News 08.2010

31.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Handover ceremony for the newly appointed Chief Administrator is scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow (01.09.2010) at the Administration Conference room in Buka.

 

31.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

TRAINING LEADERSHIP FOR SOUTH BOUGAINVILLE WOMEN
By Veronica Hannette

A week-long programme on leadership Training of Trainers was held last week at the Chabai Rehabilitation centre.
The programme was conducted presenting different training tools that participants can utilize in their family and the community programmes.
The main focus was on training women from South Bougainville that is Siwai, Buin, and Bana districts.
The training helped them to identify what issues they are facing in their particular areas and how they can address them.
South Bougainville women were targeted because they come from communities that are still facing conflicts.
The women were urged to look back on their past, learn, and progress on developing their area.
The workshop is targeting women as women can break the barrier of conflict and bring peace.
Issues such as land disputes, drugs and early marriage were highlighted as problems that needs to be tackled head on.
This is the first training done in Buka, similar programme will be conducted in the Southern Region this week.

31.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Drugs Increase in Central Bougainville
By Veronica Hannette

Drug consumption is becoming a concern in Central Bougainville.
More than TEN case of unlawful wounding has been reported as a result of drug consumption.
Chief Commander for Central Bougainville Policing, Oscar Tugen said that police have so far collected 12 gas cylinders from Rau and Tera areas that were used for brewing homebrew.
Commander Tugen is concerned with the sales of Homebrew in so many shops in Arawa.
According to reports NINETY PERCENT of alcohol is supplied to Wakunai from Arawa therefore he is appealing to Business houses and Arawa police to look into the matter seriously.
At the moment there is no cell in Wakunai to put detainee and is also an expensive exercise to transport them to Buka cell.
Law and Order is a problem and Srgnt Tugen is calling on authorities to built a cell for Wakunai Police Station.

31.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SEMOSO ON BUSINESS
By Aloysius Laukai

The Regional member for Bougainville and Minister for Bougainville Affairs, FIDELIS SEMOSO today called on the ABG to quickly implement its policy on Economic Development for Bougainville.
He says that the ABG needs to police its Investment Policy to make sure investments on Bougainville is based on this policy.
The Regional member said that he was very concerned at the influx of foreigners and conducting business reserved for the local Bougainvilleans.
MR. SEMOSO said that Investors are welcomed into Bougainville if they are to invest on projects that cannot be done by Bougainvilleans.
Such as Mining, Fisheries, agricultural projects and not canteens and foodbars.
He said that the screening committee must do its work to control unnecessary people coming into Bougainville.
MR. SEMOSO said he supported President Momis’s Investment Policy not allowing any stand alone projects on Bougainville.
He said all Business activities must have Bougainvilleans interest.
The Minister said that all Papua New Guinean owned businesses must be prepared to give some shares to Bougainvillean companies when the time comes.
MR. SEMOSO said that he would be physically visiting Business Houses in Buka and Kokopau this week.

31.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

UNITED CHURCH STARTS BUSINESS
By Aloysius Laukai

The United Church on Bougainville today launched its Business arm to support its activities in the Autonomous Bougainville region.
The company called BOUGAINVILLE REGIONAL UNITED CHURCH ENTERPRISES LIMITED (BRUCEL).
United Church Bishop TIM AUTHER in launching the company said that BRUCEL will start with transport and move into other areas.
The Bishop also blessed a New Toyota Land Cruiser Ten seater to be based in Arawa to service Arawa to Buka and Arawa to Buin routes.
The bishop also thanked the Regional member for Bougainville for supporting the church to re-establish business activities to support its programs.
The Land Cruiser was bought with a ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA donation from the Regional member.
The vehicle was bought for ONE HUNDRED AND NINE THOUSAND KINA.

31.08.2010

Source: Business Standard

Delayed opening of Copper mines to hit global supplies

by Kunal Bose

The shift in HCL emphasis from being a producer of refined copper using smelters which have little to recommend for themselves in terms of technology, energy use and capacity to a miner of copper ore and producer of concentrate is what is going to underwrite the viability of the company in the long run. Not very long in the past, the company was adrift for a flawed business strategy.

The HCL moves coincide with the world already experiencing increasingly tighter supply of copper, thanks to many leading mines across the globe developed over two decades ago yielding ore with less and less metal content.

Explaining why the world production of ore now is consistently remaining below the target, Richard Wilson, chairman of metals consultancy Brooke Hunt, says, “Most mine projects will exploit the highest ore grades possible in their earlier years of production to facilitate rapid payback of capital. The trade-off then becomes sharply falling grades as mining progresses.”

Ageing mines and therefore, ore grades falling universally will be working to the advantage of HCL now on a mission to commission new mining capacity. This is because Indian ore’s copper content is less than in the case with the ore found in Latin America or Africa. In the last one decade the average copper content in ore globally is down over one percentage point forcing miners to remove more and more earth to produce the same amount of concentrate, the smelter feedstock.

So to the extent there is ongoing deterioration in world ore quality, HCL’s disadvantage of owning relatively inferior deposits gets diminished. The bottomline for HCL is it must dig earth a lot more efficiently than now and by doing so it will always earn more by selling concentrate than running old smelters.

Any amount of investment by HCL in mines rehabilitation and development of new mines will be justified in view of the growing consensus that of all metals, the outlook for copper remains the brightest. This is inspite of the fact the major Western economies remain on choppy waters and China, accounting for over 23 per cent of the world copper production may allow further cooling of the real estate sector, a major point of copper use.

Starting June, three-month copper gained $1,400 to $7,400 a tonne and then lost some ground. But operators must react to the disturbing news about the fall in factory index in the US and also rise in claims for jobless benefits. The US is the world’s second largest user of copper after China.

If the experts are still of the opinion that the red metal will first climb to $9,000 a tonne within a year and then progressively approach $10,000 a tonne, it is because the fundamentals like copper production targets are missed regularly and stocks with both London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Exchange falling are supportive of copper. The copper ore quality may be falling, warehouse stocks declining and the underlying demand remaining strong despite hiccups in the world economy, but because of the inordinately long time taken in opening new mines, there is no way supply can be stepped up quickly.

No doubt supply side would have been in better shape had not weak copper prices in the past discouraged investment in new mines development.

There cannot be a more affirmative confirmation of the very positive outlook for copper than what the CEO of Rio Tinto Tom Albanese says; “Copper is the only metal I see where prices in the intermediate and long term are well above the marginal cost of production.”

Even while Rio is counted among the world’s four leading producers of the metal, Albanese laments the fact that he did not have more copper to sell in this year’s first half. This pining for more of the red metal could see Rio pushing Bougainville Copper, of which it is the majority owner, to reopen Papua New Guinea’s Panguna mine, one of the world’s largest deposits but closed since 1989.

For the same reason, Brazil’s Vale, often described as a one trick pony for its overdependence on iron ore, is to make an investment of over $400 million in African Rainbow Minerals to develop a new copper mine in Zambia. Also in pursuit of its ‘medium term strategic objective of becoming one of the main copper producers in the world,’ Vale will be commissioning a 100,000 tonnes smelter in Carajas in Brazil in 2011 and a smaller 18,000 tonnes smelter at Tres Valles in Chile this year.

Vale, which now owns 300,000 tonnes of smelting capacity will perforce be looking beyond Latin America for raising its copper profile as the best opportunities there are already usurped. The urge of Hindalco and Vedanta to buy copper mines abroad is easily understandable.

31.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SEMOSO PROMISES SUPPORT
By Aloysius Laukai

Regional Member for Bougainville and Minister for Bougainville Affairs, FIDELIS SEMOSO has pledged full support to the ABG President JOHN MOMIS and the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
He told Reporters on arrival from Port Moresby that he will continue to work with the ABG to move Bougainville forward.
MR. SEMOSO said that Bougainville was very important for Bougainville Politicians to continue to play politics with.
He made these remarks after receiving criticisms by the ABG President JOHN MOMIS for deferring the JSB meeting last week.
The Bougainville Affairs Minister said that he had deferred the meeting after finding out that the Agendas for the JSB meeting was not ready and also key National Government ministers that he wanted to attend the JSB meeting were in Rabaul on another program.
He said that he had no other hidden motives as he just wanted to make sure Senior Government Ministers were present at the JSB meeting.
MR. SEMOSO said that he relayed the postponement of the meeting through the Acting Chief Administrator who should have told the President.
He mentioned that the JSB meeting would now be held in Buka this week and he hopes to get the Senior National Government Ministers for this meeting in Buka.

31.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SEMOSO ON TUNG CHURCH
By Aloysius Laukai

Regional member for Bougainville and Minister for Bougainville Affairs, FIDELIS SEMOSO yesterday blasted the people of Tung to forget their differences work together to build their new United Church building.
MR. SEMOSO said that the west coast area have more educated and well paid people who cannot even unite to raise funds for their church building.
He said if the people of Malasang village can organize and build their church for SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA he could not see why the people of Tung can not do the same.
The Minister said that he contributed SIX THOUSAND KINA only as the member whilst the rest was raised by the people themselves.
The member was at Tung village to present assistance to the community of Tung, Matjungan and Petats islands.
He presented FIVE THOUSAND for the TUNG Church Building, FIVE THOUSAND KINA for the Petats Aid Post and another Five Thousand Kina for the Matsungan Church.
He explained he was trying to assist the churches on Bougainville with some funding support but he called on them to try to develop their own capacity instead of looking at the members always.

Minister for Bougainville Affairs FIDELIS SEMOSO Presents cheque for the Tung Church to JOHN DUMIT an elder of Tung village at Tung last Sunday.

31.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

OIL PALM  ON
By Aloysius Laukai

Consultants on the TOROKINA OIL PALM project last week presented their work to the Bougainville administration.
The consultant LUKE MUKISA in presenting his findings urged the ABG to speed up the project as it was taking too long to implement recommendations made to the ABG in 2007.
He said that it was now up to the ABG to decide if the project can go ahead with the project or not.
MR. MUKISA said that his organization did the research work and has been waiting for payment since.
Meanwhile ministers of the ABG who were present said that the BEC had endorsed the project in 2007 and again in 2010 but the Bougainville administration was not speeding up the paper work for the project.
The Minister for Finance, ALBERT PUNGHAU told the group that funding for the project totaling FIVE MILLION KINA from the National Government was still sitting at Waigani and if not used would return to the Consolidated Revenue at the end of the year.
He called on the Bougainville administration to put their act together and address issues raised by the consultants.
The Minister was also surprised why the consultants why it took too long for the consultants to be paid.
New Dawn FM understands that the presentation also called on the Bougainville Government through its administration to carry out more awareness with the landowners on the project.
They said that the landowners of eight identified clans can register land groups to participate as shareholders for the project.

31.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Many inmates jailed for drugs

By GORETHY KENNETH

ABOUT 75 per cent of people locked up in the Buka jail are there on drug related criminal activities, Bougainville chief sergeant and police station commander Alex Gunan said.
“We cannot ignore the issue of weapons or gun threats because with drugs, guns come with it so they should both be addressed simultaneously,” he said.
He said these issues needed a concerted effort from all stakeholders, the private sector, NGOs and the Government to curb the use of guns.
Confirming the statement by vice president Patrick Nisira on drug consumption in the region reaching almost 80 per cent, Mr Gunan could not speak about leaders using drugs, but said the issue was definitely a big concern for the police force in Bougainville.
“I confirm the statement by the leader about drugs or marijuana being a major threat, but we cannot ignore guns as not being a threat,” Mr Gunan said yesterday.
“Drugs come with alcohol and with both come guns so we have to address all these issues together. With drugs comes guns so these two are major threats in all communities and must be addressed simultaneously, like alcohol.”
Mr Gunan said: “We now have a program, we have identified council of elders in every electorate in north Bougainville and we are starting with north Bougainville so they can deal with their own youths.”
Two non-government organisations claim that many public servants go to work drunk and some of these public servants and leaders, including some Member of Parliament, are also consuming drugs. They could not elaborate.

31.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Mind shaping drugs taking hold of our people’s thoughts.

USE of drugs is fast wreaking great damage on a whole generation of Papua New Guineans.
Marijuana is the drug of choice in PNG and the mind-influencing weed is taking over many of the nation’s promising young people.
We are not necessarily speaking of the degree holders in society, but more the young men and women in the urban suburbs and in the villages who should be taking leadership roles in their communities.
Every community seems to have a problem with people using marijuana and getting out of control in the way they behave to their wantoks and others.
The latest opinion on the issue comes from Autonomous Bougainville’s vice president Patrick Nisira.
He fears for the wellbeing of his people. Mr Nisira did a little village survey and came up with the startling admission by 80 per cent of his test group that they were influenced by marijuana.
He believes from his observations and talk with ordinary villagers and leaders in the ABG that drug use is rife at all levels, even including leaders. Bougainville is renowned for its fertile soil, based largely on the volcanic activity of the island, and almost anything can grow well without much help. Marijuana is reportedly prevalent in some areas and the drug is reaching into the most remote areas. From other sources, it is known that virtually every part of our country has a marijuana crisis.
Youngsters are getting high on marijuana and sometimes mix it with consumption of home-brewed illegal liquor.
The end result is often a dreadful mess of humanity going wrong. We as a nation are not unique in this respect. Many countries including the most advanced ones are struggling to cope with drug use. However it is threatening to rip apart our traditional societies because of the mind-shaping effects of marijuana that break down customary respect and attitudes of young to the elders and authority figures.
People who are aware of village and community constraints and the various restrictions of a traditional base get blown away by their drugs and lose all normal controls.
Crimes are committed and the villains try to explain away their actions as “sorry, it was the drug talking, not me’’. Judges do not accept that as an excuse for a crime and we urge our settlement and village leaders to take the same line of thinking. Doing something stupid or criminal may have happened because the offender was influenced by marijuana or alcohol, it’s an explanation but not a legal excuse to get away with that criminal act.
This is the attitude we must take and hold firm to. Without firmness, we as a nation and as thousands of communities will be lost!
MEANWHILE, there is a disgraceful situation in our country where little children barely out of their nappies are disappearing.
We have spoken about this before, but need to reiterate: Parents have a responsibility to keep an eye and a hand on their children when out and about.
It is not good enough to give birth to a child and then let it run free. Especially when a child is still living with the parents and not at school, such children need to be within sight and sound of a parent or approved minder.
In current town and city circumstances, a little child of two to six years old and sometimes older is not capable of resisting the sweet talk of older people, the bribes of lollies or chocolates and assurances that “Mummy went ahead and said I should bring you to her’’.
We cannot leave children of tender years alone, at any venue away from home. Life is not as simple as it used to be. The protective web of adult care for children is fading fast, especially in our urban communities.

