BOUGAINVILLE Copper Limited (BCL) has proposed to commit US$3 billion (K8.2 billion) to return and reopen the abandoned Panguna mine in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARB). BCL chairman Peter Taylor yesterday announced the company’s intention to return and reopen the mine during its 43rd annual general meeting in Port Moresby with shareholders and landowners. However, Mr. Taylor told shareholders and landowners that it would need to be a fair and stable mining regime that gives investors the confidence needed to commit to a project that could cost billion. He said the World Bank initiative aimed at helping Bougainville develop capacity to manage its mining sectors continue and there was a good chance the transfer of mining powers to ARB would occur this year. “That is an important step because, as matters currently stand, there is an expectation of transition but not certainty,” Mr. Taylor said. He was hopeful that the new Bougainville mining regime would be largely consistent with the national model to assist with smooth transition from old regime to the new. “If mining powers can be draw down by ARB without undue delay, BCL believes that Bougainville Copper Agreement while its terms are being renegotiated can facilitate a return to Panguna and the early generation of benefits to stakeholders.” Mr. Taylor also disclosed studies indicated that there was in fact more gold, silver and copper in the ground at Panguna that had previously been extracted. He said though it was important to take the time to get the new mining regime right, it was also necessary for all parties to drive the process as hard as possible so current promising signs of world’s economic growth were not missed. It is also learnt that there are stakeholders who are prepared to commit the K8.2 billion, including Rio Tinto as well as expanding share markets.
30.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
BRADA five year plan set to improve lives
By Tani Tulo
THE Bougainville Restoration and Development Authority (BRADA) has all its targets set for the next five years. BRADA managing director Andol Sione said the 2010-2014 BRADA corporate plan would provide a strategic direction for the authority in its endeavour to better the lives of all Bougainvilleans. He said the plan’s strategic direction required that the primary reason for the establishment of the authority was to improve the lives of the people of Bougainville through efficient and effective co-ordination and execution of all restoration and development of all physical infrastructure in the region. The plan is the first for BRADA in the region and will be reviewed annually in line with the objectives of the Autonomous Bougainville Government. ABG President James Tanis will officially launch the five year plan at the Kuri Resort in Buka today. All ABG Cabinet members including the office of the Chief Administrator are expected to attend. Outgoing chairman of BRADA Sam Tulo is also expected to make a few remarks at the launch. Mr Tulo vacated the office to contest the Bougainville general election in the Haku Constituency.
30.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Census awareness a goer
By ALEX MUNME
THE 2010 census awareness in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will start next week. This will be done despite the lack of updated awareness materials, lack of logistical support and delay in the operational and awareness funds. A three-day workshop was held by the planning office in Buka this week to train and equip 90 partipants who will go out into the villages to carry out the listing and mapping exercise. The 2010 awareness materials have not arrived, leaving the planners in Buka with no choice but to use the 2000 census materials which were held and kept safe by the planning office for the last 10 years. This will most likely cause confusion and raise questions among Bougainvilleans as to why updated materials are not available in time for the operations. Meanwhile funds for the operation and awareness have been deposited into the main ABG finance and treasury account, and has caused a delay.The lack of logistic support from the National Statistic Office in Waigani may also hinder the progress of the exercise in Bougainville.
At 1:01 p.m. an investor from Bünde in North Rhine Westphalia (Germany) has been the 20,000th visitor to the ESBC homepage !
Um 13:01 Uhr war ein Investor aus Bünde in Nordrhein Westfalen (Deutschland) der zwanzigtausendste Besucher der ESBC Homepage !
29.04.2010
Source : Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville expert acknowledges maintenance of peace.
An Australian academic says the first autonomous Bougainville government in Papua New Guinea needs to be recognised for maintaining the peace over the past five years.
This comes as Bougainvilleans are about to go the polls to elect the second autonomous government.
A political scientist at Woollongong University with links to Bougainville, Professor Ted Wolfers, says a number of ex-combatants are standing in the poll and now seem willing to work through democratic processes.
But he says the most obvious achievement of the first years of autonomy is that, in a post conflict situation, the province has remained at peace and a legitimate government has been kept intact.
“Beyond that I think one would have to say that they have laid the groundwork - I don’t think they are there yet - on perhaps one of the most important aspects of the peace process, which is the way in which they have been talking to people in the Panguna area, and this seems to be, although there are still divisions, an increasing willingness to engage in peace building and involve themselves, for example, in the electoral process and so on, in Bougainville.”
29.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Warning on guns out
BOUGAINVILLE rebel hardliners warn of a possible taking up of arms and an increase in roadblocks through to Panguna if Bougainvilleans vote for a president that will not have the independence issue at heart. Me’ekamui diehard Chris Uma, former rebel hardliner David Sisito and Bougainville’s famous fifty-toea government cargo cultist Damien Damen gave the warning this week in Arawa. The trio issued the warning in Arawa while throwing their support behind the incumbent president James Tanis who is campaigning this week in his homeland Kieta, central Bougainville. The three men have officially announced they had left two other presidential camps they were following since the issue of writs late March because they saw that these candidates were not serious about the issue of independence and that they were not also interested in the issues that these hardliners wanted to be addressed. Ishmael Toroama, the man behind the Bougainville Independence Movement Party, one that incumbent president Tanis is riding under, has also thrown his support behind these leaders saying that independence should be taken seriously because more than 20,000 lives were lost fighting for justice on Bougainville. Word reaching the Post-Courier from Arawa had advised that Mr Sisito, Mr Uma and Mr Damen are now following Mr Tanis’ campaign trail in Arawa and up to Wakunai, eventually moving to North Bougainville. “Bougainvilleans lost their lives because of the issue of independence and for fighting for justice for Bougainville. “We have to take this issue seriously because if we don’t we may not get what we fought for,” they said. There is only a week remaining before polling starts.
29.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
World Vision helps rural Bougainville
By GORETHY KENNETH
A rural health centre, yet to be officially opened to the public in Bana, South Bougainville will have 18 new beds, thanks to World Vision international. The non-government organistation, which has multi-million-Kina social impact projects in Bougainville, presented the 18 modernised hospital beds to the region’s health department in Buka this week for distribution. Chief executive officer for the Department of Health in Bougainville Dr Anthony Pumpara said during the presentation ceremony that the beds would be taken to Singkodo, in Bana District, to be used by the new health centre. He said the aim of the department was to reduce the number of maternal deaths, improve health services for the region and get effective health service delivery throughout rural Bougainville. Dr Pumpara thanked World Vision for its programs on Bougainville, especially in the vital areas of health and education and said the non-government organisation was also engaged in a very important health program in the south west areas of Torokina. “We have come up with a new health program, which will cover issues like immunisation, HIV/AIDS and others and we thank the World Vision for helping us fund these programs and for their support in Bougainville,” Dr Pumpara said. He said there were 33 rural health centres in Bougainville that were facing many problems with equipment and medical supplies. He said the beds will add to the newly established centre and should serve a population of about 3000 in that area. World Vision International officials in Buka said their programs in Bougainville were rural-based and that they stood ready to assist where ever they could, as long as it was rural based. The organisation is supervising a water sanitation program, toilets and other programs in the region.
Quiet campaigns on Autonomous Region of Bougainville
By ALEX MUNME
IF You are visiting Buka town in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, you may be wondering what is going on as the days count down to the end of what is expected to be a hot, active and rowdy political election campaign. However, this is not the case — election campaigns are quiet which may be the Bougainville style as the people are different in colour, culture and are humble. Buka town, the current headquarters of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, and the centre of business and social activities in North Bougainville, has been quiet and peaceful since campaigns started on April 3. There were no rallies or vehicles with large posters of candidates, no truckloads of mud-covered supporters with banners or loud hailers. Instead campaigns were done in small communities and villages away from town, mostly in the evenings. In the Tsitalato constituency, candidates organised two separate sporting tournaments for the Malasang and Hangan communities last week.
28.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Man of many talents
Extra-smart businessman Cletus Harepa contests ABG election with a vision
By GORETHY KENNETH
HE’S done a lot for Bougainville and Buka to be precise, to boast and be proud of but he is not that sort of person. As simple as he is, Cletus Harepa, 66, is from Hanahan village in the Halia Constituency, and a successful businessman synonymous with his Hani’s Inn hotel in Buka. One of the pioneers of a university education in the Halia constituency, Mr Harepa, with his knowledge became the saviour of the people by setting up a savings and loans society in Buka, Nissan and central Bougainville. He was also the region’s first president of the Bougainville Business Association, now looked after by Robert Atsir and Carol Horn as executives. From 1957 to 1960 Mr Harepa studied the Queensland syllabus at the Tarlena Marist Brothers’ school and at that time became the council for his Buka people. And from 1964 to 1965 he applied for a surveyor course and automatically became a cadet surveyor in Rabaul, East New Britain. Apart from the courses that he was taking Mr Harepa was studying for his intermediate certificate between 1960 and 1969 from New South Wales which he achieved with flying colours. In 1968 he was appointed by the PNG Lands Department under a scholarship to study at the Institute of Technology, now called the University of Technology. “I was one of the first intakes - there were nine of us,” Mr Harepa says. “In 1974, we made the land laws of Papua New Guinea. Later Robin Kumaina sent me to Buka to open the savings and loans society together with Philemon Tulo in Buka, Nissan and Teop,” Mr Harepa said. He was part of the commission that made the land laws of Papua New Guinea in 1974 under the rule of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare. Also in 1974 Mr Harepa was appointed the deputy chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into land matters in Papua New Guinea. Sir Albert Maori Kiki was the minister at that time and Donatus Mola was the chief minister for commerce. “We were People’s Progress Party (PPP) members and we succeeded very much in that inquiry,” he said smiling. Above all that Mr Harepa married his wife Anna who was a teacher in 1967. They both had a big wedding at the Bitapaka Catholic Church and later had five children Lynnette, Garth, Florance, Jennifer and Nellie - now with 13 grandchildren. Mr Harepa was a member of the local council in Buka in the 1970s. He was chosen because of his calibre, intelligence and knowledge. By 1975, after PNG gained independence Mr Harepa ventured into business. He started buying wet cocoa beans. He was also an executive member of the PNG Trade and Industry. He had 20 hectares of cocoa and coconut plantation and after five years started a wholesale called Harepa Furniture in 1980 at Buka town. When the crisis broke out Mr Harepa like other businessmen had all his properties burnt down, that was in 1990. On the day his property was set alight, one part of it was saved - the area where 120 bags of cocoa were kept. Those 120 bags of cocoa helped Mr Harepa to start all over again to rebuild what is now his Harepa empire in Buka and at Hanahan. Mr Harepa is contesting the Halia Constituency with a vision and big plans to build and fund the womens’ community hostel. He is contesting as a normal political standing member. “There are a lot of outstanding projects for the last five years that I want set up. I want to offer an alternative, and a mature person who knows culture is sound in business,” he said. “Business is not a miracle. Business takes time and study how it is doing - connect with the outside businesses. Don’t be fooled by conmen, be extra smarter.”
28.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Candidate for South Bougainville dies
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
Mary Bita, a candidate for South Bougainville in the ABG general election, has died in Buka Hospital.
