNG is struggling to emerge in a society fraught with complex difficulties.

Police commissioner calls Madang MP a "mix race bastard"

Police Commissioner Gary Baki & Madang MP Bryan Kramer - Baki has a reputation for being hot-tempered; not the best attribute for making good decisions

BRYAN KRAMER MP

MADANG - Yesterday afternoon at 6pm I was at Biliau village on Manam Island when I noticed my phone registered five missed calls from of police commissioner Gary Baki.

I was on the Island to carry out an assessment of the extent of damage and plight of the Manam people following a massive volcanic eruption on Saturday morning but I was also aware that Bailiau was the same village where journalists were attacked on Sunday.

I was in the middle of speaking to villagers when commissioner Baki called. I also received a text message from him.

The message read - "Mr Kramer, it’s the police commissioner, can you answer your phone."

So Commisioner Baki thinks he can bury the O’Neill case?

Is Peter O'Neill in the clear? There are serious doubts that the people of PNG have seen justice in the long-running Paraka fraud case

FRANCIS NII

KUNDIAWA – Papua New Guinea police commissioner Gary Baki has claimed in a media statement that prime minister Peter O’Neill’s official corruption case is officially closed.

The long-running saga involves alleged fraudulent payments of K78.4 million of public funds to Paul Paraka Lawyers.

However, according to Bryan Kramer MP on Facebook, Baki may have both rekindled the fire of justice and possibly set a trap for the prime minister and the commissioner.

Baki stated his reason for closing the case was due to lack of evidence.

Whatever reason Baki may employ, though, many Papua New Guineans view the act as a conspiratorial servant-master scheme with no bearing at all on O’Neill’s innocence of the alleged crime.

PNG politicians have differing views on benefits of APEC

Bryan Kramer MP - after APEC life in PNG is not going to be any easier. Billions spent for what?

JOHNNY BLADES | Radio New Zealand

PORT MORESBY - Social breakdown could come to a head in Papua New Guinea after it hosts APEC, opposition MP Bryan Kramer has said.

PNG is preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit in November.

The government said the summit would present a remarkable marketing opportunity for PNG as an investment destination and a trade partner.

But Madang Open MP Bryan Kramer accused the government of borrowing beyond its means to spend on infrastructure projects in Port Moresby while neglecting basic services around the country.

"The reality is hospitals are running out of medicines. We've now got a polio outbreak. So it seems we're not focussing on our priorities and that is the welfare of the people," Mr Kramer said.

The true story of Minister Nali & the China Railway Group

Michael Nali MP

STAFF REPORTERS | PNGi Central | Edited extracts

You can read the full, detailed analysis of this most interesting relationship here

PORT MORESBY - Michael Nali is Papua New Guinea’s  Minister for Works and Implementation. Here we look at his unique private and public relationship with a Chinese state corporation implicated in a wide range of corruption and bribery scandals.

Nali was first elected to parliament in 1992. He is now in his fourth term as MP for the seat of Mendi in the Southern Highlands.

During a turbulent career, the MP for Mendi has faced two Leadership Tribunals, where he was accused of inciting a riot, misusing his position as a leader and misappropriating K650,000. Some of those allegations are still outstanding and have never been resolved.

Nali has also had a controversial role in one of PNG’s largest real estate development, the Paga Hill Estate.

Alongside his political career, Nali has developed a number of high profile businesses. They have kept him connected to some very influential political figures when out of public office between 2007 and 2017. During that period Nali’s companies also benefited from high-value and sometimes controversial government contracts.

The day Peter O'Neill called me a moron, a raskol & a snake

Peter O'Neill and Bryan Kramer - in Kramer O'Neill has found an ethical MP with the courage to take him on and the gall to make him lose his cool

BRYAN KRAMER

PORT MORESBY – On a notable day last week, prime minister Peter O'Neill was forced to apologise on the floor of parliament over rude remarks in which he called me a moron.

His apology was in response to the shadow attorney general Kerenga Kua's request to the deputy speaker to refer O'Neill to the parliamentary privileges committee.

O'Neill's remarks were triggered by my interjections over his misleading statements when trying to answer a series of questions put to him by the member of Moresby North West, Mekere Morauta, in relation to APEC.

O'Neill lost his cool, yelling at me to shut up, branding me a very special kind of moron.

"If the member of Madang can keep his mouth shut then I can answer. You are just a moron, in fact a moron of the highest degree."

Getting the numbers: How Somare won the 1972 election

Robert Forster - author of the just published 'The Northumbrian Kiap'

ROBERT FORSTER

NORTHUMBRIA - In the 1972 Papua New Guinea elections there were 102 seats in the House of Assembly.

The conservative, anti-independence United Party won 42. Michael Somare’s Pangu Pati won 24.

The United Party was sure it would form the next government, but Pangu Pati expertly put together a coalition.

Iambakey Okuk, a MP from Simbu in the highlands region, played a key role in forming the government that took the country into self-government and independence.

He later became Deputy Prime Minister and, as a minister, worked to reserve sectors of the economy for citizens as a method of returning a complex economic role to Papua New Guineans. He died aged only 41, and is recalled as one of PNG's great independence leaders.

Here is Iambakey Okuk’s own version of how it was done, taken from an address to some university students in 1982.

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Bougainville, independence & the doctrine of ‘stare decisis’

CHRIS OVERLAND

ADELAIDE - In 1977, as a young and ambitious ex-kiap turned proper public servant, I sought and obtained appointment to the apparently important position of Chief Clerk of the South Australian Department of Education.