31.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

NISSAN ISLANDERS DRIFT TO BOUGAINVILLE
By Aloysius Laukai

The eight Nissan Islanders who went missing at sea since last week Tuesday drifted to Bougainville mainland just off Kunua.
The survivors left Nissan at TEN AM on Tuesday 24th August 2010 and went off course towards Kavieng instead of coming towards Buka island where they were supposed to bring a patient to the Buka Hospital.
According to the survivors team leader, VINCENT KAPSEN when they realized that they were going the opposite direction they stopped the boat and just allowed the tide to carry them towards an island.
They tried to save about 25 Liters of Petrol so that they can use if they sight any island.
During their six day ordeal at sea they had some fish and fruits which they had with them.
This lasted for only three days.
The next two days they went without food and water until they sighted an island and used the last fuel to try to get closer to the island.
In their attempt to reach this island they also used their last fuel after getting close to the Horn island just off Kunua.
They paddled to the island in home made paddles made from an Empty 20 litre container.
They stayed one day on the island and had to paddle to the mainland the next day as they did not meet anyone on the island.
When they paddled to Bougainville mainland on Sunday morning they were able to meet a woman and her child on the beach and quickly realized that they had actually landed on Bougainville.
One of the survivors also recognized the woman as her teacher at Sigon Primary school in Nissan many years ago.
The woman then assisted then with food and was able to notify the Disaster office and the Buka Police Station who carried fuel and escorted them back to Buka Town.
Our reporter who covered this story says that five out of the eight were checked and discharged from the Buka Hospital yesterday.
The sick woman was admitted and is still in Hospital.

31.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

New Malasang Church Opened last Friday.

Picture by Aloysius Laukai

30.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

MP explains absence

By GORETHY KENNETH

BOUGAINVILLLE Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso arrived in Bougainville over the weekend with good news and pledging total support to the Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis.
In response to President Momis’ outburst on the cancellation of the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting last week and blaming Mr Semoso for not having the courtesy to advise the ABG team who were left wondering, an irate Semoso said it was not his fault.
He said that the JSB meeting to be held between the National Government and the ABG was cancelled because the ABG technical team were not ready with the agendas and other documentations. He said that he had advised the acting administrator Patrick Koles and National Co-ordinating Office of Bougainville Affairs director Ellison ToWalom.
Mr Momis blasted Mr Semoso for not having the courtesy to advise him and his Cabinet members that the special meeting between the ABG and the National Government was cancelled. Mr Momis was also disappointed that he was told the meeting would be in the afternoon last week, but no-one, even the Bougainville Affairs office in Port Moresby, had the courtesy to advise them before leaving for Port Moresby. President Momis was advised later that Mr Semoso was in Kokopo. “I come home with a good heart. And I come home with nothing except support for President Momis because I openly campaigned for the people of Bougainville to vote for Momis and I financed his campaigns,” Semoso said.
“I am now the Minister for Bougainville Affairs, whether they like it or not, but I don’t have time to play petty politics. Bougainville does not have time to play politics. We need all the time in the world to develop and move Bougainville forward. We don’t have time anymore. We must strictly comply with and we must strictly adhere to the Bougainville Peace Agreement.”
Mr Semoso also announced that the ABG would get its controversial K15 million in November’s Supplementary Budget. And if Bougainville is lucky, an extra K15 million may be granted, as agreed in principle by key National Government ministers. This is the reason why Mr Semoso got off in Kokopo, East New Britain to secure the funding by speaking direct with Planning Minister Paul Tiensten and State and Enterprise Minister Arthur Somare who were there – adding to the alleged delay and cancellation of the special JSB meeting which has now been put forward to this Thursday. Mr Semoso announced at the press conference at the Buka airport on Saturday that he would be in Port Moresby today.

30.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Marijuana hooks Bougainville

By GORETHY KENNETH

MORE than 80 per cent of Bougainville’s people are using marijuana, Autonomous Bougainville Government vice president Patrick Nisira has claimed.
And guns or weapons are no longer the major threat in every community - drugs are becoming the number one threat in Bougainville.
Mr Nisira said Bougainville “doesn’t need a marijuana infested society nor does this region need ‘longlongs’ or a government-run by marijuana consuming leaders”.
He said to prove that so many of the youths were using marijuana which is classified as a dangerous drug, he arranged for 50 youths at Tohatsi, in his Halia constituency to “come and have a party” at his home. His wife and family cooked good food and fed these youths. When they finished a line was ruled and all youths were asked to move to the other side of the line if they were consuming marijuana.
To his amazement, 40 youths moved to the consuming section while 10 remained on the other side. “I wasn’t surprised because I heard from street talk that everyone was taking these drugs, even in remote villages,” Mr Nisira said.
“I appeal to every one of you parents, council leaders, church elders and every one, please make the marijuana issue your priority. Bougainville does not need long-longs, we need sane leaders in the future, not marijuana consuming leaders.”
Mr Nisira, who publicly made this statement in his recent visit to Nissan Island and also during the Bougainville Mona festival, said the government was really concerned about the issue of drugs which was fast threatening every part of society in Bougainville and advised they were working on ways to curb the crisis.
Marijuana grows wild in parts of Aita, Wakunai in central Bougainville and also some places in Tinputz, north Bougainville.
In the past, police and other authorities had tried to burn it with fuel, but plants always regrew and winds blew seeds to different locations where they grew in the wild. Today, police in Bougainville are outnumbered by the population consuming drugs and alcohol, a matter that is threatening the livelihood of people in the region. Arawa has been facing drug problems, Buin is also going through the same. In Buka, it has also become a major problem.

27.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Semoso gives to United church

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

The United Church in Bougainville can look towards improving its business arm after receiving a K100,000 cheque from the Minister for Bougainville Affairs and Bougainville Regional MP Fidelis Semoso.
The cheque, which was delivered on behalf of Mr Semoso by his project officer Justin Helele, was presented to the head of the United Church in Bougainville Bishop Tim Arthur during the recently held synod which was held in the Ruhwaku circuit in Siwai district about a fortnight ago.
The presentation of the cheque from Mr Semoso follows a commitment the Regional MP made to the United Church during last year’s synod which was held on Saposa Island in the Mahari constituency in North Bougainville.
During the cheque presentation, Mr Helele said it is always the aim of the Regional MP to fund every church denominations’ business arms in Bougainville so they will not always rely on the Government to give them funding.

27.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Semoso, Ogio help police

POLICE in Bougainville have been blessed with two more vehicles to enhance their security, law and order operations in the region, thanks to the donation by Bougainville Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso and Higher Education Minister Michael Ogio.
Mr Semoso and Mr Ogio bought four vehicles for police and health centres to further enhance service delivery in rural areas.
The two leaders wanted to cut crime in Bougainville.
Two police vehicles will be used by police in the region while one health ambulance has been shipped for the Lemanmanu Health Centre in the Haku area of Buka while the other will go to Tinputz.
The leaders spent more than K1 million on the four vehicles - two for police and two for health centres.
Mr Semoso appealed to the people of Bougainville to help police curb crime in the region. He appealed to the police force to abide by the police rules and laws - not to drink in the vehicles.
He appealed for members of the force to uphold their integrity and respect and assured he will be watching to also make sure police operations are improved with the presentation of these vehicles.
Mr Ogio on the other hand urged the people of Bougainville to be more vigilant and have respect for the rule of law. He said they saw a great need to arm the police with more vehicles so that they can do their duties well and without hurdles.

27.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONCERN
BY MARIA LAUKAI

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SALES OF DRUGS ON THE STREETS, MARKETS AND THE SHELVES OF RETAILED SHOPS THROUGH OUT PAPUA NEW GUINEA, EXSPECIALLY AUTONOMOUS REGION OF BOUGAINVILLE.
THERE ARE MANY SHOPS, SELLING DRUGS WITHOUT PROPER LICENSE AND THIS HAS CREATED.
ACCORDING TO MR EDWARD NANATSI, WHO REPRESENTS THE PHARMACY MANAGEMENT BOARD HERE IN BOUGAINVILLE AND IS THE PHARMACIST OF BUKA HOSPITAL SAYS, THE DEPARTMENT IS CORNCERNED BECAUSE, THIS TYPE OF SALES IS PUTTING PUBLIC AT RISK OF DRUG RESISTANCES WHILST SOME DRUGS BEING SOLD BY SOME DRUG WAREHOUSES ARE NOT GOOD.
DRUGS ARE ON SALE IN STORES ON BOUGAINVILLE ARE AMOXICILLIN CAPSULES, AMOXICILLIN TABLETS AND AMOXICILLIN INJECTIONS, ARTHERMETER INJECTIONS AND TABLETS, CHLORAMPHENICOL CAPSULES AND INJECTIONS, PENICILLIN INJECTIONS AND MORE. JUST TO NAME A FEW, BUT THERE ARE MANY DRUGS BEING SOLD IN THE STORE EVERYDAY.
MR NANATSI IS APPEALING TO ALL THE BUSINESS HOUSES, WHO ARE SELLING MENUFRACTURED DRUGS ON THE SHELVES OF THEIR SHOPS, TO STOP IMMEDIATELY.
TO SELL DRUGS ONE MUST KNOW THE FIVE RIGHTS, AS FOLLOWS :RIGHT STORAGES, RIGHT MEDICINE, RIGHT DOSAGES, RIGHT ROUTE AND RIGHT TIMING.
MR NANATSI SAYS, UNDER THE MEDICINE COSMETIC ACT 99, THERE IS A PROPER WAY TO OBTAIN A LICENCE TO OPERATE AS A PHARAMACY
HE ALSO SAID, MEDICINE IS A SPECIAL COMMODITY
AND ONLY QUALIFIED PHARAMISTS OR A DOCTORS ARE ALLOWED TO SELL MEDICINE, UNDER THE MEDICINE COSTMETIC ACT 2001
THERE IS A CIRCULAR PUT UP BY MR NANATSI ON NOTICE BOARDS AROUND BUKA TOWN CONCERNING THIS ISSUE.

27.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BOUG IN BERLIN
By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG president JOHN MOMIS has appointed THOMAS BOCKHOLD from FWW to market Bougainville in Germany.
MR. BOCKHOLD the Managing Director of FWW is the main supplier of Defence Force Equipments to the United Nations world wide and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Mr. Bockhold yesterday did a presentation to the Bougainville administration on Cars and Trucks and Heavy Equipments that can be sold to Bougainvillean companies.
The heavy duty equipments would come with spare parts and including training for personnel in Germany.
He would be setting up a Bougainville office in Berlin that would market Bougainville as a Tourist Destination.
MR. BOCKHOLD said for European Tourists to come to Bougainville the people must build Guest Houses as the current houses is not enough.
 

27.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

INCREASE SURVEILANCE
By Aloysius Laukai

A senior Customs official says that the increase in the movement of foreigners into Bougainville demands extra efforts by Law enforcement agencies like Police and Customs.
The Bougainville Customs Officer JOHN KIU said it is now a need to ensure these agencies are fully resourced at where it matters most.
He said that Specific funding is needed to recruit specialist Border response customs officers with forward bases at Kangu in Buin with Sirovai and Kekere in the Kieta District.
Resources that would be needed includes, Housing and Surveillance boats, Airports and Seaports Screening machines and other surveillance equipments.
He said that the ABG must think seriously about ensuring that not one law enforcing agency can address issues of trans national crime as Bougainville can not afford to lose much again at this time.

26.08.2010

Source: The European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC)

Moneyweek publishes misleading article

on Bougainville Copper Limited

Dear sirs,

In the latest edition of Moneyweek the editor falsely reported on Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) as follows:

Speculators drive Bougainville Copper higher

Our very speculative copper play has had an excellent run. The shares reached 0.90 AUD after gaining +20% last week under high volume. The share price has not been this high since the pre-crisis levels of 2008, almost two years ago. As far as I can tell, there have not been any further developments. I will keep an eye out for further news, as I know this is a stock which many readers are watching closely. HOLD.

Obviously, the gentleman or the lady is not well informed at all. If he or she would have made some in-depth research this article would have been written otherwise! In the last months, more concrete: since the election of a new president in the Autonomus Region of Bougainville things changed a sensibly! The newly elected president, Mr. John Momis expressed repeatedly in the regional press that he wants to see Bougainville Copper Limited to come back to the island and to resume mining in Panguna! So did the Panguna landowners. Our directors are having regular meetings with the new president and other PNG-leaders. Actually first steps, as the preparation of the review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement (BCA) are already on the way. We expect the new BCA to be inked in the first months of 2011.

We strongly believe that all hindrances of the past concerning mining on Bougainville will be eliminated very soon. Let me say it in this way: The streetlights that were red until know turned to yellow. And soon they will turn to green!

It is true that the final cancelation of the unsponsored Bougainville Copper (BCL) program made the BCL shares first drop in spring and then rise again. But, in the last few weeks after the sell-out of US-hold (ADR) BCL shares was over, the situation stabilized. In fact: There was NOT more speculation in the market within the last few weeks than usual. Only an interview that I gave to the German investor magazine “DER AKTIONÄR” two weeks ago attracted a little bit the attention of investors – in Germany and – surprisingly - in Australia as well.

If your editor is eager to keep himself a little bit better informed, he should visit our homepage www.bougainville-copper.eu regularly. There he will be able find out all latest news concerning Bougainville Copper Limited.

Please keep in mind that Bougainville Copper is NOT a doubtful explorer as there are a lot, regularly promoted in some newsletters. Bougainville Copper, perhaps, is one of the most interesting and most promissing opportunities on the international stockmarkets.

If you need more in-depth information, please feel free to call me.

Best regards,

Axel G. Sturm

Escaldes-Engordany, 25.08.2010

26.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Two Italians on trial

TWO Italian tourists charged for being in possession of a dangerous drug, marijuana, are out on bail and undergoing court trials in Buka this week.
The two captured who are out on K500 bail are Vieri Nencini, 40 from Milan and Lorenzo Nardelli 40, from Rome, Italy who were arrested and charged.
There were also three Bougainvilleans, John Pulu, 40, of south Bougainville and Manus, Ernest Baris, 30, of Novah and Alex Bebeko of Konga in the Siwai area of south Bougainville.
One of these two Italian men is of former foreign minister and multi-millionaire’s son and the other one is a prominent Roman millionaire.
They were in the region as tourists when the arrests were made.
Police reports confirmed that the two expatriates had come to Bougainville as tourists for the recent Mona festival and were seen smoking cannabis at the Liberty Guest House with their three local guides by members of the public.
The members raised the alarm by tipping off police.
Under the police and courts submissions, the suspects were taken to the police station for questioning and charged for being in possession of a dangerous drug called marijuana under section 31 (d) of the Dangerous Drug Act.
The five appeared briefly before the Buka District Court on August 16.
The trials then continued to be heard on Tueday this week as well.
Their case has been adjourned to next Tuesday.
The police who apprehended the five suspects along with six rolled marijuanas and two Pall Mall cigarettes stuffed with marijuana including two small packages containing dried weed, have presented their case to the Buka District Court under magistrate Vincent Linge on Monday and Tuesday.
Their prosecution case closed yesterday and the lawyer representing the Italians, Michael Henao of Blake Dawson yesterday told the Post-Courier that his clients had pleaded not guilty.
Mr Henao said he will be making a no-case submission next Tuesday.
He told the Post-Courier in Buka that there were discrepancies in the police prosecution submissions and that one policeman was claiming that there were six rolls of marijuana while another policeman testified that there were five.
“My clients have pleaded not guilty and I will be making a no-case submission next Tuesday,” Henao said.
Henao could not elaborate on the matter.
However the local guides are still in the police lock up in Buka while the Italians are living in a local guest house awaiting their trial to be held on Tuesday.

