News 04.2013.1
23.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Forum held to discuss Panguna mine
By WINTERFORD TOREAS in Buin
THE third Regional Forum on Panguna Negotiations is currently underway in the Buin district of South Bougainville.
Themed ‘Fostering people’s participation in deciding the future of the Panguna Mine’, this forum was officially opened yesterday by the President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Chief Dr John Momis.
The forum which ends today is being held at the Buin secondary school Hall and attended by selected representatives from Buin and Siwai districts.
The purpose of organising this forum is to update the various stakeholders and the wider communities in South Bougainville, especially in Buin and Siwai, on the progress of preparing the ABG and the Panguna landowners to participate in negotiations concerning the possible reopening of the Panguna mine in Central Bougainville.
This forum will also be used to gauge the views of the people of Buin and Siwai districts regarding the reopening of the Panguna mine.
Other ABG members who are also attending the forum include the South Bougainville Ex-combatants representative Michael Laita, Peace and Reconciliation Minister Newton Kauva, Minister for Finance, Treasury and Planning Albert Punghau, Mining Minister Michael Oni, Minister for Community development Melchior Dare, Minister for Primary Industry Nicholas Daku and ABG constituency members Joseph Buia (Baubake-Buin district), Steven Suako (Torokina-Torokina district), Lawrence Wakai (Bolave-Bana district), William Silamai (Baba, Bana district) Philip Kuhena (Kopii-Siwai district), Thomas Mauroko Pa’ataku (Ramu-Siwai district) and John Ken (South Nasioi-Kieta district).
Representatives of the Panguna landowners and the Me’ekamui faction are also attending the forum and have also presented their views regarding the opening of the Panguna mine.
Grade twelve students of Buin secondary school are also attending the forum as observers.
The forum is being spearheaded by the Office of the Director for Panguna Negotiations and is being facilitated by the ABG Mining Department, Division of Law and Justice and the Office of Panguna Negotiations.
Topics that will have been covered during these two days forum include the Update on the 15 Steps Strategic Framework on transfer of functions and powers over Mining, Oil and Gas, Update on ABG’s Preparation to negotiate Panguna Mine, Update on Landowner preparations and Implementing Autonomy in relation to Mining.
ABG President John Momis, before officially opening the forum, outlined some of the achievements that will come about following the opening of the mine.
Mr Momis also updated the participants on some of the developments that ABG is taking to address this issue concerning the reopening of the Panguna Mine.
One of this is the drafting of the ABG Mining Act. This draft Act, which was made in Buka and not Australia (as what some people have been saying), will benefit both the landowners and the people of Bougainville.
He also took the opportunity to rectify some of the misleading statements that some Bougainvilleans together with certain foreigners, have been making regarding ABG’s stand towards the mining issue.
The ABG President said he will not sign and approve any decisions that will not benefit all Bougainvilleans.
He added that his commitment is for the betterment of the people of Bougainville.
Mr Momis also urged all Bougainvilleans to be united and help ABG achieve the dream and wish of all Bougainvilleans.
23.04.2013
Source: The National
Government must address autonomy
THE Autonomous Region of Bougainville stands ready to become an independent state. That has been obvious since the day the PNG Parliament approved the region’s constitution.
Eventual independence was also definitely on the books, when parliament amended PNG’s own Constitution to include a provision ensuring that a referendum be held on Bougainville to have the people decide whether or not to secede from PNG and become independent.
The date for that referendum was set at 2015 but it is uncertain now when exactly might be the right time.
It is hoped more time might help erase the painful memories of the Bougainville insurgency and engender strengthening of support for remaining within the fold.
The autonomy concept for Bougainville was and still is a half-way house kind of concept, itself not a final desired outcome and yet placing far greater power in the hands of the local people.
In the end, its architects particularly might have wished for it to morph into a fully-fledged independent state.
Why did the national government allow Bougainville to go down that path?
Nobody wishes to see a prolonging of the painful and atrocious 15-year uprising on Bougainville.
The autonomous government principle introduced and engendered lasting peace on Bougainville. It allowed for standing down and disarming of rebel elements, for disposal of arms, and for return of normalcy to the region. By and large much of this has been achieved.
That was the reason for the birth of the autonomous government concept in PNG. It was for Bougainville’s unique experience.
What then are the reasons for the clamouring for autonomy from other provinces and regions in the country?
New Ireland, headed today by two-time prime minister and the father of the currency – whose birthday fell on April 19 and only New Ireland commemorated – has announced it is well advanced down the autonomous government path.
So too has East New Britain which has been talking about autonomy for a long time. Morobe, under former governor Luther Wenge, has put up its hand and went so far as commissioning a study on the concept.
Central has at one time embraced the concept and toyed with it on and off for a while.
What then do these provinces want with autonomy?
If it is political autonomy they want, if they want more decentralisation of powers, the question to be asked is: Is there not sufficient powers under the currently operating provincial government system and the local level government system?
Have each and every provincial government exercised all the powers and functions under the existing system?
Where are they deficient, if at all?
If it is economic autonomy they want, which would have to do with the creation of and management of wealth, the question that must be asked there is: Do they have the capacity to manage what they have now?
The answer to this question for the majority of provinces today is that they lack the capacity. New Ireland, secure with the safety net Lihir gold throws, might think it can be self-sufficient but take that away and there might not be much else to sustain it.
Really in the end it is the national government’s call that is important. Why is it sitting idle? Why has it not commissioned important personages to look into and report on the autonomy concept and make a decision once and for all whether that is the natural path in the development of PNG’s decentralisation process?
The longer it stays silent, the more this concept will take off and grow uncontrolled and on the whims of different individuals rather than from a coherent and well-planned national policy.
23.04.2013
Source: The National
Momis: Bougainville yet to prove itself
By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
BOUGAINVILLE is yet to show it can generate its own revenue before becoming independent, president John Momis says.
He said Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) was nowhere near the target it must reach before it could think of independence.
Momis told a two-day forum on the future of the Panguna Mine in Buin, South Bougainville, that ABG could only raise K6 million annually.
This mean that if AUSAID and other funding sources including the national government stopped their assistance tomorrow, Bougainville will not be able to survive.
Momis said it was why the ABG wanted the Panguna mine to re-open to generate some revenue for the Bougainville government.
He said the ABG was working with landowners to fast-track the re-opening of the Panguna mine. And before it can go ahead, it will continue to consult stakeholders through the regional forum.
He said the ABG, landowners and stakeholders must negotiate a better deal this time round.
He also said any mining on Bougainville would have to be negotiated under the new law on mining.
He said the draft legislation was being released for people to comment on.
The ABG hopes to pass the law in the June session of the ABG Parliament.
The forum on the Panguna mine ends today.
23.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
BUIN CALL FOR UNITY
By Aloysius Laukai
The South Bougainville Panguna negotiation forum has called on the Bougainville leaders to united and work together to lead the people into the future.
During question time, many participants mentioned the need for all leaders to forget debating issues on the newspapers and organize face to face consultation to iron out their differences.
Many of the speakers said that as long as the leaders are united all the people will just follow the leaders.
They also called on the Panguna landowners to unite and stand as one PANGUNA people instead of fighting amongst themselves when the people of Panguna are quietly suffering.
23.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
FORUM ADDRESSES GRIEVANCE
By Aloysius Laukai in Buin
One of the questions asked to Panguna negotiations team today was the unfair selection of school fees assistance being made by the Bougainville Copper Foundation.
A student made comments that the Panguna landowners are already benefiting from BCF to assist their students whilst they are overlooking other Bougainville students.
In his reply to these comments, MR. MICHAEL PARIU assured the people that he would find out from BCF on the actual students who have benefited from this scheme as he understands this scheme is for assisting all Bougainvilleans.
He also said that the selection team is headed by the people of South Bougainville and landowners just make recommendations which sometimes does not go according to their recommendations.
The Minister for Mining who is also the constituency member also said that even his people complain because they are not benefiting from BCL.
They promised to talk to BCF to follow up on these comments.
23.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
MOMIS CLOSES FORUM
By Aloysius Laukai in Buin
The South Bougainville Regional Forum on Panguna Negotiations was officially closed by the ABG President DR.JOHN MOMIS who was physically present during the last two days.
In his Closing remarks, President Momis called on all Bougainvilleans to work together as one people despite their differences to make sure Bougainville succeeds in its dreams to be independent one fine day.
He thanked all the people of Buin and Siwai who contributed well with all the discussions at this two-day forum.
President MOMIS warned the people of Bougainville that if we are divided and our dreams fail then we have only ourselves to blame and nobody else, not PNG, Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific countries who assisted us to broker this peace on Bougainville.
He said he really enjoyed the comments and deliberations made at this forum despite several outbursts with certain individuals during the question and answer time.
New Dawn FM understands that the Panguna negotiations forum started in North Bougainville last year, and the second one was also held at the Hutjena Secondary School.
This South Bougainville forums were supposed to be held two Buin, two in Siwai and two in Bana but because of the problem in Bana the the forums were changed to Siwai and Buin in Buin and have a separate forum for the people of Bana as they would be directly affected by the Panguna mine.
23.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
ACCOMODATE EX COMBATANTS SAYS MOMIS
By Aloysius Laukai
The ABG President DR. JOHN MOMIS wants the Bougainville Ex combatants somehow integrated into supporting the Bougainville Police Service to support to provide law and order throughout Bougainville.
He made these remarks in his opening remarks at the South Bougainville Mining Forum in Buin yesterday.
DR. MOMIS said that the Ex combatants can be used under a programme like the sheriff system in which they can police certain government programs.
He said that he would like to inject about 30 million kina in next year’s budget to make sure that law and order issues are addressed.
Dr. MOMIS said that the people of South Bougainville have proven that Excombatants working with Police have contained the Law and Order situation in South Bougainville especially in Buin.
He said Philippines is one country that has similar arrangement that can work well on Bougainville.
President Momis said that even Taxes those people avoiding to pay taxes can be given tickets to tell them to pay up.
He said that this would be made into a policy to address this issue.
Meanwhile, the ABG Legal Officer, Chris Siriosi supporting this comment called on the South Bougainville veterans association to see him in Buka and work out a way forward for Bougainville.
23.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
AROB to introduce education conscription
By ROMULUS MASIU
A NEW law in Bougainville will see compulsory education for all school age children.
The new education law which will be tabled and endorsed in the Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) meeting in June will make sure all children from Elementary to Grade 10 are ‘forced’ to attend school.
There won’t be any excuses for those who don’t want to attend or run away from school because they will be arrested by police once this law is formally passed by the BEC.
This very important announcement was made by Bougainville Education Chief Officer Bruno Babato in Arawa last week.
Mr Babato said when this law was passed no child would be staying home as police would have the power to arrest school-age children in the villages. Parents harboring their children at home would also be arrested.
“All students must be in class from June onwards when the law is passed,” Mr Babato said adding that the police and education authprities would arrest and force them into class if they failed to do so.
Mr Babato who returned from Port Moresby after a meeting with overseas education experts on the matter said this would be a big challenge for his division to implement.
He said this new law would address the illiteracy rate which is very high among many young people with many of them cannot read write which poses a threat to development aspirations of the region.
Thus, Mr Babato’s division has come up with this new education law to address the problem of children or young people who cannot read and write.
Mr Babato is urging all stakeholders in the region not to rest untill all children go to school.
According to the 2007 National Census carried out, more than half of the country’s total population cannot read and write. Bougainville is included in this statistics which is very alarming.
“We have no time to rest until all Bougainvilleans go to school to read and write,” said Mr Babato.
He said if the region was talking about Referendum and Independence they had to educate their young people to read and write in order to see and bring about the development aspirations.
Mr Babato said the region’s illiteracy rate was very high and it was up to all the stakeholders to play their part in eradicate illiteracy adding that parents, communities, churches and government must work in partnership to address this very imminent threat.
Mr Babato outlined South Bougainville with the highest rate of illiteracy with 79 percent, Northern Region with 35 percent and Central Bougainville 26%.
Literacy in Bougainville is a serious problem because many of the school children don’t complete schools from elementary to Grade 10.
“People may look normal, dress nicely but inside they are in dark, total darkness because they cannot read and write and parents are contributing to the illiteracy of their kids by not sending them to school.” Mr Babato said.
In Bougainville’s education statistics, male are the most illiterate with 78.4 per cent.
Mr Babato is issuing the challenge to the parents to meet their responsibilities by making sure their children go to school and not to just produce children.
He said literacy is a serious problem and with the new education law now going to take efffect this coming June, the region should now attend and curb the serious illiteracy rate in Bougainville.
23.04.2013
Source: The National
Bougainville signboard a telling history of yesteryears
By MALUM NALU
PEOPLE who erected this sign board may have since passed on, including those inimitable radio operators who transmitted radio signals and Morse codes to ships out at sea and high frequencies (HF) to other centres, in the colonial days.
The building where the radio transmitter was housed is gone and what’s left is its foundation.
But the sign board with its writing, “Territory of Papua and New Guinea Department of Posts & Telegraphs, Radio Transmitting Station, Sohano” has survived the last half-century, including the 10-year Bougainville crisis, and is still standing today.
Sohano Island is situated at the entrance of the Buka Passage which divides Buka Island and Bougainville Mainland in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB).
In the colonial era, Sohano was the former administrative centre of Bougainville, until it was relocated to Kieta in the early 1970s and then onto Arawa in the mid-1970s.
The Bougainville crisis resulted in the unfortunate destruction of the administrative centre of Arawa, and when services returned to Bougainville, the administration was moved to Buka, after a brief relocation in Rabaul, East New Britain.
“The name Post and telegraphs (P&T) was used in the colonial days from 1963,” Michael Unatah from Telikom planning office says.
“In 1982, it was changed to Post and Telecommunication Corporation (PTC), and it 1996, the company was split into three different identities: Telikom, Post PNG and Pangtel.”
Today, there is not much on Sohano Island, except for a few government workers, regional health headquarters, the official residence of the president of ABG and AROB’s assistant police commissioner are still on this once island paradise.
“Sohano residents’ major mode of transport out of this laid back island is a banana boat to Buka and nearby Kokopau and onto Bougainville to work, shop and market or just a leisure tour,” Unatah says.
“The Sohano Primary School, which was built in the 1950s, still serves the communities in the islands.
22.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
PUNGHAU ON FINANCE
By Aloysius Laukai in Buin
The ABG Minister for Finance, Planning and Treasury, ALBERT PUNGHAU (pictured) wants Bougainville to increase its Internal Revenue to sustain its work.
He was speaking at the South Bougainville Forum in Buin this morning.
MR.PUNGHAU said that to run the ABG the government needs ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION KINA all of it comes from Papua New Guinea and the donor partners.
He said this is why the ABG is pushing for the reopening of the Panguna mine under Bougainville's own mining law.
MR. PUNGHAU said that the ABG is also looking at other measures however the only quickest way to get there is by re-opening the Panguna mine.
The ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS and ABG Members and Ministers are attending the South Bougainville Forum in Buin.
The meeting will end tomorrow.
This is the 4th Consultation forum organized by the Mining Division and the secretariat of the Office of the Panguna Negotiations.
New Dawn FM understands that a separate forum for BANA, PANGUNA and ARAWA will be organized later this month.
22.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
SOUTH BOUGAINVILLE ME'EKAMUI WANTS CONSULTATION
By Aloysius Laukai in Buin
The South Bougainville Me'ekamui is appealing to the ABG and all stakeholders of the Bougainville Peace Process to work with the Me'ekamui faction as the goal for Bougainville is only one.
Speaking at the South Bougainville Mining forum, Me'ekamui representative, SIMON NAKUMIRA said that his group wants to work with the people to move the process forward but wants some understanding from everybody.
He said his group wants to be part of the process of rebuilding Bougainville and does not want to be left behind.
MR. NAKUMIRA said if the leaders of Bougainville want to reopen Panguna then more awareness is needed throughout the region.
He said the Me'ekamui group in South Bougainville were left without a leader after the death of FRANCIS ONA and are happy to join the people of Bougainville as one united people with one vision.
22.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
PARIU ON PANGUNA
By Aloysius Laukai
Representative of the Panguna Landowners Association, MICHAEL PARIU (pictured) says that the Panguna landowners want the ABG to come up with the best possible solution to the reopening of the now closed PANGUNA Copper and Gold mine.
Speaking at the Buin forum this afternoon, MR. PARIU said that the landowners will support the ABG in its endeavours to fast track the process.
He said the Panguna landowners are prepared to carry out more awareness with its people but want support from the ABG to move the process forward.
MR. PARIU said that they have established Associations for the Landowners but there is no backup from the Government.
Meeting room at Buin Secondary School
22.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
NO MONEY NO INDEPENDENCE SAYS MOMIS
By Aloysius Laukai in Buin
Bougainville President, DR. JOHN MOMIS says the preparedness for Bougainville to become independent depends entirely on the ABG’s capacity to raise its own funds and the ways things are at the moment the ABG is no way near to reaching that target.
The ABG President DR. JOHN MOMIS made these remarks at the opening of the two-day Forum on the future of the Panguna Mine in Buin, South Bougainville.
He told the Buin Forum that at the moment the ABG raises only SIX MILLION KINA which means that if AUSAID and other Donor funds including National Government’s direct grants to the ABG stops tomorrow, there will be no independence.
DR. MOMIS said that this is why the ABG needs to raise its own funds and that is why the ABG wants the Panguna mine to re-open for the ABG to raise the much needed funds in the shortest possible time.
He said that the ABG was working with the landowners to fast tract the reopening of the Panguna mine and before it can go ahead with the process it will continue to consult the various stakeholders through the forums.
ABG President said that the ABG and the Landowners and all stakeholders will have to negotiate for a better deal this time round.< President Momis says any opening of the Panguna mine or any other mine will be under Bougainville's law. The ABG President said that the ABG hopes to pass the Bougainville Mining Law in the June session of the ABG House.
22.04.2013
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
Bougainville police free three kidnapped women from health centre
Bougianville Police in PNG says they have secured the release of three women who had been held hostage in a rural health centre in Bana District.
The women were taken to Buin Health center after their release this morning.
About two weeks ago armed men kidnapped four women, Helen Rumbali, her sister Nikono and Nikono's two teeage daughters.
Helen Rumbali was beheaded and the three surviving women were taken to a rural health centre and held captive after they they were all accused of balck magic or sorcery.
Pius Bonjui spoke with the head of Bougainville Police,Superingtendent, Paul Kamuai who has the latest on the release of the three victims.
Listen here !
Presenter: Pius Bonjui
Speaker: Head of Bougainville Police, Superintendent, Paul Kamuai
KAMUAI: Well, the latest is that the police are still in the area, there is a team that was sent from Buin. Still have been continuing to do the negotiations and then to conduct awareness and to ensure that the police are able to help set up a suitable, a good environment for them to investigate the sorcery allegations and the killings in the area.
So as of today, at 10.45, I do have a successful outcome of the police presenting in the district, that they were finally able to escort and to be able to transport the victims from the Rural Health Centre, at Singodo, to the Sovole Rural Health Centre, which is about 13 kilometres out from the Rural Health Centre where they were being held captive and they were being looked after. And that is a very positive sign of police work that is being done together with the others who have helping the police, the ex-combatants and the leaders around the area there as well as the Peace Committee.
So at this point in time, around the time I'm speaking the team may have already left Bana for Buin, together with the three victims to the Buin Health Centre.
BONJUI: What is the condition of the victims that have been released? Ah can they walk on their own to transport, are they communicating with the police and health authorities?
KAMUAI: Yes, the report I got, about three days ago, the elder woman, who was seriously wounded, was able to walk and then she was able to have some meals and then according to the OICT she was improving from her treatment that she was getting from the health centre. And, of course, from that we will know that she was able to walk and then to go and to get on the car and for the two others, for the escort that is taking place now to the Buin Health Centre.
BONJUI: Now what's happening with the kidnappers, Are you negotiating, because they had some conditions for the release of these three women?
KAMUAI: Yes, the police are able to speak to the kidnappers and that is our objective, that is the first thing we are able to remove or able to get the victims out from the rural health centre where they were held captive and then to a better health centre, and the police have been talking with them, they have negotiating with them, and after the negotiations and after the transportation of the victims to the better health centre, then the police will, yeah, carrying out the investigation as well.
22.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
BUIN FORUM OPENS
By Aloysius Laukai in Buin
The South Bougainville Forum on the future of Panguna Negotiations started in Buin this morning.
The Opening remarks was made by the local ABG member JOSEPH BUIA and then the Ex combatants member for South Bougainville, MICHAEL LAITA and the Minister for Mining, MICHAEL ONI and the Minister for Finance, Planning and Treasury, ALBERT PUNGHAU.
The local member JOSEPH BUIA in his welcome speech called on the people of Bougainville and especially the people of South Bougainville to be focused on the future.
Pictured are President Momis and his Senior Ministers Michael Laita the ex combatants member for South Bougainville,Newton Kauva Minister for Peace, President Momis, And Minister for Finance, Albert Punghau
22.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
AusAID helps AROB
By ROMULUS MASIU
BOUGAINVILLE’S Education boss has warned of zero tolerance of graffiti on schools’ properties, especially buildings.
"I don’t want to see any graffiti on the new buildings. We must protect this very kind gift from the Australian people who used their tax payers’ money to help us rebuild our schools," Education chief executive officer Bruno Babato told students of Tupukas Primary School in Central Bougainville last week.
Mr Babato was speaking at the official opening of AusAID funded school buildings at the school.
While thanking AusAID, Mr Babato challenged students, staff and parents to guard the new building with their lives.
Mr Babato challenged the students, teachers and parents to look after the buildings as Tupukas Primary School is one of the recipients out of 609 primary schools throughout Bougainville, adding that the onus is on us now to look after the buildings.
He thanked Australian tax payers for helping to re-build the region’s dilapidated infrastructure in schools throughout Bougainville.
Mr Babato made the kind gesture on behalf of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Education Division and the people of Bougainville to the Australian people and their government.
Mr Babato made this known to the parents, students and teachers present at the occassion in the presence of AusAID Deputy Director General James Bartley who is based in Canberra, Australia, and who had come just to witness the occasion of the opening.
"This money which they used to build your double classroom, ablution block and one teacher’s house is the Australian people’s money. Australians pay tax. Not like us in Papua New Guinea, where most of us don’t pay tax," Mr Babato said.
He added that Australians want to help the people of Bougainville and are contributing to boost our education sector which is a very unselfish thing to do.
The AusAID funded project under the Schools Infrastructure Development Program saw ten schools receiving new double classrooms, an ablution block and a staff house. The schools include Lemanmanu Primary School (Buka), Hahela Primary School (Buka), Tekoknih Prirmary School (Tinputz), Iaun Primary School (Tinputz), Wakunai Primary School (Wakunai), Asitavi Primary School (Wakunai), Tupukas Primary School (Kieta), Laguai Primary School (Buin), Tonu Primary School (Siwai) and Kongola Primary School (Bana).
Mr Babato announced another ten schools will receive such buildings in the second phase of the AusAID program this coming June with Sipatako Primary School, Koromira Primary School and Peter Lahies Primary School selected in the Kieta District.
Mr Babato reminded those present that AusAID’s commitment to Bougainville, especially through the region’s education sector is not a small matter.
"What support from the donors, especially AusAID filtering down to Bougainville is important and it is only proper that this support and commitment must be implemented properly for the benefit of all stakeholders," he said.
21.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND RELEASED
By Aloysius Laukai
A total of TWO HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND KINA were approved for the four Groups that signed the grants agreement yesterday under the AusAid sponsored Strongim Pipol Strongim Nation project in Buka.
According to the Bougainville SPSN Program officer, THOMAS BETITIS the four groups that signed the Grant Agreement at the SPSN office in Buka will receive the approved funds as follows,
Kalatu communities in Haku, Buka island for Water Supply Project, will get SIXTY TWO THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND TWO KINA. Tekoknih Catholic Women for a Resource/Conference Centre, will get FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED NINETY- TWO KINA, Tinputz Women’s Federation for another Resource/Conference Centre will get FIFTY THREE THOUSAND NINE TWENTY SEVEN KINA and a Sawmill for the Ubuiope Women’s Association in Kunua will get funding totaling FIFTY SIX THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED NINETY ONE KINA.
Speaking at the Signing ceremony, MR. BETITIS also said that the lucky recipients will have to pay their TEN Percent contributions apart from some other contributions they have already made towards their projects.
He also congratulated the recipients and called on them to complete their projects so that the project can continue to assist others.
21.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
AIMING RURAL AREAS
By Aloysius Laukai
The AusAid representative on Bougainville, JEFFREY KOP says that AUSAID through SPSN aims to reach into the rural communities who have missed out on development for so long.