Mary Bita had been campaigning throughout South Bougainville since the close of nominations.
She accompanied Ambassador John Momis and his New Bougainville Party team to Arawa last Friday but after returning to Buin she fell ill.
She was rushed to the Buka General Hospital but died.
New Dawn FM sends its condolences to her husband John Bita and the immediate relatives at Mary’s untimely death.
28.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Discussions on educational autonomy
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
Delegates from the National Department of Education have arrived in Buka to meet with the Bougainville Education Administration to discuss the drawdown of education and teaching service commission powers to ABG in accordance with the Bougainville Constitution.
The Port Moresby team comprised Deputy Secretary for Education Policy, Luke Taita, Deputy Secretary for Education Teaching/Learning, Damien Rapese, two departmental lawyers Alex Haboic and Joel Minsipi Nawa, and the Teaching Service Commission Regional Advisor (NGI) Tony Tsora.
The team mainly consists of Bougainvilleans and will meet with the Bougainville delegation to identify powers and functions of education available to Bougainville and to discuss the future education structure for the ABG, that will become fully autonomous from the PNG Education system under the Bougainville Autonomous arrangement.
28.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Health partnerships benefit the people
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
Chief Executive Officer for the Division of Health on Bougainville, Dr Anthony Pumbara, today thanked NGO’s and aid partners who continue to support the ABG in its role of providing much needed services on Bougainville.
Dr Pumbara thanked World Vision, Care International,Caritas, Leprosy Mission International, Leprosy Mission New Zealand, AusAID,NZAID and UN agencies.
He was speaking at the handover ceremony of the 18 hospital beds for the Sinkodo Health Centre in the Bana District.
He said Bougainville needs to appreciate the assistance it receives from donors as the government does not have enough to distribute to all the areas.
Dr Pumbara said his division has opened 32 health facilities and will continue to open more which were closed during the Bougainville conflict.
He said because of these challenges his division is pleased to work in partnership with NGO’s to improve the delivery of health service throughout the region.
28.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Lawyer suggests golden rules for good leaders
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
A senior lawyer says that the 2010 election has a very special significance in the political history of Bougainville and will have a great impact on the political future for Bougainville.
Bougainvillean lawyer Joel Misinsipi Nawa says leaders elected in this election will lead Bougainville into an unknown future.
He said it is therefore important that Bougainvilleans vote for people who will ensure their political dreams are achieved and that Bougainville becomes one of the safest place on earth.
He questioned who then is a good potential candidate that if voted, could become a great leader for Bougainville?
Mr. Minsipi said it is our Melanesian custom to only vote for people close to them in one way or another even if they have a corrupt leadership record.
He said this is a dangerous perspective that should not be used by right minded Bougainvilleans.
He says a narrow minded voter will vote for the President of Bougainville because the person comes from his district. A wise thinking voter will vote for someone who is from another part of Bougainville but one with an attainable vision for Bougainville.
Mr Minsipi also suggested seven ‘golden rules’ for use by Bougainvilleans voting for good leaders.
(1) Candidates with clear political vision for Bougainville and whose urgent policies touches on ''weapons disposal''
(2) Candidates who are reasonably educated to a tertiary level.
(3) Candidates who do not criticise about other fellow candidates personal lives when campaigning.
(4)Candidates who have wider experience in politics (politicians) and law (lawyers)
(5) Bougainvilleans living in Bougainville with the people and have contributed to Bougainville in the past 10 years.
(6) Candidates who have a good family life
(7) Candidates who will not give you any cash or kind when campaigning.
Mr Minsipi also said Bougainville really needs a group of leaders who are three times smarter than the PNG national parliamentarians. This is to effectively determine Bougainville’s political future in the next five years.
28.04.2010
Source : The National
Golpu has huge potential: Harmony
By YEHIURA HRIEHWAZI in Brisbane
GOLPU gold and copper prospect in Morobe province has deposits that are likely to make it become a world-class mine – the size of Ok Tedi or Panguna. Developer Harmony Gold Ltd announced this to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange last Friday. Golpu is owned 50-50 by Harmony and Newcrest Mining, who are developing Hidden Valley mine through Morobe Mining Joint Venture (50-50). They also own Wafi exploration licence and a number of other licences in Morobe province covering the Wau, Bulolo and Garaina areas. Golpu is situated within the prolific Morobe property, of more than 3,000 square kilometres, near Hidden Valley mine and Wafi. Harmony said it had recorded significant gold and copper strikes in its drilling and exploration programmes at Golpu which “could develop into one of the most significant copper-gold projects” in the country. The news is also good for Harmony whose stocks have not been doing well in comparison with some of its peer groups due to aging issues of its South African mines, where most of its production is currently sourced. Harmony says that Golpu now indicates it can produce huge quantities of gold and copper, “putting it on a scale similar to other major copper-gold projects like OK Tedi and the historic mine in Bougainville”. Prior to last Friday’s announcement, Golpu reserves had been estimated at 2.9m oz of gold, and 1.7m tonnes of copper. Exploration at Golpu is continuing with deep drilling undertaken in recent quarters.
28.04.2010
Source : Yahoo Bougainville Forum
Post-Courier editor Eric Tapakau (picture) comments on
"Women oppose mine bid"
Of course NGOs (non governmental organizations) have to make more noise to get that extra funding. This no different to what Porabou is doing in London as BCL AGM is just around the corner on Thursday. I will not be surprised if they front up at the Crown Plaza (Hotel of the tomorrow's Annual General Meeting of Bougainville Copper Limited) and make silly noises.
The environment in Panguna (where the pit is) is useless. You can not plant kaukau in there or grow cocoa in there. No fish will ever return to Jaba River, it will only be a haven for gold miners who will continue to misuse mercury and kill themselves baliming that old man thinking he used sorcery on them. How are we going to make sure this people, it is fathers, mothers, children who are on a day to day basis swimming in the Jaba River panning gold and upstream someone is pouring mercury into the same river? That mine will be more dangerous in its current form than when it was operating. If we do not allow BCL and its scientist into the mine to asses the dangerous contents they left behind, more Bougainvilleans will die like rats. Besides, the mine will have to be reopened IF WE WANT TO GET SOMEWHERE.Seems many prophets of dooms have sprung up recently and this is another recipe for another bloody clash on Bougainville which all of us must avoid at all costs.
27.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Women oppose mine bid
By MOHAMMAD BASHIR
THEY flashed imaginary cash on their fingers and tucked their fists into their pockets to stress their points. They said many Bougainville leaders had made decisions for their own selfish gain which had led to bloodshed during the crisis and would not allow any repeat this time. The two women who flew in from their village want women in Bougainville to be consulted before any discussions on re-opening the giant Panguna mine are made. Bougainville is traditionally a matrilineal society like East New Britain and New Ireland. The womenfolk own the land and men are merely house husbands whose jobs are to garden, fish and make babies. Most decisions are made by the women. Since colonisation of PNG, women however have taken the backseat while men became leaders and made most of the decisions. Lynette Ona and Joan Dateransi are ordinary looking Bougainville women who have lived it all. They are in town for some other business but decided to call into the Post-Courier to express their opposition to reports that certain Bougainvillian leaders were mooting the idea of re-opening the Panguna mine. Joan is the president of the Bougainville Indigenous Women Landowners Association (BIWLA) while Lynette is her deputy. After hearing the rumours, the two women said the mine will not be opened and CRA will not be allowed back to Bougainville. “We have never been consulted and we will not agree to allow CRA back to Panguna,” Lynette said. They said the root cause of the Bougainville crisis was land because CRA simply did not worry about the future generation of the island. “CRA destroyed our land, environment and our culture. Our association has been established to stand for those rights.”
26.04.2010
Source : The National
MRA data for foreign investors
By PATRICK TALU
FOREIGN investors in the mining sector can now have direct access to mineral data which is now available with the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA). The data from “Airborne geophysical survey and the geological mapping and mineral potential assessment (Geomap) of the PNG highlands” is contained in disks and selling at US$5,000 (about K14,000) each. According to MRA managing director Kepas Wali the Geomap survey projects are part of the mining sector support programme (MSSP) with a total European Union (EU) funding of K178 million. He said one of the objectives of the MSSP was to increase foreign investment in PNG’s mining sector. He said this during the launch of the mineral data, which also coincided with the opening of a new thin-section laboratory equipped with new tools purchased costing about K1.5 million. The laboratory is at the Mining Department office at Konedobu, Port Moresby. The results of the laboratory will contribute to the development of geological and geochemical maps providing information that unlocks the hidden mineral wealth of PNG. Geomap project manager Dr Fritz Bandelow said the data set the result of the collection of geophysical data using helicopter-borne state-of-the-art instrument over the Highlands region. Dr Bandelow said data had more than 5,000 stream sediments sample collected from the same area which were analysed with regards to 48 chemical elements. He said the geochemical data covered an area of about 40,000sq km from Eastern Highlands to Enga and parts of Southern Highlands.
Vice-Minister for Mines Ano Pala and head of the EU Ambassador Aldo Dell’ Ariccia (picture) jointly officiated at the launch last Friday.
Mr Pala said the mineral sector was a key component to PNG’s economy. He particularly made reference to Central Bank’s Economic Bulletin for the September quarter last year noting that total mineral exports amounted to K2.34 billion making up 61.2 % of total exports. Geomap allows producing extremely thin sections of rocks which can be microscopically examined to determine the mineral components.
26.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Musingku willing to make peace
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
BOUGAINVILLE’S self-styled king Noah Musingku (Picture) is prepared and ready to reconcile with former Buin BRA commander Thomas Tari and Buin police station commander Sergeant John Popui.
Reports reaching the Post-Courier stated that Mr Musingku had already expressed his willingness through a letter addressed to the Buin Peace Volunteers that he is ready to reconcile with both Tari and Popui. Mr Musingku, who is the owner and founder of the failed money scam U Vistract, is seeking help from the volunteers group to help co-ordinate and facilitate this reconciliation. The feud between Musingku and Tari stems from an incident in 2006 when Tari and his soldiers ambushed Musingku and his followers at their base in Tonu in the Siwai district area. During that incident Mr Musingku and some of his soldiers were wounded by Mr Tari’s soldiers. The cause stems from an incident when Musingku’s soldiers had stopped and punched Popui at their roadblock when he was driving through.
26.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Court moves into South Bougainville
MANY people in south Bougainville have expressed their support following the move by the senior Buka district court magistrate Peter Toliken to hold a district court circuit in the area. They said the court circuit was timely because there were many court cases dating back to 1994. The court hearing, held under a makeshift tent within the Buin police station area, was presided over by Mr Toliken who handed down decisions on more than 100 cases. The move is a significant milestone because it is the first to be held in the district after more than 20 years. The last court circuit was held in the area in 1988 before the start of the Bougainville crisis. Of the 105 cases presented in court, more than 70 of them were struck out by Mr Toliken with the bails being forfeited to the State. There will be three more court circuits to be held in the area. The second circuit is scheduled to be held in June, the next one in July while the last circuit will take place in November. Meanwhile, Mr Toliken is calling on the National Government, the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the Law and Justice Sector program to quickly build a court house in Buin town. Mr Toliken said there was a great need for a courthouse to be built in the area because it was an ideal place for people in south Bougainville to go and attend their court cases instead of travelling all the way to Buka. “I should not be sitting under a canvas tent,” Mr Toliken said. “People need a court house. “That is why I am strongly calling on the National Government, the ABG and the Law and Justice Sector to quickly build a new courthouse in Buin. “There is no use building a new police station when there is no court house,” Mr Toliken said. He said that when there was no court house it created an incomplete criminal justice process in the south Bougainville area.