24.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SCHOOL FEE ASSISTANCE DILEMMA
By Aloysius Laukai

This is bad news for parents of Bougainville students attending educational institutions outside of the region.
Today, (200810) the School Fees Assistance Committee met to deliberate on the K1 million the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) allocated for this purpose in 2010.
Due to the limited available funds for this program in 2010 the committee decided that priority would be ensure that schools in Bougainville continue to operate until the end of the academic year, the ABG would pay for only 15% of fees for students attending high, secondary and vocational schools and Fode in Bougainville this year.
The committee says parents would have to pay for the balance of their children’s school fees this year.
The other major decision reached by the committee is that there will be no government assistance for Bougainville students attending high, secondary and tertiary institutions outside of Bougainville.
Meanwhile, educational institutions that have submitted their enrolment figures to the division of education would receive their payments next week.
Schools that have not submitted their enrolment figures are encouraged to do so now in order for them to receive their payments.
The School Fees Assistance Committee says Bougainville students studying outside of the region would be considered and given priority when money is made available.

24.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ADMINISTRATOR
By Aloysius Laukai

The Bougainville Executive Council has finally appointed a permanent Chief Administrator for Bougainville.
This position has been vacant since the last Chief Administrator the late PETER TSIAMALILI died in 2007.
Since then Bougainville has been operating on several Acting Administrators resulting in too many delays in the implementation of programmes on Bougainville.
The decision was made on August 17th 2010.
The decision also revokes the appointment of the current Acting Chief Administrator MR. PATRICK KOLES and the appointment of LAWRENCE DISING as the chief Administrator for the Bougainville Administration.
In making the Announcement, President JOHN MOMIS said that the appointment had to come after so much consultation between the National Government and Autonomous Bougainville Government.
He said that the appointment was of paramount importance to maintain stability and to continue to progress on all developmental issues and service delivery for the people of the region.
He thanked MR. KOLES the outgoing Acting Chief Administrator as well as those that had acted in the position on the commitment and dedication they had portrayed to the Bougainville Administration, the ABG and the people of Bougainville.
MR. LAWRENCE DISING, former Health Administrator, now acting Regional Commissioner- South will take up his new post on the first of September, but will be subjected to three months probation.
The ABG President will convey the appointment to the National Government during the JSB meeting this week.
New Dawn FM understands LAWRENCE DISING was the ABG’s candidate for the Chief Administrator’s position under the JAMES TANIS Government however due to differences with the National Government on who should make the appointment resulted in prolonging the announcement.

24.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

CHIEF CALLS
By Aloysius Laukai

A chief from the KONNOU area of Buin is calling on the ABG President JOHN MOMIS to address the law and order situation in BUIN.
The chief says that the law and order situation in Buin was deteriorating and something must be done quickly to save lives.
The chief said that innocent civilians continue to die at the hands of so called Mekamui in the Konnou area.
CHIEF PARUTAN JOE made these comments after the Mekamui started removing Mobile Phones from the people in the Tabago area.
He said this was another attempt by the group to maintain their dominance in that area of Bougainville.
Chief PARUTAN said that the people of Konnou still live in fear and are questioning the ABG for how many more years should they live like this.

24.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

PARENTS QUESTION
By Aloysius Laukai

Parents of students attending the DEVARE high school are questioning why the school is not following the set School fees set up by the Provincial Education Board.
A parent told New Dawn FM that he was forced to pay ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED KINA instead of the NINE HUNDRED KINA approved by the Provincial Education Board for lower secondary school.
The parent who wants to remain anonymous said that even two third system for students from the same family in the same sector were not allowed by the school.
Meanwhile, a memo from the Education office says that the School administration was confusing the parents to pay extra school fees.
The Provincial Education Officer, MICHAEL METEN called on the Principal of the school to stick to the figures approved by the Provincial Education Board as the School fees for 2010.

24.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

LUKAUTIM PIKININI ACT
By Aloysius Laukai

A three- day workshop on the new LUKAUTIM PIKININI ACT is being conducted at the Kuri Village Resort.
The workshop started this morning and will end on Thursday.
Participants for this workshop are from NEW GUINEA ISLANDS which means participants are from Manus, West and East New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville.
The act was enacted to protect children from abuses by both parents and their guardians including relatives.
In his opening remarks, ABG Acting President, PATRICK NISIRA said that the ABG would support the new law in protecting its children who are future leaders of Bougainville.
MR. NISIRA said that the enacting of the law means that the abuse was rife throughout PNG.
He called on the people of Bougainville to stand up and protect the children from all forms of abuse to the children of Bougainville.

24.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

THOUSANDS ATTEND FEAST
By Tom Kathoa

The small an unknown Suagu Village in the Tinputz area of North Bougainville will come alive tomorrow as people start arriving for a ceremonial feast the following day.
Suagu Village is the home of the Member for North Bougainville and National Minister for Higher Education Science and Technology, Hon Michael Ogio.
Thousands of people from all parts of Bougainville including other provinces in Papua New Guinea have started arriving in Tinputz today in preparation for the big occasion on Thursday this week.
Among the visitors most of who are politicians and chiefs are reporters and other media personal to provide coverage and document the event.
The Thursday gathering is in honor of the late wife of the Minister.
Organizers of the ceremony say people attending the feast would come from all parts of Bougainville.
All the forty members of the Autonomous Bougainville Government have been invited to attend the ceremony together with their national colleagues.
Our reporter says a large number of pigs would be slaughtered and distributed among the guests.
Our reporter says Buka and Nissan friends of the minister would contribute more than 30 pigs towards the occasion
Food like pig meat, fish, chicken, cow meat and vegetables are among the different varieties of food to be consumed and shared among the guests, friends and relatives during the day.
Most of the contingent would arrive for the one day festive ceremony on Thursday morning.

24.08.2010

Source: Bougainville Copper Limited

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Concerning the first 6 months 2010.

Download here the original BCL document with all figures!

In the first six-month recording period there have been a number of matters

on which I wish to report.

BOUGAINVILLE ELECTIONS

The Bougainville elections concluded in a safe and orderly manner. Around

90% of the former members were not returned, including President Tanis who

is replaced by Chief John Momis. The result was conclusive for the position of

President and it was not necessary to go to preferences.

I met the new President in his first week in office. The meeting was both

cordial and constructive. It was an opportunity for me to brief the President on

the economic and technical issues in reopening Panguna and also to discuss

the challenges his government and the company shared. I emphasised the

importance of getting all interested parties to the negotiating table to discuss

the future of the mine. I told the President BCL’s first priority is safety and

requested he do what he could to get company safety experts on the ground.

We agreed to keep in regular contact and since the meeting the new

Government has initiated a program to have a united mine lease landowner

representative body elected. Once this is complete there is a proposal to

commence a multi party renegotiation of the Bougainville Copper Agreement

under which the company operates.

TAX CASE

By mutual agreement with the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) the

outstanding tax claimed amount of K48.8m was paid into court on condition

the amount would be invested and that if BCL is successful in the substantive

case the sum and interest earned would be return to BCL. This action ends

that part of the action by the IRC seeking immediate payment to it of

outstanding claimed tax, penalties and interest. The company’s substantive

objection is still waiting on a trial date but both sides are now actively working

on the “discovery” process in preparation for the trial.

FUEL OIL ISSUE

A large quantity of heavy fuel oil formerly used in the power station remained

at the company port after mining was suspended. Management was alerted

some time ago to an unauthorised vessel removing some of this oil that was

transported out of PNG without approval, presumably for sale. Recently a

second ship arrived and proceeded to load most of the remaining oil.

Subsequently PNG Customs, with the assistance of the Navy, intercepted the

second ship at sea and escorted it Rabaul for breaching PNG Customs

regulations. The authorities are currently pursuing a number of legal

processes.

The company is looking at legal and other processes it can employ to stop

illegal activity associated with its property while mindful of the limited capacity

of Bougainville authorities to enforce court orders and the fact that armed

criminals are assisting foreign interests in these activities.

DON VERNON SCHOLARSHIP

The BCL Don Vernon scholarship was launched in Brisbane in collaboration with

the 30 year anniversary dinner of the Australia PNG Business Council. Don

founded the Council when he was Managing Director of BCL. The dinner was a

sell-out and was addressed by the PNG Deputy PM and Minister for Mines Sir

Puka Temu. High Commissioners from both countries as well senior

government officials and senior industry people attended. Arrangements are

now being made through the University of Queensland to find an appropriate

PNG scholar to take up this postgraduate award with priority being given to a

Bougainville student.

THE NEXT SIX MONTHS

The company will focus on preparing for a formal engagement with landowners

and the National and Bougainville Government over the future of the mine and

settling all outstanding issues between the parties. The Bougainville

Government has indicated its willingness to participate in such talks. All parties

have agreed that it is necessary to establish a landowner group that can

represent all landowner interests during negotiations. The Bougainville

Government is taking the lead and the company has offered its assistance

where appropriate. The new Bougainville Government has tenure of five years

and the early signs are that it is interested in reopening the mine provided the

local landowners are in agreement. A number of studies will be undertaken in

preparation for negotiations of the Bougainville Copper Agreement.

2010 DIVIDEND

The Directors have not declared a dividend in respect of the six months ended

30 June 2010.

BORROWING

No borrowings were outstanding at year-end.

STOCK EXCHANGE

The standard proforma Appendix 4D was lodged with the Australian Stock

Exchange in accordance with official listing requirements.

PETER TAYLOR

CHAIRMAN 

24.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BCA REVIEW
By Aloysius Laukai

The Department of Mineral Policy and Geo Hazard Management last week conducted a one week preparatory workshop with the Bougainville Administration’s senior officials.
The delegation was led by Deputy National Secretary of the Department MR. SHEDRICK HIMATA.                                                                       
The workshop was important and necessary in preparation for the forthcoming review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement.
The purpose of the workshop was to get information from the Bougainville officials on:
How the review should be conducted,
Who the participants will be in the review,
Who should facilitate and chair the review,
The terms and reference of the facilitators and format of the review.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) WOULD REQUEST THE National Government at this week’s JSB meeting to conduct the PANGUNA baseline survey prior to the review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement.
The baseline survey would be conducted by scientists funded by the World Bank.
The current understanding is that the landowners have agreed to review the BCL agreement before mining could resume in Panguna.

24.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MINISTER’S DREAM
By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG minister for Works, Transport, Media and Communications, CAROLUS KETSIMUR wants a situation where a man or woman switch on a radio and immediately get a clear signal.
Picks up the Phone and make a call or Switch on the TV and gets a clear picture.
The Minister said this at a small dedication ceremony at the Media and Communication Office last Friday.
 

MR. KETSIMUR said that he would want to see the man in the remotest part of Bougainville have exactly the same communication and media services available to him.
He also said that it was the job of the government to make sure that the people get the best communication and information service available at a lowest possible cost.
The Minister said that as a Minister he would try to improve the Communication and Media service on Bougainville.
New Dawn FM understands that the ABG has no control over any media outlet on Bougainville and if it wants to fully utilize the Radio for its awareness it must draw down the power of NBC as soon as possible.
In many occasions the Bougainville leaders have complaint about the local Radio Station not airing their programs.

24.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

AUSAID LEADER
By Aloysius Laukai

The Education Minister JOHN TABINAMAN praised AUSAID and the people of Australia for their continuous Assistance to the ABG and the people of Bougainville.
He made these remarks when welcoming Ausaid’s team leader on Bougainville for the next three years.
The new leader MADELEINE MOSS replaces outgoing staff EDWINA BETTS who returns to Australia at the end of September this year.
In a brief welcome ceremony last Saturday, MR. TABINAMAN said that the ABG and the people of Bougainville are looking forward to working closely with the new team leader.
He also thanked EDWINA BETTS the outgoing team leader for her work on Bougainville.
Meanwhile the incoming team leader MS MOSS promised to continue the work from where EDWINA BETTS has left.
The outgoing team leader EDWINA BETTS also said that her three year term on Bougainville was very worthwhile and that she would remember Bougainville for a long time.

24.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

NISSAN WELCOMED
By Aloysius Laukai

 

The eleven survivors from Nissan Island who went missing at sea arrived in Buka last Saturday looking tired but happy to be home at last.
They were welcomed by the Officers from the Provincial Disaster Office at the Buka airport.
The Seven adult and 4 children looked healthy when they arrived in Buka.
They left Nissan on a 23footer Dinghy powered by a 60HP Yamaha engine on August 4th 2010 at 9am and did not reach Buka.
According to one of the survivors, PETER HATANU they had engine problem just off Kessa and were able to call the Boat owner by Mobile Phone but help did not come quickly resulting in them drifting out to sea.
Meanwhile the Acting CEO for the Local Level Government Office which handles Emergency and Search and Rescue operations, HERBERT KIMAI in welcoming the Nisan islanders call on the islanders to take extra precautions whilst travelling in Out board motors.
He said that the division is working on a policy to make sure boat owners abide by certain guidelines.
MR. KIMAI said that Boat owners would have to license their boats and make sure basic emergency kits are on boats, such as Radio, floaters, extra petrol and service tools.

23.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

The eleven Nissan Islanders

Rescued by an Australian vessel and dropped off at Misima the eleven Nissan Islanders  island arrived in Buka at the weekend.
They are pictured at Buka.
They were travelling on a 60hp Yamaha boat when their engine broke down. They drifted for nearly 8 days at sea.
They are pictured with the Emergency Radio man Martin Tsora (left SITTING) with the CEO for  LLG office which looks after Search and Rescue (left standing) HERBERT KIMAI. All pictured including the children arrived healthy and happy.





23.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Ausaid  Change
By Aloysius Laukai

The Ausaid team for Bougainville will have a new leader at the end of September this year.
A new team leader arrived in Buka last Saturday.
The new team leader Madeleine Moss replaces Edwina Betts who has been in Bougainville for the last three years. She was welcomed to Bougainville by the ABG minister for Education JOHN TABINAMAN

Pictured at the Buka airport are Outgoing team leader Edwina Betts (left) and Madeleine Moss the new Ausaid Team leader.