He was speaking at the SPSN grant signing ceremony in Buka yesterday.
MR. KOP said that a recent review on funding for developments were going to the National level and not enough was going into the Provinces and the districts.
He said based on this survey the aid program has a much stronger focus on improving direct service delivery at the districts and the rural communities.
MR. KOP said that due to the post conflict status, Australia recognizes the Autonomous Region of Bougainville as a special case and is a priority for AusAid support including in both the Health, Education, Transport and Law and Justice sectors.
He said that this latest shift is already producing results.
21.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
MINING FORUM FOR BUIN
By Aloysius Laukai
The Department of Mining in conjunction with the Secretariat of the Panguna Negotiations are planning to have the first Mining Forum for the people of Buin and Siwai and Bana next week.
The South Bougainville Regional Forum will be held on Monday and Tuesday at the Buin Secondary School.
The Forum is just a continuation from other such forums that were held for North Bougainville last year and early this year.
After this forum one last forum for South Bougainville will be held at Bana at a later date.
This leaves the remaining forum for Central Bougainville to be arranged later in the year.
The Mining Department has been having all these forums to gauge the views of all stakeholders on Bougainville on the future on mining in the Autonomous Bougainville Region.
The last Forums in North Bougainville strongly supported the ABG President, JOHN MOMIS to negotiate a better deal for Bougainville and to open one mine to assist the ABG to realize the Economic Self Reliance which Bougainville is unable to meet due to falling commodity prices and no economic activity throughout the region.
21.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
REGIONAL MEMBERS WANT PAY INCREASE
By Aloysius Laukai
Regional members representing women and ex-combatants should be paid more than ordinary constituency members.
This is the idea being discussed by women leaders representing the women for North Central and South Bougainville.
The members told New Dawn FM this week that they have wider area to cover and what they are getting was not enough to cover their regions.
The members made this comments when replying to calls by women in Central Bougainville for their representatives to visit them regularly.
The women said they were not getting any assistance from the women’s representatives.
Earlier another Ex combatant member also mooted similar sentiment stating the seat getting more than the normal ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA for electoral support as they represent more people.
19.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Bougainville’s local woman architect
By DAVID LORNIE
LYDIA Toata is a Bougainvillean businesswoman who likes to keep busy.
She is the sole operator of Neutral Architects and Associated Works and wears many professional hats – Designer, Draftswoman, Cost Engineer, Material Lister, on top of running the day-to-day business.
Lydia, 36, from Banis Village on Buka Island set up her architecture business at Kokopau, North Bougainville, in 2011 after seeing the opportunities in the developing Bougainville Region.
“Business houses in Bougainville and women use my services – I provide building designs and proposal writing,” she says.
Lydia actually came into architecture late in life. In 2003 she decided to undertake architectural studies at the University of Technology, Lae after spending several years working in various fields, including journalism.
“Drawing is a hobby of mine,” she says. “And I used to do all the heavy work in the family and that drove me to do that. I knew I could do well in business.”
After leaving Unitech in 2004, Lydia worked on various construction projects before returning to journalism in 2007. The next year she returned to the village as a subsistence farmer before founding Neutral Architects in 2011.
“I have clients from as far away as Buin,” she says. “The most uniquely shaped building I have designed is a church in Nissan. There is no other building like that in Bougainville. It is shaped like a turtle. The villagers wanted a turtle and I designed it for them. They’re having a bit of trouble erecting it but I’ve told them I can supervise the building of it.”
As well as being a businesswoman, Lydia is also a mother. She has a daughter Jean Marie, aged nine.
Lydia says that working for herself is “satisfying and rewarding. But it can be challenging being a woman in business”.
Lydia has plans to expand her business in the future.
“I’m looking at registering a construction company as well. I see a bright future for Bougainville and hopefully for my company. It all depends on PR and reputation.”
Unlike many who start out in business, Lydia did not seek a bank loan for capitalization. As such, she has no debts with any financial institutions. But having no bank loan meant Lydia had to commence in a modest way.
“I started small and am growing up slowly,” she says, “unlike others who start with big loans.”
Lydia is a Bougainvillean battler who has seized an opportunity to advance herself and not rely on her husband or family to survive. She encourages others to do the same.
“Anybody can be somebody,” she says. “You don’t need a big loan to start.
“I would encourage others, particularly struggling women, to start their own business. You don’t have to rely on your husband – you can contribute to the family finances.”
19.04.2013
Source: ABC Radio Australia news
Police confirm health of hostages accused of sorcery
Police confirm a breakthrough in efforts to check the welfare of women held hostage in Bougainville.
Bougainville police say they have made a breakthrough in efforts to check the welfare of three women held hostage in a Bana district health centre.
Superintendent Paul Kamuai has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat his officers have met with the women and confirm their health has improved.
"The police have made their way out to the rural health centre and they have actually physically visited the victims," Mr Kamuai said.
"They say the female victim who was in a critical condition has improved and she was able to take a walk for some distance and that means that she is giving us some good signs of recovering."
Earlier this month several armed men kidnapped four women, Helen Rumbali, her sister Nikono, and Nikono's two teenage daughters, after they had been accused of sorcery.
LISTEN HERE !
The women were tortured, Helen Rumbali was beheaded and her sister Nikono was seriously injured.
Mr Kamuai says police are still in the area and have confiscated a firearm from the perpetrators
No arrests have been made.
"They were sent in there with three objectives, one is to stabilise the situation there and they have done that," Mr Kamuai said.
"Secondly they have also allowed for the safe passage of the victims to the hospital, as well as continuing to conduct investigations there.
"They will certainly make an arrest."
WATCH HERE !
19.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
MOMIS CALLS ON MEMBERS TO VISIT COMMUNITIES
By Aloysius Laukai
The ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS wants all ABG members to make every attempt to visit their people in the Constituencies.
He made these remarks in Parliament when making comments on the approval of High Impact Projects totaling NINE MILLION KINA.
President MOMIS called on all members to carry out awareness in their areas because that is their primary roles as the members of the ABG Parliament.
He said a lot of people in the villages are in the dark because members are not reaching to them.
The ABG President said that awareness on the work of the ABG was not reaching the people resulting in a lot of frustrated people in the villages.
On the upgrading of Radio Bougainville, DR. MOMIS called on the National Government to speed up the funds so that the Shortwave Transmitter can be installed as soon as possible.
New Dawn FM understands that the ABG President visits individual areas on weekends.
When he is on Buka island he visits areas of Buka and when in Buin he talks to the people at the Buin market and other Parishes.
In the Central Bougainville he has already talked to the people of Tunuru, Tubiana and Asitavi and is yet to visit the people of Panguna and other areas.
19.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
FOOD SUPPLIED
By Aloysius Laukai
The people of Rorovana village in Central Bougainville last week received relieve assistance from the Bougainville Disaster and Relieve Committee based in Buka.
The Disaster Coordinator, Franklyn Lacey told New Dawn FM in Buka that Rorovana village was on the coast and all their food gardens were completely washed away by the recent floods.
He said that his committee supplied them Rice and other food supplies to last them for three months enough time for any new food planted to be ready for harvesting.
MR. LACEY told New Dawn FM in Buka that the recent heavy rains and floods destroyed a lot of food gardens on mainland Bougainville and that his committee were assessing the impact of the damages so far.
19.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
FOUR APPROVED
By Aloysius Laukai
Four Small Grants were released under the AusAid sponsored Strongim Pipol Strongim Nation project in Buka this morning.
Four Groups were able to sign the Grant Agreement at the SPSN office in Buka witnessed by AusAid and SPSN representatives, ABG officers and the recipients themselves.
The four Groups that will benefit this time are the Kalatu communities in Haku, Buka island for Water Supply Project, Tekoknih Catholic Women for a Resource/Conference Centre,Tinputz Womens Federation for another Resource/Conference Centre and a Sawmill for the Ubuiope Women’s Association in Kunua.
Speaking at the Signing this morning, AusAid Representative, JEFFREY KOP said that it was important to note that these grants are not just another funding of projects, but are about building partnerships between the Government of Australia, PNG and the ABG with the communities.
He said in the next two years AUSAID will provide FIFTY MILLION KINA through SPSN for small, medium and large grants throughout Papua New Guinea which includes Bougainville.
New Dawn FM understands that today’s grants recipients had to go through a small workshop this week on how they can manage the funds that they will receive for their approved projects.
19.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
BOUGAINVILLE MATERNAL HEALTH TASK FORCE
BY Aloysius Laukai
Bougainville this morning saw the establishment of the Bougainville Maternal Health Task Force team that would develop a strategy and framework of action to address the High Maternal and Neonatal Mortality on Bougainville.
This is in line with the National Health Plan which wants to see all Provinces establish its committees.
The Bougainville Maternal Task Force Team comprises of Doctor JOE VILOSI and the Matron from the Buka General Hospital, SR.ALOIS PUKIENEI and ROSLYN GATANA and SR. CELYN TUSALAH from the Health Division, DR. REZA SALEM from the World Health Organization, ABG minister for Culture and Tourism and women’s member representing the women of South Bougainville, ROSE PIHEI and Rubie Mirinka from the Bougainville Healthy Community Project, Representatives from MSF, World Vision, NBC Bougainville and New Dawn FM.
Others partners that would be included are representatives from the Catholic and United Church Services and Care International.
The first meeting was held at the Buka Hospital Conference room.
Bougainville Disease Controller, Alois Pukienei who chaired the first meeting explained that Health was everybody’s business and involving the wider community was the way to go to reach the community and also to try to reduce the number of maternal deaths through increased education and awareness.
18.04.2013
Source: Reuters
Analysis: Window narrows in U.S. for human rights abuse lawsuits
By Jonathan Stempel
A U.S. Supreme Court decision to limit the sweep of a 1789 law used to fight human rights abuses worldwide left a window slightly ajar for victims to sue companies, especially U.S. companies, accused of aiding such abuses.
"A majority of these cases are against U.S. companies, and it still means they can be held accountable," said Jennifer Green, a University of Minnesota law professor and director of the school's human rights litigation clinic.
While the court unanimously threw out a lawsuit by 12 people from Nigeria accusing Royal Dutch Shell Plc of aiding state-sponsored torture and murder, Chief Justice John Roberts set a high bar for future cases under the Alien Tort Statute.
In an opinion joined by the other four justices on the court's conservative wing, Roberts wrote that the law was presumed to cover only violations of international law occurring in the United States.
Violations elsewhere, he said, must "touch and concern" U.S. territory "with sufficient force to displace the presumption."
Wednesday's holding likely means victory for at least one of the two companies, mining giant Rio Tinto Plc, whose Supreme Court appeal in a similar case has been pending, and could help the other, German automaker Daimler AG.
But it was unclear whether the decision would spare such U.S. companies as Exxon Mobil Corp and Chiquita Brands International Inc from having to defend against similar claims involving their alleged misconduct.
All the companies have vigorously defended against the claims they were complicit in the alleged abuses.
CORPORATE PRESENCE
In Kiobel et al v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co et al, No. 10-1491, which upheld a 2011 ruling by a federal appeals court in New York, Roberts said a company's mere "corporate presence" in the United States was insufficient to force it to defend against an Alien Tort Statute lawsuit.
The four more liberal justices on the nine-member court, led by Justice Stephen Breyer, thought the law should be available when the alleged misconduct took place in the United States, the defendant was a U.S. national, or the misconduct "substantially and adversely" affected a U.S. interest.
Justice Anthony Kennedy noted that the majority opinion, which he joined, left open questions about the statute's reach. Those questions could easily allow reasoning closer to Breyer's to prevail, given the right facts.
That might not be enough to save the case against Rio Tinto by some 10,000 current and former residents of the South Pacific island of Bougainville.
They contended that after workers in 1988 began to sabotage a polluting copper and gold mine, the Anglo-Australian company goaded the Papua New Guinea government to exact retribution and conspired to impose a blockade, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths by 1997.
In October 2011, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco voted 6-5 to permit the lawsuit.
But the dissenters complained that the majority exercised "unlimited authority" to decide cases from "over all the earth." After Kiobel, U.S. courts don't have that power.
"It is obvious that the court has an agenda that is anti individual rights," Steve Berman, a lawyer for the Rio Tinto plaintiffs, said in an email, referring to the Supreme Court and Kiobel decision. "The result is not surprising." He declined to discuss the next step in the Rio Tinto case.
Daimler, meanwhile, had been accused by 22 residents of Argentina of conspiring with a military dictatorship during that country's "Dirty War" three decades ago to kidnap, torture and kill workers at a Mercedes-Benz plant near Buenos Aires.
But in allowing the case to go forward, a federal appeals court in California said Mercedes-Benz had "pervasive" contacts with that state, bringing the case into U.S. jurisdiction.
Daimler welcomed the Kiobel decision. "Our position was always that U.S. courts did not have jurisdiction," spokesman Han Tjan said. "The Supreme Court has confirmed our position."
But Terry Collingsworth, a lawyer for the Daimler plaintiffs, said the Kiobel decision did not end his case, given the lack of clarity as to where Daimler's challenged decision making took place.
"The court has added an element to bringing these cases that requires that you demonstrate a U.S. connection," he said. "I expect it added a step that we will be able to satisfy."
CHIQUITA, EXXON
Collingsworth also handles the Chiquita case, representing family members of banana plantation workers, political organizers and others who were allegedly killed by a Colombian paramilitary group during the 1990s and through 2004.
In 2007, Chiquita pleaded guilty and paid a $25 million fine for violating U.S. law over its payments to the group United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, known in Spanish as Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, or AUC.
Family members of victims claim that Chiquita made decisions in the United States that materially advanced the killings.
The Charlotte, North Carolina-based company's appeal of a June 2011 ruling allowing Alien Tort Statute claims is pending before a federal appeals court based in Atlanta.
Claims against Chiquita "will easily satisfy any of the tests announced by the court," in Kiobel, Collingsworth said. "With Daimler, it's a closer case. I can't candy-coat that."
John Hall, a lawyer representing Chiquita, disagreed, saying Kiobel now makes clear that claims over alleged violent acts by Colombians in Colombia with the Colombian government's alleged complicity "should not be heard in an American court."
Exxon, meanwhile, faces a lawsuit by 15 Indonesian villagers who sought to hold it responsible for deaths and torture, including shocks with cattle prods, by security forces in that country's Aceh province between 1999 and 2001.
Villagers claimed that the Irving, Texas-based company hired soldiers to guard a natural gas facility there despite knowing of past abuses by Indonesia's army.
A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., let that case go forward in July 2011. The court put Exxon's request to revisit that decision on hold while the Kiobel case was pending.
Exxon and a lawyer for the Indonesian villagers did not immediately respond on Thursday to requests for comment.
In his majority opinion in Kiobel, Roberts said opening U.S. courts too readily to abuse cases could have "serious foreign policy consequences," including diplomatic clashes or exposing U.S. citizens to being haled into courts across the world.
But Green, who submitted a brief on behalf of the Indonesian villagers in the Exxon case, said the opinion could also have the reverse effect: ensuring that some cases never make it to court at all, anywhere.
"It effectively gave some corporations immunity for accountability in human rights abuses, especially in cases where plaintiffs are unable to sue anywhere else," Green said.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Lawrence Hurley in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Howard Goller and Kenneth Barry)
18.04.2013
Source: Mekamui
BCL AND PANGUNA MINE
BOUGAINVILLE Copper Limited (BCL) announced on the 8th of April 2013 that it is ready to re-open the Panguna mine in Bougainville at its annual general meeting (AGM).
The company has estimated that it will cost about K11 million to start-up the mine and it will take about six years to start production.
When the mine had been closed down in May 1989 we seen notices around Panguna and Arawa, [“Mine closed until further notice from the jungle”] so last week as the news comes up Mekamui news sent a text message to Meekamui Government, who is also in charge of the Morgen check point, if they have given the green light to BCL to reopen the mine? Blaise Iruinu a Meekamui Government Officer replied a couple of hours later saying in PNG pidgin” NOGAT TRU EM BAI STAP OLSEM”. [“No, it will remain closed”.]
BCL is trying everything possible to reopen the mine and at any cost, including the major announcement on the 8th of April, and one of great interest to people interested in communications, was that BCL will fund infrastructure improvements to expand radio broadcasting capabilities in Bougainville.
The project will be undertaken with the Autonomous Bougainville Government, who will co-fund it.
Peter Taylor said that the expanded service will carry multiple programs to parts of Bougainville which currently receive few or no radio broadcasting services.
“We believe this initiative will greatly improve the flow of information and facilitate dialogue,” Mr Taylor said. He pointed out that BCL will fund only the infrastructure and have no influence over the management of the service.
“It is not a BCL radio network, but rather a public facility accessed by local broadcasters and the ABG,” he said. This is an important caveat, as BCL wants no say in the content of information.
Currently, radio broadcasts are barely accessible outside Buka, and reach only 10% of the province. The people of Bougainville are ill-served by broadcast communications.
With this set up they will have someone in their pay roll to broadcast what it will be like when BCL returns, the developments, benefits in words only etc for the grassroots in the rural areas to believe BCL’s lies however, the rural people had enough of BCL that’s why in 1989 it had been kicked out from the Island for his dirty role destroying environment, polluting rivers and sea.
When that happens they will say that only a minority is saying no to the reopening of the mine, than arm police and send them [in this case it will be Bougainvilleans] to remove the checkpoint at Morgen junction; bloodshed might follow, which we want to avoid at all cost.
In the early 1960s when the Company first came in, there had been a big NO to mining till some top clan leaders got some money and because of respect to the leaders by the people they calmed down which later blew out during the late 1988 uprising.
Even today if you go up to the Panguna mine area and talk with the people from the villages, who are the ones which will suffer most when the mine reopens, they will tell you, we don’t want mining It’s the leaders talk. Unfortunately, the 1960s ways will not work out these days, when from one man’s greed for money all the land for food became gravel. Clan leaders will be targeted by their people and its very, very risky these days.
To avoid any further bloodshed on the Island, leaders like President John Momis and other pro mining leaders on Bougainville should look for other alternatives rather than mining.
18.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville to legislate to limit foreign involvement in business to joint ventures
The President of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville, John Momis, says the province fears foreigners could take over the local retail sector, so his government will legislate to restrict their involvement.
Mr Momis says Chinese and other foreigners will be shut out of owning trade stores and eateries but encouraged to form joint partnerships in other sectors.
He says they want to have joint ventures with credible foreign businesses, such as large wholesalers or supermarket operators.
Mr Momis acknowledges that Bougainville needs foreign investment.
“But by the same token you need to offer them comfort by involving local participation because then the people would make them feel welcome. Standalone forms of business, you can be sure that the people would start complaining and they might do silly things as they did before.”
Mr Momis says the fear is that without legislation foreigners could take over all retail such as has happened in other parts of PNG.
18.04.2013
Source: EMTV
Bougainville Kina Illegal
Governor of the Bank of PNG Loi Bakani has advised the public not to accept or conduct any transactions using a currency called “Bougainville Kina”. It is illegal.
In a public notice today, Mr. Bakani said the currency “Bougainville Kina” was introduced by a Noah Musingku, through the dealings of U-Vistract and is not recognised by the Bank of PNG.
Under Section 59 of the Central Bank Act 2000, the Bank of PNG is the only authorized institution mandated to issue PNG currency Notes and Coins in the country.
Bougainville Kina cannot be used as it is not legal tender in Papua New Guinea.
18.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
PNG Govt owes ABG K188m
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
THE National Government still owes the Autonomous Bougainville Government more than K188 million for its Restoration and Development Grants (RDG).
This was revealed by the ABG Minister for Finance and Planning Albert Punghau during a special one day ABG Parliament Sitting on Tuesday this week.
Mr Punghau said the National Government had been underpaying the ABG since its establishment in 2005, resulting in these outstanding RDGs funding amounting to over K188m.
“…a recalculation of ABG’s entitlements shows that ABG has been severely underpaid by the National Government.
“It has been calculated that since 2005 to 2013, total RDG payable to the ABG is K87, 000, 000. This leaves the ABG with an outstanding amount of K188, 048, 726 that is owing and payable to the ABG,” Mr Punghau said.
Mr Punghau however said the ABG officials and their counterparts from the National Government were currently discussing over this matter.
Mr Punghau also announced that ABG officials were currently in the nation’s capital to present the High Impact Projects (HIPs) and RDG report to the Departments of National Planning and Finance.
During their meetings, they will also be discussing on the release of the second batch of K100 million and K15m RDG for Bougainville.
Meanwhile, Mr Punghau when commenting on the ABG’s High Impact Projects for last year said four infrastructure projects had already been awarded funding as of the 31st of December last year.
The delay in the awarding of funding and implementation of these projects is due to the late drawdown of K100m grant funding from the National Government.
Apart from the above four projects, seven other infrastructure projects are currently being undertaken by the Division of Technical Services.
These projects are categorised under the transport infrastructure and building infrastructure sectors. Those in the transport infrastructure sector include the Buka ring road upgrading and sealing (survey tender already given out), economic feeder roads (contract awarded for two feeder roads while another three still on tender), Buka town roads, Bougainville bridges projects (design and scoping), Bougainville wharves and jetties and Siara-Korepovi (survey, design and construction).
The building infrastructure sector involves the tendering of classroom steel-frame buildings for three high schools in Bougainville.
Mr Punghau said 28 HIP non-infrastructure projects for last year had also been awarded funding.
These include monitoring and evaluation, Torokina Oil Palm Development, Peace Building initiatives and Bougainville sports development.
Despite the late implementation of the HIP projects, Mr Punghau said there is a positive indication from the first two months of this year that there has been an increase in the number of projects being appraised and an increased expenditure.
18.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Pay rise for elected ABG members approved
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government yesterday approved the new Determination of Salaries for the Elected Leaders of the Bougainville House of Representatives.
The new ABG members’ pay conditions, which will be backdated to the 1st of January 2009, was recently recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) towards the end of March this year.
The ABG members’ pay-rise is in line with two major increases awarded by the SRC to National Leaders as effected in 2010, as follows:
n Flow on of work value adjustment to selected positions, namely “Deputy Prime Minister” and “National Minister”, based upon changed SRC perceptions of the relative work value between ministerial and departmental head positions, effective from 1st January 2009; and
n Flow on of a general increase of 15% per annum applied to the salaries in each of the three years 2009, 2010 and 2011 to “make up for the lack of an increase in salaries for the years 2002 to 2009”, in comparison with the average increase of 52% over the same period in the average salaries in the public sector, as measured by the PNG Annual Hay Remuneration Survey.
While debating on this pay increase issue yesterday, the members all agreed that these increase should be supported and approved.
They said these pay-rises, which were long-overdue, should be approved because it will result in each members being fairly paid according to the important duties and responsibilities they have and must uphold.
ABG President Chief Dr John Momis, when expressing his support towards this issue, said the increase was welcomed because it will be in-line with the type of work done by the members.
He added that the ABG leaders must be properly remunerated according to the scale of work they do.
He also commended the SRC members for recommending this new pay-rise for the ABG members.
Mr Momis however stressed to the members that it was important that they go back to their constituencies and update their people on the issues and developments undertaken by the ABG.
ABG Minister for Education John Tabinaman, who was also the ABG’s representative to the SRC together with the ABG Speaker Andrew Miriki, said he was happy with the positive responses given by the members regarding this increase.
“Now we can breathe a sigh of relief that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission has considered and approved a schedule of salaries based on work values. I am happy that all members who have spoken, spoke in favour of this increase. But it’s a very important increase,” Mr Tabinaman said.
Mr Tabinaman also urged the members to be thankful to the members of the SRC who were very supportive of the ABG members’ cause, adding that it did not take too long for the Commission to decide and approve the schedule that was presented to them.
Mr Tabinaman said this shows that there are members in the National Parliament, especially those who are members of the SRC, who believe that there should be justice and fairness given to the ABG members for carrying out their duties and responsibilities.
SRC members who recommended the new salaries include National Speaker Theo Zurenuoc as Chairman.
18.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
AusAID opens new classroom
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
THE problem of shortage of classrooms faced by a primary school in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will soon be a thing of the past.
Thanks to the Australia government through its AusAID program for coming to the aid of Hahela Primary School in Buka with an injection of more K250, 000 funding towards the construction of a new double classroom, staff house and an ablution block for the school.
These new buildings were officially handed over to the school by AusAID’s deputy director general James Bartley on Monday.
This small handover ceremony was witnessed by AusAID’s Minister-PNG Post, Stuart Schaefer and his Buka-based staff, chief executive officer of Bougainville’s Education division Bruno Babato and two of his senior staff
and the staff and parents of the school.
Before the official handover of the properties, Hahela Primary School board chairman Damien Hannette thanked AusAID for their financial support towards the construction of these buildings.