25.04.2010
BCL in Focus
Rio Tinto President Jan du Plessis' and RT-CEO Tom Albanese's answers to militant anti-mining-activist Clive Porabou 's question on Rio Tinto's 2010 Annual General Meeting in London on April 15th concerning Bougainville Copper Limited:
23.04.2010
ASX :
Due to the ANZAC holiday in Australia the stock market in Sydney will be closed
on Monday, April 26th, 2010.
ASX :
Wegen des ANZAC Feiertages bleibt die australische Börse in Sydney
am Montag, den 26. April 2010 geschlossen.
23.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
People demand acquittals from ABG
BOUGAINVILLEANS are demanding the Autonomous Bougainville Government to acquit in public an estimated K700 million excluding donor funds given to the newly established government since inauguration in 2005. They are questioning the validity of the use of these funds and want ABG to show where these funds were used, which projects it was spent on and what impact projects were initiated. Included in these funds are monies for restoration, weapons disposal, reconciliations and the peace process. A community group in Haku constituency on Monday decried the bad road conditions, especially the 40 kilometre stretch from Eltupan to Kessa, which is badly affected and has not been repaired since the inauguration. “Where has all the money gone to? We have 20 candidates contesting this Haku seat and we wonder if one of them will, at least pay for gravel to fix this road because year in year out, farmers travelling from this area are always affected, several of the heads of Bougainville also come from this area and travel daily to work,” they said. Two factions from North and South Bougainville respectively, a community group in Tinputz and a local level government contingent from a Buka district constituency also visited the Post-Courier with papers detailing the use of several millions of kina obtained from the provincial and district treasury in Buka. They also queried why several millions belonging to the people of Bougainville was deposited into a minister’s executive officer’s account as detailed in the papers provided. According to these papers, more than K400 million was spent on public servants salaries and the rest were not acquitted properly. School principals have also visited because their shares of funds were not disbursed accordingly. Business and Consumer Affairs Minister Joseph Watawi recently announced that the fiscal gap between the “generous” grants from Waigani and the revenue that is generated in Bougainville is K54 million a year and rising. Council of elders and several local leaders from North Bougainville have recently demanded for the ABG to give a detailed report on the use of the K4 million recently received from the National Government and earmarked for the reconciliations and weapons disposal.
23.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Miscellaneous / Vermischtes (The Drum)
Campaign craze
DESPERATE times on the campaign trail in Bougainville. Candidates are so desperate to get into power they are engaging in many forms of persuasion. First it’s a 24 hours campaign (day and night) and then CDs, painting on trees and old machines and even verbal insults.
21.04.2010
Source : Radio Australia (ABC) – Pacific Beat
Call for alternative to court tent in South Bougainville
A senior magistrate in Papua New Guinea's Autonomous Bougainville region says authorities need to urgently consider building a court house in the southern town of Buin. Senior Provincial Magistrate, Peter Toliken, made the call after been forced to conduct hearings under a make-shift tent. Most government services and infrastructure on Bougainville were destroyed during the 10-year Bougainville conflict.
21.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Campaigning on a bicycle
MANY candidates contesting in the second presidential election are busy with their campaigns. Some of them have been hiring trucks to transport them from one place to the other to conduct their campaign. Others have been using other means available to conduct their voter catching. Pictured is candidate for the south Bougainville’s ex-combatant’s seat Joshua Kangku on his way on a bicycle to conduct his campaign. Mr Kangku has been riding on his bicycle to seek out votes in most parts of the south Bougainville area.
Joshua Kangku on tour
in South Bougainville
21.04.2010
Source: The National
Momis vows to take Bougainville to new heights
by ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
FORMER Bougainville MP and presidential candidate, John Momis, has assured the people of Kieta in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of his commitment to take the island to a referendum and beyond.
Mr Momis made this remark when he was in Arawa last Friday to endorse New Bougainville Party candidates in the Kieta district.
The rally was attended by more than 5,000 people and was said to be the biggest election rally in Arawa so far. Mr Momis was carried on a garamut from the Independence Park to the front of the Arawa Telikom office where he delivered his speech. He told New Dawn FM later he was satisfied with the support he got from the people of Kieta. Meanwhile, another independent candidate for the Ex-Combatants seat for Central, David Sisito, called on Mr Momis to ensure he work on a compensation package for the ex-combatants throughout the region.
John Momis
Mr Sisito, who was the defence minister in the rebel interim government, said ex-combatants must be compensated before the Government could look at development issues. He said numerous calls on past presidents had fallen on deaf ears.
20.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Mine must be re-opened say Panguna landowners
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
The Chairman of the Panguna Landowners Association, Chris Damana, has accepted a presentation from the member for Kokoda in Central Bougainville who wants to fast-track the re-opening of the Panguna copper mine.
Mr Osioco presented two kina note to Mr Damana as a token of appreciation for his drive to open the copper mine quickly to support the ABG in its effort to raise enough revenue to run its affairs.
He said that the money symbolises that the two kina collected by mothers at the Arawa market could be raised to 200 kina if the mine is opened.
The presentation followed comments by Mr Damana supporting the re-opening of the mine. He said landowners had already decided to open the mine after negotiations with BCL and the national government is completed.
He said, without Panguna, Bougainville will struggle to raise enough funds to run the ABG.
He was speaking at the campaign rally organized by the New Bougainville Party in Arawa last Friday.
20.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Leave election posters alone, say officials
BY TOM KATHOA
Candidates and their supporters have expressed concern and disgust over damage done to election posters.
Some people have torn down or put marks on some candidates’ posters including those of the President.
Bougainville’s Acting Chief Electoral Commissioner, Reitama Taravaru, and ABG President, Hon James Tanis, in separate interviews appealed to the general public not to damage candidates posters.
These posters are to help voters recognize their favorite candidates and cost money to print.
Both the president and the electoral commissioner asked the public to respect these posters and called on the people of Bougainville to behave and not cause trouble during the election.
New Dawn FM has received reports that posters belonging to the President and displayed in public areas in Arawa and Buka have been tampered with.
Police have warned people against such action and said they will deal with such people if they are caught.
All the candidates are walking the streets and tracks visiting would be supporters in their constituencies.
Candidates have two more weeks in which to conduct their election campaign.
The campaign period ends on the sixth with polling to commence the next day, May seventh.
20.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
K90 million bridge building starts on Bougainville
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
The people of Bougainville are still waiting to see real and tangible projects funded by donor agencies.
Regional Member for Bougainville and Vice Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Hon Fidelis Semoso, said foreign governments and donor organizations were pouring money into ghost projects that people have not seen and are still waiting to see.
Mr Semoso was speaking at the Ground Breaking Ceremony to kick start the bridge projects at Raua last Friday.
This K90 million project, involving 15 bridges, is funded by the Japanese Government under its JICA Program and will be constructed by the Kitano Construction Company of Japan.
Mr Semoso commended the people and government of Japan for their gratitude in providing the money for the construction of these fifteen bridges in Bougainville.
Earlier, National Secretary for Works, Joe Lum,a told a gathering at Kuri Lodge Restaurant that the K90 million was meant for the maintenance of the Highlands Highway.
Mr Semoso said the bridge project is an impact project that would change their lives of many people of this region.
He said the completion of these bridges would enable local farmers to transport their produce to markets.
It would also reduce traveling time between Buka and Arawa which at present normally takes up to about four hours one way.
The Ground Breaking Ceremony was also attended by the ABG President, Hon James Tanis, the Member for North Bougainville and Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Hon Michael Ogio, ABG Minister for Consumer Affairs, Hon Joseph Watawi.
The Bougainville Administration was represented by the Acting Chief Administrator, Mr. Patrick Koles other government officers and local leaders within the area of the project site.
20.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
5000 turn out in Arawa for Momis rally
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
Former Regional member for Bougainville and Presidential candidate, John Momis, has assured people of his commitment to take Bougainville to a referendum and beyond.
Mr Momis made these comments during a meeting at Arawa where he endorsed New Bougainville Party candidates in the Kieta district.
The rally was attended by more than 5000 people and was said to be the biggest election rally in Arawa so far.
The former ambassador to China was carried on a garamut from Independence Park to the Arawa Telikom office where he gave his speech.
He told New Dawn FM that he was satisfied with the support from the Kieta people.
Meanwhile another Independent candidate for the Ex-Combatants Central seat, David Sisito, has called on Mr Momis to make sure he works on a compensation package for ex combatants throughout the region.
Mr Sisito, who was Defence Minister in the rebel interim government, said ex combatants must be compensated before the government looks at development issues.
He said numerous calls to past presidents have fallen on deaf ears.
20.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Aussies walk free from Buka court
By GORETHY KENNETH
FOUR Australian surfers broke down in tears of joy and relief outside the Buka District Court yesterday when they were acquitted of drug charges. The four yachties, caught by Buka police on March 18 on board Perenti for allegedly being in possession of 470 grams of marijuana, are free at last. Buka District Court Magistrate Peter Toliken handed down the decision just before 3pm yesterday. Putu Winchester, 33, a former Australian actor, Thomas Olsen, 44, Clayton McDonald, 33 and Michael O’Neill , 42, were in tears as they exchanged hugs. They immediately called their families in Australia to advise them of the outcome and were speechless, most puffing on cigars once they walked out of the courthouse. Mr Toliken dismissed their case as he ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that the Australians possessed the drugs - legally referred to in court as cannabis. He also said that despite marijuana being commonly known and police witnesses positively identifying the substance by smelling it, they needed at least a botanist or a chemist to prove the substance scientifically. “Did the defendant possess the drugs in question?” the magistrate said. “The evidence is that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they possessed that drug referred to as cannabis or marijuana,” Mr Toliken said. “...The prosecution has failed to prove its case,” he stated. ...therefore the case is dismissed.” The courts also ordered that the passports be returned immediately, K1000 bail refunded and the drugs forfeited to the State. The four, who had been sailing parts of the Pacific for the last six months and surfing, will leave the shores of Buka tomorrow to fly to Port Moresby and sort out their papers before flying to Australia by end of the week. Outside the courthouse, actor Putu Winchester said he could not thank the magistrate enough for a fair decision made on this case. “We want to thank the magistrate for his decision. Thank you for being fair to us, magistrate,” Mr Winchester said. Meanwhile, the captain, Michael Northcote’s case is still continuing.