Madeleine Moss is welcomed by a Young lady from Gogohe.

20.08.2010

Source: SPIEGEL ONLINE

Goldrausch Down Under

als PDF

20.08.2010

Source: boerse.de

20.08.2010

Source: AD HOC NEWS

Bougainville Copper Kupferpreis lässt hohe Rentabilität erwarten

14:59 Uhr

Der australischen Bergwerksgesellschaft gehöre die stillgelegte Panguna-Mine auf der Pazifikinsel Bougainville, die eines der größten Kupfervorkommen der Welt beherberge. Die Förderung sei 1989 aufgrund eines Bürgerkrieges eingestellt worden.

Bougainville Copper Kupferpreis lässt hohe Rentabilität erwarten:
Der australischen Bergwerksgesellschaft gehöre die stillgelegte Panguna-Mine auf der Pazifikinsel Bougainville, die eines der größten Kupfervorkommen der Welt beherberge. Die Förderung sei 1989 aufgrund eines Bürgerkrieges eingestellt worden.

Kulmbach (aktiencheck.de AG) - Die Experten vom Anlegermagazin "Der Aktionär" empfehlen risikobereiten Anlegern eine Anfangsposition in der Bougainville Copper-Aktie (ISIN PG0008526520/ WKN 852652) aufzubauen.

Der australischen Bergwerksgesellschaft gehöre die stillgelegte Panguna-Mine auf der Pazifikinsel Bougainville, die eines der größten Kupfervorkommen der Welt beherberge. Die Förderung sei 1989 aufgrund eines Bürgerkrieges eingestellt worden.

Es würden einige Fakten darauf hindeuten, dass eine Wiedereröffnung der Mine eventuell noch in diesem Jahr vertraglich besiegelt werden könnte. An einem Zustandekommen eines solchen Beschlusses dürfte insbesondere der Rohstoffkonzern Rio Tinto (ISIN GB0007188757 / WKN 852147) interessiert sein, der einen Anteil von 53,8% an Bougainville Copper halte. Weitere rund 19,1% seien in Besitz der Regierung Papua-Neuguineas, die ebenfalls die Wiederaufnahme des Kupferabbaus befürworte. Auch John Momis, Präsident von Bougainville, schließe sich dieser Meinung an. Er wisse ganz genau, dass der Minenbetrieb den Bewohnern Arbeit und Wohlstand bescheren würde.

"Von großer Bedeutung ist, dass Bougainville Copper sowohl die Panguna-Mine als auch die Schürflizenzen für weitere sieben Gebiete auf der Insel besitzt", so Axel G. Sturm, Präsident der European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper in einem Gespräch mit den Experten. Er sei von den Perspektiven der Bergbaugesellschaft felsenfest überzeugt. Nach Einschätzung der Experten zu Recht, denn das Unternehmen habe in den 1980er-Jahren mit sehr niedrigen Produktionskosten gepunktet.

Zudem sei der Kupferpreis seither deutlich gestiegen, was auf eine zukünftig hohe Rentabilität der Mine hindeute. Leider könne der Betrieb erst aufgenommen werden, wenn die Sanierung und die Schaffung einer für das Betreiben der Mine notwendigen Infrastruktur abgeschlossen sei, was Sturm zufolge drei bis vier Jahre dauern und etwa 1,5 Mrd. USD kosten werde.

Das Unternehmen werde derzeit an der Börse wie ein Explorer bewertet, obwohl es nach Einschätzung der Experten langfristig wieder zu den weltweit größten Kupferproduzenten zählen könnte.

Risikobereite Anleger sollten bei der Aktie von Bougainville Copper eine Anfangsposition aufbauen, empfehlen die Experten von "Der Aktionär". Es werde ein Kursziel von 0,90 Euro gesehen. Eingegangene Positionen sollten mit einem Stopp bei 0,38 Euro abgesichert werden. (Ausgabe 34) (20.08.2010/ac/a/a)

Offenlegung von möglichen Interessenskonflikten: Mögliche Interessenskonflikte können Sie auf der Site des Erstellers/ der Quelle der Analyse einsehen.

20.08.2010

Source: Trader's Daily

Michael Vaupel

Michael Vaupel, der Chefredakteur von Trader´s Daily schrieb gestern, am 19. August 2010, über eine alternative Energiequelle. Diese könnte auch für Bougainville interessant sein, da dort ohnehin schon Biodiesel aus Kokosnüssen gewonnen wird.

Biodiesel-Produktion der nächsten Generation.

Hier können Sie in einen Film von Journeyman's Pictures sehen, wie auf Bougainville Biodiesel auf Kokospalmöl gewonnen wird!

20.08.2010

Source: DIE WELT

Essay

Der neue Rohstoff-Imperialismus

Holmium, Thulium, Lithium: Die Zutaten für die Technologien der Zukunft liegen fast alle in der Erde Chinas. Das macht den Westen abhängig. Und Europa ist auf die Verteilungskämpfe nicht vorbereitet.

   Von Friedbert Pflüger

Neben den seit einiger Zeit stark beachteten Fragen der Energiesicherheit wird die ausreichende Versorgung mit Rohstoffen zu einer zentralen Herausforderung. Dafür gibt es drei Gründe: die wachsenden Ansprüche von acht Milliarden Menschen, die 2030 auf der Erde leben werden, der steigende Bedarf der dynamischen Schwellenländer wie China, Indien oder Brasilien und schließlich die zunehmende Abhängigkeit hochtechnologischer Industrieprodukte von strategischen Rohstoffen. Der globale Wettbewerb um Bodenschätze wird härter. Die internationale Politik der kommenden Jahrzehnte wird nicht nur vom viel beschworenen "clash of civilizations", sondern vielleicht noch stärker von einer neuen Form von Ressourcen-Imperialismus geprägt werden. Dabei geht es zunehmend um einen Kampf um Rohstoffe. Neue Konflikte zeichnen sich ab - bis hin zur Gefahr neuer Kriege und Bürgerkriege. Die größte geopolitische Veränderung der letzten zehn Jahre liegt in der aggressiven Rohstoffsicherungspolitik Chinas, das überall auf der Welt selbstbewusst ein Gegengewicht zu den USA aufbaut. Wenn Deutschland und Europa nicht zu den Verlierern dieser Entwicklungen gehören wollen, müssen Politik und Wirtschaft schnell handeln.

Ein Grund für Chinas wachsende Macht ist, dass rund 95 Prozent der heutigen Produktion von sogenannten Seltenen Erden aus dem Reich der Mitte stammen. Ob Elektroautos, Laser- und Nanotechnik, Mobiltelefone, Computer, hochwertige Industrieglase oder Fotovoltaik - überall werden Neodym oder Lanthan, Europium oder Germanium, Holmium oder Thulium und so weiter benötigt. Vor dem Hintergrund des wachsenden Eigenbedarfs und der überall steigenden Nachfrage nach Technologieprodukten sind eine Arbeitsgruppe der EU-Kommission und das Institut für Zukunftsstudien und Technologiebewertung (IZT) in zwei aktuellen Studien zu dem Ergebnis gekommen, dass aufgrund dieses Quasi-Monopols die künftige Versorgung der europäischen Industrie mit diesen Metallen gefährdet ist. In diesem Jahr werden in der Welt circa 115 000 Tonnen Seltener Erden verbraucht, bereits für 2012 wird mit 185 000 gerechnet. Um diesen globalen Mehrbedarf wissend, haben die Chinesen in den vergangenen Jahren regelmäßig ihre Exportquoten gesenkt und die Ausfuhren durch Steuern verteuert. Was, wenn Peking eines Tages den Export bestimmter Seltener Erden mit Hinweis auf den Eigenbedarf ganz einstellt? Eine Katastrophe für die westliche Industrie, ein enormer Wettbewerbsvorteil für chinesische Technikprodukte.

Vor diesem Hintergrund muss die Abhängigkeit von China schnell gemindert werden. In den USA nimmt MolyCorp deshalb eine Mine wieder in Betrieb, die sie 1994 vor dem Hintergrund damals preisgünstiger Seltener Erden aus China geschlossen hatte. Zwei Lager warten in Australien darauf, von den Firmen Lynas beziehungsweise Arafura Ressources ausgebeutet zu werden. Allerdings sind auch hier die Chinesen bereits mit von der Partie: 25 Prozent von Arafura gehören einem chinesischen Unternehmen, bei Lynas konnte ein chinesischer Übernahmeversuch bisher verhindert werden.

Seit 2007 rückt ein anderer Rohstoff in den Blickpunkt: Lithium, ein Leichtmetall, das die Industrie für Mobiltelefone, Laptops und Eisenbahnen sowie in der Luftfahrt benötigt und dem mit Blick auf die Batterien für Elektroautos eine Zukunft als "weißes Gold" vorausgesagt wird. Die größten Vorkommen befinden sich im riesigen Salzsee Salar de Uyani in Bolivien. Die Chinesen sind, wie überall in Lateinamerika und Afrika, bereits vor Ort. Die China Development Bank hat Bolivien einen Kredit über 15 Milliarden Dollar gewährt für die Ausbeutung eines der weltweit größten Eisenerzprojekte El Cerro Mutum. Mittelfristig aber geht es den Chinesen vor allem um den Zugriff auf das bolivianische Lithium. Ulrich Grillo, Vorsitzender des Rohstoffausschusses des BDI, warnt, dass China mit seiner Politik bald den Schlüssel für die Batterien der Zukunft in seiner Hand halten könnte. In jedem Fall gibt es zu wenig Lithium auf der Welt, was sich auch darin zeigt, dass trotz aller Gefahren jetzt ernsthaft über die Ausbeutung von Lithium-Reserven in Afghanistan nachgedacht wird.

Alle Bedarfsprognosen zeigen: Auch bei anderen Rohstoffen wie Kupfer, Titan oder Kobalt wird für die Zukunft eine das Angebot weit übertreffende Nachfrage vorausgesagt. Nicht selten werden schon heute wegen des Reichtums, den diese Rohstoffe dem Besitzer bringen, heftige Kämpfe darüber ausgetragen. Der Bürgerkrieg im Kongo, der fünf Millionen Menschen das Leben kostete, wäre ohne die Bodenschätze in der Ostprovinz Kivu, vor allem ohne das dortige Coltan, kaum ausgebrochen. Auf der Pazifikinsel Bougainville, einer ehemals deutschen Kolonie, tobte lange Zeit eine sogenannte Kokosnuss-Revolution um eine riesige Kupfermine, die 15 000 Menschen das Leben kostete. Der britisch-australische Rohstoffgigant Rio Tinto bemüht sich um die Wiederaufnahme der dortigen Produktion. Im Süden der äußerst instabilen philippinischen Insel Mindanao will der Schweizer Konzern Xstrata gigantische Kupferminen ausbeuten - gegen den entschiedenen Widerstand von Kommunisten, Islamisten und katholischer Kirche. Solche Konflikte wird es in Zukunft vermehrt geben - übrigens auch in der Arktis und auf dem Boden der Weltmeere, vielleicht eines nicht allzu fernen Tages auf dem Mond.

Was folgt daraus? Erstens müssen Deutschland und Europa ihren Bedarf an strategischen Bodenschätzen definieren und vor diesem Hintergrund eine gemeinsame Strategie entwickeln, die sie in der Welt entschlossen durchsetzen. Es muss Schluss sein mit der dauernden Selbstbeschäftigung, die EU muss - mit Deutschland als einer treibenden Kraft und wo immer möglich im Schulterschluss mit den USA - ein Global Player werden, der den Willen zeigt, sich zu behaupten und seine Rohstoffinteressen durchzusetzen.

Zweitens müssen Politik und Wirtschaft mit Blick auf die Rohstoffsicherheit eng zusammenarbeiten. Neben der Stützung eines innovativen Mittelstandes brauchen die europäischen Gesellschaften auch eine bessere Akzeptanz von europäisch verorteten multinationalen Konzernen, die die enormen Investitionen bei der Ausbeutung, der Veredlung und der Infrastruktur der Rohstoffgewinnung leisten können und die gegenüber den chinesischen, indischen, brasilianischen und amerikanischen Giganten konkurrenzfähig sind. Es ist im Interesse der deutschen und europäischen Politik, gemeinsame industriepolitische Konzepte mit Unternehmen wie Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Xstrata, BASF, Siemens und anderen zu entwickeln, um sie im weltweiten Rohstoffwettbewerb zum Beispiel mit chinesischen Staatskonzernen zu unterstützen. Außenpolitik muss in diesem Bereich noch stärker Außenwirtschaftspolitik werden.

Drittens muss der Versuch unternommen werden, die heutige Abhängigkeit von strategischen Bodenschätzen durch die Entwicklung künstlicher Ersatzstoffe zu mindern und die Effizienz der Rohstoffverwendung durch technische und chemische Innovationen zu steigern. Auch dabei ist eine enge Kooperation zwischen Unternehmen und Forschungspolitik erforderlich. Es muss geprüft werden, inwieweit sich heimische Rohstoffminen, die vor Jahren wegen mangelnder Wirtschaftlichkeit geschlossen wurden, wieder lohnen. Und schließlich gibt es nach wie vor enorme Potenziale für die europäische Wirtschaft durch weitere Verbesserungen bei der Industriemüllverarbeitung und Metallschrottverwertung in Deutschland.

Der Wettbewerb um Rohstoffe wird hart, weil davon nicht nur die globalen Machtverhältnisse, sondern das Überleben von Gesellschaftsentwürfen und Regierungssystemen abhängt. Aber vor dem Hintergrund der Kolonialgeschichte sollten Deutsche und Europäer alles dafür tun, dass diese Auseinandersetzung so weit wie möglich friedlich und nach den Regeln des internationalen Rechtes ausgetragen wird. Die Menschen in den Rohstoffländern dürfen nicht wie früher ausgebeutet werden, sondern sollten vom Abbau und Handel mit Rohstoffen profitieren. Kurzfristig mag es ein Wettbewerbsnachteil gegenüber den Chinesen sein, zu Staaten wie dem Sudan oder Simbabwe Distanz zu halten oder die Debatte über Blutdiamanten und Konfliktrohstoffe zu führen - langfristig wird sich eine Politik auf der Grundlage ethischer Mindeststandards nicht nur als moralisch überlegen, sondern auch als wirtschaftlich erfolgreicher erweisen. Ressourcensicherung wird nur nachhaltig sein, wenn sie in den Entwicklungsländern nicht in erster Linie Rohstofflager, sondern Partner sieht.

20.08.2010

Bougainville Copper Limited (BOC) Charts from ASX Sydney

20.08.2010

NEW : Three Historical Books on the ESBC Homepage !