Mr Hannette said the project was timely and a blessing in disguise as it will help ease the classroom and staff house shortage problems currently faced by the school.
“Your timing of such assistance to the school is commended. With the ongoing shortage of classrooms and staff houses in this school, your program has very much
eased the burden the school as a whole continues to face. This is a blessing in disguise,” Mr Hannette said.
Mr Hannette also thanked the Bougainville education division for selecting Hahela Primary School as one of the ten schools in Bougainville to benefit from this AusAID’s funding last year.
He also acknowledged those involved in the successful construction and completion of the project.
Mr Babato also commended AusAID for their financial assistance towards the education sector in Bougainville.
He said their contribution has made a big difference in the lives of the students in Bougainville.
AusAID’s deputy director general James Bartley said the handover of the buildings to the school marks another step forward in the progress of Bougainville.
Mr Bartley added that he was happy that AusAID has played an important role in improving the education sector on Bougainville.
Mr Bartley also commended those, apart from AusAID, who had played a part in the successful completion of the project.
Hahela primary school head teacher Fabian Anisia said the school needs about two more classrooms to cater for its 750 plus students.
Apart from the classroom problem, Hahela Primary School is also faced with the shortage of staff houses.
At the moment there are only five teachers’ houses at the school, while more than thirteen teachering staff are residing outside the school.
The school is now awaiting the completion of another double classroom before having the opening ceremony sometime next term.
Meanwhile, this year will again see AusAID giving their financial support to another ten schools that will be selected by the Bougainville education division.
18.04.2013
Source: The National
Kulunga: Sorcery killings regarded as murder
SORCERY killings in Papua New Guinea are regarded as murder, Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga (pictured) says. He said that the existing sorcery law was insufficient to deal with sorcery-related killings in PNG.
Kulunga said police were trying to negotiate with the kidnappers of three women suspected of practising sorcery in South Bougainville.
The women were accused of killing a local man by practising sorcery and were held under guard by the local man’s relatives.
“The condition of one of the woman is deteriorating,” Kulunga said.
He said Bougainville police had put every effort to rescue the captured women.
“The accessibility into the area is very difficult and police have to walk into the area,” Kulunga said.
He appealed to the community leaders in South Bougainville to work with the police to release the captured women.
18.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Sorcery ordeal
By DAVID LORNIE
TWO sisters who escaped captivity in the Bougainville sorcery murder case have spoken exclusively of their terrifying ordeal to the Post-Courier from their secret hideout.
The two, who asked not to be named, were with their families when, at 12.39am, April 2, over 20 armed men entered their house at Tadorima Village, Bana District, and began assaulting them.
The sisters’ mother was later killed and their auntie, with her two daughters, are currently being held in an undisclosed location whilst negotiations continue for their release.
The situation on the ground is still tense and negotiators are working hard to achieve the release of the three. The two sisters told of their harrowing ordeal.
“In relation to violence against women, I acknowledged that it is a major issue that has its roots in our traditions but a bill is on its way to Parliament as we speak that will address this matter and is very much likely to receive majority support,” the Prime Minister said.
On gender issues, Minister Swire expressed concern that with sorcery killing, it is women who are being victimised.
He wanted to know if women were being given opportunities for job openings and in parliament.
Mr O’Neill said it was taking a while but women were rising to the executive level in the public service and with a number of women heading Public Service departments and there were three women now in parliament, one of them in the Cabinet.
It was suggested that if the Family Protection Bill becomes law, PNG may require technical assistance in devising its implementation strategies.
Minister Swire’s portfolio covers a wide region.
18.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Minister Swire express concerns on women
BRITISH Minister of State and Commonwealth Office Mr Hugo Swire has expressed concern over violent killing of Papua New Guinea women, especially those suspected of practicing sorcery.
Minister Swire (pictured), who is in Port Moresby for the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting, met this with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for bilateral discussions on a number of issues, including violence against woman, gender equality and strengthening relations between the two countries.
This is Minister Swire’s first visit to the region and he is excited about it and happy to be staying three days, which is quite a long time in any one spot.
During the discussions, Minister Swire expressed concern about the beheading of the two women in the previous week in Bougainville on suspicions of sorcery.
He asked if sorcery killing is an accepted practice and if the government is doing anything about it, as well as about general violence against women, saying these are human rights violations that is of major concern.
Prime Minister O’Neill told Mr Swire that the government is looking at the issue from the point of view of legislative changes.
“On the day of the incident we heard that people were coming to kill us,” said one sister.
“We didn’t know why but when they came they said that we practiced sorcery. There were children and babies present.
“The whole family was there. They came with knives, axes, guns. They started threatening us, hitting us with their weapons and breaking the house.”
One of the family’s male relatives had been blamed for causing a death by sorcery. The attackers terrorised the women in an attempt to force them to give up the accused sorcerer.
“They told us ‘get your (relative) and we will let you go’.”
But the women did not know the man’s location. The beatings continued.
The police arrived outside the house but being outnumbered, they were unable to do anything. They attempted to negotiate with the attackers but the attackers did not yield. Outnumbered, and fearing for their safety, the police left the scene.
“Once the police left, everything got worse,” said the sister.
“They first attacked the older ladies. They said ‘you killed this man’. But we could not talk – (we felt) it was safer to say nothing.
“They started attacking the elder women even more then. Everyone was screaming, the kids. We were running around like chickens and dogs – getting beaten.
“It was just continuous,” said the sister. “We were going to be killed – all of us, even the babies.”
The nightmare continued until 10 in the morning, by which time the sisters’ mother, late Helen Rumbali, lay bleeding on the floor from multiple wounds.
Then the attackers gathered their victims together and took them outside.
“We were gun-pointed. Then they put flames in our buildings.”
Ten family houses were torched.
18.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
My salute to New Dawn and to Aloysius Laukai of Bougainville
by Professor Satish Chand, UNSW
I had the good fortune of being part of a team charged with the responsibility of providing a review of the autonomy arrangement for Bougainville. The data and deliberations from this work are being processed, but here I want to shine some light on the fabulous work being done by New Dawn and particularly Mr Aloysius Laukai.
Like many of you, I am another follower of news from New Dawn. While following news on places dear to our hearts, we often forget the very people who bring these stories to us. Some such as Aloysius take risks, cold (and at time no) showers, and long rough rides on the back of a 4-wheel drive into the wilderness to keep their readers informed. A few take their jobs so seriously that they often forget the personal costs of these undertakings. Mr Aloysius Laukai falls into this admirable group of news persons.
Aloysius is not alone, however. New Dawn through its dedicated team of journalists keeps the world informed of the new, sad, and beautiful on bountiful Bougainville. I had the privilege of travelling with Aloysius for 11 full days, travelling together on a ten-seater Toyota Land cruiser from Buin to Buka. Aloysius was posting news on the trip every day.
What most of the followers of New Dawn do not know is that Aloysius is a humble man with a great sense of humour and a very keen eye for detail. He works hard as shown in the picture. Most important is the kindness and compassion this news man has for the people of Bougainville.
Aloysius and the team at New Dawn, I salute you for the great work you are doing. And my lone wish for New Dawn is that it reaches more people of Bougainville.
Pictured Is Aloysius Laukai busy at work in his Buka Studio.
18.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
ONSA ON ELECTION
By Aloysius Laukai
A Buka Businessman, HENRY ONSA says that the ABG constitution must be amended to forbid members from resigning unnecessary as if the ABG was not a government.
MR. ONSA was commenting on funds totaling FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA for the By election.
He said that the By election received funds that was supposed to pay outstanding bills for services provided to the ABG.
MR. ONSA told New Dawn FM that only the two late members electorates should qualify for by election.
On the recall of members, HENRY ONSA said two members who are old aged should be recalled as they cannot perform fully as members of parliament.
He said the Electoral Commissioner must refuse to accept nomination of old candidates to save government funds.
18.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
ONSA WANTS ACTION
By Aloysius Laukai
A Buka Businessman, HENRY ONSA (pictured) is calling on the ABG to discipline contractors who are awarded contracts and do not complete projects.
He told New Dawn FM that funds were continuously misused by these types of operators who get funds and do not own anything to get the work done.
MR. ONSA said that the contractors must be made to repay all these funds that are paid directly to them.
He called on the Bougainville Chief Administrator to make sure that Contracts are done properly to save Government funds.
New Dawn FM understands that most contracts are done by the National Supply and Tenders Board in Port Moresby and the chief Administrator has no role on the awarding of these contracts.
18.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Momis supports remuneration
By Aloysius Laukai
THE ABG PRESIDENT, DR. JOHN MOMIS (pictured) yesterday supported and thanked the National Salaries and Remuneration Commission for supporting the upgrading of the salaries of ABG members of Parliament.
Commenting after the result was tabled in Parliament yesterday by the SRC member and leader of Government Business, JOHN TABINAMAN, DR. MOMIS said that the members need to be properly compensated for working amidst extreme pressure by the people of Bougainville.
President Momis said that the ABG was a post conflict Government and members are working their guts out trying to help their people come out of the current problems.
He said that after every conflict the leaders are pressured by the people and what was happening on Bougainville was no different.
The ABG President called on the leaders to be more focused on Bougainville’s vision and lead their people to a safe and peaceful future.
18.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
NO ELECTION
By Aloysius Laukai
Service providers in the last National Elections today warned the Bougainville Electoral Commission office to settle all outstanding payments before it starts the ABG By elections.
They told New Dawn FM today that if the Electoral Commission wants the BY election to run smoothly it must honor all its past commitments.
They told NEW DAWN FM that although it was outstanding from the National Government those were commitments from the same persons involving in this election.
The Business Houses said that they would be arranging an audience with the Commissioner as it was not proper to make commitments excluding them in the coming election just because they want to avoid their past commitments.
New Dawn FM understands that preparations for the By election has already started with officers already appointed and some vehicles already on hire to conduct the election.
Our attempts to talk to the Electoral Commissioner were unsuccessful.
18.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
SPECIAL ABG PARLIAMENT SITS
By Aloysius Laukai
The special ABG Parliament sitting this morning attended only two main issues that was the presentation of the result from the National Salaries and Remuneration Commission on the member’s request and the Re-scoping of NINE MILLION KINA ON high impact projects.
The report from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission was tabled by the ABG Minister for Education and Leader of Government Business, JOHN TABINAMAN who is also the member of the NATIONAL SALARIES AND REMUNERATION COMMISSION with the ABG Speaker, ANDREW MIRIKI.
Earlier this year the ABG Speaker and MR. TABINAMAN were sworn in as Commission members before they presented the ABG salary and remuneration package which was approved.
All members including the ABG President commented on MR. TABINAMAN and approved the report with no objection.
The second report was presented by the ABG Minister for Finance, Planning and Treasury, ALBERT PUNGHAU (pictured) who announced the re-scoping of NINE MILLION for HIGH IMPACT PROJECTS.
This report was also debated by the members and eventually approved for implementation.
17.04.2013
Source: The National
Pamphlet of former ABG Vicepresident Joseph Watawi opposing to President Momis' policy
Click on the text to zoom in!
17.04.2013
Source: EMTV
Bougainville Submits Sports Plan
After stamping their mark at the 2012 PNG Games, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville has outlined its five year sports plan.
Sport has been in the forefront as part of the Region’s peace and reconciliation program.
Sports & Pacific Games Minister Justin Tkatchenko officially received the Autonomous Region of Bougainville’s Submission for its five (5) year Sports Plan.
The document was handed over by the Autonomous Bougainville Government Sports and Community Development Minister Melchior Dare and Sports Foundation Secretary General Robert Semoso at a corporate dinner hosted by Buka Rugby League at the Kuri Village Resort.
The document consisted of the regions Sports Capacity Building Project over the next five (5) years.
Sport has been used as a catalyst for peace and reconciliation, unification and a dynamic tool in promoting other programs in the region.
The aim of the project is to improve the standard and quality of sports towards its substantiality and development within the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The submission was also in the hope of creating and providing an open sports environment through the establishment of standardized sports infrastructure.
17.04.2013
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
A breakthrough in the Bougainville hostage crisis
Bougainville Police say they are hopeful, three women held hostage in a rural health centre in the south of the Island may be moved to Buka hospital.
Bougainville's, Acting assistant Police Commissioner, Paul Kamuai says his officers are negotiating with the people who are detaining them.
Over a week ago, Helen Rumbali, her sister Nikono, and Nikono's two teenage daughters, were kidnapped by an armed mob in the Bana district.
The women were accused of using sorcery and tortured for several days, before Helen Rumbali was beheaded and Nikono, seriously injured.
Sorcery related killing is a growing concern in Papua New Guinea with incidents reported in many parts of the country.
The issue has forced Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to call for the sorcery act to be repealed.
Caroline Tiriman (pictured) asked Commissioner Kamuai about the negotiations.
Presenter: Caroline Tiriman
Speaker: Paul Kamuai acting assistant Police Commissioner in Bougainville
LISTEN HERE !
KAMUAI: There is a team being headed by a senior sergeant and they were deployed on Monday and they have started working in the area and the police have met up with two of the village leaders and the people there and from their reports to me this morning that they have actually managed to clear out the road blocks that they set up so that the patients that are being held in captivity rural health centre may not be moved out from there until such time that there is a compensation being demanded earlier on last week. So the police also managed to arrest one of the suspects up in Arawa yesterday, but because there is another team that is working on this issue, at Bana, the team is actually a peace team and it has been meeting up with the villagers and they have actually asked that the person then be released, and the dialogue that they have made that can continue, that they have already stabilised the situation there. But that is the case, that person has been released, but with the team partner, they have actually gone out to the health centre and meeting up with the two patients today.
TIRIMAN: Paul Kamuai, you are now in south Bougainville. so what are you heairng about the other family members of the woman who was killed and the other three who are still at the rural health centre?
KAMUAI: The accused family are not in the village now, the accused family have all left their village. Some of their houses were burnt down and they were threatened and they are scattered throughout Bougainville with other relatives, so they are not actually in the village. So the police and the peace team actually are dealing with those who have accused the family and those who have committed these series of crimes with the torture and the wilful murder, burning down of the houses, and the use of firearms. So we have to allow for them to actually conduct a full investigation before we can start asking them about any arrests being made. But of course, the three patients, we really need to move them out of their rural health centre to Buka, that is of serious nature. We are also concerned about it, but we're also mindful that we don't trigger anything that could also get the police confrontation with the armed group as well. But according to the reports that we are getting, I think the two of them are stable condition, but there is the other elder female is in quite a very critical condition that we really need to move out as soon as possible.
TIRIMAN: Mr Kamuai, have there been similar cases like this in the past?
KAMUAI; On Bougainville in the past, we've been getting reports of sorcerers being accused. They have been male only, but at this time this has been a different reporting of a female being accused and then being killed and that has really caused a bigger public outcry here on Bougainville that the, our leaders, the legislators, that at about this time they have to look into the legislation as to see with the Sorcery act. We, the police are also very, very concerned about this. We will need to do a lot on this, so that people, not unnecessarily be accused of sorcery as well. People are being accused of sorcery and we are not able to, The laws that can be able to successfully prosecute those who are falsely accuse others of sorcery.
TIRIMAN: The Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, and the Attorney-General, Kerenga Kua, Minister for Justice, have all said that they will seriously look at amending the sorcery act to enact stronger laws to punish those perpetrators?
KAMUAI: Yeah, I think that is very positive of the Prime Minister to do that and the national Cabinet. I think that's the quickly pursued, because this is a very, very overwhelming throughout the country. In the meantime, the police will be using the criminal code act I suppose, while the amendments are to be made with the sorcery act.
17.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
PNG police yet to make arrests over Bougainville beheading
The police commander in the Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville says they are still to make arrests for the killing of a woman, who earlier this month was accused of sorcery in Bana in the south of the province.
The woman, a school teacher and human rights activist, Helen Rumbali, was decapitated.
She had been kidnapped with three female colleagues who were hurt.
The three were given care at a local health clinic but have been moved to Buka Hospital after police removed road blocks set up by the kidnappers.
Commander Paul Kamuai says a composite team of police, community constables and some ex-combatants will make a full investigation before any arrests are made.
“There’s a wilful murder been committed; there’s serial kidnapping; there’s roadblocks set up; there’s been use of firearms - those sort of things that is why police really need to get their evidence right before they can start making their arrests. That is why I am saying the investigation is underway.”
Paul Kamuai says police have also been working with a peace building team planning traditional reconciliations between the kidnappers and the families of the women accused of sorcery.
17.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
AusAID, PNG businesses pledge to work together
Australia’s overseas aid program, AusAID and the business community in PNG have pledged to do more work together to support economic growth and development.
AusAID Deputy Director General James Batley opened discussions at the PNG Business engagement roundtable in Port Moresby last Saturday saying Australia recognizes that Papua New Guinea’s future prosperity depends on the strength of the private sector.
“The business community is a valued partner of AusAID,” said Mr Batley.
“We are both investing in the future growth and development of PNG.
“Today we have come together to find more effective and creative ways of working together to make those prospects a reality.”
Spearheaded by the Australia-PNG Business Council, and including the Business Council PNG, the roundtable included representatives from across the business community including Oil Search, Newcrest, Barrick Gold, and Westpac and ANZ banks.
Mr Batley said Australia’s aid program in PNG had a long history of interaction with business.
He cited partnerships in the transport sector, in procurement of medicines and educational aids and in development of anti-corruption and law and justice measures.
Boosting the income and economic opportunities for women was a key focus for the roundtable.
“Investing in women’s empowerment is not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do,” Mr Batley said.
“We commend the work the private sector is already doing to combat violence against women but AusAID wants to help more women from Papua New Guinea find employment and take up positions of leadership in the private sector.”
17.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Semoso appeals for women
By DAVID LORNIE
PROMINENT Bougainvillean activist Francesca Semoso (pictured) has appealed to her people not to ignore the plight of three women being held in South Bougainville for sorcery.
The women are under guard during negotiations whilst another woman Helen Rumbali was beheaded recently. The four were accused of killing a local man by sorcery.
Semoso, the former Autonomous Bougainville Government Deputy Speaker, went on a fundraising drive in Buka town on Monday to raise money for the women and those who are keeping them safe during the “bel kol” discussions.
“I’m doing whatever I can,” she explained.
“I told women from different villages to send clothing to the women and those looking after them. I have sent clothes already. The bit of cash we raised on Monday, K440, is to buy rations for the women and the people with them.”
Semoso expressed disappointment at the apparent apathy of people in Buka town regarding the three women being held., saying she couldn’t see much interest in the community to help them.
“I’m not saying we should take sides in this issue. But we cannot afford to ignore the lives of the three women held there,” Semoso said.
“Bougainvilleans need to stand up and condemn these actions (the killing and torturing of women),” Semoso said. “The most important thing is to condemn this.”
The activist pointed out that as a primarily matrilineal society, Bougainville traditionally respects its women and these actions are not in keeping with Bougainvillean culture.
She added that it is the men who are normally involved in sorcery and asked why it is the women who have been blamed for the death of the man.
“It is women that are now getting tortured when it comes to sorcery. (But) this is an island where women are respected traditionally and culturally – how come the men are treating women this way?” she questioned.
“Are women being blamed for things that men may be in the forefront of?
“We are peace loving people – we want to address a situation before it blows up. With the death of Helen Rumbali, I hope this takes Bougainville up to another level (of awareness). This is barbaric, we don’t do this.”
17.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
RUGBY LEAGUE
League back in AROB
SPORTS and Pacific Games Minister Justin Tkatchenko last Friday officially launched the return of rugby league to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Tkatchenko was accompanied by New Guinea Islands representative on the PNGRFL Board Horta Boskey, Highlands representative Joe Tokam and PNG Rugby League Foundation CEO and acting PNGRFL administrator Brad Tassell.
“Today marks a brand new day and a brand new start for Bougainville,” The minister told the official gathering at the Hutjena Oval. “What a better way to start then through this schoolboys program under the umbrella of the PNG Rugby League Foundation, who have proven their work across the other provinces,” he said.
Tkatchenko held a meeting with ABG Sports and Community Development Minister Melchior Dare and other ministers upon arrival in Buka. The concept was officially given the all clear by the ABG Ministers for Education and Works, and Bougainville administration.
“We are very privileged to have you here in Bougainville and it show us that the National Government is thinking about us, and comforting to know that we are part of its plans,” Minister Dare said.
“The talent in rugby league and sports as a whole, that you have in the region has been missing out over all those years since the crisis, and this opportunity will ensure that this talent is seen,” Tkatchenko said.
The launch of the Junior Schoolboys in the Region was initiated by NGI Rep Boskey, in close consultation with Buka Rugby League President Bruce Tasikul.
Tkatchenko also had the opportunity to officially open a new rugby league field in Malasang Village, an initiative of Demonford Gimots and North Bougaville MP Lauta Aoti, who committed nearly to K60,000 to the field.
MP Atoi, a former Kumul himself funded the Leagues preparations for the occasion and is looking forward to things to come.
16.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
REVIEW TEAM MEETS MEMBERS
By Aloysius Laukai
The Bougainville Autonomy Review Team this afternoon met with ABG members at the Bougainville Administration Conference Room.
The team leader, DR.NAIHUWO AHAI outlined to the members some key emerging findings,some aspects are begining to be clear across Bougainville.
He said he had to mention a few points to alert the members to what maybe coming in the final report.
The members really contributed to the questions asked by the team.
16.04.2013
Source: The National
PNG economy gets support
AUSAID and the PNG business community have pledged to work together more in supporting economic growth and development.
AusAID deputy director general James Batley said during the PNG business engagement roundtable in Port Moresby last Saturday: “Australia recognises that Papua New Guinea’s future prosperity depends on the strength of the private sector.
“The business community is a valued partner of AusAID.
“We are both investing in the future growth and development of PNG.
“Today we have come together to find more effective and creative ways of working together to make those prospects a reality.”
It was organised by the Australia-PNG Business Council and the Business Council PNG.
The roundtable included representatives of the business community including Oil Search Ltd, Newcrest Mining Ltd, Barrick Gold, Westpac and ANZ Bank.
Batley said Australia’s aid programme in PNG had a long history of interaction with businesses.
He cited partnerships in the transport sector, in procuring medicine and educational aids, and in development of anti-corruption and law and justice measures.
Boosting the income and economic opportunities for women was a key focus of the roundtable.
“Investing in women’s empowerment is not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do,” Batley said.
“We commend the work the private sector is already doing to combat violence against women but AusAID wants to help more women find employment and take up positions of leadership in the private sector.”
16.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
FODE STUDENTS
By Aloysius Laukai
Bougainville FODE students study at the FODE office Monday to Saturday.
This morning I met the Grade 10,11 and 12 students preparing for this mornings class at Kubu and got this pic.
16.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Autonomy Review near Complete
By Aloysius Laukai
The Bougainville Autonomy Review team that was appointed to Review the Autonomy Arrangement by the PNG National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government has covered nearly all areas of Bougainville in the last two weeks. Out of the three Pillars under Bougainville Peace Agreement ,AUTONOMY,REFERENDUM and WEAPONS DISPOSAL, the two pillars will not be reviewed.
The review will be based on Autonomy arrangement, which includes legal/constitutional, Administrative and Good Governance and Financial Arrangements.
The team of six consultants divided into two groups and covered the North, Central and South Bougainville.
Team one remained in Buka island and met with the leaders and the different groups throughout North Bougainville whilst Team two started from Buin in South Bougainville, Wisai, Siwai, Bana, Panguna, Arawa, Wakunai and will continue to Tinputz and the West Coast this week.
Team two led by the Chairman of the Bougainville Autonomy Review team and Bougainville’s own, DR. NAIHUWO AHAI, team members Professor Satish Chand a Professor in Economics from the University of New South Wales in Australia, Dany Aloi a teacher from the University of Papua New Guinea and Christopher Asa from office of the Prime Minister and a University Graduate in Political Science from the University of PNG and now working with the Autonomy Division of the ABG Israel Pais.
The team that travelled to mainland Bougainville left Buka on Thursday April 4th, 2013 after holding consultations with the full team in Buka and had to overnight in Arawa and travelled to Buin early Friday morning to start consultations with the Buin District Administration staff and the Government workers.
They then met with COE members, Police Ex Combatants, women’s groups, youth groups and all stakeholders of the Bougainville Peace Process.
The team stayed three days in Buin and traveled to Siwai had a one day meeting with all stakeholders at the Ameu Government Station and stayed one night at Panakei Lodge before travelling the next day to BANA on the South West of Bougainville. The team had two meetings in Bana first at the newly established BABA COE and later at the BANA High School where the met Chiefs and students from the BANA High School.