19.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Japan to construct 15 bridges
BOUGAINVILLEANS living along the Kokopau-Buin Highway were proud last Friday when a significant event took place out of Kokopau town. Hundreds of people turned up to witness the ground breaking ceremony of the K90 million bridge project given to Bougainvilleans by the Government of Japan in Tinputz. Construction of the 40 metre Rawa 1 bridge, in Tinputz, North Bougainville will see the building of 15 high bridges throughout the mainland of Bougainville, which will end in 2013. Works Secretary Joel Luma, National Planning officials and other Government dignitaries were present to witness the ceremony. “Japan, thank you very much for giving us K90 million. We never contemplated to have this kind of money coming from Japan to the people of Bougainville. The people of Bougainville are filled with joy and happiness today. “These bridges will have economic progress for Bougainville,” Minister Ogio said. Regional MP Fidelis Semoso said this was the biggest life changing project for ordinary Bougainvilleans. “This is going to change the lives of Bougainvilleans. Students will be able to cross these difficult rivers without any problems, business houses will be able to prosper because of these bridges and most of all farmers will be able to transport their produce without any problems,” Mr Semoso said. ABG President Tanis also thanked the National Government for hearing the cry of Bougainvilleans and allowing the construction of the 15 bridges to start in Bougainville. An exchange of notes for the design of the project was signed in February 2009 for a total of about K1.5 million and the Government of Japan extended a total amount of K88 million for the project during that same year. The Japanese Government’s contribution remedies the difficulties faced by the people in the rural areas in Bougainville. The Government of Japan hopes the project will strengthen the existing relationship between the two countries.
19.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Leaders deny sight of donor projects
By GORETHY KENNETH
BOUGAINVILLE leaders have strongly denied seeing tangible or major life saving projects from donor agencies and non-government organisations that were allegedly operating and pumping millions of kina into the region. The leaders claimed that donor agencies boasted hundreds of millions of kina was being spent on Bougainville. Higher Education Minister and North Bougainville MP Michael Ogio told his Raua electorate that there was nothing to show for the millions of kina worth of projects from donor agencies that had operated in the region since the civil war ended. He was speaking at the official ground breaking ceremony of the K90 million bridge project from the people and Government of Japan to the people of Bougainville last Friday. Japanese Ambassador to PNG, Hajime Nishiyama, executives from the Japanese contractor and Japanese officials were present for the occasion at the Raua 1 bridge site to start the construction which will see the building of 15 high-tech bridges in Bougainville. Regional Member for Bougainville and Parliamentary Secretary assisting the Prime Minister on Bougainville Affairs, Fidelis Semoso said: “We have yet to see tangible development in our region. “We want to feel, we want to touch, and we want to smell these projects. “Other donor agencies have not given us these,” Mr Semoso said. “You see when Japan gave this K90 million, they never asked for counter funding. “Japan did not say you give us K20 million first before we give you K70 million. “There are other donor agencies or non-government organisations that come into Bougainville with millions of kina for projects and are asking around for counterpart funding. “Where will my people get counterpart funding? “People of Bougainville, this is the true meaning of grant aid - what Japan has just given us,” said Mr Semoso.
17.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Panguna landowners want mine to re-open
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
Chairman of the Panguna Landowners Association and candidate for Ioro seat, Chris Damana, said that his group wants Panguna to open to support the economy of Bougainville.
He says without Panguna it will take a long time for Bougainville to reach economic capability to run as a nation.
He also said that it would also take many years for another mine to start up leaving Panguna as the only immediate project that would save Bougainville.
Mr Damana was talking at a rally of 5,000 people organised in Arawa by the New Bougainville Party.
He is an independent candidate but supports John Momis, leader of the New Bougainville Party, who has nominated for election to be President of Bougainville and who also addressed the rally.
Meanwhile, the MP for Eivo Torau, Alphones Pemuko, has said he is not happy with the common roll update in Central Bougainville.
Mr Torau told New Dawn FM that the update team was not visiting villages, but getting names from files of churches and village registers.
He said these files do not have the true names of people who should be on the common roll.
He called on the Arawa administration to correct the figures and get proper names.
Chris Damana
16.04.2010 14:00 UTC+2
ADR Sell-Off: Only few shares remaining!
New York: A manager of one of the Bougainville Copper ADR emitting companies confirmed to the ESBC yesterday that the sell-off of remaining BCL shares made big progress within the last weeks: “We only hold a few more shares in our accounts.” Insiders say that this extraordinary sale shall be finished within the next two or three weeks from now. The situation of other ADR banks is supposed to be more or less the same: It would not be a long time to liquidate all remnant BCL stocks. In consequence the bearish period in Bougainville Copper share should come to an end very soon. Rising interest in BCL within the last days may be an indication for soaring share prices in the future. Today another 304,000 shares were exchanged in Sydney at 0.53 AUD.
ADR Ausverkauf: Nur noch wenige Aktien zum Verkauf!
New York: Ein Mitarbeiter eines der Bougainville Copper ADR Emissionshäuser bestätigte gestern gegenüber den ESBC, dass der Abverkauf der restlichen Aktienbestände in den letzten Wochen gut vorangekommen sei: „Wir haben nicht mehr allzu viele Originalaktien in unseren Depots.“ Vermutlich, so der Insider, werde es noch etwa 2 – 3 Wochen dauern bis die Aktion seitens seines Instituts abgeschlossen sei. Dem Vernehmen nach sei auch die Situation der anderen Emissionsbanken tendenziell vergleichbar. Auch dort werde es wohl nicht mehr allzu lange dauern, die Restbestände an Originalaktien zu liquidieren. Damit dürfte das nahende Ende der Baissephase in Sicht sein. Die steigende Nachfrage nach BCL Aktien während der letzten Tage könnte dann zu anziehenden Kursen führen. Heute wurden in Sydney weitere 304.000 Aktien zu 0,53 AUD gehandelt.
16.04.2010
The 2010 Annual General Meeting :
The ESBC prepared a couple of questions to the board of Bougainville Copper Ltd. .
Please click here to keep yourself informed !
Jahreshauptversammlung 2010 :
Die ESBC haben eine Reihe von Fragen an den Vorstand von Bougainville Copper Ltd. formuliert.
No more new giant sell orders in Sydney! BOC shares in focus! They soared 8 percent at 11:58 a.m. Sydney time! Is the haunting now over?
American Deposit Receipt (ADR) Ausverkauf
Ist der große Spuk vorbei?
Keine neuen gigantischen Verkaufsorders mehr in Sydney! BOC Aktien sind gefragt und steigen um 8 Prozent um 11:58 Uhr Ortszeit Sydney! Ist der große Spuk jetzt vorbei?
Orderbook um 11:58 Ortszeit:
BOUGAINVILLE COPPER Market Depth
BOC Buyers
Level
Buy
Quantity
Price
1
1
10,000
0.505
2
5
101,353
0.500
3
1
50,000
0.490
4
1
50,000
0.485
5
1
100,000
0.480
6
1
10,000
0.475
7
3
16,100
0.470
8
1
10,000
0.465
9
1
10,000
0.460
10
3
15,500
0.450
11
1
10,000
0.445
12
1
6,750
0.440
13
1
22,000
0.430
14
1
10,000
0.415
15
1
20,000
0.310
BOC Sellers
Price
Quantity
Sell
Level
0.540
247
1
1
0.550
3,111
1
2
0.580
19,700
1
3
0.590
7,000
1
4
0.600
13,300
1
5
0.650
100,000
1
6
0.700
15,000
1
7
0.740
13,785
2
8
0.740
0
1
9
0.740
0
1
10
0.740
0
1
11
0.740
0
1
12
0.740
0
1
13
0.740
0
1
14
0.740
0
1
15
15.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Analyst sets sight on Bougainville
By Fabian Gatana
ROBERT Atsir, 52 years from Hantoa village, is a person well known throughout the Bougainville business community and the region. Vying for the president’s seat, Mr Atsir is a member of the Bougainville People’s Party (BPC) and also the president of the PNG Association of Microfinance. For two years he was the president of the Bougainville Business Association (BBA) and also founded CDA microfinance, a scheme that helped a lot of Bougainvilleans to manage their finances. He was an economic adviser to Governor John Momis under the Bougainville Interim Provincial Government from 2001 to 2004 and also to the late Joseph Kabui under the first house of the Autonomous Bougainville Government from 2005 to 2008. Now, he is contesting against Mr Momis and five others including current President James Tanis, Martin Miriori, the elder brother of Mr Kabui, lawyer Reuben Siara, Sylvester Niu and lone woman candidate, Magdalene Toroansi. Mr Atsir has strong issues he wants to address if given the opportunity to rule as the president of this newly formed region, one of which is the weapons disposal program, reconciliation, and his platform includes: * Creating unity and peace and preparing Bougainville socially and economically for the referendum in six-11years; * Reviewing the Bougainville Peace Agreement and exercise powers and functions through ABG legislations as well as modernising the public service; * Adopt appropriate land and agriculture policies to facilitate wealth creation for Bougainville’s prosperity; * Provide equal opportunities in education, employment and private enterprise through wealth creation; and * Promote investment, trade and industry through appropriate policies and development of world class infrastructures like hospitals, technical schools, agriculture colleges and others. Mr Atsir was a financial analysis lecturer at Unitech from 1985 to 1994 and believes he can manage Bougainville economically.
14.04.2010
Source : Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville Presidency candidate wants to prioritize education
A Bougainville businessman who has entered the race for the presidency of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville says education is the first priority in the province’s development.
Economist Robert Atsir, who had worked closely with the first president, the late Joseph Kabui, is one of seven candidates for the position in next month’s elections.
Bougainville is a resource rich province with opportunities in agriculture, fishing, tourism as well as mining, but Mr Atsir says the first thing that needs to be addressed is the mindset of the people and education is the key to this.
“We need to be able to educate our people to understand that without being hardworking, without being resilient and [without] resourcefulness we cannot truly achieve a lot of the visions and aspirations that we have made an effort to achieve autonomy as well as make decisions whether we should become an independent nation in the Pacific or not.”
14.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Women begin to make a mark in Bougainville elections
BY TOM KATHOA
Five Bougainville women have put their hands up to challenge their male counterparts in this year’s Bougainville election.
Two are members of the outgoing parliament, the Deputy Speaker and North Bougainville Women’s Representative, Hon Francisca Semoso, and the Women’s Representatives for Central, Hon Magdelene Toroansi.
Deputy Speaker Semoso has nominated to contest the Tsitalato seat vacated by former Member Hilary Laris, while Magdelene Toroansi has decided to move one step higher by contesting the presidential seat currently occupied by James Tanis.
The other women candidates challenging male counterparts are Elizabeth Sukina (Kopi), Marcheline Kokiai (Ioro) and Mary Mamatau (Konnou).
Ms Toroansi has an uphill battle standing against big names like John Momis, James Tanis, Reuben Siara and Martin Miriori.
But these five women will pose a real challenge if other women rally behind them in order to capture these seats.
Meanwhile, thirteen other women are contesting the three reserved seats of North, Central and South Bougainville.
Seven have nominated to contest the women’s reserved seat in North Bougainville, six in the South and five in Central.
The three ex-combatants’ seats have attracted 13 candidates and there are seven candidates vying for the region’s highest political post of president.
Current President, Hon James Tanis, is being challenged by six others including long-time politician and former PNG Ambassador to China, John Momis who is making his second attempt for the post.
A total of 294 candidates will be contesting this second ABG election.