NEU : Drei historische Bücher auf der ESBC Homepage !

NOUVEAU: Trois livres historiques sur ce site de l'ESBC !

20.08.2010

NEW : Four Movies of the 2010 Mona Festival !

NEU : Vier Videos vom Mona Festival 2010 !

NOUVEAU : Quatre vidéos du festival Mona 2010 !

19.08.2010

Source Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ITALIANS IN POLICE CUSTODY
By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville Police have arrested two Italian tourists for smoking marijuana (cannabis) in a public place.
According to a Bougainville Police Brief the two Tourists were sighted by residents at the Liberty Guest House last week.
The Italians identified as VIERI NENCINI (40) of Milan in Italy and LORENZO NARDELLI of Rome Italy were captured along with three Bougainvilleans namely, JOHN PULU (40) of South Bougainville(BUIN) AND Manus parentage, ERNEST BARIS(30) of NOVA village on West coast Buka, ALEX BEBEKO of KONGA in Siwai, South Bougainville.
Bougainville Police have confirmed that two expatriates had come to Bougainville as tourists for the recent MONA FESTIVAL were sighted smoking Marijuana at the Liberty Guest House with their three local guides.
Concerned citizens raised the alarm and Police went in and picked them up.
Police who attended to the scene and apprehended the five suspects along with six rolled marijuana, 2 Pall Mall cigarettes stuffed with Marijuana and two small packages containing the dried weed.
The five appeared briefly at the Buka District Court on Monday 16th August and their case has been adjourned to tomorrow Friday.
The two Italian tourists are out on FIVE HUNDRED KINA bail each and are awaiting their lawyers from Port Moresby.
Meanwhile their three Bougainvillean Guides are still behind bars awaiting their next court appearance.

19.08.2010

Source Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BUKA CLEANUP
By Aloysius Laukai

The Bougainville Police Service, Fisheries Section of Primary Industry Division and the Buka Urban Council are embarking on a big clean up exercise of Buka and Kokopau towns tomorrow.
The Exercise would involve the removal of Plastics and other materials from the beach along Buka and Kokopau.
And Appeals have been made this week to town residents and including Business houses to support the cleanathon.
Spokesman for the group and member of the Bougainville Police Service LESLY METEN told New DAWN FM this afternoon that the cleanup exercise is to make our town attractive to visitors.
He said that the clean up of our areas was the responsibility of all residents and not just the Town Council.
The cleanup exercise will also cover Hutjena and Kubu areas.

18.08.2010

Source: Global Investors

A Gem In Rio Tinto´s Portfolio

Rio Tinto (RTP) has a majority holding in mining company Bougainville Copper, who owns the now defunct Panguna mine, one of the world´s largest copper reserves. Closed down since 1989, the decision to re-open the mine could now be around the corner.

Bougainville is a small island in the pacific. It is home to the Panguna mine, closed down in 1989 during a civil war. It is key to know that the remaining copper reserves in the ground could be mined for at least another 35 years. This is what has now caught the investor community´s interest.

One mine, several profiteers

Several developments suggest that the decision to re-open the mine could be made before the end of this year. Such a decision would be of great interest to Rio Tinto, who owns 53.8% stake in Bougainville Copper. Approximately 19.1% is owned by the government of Papua New Guinea, whose government also favors the re-opening of the mine. Bougainville´s president, John Momis, agrees. He knows that the re-opening of the mine would create the jobs and the welfare for his island population.

High return on investment

“It is key to know, that apart from Panguna, Bougainville Copper has secured additional mining rights for 7 other areas on Bougainville”, says Axel. G. Sturm, President of the European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper – a representation of investors in BCL, owning over 4% of the company´s shares. Sturm is convinced the company´s future is bright. And justifiably so! In the 80ies, Bougainville Copper had one of the lowest production costs worldwide. Take this and see copper prices significantly higher today and you can imagine the mine´s potential ROI. However, before production can start necessary investments in infrastructure need to be made. “Improving the infrastructure will take 3 to 4 years and will cost around USD 1.5bn,” says Sturm. He believes that the World Bank could play an active role in financing the project.

18.08.2010

Source: Der Aktionär

Downloaden Sie hier:

Eine Perle in Rio Tintos Portfolio

18.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

PRESIDENT LEAVES
BY Aloysius Laukai

ABG President Chief John Momis left Buka today for Port Moresby on official duties.
Apart from other official duties in Port Moresby, MR. MOMIS would also stay in Port Moresby for the second JSB meeting scheduled for this week.
The JSB meeting is a follow up of the first meeting that discussed outstanding issues that included the Review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement.
Issue on extra funding for the ABG to make it able to deliver effectively.
They also discussed the outstanding FIFTEEN MILLION KINA that the National Government failed include in this year’s budget.
In this coming JSB the ABG team would like to meet with the technical officers on the possibility of releasing this outstanding Fifteen Million Kina.
Other Members from the ABG team will leave for the JSB this week.

18.08.2010

Source: ASX Sydney 

Poor Paul Coleman is supposed to answer to another ASX price query!

Sydney +20%  -  Frankfurt opens at +5,54% !

Course of Sales for BOC
as at 8/18/2010 5:13:40 PM

Market Depth for BOUGAINVILLE COPPER
as at 5:15:03 PM Wednesday, August 18, 2010

18.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ELECTORATE VISIT
By Aloysius Laukai

The member for Eivo Torau, MELCHIOR DARE has just completed his first electorate visit since his election.
His electorate which covers the Torau people on the Beach and the ParuParu people on the hills at the back of Panguna.
The member told New Dawn yesterday that he had to visit his people to find out what their needs are before he can start working on projects for his people.
He said that the biggest need for his people was the need to get information on the work of the ABG.
MR. DARE said that his people were happy to talk personally to their member instead of working to some kind of committees.
Member DARE said that he could not wait for funding from the ABG to carry out his first visit to his electorate.

18.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

CEO CALLS ON ABG
By Aloysius Laukai

The CEO of CCI, DR. ERIC OMURU last week called on the ABG to allocate land for CCI to continue to do its research on improving cocoa and coconut production in the region.
He said that CCI needs training facility to continue its training program on Bougainville.
DR. OMURU made these comments after learning that the ABG has taken over the CCI Training centre to house the office of the ABG President JOHN MOMIS and several other Ministers.
New Dawn FM understands that this would be the second building that the ABG has taken over from other government divisions in Buka.
The first building is the current ABG Head quarters taken from the UNIVERSITY Centre to convert into its temporary parliament.
Meanwhile a Bougainvillean today called on the ABG to plan and build its own offices.
The chief who wants to remain anonymous said that the ABG cannot continue to squatter in other people’s properties.
He said that they should have build some offices in the last five years.

18.08.2010

Source: The National

CCI team impressed with Bougainville tour

By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

THE Cocoa, Coconut Industry (CCI) team that visited Central and South Bougainville is happy to see big developments happening in both areas.
The team was led by Dr Mathias Faure and CEO Dr Eric Omuru based in Rabaul, and included National Planning senior officer Moses Ahi, Morobe deputy administrator Giobing Bilong, East New Britain Department of Primary Industry (DPI) adviser Biasius Maraga and other senior officers from CCI.
They had the opportunity to visit seed gardens, cocoa farms and DPI stations throughout Central and South Bougainville and also visited the now abandoned Duncan Research Station at Kurwina and the Primary Industry Minister’s block.
The team had several meetings with block owners on the need to improve production in their farms.
Faure was happy to see the local farmers determined to increase production in the absence of government support.
Ahi could not believe the cargo ship that went to Buin to pick up cocoa could only carry 3,000 bags whilst another 10,000 bags were still in storage sheds in Buin.
He promised to support the agriculture industry in Bougainville by seeking funds to support the industry.
The team arrived in Buka on Monday.

18.08.2010

Source: The National

Aussie ship rescues 11

By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

AN Australian vessel has rescued Nissan Islanders who went missing at sea last week.
The Autonomous Bougainville Region’s emergency and disaster centre director Franklin Lacey  confirmed the rescue of 11 people, including four children, who went missing eight days ago.
They were travelling from Nissan to Buka.
The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Port Moresby requested assistance from the Australian Rescue Centre.
Australian merchant vessel MV Brilliance Century, which was on its way to Newcastle, rescued the survivors 123 nautical miles southwest of Buka about 2am last Thursday.
The survivors are reportedly in good health.
The emergency and disaster centre in Buka asked mv Brilliance Century’s skipper to drop
the rescued islanders at Misima Island, Milne Bay.
From there, arrangements would be made for them to return to Buka next week.
It is learnt that an investigation is underway to find out how the travellers got lost out at sea.

17.08.2010

Bougainville -

Establishment of A Copper Mine

Here you can download the book as PDF file !

17.08.2010

Source: The National

Second Bougainville canoe festival a success

By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

THE second Bougainville Mona or canoe festival last week has been hailed a success by show-goers and organizers. 
The Aug 12-14 festival, which featured traditional canoes, attracted more than 10,000 people, including local and international tourists.
The show opened with a local send-off ceremony by Malasang village chiefs of the four canoes.
The canoes then travelled to Buka town where the festival was opened by Bougainville President John Momis.
The canoes and crew had a water break at Ieta village then continued to Kokopau to waiting warriors, cultural groups and chiefs from Selau and Suir.
Comedian Kanage added flavour to the show when he travelled in one of the canoes.
Momis encouraged Bougainvilleans to preserve their custom as “this was our own identity”.
He praised the festival organizers for ensuring its success, and gave K10,000 on behalf of the ABG for the running of the festival.
Director of the National Cultural Commission Dr Jacob Simet urged the festival committee to place the event on the annual calendar for the sake of tourists.
Meanwhile, George Mackanzie and Lorena Richie were crowned Mr. and Miss Digicel Bougainville Mona festival.

17.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Another tourist track in PNG

This track in Bougainville was where Japanese and allied soldiers died during the Second World War.

By Peterson Tseraha

TOURISTS and adventurers all over the world have heard of The Kokoda Track.
Many of them have even walked the famous World War II trail in Papua New Guinea.
In PNG, there are people who boast of having their own Kokoda Track but it may not be as popular as that of the Isurava entrance or the Kokoda track or the same historical significance attached to Kokoda .
This is a story that will take you through an exciting adventure, a journey through another Second World War track, perhaps not so famous like the Kokoda one but is as stimulating, nerve-wrecking and a historical experience like the famous PNG track. In the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, there is a wartime trail that was recently discovered by local tourist company, Bougainville Experience Tours (BET.
This is the Numa-numa-Torokina trail. This track is being explored by the ABG and the local authorities to turn it into a natural tourism attraction and exciting findings on that trail have the potential to be used like they are doing at the Kokoda Trail.
During the war, the Japanese soldiers used this track to mount an attack on the Americans base at Torokina which was an important co-ordinating centre responsible for the grounding of Admiral Yamamoto’s planes in 1943.
BET with ABG commerce division who are part of the tourism team of officers, walked the trail to map its conditions as well as survey the areas that the trail passes through to gather information that will be packaged later for tourists.
The Numa-numa trail starts on the east coast of Bougainville, at the start of the Numa-numa coffee plantation in Wakunai, central Bougainville and goes right down to the west coast in Torokina where US soldiers were based during the war.
The team comprised Zhon Bosco Miriona (team leader and manager Bougainville Experience Tours) Steven M Tamiung (logistics mapping with BET operations in Arawa, Mark Kari (local tour guide, landowner/liaison), Anthony Kavuko (local tour guide, land owner), Cathy Yakase (assistant team leader/administration, Esther Timpa (survey reporter/assistance admin), Lorena Ritsi (photography and medic for the team.)
The team spent three nights and four days walking from Numa-numa to beautiful Torokina beach on Bougainville’s west coast where a group of bomb experts were disposing of wartime bombs. The Numa-numa track is just like the Kokoda Track in which heavy fighting was recorded and there were also heavy casualties reported from both the Japanese and Allies at this track.
The track will bring you into a natural habitat of flora and fauna with birds filling the air with their songs and creeks, rivers and waterfalls add beauty to the natural surroundings.
The track is 60km long and it takes you through a whole jungle land with breathtaking mountains and very cold rivers, through valleys and ridges, swamps and gorges.

17.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

INCREASE POLICE CAPACITY
By Aloysius Laukai

The member for Eivo Ioro in the Autonomous Bougainville Government, MECHIOR DARE wants Police to be equipped to quell increasing law and order in the Region.
MR. DARE said that Bougainville’s biggest threat is to the rule of law is Marijuana and Jungle Juice and not guns.
He said that these are the ubiquitous while guns are held by only a few individuals.
The member said that deaths from Marijuana related violence and confrontational bodily knife wounds have become common and related deaths have risen.
MR. DARE says that this is the trend of violence on our hands on Bougainville.
No Guns but knives today.
He said that this is very serious and the ABG must intervene to stop it before it gets out of hand.
The member made these comments when reporting an incident in his area in which a young man was knifed to death by another youth who was under the influence of Marijuana.
MR DARE said that the man killed was suspected to be having affair with a woman.
The man died instantly due to loss of blood.
Member Dare wants the woman arrested to verify her role on the affair that has resulted in the death of her partner.

17.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

New Police Cars and Ambulances

Bougainville MPs presented three Police Vehicles and two Ambulances last Friday.
Pictured are Bougainville Police outgoing acp, Car dealer, Regional Member Fidelis Semoso and Michael Ogio the member for North present the keys to the Police chief.

17.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

RESEARCH WELCOMED
By Aloysius Laukai

The member for Eivo/Torau in the ABG MELCHIOR DARE has welcomed the re-opening of the DUNCAN research station at Kurwina in Central Bougainville.
The Cocoa and Coconut Research station which was operated by the Cocoa and Coconut Industry boards was closed during the Bougainville conflict.
It was the main station that made Bougainville became the leader in Cocoa and Coconut producer since independence and up to the Bougainville conflict.
The member for Eivo/Torau and the COE member last week welcomed the visiting COCOA COCONUT PRODUCTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT team to the former research station to see for themselves the area and start work on rebuilding the place.
Member DARE said that he welcomed the team and wanted them to start work on rebuilding the place.
He told New Dawn FM that Bougainville needs such service to continuously
Support the farmers in the villages.
The member said that the CCRI was invited to re-establish the DUNCAN research centre to support the ABG with research on both Cocoa and Coconut in years ahead to enable economic growth in the region.

17.08.2010

Source: The National

Training centers needed for farmers: Darku

AUTONOMOUS Region of Bougainville Primary Industry Minister Nicholas Darku says his department will to re-establish training centers to train farmers on proper management techniques.
Speaking at the opening of the National Seeds Gardens and National Cocoa, Coconut Production Improvement Project steering Committee in Buka last Monday, Darku said he would meet with the department’s chief executive officer to plan for his division.
He said the work of seed garden and production improvements were vital for the long term sustainability of the cocoa and coconut industry in PNG and Bougainville.
Darku said the provision of improved planting material had great significance to the cocoa and coconut industries.
He said many of the trees in production were past their expiry dates and as a result were prone to pests and diseases.