The team had to rest for the night at Destiny Guest House in Bana and next morning visited the staff and patients at the Moratona Health Centre before travelling to PANGUNA.In Panguna the team met with the Panguna District Administration, Chiefs, women and the Mee’kamui delegation.
The team also visited the Tailings and the Pit and the remains of the Panguna Operation and also rested for the night in Panguna.
The team then met with another biggest crowd in Arawa at the Sharp’s Memorial Youth Centre on Thursday April 11th,2013.
Here the Review team 2 met the ABG Minister for Veterans Affairs, DAVIDI SISITO and former combatant leaders, Ishmael Toroama and Sam Kauona and also members of the Mee’kamui group led by Chris Bao.
Here the team was addressed in four different groups of Ex combatants, COEs and District administration staff, Women, NGOs and Churches.
The team stayed in Arawa for two days to cover Wakunai district from Arawa on Friday.
In Wakunai the group was also met by Ex-combatants and Chiefs from the two COE’s of Terra and Rao.
Groups here were also broken into three groups to discuss in groups.
Saturday April 13th April the team visited the people of Togarao in the mountains of Wakunai on the border of Wakunai and Torokina.
Here the team also visited the Togaro Hydro project and saw developments taking place due to the Hydro Power project in the area.
The team will continue and meet the people of Tinputz today Monday.
According to the Chairman of the Autonomy Review team, DR. NAIHUWO AHAI other areas not covered will be covered once a new programme is developed.
He said that the committee hopes to complete the review process by the end of May, 2013.
New Dawn FM understands that the Bougainville Peace Agreements states that the review must be conducted every five years and since 2005 the review should have been conducted in 2010.Ends
16.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
TOGARAU HYDRO COMING
By Aloysius Laukai
The people of Togarau and nearby villages in Wakunai would be the first rural Bougainvilleans to benefit from the Togarau Hydro Project.
The project started two years ago is funded by the PNG SUSTAINABLE Development.
According to the Chief of Togarau, PAUL AKOITAI, the project would cover villages from Togarau and up to MABIRI and right up to Inus.
He told New Dawn FM at the weekend that two kilometers have been covered by Power Lines around the Hydro power site with 160 houses already connected to the lines.
MR. AKOITAI said that TURBINE for the Togarau project is already at the Kieta wharf and would be moved to the site in the next coming weeks.
He said that clearance to the site has been made already awaiting another review of the project.
Another chief, JUDA RUATEA said that the people of Togarau have big plans once the project is completed.
He said that they have already organized to start up projects like Bottles water, Potato Chips, Peanut Butter and other animal farming once they have continuous power supply.
MR. RUATEA said that they are looking for possible partners to develop these ideas.
New Dawn FM understands that SPSN last year approved the funding of the Togarau Fresh Food Group.
16.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
LACK OF INFORMATION
By Aloysius Laukai
The dissemination of relevant information from the ABG and its Divisions has been the main factor that could derail the Peace Process on Bougainville according to information gathered by New Dawn FM throughout Bougainville.
And they are blaming the ABG and the National Government for not giving any attention to Radio Bougainville as the Government information Network on Bougainville.
People from all over Bougainville said that they have been in total darkness for many years because relevant information from the ABG does not reach them.
They said that even their ABG members have permanently displaced themselves to Buka leaving them in total darkness.
16.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
WOMEN QUESTION MEMBERS
By Aloysius Laukai
The women of Central Bougainville are calling on their three ABG members representing the women of Bougainville to work together and fight for women’s projects and women’s issues in parliament.
A woman leader in Arawa told New Dawn FM that the three women’s representatives have not been meeting as the women’s representatives to find ways to support the women of Bougainville who they represent in the ABG House.
The leader who wants to remain anonymous said that if these three women are not capable to outsource funds and other resources to support the women they should resign for failing the women of Bougainville.
Attempts to talk to one of these three ABG members were unsuccessful.
16.04.2013
Source: The National
Mining Dept joins regional bodies to monitor geohazards
THE Mining Department is now affiliating itself with regional bodies in the Pacific and Asia region to establish an effective monitoring system to monitor geo-hazards, Mining Secretary Shadrach Himata says.
He agreed with Mining Minister Byron Chan that there was a need to improve Papua New Guinea’s relations with the Pacific tsunami warning centre in Hawaii and other regional affiliations to focus on tsunami scenarios.
“We hope to achieve this by 2015,” Himata said.
He said currently the Port Moresby geophysical observatory dealt with seismic activities at the national level but some of their roles overlapped with those of the Rabaul Volcano Observatory in East New Britain.
“Currently we get tsunami updates, signals and information straight from PTWC and from other regional stations such as US geological surveyor and Vienna in Austria.”
Himata said negotiations were already in place for mobile company Digicel PNG to send out alerts in text messages in cases of emergencies.
He said this was the department’s ultimate objective to be able to inform people when emergencies occurred so they would be prepared.
“As a start through our affiliation to the Regional Integrated Multi hazard Early Warning system based in Bangkok, 2 years ago, they send us text messages on earthquakes in the Pacific,” he said.
“As it happens, we receive updates daily and that is what we want to do here in PNG.”
“We have to find a way to disseminate the right information that can be understood by the people.”
Himata added that the department hoped to upgrade the Rabaul observatory to a department and give it due recognition.
“Currently, the importance of these activities has been suppressed and underestimated which is why we are working on the Geo-hazards Management Policy for the country but eventually we will have a Geo-Hazards Act or legislation of its own,” he said.
16.04.2013
Source: The National
Bougainville sorcery-related killing condemned
THE North Bougainville Human Rights Commission has strongly condemned the recent murder of Helen Rumbali and the kidnap and torture of her sister Nikono in Bana district, South Bougainville.
Both were accused of sorcery.
A commission member said: “This is a complete violation of these two women’s human rights – their right to life and their right to live a life free from violence and torture.”
The member said if Nikono was still alive, the police, peace officers and civil society organizations should facilitate her immediate relocation to a safe house and provide her medical treatment, legal assistance and counseling.
“Spreading false rumours of witchcraft, as well as the torture or killing of anyone accused of witchcraft, is against Bougainville culture, against the teaching of the Bible and against the law,” the member said.
“If you have suspicions of sorcery, report it. Don’t take the law into your own hands.”
The commission said the Autonomous Bougainville Government must protect its people.
The commission called on the ABG to use its police force in such incidents and notprivate security firms, especially those which employ ex-combatants.
“If ex-combatantsare injured or killed while attempting to resolve community disputes it will only lead to more deaths and violence.
“Instead, the ABG must educate and train its police, village magistrates, peace officers tointervene as soon as rumours begin and to prosecute those who spread them.
“Spreading rumours is against the law in Papua New Guinea.”
16.04.2013
Source: The National
Bougainville Technical College starts classes
CLASSES began at the newly-established Bougainville Technical College last week.
Bougainville education chief executive officer Bruno Babato said the college was in line with the national education department’s policy to provide technical training and offer opportunities for young men and women to undertake further training at tertiary level.
He said they were expecting the college to start with 200 students this year with the education department to do the selection.
However, the selection was done by the Bougainville Education Board.
Babato said they did selections from secondary schools in Bougainville.
So far about 20 students had enrolled and begun classes.
The college located at Tinputz is the region’s first technical college since the end of the 10-year crisis.
It was opened by former education minister Paru Aihi last December.
Babato said plans were in place to carry out upgrading of facilities including new buildings in line with the college’s five-year development plan.
16.04.2015
Source: Post-Courier
Girls take claypot lessons
By DAVID LORNIE
A TWO-week traditional pottery workshop ended last Friday at Bairima village, Central Bougainville.
The workshop, sponsored by late Bougainvillean actor William Takaku’s foundation TDM, was run to teach village girls the dying traditional art of clay-pot making.
In the past, clay pots had great spiritual significance in the area and were important in both daily and ritual life.
Monica Mokiai, the only living village woman with pot-making knowledge, was head trainer for the workshop.
Monica, in her 70s, had been making the pots since her teens. When she was young, all the girls were taught to make pots but Monica explained that the practice died out due to “outside influences”.
In the old days, the pots had many uses. They were used as a form of currency and shell money was stored in them. The pots were important in bride price and other exchange ceremonies.
They were also used in cremation, purification and other religious ceremonies. The pots were filled with coconut oil and special herbs which were used to cleanse and to welcome people.
There are three types of pot. The koririu which is very small, the slightly larger kakasi which was used in everyday cooking and the basione which has a lip and was used in big ceremonial feasts.
They were also used in both everyday and ceremonial cooking.
Monica said that food cooked in the pots “has a good, natural taste. Also you don’t need steel wool or soap to clean them”.
This was the first time pots had been made in the village for a long time and, thanks to the workshop, young people are again becoming interested in this lost art and the associated rituals.
The girls who took part in the workshop learnt the special rules attached to the pottery, including the gathering of clay in a special place. Only certain people are allowed to gather the clay and there are taboos associated with digging the clay from the ground.
The villagers were happy these skills were again being taught, saying they are useful even in today’s society.
“Not everyone can go to school,” they said. “So this is an alternative to school. People can make the pots and sell them for money.”
The workshop ended with a display of the clay creations and a meal of traditional food cooked in the pots.
16.04.2015
Source: Post-Courier
Aust teacher helps Buka hospital
By DAVID LORNIE
BOUGAINVILLE President Chief John Momis returned home yesterday from the Philippines via Port Moresby with a pleasant surprise for his people.
President Momis brought with him Andrew Viney, a Sydney-based teacher, who came from Australia to donate vital medical equipment to Buka General Hospital.
Mr Viney, who teaches at Strathfield’s St Paul’s College, met the president in Sydney where the two discussed the possibility of much-needed equipment being given to the hospital.
The teacher, with the help of generous backers, organised to procure the goods and brought it up personally with him. He has a long history of humanitarian work in this country, having visited East New Britain several times on similar missions.
The equipment – including an autoclave for sterilising surgical tools, an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine – was handed over at the hospital yesterday morning.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the hospital was Director of Corporate Affairs Matthew Monei.
He expressed his gratitude to Mr Viney and his backers.
“We really, really appreciate the assistance. Anything that can help us to care for our patients is appreciated,’’ Mr Monei said.
He mentioned the EGC machine, saying “we have recently employed a new physician who was asking for one of these machines. So now it is the right time you have brought it in”.
The equipment will be used by the hospital and also the Arawa Medical Clinic.
Mr Viney told the gathered hospital staff that he was pleased to be able to do whatever he could to help the people of Bougainville.
He said he would continue to offer assistance and would try to source further hospital equipment when he returned to Australia. He also thanked Air Niugini for allowing him an excess baggage allowance which enabled him to bring the equipment from Australia to Buka for free.
15.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
TEAM AT TINPUTZ
By Aloysius Laukai in Tinputz
The Bougainville Autonomy Review team 2 today met with the people of Tinputz at the Tinputz District office.
The team met with leaders,chiefs,excombatants,women,Tinputz administration staff and the people of Tinputz.
Pictured is the meeting in progress.
15.04.2015
Source: Post-Courier
Think big, start small
By ROMULUS MASIU
THE saying, ‘think big, start small’, is a testimony to one small businessman in Arawa Town in Central Bougainville.
Yes, he is a small man, but big in his thinking caps when it comes to talking business.
Meet William Paran, owner of Parans Trading. He just opened his third shop in the busiest location of the former Panguna Mining Township of Arawa.
For those former residents of Arawa Town, the store is located at the famous Pikus Market at Section 15.
Twenty-five (25) year-old Willie as he is affectionally known by Siwai and Kieta wantoks is a graduate of Lae’s University of Technology with a degree in Communication for Development.
After graduating in 2006 he joined Highlands Kainantu Ltd (HKL). While still working, Willie opened a trade store at Dantanai, his father’s village, and employed his cousins who are mostly grade eight drop-outs.
Though his pay package was outstanding HKL, this was not his passion and he returned home to pursue his business dreams.
“I saw the opportunity in business, especially since opening my first trade store in the village. However, while the trade store was growing I saw that it lacked a good manager. I had to make that decision and return to manage my own small business.”
Willie resigned from HKL in 2007, bought a chainsaw with some tools and returned home to manage his trade store, which he operates under his family house.
After eight months of operations under his family home, Willie built a new trade store and relocated his old one under his house.
After four years of village operation, Willie moved for greener pastures venturing to Arawa Town – a one hour trip from Dantanai.
“With the expansion and high demand of business opportunity in Arawa, I took up the chance and moved over to Arawa in November 2011.”
He acquired a space in Arawa with a monthly rental fee of K800 and kicked off. While operating the two shops, Willie made some money, saved up and started constructing his new building which he opened on Friday April 5, 2013.
This date will be remembered for Willie and his parents Bernard and Olivia.
It is a big milestone set by the small and up-coming businessman enabling him to own a building, which means there will be no more paying of rental fees.
Parans Trading is a registered business with Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) with three trade stores already in full swing with the fourth one under construction.
The new store at Pikus Market will provide retailing, freezer goods, kaibar and general spare parts ranging from wheelbarrow to heavy duty vehicles.
Willie singled out for his trade stores he racks up more than K30, 000 in a month and during his trips to Rabaul to purchase his cargoes he spends around K60,000 worth of cargoes for his three trade stores.
Willie buys his cargoes at JJS Holding, Tropicana and Tropical, all these wholesales located in Kokopo, East New Britain Province.
According to Willie this is a very expensive exercise and suggested that the wholesales should at least help out with the airfares of the small businessman like himself who spend millions for cargoes to freight to Bougainville.
“Big businesses should arrange business deals with outside wholesalers and establish in Bougainville so we won’t travel to Kokopo to purchase our cargoes. This will really help to cut down on the costings.”
Willie outlined Valued Added Tax (VAT), freight and transport fares as the foundation small business people like himself are charging on their price list.
“I spend around K8000 through VAT, freight and transport which I term as lost expenses.
“Therefore, I believe locals shouldn’t complain about store goods prices as we are trying to recoup the lost expenses.”
Willie plans to venture into the wholesaling business or to specialize in one type of business, giving an example like selling Bridgestone Tyres and Tubes or specializing in Freezer Goods, in the future.
In Bougainville there is no specialization with business people doing everything at once adding that big businesses are all over the place.
The young entrepreneur is already setting his eyes on the bigger pictures aiming the re-opening of the giant copper mine in nearby Panguna and seeing himself as the main distributor supplying the mine.
Willie has his parents to thank for being so supportive in his interest of becoming a businessman, helping him with loans that he repays when he makes money in his trade stores.
Also Willie took the opportunity to thank his building contractors, Pikiina from Siae Village on a job well done.
He has big plans for the mostly local uneducated youths to register them and apply in tenders.
Willie has this advice to tell those small and up and coming business minded people; “management of cash is very important in any business dealings. Business is in your hands, look after your business and your business will look after you, it’s all about management. How you manage yourself and your business”.
15.04.2015
Source: Post-Courier
Sorcery killing condemned
By ROMULUS MASIU
THE recent sorcery-related killing in South Bougainville has been condemned by a concerned ex-combatant.
However, the former Bougainville Revolutionary Army frontman Ishmael Toroama said sorcery was here to stay, whether people like it or not, as it was part and parcel of the Melanesian culture.
Papua New Guinea and Bougainville are similar to their Melanesian ‘wantoks’ in the Pacific region.
These were the words expressed by Mr Toroama in an exclusive interview with the Post-Courier in Arawa last Thursday.
He said sorcery was part of the people’s way of life in the Melanesian villages where in the traditional way chiefs and elders acquired land and wealth through the practice of sorcery.
Condemning the recent killing of a woman in Bana District, Mr Toroama said it painted a bad picture when people were killed like this, especially women.
However, he was quick to add that from first-hand information he gathered when he personally went to Bana to meet with the people involved in the killing, sorcerers have formed a big organisation in the area which resulted in the death of the woman.
According to Mr Toroama, the way forward now was to enhance customary values by strengthening village-based values through the chiefs and elders. He said the Bougainville Government through its Village Assemblies should come up with stringent standard laws to deal with the practice of sorcery.
Whilst the law of the white men is straightforward in such cases, he said: “We have to create and make law available for this practice because it (sorcery) is here to stay.
“The imposed law on this practice should have boundaries expressing that we should not kill people but find out some other ways and means such as compensation and proper dialogue to address the problem.”
All stakeholders including the Government must come up with an Act (form of law) to address the sorcery practice at the village level, through the village assemblies and clans instead of interpreting the white men’s laws to deal with it, he said.
Mr Toroama stated that sorcery related killing was an ongoing issue in Bougainville with the South Nasioi Constituency sorcery case still pending and warned that if this was not addressd in a proper manner, it would spiral out of hand.
15.04.2015
Source: Post-Courier
Imposters collecting fees
By ROMULUS MASIU
PEOPLE who call themselves landowners in Arawa Town and go around collecting rental fees from business houses should stop immediately as the practice has been termed as illegal.
This was passed in a meeting in Arawa by the Central Bougainville Veterans Association (CBVA) last week. BRA front man Ishmael Toroama who chaired this very important meeting said all the alienated blocks of land within Arawa Town is still owned by government with the CBVA as custodians and so-called landowners should not impose illegal fees. CBVA is closely working with government authorities including police to clamp out illegal activities of some so-called landowners of Arawa Town who are going around and collecting certain fees from business houses.
“Such practices are illegal as Arawa Town is a Gazzetted Town and is still the headquarter of Bougainville. The headquarter can come back anytime and we must not entertain such so-called landowners collecting fees here,” Mr Toroama said.
The CBVA meeting also touched on the business activities in Central Bougainville, supporting and giving chance to the local business people to rise up and do business without disturbances from ‘outsiders’.
Mr Toroama arranged for the CBVA meeting to gauge views and opinions of its members on how best they could address the influx of Asians to the region with the recent chasing away of two Chinese nationals in Arawa.
The meeting agreed that as a result of such ‘disturbances’ from ‘outsiders’ will only kill interests of the local business people.
CBVA is now working around the clock to get the Policy Paper of the Bougainville First House of Representatives under late President Joseph Kabui on business dealings and implement it. The policy paper promotes the local business while also encouraging partnership ventures.
15.04.2015
Source: Post-Courier
Bougainvillean man shoots dead nephew
By ROMULUS MASIU
FRUSTRATED Arawa town residents have called on Bougainvilleans not to use the town as a battlefield and a place to sort out their fueds.
The call came after an incident on Friday night where a teenage man was shot dead by his uncle.
The incident occurred right in the middle of Arawa town’s section 15 where the boy’s uncle shot him with a pistol at point blank, killing him instantly. The teenager and his uncle are from Orava village in Buin, South Bougainville.
The incident was confirmed by Arawa police chief Inspector Herman Birengka , who said the suspect would be brought in by his chiefs for questioning and formally charged with murder.
Inspector Birengka said the cause of the killing would be known after the suspect was taken in for questioning but did not rule out a family dispute.
Arawa Town residents complained to the Post-Courier at the weekend, saying the town was supposed to be a peaceful place for those who come from all over Bougainville and even other provinces in the country.
Two residents of Section 15 where the incident took place said everyone living in Arawa should respect the town as this was a town where everyone wanted to live in peace and harmony. They said ethnic arguments and family feuds should not be brought to Arawa but settled in their own homes or communities.
Long-time Arawa town resident also echoed similar sentiments.
15.04.2015
Source: Post-Courier
Favourite staple for many
Kaukau: Kaukau or sweet potato is a favoured food in many parts of PNG. But in the big cities, particularly Port Moresby, the staple root vegetable for many, is priced at a premium. In rural areas such as in Bougainville, however, prices are more reasonable. Venders here in North Bougainville sell freshly harvested kaukau to travellers for K10 a big basket. Fresh and sweet.
Picture by DAVID LORNIE.
15.04.2015
Source: The National
Strong quake strikes west of Panguna
A STRONG 6.7-magnitude earthquake has struck off Papua New Guinea, according to the US Geological Survey.
But a tsunami warning was not issued.
The quake hit 98km west of Panguna, on Bougainville Island, at a depth of 7km, the survey said.
“A destructive tsunami was not generated based on earthquake and historical tsunami data,” the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, said.
Quakes of such magnitude are common in impoverished PNG which sits on the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a hot spot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.
Geoscience Australia measured the quake at a depth of 35km and said people on Bougainville would have felt it.
“It was a fair way out to sea but people would have got a pretty decent shake on the island,” Geoscience seismologist Dave Jepsen told AFP.
“We are not expecting much damage. These sorts of quakes are frequent occurrences in the region so people tend to be used to them and houses built to withstand them.”
In 1998, a giant tsunami triggered by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake killed more than 2,000 people near Aitape, on PNG’s northwest coast.
15.04.2015
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
Bougainville hostage standoff continues
A sorcery related hostage situation is continuing in Papua New Guinea's autonomous province of Bougainville.
LISTEN HERE !
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Over a week ago, two women, Helen Rumbali, her sister Nikono, and Nikono's two teenage daughters, were kidnapped by an armed mob and taken to Lopele village in the Bana district.
The women were accused of using sorcery and tortured for several days, before the mob beheaded Helen Rumbali and seriously injured Nikono.
A standoff is continuing between the unarmed local police and the armed alleged killers who still hold Nikono and her daughters.
For an update on the situation, Steve Rice spoke to Bougainville Police Inspector Herman Birengka.
Presenter: Steve Rice
Speaker: Bougainville police Inspector Herman Birengka
RICE: So last week, there were two teenage girls and their aunty who were, the news report said they were kidnapped by an armed mob. Is that still the case?
BIRENGKA: Yeah, that's still the case. They're still looking after these three women back in the village and they are still held captives in the village.
RICE: OK, and that is Lopele village is it?
BIRENGKA: No, they move them up at the health centre, Singodo Health Centre. Actually what they inform us, they are at a health centre Singodo Village Health Centre.
RICE: Is this because one of the ladies was injured?
BIRENGKA: Yes, I think that's the case.
RICE: And some reports said that the people who were holding them had set up road blocks to stop the police getting near. Is that still the case?
BIRENGKA: No, road block is no more, no roadblock, but we haven't go in there. We're waiting for the south Bougainville Buin Police to go in and also the police from Bana district, where three women have been held captive. We haven't got anything. But last week, we had a big road block set up by the people there.
RICE: And so have police been able to talk to the people who are holding the women?
BIRENGKA: At the moment, I don't think police are allowed to go in, but we at the moment, I'm back in the Arawa. I'm still working on one of my cases a fatal shooting over the weekend in Arawa and yeah a lot of things to do with this case. We leave it, we rather leave it to police in Bana and Buin District to go in and talk to these people.
RICE: So as far as you know, the women are still safe?
BIRENGKA: That's the indication that we are getting from our sources.
13.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
TEAM AT TOGARAU FALLS
Review team at the base of the Togarau falls where hydro turbines will be for the hydro power They are from left to right,Team Leader, DR.NAIHUWO AHAI,DANNY ALOI,VINCENT from the District Office,Seated is the Chief from the area, PAUL AKOITAI,Proffessor SATISH CHAND, ISRAEL PAIS and CHRISTOPHER ASA Picture by Aloysius Laukai
12.04.2013
Source: Radio New New Zealand International
Promise to engage with community before re-opening divisive Bougainville mine
The chairman of Bougainville Copper Ltd, Peter Taylor, is promising the company will engage with all the key stakeholders before it goes ahead with re-opening the Panguna mine.
The huge copper and gold mine was at the centre of the Bougainville Civil War and has lain idle for 24 years but Mr Taylor told shareholders earlier this week that the company was ready to prepare for a re-opening.
He says it would take six years before production could start and cost five billion U.S. dollars but there is growing support for such a move from within Bougainville.
And Mr Taylor says the company will be taking a different approach this time round:
“We opened the mine in the era when Papua New Guinea was not an independent country so clearly things are very different now and we need to engage and we will engage with the key stakeholders, being the Bougainville Government, the national Government, the landowners and the populace generally in Bougainville.”
12.04.2012
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Roadblock by kidnappers stops hurt Bougainville women reaching hospital
Police in the south of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville are trying to negotiate with armed kidnappers for the release of three women who urgently need treatment at the province’s main hospital in Buka.
Bougainville’s police commander, Paul Kamuai, says the women were hurt in the same attack in which a prominent school teacher, Helen Rumbali, was decapitated last week.
The kidnappers had accused the women of sorcery following the death of another school teacher.
Mr Kamuai says the kidnappers have set up a road block and are demanding compensation before they will allow vehicles in to transport the wounded women to hospital.
“The police are making negotiations with those at the road block. So it is quite difficult for the police of course, with the negotiations as well. They are demanding 10,000 [kina or about 4,500 US dollars] from the accused sorcerers before the three patients can be moved away from the rural health centre to Buka.”