The decision by Autonomous Bougainville Government President, James Tanis, to invite foreign observers to Bougainville for the election has won the support of the Bougainville Acting Electoral Commissioner, Raytamah Taravaru.
Speaking to New Dawn FM, Mr Taravaru commended the Tanis/Masatt Government for the decision to invite and allow people from other countries to come and witness how the election is conducted.
Election observers have been drawn from several countries in the Pacific Region.
Mr Taravaru said the presence of foreign observers will be of great assistance to the commission and the ABG government as a whole.
He said the Electoral Commission will use the information in the observers’ report as a guide to improve the conduct of future elections.
Meanwhile, Mr Taravaru strongly urged all candidates and their supporters not to turn away other candidates who want to campaign in their areas.
He said candidates should be allowed to conduct their campaigns anywhere, but appealed to them not to unfairly criticize other candidates.
Mr Taravaru also issued a stern warning to dismiss election officials if they are found to be collaborating with candidates.
All election officials from the Provincial Returning Officer down to the drivers and cleaners must refrain from taking sides. They must remain neutral at all times.
14.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
No Bougainville referendum until weapons are gone
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
A Port Moresby-based Bougainvillean lawyer is very concerned at the way the Autonomous Bougainville Government has managed its affairs over the last five years.
Joel Minsipi Nawa told New Dawn FM that the legal lifespan of the ABG is a maximum of 15 years from 2005.
All powers available to Bougainville must be transferred from the PNG government within that 15 year period, within which a referendum on independence must be held.
However, the transfer of powers is conditional, subject to Bougainville’s administrative, manpower and financial capacity. Also referendum must be held within 10-15 years.
He said although the referendum is guaranteed under the PNG and Bougainville constitutions there first must be weapons disposal before it can take place.
He said Bougainville still has piles of ammunition in the hands of Mekamuis, Bougainville Revolutionary Army element, the Wilmo Force, freedom fighters, Uvistract and certain local politicians, criminals and youths.
Mr Minsipi said that anything that can be used to harm another person is a weapon, including bush knives, axes, fishing spears, not just guns. Killings are done using these weapons, especially when young people consume home brews.
The ABG and the PNG government are well aware of these undisposed weapons and that this creates a big threat to the lives of peace-loving people in Bougainville.
He said he was concerned because the issues of autonomy and the referendum leading to independence entirely depend on disposing of these weapons.
Mr Minsipi, who is the principal legal advisor to the Teaching Service Commission and who represents the PNG government on the draw-down of education powers to Bougainville says in the last five years the ABG’s only concern was to transfer powers to Bougainville without addressing weapons disposal.
The technical expert team of the PNG government, of which he is a member, has repeatedly asked ABG representatives to include weapons disposal as an agenda for discussion but it has not been included for some reason.
He called on the next ABG to make sure weapons disposal is on the agenda for discussion at future JSB meetings.
Mr Minsipi also questioned why the ABG does not seem to have any policy guidelines as to how it is going to remove weapons from Bougainville and its policy is in dealing with Noah Musingku’s kingdom that will result in a gun free-Tonu.
While both ABG and Mekamui seem to have a clearly defined goal of becoming independent from PNG, the reality is Bougainville cannot get independence if weapons disposal is not addressed.
He also called on Bougainvilleans to vote for good, qualified, active, committed and God fearing leaders for Bougainville in the coming election.
14.04.2004
Source : Post-Courier
Supporters get ‘territorial’ on Bougainville
By GORETHY KENNETH
SUPPORTERS of candidates contesting the Autonomous Bougainville Government second presidential election are harassing and physically chasing their rivals who want to carry out campaigns in their so-called “no-go zones”. Last week, the Post-Courier witnessed a group of supporters for a candidate (named) of a constituency in North Bougainville chasing supporters of another candidate (named) because they did not want other campaign officials campaigning in their territory. In South Bougainville, one candidate and his supporters were harassed and told to get away from the area where they were campaigning because that area was rightfully their candidate’s. While Bougainville police advised they were not aware of these incidents, they told the Post-Courier they were aware of such incidents happening as per the previous elections. “Elections on Bougainville have become dirty like every other place in Papua New Guinea,” a chief from the Tsitalato constituency said yesterday. “We are not like before where candidates used to campaign side by side and we will expect these sort of actions,” he said. Police on the other hand have appealed strongly to the people of Bougainville to take ownership of this election and provide the much needed security it deserves. They have been going on air, creating awareness on the radio and on the streets talking telling people to respect this election, the candidates and their freedom to choose and campaign where ever necessary.
13.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Arawa business school students graduate
By Peterson Tseraha
A privately-run business school in Arawa Central Bougainville graduated its second lot of students last week. The Osi Tanata Innovative Business Training Institute (OTIBTI), a sector of Osi Tanata, incorporated an organisation in central Bougainville has done it again. With a bridging relationship with the Kokopo Business College more students have enrolled in the program. While Bougainville was in election fever it did not disrupt anything to do with the graduation. OTIBTI specialises in training students with basic accounting, secretarial /clerical studies, the first of its kind on Bougainville after the crisis. A total of 51 students graduated after completing months of practical work with business houses and certain government sectors in Arawa. Osi Tanata acting executive director Cosmas Piri described the second graduation as another milestone achievement on Bougainville. “This is a privilege for these youths who were pushed out of the so-called formal education system to have access to this rare opportunity in life again,” Mr Piri said. “This will enable them to join the workforce on Bougainville or to further their studies for diploma qualifications or to add to the number of self start small businesses on the island,” he said. Osi Tanata acting director Cosmas Piri challenged the graduates not to sit down and just look at the certificates framed and placed in cupboards. “Don’t just sit back at your villages or homes and wait for opportunities to meet you but create opportunities,” Mr Piri said.He told students to have a high self-esteem because they had received another level of education that qualified them for another step to be in the employment sector. OTIBTI students will have the opportunity to further their education where 20 spaces will be available for them each year at the Kokopo Business College in the East New Britain Province, and some students have already gone there. Mr Piri appealed to the ABG members, the PNG Government and Member for Central Bougainville Jimmy Miringtoro, COE members and the general public to assist in one way or the other to sustain the program because it was helping youths on Bougainville.
13.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Engan has Buka polls ‘covered’
‘There are things I want to do for Nissan, just wait and see,’ Nissan candidate Cherry Napto Kiso says.
By GORETHY KENNETH
HE COMES from Wapenamanda, Enga Province and thinks he has mastered the numbers to win in this second Autonomous Bougainville Government elections. And he is right, he has the numbers in the Nissan Constituency seat, the one he is contesting. Cherry Napto Kiso is 47 and is married to Flora Otima, who is from Lihon village, Nissan Island and they have four boys. Mr Napto is running against old-timer and local politician Leo Hannett, who was Bougainville’s former governor and premier. Mr Hannett is now a businessman. Mr Napto is not only married to a Bougainvillean, he has been serving the province as district manager for more than 10 years. He served as district manager for Kunua, Torokina, Boku, Atolls, Buka and Nissan these past years, even during the Bougainville crisis. Napto Kiso attended Wabag High School from 1976 to 1979, then continued to Passam National High School from 1980-81. He graduated with flying colours and was selected to go to the University of Technology in Lae. He studied for only three years, but could not complete his degree due to personal problems. He began his working life in Buka and worked his way up to be a senior public servant. In 1985, he attended the PNG Institute of Administration where he obtained a certificate. He was also at one time a Post-Courier distributor in Buka, serving the Atolls and Nissan. He joined the office of the Higher Education Minister as the second secretary. But he resigned early this year to contest the Nissan Constituency seat. He came second in the first ABG elections in 2005 and is confident he has the population of Nissan in his palm. When asked what he planned to do if he won the seat, he said smiling; “There are many things I want to do for Nissan, just wait and see.”
13.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Aussies case adjourned in Buka
By GORETHY KENNETH
AUSTRALIAN yacht skipper Michael Northcote will have his case heard when documents are made available today. Northcote’s case was taken up by Young and Williams and it was adjourned from last week because the file is locked in Magistrate Peter Toliken’s office. Mr Toliken is currently in Buin, south Bougainville, for a week-long circuit. The case was supposed to be heard yesterday but was adjourned to this morning. This is a criminal case between the Bougainville police and Northcote over allegations of Northcote being in possession of illicit drugs while on Bougainville. This case goes before Magistrate Vincent Linge this week. Meanwhile, the other four Australians had their case listed for tomorrow (Wednesday) when Magistrate Toliken will be presented with their submissions. These Australians have been in Buka for more than a month. They could face more charges when Customs presents its case when they appear before the magistrate.
13.04.2010
Source : The National
Tanis continues talks on disposing weapons
By TOM KATHOA
AUTONOMOUS Region of Bougainville President James Tanis is continuing talks with leaders of the various factions about disposing of weapons. Mr. Tanis admitted that not all weapons in the possession of people had been handed over to the authorities. While this is a huge task, the president is confident the Autonomous Bougainville Government will achieve its goal to rid the region of weapons in preparation for referendum and independence. Mr. Tanis said the Government was still talking to leaders and all other citizens of Bougainville about the weapons disposal program. He said all faction leaders had assured him of a trouble-free election, where people and election officials would be allowed to pass through the roadblock at Morgan junction. Mr. Tanis said continuity was important to the region and urged the people to give him a full five-year term to realize their dreams. He said he had adopted a similar campaign tactic as in the 2008 presidential by-election which he won convincingly from 14 other candidates. He said he would concentrate on improving the economic sector of the region together with other sectors like health, education, fisheries, forestry, communication and road and transport infrastructure. Mr. Tanis challenged Bougainvilleans to vote for him if they were serious about real development and prosperity.
12.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Petty politics holding back Bougainville: Momis
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
Former Bougainville Governor and long-time member for Bougainville in the national parliament, John Momis, says Bougainville needs good, honest and visionary leadership to move forward.
He said he was concerned Bougainville may not reach what it aimed for in the first place if it continues to play petty politics.
Mr Momis was replying to political opponents who questioned his stand on the future of Bougainville after the 2010 general elections.
He said he joined politics to fight for autonomy and self determination which Bougainville is moving towards.
He said that his vision for Bougainville remains focussed on the referendum and independence for Bougainville.
On the question of allowing Chinese into Bougainville, he said any investor who wants to come into the province has to come under Bougainville’s own laws and policies which must be made by the next government.
He said that Bougainville remains an integral part of the global community and cannot isolate itself.
Mr Momis said the next ABG government should immediately establish good policies to attract investment.
12.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Tanis will govern for the next generation
BY TOM KATHOA
One of the candidates in the ABG election has described the Tanis/Masatt Government as a government of hope for the people of Bougainville.
Former BRA Commander, Ismael Toroama, who is contesting the South Nasioi constituency, told a political rally on Buka that this government has proven itself to be a government for the people.
MrToroama said he fully supports the government because it had provided hope for the youths, women and all the people of Bougainville during its short time in office.
He challenged people to think patriotically and vote for people they believe will meet their needs.
He said this is the government that will lead the region to a referendum and eventual independence, a government for the future generation.