16.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Call for joint effort in autonomy

AUTONOMY requires a joint effort from stakeholders, said director of the National Co-ordination Office for Bougainville Affairs said.
Mr Towallom highlighted this at a recent Joint Information Strategy (JIS) review held in Madang.
He said both the National and Autonomous Bougainville governments would work with other development partners including the media to deliver effective development information through different types of activities.
“These communication activities will achieve the objective of this information strategy through arranged face to face medium, use of audio, print and electronic media,” he said.
Mr Towallom said public servants would play a key role to ensure that the public was correctly and properly informed accordingly and within the framework of administrative and politically agreed decision and procedures.
He said with many infrastructure and economic developments on Bougainville this was in the pipeline, and the media was also expected to report fairly on issues.

16.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Waigani gets ready to help Bougainville on info

By ERIC TAPAKAU

THE National Government is in the final stages of finalising an information strategy that will create a basis of an awareness program for the people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The National Coordination office of Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA) is putting together a strategy in consultation with media industry stakeholders in both the print and electronic media.
This week, the team was in Madang putting the final touches to the document that will form the basis for funding by the National Government under next year’s budget. NCOBA director Ellison Towallom said the new ARoB President John Momis wanted to see Bougainvilleans well informed of all important activities including the peace agreement, autonomy, referendum, weapons disposal, ABG constitution and the formation of the ABG as well as the Bougainville Copper Agreement review.
Mr Towallom said the Government supported the information strategy as it also wanted Bougainvilleans to be well informed of the important activities that were happening on the island.
The information strategy was fully endorsed by the Joint Supervisory Body comprising ABG Members and the Government of PNG during their meetings. Mr Towallom said the Government was aware of what was happening on Bougainville due to lack of awareness and through the information strategy, the people on the island would be made aware so that they made informed decisions.
He said the strategy was based on the three pillars of Bougainville Peace Agreement being weapons disposal, autonomy and referendum and would also be aligned into the Vision 2050 while President Momis had his own policies that would be aligned into the whole strategy.
Acting Chief Administrator of Bougainville Raymond Masono who was part of the team in Madang said the information strategy will become a document that will guide the awareness program over the next five years.
He said it was important for the people throughout the island to be made aware of the important policies and what the ABG had done to date that many people were not aware of.
The awareness programs will start immediately using the newspapers and the radio stations while Bougainville students from Divine Word University, University of Technology in Lae and the University of Papua New Guinea will be used to carry out awareness programs during the Christmas holidays.

16.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MONA FESTIVAL - A SUCCESS
By Aloysius Laukai

The second Bougainville  mona festival 2010  was hailed a success.
The three- day show attracted more than TEN THOUSAND people throughout the festival.
The Mona Festival which is a cultural show featuring the locally built traditional Bougainville canoe called “MONA”.
The show also attracted overseas tourists and local tourists from PNG.
The show opened with a local send off ceremony by the chiefs of Malasang village and the four Monas then travelled all the way to Buka Town where the festival was opened by Bougainville’s President JOHN MOMIS.
The four Monas had to rest at Ieta village for Water from the Ieta chiefs then continued to KOKOPAU to a large waiting Warriors and cultural groups and chiefs from Selau and Suir.
PNG’s comedian was in one of the canoes which made extra attraction to the crowd.
The 2010 DIGICEL BOUGAINVILLE MONA FESTIVAL was sponsored by DIGICEL PNG, LAE BISCUIT COMPANY and several other companies.
In his speech PRESIDENT MOMIS encouraged the people of Bougainville to preserve their custom as this was our own identity.
He praised the organizers of the festival for making the festival a reality.
MR. MOMIS also gave TEN THOUSAND KINA as the ABG’s contribution towards the festival.
One of the other highlight was the 2010 MR AND MISS DIGICEL BOUGAINVILLE MONA FESTIVAL.
The winners were the Mister and Miss Malasang.
They are GEORGE MACKANZIE AND LORENA RICHIE.
Representative of the main Sponsor DIGICEL, Bougainville Manager, HENRY ONSA Junior said that Miss Digicel Mona Festival 2010 would be sponsored for the PNG Miss PNG quest next year.
Meanwhile the Chairman of the National Cultural Council, DR. JACOB SIMET called on the Mona Festival committee to put the festival on the yearly calendar of the PNG Cultural shows so that tourists can know when the Mona Festival is held.
He said that the calendar should be within the New Guinea Island shows so that Tourists can tour Provinces to Provinces following these festivals and enjoy what PNG has to over with Tourism.
The Festival was closed by the ABG Vice President, PATRICK NISIRA who promised to allocate TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND for the festival next year.
 

15.08.2010

Last ESBC statement on Bougainville Copper ADRs !

The unsponsored American Deposit Receipt (ADR) program has been cancelled in July 2009 by the emitting US banks. Most of investors who had bought these securities have received an offer from their broker to exchange their ADRs into ordinary shares of Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL). This offer was limited for six months only and due to a transaction fee. All investors who did not accept to convert into ordinary BCL shares were automatically compensated according to the share price resulting from the sales of the deposited ordinary shares. These were sold out until July 2010.  It might have happened that your broker failed to make you an appropriate offer for this exchange. In that case and under condition that you have not yet been compensated, you should insist to get your BCL ADRs converted into ordinary BCL shares by fair dealing. In case of any problems you should see a consumer advice centre as well.

The ESBC have always been the representation of holders of ordinary Baugainville Copper Limited securities only. In the past the ESBC advised investors repeatedly not to buy American Deposit Receipts. The ESBC always recommended buying ordinary BCL shares. Today, more than ever before, the ordinary Bougainville Copper share is an extreme valuable investment with an excellent future prospect. You absolutely should not miss this great opportunity because of some harmful losses in investing in BCL ADRs.

15.08.2010

Letzte ESBC Stellungnahme zu Bougainville Copper ADRs !

Das ungesponsorte American Deposit Receipt (ADR) Programm auf Bougainville Copper wurde im Juli 2009 seitens der emittierenden Banken beendet. Im Normalfall wurden Investoren, die diese Papiere gekauft haben, von ihren Banken das Angebot unterbreitet, diese Papiere gegen eine Gebühr binnen eines halben Jahres in Originalaktien der Bougainville Copper Limited umzutauschen zu können oder sich aber entschädigen zu lassen. Sollte Ihre Bank das versäumt haben und Sie dies auch nachweisen können, haben Sie eine kleine Chance, dass Ihre Bank, sollten Sie nicht schon entschädigt worden sein, diese Papiere auf dem Kulanzwege gegen eine Gebühr in Originalaktien umtauscht, indem sie diese selbst erwirbt und Ihnen diese dann in Ihrem Depot gutschreibt. Sollte es dabei Probleme geben, wenden Sie sich an eine Verbraucherschutzorganisation.

An dieser Stelle möchten wir darauf hinweisen, dass die ESBC stets nur ein Zusammenschluss von Inhabern von Originalaktien in Bougainville Copper Limited waren. Die ESBC haben immer wieder davor gewarnt, US-amerikanische Hinterlegungszertifikate wie die Bougainville Copper ADRs zu kaufen. Die Bougainville Copper Aktie ist hingegen nach wie vor eine hochwerthaltige Investition mit glänzenden Zukunftsaussichten. Deshalb sollten Sie sich nach unserer Auffassung keineswegs davon abhalten lassen, in Bougainville Copper investiert zu sein, nur weil Sie mit den gleichnamigen ADRs empfindliche Verluste eingefahren haben.

14.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

President John Momis and ABG Speaker Andrew Miriki visiting the 2010 Mona festival.

See more Mona festival pictures here!    

Sehen Sie mehr Mona Festival Fotos hier!  

Découvrez plus de photos du festival Mona ici!

13.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Panguna Landowners to visit mines

By ERIC TAPAKAU

PLANS are underway for the Panguna mine affected landowners to visit operating mines in the country to see how the mining industry has developed from the experiences of the once world class mine.
The mines planned to be visited include Lihir in the New Ireland Province, Porgera in the Enga Province and Ok Tedi in the Western Province.
These trips follow the endorsement of the Joint Supervisory Body meeting who agreed that landowners affected by the Panguna mine from upper tailing and lower tailings should be taken on study tours to operating mine sites to see how mining operations improved over the last 20 years, especially in the areas of waste management and benefits to landowners.
This also comes at a time when the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government increase momentum to review the Bougainville Copper Agreement.
The agreement was not reviewed over many years since Bougainville Copper Limited started operations at Panguna.
Director of the National Coordination office of Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA) Ellison Towallom said in Madang this week that the BCA review was the third agenda of the 15 step process to draw down functions and powers to the ABG.
He said the review had to take place sooner rather than later after some delay had been experienced as outcomes of the review would pave the way for the reopening of the Panguna mine if all the parties agreed to it.
“We need proper awareness and the right information must be given to the landowners (regarding the future of the mine),” Mr Towallom said.
“The mining regime has improved a lot since the Panguna problem. We will take landowners to Lihir to see what the landowners there are getting now and workshops will be conducted in Panguna and Arawa to create awareness among the landowners.

12.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

BCL agreement to be reviewed

PREPARATIONS for the review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement are being undertaken seriously with the Autonomous Bougainville Government detailing demands before the task is carried out.
A resolution was passed to activate the review at a Joint Supervisory Body meeting held in Port Moresby last week.
Bougainville Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso said yesterday these resolutions would be detailed in a report which would then be presented to the Cabinet for endorsement.
“Before the Autonomous Bougain-ville Government can make a decision about possible resumption of mining exploration or mineral exploitation by the Bougainville Copper Limited, it will need to consult with a range of interested parties in Bougainville, including the representatives of landowners of the areas covered by the Special Mining Lease and other leases held by BCL,” Mr Semoso said.
“Before any process of reviewing the Bougainville Copper Agreement and considering the exploration licences held by BCL begins, ABG must make a request to the National Government for such a review and upon receipt of such a request, the National Government will initiate the review process. Any review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement and of considering the exploration licence held by BCL must involve the National Government, the ABG and representatives of landowner groups in Bougainville.”
Mr Semoso and ABG President John Momis announced that the special JSB meeting also resolved that:
n THE leader of the ABG delegation to the special JSB meeting ABG President Momis will notify the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to start the process of the review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement before the end of this year.

12.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Blueprint for weapons disposal

By GORETHY KENNETH

FOR the first time since the United Nations weapons disposal program ended in 2005, the Autonomous Bougainville Government finally has a blueprint for weapons disposal.
ABG will need K18 million to complete the exercise with a time-frame still being 18-24 months.
Bougainville Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso yesterday lauded ABG President John Momis and his Veterans Affairs team for finally coming up with a plan which will set the basis of this exercise.
In a press conference yesterday, President Momis and Minister Semoso advised the importance of this exercise in removing the hindrance to development on Bougainville.
They also spoke of the Joint Supervisory Body meeting which was held in Port Moresby recently and the resolutions it passed regarding this issue.
“While noting the presentation and request for funding for Bougainville Weapons Disposal Programs by the ABG delegation the special JSB meeting resolved that the Bougainville administration will provide detailed costs of the weapons disposal program including a Weapons Disposal plan for consideration and endorsement by the JSB at its meeting on August 23-27, 2010,” the resolutions contained.
Mr Semoso advised all chief executive officers present to witness the signing ceremony and the ABG will also present a report of the K4 million appropriated for Peace, Reconciliation and Weapons Disposal Program in 2009.
Veterans Affairs chief executive officer Nick Peniai said the office had a proposal for K18 million to complete this program but asked the Government why his application was not included in the Joint Supervisory Body resolution that would be presented to Cabinet next week by Mr Semoso.
Both leaders advised it was an oversight but assured that because this was one issue that needed ABG’s immediate attention, they would seriously address it.

12.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

KUNES THANKS RESCUERS
By Aloysius Laukai

Meanwhile boat owner, PHILIP KUNES was a joyful person when the news of the rescue reached him this afternoon.
He told New Dawn FM in Buka this afternoon that he never gave up hope in these people until they were finally rescued this morning.
He thanked the National Disaster Office for their assistance in sending signals to boats and planes that frequent PNG waters.
MR. KUNES also thanked the people who prayed for the safety of these eleven passengers.

12.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

NISSAN ISLANDERS RESCUED
By Aloysius Laukai

An Australian vessel rescued Nissan Islanders who went missing at sea since last week.
The ABG Emergency and Disaster Centre (ECD) Director Mr Franklin Lacey has confirmed the rescue of eleven(11) people including four children that went missing eight days ago.
They were travelling from Nissan to Buka.
The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Port Moresby requested assistance from Australian Rescue Centre (ARC) and Australian merchant vessel MV Brilliance Century that was on its way to Newcastle rescued the survivors 123 nautical miles South West of Buka .at 2.00am this morning Thursday, August 12th, 2010
The survivors are reportedly in good health and not requiring any medical attention.
The ABG Emergency and Disaster Centre have communicated with the merchant ship to have the passengers disembark at Misima island where they will arrange transport to have them back by next week to Buka.
The Bougainville Administration is thankful for assistance given by the maritime rescue and coordination centre and Australia in rescuing our citizens.
The ABG Emergency and Disaster centre continues to warn sea farers not to over load boats when travelling long sea distances as it is costly to mount rescue operation.
It is not yet known what the cause of their ordeal was.

12.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

FESTIVAL OPENED
By Aloysius Laukai

ABG President JOHN MOMIS this afternoon officially launched the three-day Bougainville Mona festival 2010 in Buka.
The highlight of today included officially sending off the four Monas at the IEASALA Beach Malasang on Buka island.
However due to big waves the Monas could not go into the sea but were put off to the sea in Ieta village.
The four Monas started from Kukul to Motmoto in Ieta then went to Kokopau before paddling to the Buka beach front near the Buka main market.
PNG’s comedian KANAGE was the main attraction as he was on the TSITALATO QUEEN waving to people who were shouting at him.
In his speech PRESIDENT MOMIS encouraged the people of Bougainville to preserve their custom as this was our own identity.
He praised the organizers of the festival for making the festival a reality.
MR. MOMIS also gave TEN THOUSAND KINA as the ABG’s contribution towards the festival.
Mobile Giant DIGICEL is the main sponsor of this year’s Mona festival.
The festival ends on Saturday.

12.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

11.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Displaced Kiribatis selling

their catch in Bougainville

The displaced Kiribati islanders are seen here selling their fish produce at the international market in Buin on Saturday. They come to sell fresh and smoked fish and turtles plus crayfish and shells. They travel all the way from Solomon Islands to sell their produce in Bougainville for the much needed PNG kina. They buy rice, tinned fish, sugar, biscuits and other store goods from Buin and take them back to Solomon Islands.