The use of the term ‘Chief Clerk’ to describe this position was anachronistic in the extreme. The title was a hangover from the 19th century when such a person, seated at a high table reminiscent of a judge’s bench, presided over serried ranks of more junior clerks, each studiously dipping their quills in ink and writing or transcribing official documents of one form or another.

By 1977, while I still presided over 40 or so clerical officers, their duties ranged from running the department’s huge file registry to drafting, promulgating and interpreting the regulations made under the Education Act.

PNG promises come to nought, & Bougainville is getting anxious

President John Momis

EDITOR | Radio New Zealand Pacific

AUCKLAND – Bougainville’s president John Momis has raised concerns that the Papua New Guinea government is not pulling its weight as the autonomous region prepares for next June’s referendum on its political future.

Momis recently met with PNG prime minister Peter O’Neill at a meeting of a joint supervisory board to discuss preparing for the vote.

However, outstanding financial commitments of hundreds of millions of kina which PNG owes to Bougainville remain an obstacle to preparations.

PNG finally made a minor payment of $US1.49 million to Bougainville last week, but the cheque bounced, although this embarrassment has been denied by PNG treasurer Charles Abel.

Bougainville Day marks formal end of civil war hostilities

Bougainville Revolutionary Army irregulars of the Wirai faction - the peace process continues in the now autonomous province

ANTHONY KAYBING

ARAWA - Thirteen years ago Bougainville made a historic transition into a more flexible self-governing system that is the autonomous arrangement it enjoys today.

And 15 June next year is the date that epitomises the hopes and dreams of Bougainvilleans as, on that day, they progress towards their referendum on self-determination.

This year on 15 June – just one year before this important vote - the celebrations in Bougainville’s former capital, Arawa, were a little different from others held throughout the country.

The highlight was a reconciliation ceremony between North Nasioi ex-combatants of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and ex-members of the Bougainville Resistance Forces.

Government honesty needed to address economic challenges

Ian Ling Stuckey MP says the government must be honest if it is to develop appropriate policy responses to a seriously ill economy

IAN LING-STUCKEY MP | Edited extracts

You can read the Papua New Guinea shadow treasurer’s complete article here

KAVIENG - At a recent conference in Port Moresby, a striking statistic emerged. Economic academics from both the University of Papua New Guinea and the Australian National University said the non-resource sector of the PNG economy went backwards by 5.9% in 2015.

This extraordinary result confirmed what business people and the people of PNG have known for years – 2015 was a year of severe recession in PNG.

Yet the government continues to hide and delay official accounts from the National Statistics Office which would confirm the recession.

More honesty is needed from the government as a first step in addressing the economic problems facing PNG.

The long, sad history of cunning plans - & the implications for PNG

CHRIS OVERLAND

ADELAIDE - In the very funny television series ‘Blackadder’ the eponymous protagonist, played by the hugely talented Rowan Atkinson, has a manservant called Baldrick, played by prominent actor and historian Sir Tony Robinson.

Blackadder is constantly scheming to find ways to enhance his status, wealth or power, usually at the expense of others. In doing so he is assisted or mostly hindered by a cast of characters who manage to manifest the very worst qualities of Britain’s former aristocratic ruling elite.

A running joke throughout the series is that the exceedingly dim Baldrick often tries to help his master achieve his devious ends by devising “cunning plans”. These plans are invariably stupid and destined to fail but Baldrick is always disappointed when Blackadder points out their obvious flaws.

One of the important reasons the series resonates so powerfully with anyone familiar with history is because many of the scenarios it depicts echo the ambitions, attitudes and behaviours of real historic figures.

A billion kina owed, no referendum question – is it a PNG go-slow?

John Momis & Peter O'Neill at the referendum conference in Arawa, Bougainville - the main decision was to meet again next month

KEITH JACKSON

ARAWA – Friday’s top level meeting between Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O’Neill and Bougainville president John Momis deferred the crucial issue of what questions will be put to the Bougainville people who will vote on their political future in a referendum on Saturday 15 June next year.

The joint PNG-Bougainville supervisory body agreed to postpone this and other crucial matters until its next meeting in Port Moresby at the end of this month.

It was a further instance of the PNG government’s longstanding tardiness – whether deliberate or because of institutional inefficiency – in handling almost every issue relating to Bougainville.

At the meeting Dr Momis stressed that PNG was still not providing Bougainville with the grant committed to enable its public service to operate effectively, including meeting salary costs.

He said the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is “in extreme budget crisis” due to the national government’s failure to make a range of payments.

Public comments sought on proposal for electoral reform

A G SITORI

Robert Atiyafa

PORT MORESBY - The Chairman of the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission, Robert Atiyafa MP, has just bought a two-page advertisement in each of the two national daily newspapers to publicise reforms in Papua New Guinea’s electoral laws.

Papua New Guineans have over the years voiced concerns on problems associated with electoral laws and processes and this is our chance to put in our own ideas for reform. I encourage everyone to contribute to the process.

There are twelve terms of reference indicated under the headings of pre-election, casting votes, limited preferential voting and electronic counting.

You can find more detail by going to the Commission’s Facebook page here and browsing through the information provided. It covers electronic voter registration, national identity cards, extra time for polling and more choices for preferential voting.

You can also find more information by emailing ericlkwa@gmail.com or olnllge2018@gmail.com or writing to the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission at PO Box 3439, Boroko, National Capital District.