12.04.2012
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Wakunai meet
By Aloysius Laukai in Wakunai
The Bougainville Autonomy Review Team started its consultations at the Wakunai District Office today.
In Wakunai they managed to meet the chiefs of both TERRA and RAO Coes with youth women,churches the Wakunai district office staff and the excombatants from the district.
Pictured is the Wakunai meeting.
The team would then meet with the people of Tinputz at the Tinputz District office tomorrow.
12.04.2012
Source: ABC Radio Australia Network News
O'Neill vows to repeal PNG sorcery law
PNG correspondent Liam Fox
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says his government will repeal the country's controversial Sorcery Act.
The announcement comes after a spate of alleged sorcery killings in the Pacific nation this year.
The most recent was on the island of Bougainville, where an angry mob last week beheaded an elderly woman accused of practicing sorcery or black magic.
Researchers say the Sorcery Act legitimises such murders by making sorcery a legally recognised phenomenon and its practice a criminal offence.
Mr O'Neill says his government will repeal the law.
"To stop this nonsense about witchcraft and all the other sorceries that are really barbaric," he said.
Mr O'Neill says the act could be scrapped in the next sitting of parliament, or later in the year.
North Bougainville Human Rights Committee's chairperson, Helen Hakena, says Mr O'Neill's announcement shows there is genuine political will to stamp out sorcery killings.
"For us women we are so happy that our country's leaders - particularly the prime minister - is looking into that because that will really help to promote and protect the human rights of our people accused of sorcery," she said.
"And that will help bring justice to those perpetrators who are accusing people of sorcery and killing them."
Police powerless
Police say they do not have the resources or manpower to respond to sorcery-related violence in Bougainville
Last Tuesday Helen Rumbali and her sister Nikono and Nikono's two teenage daughters were kidnapped by a mob and taken to Lopele village in the Bana district.
The women were accused of using sorcery, or black magic, to kill someone.
After torturing the women for several days, the mob murdered Ms Rumbali by cutting her head off.
The acting assistant police commissioner for south Bougainville, Paul Kamuai, says local forces were unable to stop the violence.
"This was an extraordinary situation that men and women were there, and it was at night," he said.
"And then we found out that there were arms around, and we couldn't use the arms - there would have been a lot of killing from the police and then from the civilians as well."
After negotiations with community leaders, the mob allowed Nikono and her daughters to go to a local health clinic but they have set up a roadblock preventing them from leaving the area.
Nikono Rumbali is believed to be in a critical condition after the mob tried unsuccessfully to decapitate her.
But Mr Kamuai says there are no plans to arrest the murderers or rescue the three women still being held captive.
He says police are outnumbered and outgunned.
"Police on Bougainville are not armed. Even if we're armed, there are more arms still out there," Mr Kumuai said.
"I have eight regular police. They do not have a proper police station - they live in the villages.
"So we can't very quickly get them to act in a group."
Bougainville is awash with guns, a result of the bitter civil war fought there during the 1990s.
The fighting ended with a peace agreement in 2001, but disarmament efforts have since stalled. There are plenty of factory and home-made weapons in the hands of ex-combatants and others.
Human rights group Amnesty International says the lack of action from police is not good enough.
"If all the police can do is stand by and watch while women are executed, that's a very sad situation for the country indeed," Amnesty's Pacific researcher Kate Schuetze said.
Ms Schuetze says the PNG Government must provide police with the resources they need to do their jobs.
"I understand that there are limitations with resources but it's not an adequate excuse the government to say they can't protect someone's life and meet their responsibilities... just because they don't have the capacity."
Widespread beliefs
Sorcery killings are not uncommon in Papua New Guinea.
In February a woman who was burnt alive on a street in Mt Hagen, the biggest town in PNG's highlands, made headlines around the world.
But residents in Bougainville say the murder of Helen Rumbali is the first sorcery killing on their island.
NBHRC's Helen Hakena believes the murderers have used sorcery as a cover for other motives.
"It's pure jealousy of a family who is well known, that they've got positions in government. And this woman is a woman leader and they've got good homes," she said.
Ms Hakena says women are horrified at what has happened and they too want the police to take action.
"If this one woman is not respected then all of us will face the same consequences," she said.
A request for comment has been declined by Bougainville affairs minister, Steven Kamma.
12.04.2013
Source: DAILY NATION
UN urges Papua New Guinea to fight sorcery
Papua New Guinea must tackle the scourge of sorcery-related murder, the United Nations said Friday, after an elderly woman was beheaded in the Pacific nation.
The UN demanded an end to extra-judicial killings linked to accusations of sorcery and renewed calls for the government to repeal the Sorcery Act 1971, introduced
to aid the passage of witchcraft cases through the courts.
While the act criminalised the practice of sorcery, human rights groups say it has also led to an increase in false accusations by people against their enemies and has
given the notion of sorcery a legitimacy it would not otherwise have had.
"The provision of protection to victims of sorcery-related violence must also be increased as a matter of urgency," the UN said in a statement from Port Moresby.
"The UN is deeply disturbed with the increasing reports of violence, torture and murder of persons accused of practicing sorcery around the country.
"These vigilante killings constitute murder and must not be treated with impunity," it added, relating "another horrific case" this week.
In the Bana district of South Bougainville two women accused of sorcery were kidnapped and tortured before one was beheaded.
"This case adds to the increase of reports of extra-judicial torture and killings of both men and women, especially elderly women, accused of sorcery," it said.
"These reports raise grave concern that accusations of sorcery are used to justify arbitrary and inhumane acts of violence."
Local media had initially reported that both women were beheaded on Bougainville Island, noting police were present but were outnumbered by an angry mob and
could do nothing to prevent the grisly deaths.
The women were tortured for three days, suffering knife and axe wounds, reports said.
The killing came just days after six women accused of sorcery were reportedly tortured with hot irons in an Easter "sacrifice" in the Southern Highlands.
Last month, a woman accused of sorcery was stripped naked and burned to death by a mob.
There is a widespread belief in sorcery in PNG and many people do not accept natural causes as an explanation for misfortune and death.
There have been several other cases of witchcraft and cannibalism in PNG in recent years, with a man reportedly found eating his newborn son during a sorcery
initiation ceremony in 2011.
12.04.2013
Source: DIE WELT
UN fordern Schutz von Wunderheilern in Papua-Neuguinea
Nach Enthauptung von angeblicher Hexe in Pazifikstaat
Nach einem weiteren Mord an einer vermeintlichen Hexe haben die Vereinten Nationen Papua-Neuguineas Regierung zum Einschreiten aufgerufen. Die Selbstjustiz müsse gestoppt und der Schutz der Menschen, denen Hexerei vorgeworfen werde, dringend verbessert werden, hieß es in einer UN-Erklärung vom Freitag. Zuvor waren zwei sogenannte Wunderheilerinnen (Sangumas) in der Region Süd Bougainville gekidnappt und tagelang gequält worden, eine der älteren Frauen wurde schließlich enthauptet.
12.04.2013
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
A hostage situation in Bougainville following sorcery related killing
Calls are growing for authorities in Papua New Guniea to end a sorcery related hostage situation in Bougainville.
Last week, two women, Helen Rumbali and her sister Nikono, as well as Nikono's two teenage daughters, were kidnapped by an armed mob and taken to Lopele village in the Bana district.
The women were accused of using sorcery and tortured for several days, before the mob beheaded Helen Rumbali and seriously injured Nikono.
It's believed Nikono and her daughters are still being held hostage by the mob, and a police officer in Bougainville says officers are unarmed and can't help them.
Phillippe Allen is the head of Oxfam Australia in Port Moresby.
He's been in contact with people on the ground in Bougainville and told Cathy Harper police need to act to end the situation.
Presenter: Cathy Harper
Speaker: Phillippe Allen, the head of Oxfam Australia in Port Moresby
Listen here !
12.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
AROB cautions Chinese ‘investors’
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
CHINESE and other foreign business owners planning of coming into Bougainville to conduct their business activities must be involved in wholesaling and manufacturing and large scale or technologically advanced business activities.
According to the vice President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Patrick Nisira, Asians must be involved in big businesses that Bougainvilleans do not have the monetary capacity to be involved in.
Mr Nisira stressed that foreign business owners must not be involved in any retailing business activities.
He said this is to protect the interests of Bougainvillean business people and also encourage more Bougainvilleans to start up their own retailing business activities.
When asked about the future of those Chinese business owners already operating in Buka and Buin, Mr Nisira said the ABG, through the Division of Commerce and Industry, has already issued a notice
for them to operate only one retailing business, instead of moving to other locations and expanding their business activities.
He said those who fail to adhere to this directive will be given a second notification letter telling them to abide by this decision.
Mr Nisira warned that those who still fail to comply with this second directive will then be ordered to close their business and move out of Bougainville.
Mr Nisira said these Chinese business operators have also been instructed to re-invest in Bougainville instead of shipping their profits out of Bougainville.
Mr Nisira, who is also the Minister for Police, CS, Health and Law and Justice also highlighted the ABG’s policy on joint venture partnerships.
He said any foreigner, including Chinese business operators, must conduct their activities through joint venture partnerships.
Mr Nisira clarified that this joint venture partnership must involve a foreigner and a Bougainvillean, and not the foreigner with his or her Bougainvillean wife or husband.
He said at the moment foreigners, especially Chinese businessmen based in Buka are mainly involved in family businesses with their Bougainvillean wives.
Mr Nisira also expressed his support over an incident which happened recently in Arawa where a Chinese businessman was ordered out of Arawa by some locals there.
The ABG vice President has already adviced the ABG Minister for Primary Industry Nicholas Daku to urge Central Bougainvilleans not to invite Chinese businessmen into Arawa.
He also clarified that those Chinese investors now operating in Buka were not the right investors from China, but were those who had been previously conducting business activities in other parts of PNG.
Mr Nisira said the Division of Commerce and Industry is now working on a policy that will outline business activities reserved only for Bougainvilleans.
12.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Awareness on free-fee policy
By ROMULUS MASIU
THE Bougainville Catholic Education Office is facilitating the O’Neill-Dion Government sponsored free education policy awareness for the head teachers and board of management chairpersons in the region.
The Catholic Church Agency is taking the lead in working in partnership with the Government to make sure the head teachers throughout Bougainville receive first-hand information on the free education policy, especially on how the subsidies (money) dished out by the Government can be well managed and spent.
Since the O’Neill-Dion Government came into power, the free education policy for the whole country has become its major policy.
Catholic Education Secretary for Central and South Bougainville Ephraim Samuel said the free education policy awareness was aimed at getting school authorities, especially the Catholic Agency run schools to appreciate this very important government arrangement.
The Catholic Church in Bougainville owns 80 per cent of the schools and according to Mr Samuel this free education policy awareness program compliments the education programs in their schools. The agency has more than 500 institutions starting from elementary to technical schools.
Present also at the awareness was Bougainville Catholic Education Secretary John Narebo and Kieta-Panguna-Wisai District Education Standard Officer Lillia Sarea.
Catholic Education Agency is spearheading this very important awareness program in partnership with the Horizont 3000, an Austrian Non Government Organisation, which is specialised and heavily involved in the education sector in Bougainville. The program will be carried out in all the Catholic agency schools throughout Bougainville, starting off with the Tupukas Primary School hosting for all the schools in Kieta District.
12.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Buka schoolboys launch competition
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
THE Buka Schoolboys Rugby League will be launching its competition at the Hutjena oval today.
Themed Football for Peace and Reconciliation, this launching will be witnessed by the Minister for Sports and Pacific Games, Justin Tkatchenko, PNG Kumuls Coach Adrian Lam, CEO PNGNRL Foundation Brad Tassel, North Bougainville MP Lauta Atoi, ABG Minister responsible for sports Melchior Dare and other ABG leaders, officers from the Bougainville Administration and the rugby followers in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Australian Kangaroos and Maroons legend Mal Meninga, who most Bougainvilleans have been looking forward to meet during the launching, has cancelled his attendance. However, Buka Rugby League (BRL) President Bruce Tasikul when commenting on Lam’s attendance said his participation in the launching will certainly create a big impact because all rugby-mad followers in Bougainville are already looking forward to seeing him in person.
This school boys’ competition will be managed by its own committee however it will still come under the BRL umbrella.
BRL is targeting schools in the Buka and Selau districts including Sohano primary school, Hahela primary school, Haku Day high school and Tarlena and Hutjena secondary schools to participate.
Tasikul said students will be taking part in the Under 17, Under 15 and Under 12 divisions respectively.
Following the successful establishment of the competition in Buka, the school boys’ rugby committee will then consider moving over to Central and South Bougainville to introduce the competition there.
LILLIA Sareas goes through her papers as Ephraim Samuel explains a power-point presentation on the free education policy at Tupukas Primary School.
Picture: DAVID MIRINGTORO.
12.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
HOSPITAL SCALES DOWN OPERATION
By Maria Laukai
Services at the Buka General Hospital has been scaled down since their only transport to and from Sohano island was stolen last week.
And this will definitely affect the operation of the Buka General Hospital and this would mean patients will not be attended to by the staff of the Hospital after hours.
The CEO for the Hospital, DR. CYRIL IMAKO has been appealing to the people who got the boat to return it as soon as possible with no condition attached to it.
DR. IMAKO has also informed the chief administrator, Lawrence Disin, Health Minister and Vice President, PATRICK NISIRA and also the Police on the incident.
The CEO said that the boat is the only transport that is used by the Hospital staff and also Nurses and On call officers and must be returned as soon as possible.
11.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
To Sign Grand Agreement
By Maria Laukai
Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen (SPSN) will be holding a grant signing occasion for community based projects funded through SPSN program next Thursday.
According to the program, the sucessful reciepients of the project approved for funding will be signing with the SPSN a grant agreement document.
Persons whom SPSN has approved there projects have been notified already and are be requested to attend this very important occasion.
These projects are funded by Ausaid through the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen programme.
The ocassion will take place at the Lumankoa Conference room next Thursday 18th April 2013.
11.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Arawa meet
By Aloysius Laukai in Arawa
The second day of the Bougainville Autonomy Review team in Central Bougainville was very fruitful as they met with the most powerful stakeholders in Central Bougainvlle at the Arawa United Church.
The meeting in Arawa was attended by both former and current ABG members and Ministers and senior Commanders from the Bougainville conflict and they contributed fully in responding to the queries of the team.
The Arawa meeting was the biggest group in which the review team met in its consultations so far.
Because the groups was too large they were separated so that they can be free to give out there own opinions.
The groups were seperated into four groups like Women,Coes and Administration,Excombatants and the churches and the NGOs.
The meeting ended with stakeholders making their presentations.
Team visiting the mine site
11.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
ABG Speaker Recalls Parliament
by Maria Laukai
The Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representives, Hon Andrew Miriki today issued a notice calling the House to meet on 16th April 2013.
Miriki said, the reason for the one day meeting is for the house to consider and approve the recommened Determination of Salaries of elected Leaders of the Bougainville house of Representensitives made by the National Salaries and Remuneration Commission on March 25th March 2013.
Hon Andrew Miriki and Hon John Tabinaman attended the SRC meeting as ABG's representives to the National Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
The other Government business expected to be tabled in the house is a report on the decission by the Bougainville Executive council to rescope the 2012 high Impact Projects to meet ABG's piorities.
Speaker Miriki has called on the members of the house to attend the meeting of the house on 16th April 2013 . The meeting will start at 10 am .
11.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Leader contributes for chapel in CS facility
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
BEKUT Corrections Institute in the Peit constituency on Buka Island will soon have a small chapel for the prisoners and warders to use, thanks to the acting President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Patrick Nisira (pictured).
Mr Nisira has personally contributed money towards buying 32 sheets of roofing irons and eight pieces of ridge caps towards the chapel building.
Mr Nisira had bought these K3000 plus worth of building materials using his tithes contributions deducted from his salaries.
Mr Nisira had made it his priority contribution towards the construction of the Institute’s chapel because he believes that spiritual healing and divine intervention will play an important role in the integral developments of both the warders and prisoners.
Mr Nisira who is also the vice president and Minister for Police, Correctional Service and Law and Justice had decided to assist following his recent first official visit to Bekut last week. During the visit Mr Nisira felt sorry for both the warders and prisoners after learning that they were also using their ‘hauswin’ as a chapel.
Bekut Corrections Institute will be responsible for providing timber for the construction of the chapel.
11.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Speaker re-calls parliament
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
THE Bougainville House of Representatives has been re-called to have a special one day Parliament sitting next week.
The ABG Parliament was supposed to have its next Sitting in June this year, however Speaker Andrew Miriki (pictured) yesterday issued a notice for Parliament to meet next Tuesday to discuss the new salary conditions of the ABG members.
According to a press release from Mr Miriki, this one day meeting is for the ABG members to consider and approve the recommended Determination of Salaries for the Elected Leaders of the Bougainville House of Representatives that was made by the National Salaries and Remuneration Commission in Port Moresby March 25 this year.
The ABG was represented by Mr Miriki and the Minister for Education John Tabinaman when this recommended Determination of Salaries for Elected Leaders of the ABG was made.
Apart from this, the other government business expected to be tabled also during this meeting is a report of the decision made by the Bougainville Executive Council to re-scope Bougainville’s 2012 High Impact Projects to meet ABG’s priorities.
11.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Officials prefer schools’ re-location
By ROMULUS MASIU
EDUCATION officials in Bougainville have publicly opposed Apiatei landowners’ decision to divert the Pinei River opting for the relocation of the three suspended schools.
Last month, during the heavy downpour, Pinei River burst its bank and flooded the three institutions in the area resulting in the suspension of the institutions.
The institutions, St Paul’s Metonai Specialised Training Centre, Metonai Primary School and Metonai Elelmentary School remained suspended.
“Relocation of the three institutions is a must,” Catholic Education Secretary John Narebo told Post-Courier in Arawa adding that, this was the stand of the Catholic Agency which owns and looks after the running of the three institutions. Bougainville Catholic Education is the single biggest agency in the region looking after 254 primary schools, 253 elementary schools and four high-secondary schools, three vocational and 2 technical colleges.
Mr Narebo has been supported by his Arawa-base colleague Ephraim Samuel.
“You cannot control the nature. The schools are currently located at the delta of the Pinei River and will be and are an ongoing problem. It will continue to flood when it rains. If diverted the river will still flow back to its original location,” Mr Samuel said.
The classes have been suspended for nearly two months now which has frustrated the two Catholic Education bosses.
In a combine village meeting a fortnight ago, the Apiatei people through their, Chief Ambrose Omariko, opted for diversion of the river instead of the three institutions’ relocation.
Relocation, as they agreed in that meeting, is a very expensive exercise in that Apiatei children doing elementary and primary will have to walk long distance to attend schools.
St Paul’s Metonai STC principal, Roger Ditato wants the people to guarantee him of his staff and students safety before he can re-open the institution. However, Mr Narebo frankly outlined that “there is no quarantee for safety for the teachers and students because it is common sense that no one can control the nature. How can you control the nature? How can you tell the flood not to come into the school?
This is not a new problem. We have faced this flooding issue for quite some time now and it’s only best we relocate the schools.”
At the moment the schools were not safe at its present location, added Mr Narebo.
However on the other hand, Chief Omariko is not backing down emphasizing the need for the institutions to remain in his district.
“We don’t want to lose another institution to re-location because two very important institutions in Kieta District have already gone, with the Catholic-run Rigu High School (re-located to Mabiri) and Arawa Technical College (landowner issue) already gone,” Chief Omariko said.
Meanwhile as the ‘tug of war’ heats up, the institutions remain closed with students and teachers still at home.
When school will re-open depends on the Bougainville Catholic Education and landowners to compromise on the best solution to the issue.
11.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Workmen on the job
PICTURED are workmen building a bridge that will connect the two big villages of Rorovana — One and Two — in Kieta District of Central Bougainville. The building of the bridge cost around K500,000. Local contractor Roadcross Limited is spearheading the construction with help from local labourers. With completion of the bridge, Rorovana Two Village can now be reached by vehicles.
Picture: ROMULUS MASIU.
11.04.2013
Source: The National
Mock youth parliament session in Bougainville a ‘success’
A MOCK youth parliament session held in the Bougainville house of representatives last Friday was considered a major
success.
Comprising 38 young men and women from the three regions of Bougainville, the mock youth parliament was the beginning of an annual event to make youth development a priority sector for the Bougainville government.
At the opening ceremony at the Haehala Catholic hall, national youth commissioner Norit Luio told youth groups, representatives of donor agencies and members of the Bougainville government that it was good to see the autonomous region prioritising youth development.
“The national government is supporting youths to involve in rural development so I have to take urgent action to revitalise the organisation so that its objectives are achieved,” Luio said.
He added that the NYC had launched its five-year work plan and corporate plan which would be a guide to implementing most of its programmes.
Some of the major activities currently undertaken by NYC are the five-year youth development plans and youth training centres throughout the country.
The mock youth parliament was coordinated and implemented by the NYC and funded by the United Nations Fund for Population Agencies.
11.04.2013
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
Bougainville police powerless against armed gang of alleged killers
The inability of police in Papua New Guinea to keep the peace has been highlighted by yet another brutal sorcery killing.
A women accused of using sorcery was recently beheaded on the island of Bougainville.
The alleged murderers are detaining three other people, but local police say they don't have the manpower or firepower to take action.
The human rights group Amnesty International says that's not good enough and it's urging police to do their jobs.
PNG correspondent Liam Fox reports
Listen here !
Presenter: Liam Fox
Speaker: Acting Assistant Police Commissioner, Paul Kamuai, Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International's Pacific researcher, Helen Hakena from the North Bougainville Human Rights Committee
FOX: It's hard to imagine that police would respond to the kidnapping of four people and the subsequent murder of one of them by throwing their hands up in defeat, but that's exactly what's happening in the south of Bougainville. Paul Kamuai is the acting assistant police commissioner for the region.
KAMUAI: In this situation it's a very extraordinary situation that men and women were there and it was at night and then we found out that there were arms around and we couldn't use the arms, there would be a lot of killings from the police and then from the civilians as well.
FOX: Last Tuesday two women, Helen Rumbali and her sister Nikono and Nikono's two teenage daughters were kidnapped by an armed mob and taken to Lopele village in the Bana district. The women were accused of using sorcery of black magic to kill someone and they were tortured for several days. Then on Friday the mob murdered Helen Rumbali by cutting her head off.
After negotiations with community leaders the mob allowed Nikono and her daughters to go to a local health clinic, but they've setup a roadblock preventing them from leaving the area. Nikono Rumbali is believed to be in a critical condition after the mob tried unsuccessfully to decapitate her.
Assistant commissioner Kamuai says the police have no immediate plans to try and rescue the trio or arrest the murderers. He says they're outnumbered and outgunned.
KAMUAI: Police on Bougainville are not armed, even if we are armed there are more arms still out there. I have eight regular police, they do not have a proper police station, they live in the villages, so we can't very quickly get them into a group.
FOX: It's a common problem, across PNG police lack the resources and manpower to keep the peace. Plus on Bougainville they face an added problem, the island is awash with guns, a hangover of the bitter civil war fought there during the 1990s. The fighting ended with a peace agreement in 2001, but disarmament efforts have stalled, and there are plenty of factory and homemade weapons in the hands of ex-combatants and others.
Despite those difficulties, Amnesty International says the police response or lack thereof, is not good enough.
SCHUETZE: If all the police can do is stand by and watch while women are executed that's a very sad situation for the country indeed.
FOX: Kate Schuetze is Amnesty International's Pacific researcher, and she says the PNG government must provide police with the resources they need to do their jobs.
SCHUETZE: I understand that there are limitations with resources, but it's not an adequate excuse for government to say that they can't protect someone's life and meet their responsibilities that they've signed up to just because they don't have the capacity.
FOX: Sadly sorcery killings are not uncommon in PNG. In February a woman who was burnt alive on a street in Mount Hagen, the biggest town in PNG's Highlands, made headlines around the world. But Bougainvilleans say the murder of Helen Rumbali is the first sorcery killing on their island.
Helen Hakena from the North Bougainville Human Rights Committee believes the murderers have used sorcery as a cover for other motives.
HAKENA: It's pure fallacy of a family who is well known, they've got positions in government and this woman is a woman leader, and they've got good homes.
FOX: Ms Hakena says Bougainvillean women are horrified at what has happened, and they too want the police to take action.
HAKENA: If this one woman is not respected then all of us will face the same consequences through the hands of our sons here.
FOX: But it's not only the police that are standing by doing nothing. When the ABC contacted Stephen Kamma, the Minister for Bougainville Affairs, he declined to comment, saying he didn't want to get involved.