‘

11.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Buka set for 1st triathlon

By GORETHY KENNETH

THE Autonomous region of Bougainville is bracing for its first Bougainville Pikinini Aquathon and Triathalon 2010 games, which will be held in Buka on Independence Day.
The aquathon is for children under the age of 15 years and includes a swim and run. In a team event one team member will swim, and after the swim, the swimmer will tag the other team member who will run.
Aquathon age group distances are:
7-10 years old: 100 metre swim and 11-15 years old: 200 metre swim, 500 metre run and 1 km run. There is no entry fee for this event and has support from Weetbix and Blue Light New Zealand.
The triathalon distances are as follows - 500m Swim, 20km ride and 5km run. The entry fees for the triathalon are — individual K100, village/school teams K250 and corporate/business teams K500. The organisers of this event are Gregory Wong, Peter Tsiamalili Jr and NZ police adviser, Karley Western and this event is supported by PNG triathalon, Blue light NZ Ltd, and Weetbix.
“This is going to be a great event for the people of Bougainville and all money raised will be used to purchase equipment for the children’s and maternity wards at Buka Hospital and formally presented to the community at a later date,” Tsiamalili (jnr) said. “This is the start of something really exciting for you and the Bougainville People, and we hope you will support it.” Tsiamalili also advised the events co-ordinator of the PNG Triathalon, Stephen Damian, will be at the event, and depending on the community support this could be the start of something big and exciting for Bougainville, with the opportunity for more support and sponsorship being offered for similar events in the years to come.
“These events are for the people and children of Bougainville, and will be instrumental in youth development and community morale. All money raised for this will be used to purchase much needed equipment at the children and maternity wards at the Buka Hospital. This equipment will be purchased and presented to the doctors at the Buka hospital at a later date,” Tsiamalili said.
The swimmers will start the race, and at the end of the swim they will tag the cyclists. The cyclists will complete the ride and tag the runners. The runners will complete the run and end the race. The team has not finished until the runner has crossed the finish line.
This event will start at the completion of the Pikinini Aquathon and will start and finish outside Reasons Bar, which is close to the Kuri resort in Buka Town. The triathalon distances for this event are: Swim 500 metres, cycle 20 km, run 5 km.
“The person doing the cycle leg must provide their own bike and helmets are strongly recommended. If there is any issue with this please notify the organisers as soon as possible to see whether we can assist,” Tsiamalili Jr said.

11.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Protecting our plantings

COCOA is the big new boom crop in the vast Morobe Province, according to reports.
The rural areas have taken on growing of cocoa in a big way.
Other crops have been found wanting in that potential food bowl of the nation.
Farming produce is the way to go for such a fertile province but it brings up an imperative need.
The insect pest that has plundered the cocoa trees of East New Britain has reportedly spread to the richest rural province of all, Bougainville, and to Namatanai in New Ireland. The authorities in ENB have been tearing their hair out, trying to find ways to insulate their cocoa growers from the ravages of the cocoa pod borer but without startling success.
It appears their best hope is in mitigating the effects with good practices on the plantations and in the settler blocks.
We hope that cocoa will overcome this insect blight because in some ways the cocoa tree is a better prospect for the village growers than coconuts, rubber and even oil palm.

11.08.2010

Source: The National

Concerns raised over safety of Buka Airport

THE Department of Civil Aviation and the Autonomous Bougainville Government have been called on to make funds available to lift the safety standard of the Buka Airport.
The call was made by Bougainville MP Fidelis Semoso after contributing to cleaning the airport where tall grass had been left uncut for some time.
Two CAA officers based in Buka – Felix Buritua and Mark Karaman – told a radio talkback show programme that they were happy the MP had come to their assistance.
They said numerous requests to their head office to make funds available to fix the slasher had gone unheard.

10.08.2010

Source: The National

Bougainville to get K5m yearly

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

PAPUA New Guinea will continue to support the Autonomous Region of  with an annual grant of K5 million.
Bougainville Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso said this was agreed to at a special joint supervisory body meeting between the state and ABG last Friday in Port Moresby.
“The K5 million grant will help support the administration of the autonomous government annually,” Semoso said.
The allocation was contained in the Bougainville Peace Agreement signed in 2001, which also included recurrent unconditional grants, until the ABG becomes fiscally self-reliant.
“It costs the ABG K11 million to administer its affairs.
“The remaining K6 million will be derived from the autonomous government’s internal revenue,” he said.
Other topics discussed last Friday included weapons disposal, preparation of the Bougainville Copper Agreement (BCA) review and the restoration and development grant of K15 million from the state.
Bougainville affairs director Ellison Towallom said the next special meeting would be in Rabaul from Aug 23-25.

10.08.2010

Source: The National

Momis condemns attack on Japanese workers

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government President John Momis has condemned the attack of two Japanese workers by drunken youths in Bougainville yesterday.
An engineer and a technical officer, both employees of Kitano Construction Corporation, the company building bridges in central Bougainville, were attacked when they refused to hand over the keys of a construction vehicle when approached by drunken youths.
Momis said this was a serious incident that must not be allowed to happen again.
“Any repetition of such incident at any of the 15 bridge sites can jeopardize the completion of the project.”
The Japanese workers were part of a team of expert sent by the Japanese government to Bougainville to provide engineering and technical expertise on building bridges under a K90-million Bougainville bridge project underway between Kokopau and Arawa.
Momis further called on local leaders and chief of the communities of which the bridges are located to ensure the safety of foreign workers.
“These people are here to help us with their money and expertise. We must look after them,” Momis said.

10.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

World Bank to provide $US40 million to PNG

By MOHAMMAD BASHIR

THE World Bank and the Government of Papua New Guinea signed two agreements yesterday for concessional financing totalling $US40 million to significantly improve the livelihoods of the rural communities.
Ferid Belhaj, World Bank country director for PNG, Timor Leste & Pacific Islands and Treasury, Finance and Public Service Minister Peter O’Neill signed the financing agreements for the two projects which will provide support for agriculture and rural telecommunications services.
In a packed ballroom at the Holiday Inn, the signing was witnessed by several departmental heads and chief executive officers of statuary bodies.
The funds will finance the Productive Partnership in Agriculture Project (PPAP) and the Rural Communications Project (RCP), both of which aim to improve the livelihood of rural communities.
More than 80 per cent of Papua New Guineans live in rural areas, largely dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods and supporting rural population was imperative to both social and economic development.
The PPAP will assist coffee and cocoa farmers in adopting improved farming practices, facilitate the relationship between smallholder farmers and agribusiness and provide critical infrastructure for markets access.
The project will focus on areas dependent on coffee and cocoa production such as East New Britain, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Jiwaka and Simbu provinces with possible expansion to other areas subject to review.
The RCP will provide access to telecommunications for 420,000 rural people in Chimbu and East Sepik provinces and facilitate public internet access in about 60 district centres. As in many previously isolated communities around the world, women are expected to benefit from improved access to communications including income-generating opportunities. “Improving the lives of rural households is a priority for both the World Bank and the government of PNG. These projects will improve the incomes and livelihoods of smallholder coffee and cocoa farmers and provide access to communication services for hundreds of thousands of people and will open up opportunities for business growth, information on health and educations and contact with distant family members,” Mr Belhaj said.
On behalf of the Government, Mr O’Neill said he was grateful for the World Bank’s timely assistance.
“On behalf of the people and government of PNG, I sincerely appreciate this funding assistance from the World Bank. The World Bank has been very supportive of our development efforts over the years.
“I am equally confident the agencies tasked with implementing these two projects will ensure they are completed and delivered on schedule for the mutual benefit of our rural people,” Mr O’Neill said.

09.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

AKOITAI SUPPORTS MOMIS
By Aloysius Laukai

Former Mining Minister, SAM AKOITAI (picture) is calling on the people of Bougainville to support the Momis government to fast track the Bougainville Copper review.
He said the option taken by the MOMIS government is the best option for Bougainville to reopen the Panguna Copper mine.
The former Minister said that for Bougainville to achieve sufficient economic recovery it must review the Bougainville copper agreement because it has outstanding issues that can be ironed out to support the ABG to move forward.
MR. AKOITAI said that he does not support the new mining company that is carrying out awareness campaigns in Wakunai and Tinputz areas.
The former Minister said that for Bougainville to allow another mining company to do exploration it must lift the Moratorium placed over Bougainville.
He said that the mining group was confusing the people of Tinputz and Wakunai they can not bypass the ABG and talk directly to the landowners.
MR. AKOITAI said comments that they can start up mining after four years is not true as it would take a minimum of ten years to start up any mine.
He said because BCL has the maps and the expertise on the Panguna area it can take less than ten years to start operating.
MR. AKOITAI said that even BCL has to go through negotiations on the review that could drag on delaying the start up time.

May 2008: ESBC President Axel G. Sturm meets Sam Akoitai in Port Moresby 

09.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

CHURCH FUND RAISING
By Aloysius Laukai

The Malasang community yesterday raised more than ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND in less than three hours to complete their new church building.
The building which was built with steel beams and concrete would be opened on August 27th 2010.
The villagers have been raising funds to complete the church ready for its opening and held their last fundraising at the KURI Village Resort.
According to the Regional member for Bougainville, FIDELIS SEMOSO the people needed some funds to complete internal walling and before the opening.
He said he was happy the corporate dinner raised more than enough to complete the building in time for opening.
MR. SEMOSO thanked the people who supported the fundraising and said that the people of Malasang are ready to assist groups that have supported the fundraising in future.
One table was charged K1,000 for ten people whilst other pledges and donations were welcomed.
The biggest donation of THIRTY THOUSAND KINA was given by a local company GANEI HOLDINGS.
KUTE LIMITED and the Regional member himself gave TEN THOUSAND KINA each.
The Acting ABG Vice President, JOE EGILIO pledged FIVE THOUSAND KINA.
Individual businesses and families gave in thousands towards the Malasang church building.
New Dawn FM understands that the Catholic people of TABAGO PARISH in Buin did similar fundraisings and build the biggest church in the South Pacific for more than ONE MILLION KINA.
Their church building was opened by the Pronuncio in September, 2005.

09.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Remote schools get classrooms

By GORETHY KENNETH

PAPUA New Guinea’s K230 million Rehabilitation of Education Sector and Infrastructure (RESI) funds, although criticised for misappropriation in 2006 and 2007, has been hailed for helping three remote schools in Bougainville.
Mamaromino and Buin primary schools, both in South Bougainville and Piruana Primary School in remote Kieta, Central Bougainville have all the reasons to smile as they benefited from the K230 million RESI funds.
The three schools now have permanent classrooms together with a staff office and for the Buin schools electricity and for all schools, water tanks. This was thanks to Bougainville Engineering and Construction Limited, a thriving South Bougainville contractor owned by Michael Pakei, who built these classrooms and fully supplied them with necessities including water tanks, especially when tanks were a problem for these schools. It was done at a total cost of K900,000. The schools are up in the mountains and others out of reach from ships and in the wilderness but the company did all these projects to help the people get schools.

09.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

ABG meet ends on high note

By Alex Munme

A PARLIAMENTARY committee training workshop for Members of the Autonomous Bougainville Government has ended on a high note.
The two-day workshop was part of the continuing induction program for the new Members. It was organised by the ABG House of Representatives with the NSW Parliament.
The focus of the training was on the role of Parliamentary Committees with an emphasis on engaging the community through committee work.
The aim was to assist the House of Representatives to ensure its parliamentary committees perform their proper roles. Members of Parliament were encouraged to gain a greater appreciation of the value of parliamentary committees as a means of “taking Parliament to the people,” enabling Members to be better informed about community views and providing a bridge between Members constituents concerns and a broader community interest.
They also looked at promoting public debate, how to scrutinise the Executive contributing to better government through a more informed administration and policy-making process.
Simon Johnston from the NSW Parliament also the Twinning Arrangement project co-ordinator was present at the MOU signing on Friday and facilitated at the workshop. He was assisted by parliamentary staff including the Speaker Andrew Miriki, Clerk of Parliament Robert Tapi, and Director for Committees Moses Havini. The workshop included two former Members and Committee chairs who enlightened the Members on their new roles as Committee Chairs, Deputy Chairs and Members. Participants were presented with certificates.

09.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Business set to pick up in Buin

By GORETHY KENNETH

BUSINESS in Buin town, South Bougainville, is picking up with small scale business owners and contractors taking the initiative to develop the once neglected area since the Bougainville Crisis.
Building construction in that part of Papua New Guinea is also looming with contractors showing their skills and efforts to complete contracts awarded to them, most of which are for schools.
Other projects also include the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s projects and the Australian Law and Justice projects which are a police office and local courthouse. Guest houses have sprung up, but since this report was filed only four are operating with two more new guest houses under construction - especially in a place like Buin, now rising from the ashes.
PNG Power the supplier of electricity throughout Papua New Guinea is also setting up in Buin. The town of Buin was once known as a “no law and order” town but that name is changing with the people of south Bougainville desperately trying to prove they are not what people think, that they are working tirelessly to be law abiding citizens. One major building contractor which has taken the risk of setting up against all odds in Buin is the Bougainville Construction and Engineering Ltd,
According to people from Buin, the town is not what outsiders think it is. Buin is picking up its pieces, and proving that business is booming in this part of the country.
Owner of Bougainville Construction and Engineering Ltd Michael Pakei told the Post-Courier he had to “bite the bullet” and show prove to other Bougainville contractors that there was business in this part of Bougainville.

09.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

COCOA LEADER
By Aloysius Laukai

A local cocoa farmer says Bougainville can beat mining if given the backing by the government and its agencies.
JAMES RUTANA told the National seeds gardens and the National Cocoa, Coconut Production Improvement Project steering committee in Buka this morning.
He said that Bougainville farmers need just small assistance to achieve this goal.
MR. RUTANA made these comments after the CEO for the Cocoa Coconut Institute (CCI), DR.ERIC OMURU mentioned that Bougainville has taken over the lead as the main cocoa producer in Papua New Guinea after 22 years.
He said Bougainville was a leader in the past, but went down during the crises and has taken over the lead again.
DR. OMURU said that CCI was working on a new strategic plan that is to partner with NGO and private partners.
And Memorandum of Understandings have been developed with Provincial Governments to further strengthen this program.
Another meeting will be held in Arawa this Wednesday before the team travels to Buin, South Bougainville to see projects there.