The former BRA commander has also challenged Bougainvilleans to take control of all business activities in the region.
He said foreigners are not needed and urged the people to go into small business activities to raise their income and living standards.
Mr Toroama said the current government should be voted back into office to fully accomplish its vision for the region and its people.
12.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Mekamui fighters defy govt in Konnou area
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
The situation in Konnou remains tense after the murder of a villager, Korake, by Mekamui elements in the area last week.
Reports from Konnou reaching New Dawn FM state that Buin police cannot move into the area as it is a ‘no go zone’ for government authorities.
The Bougainville Police Service is no match for the firepower of criminal elements in the area.
Reports say the last remaining villagers from Piriraro moved out of their homes after the killing and are now living with relatives elsewhere.
Chief Francis Mona who left the village earlier told New Dawn FM that he feared for the lives of his children who are still in the area.
He said he left his village with only the clothes he was wearing. He is now in Buka.
His attempts to meet the officers from the Peace and Reconciliation Office for assistance were unsuccessful.
12.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Veteran missionaries quit to return home
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
The last of the remaining early missionaries who served on Bougainville for more than forty years have been farewelled at a ceremony in Hahela.
The early missionaries are retired Bishop of Bougainville, Bishop Henk Kronenberg, Father Hendry Saris and Sister Noreen (SMSM).
Bishop Kronenberg served on Bougainville for more than 47 years since he arrived in PNG in 1965. He became Bishop of Bougainville in 1999.
Father Saris served on Bougainville for 39 years.
Both men are from Holland and will return to their homeland this year.
Sister. Noreen also served on Bougainville for many years and will return to Australia at the end of April.
The farewell ceremony included activities by students of Hahela and Malasang Primary School and presentations of gifts.
12.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Bougainvilleans stand up to be counted
BOUGAINVILLE should know by end of this year whether the population has increased, decreased or still remains the same as the 2000 census figures. It will be a difficult task for the Bougainville census division, which officially launched it’s operations on Friday in Buka, counting every household and every head simultaneously with the operations of the second ABG elections. Census 2000 operations, although could not cover parts of Central and South Bougainville recorded about 175,000 (including the 20,000 that were killed during the crisis) population of the region, with 33,000 household. By the end of the year we should know whether it decreased or increased. The launching of the Bougainville census operation in Buka officially marked the start of the process before the actual counting begins in July. A workshop to train trainers by the Bougainville census division in conjunction with the ABG also concluded on Friday. Several chief executive officers of different divisions were also present on Friday for the event. Co-ordinator Joseph Jeraha said the the goal of the 2010 census was to provide reliable demographic (population based) and socio-economic information for the government for development planning for now and in the future. The objective of the 2010 census is to successfully carry out a population and housing census in July 2010. “Bougainville missed out on the 1990 census due to the crisis and not all parts of Bougainville (mainly in Central Bougainville) were covered in the 2000 census. Therefore, it is very important that as far as possible, all persons on Bougainville are counted this time,” he said. “The ABG through its administration has taken ownership of the census and we must do all we can to ensure its successful completion. “Since the period February to July is also election time on Bougainville, it is important that we maintain focus on the purpose and successful accomplishment of census operations whilst also attending to our constitutional obligations to partake in the election.”
12.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Actor Tukana now a farmer
By GORETHY KENNETH
IF you have watched a 1980 Bougainville produced film called Tukana, you will remember the person that acted the main character in this local movie. This is a story about one of Bougainville’s actor, now a farmer in Bougainville. In the 1980s this man was popular with his main character Bougainville film- Tukana.Albert Toro (pictured above) as he is known hoped to one day act in a high profile international movie, like his Kieta counterpart William Takaku who acted in the Man Friday movie starring world famous Pierce Brosnan in Madang in 1995, but his dreams were shattered because of family, financial and other problems. He, however managed to produce and act in his own film that is still famous nowadays called Tukana. Toro was the main character in this film and his co-star was the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s current deputy Speaker and North Bougainville’s Women representative Francisca Semoso. It is a vital film to this day, especially when the region, to be specific, Teop Island where this 58-year-old man comes from-is still very much “traditionally maintained.” They sometimes call him a bushman with a hell lot of knowledge, but Toro pays no attention to it because that is just the way he lives, was brought up and has lived for the last 58 years - a simple village man. Toro was born in Teop Island in 1952, got educated at Hanahan, Tearuki and Tinputs. His high school days were spent at the St Joseph’s Rigu High School, an all male institution. He got chucked out of Grade Nine (9) for hijacking the mission boat in 1972. A month later found himself a job with the Bougainville Copper Mine as a heavy equipment operator. He learnt on the job and with little knowledge from the Catholic-run boys school, the trade was sufficient for him. In 1974 he upgraded his marks by doing the four main subjects under the College of Distance Education and passed with flying colours. The following year he won a scholarship to study Arts at the University of Papua New Guinea for four years. In 1978 Toro served for three years as the PNG National theatre director, and in 1980 he won a position as an assistant producer at the country’s Media Resource Unit. This is where he produced his own film, the first and famous Tukana, where he also starred as the main character. This film was traditionally set and one where tradition and culture clashed with modern day/life. The film was released in 1981 but was very popular in the 80s. In 1984 Toro felt he had to give back to Bougainville so he joined then provincial secretary and Bougainville’s former Administrator Peter Tsiamalili as the North Solomon’s provincial theatre director. He worked under Tsiamalili’s reign until 1987 when he won a position at Lae’s University of Technology, where he set up the first television unit for this institution. He worked there from 1987 to 1990 when he resigned to start his own company in Port Moresby. Toro had a long walk in life. Apart from seeing the world including PNG (he says the only places in PNG he hasn’t seen is Vanimo and Kavieng. He married his first wife, Anita Baru, from Eastern Highlands and had four children, Georgina, Ishmael, Nigel and Chicco. He later stretched his hands further to start another family but still kept his neatly framed family of actors and singers together. In 2002 Toro returned to Bougainville where he worked as a farmer maintaining his plantations and aiding his community, assisting in every way he could to develop the community. In 2008 he worked for North Bougainville MP Michael Ogio as his project officer where he still holds that position. He contested the 2005 first ABG election and was beaten by Joseph Gitovea from Topo village. Two weeks ago Toro put his hand up again to contest the same seat with an aim to change two things, the education reform system and seriously look at the delivery of goods and services and look at how and why it is not reaching the very people that matter most - those in rural areas. He is contesting under the Labour Party banner.
12.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Candidate ousted
By TOM KATHOA
MEMBER for Tsitalato constituency in Buka district, North Bougainville, Hilary Laris has been ruled out of the contest in this election. Member Laris was convicted by a court of Law on charges of sexually assaulting a female two years ago. Mr Laris has appealed against his conviction to the Supreme Court, which is yet to make a decision. His omission from the race leaves Tsitalato with eight candidates in the race for that vacant seat. Meanwhile, Kongara constituency in Central Bougainville has the lowest of two candidates challenging each other for this seat. Current Member for Kongara and Minister for Primary Industry Dominic Itta is being challenged by Amos Ove who nominated at the last minute before nominations officially closed on April 2. Election history has shown that Haku constituency always had the highest number of candidates and is also the most populous constituency in the region. Bougainville Provincial Electoral officer George Tarala said printing of the ballot papers would be done in Port Moresby next week. Mr Tarala said election officials were finalising all candidates’ details in preparation for next Wednesday when they will be travelling to Port Moresby to print all the materials. All candidates are now busy on their campaign trails. ABG President James Tanis yesterday campaigned at the Buka Market. He was flanked by vice president Ezekiel Masatt, Peace, Reconciliation and Weapons Disposal Minister Robert Hamal Sawa and Health Minister and Member for Atolls Taihu Pais.
Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland wird für weitere drei Jahre von Herrn Eberhard Pfeiffer (68) als Honorarkonsul in Port Moresby vertreten. Dies wurde ihm kürzlich seitens der deutschen Botschaft in Canberra (Australien), die gleichermaßen für Papua-Neuguinea zuständig ist, mitgeteilt. Als einziges europäisches Land unterhält nur Frankreich eine eigene diplomatische Vertretung in Port Moresby. Ansonsten werden die Interessen Europas vor Ort durch eine ständige Gesandtschaft der EU gewahrt. Herr Pfeiffer (seine Freunde in PNG nennen ihn Eddie) betreibt in der näheren Umgebung von Port Moresby eine biologische Ananas-Plantage, aus deren Früchten seine Firma Sogeri Spices Limited eine überaus schmackhafte Konfitüre herstellt. Doch auch um Bougainville hat sich Pfeiffer in der Vergangenheit verdient gemacht: So beschaffte er vor ein paar Jahren beispielsweise eine wertvolle technische Einrichtung aus Deutschland, die seinerzeit vom damaligen deutschen Botschafter in Bougainville übergeben wurde. Diese ermöglichte es überhaupt erst, dass der Sender Radio New Dawn on Bougainville in Buka seinen Sendebetrieb aufnehmen konnte. Auch die European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC) schulden Herrn Pfeiffer großen Dank für seine wertvollen Dienste. Viel Glück für die Zukunft Eddie!
Honorarkonsul / Honorary Consul Eberhard Pfeiffer
Another three more years!
The German Honorary Consul to PNG Mr. Eberhard Pfeiffer (68) will be on duty in Port Moresby for three more years. This had been communicated to him by the German Embassy in Canberra a short time ago. The German Ambassador to Australia is also accredited in Papua New Guinea. France is the only European country to be represented by an own ambassador. The European Union maintains a permanent mission in Port Moresby as well. Mr. Pfeiffer (his friends in PNG call him Eddie) is a biologic pineapple farmer one hour drive away from Port Moresby. He also owns the Sogeri Spices Limited that produces a delicious jam from his carefully cultivated fruits. Mr. Pfeiffer maintains excellent relations to Bougainville as well: A couple of years ago he organized a transmitter for Radio New Dawn on Bougainvillefrom Germany. This expensive technical equipment, handed over by the former German Ambassador in Buka, made it possible that the regional network was able to start broadcasting. Also the European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC) owe Mr. Pfeiffer a debt of gratitude for his friendly support. Good luck for the future Eddie!
10.04.2010
Earlier today the ESBC had been informed by friends on the ground in Bougainville that neither Mr. Philipp Miriori nor Mrs. Lynette Ona, who both pretend to be spokes persons of Panguna landowners, are not landowners in Panguna at all. Therefore their public statements have NOT to be considered as official ones! Mrs. Ona does not belong to the family of former rebel leader, the late Francis Ona who died in 2005 ! In Bougainville she is considered as a "failed politician" our sources say. In consequence: Statements of both persons should not be taken for serious!
Die ESBC wurden heute aus zuverlässiger Quelle vor Ort in Bougainville darüber in Kenntnis gesetzt, dass Mr. Philipp Miriori und Mrs. Lynette Ona nicht Landeigner in Panguna sind. Letztere gibt vor, Sprecherin der Frauen in Panguna zu sein. Deshalb sind die öffentlichen Einlassungen der beiden NICHT als offiziell zu werten. Mrs. Ona ist auch nicht, wie fälschlich angenommen werden könnte, in irgendeiner Form mit dem 2005 verstorbenen Rebellenführer Francis Ona verwandt! Laut unserer Quellen wird sie auf Bougainville als glücklose Politikerin betrachtet. Statements beider Personen, sollten deshalb nicht allzu ernst genommen werden!