10.04.2013
Source: PNG Industry News
Mining regime needed for Bougainville PFS
by Blair Price
AMID progress on various fronts, Bougainville Copper Limited will not commit to a prefeasibility study for the $US5 billion-plus project of reopening the Panguna copper-gold mine until a stable regulatory regime is in place.
Partly in the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, which received this level of independence from the Papua New Guinean government after years of war following the closure of the Panguna mine in 1989, a return to operations still needs the outdated Bougainville Copper Act of PNG’s Parliament to be repealed or modified.
The ABG will also need to introduce mining laws, with its draft policy already winning considerable local support.
At the annual general meeting, BCL chairman Peter Taylor reiterated how a return to mining would require the company, landowners and the PNG and ABG governments to make a united effort.
“The next technical work, a prefeasibility study on reopening the mine, will be very expensive, so certainty is needed that a workable mining regime and conditions will be put in place before committing the funds,” Taylor said.
Yet BCL is stepping up its efforts with plans to open an office in the largest settlement of Arawa in Central Bougainville and to pour funding into radio broadcasting infrastructure.
“It is not a BCL radio network but rather a public facility, accessed by local broadcasters and the ABG,” Taylor said.
“Because it is on satellite, the messages can also be heard across Papua New Guinea, giving voice to the deliberations and discussions taking place on Bougainville.”
While Taylor said it would take 6-7 years and an estimated $5.2 billion to redevelop the mine once a community and government-acceptable mining regime was in place, there could be some oversights as BCL was yet to regain site access.
A computer graphic model of a conceptual open pit was presented along with map locations for a possible tailings storage dam or a separate Jaba River tailings dam.
Ultimately the tailings solution, along with power supply options which may include a combination of coal-fired and hydroelectricity, will be important components of the PFS if it is sanctioned.
The order of magnitude study announced in February, which Taylor warned had a 30% degree of possible inaccuracy with the project very dependent on “robust” long-term metal prices, increased targeted resources by 70% to 1.8 billion tonnes.
It also lifted contained metal estimates by 50% to 19 million ounces of gold and more than 5 million tonnes of copper compared to the previous 2009 estimate.
The base case assumption was based on mining 2.2Bt at a rate of 100 million tonnes per annum and processing 60Mtpa of ore grade material for 180,000 tonnes of copper and 580,000oz gold annually.
This rate would produce a total of 4.2Mt of copper and 13.9Moz of gold over a projected mine life of 24 years.
Panguna was the world’s fourth-biggest copper mine in the months before it closed in 1989 and had produced 9.3Moz of gold and 3Mt of copper from 1972.
10.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Meeting in progress in Panguna
By Aloysius Laukai in Panguna
10.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Team visit Tailings
by Aloysius Laukai in Panguna
The Autonomy Review team yesterday completed its visits in South Bougainville at the BANA High School.
The last visit was attended by both the students and teachers including the chiefs and women's groups.
The team had to overnight in Bana and this morning visited the MORATONA Health centre before travelling to Panguna.
A big meeting was held at Panguna with Mekamui leaders and the Panguna administration with the public of Panguna.
The team will meet with the people in Arawa tomorrow.
10.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
BUKA HOSPITAL TO SUSPEND
By Aloysius Laukai
The only hospital in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, The Buka General Hospital has threatened to close its doors to the general public if its boat stolen by thieves from Sohano island is not returned.
The boat is the only transport for staff to move between Sohano and Buka island and this has totally cut off this movement for staff.
Most of the Doctors and Nurses live on Sohano island and this has completely cut off the movement of rostered staff to and from work.
This is the fifth time the hospital has been attacked by thieves crippling the services of the hospital.
The CEO For the hospital, DR.CYRIL IMAKO said that because of this problem there will be nomore emergency operations.
Outpatients will close after ten pm.
No x rays after hours.
10.04.2013
Source: PNG Attitude
BCL DIRECTOR DAME CAROL KIDU PRESENTS AUTOBIOGRAPHY
10.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville police minister calls for more funds from PNG
The acting president of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Patrick Nisira, says he is trying to lobby both his government and the national government of Papua New Guinea for more funding to assist the Bougainville police force.
Mr Nisira is also the minister of police and says he is deeply concerned about recent sorcery-related killings in the region and believes it is getting worse.
He says it is difficult for the police to get a handle on the situation because the force lacks manpower, vehicles, arms and communication equipment.
Mr Nisira says he will try to convince both governments that law and order is an ’impact’ project.
“The best thing that I can do for them for my men is to lobby for more funding from the national government and the ABG. Unfortunately there are some politicians in Bougainville and the national government they don’t see policing as an impact project and I’m trying my best to convince both governments to understand that law and order is an impact project.”
Patrick Nisira says the perpetrators of last week’s brutal killing of a woman leader in south Bougainville, are still at large.
10.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville police minister questions motive behind sorcery killing
The acting president of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Patrick Nisira, is questioning the real motive behind a recent sorcery related killing.
Last week a women leader Helen Rumbali was brutally killed in south Bougainville and her village attacked.
The perpetrators had accused Mrs Rumbali of sorcery but some protestors involved in a march on Monday, were told the attackers were driven by jealousy of the Rumbali family.
Patrick Nisira, who is also the minister of police, has the same concerns.
“The family they’re all educated, the family’s well-off I think there must be another motive. The lady and the man who are actually accused of practicing sorcery are still alive that’s why we begin to question it. Why are the main people accused still alive and why was Mrs Rumbali killed.”
Patrick Nisira says when police arrived at the village where a number of houses had been torched, they were confronted by offenders who had more guns than they did.
He is lobbying both his government and the national government for better police resources.
10.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville Copper Limited ready to re-open Panguna
The mining company Bougainville Copper Limited has announced it is ready to re-open the Panguna mine in Papua New Guinea’s autonomous region of Bougainville.
A series of regional forums are being held across Bougainville to allow all stakeholders to discuss the re-opening of the mine.
According to the Post Courier newspaper, the company has estimated it will cost about 5 million US dollars to start-up the mine and it will take about six years to start production.
The chairman, Peter Taylor, says BCL conducted an Order of Magnitude Study last year and the key findings revealed the project is economically viable, based on key assumptions of mining up to 100 million tonnes of copper per year and processing up to 60 million tonnes of ore per year.
10.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Bougainville’s troubled school relocates
By ROMULUS MASIU
A remote school in Bougainville is to be relocated, thanks to the local community that beat all odds to built its entire infrastructure in just four weeks.
Five teachers’ houses including kitchens and toilets and three classrooms, all in bush materials, were built in less than four weeks to enable the relocation of the Sipii Primary School.
The school is being relocated after facing a lot of never-ending problems at its original location.
The Catholic Agency-run St Chris Sipii Primary School in the Bolave Constituency in Bana District is one of many isolated disadvantaged schools in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
ARB’s education division categorised disadvantage schools because of their remoteness and non-existence of road infrastructure leading to these schools, meaning the schools can be reached only by walking.
Bougainville Catholic Education Secretary John Narebo and colleague Ephraim Samuel, who went to officiate at the opening of the school’s new location, found out why Sipii was categorised as a ‘disadvantaged’ school by their office. They had to walk for three hours to reach the Sipii Primary School. They were accompanied by David Miringtoro from the Bougainville Sankamap Project.
The school enrols 90 students from grades three to seven with five hardworking and committed teaching staff. One of the teachers is from Vanimo, West Sepik, while another is from Rabaul with locals.
The students and staff were delighted to see the education bosses at the school.
At least, the students and staff now know some of their bosses (education) are leaving the comfort of their chairs and their air-conditioned offices in Buka and Arawa to walk all the way to their school to meet and spend some valuable time with them.
According to Mr Narebo who is a local, the school which was registered in 2005 has gone through a lot of problems at its original location.
“There were problems of sexual activities and killings therefore the parents decided to move the school to this new location,” he told the Post-Courier after returning from Sipii.
The relocation of the school was approved by the Catholic Education Office and endorsed by Council of Elders.
Mr Samuel said this showed that people wanted and were serious about having a school that would not be disturbed, as a result building the school in four weeks.
He appealed to the leaders in the community to move all the school properties from the old location to the new one.
Mr Narebo also urged the parents and community to look after the five teachers, adding that since it was one of the disadvantaged schools, people needed to take care of the teachers because many teachers did not want to come and teach in such remote areas.
Mr Narebo challenged parents and the community to get the school moving, citing students had the right to education and problems should not be an excuse for children to be denied their right to basic education.
He thanked community leader Tony Siona and his community for a job well done in the relocation of the Sipii Primary School in less than four weeks, and ensuring the school’s infrastructure are in place.
10.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Service providers assured of payment
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
THE PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) will soon be paying the outstanding claims of those who had rendered their services during the last PNG National Elections in Bougainville.
This assurance was made by the acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner Reitama Taravaru after returning from his recent official trip to Port Moresbya.
Mr Taravaru said his trip was to inform and pressurise the PNGEC to immediately release funds to pay the service providers their outstanding dues.
This was because these outstanding claims were affecting his office’s preparation towards the staging of the by-elections for the four vacant constituency seats in the Bougainville House of Representatives.
Mr Taravaru said the PNGEC had already made a submission to the Department of Treasury to release funding so that the outstanding payments could be settled as soon as possible.
He also used this trip to seek the PNG Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen’s help on the ABG Electoral Commission’s structure set-up.
10.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Women survive torture on sorcery
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
THREE women from Bana District in South Bougainville, suspected of practicing sorcery and taken captive along with the other woman who was beheaded last week, are now receiving medical attention at the Keriau Health Centre in Bana.
The women were released last Friday and admitted to the health centre following discussions held between a delegation from the Autonomous Bougainville Government, led by the ABG member for Bolave constituency Lawrence Wakai; South Bougainville former combatants; police and the angry Lopere villagers responsible for beheading the elderly woman.
Sadly, the delegation’s arrival at Lopere village was too late as the poor woman was beheaded on Thursday evening.
According to the Secretary of the South Bougainville Veterans Association Paul Sampai, the three women sustained deep wounds on their bodies resulting from the continuous bashing and torturing inflicted by the angry villagers starting from Tuesday night when they were taken captive until Friday when they were released to seek medical attention. Mr Sampai said apart from the continuous torturing, they were also not given any food or water during the duration of their captivity at Lopere.
Mr Sampai said the women miraculously survived their ordeal as they were continuously tortured while being held captive, resulting in heavy loss of blood.
He added that before taking them to the health centre, the women were properly bathed and given new clothes to wear as the ones they were wearing when they were rescued were soiled.
The former combatant representative also clarified yesterday’s front page report that only one woman was beheaded and not two as reported.
He said the other elderly woman had also sustained a deep cut at the back of her neck but miraculously survived the attack. Mr Sampai, when condemning this barbaric incident on behalf of all the former combatants in South Bougainville, said they would try to disarm the angry villagers before taking them to police to be charged.
10.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
BANA MEET
By Aloysius Laukai in Bana
The second meeting by the Bougainville Autonomy Review team was held at the BANA HIGH SCHOOL for the chiefs from Lato and Bolave Council of Elders (COEs) and including teachers and students.
The meeting was introduced by the Principal of BANA High School, JOHN IARAKO who said he was happy the team was able to talk to the people and the students who should know all these information on the Autonomy arrangements.
Pic taken at the Bana High School.
10.04.2013
Source: PNG ATTITUDE
New office to weed out the quick buck merchants
RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL
THERE ARE HOPES that a new investment office planned for Bougainville will weed out entrepreneurs trying to make a quick buck from the island's rich resources.
New Zealand company Tuia International has helped the Bougainville government set up an investment strategy and office which will attract responsible investment to the autonomous province.
The development of Bougainville’s resources has caused contention in the past, with conflict over the huge Panguna mine sparking a decade long civil war.
A director of Tuia International, Tim Gibson, said there has been little activity to date from good investors.
“Not many responsible investors are knocking on their doors,” he said. “There are a lot of people who are going up there to try and make a quick buck and take advantage of them.
“We are hoping though that the fact that they are going to have a regime which is clear and transparent with rules around it will encourage responsible investors who can see the potential.”
Mr Gibson says the operation is ready to go once legislation is passed, expected in June this year.
09.04.2013
Source: Islands Business
Bougainville Copper Limited set to re-open Panguna mine
BUKA, Bougainville --- Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) announced yesterday that it is ready to re-open the Panguna mine in Bougainville at its annual general meeting (AGM).
The company has estimated that it will cost about K11 million ($US5.2 million)to start-up the mine and it will take about six years to start production.
According to chairman, Peter Taylor, BCL conducted an Order of Magnitude Study (OMS) last year and the key findings revealed that the project is economically viable, based on key assumptions of mining up to 100 million tonnes of copper per year and processing up to 60 million tonnes of ore per year.
“The capital cost is high at $US5.2 million (K11 million) and it has been assumed that most mine site facilities will need to be replaced,” Taylor said in his opening statement.
He said the study considered a wider range of development and production options, including higher mining and processing rates, alternative power, infrastructure and tailings options.
“I emphasise the study has a degree of accuracy of positive or negative 30 per cent and is not a substitute for the feasibility study that will be needed to support redevelopment,” he said.
He said the mine has the potential to process 60 million tonnes of ore per annum, a similar rate that it achieved prior to the mine being suspended.
“The project is very dependent on copper and gold prices. Lower metal prices may still be economically viable but the cut off grade would have to rise and the size of the resources would reduce, as would mine life,” Taylor said.
He said the study revealed that the mine life would be approximately 24 years.
Taylor also said although the study was based on particular assumptions and infrastructure, there are many choices and final decisions that have to be made.
“The study assumes a workforce of approximately 2500 direct employees,” he said.
“These options will be given more detailed attention at the appropriate time and in consultation with government regulators and landowners,” he added.
He said the purpose of the study was to determine the technical and financial feasibility of redeveloping the Panguna operation.
The study does not address landowner, community, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and the PNG government’s issues and considerations,Taylor said.
He said the relationship between ABG and BCL was cordial and engaged.
“President Momis maintains his support for the reopening of the mine,” Taylor said.
A series of regional forums are being held across Bougainville to allow all stakeholders to discuss the re-opening of the Panguna mine.
Meanwhile, Dame Carol Kidu was voted to the board of directors of BCL.
09.04.2013
Source: Namorong Report
Dame Carol re-joins Bougainville Copper Board
Former politician Dame Carol Kidu was re-elected yesterday by the shareholders of Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) for another term in on the BCL Board. Dame Carol said she hoped to bring to the board her experiences in addressing social issues in order to make BCL more responsive to its corporate social responsibilities.
Bougainville Copper Limited was the company that disastrously mined Panguna in the late 1970s and 80s, leading to a major civil war on the island of Bougainville where about 20 000 Bougainvilleans lost their lives in a subsequent PNG Government blockade. Its major shareholder, Rio Tinto, is currently facing litigation in the United States regarding its role in the Bougainville Conflict.
BCL has been invited back into the Autonomous region of Bougainville following cessation of violence in the mid-1990s. It will be setting up an office at Arawa in Central Bougainville. BCL is also funding communications infrastructure on Bougainville.
09.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
FIRST BABA MEET
By Aloysius Laukai
The first meeting between the people of Bana and the Bougainville Autonomy Review team met at the newly established BABA COE near the former Colonial administration centre, BOKU this morning..
The team met with chiefs,Ex combatants, women,youths and the people of BABA which represents the people of Banoni and Baitsi in South West Bougainville. The meeting was also attended by the local ABG member for BABA,WILLIAM SILAMAI. The meeting went well as all the people fully participated with the discussions. The team tyen moved on to the BANA HIGH SCHOOL before it completes South Bougainville and move into Panguna in Central Bougainville.
Pictured is a women team leader( Rachel Mondo) talking at the meeting at Baba COE.
09.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
New call to remove guns from PNG’s Bougainville province
Human rights activists in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville have called for a renewed effort to remove guns from the community.
This comes after last week’s brutal killing of a woman leader, Helen Rumbali, in south Bougainville.
The perpetrators had accused Mrs Rumbali of sorcery but the chair of the North Bougainville Human Rights Commission, Helen Hakena, says a protest march on Monday was told the attackers were driven by jealousy of the Rumbali family.
Police have promised to catch the killers while Ms Hakena says the marchers want a total disarmament of the province.
“Because when we see guns - there are so many guns, like guns have come out into the open again after the incident last week on Friday, so we are calling on the Government to send police to investigate and at the same time to remove all the guns that are still in circulation here in Bougainville.”
Helen Hakena.
A gun free Bougainville is necessary before the province can conduct a referendum on possible independence, as allowed for under the Peace Agreement.
09.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
BCL set to re-open Panguna mine
By PAEOPE OVASURU
BOUGAINVILLE Copper Limited (BCL) announced yesterday that it is ready to re-open the Panguna mine in Bougainville at its annual general meeting (AGM).
The company has estimated that it will cost about K11 million to start-up the mine and it will take about six years to start production.
According to chairman, Peter Taylor, BCL conducted an Order of Magnitude Study (OMS) last year and the key findings revealed that the project is economically viable, based on key assumptions of mining up to 100 million tonnes of copper per year and processing up to 60 million tonnes of ore per year.
“The capital cost is high at $US5.2 million (K11 million) and it has been assumed that most mine site facilities will need to be replaced,” Mr Taylor said in his opening statement.
He said the study considered a wider range of development and production options, including higher mining and processing rates, alternative power, infrastructure and tailings options.
“I emphasise the study has a degree of accuracy of positive or negative 30 per cent and is not a substitute for the feasibility study that will be needed to support redevelopment,” he said.
He said the mine has the potential to process 60 million tonnes of ore per annum, a similar rate that it achieved prior to the mine being suspended.
“The project is very dependent on copper and gold prices. Lower metal prices may still be economically viable but the cut off grade would have to rise and the size of the resources would reduce, as would mine life,” Mr Taylor said.
He said the study revealed that the mine life would be approximately 24 years.
Mr Taylor also said although the study was based on particular assumptions and infrastructure, there are many choices and final decisions that have to be made.
“The study assumes a workforce of approximately 2500 direct employees,” he said.
“These options will be given more detailed attention at the appropriate time and in consultation with government regulators and landowners,” he added.
He said the purpose of the study was to determine the technical and financial feasibility of redeveloping the Panguna operation.
The study does not address landowner, community, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and the PNG government’s issues and considerations, Mr Taylor said.
He said the relationship between ABG and BCL was cordial and engaged.
“President Momis maintains his support for the reopening of the mine,” Mr Taylor said.
A series of regional forums are being held across Bougainville to allow all stakeholders to discuss the re-opening of the Panguna mine.
Meanwhile, Dame Carol Kidu was voted to the board of directors of BCL yesterday.
09.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Barbaric beheading condemned
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
BOUGAINVILLEANS have condemned the gruesome killing of an elderly woman in South Bougainville last week.
Latest reports have revealed that only one woman was killed, not two as reported earlier.
The deceased, identified as Helen Rumbali from Tandorima village in the Bana district, was beheaded over suspicion of practicing sorcery by some angry villagers from Lopere village, located also in the Bana district.
She was taken captive together with her three other women relatives to Lopere village last Tuesday night where they were subjected to continuous torture until the deceased met her fate on Thursday night.
Many women from North Bougainville staged a peaceful protest rally at the Bel Isi Park in Buka town yesterday in condemnation of the killing. The protest was organised by the North Bougainville Human Rights Committee.
One of the women speakers and human rights advocate, Francesca Semoso, when condemning the incident said the gruesome killing incident is a sign that Bougainville is now “becoming a modern dog’’.
She said this is a sign that people are now copying such animalistic practices which are common in other areas especially in the Highlands of PNG.
Another speaker, Anastasia Lapointe, likened the actions of the perpetrators to animals, not human beings. Central Bougainville women’s representative in the Bougainville House of Representatives, Joan Jerome, when condemning the incident, also said it was an act of animals.
Ms Jerome later called on Bougainvilleans to stop such killings, adding it will have a negative impact on Bougainville’s journey towards its political destiny.
The women are now calling on all men in Bougainville to start showing respect to women.
They also called on police and other law enforcement agencies in Bougainville to do their best in investigating this incident so that those responsible can face the law for the barbaric killing of an innocent woman.
09.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Arawa police intent on capturing perpetrators
By ROMULUS MASIU
ARAWA police under the leadership of Inspector Herman Birengka are confident that they will soon arrest the main suspect and his accomplices who killed the two women suspected of sorcery in Bana, South Bougainville, last week.
“The person who chopped off the heads of the two women and his accomplices will be arrested anytime from now,” Insp Birengka told the Post-Courier.
“We have his name and the names of his accomplices and they will face the full force of the law. We know their whereabouts and we will take them all in for questioning anytime.
“There is no place to hide, no place to run. The police will get them……the law will catch up with them and they will be charged for willful murder.
“I am appealing to the community leaders, Autonomous Bougainville Government leaders, as well as church, youth and women leaders to work together with the police to get the people involved behind bars,” Insp Birengka said.
Meanwhile, Insp. Birengka urged ABG to come up with a sorcery law to address the ongoing issue of sorcery-related killings in the region.
He said police can’t do much and people are dying because there is no law in place to address the sorcery issue.
“There is no strong law and penalties in place to deal with sorcery cases. The government must now speed up such law because at the moment there is no penalty for those who involved in such sorcery related deaths, which makes police work more difficult,” Insp Birengka said.
“When people accused of sorcery-related killings are taken to the courts, there is not enough evidence to prove their cases, which is a waste of time.”
The onus is on ABG to re-visit the work of former ABG president James Tanis to establish the Human Rights Commission, Insp Birengka said.
He also called on United Nations under UNDP to come to aid of the region and set up the commission and regional offices in Arawa, Buin and Buka.
“Many people are violating the rights of others while we authorities are looking from the outside without helping out, which is not right under the Constitution of Bougainville,” he said. “As stipulated under the Constitution of any country in the world, it is wrong to violate other people’s rights,” Insp Birengka said.
09.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Elementary training
By ROMULUS MASIU
MORE than 200 students all over Bougainville are attending a six- week elementary teacher’s training starting last week.
The course is being held at Tunuru Parish of Kieta District in Central Bougainville.
The annual elementary training is known as Teacher Direct Training (TDT) and sees three classes of First Years and one class of Second Years intake for this year.
It is being run by Barth Kangki who is the Provincial Elementary Teacher Training Coordinator along with his 15 trainers who come from all the districts of Bougainville.
The TDT is focused on training of elementary teachers who are mostly located in the very remote areas of Bougainville including Panguna and Nissan Atolls. The course is the same as in Port Moresby’s Papua New Guinea Education Institute (PNGEI) which is a one-year certificate program.
For TDT, elementary students will be trained for 18 weeks in three years which means six weeks training annually.
According to Noella Nari who is the District Elementary Trainer for Nissan Atolls, TDT is a community oriented program which applies the same courses in PNGEI but is different in a way that after each six weeks, the trainees can go back to their respective schools and start to teach.
“While teaching, they will continue their TDT with eight subjects of Self Instructional Unit (SIU). The set of SIU consists of the study of curriculum, cross- cutting issues and educational policies,” Mrs Nari said.
For this year, there was no funding forth coming for the staging of TDT which sees the 200 plus trainees paying K910 each which will go towards the running of the TDT program and SIU.
TDT is a hands on quality program comprising of theory and practical courses at the same time.
Recently, the National Government through NEC has come up with the policy that English will be a compulsory subject to teach in the vernacular elementary schools.
This means that these students will be going through the transitional period and will be the first to implement this new policy - to teach English.
09.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Jail visit ‘emotional’
By DAVID LORNIE
FAMILY members of Bougainvilleans incarcerated in East New Britain’s Kerevat Jail have praised the Red Cross for arranging a three-day compassionate visit.
Ten Bougainvilleans from around the region returned home from Kerevat on Friday morning after the emotional journey, happy to have seen their relatives for the first time in many years.
This is the second time this year the International Committee Red Cross (ICRC) has organised and paid for Bougainvilleans to travel to Keravat to see jailed family members.
Alphaeus Kevui of Tonsu and Anthony Semoso of Haku came to the Post-Courier Buka office to express their gratitude to the ICRC for their humanitarian efforts.
Alphaeus’s nephew has been in jail for many years and is not due out until 2018. Anthony’s cousin is seven years through a 10-year sentence.
The two have not seen their relatives in many years and it was an emotional reunion for all.
“We all shed tears together,” said Alphaeus. “Before, we didn’t know how they were doing but we have seen them and are reassured now. I was so excited but I felt sorry for them.”
Both men expressed the wish to have their relatives, along with the other Bougainvilleans at Kerevat, transferred to Buka’s Bekut Jail.
“I wish they were here.” said Alphaeus.