09.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Panguna gets new satellite system By Peterson Tseraha
THE newly established Panguna District administration office will have no problem communicating with the outside world, thanks to Telikom PNG, the ABG and the Government of New Zealand for funding a new satellite system. The new VSAT was launched by ABG President James Tanis, Peace and Reconciliation Minister Robert Hamal Sawa General Moses Pipiro of the Mekamui defence force and members of the Panguna administration, last week. The VSAT system was installed by Telikom PNG engineers, who were taken to the once No-go-zone. (Is Panguna anymore a No-go-zone? That would be very good news! The ESBC will try to find out!) Since the whole world can communicate with the people of Panguna, they have been urged by the ABG president to take ownership of the VSAT.
09.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Tanis set for simple tactic during by-election By Tom Kathoa
The President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, James Tanis entered the office of the president with “NOTHING AND WILL TAKE NOTHING” when he leaves office if not re-elected. President Tanis said his campaign would be simple like what he did when he contested and won the presidential by-election. He made no promise to the people of Bougainville except to restore confidence and relations with leaders of various factional groups, the Prime Minister for Papua New Guinea and foreign diplomatic missions and NGOs operating in Papua New Guinea. The president said he is happy that he has achieved this mission. Because of this, the president says he does not need dancing girls, singsing kaur and a big rally to promote his campaign. He said he has signed a memorandum of understanding between Meekamui army commanders and other leaders assuring him of a trouble free election. The President also said the issue of Panguna copper mine would be resolved soon once and for all whether to close it for good or re-open it. Turning to current Members of the ABG who are campaigning against him, the president challenged them to tell the people of Bougainville what they did in the three years before he came into office as president. President Tanis said he has done and achieved a lot in his fourteen months in office. He said Chris Uma and Ishmael Toroama are united and are prepared to work together after the election.
09.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Fee delay affect students By GORETHY KENNETH
MORE than 300 Grade 12 students from two major secondary schools in Bougainville face a possible send off because of committed school fees from politicians not been paid on time. Higher Education Minister and North Bougainville MP Michael Ogio last year made a commitment to Hutjena and Tarlena Secondary schools to pay school fees for all grade 12 students of North Bougainville attending these institutions. In February, Ogio’s Joint District Planning committee made a resolution approving K500,000 to these two schools. Due to this commitment, parents were advised not to make payments for school fees. It has been three months since the students have been in school without school fees. Minister Ogio’s intention was to help the parents of North Bougainville, who had their children attend grade 12 at these two schools - it has turned out funds have not been used accordingly. Hutjena Secondary School principal Martin Takali yesterday said more than 120 students at Hutjena have been affected and as they owed the school more than K199,000. “Parents wanted to pay but because of this commitment they did not and it is not their fault,” Mr Takali said. He said he had written a letter to the Minister on the matter as it was affecting their operations in the school. He did not elaborate but said they were facing difficulties because more than 200 students in their school had not paid their fees as they need to pay for food and other necessities. Ogio’s office yesterday advised from Port Moresby that the money had already been allocated and available from the District Treasury office, however, might have been used for other purposes. The office assured them they would look for money elsewhere to honoue the commitment.
09.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Inmates praise detained angels
DETAINED Australian yachties have been called “ANGELS” by more than 70 prisoners at the Buka Police station lockup. This is because since last year, there’s been a major water shortage at the cells and for four weeks, since police caught these Australians in their yacht for alleged possession of marijuana, they have been providing drinking water for Buka cell prisoners and providing a full tank of water for the inmates to wash and use for toilets. The prisoners in a press release alerted there could be a possible diarrhea outbreak in the cells and were worried, believe it could be a sign of cholera disease. They claim those affected vomitted and were too weak to squat when using toilet, instead they lie on the floor and release their waste. But health authorities are saying it is the responsibility of Buka town inspection authorities to inspect while police station officers have been saying they cannot do anything due to lack of funds. The water shortage and the other problems were contributing factors as alleged by the prisoners. They claimed they had not had any decent water for drinking, cooking, washing and toilet until the four Australians, 33 year old Putu Winchester, Thomas Olsen (44), Clayton McDonald (33), Michael O’Neill (42) and Captain Michael Northcote (46) came to Buka. “We inmates have run short of water for drinking, washing and toilet since last year when the main pump that pumps water from the well for washing and toilets broke down,” the prisoners said. “As a result, water from the four tanks for drinking has been used for both drinking and washing including toilets,” the prisoners wrote in their press release. “Authorities could not handle the problem so we have had a hard time, sometimes going without water for days until the four Australians arrived. We understand the four broke law of this country but they are human beings like every one of us. “They have done so much for us. The four Australians have been providing water for us to drink, wash and for toilet.”
09.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Miscellaneous / Vermischtes (The Drum)
No losers!
The Autonomous Bougainville Region parliament house was built to house 40 members, which includes the president. However, this year it looks like the number of seats will have to be increased. That’s because all the candidates have already declared themselves to be winners!
Confidence
STILL on the ABG election, many candidates say they are only waiting for the swearing in ceremony. Such confidence is all well and good, but do they realize, there’s only one winner for each seat!
08.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Tanis govt praised
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
ONE of the candidates in the ABG presidential election has described the Tanis/Massatt government as a government of hope for the people of Bougainville. Former BRA commander Ismael Toroama, who is contesting the South Nasioi constituency seat in Kieta district, told a political rally in Buka yesterday that this government had proven to be a government for the people of Bougainville. Mr Toroama said he fully supported the Government because it had provided hope for the youth, women and all the people of Bougainville during its short time in office. He challenged people to think patriotically and vote for people who they believe would provide and meet their needs, adding that this was the government that would lead the region to a referendum and eventual independence, and the Government that cared for its future generation. Mr Toroama said the current government under the leadership of President Tanis should be voted back into office to fully accomplish his vision for its people and the region. Meanwhile, the former BRA commander has challenged Bougainvilleans to take ownership of all business activities in the region. He said foreigners were not needed in the region and urged the people to go into small business activities to raise their income and living standards.
08.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Miscellaneous / Vermischtes (The Drum)
We’ll teach them
UPDATE on the Bougainville campaigning: Haku Constituency, with the highest number of candidates at 20, are 90 per cent former teachers. Are they going in to teach pollies or change the education reform plan?
Expat’ street talk
OUR item yesterday on “expats’’ heading home to Bougainville for the ABG elections fell in with street talk in Buka and Arawa. There’s a lot of anger about “where were they when we needed them’’. Also considering age and health, the ABG might incurr some hefty bills for by-elections if some of them actually win!
Expat ‘show’ (07.04.2010)
A VETERAN of Bougainville political scene read our articles on the intending candidates for the ABG and reckons nearly all should be ruled out on the grounds that they’re expatriates. Yep, folks who’ve lived far away from home for so long, they’ll be considered as expats by their own people. Only polling day will tell what the voters think, of course.
08.04.2010
ESBC informs: The Elections of the Panguna Landowner Representation has been delayed to July or August 2010!
ESBC informiert: Die Wahl der Panguna Landeigner Vertretung wurde auf Juli oder August 2010 verschoben!
08.04.2010
Source : ABC Radio Australia
Womens group oppose reopening of Bougainville mine
Liam Fox, PNG correspondent
Women representing an indigenous landowner's group on the Papua New Guinean island of Bougainville say they're opposed to reopening the mine that was at the centre of a bloody civil war.
Local anger towards the Panguna copper mine was at the heart of the civil war that gripped Bougainville during the 1990s.
It's been closed ever since but the possibility of it reopening will be a big issue during next month's Autonomous Bougainville Government elections.
The incumbent president James Tanis is one candidate who wants to see it active again.
But Lynette Ona from the Bougainville Indigenous Women's Landowner Group doesn't.
"Because we sense that if mining comes on Bougainville it will spoil our land, spoil our environment and our culture as well," she said.
Ms Ona says many men support the mine's reopening but women are the traditional landowners on Bougainville.
08.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Me’ekamui rebels accused of election killing
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
The Bougainville general election took a turn for the worse today when another man was shot dead in political related violence.
Chief Francis Mona called on President James Tanis to immediately address the worsening law and order situation in the Konnou area of the Buin district in south Bougainville.
The chief left his village following raids by Me’ekamui rebels, saying that the problems need to be addressed before more deaths occur.
Mr Mona said the Konnou people had been living in fear for too long and the government must address the law and order situation once and for all.
He said that the Me’ekamui faction had killed many innocent people whilst talking peace and the latest killing will stop people from voting in the coming general election.
Mr Mona said if the ABG is not capable of containing the situation, outside assistance should be called in.
07.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
7 vie for top post
By GORETHY KENNETH
Seven candidates will contest the second Autonomous Bougainville Government presidential election. They include a former Bougainvillean politician in national parliament, the autonomous government, businessmen and community leaders. Polling starts on May 7. Writs will be returned on June 9. ABG President James Tanis will defend his seat, as he goes up against John Momis, Reuben Siara, Robert Atsir, Martin Miriori, Sylvester Niu and a lone woman candidate, Magdalene Toroansi. In 2008, a by-election was held which saw Mr Tanis win the seat. There were 14 candidates altogether. It followed the death of ABG’s first President Joseph Kabui in June 2008. Mr Kabui’s elder brother, Miriori who was a former international spokesman for the secessionist movement, was one of the candidates. He will be contesting the same seat this year. By-election candidates included Nick Peniai, Edward Okuwau, Gerard Sinato, Sam Kauona, Clarence Cozxiune, James Tanis, Ruben Siara, Samuel Akoitai, Sylvester Niu, Joel Banam, Raymond Hakena and Patrick Leslie. This year more than 180,000 eligible voters will have a lesser choice of voting for their leader because the number of candidates compared to the by-election has halved. President Tanis, Reuben Siara, Martin Miriori and Magdalene Toroansi come from Central Bougainville, while Momis comes from South, and Robert Atsir and Sylvester Niu come from North Bougainville. Under the updated common roll, North Bougainville region has the highest number of eligible voters followed by South and Central Bougainville. Magdalene Toroansi is currently the woman representative in the ABG Parliament for Central Bougainville. She gave up the reserved seat to test the women of Bougainville for equal votes for a woman to lead this second presidential seat.
07.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Cubans ordered to leave
TWO Cubans are under police custody in Buka after being transported out of Arawa town yesterday with an order to leave Bougainville within 24 hours. The two have been working with a scrap metal exporting company in Central Bougainville engaged with the locals and extracting heavy metals out of Panguna and within Arawa. The two had first entered the country last year on a tourist visa with no proper work permits allowing them to operate anywhere in the country. However, on arriving in Port Moresby the two - who came on different dates - quickly made their way to Bougainville where they found employment with this scrap metal company. According to the officer-in-charge of the intelligence section at the Arawa police station, Constable Chris Mate, Arawa police have been monitoring their movements around the area, but never bothered about checking their passports and work permits. “We have been monitoring them when they came and worked with this scrap metal company. “However, we never checked their passports or work permits,” Const Mate said. Const Mate said they only knew that these two Cubans were illegally working in the region after receiving a letter last week from the Foreign Affairs department, which was also signed by Police Commissioner Gari Baki ordering the two Cubans to leave Bougainville within 24 hours. Const Mate said on enquiring with the owner of the scrap metal company they learned that he (the owner) was also not happy with their involvement and also agreed with the decision to “quickly” move them out of Bougainville. The two Cubans have already been transported to Buka and are expected to fly out of the region once necessary documents are finalised by the police.