09.04.2013
Source: PNG Attitude
The Kumul Holdings mystery - where are safeguards?
by BLAIR PRICE | PNGIndustryNews.net
THERE are concerns about the “closed door” nature of recently unveiled Papua New Guinea government plans to consolidate its mining, petroleum and business assets into a state-owned “Kumul structure”, which includes its stakes in Ok Tedi and PNG LNG.
PNGIndustryNews.net’s exclusive story on the dismantling of Petromin first revealed the Kumul name last week and subsequent media coverage forced prime minister Peter O’Neill to shed more light.
According to the Post-Courier, O’Neill said all of the state’s mining interests, which includes the Ok Tedi Mining Limited, Ramu Nickel and Bougainville Copper stakes held by Mineral Resources Development Corporation, would be transferred to Kumul Mining Holding Limited.
As flagged by PNGIndustryNews.net last week, all the government’s petroleum assets will be transferred to Kumul Petroleum Holding Limited including the 16.6% PNG LNG project stake held by Independent Public Business Corporation.
However, IPBC will reportedly be wound up like Petromin with all of its non-mining and non-petroleum assets to be transferred to a new entity simply called Kumul Holding Limited.
IPBC is already a storehouse for state-owned enterprises with just some including PNG Power, PNG Ports, Post PNG, Telikom PNG, Air Niugini, PNG Waterboard, Eda Ranu, National Development Bank and Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited.
While all of the Kumul companies reportedly are “now being developed” and require various legislative changes, there are also plans for an overarching Kumul Trust which will feature previous PMs Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Sir Julius Chan and Paias Wingti as shareholders and current PM O’Neill as trustee.
O’Neill said the restructuring would remove inefficiencies but there is concern about what kind of fiscal management safeguards will be in place under the Kumul structure.
In the case of IPBC, Institute of National Affairs PNG executive director Paul Barker said it had established mechanisms to provide a degree of accountability even though some were undermined in the last decade.
“The new mechanisms at this stage certainly leave a lot of questions,” he said of the Kumul structure.
“They do involve very new and unchartered waters with respect to these constitutional amendments and trusts and the use of various current and past PMs as shareholders and the current PM having veto power in that role.”
He told PNGIndustryNews.net that the public should be demanding all the details and really “a lot more explanation about this shareholding proposal”.
“Maybe there is some logic in terms of a rationalisation but there are a lot details that need to be spelt out,” Barker said.
“And certainly it needs to be very much in the public eye because this seems to have been pushed through – very much behind closed doors – and I’m not sure that many of the cabinet members yet alone the wider public and state entities were aware of all this.
“It came out of the blue.”
09.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
PNG’s PM restructures petroleum and mining assets
Papua New Guinea is restructuring its petroleum and mining assets and other state-owned enterprises by September.
The Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says the restructure is necessary to remove inefficiencies and duplication in state-owned assets.
Under the changes, Petromin Holdings and the Independent Business Corporation will be wound up, and assets and interests transferred to three new Kumul entities to be set up.
All of PNG’s mining interests including in Bougainville Copper, OK Tedi Mining Limited and those in the Ramu Nickel project will be transferred from the Mineral Resources Development Council to Kumul Mining Holding Limited.
Mr O’Neill says he is confident this structure will have political and commercial integrity.
08.04.2013
Source: PNG Attitude
The Bougainville Copper AGM
by BEN JACKSON
WELL IT GOT MORE SERIOUS today as I attended the Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) annual general meeting, at which chairman Peter Taylor reiterated optimism about the reopening of the Panguna mine.
In his address to the meeting, Mr Taylor pointed particularly to BCL’s development of positive relationships in Bougainville.
“We are building momentum and so are our development partners,” he said. “[BCL maintains] a very good relationship with the political leaders and public servants of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
“There is an elected and firmly established structure representing landowners… and widespread support amongst the Bougainville community that mining is both necessary and desirable in the near future, and that BCL is the preferred operator”.
Peter Taylor also warned that there is still a long way to go before the resumption of large-scale mining on Bougainville and stated that further studies are required.
“It would be expected to take at least six years to redevelop the mine once we have gained site access,” he said. “The project is still very reliant on copper and gold prices."
The AGM saw the re-election of Dame Carol Kidu to the BCL board of directors.
A major announcement today, and one of great interest to people interested in communications, as I am, was that BCL will fund infrastructure improvements to expand radio broadcasting capabilities in Bougainville.
The project will be undertaken with the Autonomous Bougainville Government, who will co-fund it.
Peter Taylor said that the expanded service will carry multiple programs to parts of Bougainville which currently receive few or no radio broadcast services.
“We believe this initiative will greatly improve the flow of information and facilitate dialogue,” Mr Taylor said.
He pointed out that BCL will fund only the infrastructure and have no influence over the management of the service.
“It is not a BCL radio network, but rather a public facility accessed by local broadcasters and the ABG,” he said.
This is an important caveat, as BCL wants no say in the content of information.
Currently, radio broadcasts are barely accessible outside Buka, and reach only 10% of the province. The people of Bougainville are ill-served by broadcast communications.
And there’s another big value-add to this new infrastructure.
“Because it is on satellite, the messages can also be heard across Papua New Guinea,” Mr Taylor said. “It will give voice to the deliberations and discussions taking place on Bougainville.”
In addition to radio infrastructure improvements, BCL announced it will seek to open an Arawa office.
Ben Jackson’s visit to PNG is funded by Jackson PR Associates, of which he is a joint director. BCL is a client of Jackson PR
08.04.2012
Source: ESBC / BCL
Please read here...
BCL's Answers given to the ESBC's Questions put on the 2013 AGM
08.04.2013
Source: Bougainville Copper Limited
Please read here the just released
2013 Chairman's Report
08.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
SIWAI MEETING
By Aloysius Laukai in Siwai
The Bougainville Autonomy Review team in South Bougainville this morning met with the people of Siwai at the Ameu District Office.
The meeting attracted a big crowd because all stakeholders in Siwai were combined due to the tight schedule the review team is following at the moment.
The meeting was attended by youths, the ex combatants, Coes members, women, district administration staff,former ABG member for Kopi, Michael Komoiki and the current ABG member for RAMU, Thomas Pataaku.
This was the biggest crowd the review team as met since the review started last week.
The team would be meeting with the people of Bana tomorrow before travelling onto Panguna.
The people of Bana are requested to attend the two meetings in Bana tomorrow.
According to the schedule for tomorrow the team would have its first meeting at the BABA COE office in the morning and would meet at the Bana District office in the afternoon.
08.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Better deal for Bougainvilleans expected under new investment regime
A new investment strategy proposed for Bougainville is expected to ensure a better deal for local people.
New laws and an investment bureau are planned for the autonomous Papua New Guinea region, aimed at protecting Bougainville’s resources, culture and environment.
Tuia International’s Tim Gibson, who has helped set up the strategy, says the new regime requires investors to take account of local values, customs and the relationship between the people and the land.
He says potential investors will have to prove they have dealt with the real owners of the land.
“We have uncovered evidence where there have been cases that the land owners they’re dealing with are not the real landowners. They just happen to be people that may have been the first ones they met when they got off the plane. Under this new regime, those types of transactions will not get through the process.”
Tim Gibson says Bougainvilleans still suffer the trauma of the civil war, sparked by conflict over the huge Panguna mine, and they want to get things right this time on their terms.
08.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville human rights advocates say government must protect against sorcery violence
Human rights advocates in Papua New Guinea’s autonomous Bougainville province are calling on the government to provide more police officers to protect people from sorcery related killings.
The North Bougainville Human Rights Committee is condemning the recent killing of Helen Rumbali and the kidnap of her sister and two nieces in Bana District.
They had been accused of sorcery.
The chairperson of the Committee Helen Hakena says the Bougainville government must do more to protect people from such violence.
“We are calling for more policemen to go into those areas. But the police are saying they cannot because they have been shot at. So because the police are not armed they have withdrawn from that area. But for us women, we are saying that police have a responsibility as a government agency to protect its civilians.”
Helen Hakena says she believes a greater police presence in Bana District will be enough to prompt people to respect the law.
08.04.2013
Source: The Australian
PNG to restructure major assets
by: Eoin Blackwell, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent
PAPUA New Guinea will restructure all its petroleum and mining assets as well as other state-owned enterprises by September.
PNG's Petromin Holdings and the Independent Business Corporation will be wound up, and assets and interests transferred to three new "Kumul" entities to be set up.
All of PNG's mining interests - including in Bougainville Copper, OK Tedi Mining Limited and in the Ramu Nickel project - will be transferred from the Mineral Resources Development Council to Kumul Mining Holding Limited.
All petroleum assets, including PNG's 16.575 per cent interest in the massive Exxon Mobil-led PNG LNG project, will be transferred to Kumul Petroleum Holding Limited.
PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said the restructure is necessary to remove inefficiencies and duplication in state-owned assets.
"It will result in efficiency that will maximise benefits that will flow to the state," Mr O'Neill said.
"The state's position is not made any better with the duplication and overlapping of participation in the PNG LNG project, with Kroton holding 16.57 per cent in the project, while Petromin holds 0.2 per cent, both for the state."
Under the restructure a "Kumul Trust" will be created.
The prime minister will hold what's called a Kumul share, while former prime ministers will hold an ordinary share.
"By having former prime ministers as shareholders/trustees, we will be drawing from their wisdom and vast experience," Mr O'Neill said.
"I'm confident this structure will have political and commercial integrity."
Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker said the scheme would need to be answerable to parliament for it to work.
"Throwing it all into another untried model is cause for concern," he told AAP.
"As long as it's not a separate empire, so long as it's integrated into the government system and it's managed properly and has systems of accountability ... then it may be a positive action."
08.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Equitable sharing
PAPUA New Guinea is said to be a leader in the corporate world with respect to its laws, policies, agreements or regime on landowner participation in resource developments.
This applies to landowner interests in all aspects of resource development projects, especially shares or interests, business and training opportunities, social services and infrastructure, and disbursement of benefits in mining and petroleum projects.
This is as it should be. Our National Constitution calls for equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth to ensure maximum benefits go to the people of PNG who own the resources.Unfortunately, recent corporate history and pronouncements by our leaders indicate that all is not well.
Resource owners have been calling for changes to be made to the current regime, and it appears that the government has realised now that something must be done to correct failings in the current regime in order to restore equity and fairness to all parties, including foreign investors and developers, as well as the government and the seven million people of PNG.
We do not have to look far for any lessons in this regard. The Bougainville Crisis should and must be a continuous reminder to us all, especially our leaders, that we can’t afford a repeat of the same.
The benefits from the development of our natural resources are immense, but the stakes are higher now than what they were before, especially with respect to the damage that uncontrolled resource development projects can bring to the people, their livelihood, their environment, their lives and their future.
PM O’Neill underscored this important message when he took out full page advertisements in our daily newspapers last week on the government’s official position on BHP and OK Tedi Mine, especially with respect to PNG Sustainable Development Fund.
In retrospect, what happened at Ok Tei should not have happened, and the Morauta Government must accept responsibility for it. This is how the PM put it, in part: “One of the conditions BHP insisted on was that the Parliament of PNG pass watertight laws that would totally, and forever, grant BHP immunity from criminal and civil court action arising from pollution and other damage caused by the mine’s activity.”
Today, we publish a story on page 3 about Minister Richard Maru revealing that the government is seriously considering increasing resource owners equity from the current two percent to five percent, describing the current two percent equity as “lousy”.
Minister Maru speaks about “the sad tale of Misima mine in Milne Bay that must never be repeated in the country…The mine has left a big hole in the ground and nothing for the Misima people…that is why the government is determined to ensure local landowners receive maximum benefits from any mining project”. The PM’s message is very clear: “The campaign by vested interests…to portray the government’s commitments (on Ok Tedi) as being dangerous, and worse, will not succeed. Nor will the desperate attempts to rewrite the history of BHP’s management of the mine and the tragic consequences of its management on tens of thousands of innocent Papua New Guineans.”
08.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Vehicle returned at reconciliation
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
A SMALL but significant reconciliation ceremony was held last Saturday in the Halia constituency in Buka between the acting president of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Patrick Nisiria and the former home guards from Hahalis village.
The ceremony which was held in Mr Nisira’s village in the Tohatsi area saw Mr Nisira finally meeting and reconciling with the Hahalis people who had forcefully taken his official vehicle in December last year.
The home guards were unhappy with the ABG for not releasing the remaining K400,000 they had claimed for rendering their services during the height of the Bougainville crisis.
The event was witnessed by the ABG ministers Newton Kauva (Peace and Reconciliation), Carolus Ketsimur (Works), Michael Oni (Mining), representatives from the ABG President’s Office and the Bougainville Administration and the chiefs and people from the Halia constituency.
Before the staging of the traditional ritual ceremony, Hahalis chief Anton Hatobu said the Hahalis people were sad with the action done by their youths.
Chief Hatobu added that their attendance and participation shows that unity had once again been fostered between Mr Nisira and the Hahalis people.
He then pleaded for Mr Nisira, who is the member for Halia constituency to continue to bring more developments into their constituency, especially the Hahalis area which is also located in the Halia constituency.
Hahalis home guards representative Salin Hagai also apologised for the delay in having this reconciliation, saying they had needed time to educate their members on certain important cultural aspects before agreeing that they were now ready to participate in the ceremony.
While delivering his speech, vice President Patrick Nisira said he accepted the apology from the Hahalis people.
He also thanked all those that were involved in having this ceremony taking place.
Mr Nisira also clarified rumours that he was responsible for delaying the payments for the home guards.
He out-rightly denied this saying he is not a signatory or financial delegate in any matters concerning the release of funding.
Mr Nisira said when the incident happened, many people asked to go and get the vehicle but he declined their requests.
08.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Buin Inn the place to be when in Buin.
By Aloysius Laukai
If you are planning to visit Buin in the near future,then Buin Inn is the place to be.
With fully secured accommodation, in the heart of Buin town, near to the Stores,the Police station and the Buin Health centre.
Buin Inn provides cash out facilities as well to its customers.
It has ten rooms that has 15 beds and the fees are lower than the other operators.
For contact, Please email them on buin.inn06@gmail.com or you can get them on Digicel +67572360342
Buin inn your home away from home.
Manageress of Buin Inn DENISE NUKUITU busy at work
08.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Decision on Bougainville seat expected today
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
BOUGAINVILLEANS will know by today whether there will be a by-election or not in the Regional seat currently held by Joe Lera.
National Court judge, Justice Ere Kariko will hand down his decision this morning at the Buka Court House regarding the election petition case filed by one of the candidates for the Bougainville Regional seat in last year’s National Election.
Petitioner Kapiatu Puaria had submitted that there were alleged bribery cases involved during the campaign periods which resulted in Mr Lera’s win. Mr Puaria stated in his petition that there was evidence that one of the candidates for the South Bougainville Open seat (named) had bribed voters with large sums of money to induce them to vote for him (South Bougainville Open) and Mr Lera.
The hearing which began last Wednesday saw lawyers representing both Mr Lera and the Electoral Commission arguing their clients’ innocence that there was no foul-play involved which led to Mr Lera’s declaration as Bougainville Regional MP.
08.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
BUIN MEET
By Aloysius Laukai
The Bougainville Autonomy Review team currently visiting south Bougainville yesterday held three consultations in Buin before winding their visit to Buin last night.
The team headed by DR.NAIHUWO AHAI first met the people of Oria and Paghui villages befor returning to Buin where it met with chiefs from the Baubake COE in the afternoon.The meeting with the chiefs was held at the Turiboiru parish outside Buin town.
Former ABG member, CHARLES LAIA and the former IRC Computer expert, MICHAEL LUAKENU dominated the meeting giving valuable information to the review team.
The team is expected to present their findings to the ABG and the NATIONAL GOVERNMENT by the end of May, 2013.
The team later in the evening talked to the students of the Buin Secondary School.
Principal, TONY MALAMO welcomed the team and said that the school really appreciated the visit as most of these students would be reaching the age of 18 required for voting by the time the vote for Referendum would be taken in 2015.
He said as future leaders these students need to know when and how the vote will be taken.
Pictured are Buin Secondary School girls showing off their school uniforms this morning.The school recently introduced the BHS school uniform.
They are from left, SUSAN DISIN, CELESTINE IAU, HILDAGARD KITARE and GISSEL KAKATA. Our attempts to get a pic of the whole school did not eventuate as the photographer had to move to Siwai,
08.04.2013
Source: New Straits Times
Two women suspected of sorcery beheaded in Papua New Guinea
SYDNEY : Two elderly women were beheaded in Papua New Guinea after being tortured for three days, a report said Monday, the latest in a string of sorcery-related crimes.
The Post-Courier newspaper said police were present during the killings last week but were outnumbered by an angry mob and could do nothing to prevent the grisly deaths.
“We were helpless. We could not do anything,” Bougainville police inspector Herman Birengka told the paper, saying his officers were threatened when they tried to negotiate the women’s release.
According to Birengka, who described the murders as “barbaric and senseless,” the women were taken captive last Tuesday by relatives of a former school teacher who died recently.
“The two women were rounded up and taken to Lopele village after they were suspected of practising sorcery and blamed for the death of the former teacher, who was from Lopele village,” he said.
They were tortured for three days, suffering knife and axe wounds, before being beheaded in front of the police who had been sent to the village to mediate, the report said.
The killings come just days after another report that six women accused of sorcery were tortured with hot irons in an Easter “sacrifice” in the Southern Highlands.
Last month, a woman accused of sorcery was stripped naked and burned to death by a mob, with Amnesty International stepping up calls for an end to sorcery-related violence in Papua New Guinea.
Amnesty has urged the government to stamp out the practice in the Pacific nation where there is a widespread belief in sorcery and where many people do not accept natural causes as an explanation for misfortune and death.
There have been several other cases of witchcraft and cannibalism in PNG in recent years, with a man reportedly found eating his screaming, newborn son during a sorcery initiation ceremony in 2011.
08.04.2013
Source: Mittelbayerische Zeitung
Frauen wegen „Hexerei“ ermordet
In Papua-Neuguinea werden erneut zwei Frauen wegen „Hexerei“ getötet. Menschenrechtsorganisationen schlagen Alarm, die Polizei ist machtlos.
PORT MORESBY. In Papua-Neuguinea ist es zu einem neuen Fall von tödlicher Hexenjagd gekommen. In der Stadt Bougainville seien zwei ältere Frauen als angebliche Hexen gefoltert und anschließend enthauptet worden, berichtete am Montag die in der Hauptstadt Port Moresby erscheinende Tageszeitung „Post-Courier“. Die Tat habe sich unter den Augen der Polizei in der Stadt Bougainville ereignet. Die Polizei sei gegenüber der aufgebrachten, mit Schnellfeuergewehren, Äxten und Messern bewaffneten Menge machtlos gewesen. „Wir waren hilflos. Wir konnten nichts machen“, zitierte die Zeitung Polizeichefinspektor Herman Birengka. Vermittlungsversuche seien gescheitert. Man habe lediglich die Familien der beiden Frauen in Sicherheit bringen können.
Die Menge hatte die beiden Frauen laut Bericht am vergangenen Dienstag in ihre Gewalt gebracht und nach drei Tagen grausamer Folter am Freitag enthauptet. Die beiden Morde haben sich nur kurz nach der Folter von sechs Frauen ereignet, denen ebenfalls Hexerei vorgeworfen wurde. Die Frauen waren an Ostern im südlichen Hochland mit heißen Eisen gequält worden. Mitte Februar war in Mount Hagen eine Frau bei lebendigem Leib verbrannt worden. Sie soll einen Jungen „verhext“ und getötet haben.
Die Kirche sowie Menschenrechtsorganisationen fordern einen entschiedenen Kampf gegen den weit verbreiteten Hexenglauben auf Papua-Neuguinea. „Die Katholische Kirche im Hochland von Papua Neuguinea muss härter an der Bekämpfung des Glaubens an Hexerei arbeiten“, betonte im Februar Douglas Young, Erzbischof von Mount Hagen. In dem armen pazifischen Inselstaat ist der Glaube an schwarze Magie weit verbreitet. Seit 1971 ist Hexerei sogar ein Straftatbestand. Über 90 Prozent der Einwohner der ehemaligen deutschen Kolonie sind Christen. Knapp ein Drittel gehört der Katholischen Kirche an. (kna)
08.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Women beheaded
By WINTERFORD TOREAS and ROMULUS MASIU
SORCERY-related killing has again shown its ugly face, this time in Bougainville where two elderly women were be-headed on suspicion of practicing sorcery.
The incident occurred at Lopele Village, in the Bana District of South Bougainville on Thursday around 6pm.
Police confirmed the incident on Friday, describing the killing as ‘barbaric and senseless.’
The killing has shocked the people in the district and the region as a whole.
Police who were present at the scene watched helplessly and could not do anything as they were out-numbered by the angry Lopele villagers who were armed with five high-powered firearms, knives and axes.
According to Central Bougainville police chief, Inspector Herman Birengka, his men were threatened when they went to the area to negotiate the release of the two elderly women who were from Tandorima Village.
“We were helpless. We could not do anything,” Insp Birengka said. He also confirmed that the mob burnt down two houses, including a permanent house at the women’s village at Tandorima. They also looted property.
Most of the relatives of the two women victims have since fled the area and police evacuated the rest to safe locations since Tuesday last week.
The last family was evacuated by Insp Birengka’s team on Friday.
According to Insp Birengka, the two women were bashed up and taken captive last Tuesday night by relatives of a former school teacher who passed away a few weeks ago.
“The two women were rounded up and taken to Lopele village after they were suspected of practicing sorcery and blamed for the death of the former teacher, who was from Lopele village,” he told the Post-Courier.
After torturing them for three days and nights, they were finally beheaded.
According to a police report, the women were badly assaulted and received deep knife and axe wounds to their bodies.
Insp Birengka said police had tried their very best to intervene and mediate, but things did not work out the way police wanted as the Lopele villagers ruled out any intervention by police or mediation by church representatives and village leaders within the area.
“We even organised a customary mediation team from Arawa to go and talk with the Lopele villagers but this too was turned down. We managed to collect some knives and axes from the villagers but were threatened and we had to retreat from the area,” Insp Birengka said.
He said police had to take a cautious stand since day one and did not want to resort to force as the whole situation could have turned nasty with more lives at stake.
They tried all they could by opting for a peaceful resolution through mediation, but this did not work out.
As a result, the two women were beheaded on the spot and in the presence of the police.
Insp Birengka told Post-Courier after returning from Lopele that the villagers had shown utter disregard for law and justice and beheaded the two in the presence of the police.
A very disappointed Insp Birengka blasted his senior officers in Buka.
08.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville’s new investment office to weed out the unscrupulous
There are hopes a new investment office planned for Bougainville will weed out entrepreneurs trying to make a quick buck out of the region’s rich resources.
A New Zealand company, Tuia International, has helped the Bougainville government set up an investment strategy and office which would attract responsible investment to the region, an autonomous part of Papua New Guinea.
The development of Bougainville’s resources have caused contention in the past, with conflict over the huge Panguna mine sparking a decade long civil war.
A director of Tuia International, Tim Gibson, says there has been little activity to date from good investors.
“Not many responsible investors are knocking on their doors. There are alot of people who are going up there to try and make a quick buck and take advantage of them. We are hoping though that the fact that they are going to have a regime which is clear and transparent with rules around it will encourage responsible investors who can see the potential.”
Tim Gibson says the operation is ready to go once legislation is passed, expected in June this year.
07.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
NORTH BOUGAINVILLE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
By Aloysius Laukai
The North Bougainville Human Rights Committee (NBHRC) strongly condemns the recentmurder of Helen Rumbali and ongoing kidnap and torture of her sister Nikono in Bana
District, South Bougainville both accused of sorcery.
A committee member of the NBHRC said: “This is a complete violation of these twowomen's human rights: their right to life, as well as their right to live a life free from violence and torture.”
If Helen's sister is still alive, NBHRC calls on Police, local peace officers and local civil society organisations to facilitate her immediate relocation to a safe house and provide
access to urgent medical treatment, legal assistance and counseling.
“Spreading false rumours of witchcraft, as well as the torture or killing of anyone accused of witchcraft, is against our Bougainville culture, against the teaching of the Bible and against the law. If you have suspicions of sorcery, report it. Don't take the law into your
own hands,” one NBHRC member said.
The NBHRC says that the Autonomous Bougainville Government ('ABG') must do better to protect its own people and ensure adherence to the law.
In resolving this situation, the NBHRC calls on the ABG to use its own Police Service in incidents like this, and not private security firms, especially those which employ ex-combatants. If ex-combatants are injured or killed while attempting to resolve community disputes this will only add fuel to the fire and lead to more needless death and violence.