07.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Landowners angry
By FABIAN GATANA
THE owners of the land on which Wakunai District office is located as well as the Wakunai river, are angry at manner in which the ABG Works Department had gone about the preparation and signing of an agreement for use of stones from the river to produce aggregate for the Japanese bridge project. On Good Friday, John Kolan, a representative of ABG Works took an agreement and persuaded the clan chiefs of the Buirao and Vagei clans to sign an agreement. this was allegedly done without allowing the chiefs to read through the agreement and to allow the members of the clans to discuss the terms of the agreement and to give consent to the chiefs to sign the agreement. The landowners are are calling on the ABG to set aside this agreement and allow proper negotiations with the landowners to take place. The landowners are demanding a better rate for aggregate and a fair compensation for damage to the environment, disruption to the river system, destruction of the natural river bed, fish, eels, prawns and other fish that live in and around the river. They are giving the ABG Works Dept seven days and their failure to do so will mean that work at the Wakunai crusher will stop until this matter is sorted out and the Japanese bridge project will be delayed. They also remind those in authority that there must be mutual respect in dealings like this and for the Government to get proper agreement from the landowners first.
06.04.2010
Source : Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
236 candidates nominate for general election
BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
Nominations for the 40-seat Bougainville House of Representatives closed on Friday but final lists of candidates have not yet reached the Returning Officer in Buka due to communication difficulties.
According to Returning Officer George Tarara, he expects to receive the final figures from Central and South Bougainville today.
By yesterday afternoon, 236 candidates had nominated for the 40 seats.
In all, seven candidates have nominated for the presidential seat. They are current President James Tanis, Reuben Siara, John Momis, Martin Miriori, Robert Atsir, Sylvester Niu and the only woman candidate, Magdalene Itona Toroansi.
The seat of Haku on Buka Island has 20 candidates, the highest number of any constituency.
Two women have nominated to contest constituency seats in South Bougainville whilst 19 women will contest the three preserved seats for women in the House of Representatives.
Candidates numbers will be confirmed later today.
Photo: Candidates are busy campaigning for the 40 seats in the ABG Parliament. Pictured is Cosmas Sohia, a candidate for the Tsitalato seat campaigning in Buka town. Picture by Aloysius Laukai.
06.04.2010
Source : The National
Seven Contesting for president's post in Bougainville elections
By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
NOMINATIONS for the 40-seat House of Representatives for Bougainville closed last Friday with seven candidates to vying for the presidency. The total number of candidates for all the seats is not known as the final list from the districts has not reached the election’s returning officer in Buka. Returning officer George Tarara said due to communication difficulties, he was unable to get the final figures of candidates from the Central and South Bougainville. According to the records he received by yesterday afternoon, 266 candidates have nominated for the 40 seats. The seven running for president include incumbent James Tanis, Reuben Siara, John Momis, Martin Miriori, Robert Atsir, Sylvester Niu and the only female candidate, Magdalene Itona Toroansi. Constituency that received the highest number of candidates was the Haku seat on Buka Island with 20 candidates. Only two women have nominated to contest constituency seats in South Bougainville while 19 women will be contesting for the three reserved seats for women in the House of Representatives.
01.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
The challenge is on
By Gorethy Kenneth
AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government Deputy Speaker Francesca Semoso yesterday began her race against business giants and men nominating under the Tsitalato Constituency Seat, a non-woman reserved seat. For the last five years, Ms Semoso was the ABG’s deputy Speaker, occasionally acting as the Speaker. She is a HIV/AIDS advocate and a women leader in the region. She said it was not a mistake that she had chosen to contest this seat – as equal participation was always preached in the region. Franco, as she is known widely, believes this will be the day she proves a woman can beat a man in this race. She is up against businessman Cosmas Sohia, “controversial” current sitting MP Hilary Laris and four other men. Franco, 46, from Malasang village is confident she will be successful. She did not want to continue and re-contest the same North Bougainville Women’s Seat because: “I want to make way for other women of Buka to contest in that seat. I have had the feel of this seat, I know what’s it like and I want to give other women the opportunity to contest that seat.” “A reserve seat is a launching pad. I now feel I have the experience and knowledge to lead in another way and make way for other women of North Bougainville to come and make their mark. It’s about changing the minds of the people.”
01.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Candidates flow in
HE came with 15 truckloads of supporters to Buka town for nomination. Candidate for the Halia Constituency seat – Damien Kora, an ex-fighter in the Bougainville crisis was escorted in style from his Hanahan village to Kenny’s Hall where the singsing kaur (traditional dancing) started and led him to the nomination table to put his mark. His father Raphael, by his side who flew in from Port Moresby for his nomination. Damien wished his Manus mother was alive to see him contest this special second presidential election. Mr Kora was one of 20 candidates that nominated yesterday and part of more than 60 candidates that have nominated, so far, in North Bougainville seats according to the Electoral office in Buka. The last Presidential candidate is expected to nominate today before the close of nominations tomorrow. That would bring the Presidential Candidates to six. In Central Bougainville, the nomination of candidates has been going at snail’s pace with six people nominated in Terra, Rau and Kongara constituencies. Siwai in South Bougainville completed its nomination yesterday. A report should be known by today. North Bougainville moved faster as shown in the lineup. Haku constituency led with 16 candidates, most are former and current teachers. * Peit-7 * Halia-6 * Tsitalato-6 * Hagogohe -5 * Atolls-4 * Nissan-3 * Mahari-3 * Taonita/Teop -1 * Tonsu-1 * Suir-1 * Selau -1 * Women’s Seat -4 * Ex-combatants -3 A full and detailed report of the nominations from Central and South Bougainville including the North Bougainville Seat, Women’s, Ex-combatants and those for the president’s seat.
01.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier (The Drum)
Free ride
A CANDIDATE brings in thousands of supporters this week to town to witness his nomination –from far north Buka villages. When asked why they had come in big numbers with the candidate, one replied: “Free transport – I wanted to come to Buka town and so, because there was free transport I hopped on –“ . Think again candidates….
01.04.2010
Source : The National
74 candidates nominated for Bougainville elections
By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
SEVENTY-four candidates have been nominated for the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) general election since writs were issued last Friday. Five hopefuls are contesting the president’s seat and a few more are expected to be nominated before the close of nominations tomorrow. Incumbent President James Tanis was nominated to defend his seat last Friday. On Saturday, the first woman candidate Magdalene Toroansi was nominated and former governor John Momis and Martin Miriori were both nominated on Monday. For the constituency seats, three candidates have already been nominated for the Terra seat in Wakunai. They are the incumbent MP Leo Reivasi, Justin Kungkam and former kiap (patrol officer) Jacob Rerevate. No names have been received from other Central Bougainville seats. In the Southern region, three nominations were registered for the Kopii seat in Siwai, one for the Ramu and five for Motuna Huyono. Fifty-six people were nominated for seats in the Northern Region. Among them are three for the women seat and two for the ex-combatants seat. The two candidates nominated for the ex-combatants seats are Franco Hoppin and incumbent Marcellin G. Laris. For the Suir seat, at least five hopefuls will battle for the ballots and another five for the Selau seat. Three people have been nominated for the Atolls seat, five for Peit, 10 for Haku, four for Halia, two for Tonsu, three for Tsitalato, five for Hagogohe, three for Taunita-Tinputz and two for Taunita-Teop. Meanwhile, only one nomination was received for the Bolave seat in Bana district from a candidate who was nominated at the Electoral Commission office in Lae.
29.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
Warning on guns out
BOUGAINVILLE rebel hardliners warn of a possible taking up of arms and an increase in roadblocks through to Panguna if Bougainvilleans vote for a president that will not have the independence issue at heart. Me’ekamui diehard Chris Uma, former rebel hardliner David Sisito and Bougainville’s famous fifty-toea government cargo cultist Damien Damen gave the warning this week in Arawa. The trio issued the warning in Arawa while throwing their support behind the incumbent president James Tanis who is campaigning this week in his homeland Kieta, central Bougainville. The three men have officially announced they had left two other presidential camps they were following since the issue of writs late March because they saw that these candidates were not serious about the issue of independence and that they were not also interested in the issues that these hardliners wanted to be addressed. Ishmael Toroama, the man behind the Bougainville Independence Movement Party, one that incumbent president Tanis is riding under, has also thrown his support behind these leaders saying that independence should be taken seriously because more than 20,000 lives were lost fighting for justice on Bougainville. Word reaching the Post-Courier from Arawa had advised that Mr Sisito, Mr Uma and Mr Damen are now following Mr Tanis’ campaign trail in Arawa and up to Wakunai, eventually moving to North Bougainville. “Bougainvilleans lost their lives because of the issue of independence and for fighting for justice for Bougainville. “We have to take this issue seriously because if we don’t we may not get what we fought for,” they said. There is only a week remaining before polling starts.
29.04.2010
Source : Post-Courier
World Vision helps rural Bougainville
By GORETHY KENNETH
A rural health centre, yet to be officially opened to the public in Bana, South Bougainville will have 18 new beds, thanks to World Vision international. The non-government organistation, which has multi-million-Kina social impact projects in Bougainville, presented the 18 modernised hospital beds to the region’s health department in Buka this week for distribution. Chief executive officer for the Department of Health in Bougainville Dr Anthony Pumpara said during the presentation ceremony that the beds would be taken to Singkodo, in Bana District, to be used by the new health centre. He said the aim of the department was to reduce the number of maternal deaths, improve health services for the region and get effective health service delivery throughout rural Bougainville. Dr Pumpara thanked World Vision for its programs on Bougainville, especially in the vital areas of health and education and said the non-government organisation was also engaged in a very important health program in the south west areas of Torokina. “We have come up with a new health program, which will cover issues like immunisation, HIV/AIDS and others and we thank the World Vision for helping us fund these programs and for their support in Bougainville,” Dr Pumpara said. He said there were 33 rural health centres in Bougainville that were facing many problems with equipment and medical supplies. He said the beds will add to the newly established centre and should serve a population of about 3000 in that area. World Vision International officials in Buka said their programs in Bougainville were rural-based and that they stood ready to assist where ever they could, as long as it was rural based. The organisation is supervising a water sanitation program, toilets and other programs in the region.
The European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC) info@bougainville-copper.eu
Reports reaching the Post-Courier stated that Mr Musingku had already expressed his willingness through a letter addressed to the Buin Peace Volunteers that he is ready to reconcile with both Tari and Popui. Mr Musingku, who is the owner and founder of the failed money scam U Vistract, is seeking help from the volunteers group to help co-ordinate and facilitate this reconciliation. 