Instead, the ABG must educate and train its Police, Village Magistrates, Peace Officers to intervene as soon as rumours begin and to prosecute those who spread them. Spreading false rumours is against the law in Papua New Guinea. Victims of false rumours should contact police and the Courts.
'When someone is sick or has died we need to find out why from a doctor – NOT from a witchdoctor!” said another NBHRC member.
The NBHRC calls on the ABG to act urgently to save the life of Nikono and allow the law to take its course.
Note from the editor…
The situation is now under control as per our earlier news
Team resting in Buin before the next meeting
07.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
ORIA MEET
BY Aloysius Laukai
The Autonomy Review team visiting the people of South and Central Bougainville this morning met with the people of Oria and Paghui,as the review team continues to move further into South Bougainville. The team led by the Review team leader,DR.NAIHUWO AHAI plans to meet the people of Siwai tomorrow Monday, then move to Panguna.The team is meeting the people of the BAUBAKE COE this afternoon.
06.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Situation in Bana stabilized
By Aloysius Laukai
Situation in the Bana District has been finally brought under control at least for some time.
Reports from the Deputy Administrator Operations, PAUL KEBORI 3 Surviving hostages have been released at Sinkodo Health Centre.
Mr Kebori said that one woman(named ) was murdered in this conflict.
He thanked the Police and the Veterans group for controling the situation.
06.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
REGIONAL MEMBER'S HELP COMING
By Aloysius Laukai
One hundred Bougainville students will now under go training in Hahela, Buka island under the Independent Fellowship Scheme which the Bougainville Regional member allocated 30 Thousand kina to sponsor.
The one hundred students selected will attain skills and training in Textiles starting this week.
New Dawn Fm saw the announcement on the newspaper and talked to the regional member, JOE LERA who said that he was putting education and skills training as a priority for Bougainville.
He said the International Training School will also start in June this year.
The Regional member said that work on the IT Centre at Kubu was also progressing well.
Review team at the Buin market before today's meet with COE members.
06.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
BUIN INTERNATIONAL MARKET in full swing
By Aloysius Laukai in Buin
The Autonomy Review in Buin today met the COEs and the South Bougainville Ex-Combantants in Buin.
05.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
REVIEW TEAM SUCCESS
By Aloysius Laukai in Buin
The Bougainville Autonomy Review team two (2) that is meeting people in South Bougainville and Central Bougainville started its round of meetings in Buin Town this morning.
The team led by its team leader DR. NAIHUWO AHAI left Buka yesterday afternoon after the full team met the Bougainville Business Association and the Civil societies including the NGOs in the morning at the Administration conference room in Buka town and later talking to the Youths participating in the UN led Youth Parliament at Hahela in the afternoon.
The team then split to allow team one(1) to stay on in Buka to cover North Bougainville and up to Wakunai in Central Bougainville.
Team two (2) laterhad to overnight in Arawa before driving to Buin this morning.
This morning the team met with Public servants in Buin at the Buin United Church.
They then later met the Buin Business Community.
According to the two meetings in Buin and the level of interactions by the people the team is getting a lot of information from these meetings.
The team will meet with the Council of Elders tomorrow and also meet with the Ex combatants and the Women of Buin.
The team will meet with the people of Oria in the Wisai area and Turiboiru Catholic Mission for the people of Buin.
The team will then travel to Siwai.
05.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
ABG negotiates open dialogue
By SEBASTIAN HAKALITS
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government is assisting the Correctional Service Department and other stakeholders to re-open dialogue with the landowners association (LA) from the area where the Bekut CS Institute in Buka is located.
These negotiations are aimed at addressing and dealing with disputes or issues that are delaying the progress of the Institute’s development.
Last week saw the vice president Patrick Nisira, ABG Special Projects Officer Ephraim Eminoni and representatives from Bougainville police, Magisterial Services and the Law and Justice Sector Program (LJSP) having an open dialogue meeting with the Gengan Landowner group, which consisted of representatives from the Naboen and Nakaripa clans.
LJSP has been injecting a lot of funding towards staff recruitment, training and facility development at the Bekut CS facility. Stage one of this project has already been completed while progress into the second stage has been stalled due to landowner-related issues. Stage two should have seen a low security facility for 30 low risk detainees, staff house, high security detention centre for 50 remandees and 50 convicted detainees, a prison-remandee cell, CS staff dormitory, mess facility, water supply and sanitation as well as additional staff houses being constructed.
Landowner spokesman, Henry Bosin said they had initially given their land to the state in return for much needed and essential basic services to reach the people in their community.
He said the delay in construction progress on this 15 hectares land was done by some “individual alien or foreigners”.
“We would like to assure the state that we have not failed from our end or stand, we still maintain our loyalty to the state in accordance with the set of instruments contained in the deeds of agreement,” Mr Bosin said.
The landowners also expressed their disappointment and frustration over the manner in which the State had failed to honour, deliver, or implement its basic services under the spin off benefits as agreed upon between the State and the landowners.
Some of the grievances that the landowners want the ABG to clarify include the review of the five-year term which has lapsed, the prolonging of spin off benefits and other infrastructure development, delay of rental payments at the beginning of every fiscal year, sponsorship of interested persons from each 14 sub clans for further management studies and to re-negotiate the official commitment made by one of the former Bougainville chief administrator at the Pomain assurance ceremony to, deliver two sawmill kits and two tractors as a token of appreciation to the landowners.
Minister Nisira who is also the Minister for Police, Correctional Service and Law and Justice said a lot of problems faced today is a manifestation of the inability of the LA to manage and deal with issues within its powers due to its non-existence. He called on the executives that were established during the project’s initial stages to reorganize themselves and face the challenges for the benefit of the people of Bekut and Bougainville as a whole.
He said these disputes can be resolved amicably if the association’s executives, chiefs and community leaders take ownership of the project.
Mr Nisira warned that the LJSP funding will cease in March next year and if the LOs continue to dispute the developments from taking place than the Facility will be moved to another location while the current Bekut infrastructure will be turned into a rural lockup.
04.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
“Go back to China”, say locals in AROB
By ROMULUS MASIU
YESTERDAY, two Port Moresby-based Chinese nationals were told to pack up and go back to where they came from by some business representatives and
ex-combatants in Arawa, Central Bougainville.
There was strong opposition from some business representatives and ex-combatants in Arawa of a proposed wholesale business venture between a Chinese national and their Bougainvillean partners based in Arawa.
Those present at the scene witnessed an angry individual who confronted one of the Chinese nationals with their partners and verbally told him to leave, if not his safety is not guaranteed or the proposed warehouse building will be burnt.
The reason behind local business people and former combatants’ strong opposition to the Chinese presence is that, they don’t want people to come and do business which they are already doing, especially retail, wholesale and kai bars (restaurants).
Instead they (Asians) should come big and invest in ‘big businesses’ like factories, canneries
and such.
Some members of ex-combatant groups said that Asians come with such promises of building big things like factories but when they settle, they operate just what the locals are doing at the moment, as evident in Buka and Buin, where they are retailing, which they said is ‘killing’ the small and
struggling local operators in the region.
However, pro-Chinese critics who wished to remain anonymous told Post-Courier that Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has opened up the region for genuine investors, including the Chinese.
They added that people must learn to respect the ABG policy to invite investors to come and invest in the region through working in partnership with local
businesses.
“It is the ABG policy to venture into partnerships with credible investors. So the policy needs to be enforced and controlled by the authorities,” they elaborated.
“We must change our attitude and open up to invite people to work in partnership.
“We must not see business as competition, but see it as partnership, especially when we will decide our own separate political future in a few years time. “We must set the proper standards now in bringing development through business.”
04.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Bougainville police confiscate marijuana plants
By SAMUAL KUIHEREP
AN operation conducted in the early hours of yesterday (Wednesday) morning near Sisiapai Village, Kunua District, North Bougainville, uncovered around 500 marijuana plants.
The operation was instigated after local chiefs reported to police that village youths had been growing the illegal plants.
The combined operation was conducted by Community Special Constables under the command of F/C Donald Boire. The team left Sisiapai Village and walked for an hour to reach the marijuana plantation.
The plantation’s owner – who was taken to the Buka Police Cell – accompanied the police on their mission.
The 500 plants were uprooted and taken to Buka Police Station by dinghy.
The suspect was cautioned and charged with illegally cultivating a dangerous drug.
His case will be heard by Buka District Court at a later date.
04.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Four senior cops in AROB retire
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
FOUR senior members of the Bougainville Police Service (BPS) were farewelled in Buka last week after deciding to retire from active policing duties.
The policemen, all clocking a total of 116 years of service to police were farewelled by their friends, family members and other BPS personnel during a farewell ceremony held at the police training centre at Hutjena.
The retiring policemen including the former Mobile Squad contingent commander and Central Bougainville police commander, Chief Inspector Huitona Tohua, Snr Sgt Jeffery Magum, Sgt Gabriel Ovakora and First Constable Michael Kukubak were saluted for their immense contributions, dedication, and loyalty by the ABG Vice President Patrick Nisira, head of Bougainville police ACP Thomas Eluh and his deputy Supt Paul Kamuai.
Mr Eluh, who is currently on leave had decided to attend the ceremony to thank the officers for their tireless contributions to police.
“On behalf of my family and other BPS members, we thank you for your contribution and wish you well in future,” Mr Eluh said.
Mr Eluh said though he was sad to farewell these senior officers he also respected their decision to retire.
He then challenged them to continue to provide their support, advice and services back in their respective communities.
Mr Nisira and Supt Kamuai also shared the same sentiments as Mr Eluh.
Former chief inspector Tohua, who clocked 38 years, said he believed it was the right time for him to leave.
He said most of his friends had already passed away while still on active duties and he did not want to be like them, adding that he did not want police to shoulder the burdens if he died whilst still in uniform.
He then challenged the BPS personnel to be disciplined and dedicated to their duties.
Mr Tohua later pointed out that the continuous misuse of police vehicles was one of the problems that he wanted the police to address.
Snr Sgt Magum also challenged the policemen and women to strive hard to bring the level of police performance back to acceptable standard.
He said at the moment the police standard had dropped dramatically due to their ill-disciplinary performances.
03.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
POLICE MONITORING SITUATION
By Aloysius Laukai
Bougainville Police based in the Bana District have are monitoring a very tense situation in the Sovele area of Bana district.
The situation is very tense and conflicting reports coming from the area says that some people have been killed following confrontation between two parties over a sorcery case.
Bougainville Administrator, LAWRENCE DISIN told the Autonomy Review meeting in Buka this afternoon that his deputy, PAUL KEBORI has been sent to the area to help contain the situation.
He said that he hopes that his deputy who is from the area will talk to the disputing parties to allow the rule of law to take its cause.
New Dawn FM earlier received reports that a Police officer was also attacked by a member of the disputing parties.
The Acting ACP for Bougainville ACP Superintendent PAUL KAMUAI told New Dawn FM this evening that they could not get the latest reports from his officers on the ground on the latest situation however he said Police were still in the area.
03.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
REVIEW TEAM START
By Aloysius Laukai
Consultations between the ABG Autonomy Review team and the people of Bougainville started on Bougainville yesterday when the team briefly met the ABG President DR. JOHN MOMIS and his vice President to kick start the review process.
And today the team met with the ABG Parliament Speaker, ANDREW MIRIKI and later met with the Chief Administrator, LAWRENCE DISIN and Chief Executive Officers of the various divisions of the Bougainville Administration.
In his opening remarks at the Bougainville Administration Conference Room, Chief Administrator, LAWRENCE DISIN welcomed the advance team who are already on Bougainville to carry out the Review Process.
MR. DISIN (pictured) said that the Review was a major concern by many factions throughout Bougainville after the time for its review was delayed by two years.
He said that now the team has already started work, he would like the people of Bougainville to assist the team by providing information that the independent review team would request from the people.
The Chairman of the Review team, DR. NAIHUWO AHAI said that the team would concentrate on four major areas during the review process.
These areas are on Legal and Constitution, Administration and Governance, Financial arrangements and Social and Economic aspects.
The team would then split in two teams and move into the districts.
Team one will remain in North Bougainville and this would cover from Buka island, Kunua, Tinputz and Wakunai districts.
Team two will travel to Buin and would start in Buin, move to Siwai then Bana and on to Panguna and the Arawa districts.
The team will meet the Bougainville Business Communities tomorrow morning.
03.04.2013
Source: ESBC
2013 Annual General Meeting of Bougainville Copper Limited
Questions of the European Shareholders (ESBC) to the Board of Directors - click here!
03.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Mining sector earns largest export revenue
THE mining sector remains as the single largest revenue earner for Papua New Guinea, Minister Byron Chan told an international symposium in Fiji last week.
Minister Chan said this at a three-day symposium on managing extractive industries in Pacific island states to improve human development, held in Nadi on March 18-20.
The minister was guest speaker at the UNDP “Managing Extractive Industries in Pacific Islands States to Improve Human Development”. He was accompanied by president John Momis of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Mr Chan told the meeting of the PNG mining history, potential new projects that are coming up soon, and gave an update on the policy and legislative developments that are being undertaken by the mining department and ministry in PNG.
He said mining alone contributed over 50 percent of PNG’s country’s export revenue for the last 15 years and had been the largest contributor to the economy since Panguna mine in 1967.
He said the resource industry in PNG has experienced an unprecedented period of activity and growth.
Minister Chan said PNG could now boast that it was the envy of many other mineral producing nations, and had gained the confidence and respect of the international market.
“The basis for the huge investor confidence in PNG includes a good mineral policy, an attractive fiscal regime and vigorous marketing of PNG’s potential by the ministry of mining,” he said.
Mr Chan said the Quarterly Economic Bulletin of the Bank of PNG up to 2011 shows some amazing facts.
“In 2011 the export earnings by the sector saw the agriculture sector contributing 23 percent of the country’s total receipts, forestry with 4 percent, fisheries and marine products 1 percent, crude oil 15 percent, copper 19 percent and gold 37 percent,” he said.
The mining sector alone contributed 57 percent, which was equivalent to K9 billion, in 2011.
Minister Chan said the current investment environment had attracted and renewed the interest of major players in the mining industry, such as Barrick, New Mont, New Crest, Vale, BHP Billiton Rio Tinto and other investors.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Chan reiterated that the PNG constitution called for wise use of natural resources and equal distribution of wealth to all.
He told the conference participants that he would be implementing the O’Neill-Dion government initiatives and his ministry would also undertake policy initiatives until 2015.
These initiatives include downstream processing, geothermal, mine waste management, mine closure, sustainable development, study into state equity options, state fiscal provision, royalty options and compensation rate review and dispute resolution.
03.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Bougainvilleans get vandalism warning
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
ACTING Bougainville police boss, Supt Paul Kamuai is warning all Bougainvilleans not to disrupt or vandalise any public infrastructures as they will be punished by law.
Mr Kamuai said there was now a law in place to prosecute those responsible in stopping, disturbing or vandalising any of these public infrastructures.
He said those responsible were liable to be penalised and prosecuted under the Transport and Infrastructure Act.
The pubic infrastructures that are protected under this recently-adopted Act include roads, airports, wharf and educational institutions like schools.
“I want our people to be clear that the mentality to set up roadblocks or destroying bridges or other public infrastructures should stop now. These infrastructures are there for all of us to use. Those responsible will be punished under the Transport and Infrastructure Act,” Mr Kamuai said.
He added that any landowner who tried to disrupt or vandalise any of these public infrastructures would also be charged under this Act.
Mr Kamuai issued the warning while commenting on the roadblock that was set up about two weeks ago in the Siwai district of South Bougainville.
The roadblock was set up by some disgruntled villagers over the non-payment of their claims for maintenance work carried out on that section of the road where the roadblock was conducted.
The roadblock was later removed on Sunday after the villagers were assured that their claim would be settled, resulting in vehicles moving freely again between Siwai and Bana districts.
03.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Trouble-free Easter celebrations
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
BOUGAINVILLEANS have been commended for observing a peaceful and trouble-free Easter celebrations.
Acting chief of the Bougainville Police Service Paul Kamuai, when giving the commendations yesterday said this trouble-free celebration would not have happened without the co-operation and support from all Bougainvilleans.
Supt Kamuai said reports from the three police commanders of North, Central and South Bougainville state that there were no major incidents that took place during the Easter period.
Supt Kamuai when commending the people said the positive results showed that they were busy participating in church services and activities.
Words of commendations were also given to police personnel throughout Bougainville for carrying out their policing duties which resulted in no major incidents arising.
Mr Kamuai also acknowledged the efforts made by the Bougainville leaders both in the government and villages for their continuous awareness on law and order and other issues pertaining to positive changes and developments for Bougainville.
He said their contribution had paved way for the people to turn away from doing negative things and focus on a positive outlook.
The former combatants were also commended for assisting police in carrying out their duties.
Mr Kamuai said the only issue that came about a week before the Easter period was the roadblock that was set up by some disgruntled villagers in the Siwai district of South Bougainville.
This roadblock which was set up in the Motuna/Huyono/Tokunutui constituency stemmed from the non-payment of claims for the maintenance work done by these villagers.
Mr Kamuai said the roadblock was removed on Sunday following assurance that the villagers’ claim would be addressed.
The acting Bougainville police chief is now calling on Bougainvilleans to continue to ensure that this trouble-free trend is maintained.
02.04.2013
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville’s autonomy arrangements review will seek the public views
A review of the autonomy arrangements in Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville is expected to garner views from across the province.
The review team includes representatives from the ABG, the national Government and academics.
One member, Wollongong University political scientist, Professor Ted Wolfers, says the need for a review is laid out within the Bougainville Peace Agreement, because such an arrangement hadn’t been made before.
Professor Wolfers says the process has two main requirements - to see how well the arrangements are working and to lay the groundwork for the referendum on possible independence, due some time after 2015.
He says some members of the review team will be on the ground to assess people’s concerns.
“Many of the questions are about how you are addressing the transfers functions and powers, is there enough funding and so on, but there may well be issues on the ground, in the law and order area, or the development area, which require more local engagement or at least more local input into the process.”
Professor Ted Wolfers
02.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
Bougainville notes peaceful celebrations
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
EASTER celebrations in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville was observed peacefully, without any major incidents happening.
Acting head of the Bougainville Police Service Supt Paul Kamuai, when giving a brief update to the Post-Courier yesterday, said no major incidents were reported by police personnel based in all the districts on Bougainville.
Mr Kamuai said the only problem reported in South Bougainville was a roadblock put up by some disgruntled villagers in Sininnai in the Motuna-Huyono-Tokunutui constituency in Siwai District.
This roadblock, which was set up about two weeks ago, is manned by some disgruntled villagers from Sininnai over the non-payment of their claim.
Their claim was for the maintenance work they had done on that section of the road where they had set up the roadblock.
However, discussions are currently underway between the disgruntled villagers and those responsible for making the payments so that the roadblock can be removed as soon as possible to allow for free movements of vehicles again between Bana and Siwai districts.
Buka also observed a peaceful celebration, thanks to police who were able to make their presence felt whilst carrying out their special Easter operations before the start of the Holy Week.
Meanwhile, this year’s peaceful Easter celebration is a sign that Bougainvilleans have now changed their mind-set by spending much of their time observing this Holy Week and taking part in church activities.
02.04.2013
Source: Post-Courier
MP gives promised funds
BOUGAINVILLE Regional Member Joe Lera, put an Easter smile on the faces of his constituents yesterday by distributing promised funds.
The Member himself was not present at the cheque presentations as he had a parliamentary sitting, so his staff members distributed the cheques on his behalf.
The money came from the Member’s non-discretionary funding, meaning submissions for the funds had to be approved by committee.
Cheques were received yesterday in Buka by Gotana Primary school, Hutjena Secondary School and Buka General Hospital’s Family Support Centre. The Centre, which received K10,000, is in its final stages of completion and is expected to open this month. Buka General Hospital CEO Dr Cyril Imako, said he was very happy to receive the funds from the Member. “The Centre is here to help females who are victims of abuse – sexual abuse and physical abuse,” he said. “They can come and access our service here.” He said the money would go towards necessary items such as “an overhead projector for the dissemination of information, roofing for the stairs and air conditioners.”
Gotana Primary received K15,000 for building work to complete, paving the school’s transition onto a high school status in 2014, while Hutjena Secondary was given K33,800 for maintenance on its mechanised bore-water pump system.
Hutjena Secondary is a boarding school of around 700 students and is reliant on the pump system for the hygiene and health of its pupils.
Deputy Principal (Academic) Wamsie Sae was grateful for the disbursement, saying the water system had broken down several times previously which affected the students’ learning.
This was because they had to be sent home for lack of water.
“I thank the Member for giving what he promised us. Some previous members didn’t do this,” the deputy principal said.
02.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
MOMIS EASTER MESSAGE
By Aloysius Laukai
Easter is a very important Feast day in the Christian Calendar because the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has started a new chapter in the history of human race.
This were the message from the ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS to the people of Bougainville aired by New Dawn FM yesterday.
He said that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday has conquered the power of sin, death and other symptoms of sin like greed, corruption, hatred, exploitation so on and so forth.
ABG President the new contract that JESUS has announced talks about change from old ways and be shining examples for others to see.
He said Bougainville under this new contract should create a new Bougainville where the people can live in harmony with others.
President MOMIS said nobody in Bougainville should not be greedy and benefit more than others but share resources with other Bougainvilleans.
02.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
BOUGAINVILLE PEACEFUL
By Aloysius Laukai
Bougainville has been peaceful during the Easter weekend.
Reports gathered by New Dawn FM today states that no major incident was reported during the weekend as most Liquor outlets were closed within Buka town.
AND the streets of Buka town has been empty since Friday with many people going home for the long weekend and many stick to normal church activities.
More report will be given by Police when work resumes tomorrow.
02.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
REJECT VIOLENCE SAYS MOMIS
By Aloysius Laukai
The ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS has appealed to the people of Bougainville to reject violence and work for the common good for the people of Bougainville.
President MOMIS made these remarks in his Easter message to the people of Bougainville yesterday.
He said that for Bougainville to prosper, its people must reject all forms of violence and try and avoid situations that can derail the peace process which has come a long way already.
In his Easter message, President MOMIS said that the death and resurrection of Jesus commemorated by Christians throughout the world should remind the people of Bougainville to forget their past actions and work towards creating a just society for Bougainville.
The ABG President said that Easter should remind the people of Bougainville to always think of others and help the poor and the vulnerable in our communities.
He called on the people of Bougainville to unite and work together as one people of Bougainville.
02.04.2013
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
DISASTER MAN WARNS
By Aloysius Laukai
The Bougainville Disaster and Emergency Coordinator, FRANKLYN LACEY has warned sea travelers that his office will not hesitate to prosecute boat owners who are not abiding by legal requirements to have emergency kits installed on their boats.
MR. LACEY made these remarks at the weekend when announcing his disappointment on a boat that was rescued at sea at the weekend.
He said that he was not happy that certain boat owners still continue to bypass his office when travelling out to sea.
MR. LACEY said that under the Small boats act, boat owners who are not licensed and do not have the necessary emergency gear on their boats can be prosecuted.
He said that his office has been lenient for so long and has to put its foot down to save cost on unnecessary rescue operations.
01.04.2013
Source: PNG Attitude
Momis: weapons disposal is everyone’s responsibility
by STEPHANIE ELIZAH | New Bougainville Bulletin
WEAPONS DISPOSAL IS A SERIOUS ISSUE in Bougainville and needs realistic policies and plans to address the issue, Bougainville president Dr John Momis has said.
Dr Momis said this year, his government is making weapons disposals a special focus of the work of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
“I will be seeking urgent advice from the chief administrator about how we can rapidly develop the capacity in the Administration to develop and implement policy on weapons disposal”, he said.
He said in previous years, the ABG had failed to meet Bougainville’s concerns on weapons disposal because of several factors.
“It has been very hard for most of our Administration to engage with the issues involved, and to help us develop realistic policies.
Dr Momis said part of the reason was that many of officials were traumatised by events during the crisis. Some government officers were killed, others injured. “It is hard for them to engage on weapons issues,” he said.
Another reason was that the Administration was largely excluded from the process under which the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and the Bougainville Resistance Force developed the first weapons disposal program that ran, under UN Supervision, from 2001 to 2005.
The president said regardless of these factors the ABG must take the lead in developing and implementing realistic policies and plans for weapons disposal.
“It is good that there has been a United Nations mission here, as well as an AusAID team with the Geneva based Small Arms Survey, both looking at our needs in relation to weapons disposal.
“We will welcome their findings and advice. But in the end, the ABG must take responsibility. That is our job. That is why we have autonomy,” he said.