09.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

CCI MEET
By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville is privileged to host two important Steering Committee meetings this week.
They are the National Seed Gardens and The National Cocoa, Coconut Production Improvement Program (NCCPIP).
The participants for the workshops arrived in Buka last Saturday and wasted no time.
They visited the Seed garden at Hanahan and also visited a model farm owned by the Regional member for Bougainville, FIDELIS SEMOSO.
They also visited another new cocoa rehabilitation project at Novah village.
The aim of the steering committee meeting in Buka is to see for themselves the activities of the farmers in raising their own revenue and at the same time maintaining the production level despite concerns on the Cocoa Pod Borer which has devastated cocoa production in East New Britain and other Provinces.

09.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Eager to achieve

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

WHEN you walk through the dusty streets of Buka town, you will mistake him for an ordinary villager from the west coast area of Bougainville.
However, this fellow that we are about to meet is no ordinary person. A look at his CV will tell you that he is one of those silent achievers who has gone through a lot of struggles and sacrifices to be where he is today.
Meet Xavier Tsiwa, a certified safety management systems expert from the least developed Torokina district in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Mr Tsiwa, 34, has been working as a safety officer for the giant world class Lihir Gold Mine (LGL) for 13 years before calling it quits and venturing into his own business.
During his term at LGL, Mr Tsiwa played a big role in setting up the safety management systems of LGL after attaining his diploma in safety management system from Brisbane, Australia in 2007.
The highest position that Mr Tsiwa held before resigning in 2008 was managing and supervising the safety operations for both LGL and its contractors.
However, it has not been a smooth ride for Mr Tsiwa to be where he is today-considering all the pain, struggles and hardships that he had to go through before finally arriving at where he is now.
Since completing his grade 10 at Bishop Wade High School in 1994, Mr Tsiwa could not further his education due to financial constraints.
For two years he stayed at his village and continued to raise funds because wanted to complete his education.
In 1996 Mr Tsiwa boarded a cargo ship bound for Rabaul with the hope of securing a job with the different organisations operating there.
Luck finally struck him when he got his first job with a security firm, Islands Securimax where he worked as a static guard and a dog handler, a position he held for four years.
During that time Islands Securimax was contracted by LGL to provide security at the mining township so Tsiwa was transferred to Lihir.
While working with Islands Securimax, he was sponsored by the company to undergo various safety management courses.
In 2001 another security firm, Niolam Security took over from Islands Securimax and Xavier decided to go with the news company.
During his term with Niolam, Xavier continued to undergo many more safety management courses.
On seeing Xavier’s capabilities, his superiors quickly promoted him to the position of fire and rescue officer, sometimes assuming the responsibilities of the acting airport manager.
For four years he worked as the fire and rescue officer for Niolam Security.
His major breakthrough in the field of safety management finally came in 2004 when he was appointed LGL’s safety adviser and training officer, a position he held until 2007.
In 2006 Mr Tsiwa was selected to undergo a two year safety management course in Brisbane, resulting in him completing the course in 2007 and graduating with a diploma in safety management systems.
While he was still employed by LGL, his desire to start his own business got him so during his field breaks to Buka he started to get things rolling and his company X Enterprise Ltd.
When he resigned in 2008, Mr Tsiwa happily returned to Bougainville because by that time his business was already growing.
Apart from operating a small trade store in Buka town, Mr Tsiwa has also ventured into building construction and has been employing certified carpenters from his village.
One of his first contracts was the construction of a new house for the nurses at the Piva health centre in Torokina.

06.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MONA UPDATE
By Veronica Hannette

The Bougainville Mona Festival Chairman Lawrence Belleh and his colleagues are working round the clock to complete the ground work ready for the big festival
The Buka show ground will be the main host for the festival and so far so good the ground work has advanced and is ready
Bougainville Mona Festival will be a yearly festival therefore the chairman of Mona Festival, Lawrence Belleh is appealing to the people to fully support and learn from such activity
Bougainville Mona Festival is promoting culture and with that it can attract a lot of tourist to the province
This cultural festival will also encourage the people to stand on strong grounds to hold their culture and traditions.
Therefore, cultural activities such as singsing kaur groups, bamboo bands and Solomon dances will be held at the time of festival.
Two traditional contestants, a male and a female from individual traditional group will contest during the three days show.
Meanwhile, CEO for Commerce, Mr Albert Kinani has confirmed that five Mona’s are set to participate at the festival, one from Halia, one from Hahalis, two from Gogohe and two from Malasang.
Mr Kinani is also appealing to business companies like Jomik, Likui, Pemana, Elutu, Deborah and Ela Motors to support the Mona festival.
He said, this show will attract a lot of people and for that reason businesses will make good money from the three day show.
The CEO also announced a new web site that would promote Tourism on Bougainville as www.bougainvilletourism.com.pg

06.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

PRESIDENT CONDEMNS ATTACK
By Aloysius Laukai

ABG President JOHN MOMIS has condemned the attack on Japanese workers working on the Bougainville Bridge Project on Bougainville.
The attack by drunken youths occurred at Bridge NO.7 at IRAKA Central Bougainville on July 9th 2010.
A Japanese engineer working for KITANO construction Corporation and one technical officer were attacked by youths when they refused to heed to the demand by youths to be given the keys to a construction vehicle.
This is a very serious incident that must not be allowed to happen again, as any repetition of such incident at any one of the 15 bridge sites can jeopardise the timely completion of the projects.
The chief of Bougainville Police, THOMAS ELUH has been directed by the Bougainville administration to investigate the incident and have those responsible arrested.
However the onus is on the local leaders and chief of the communities in which those bridges are located to ensure that the security of these foreign workers are looked after.
The President said that these people are here to help us with their money and expertise and we must look after them.

06.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier - Miscellaneus

Vote counting ‘scam’?

COUNTING officers employed during the recent ABG election are still waiting for their allowances. Every time they go to the Electoral Commission office, they’re told “payment will be done next week’’. It’s nearly two months since they started getting that response. Disappointed workers are comparing it to the famed scams that began in Bougainville . . . all talk and no payouts!

05.08.2010

Source: SunLive (New Zealand)

Top cop deployed overseas

The Western Bay of Plenty's road policing manager, senior sergeant Ian Campion, is preparing for an overseas deployment in Bougainville.

Senior sergeant Ian Campion is off to help build infrastructure in Papua New Guinea.

"I'm going over there as part of a police contingent under the New Zealand aid banner and providing some mentoring and coaching for the police service over there," says Ian.
He departs New Zealand on August 16 and will return to Tauranga just before Christmas, starting back at work in early January.
"I think it's a really good opportunity to learn about another culture and be in a position to help out."
Bougainville is in the early stages of developing its infrastructure and Ian says he is looking forward to imparting his knowledge as a traffic specialist.
"I've had a basic briefing in relation to it, but I'm looking forward to getting there and seeing it for myself. My area will be looking at a raft of things such as education and so on."
Ian will return to Bougainville for a shorter period next year.

05.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

DCA FEES
By Aloysius Laukai

Department of Civil Aviation and the ABG have been called on to make funds available to lift the safety standard of the Buka Airport.
The call was made today in Buka after the Regional member for Bougainville chip in funds to clean up the airport which had tall grass left uncut for some time now.
Two DCA officers based in Buka, Felix Buritua and Mark Karaman told new dawn FM talk show that they were happy that the Regional member had come to their assistance.
They said numerous requests to their head office to make funds available to fix the Slasher had gone into deaf ears.
When asked about landing fees paid to airports they said that although payment is collected by their head office,they do not get anything back to maintain the airport.
New Dawn FM understands that the part for the tractor was worth less than ONE HUNDRED KINA.

05.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

TRESSPASSERS WARNED
By Aloysius Laukai

Drivers and Pedestrians crossing the Buka airport terminal would be made to pay trespassing fees as of today.
MARK KARAMAN the OIC for Department of Civil Aviation in Buka told New Dawn FM that as of today anyone found to be driving across the tarmac would be prosecuted by Police.
MR. KARAMAN was speaking on New Dawn FM this morning.
He said that the airport area is restricted to all vehicles and pedestrians but because the airport does not have any security fencing it was difficult to police the airport.
Commenting on funding made available by the Bougainville Regional Member to clean the airport, MR. KARAMAN said that his assistance was timely as he does not get any assistance from the head office.
He called on the ABG to allocate funds to maintain the Buka airport.
On landing fees collected by DCA , he said that their Buka office does not get anything from the head office.

05.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

EX RIGU MEET
By Aloysius Laukai

Former students of St’ Joseph’s Rigu High School are reviving the OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION to support their old school.
The first meeting was held last month in which a small core group was appointed to organize its second meeting in which a full executive is to be elected.
According to the interim Co-ordinator, JAMES KOWIE the group is set to meet on Wednesday August 25th 2010 at the KENNYS HALL.
MR. KOWIE says that this time more old boys would be coming from Arawa, Tinputz, Suir, Selau, Kunua, Nissan and the Atolls.
Co-ordinator, KOWIE is calling on all other Ex Rigu students to attend this important meeting.
He says all students should come with TEN KINA to be donated to the Association.
The meeting will be held at TEN AM.

05.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

MPs need to go back home!

ONE politician has at last taken a stand on colleagues who don’t go home to their electorate often.
Regional MP Fidelis Semoso has called on the three Open seat members in Bougainville to go home more often and spend much more time with their people.
The MPs should only be in Port Moresby when there was a sitting of Parliament, he said.
No doubt some of those MPs will have great justification for any time spent in the capital city, as do the rest of their colleagues whenever parliamentarians are criticised on this topic.
They cite important national duties, meetings of committees and boards they are on, the need to negotiate with HQ staff and other leaders.
Yet the plain fact is that they were elected to represent their home electorate and they can’t do that satisfactorily if they hang around Port Moresy almost the year round.
For some, maybe the attractions are not in the hallowed halls of power at Parliament or Morauta Haus. That is the worry for the folks back in the electorate, struggling to get their bags of cocoa down to the main road and off to Arawa or Buka to sell.
You see, in Bougainville, a lot of roads and bridges are in a sad state. Schools and health centres are also struggling to get back to pre-crisis standards. There’s a lot for all the MPs to do. But this situation is not confined to Bougainville. It is a major concern for the people in almost all provinces of our nation.
Grassroots people joke, with cynical looks, about waiting for the next election campaign so they can say “yes’’ to every candidate when they come with cash and goodies to lure votes. The people are wiser than they seem. They’ve seen the political candidates do the promises routine every five years, only to find the winning candidate disappear to Moresby and hardly ever return to see “the people’’.
They know their big chance is when the candidates are sweet-talking for votes and get what they can from the budding politician while they can. Papua New Guinea needs more patriotic politicians, people who are genuine in their concern for their people, and not their own bank balance and real estate portfolio.

05.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Buin to host 3rd ABG games
By WINTERFORD TOREAS

THE 3rd ABG Games this year will be held in the Buin District of South Bougainville from December 13 to 17.
The ABG Games, which are held every two years to commemorate the formation of the first Autonomous Bougainville Government, was supposed to have been held in June, but was deferred due to the ABG elections and swearing in of the newly elected members.
This event will be the biggest sporting event to be held in South Bougainville and will see top sporting athletes from around Bougainville converging at the Buin Secondary School oval to take part in the sporting activities that will be played during this week-long event.
The ABG Games are a very important sporting event in Bougainville because it is through these games that the best athletes are identified and selected to represent the region in any sporting events held around the country.
According to games co-ordinator Robert Semoso, the purpose of having this game in the area is to strengthen peace, reconciliation and unity throughout Bougainville through sport.
“This 3rd ABG Games which will be held in December in Buin will be the first and biggest sporting event to be held in South Bougainville. The main purpose of staging this game is to strengthen peace, reconciliation and unity throughout Bougainville through sports,” Semoso said.
He said they will need around K429,000 to stage the game this year in Buin.
He said so far he has received positive responses from those that have made a commitment to sponsor the game.
These sponsors include the ABG government (K50,000), AusAid-sponsored Governance Implementation Funds (GIF- K50,000) and Minister for Bougainville Affairs and Bougainville Regional MP Fidelis Semoso (K100,000).
Minister Semoso has already given the first K50,000 towards the games.
Leading mobile phone company Digicel has also expressed interest to sponsor the games.
Games co-ordinator Robert Semoso said apart from major sponsors, the 14 COEs in South Bougainville have also indicated that they will fund K5000 each towards the games, bringing the COEs total contribution to K70,000.
Meanwhile, ABG member for Baubake constituency Joseph Buia has welcomed the decision to stage the games in his constituency.

05.08.2010

Source: The National

BCL records K2.8mil net profit

THE Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL) has recorded a net profit of K2.8 million for the six months ending June this year compared to a net profit of K1.8 million (A$0.9 million) posted for the same period last year.
BCL chairman Peter Taylor said in the next remaining six months, the company would  focus on preparing for a formal engagement with landowners and the national and Bougainville governments over the future of the mine and settling all outstanding issues between the parties.
Taylor said the Bougainville government had indicated its willingness to participate in such talks.
“All parties have agreed that it is necessary to establish a landowner group that can represent all landowner interests during negotiations,” Taylor said in a statement posted on the company’s website.
“The Bougainville government is taking the lead and the company has offered its assistance where appropriate.

05.08.2010

Source: The National

Buka General Hospital needs new sewerage system

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

THE Buka General Hospital which serves the 360,000 people in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville may soon have a new sewerage system if there is sufficient funding.
Bio Systems Indonesia managing director Mark Cambell visited the hospital last Saturday for an inspection on the current sewerage system.
Cambell, who was accompanied by his company director Brian Manthey, said when funding was available, Buka General Hospital would be the first hospital in the country and in the region to have a sewerage system that uses computerised and modified technology.
“Buka General Hospital sewerage system is a small project which can take up to four weeks to install.
“Everything is manufactured in a container that can be easily managed from within the container and also shifted to any location as required by the hospital management team,” Cambell said.
Local businessman from the Tsitalato constituency, who did not want to be named, said the hospital’s current sewerage system was re-opened by contractors to fix the problem of packed waste last year.
However, to-date, nothing had been done.
According to the resident, the open sewerage system which had been releasing a stench was now a cause of concern for residents in the surrounding areas of the hospital.
“Buka General Hospital is the only hospital in the region that is looking after the people of Bougainville.
“The four MPs from South, Central, North and the new minister for Bougainville affairs, should jointly fund the project to put in place the new sewerage system,” he said.

05.08.2010

Source: The National

Cholera status lowered in Buka

THE high alert on the cholera outbreak in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville has now been downgraded.
The region has not reported a single case of the disease apart from normal diarrhoea.
The decision was reached by the Buka urban council (BUC) – the authority responsible for public and environmental health – following consultations with the Bougainville cholera task force and the Buka General Hospital.
The nationwide outbreak has forced authorities in the region to ban the sale of all cooked food items at the main Buka town market and other public places.
The ban had severely affected the main revenue source for the islands of Matjugan, Petats, Pororan and few other smaller islands, who depended on fish sales as their revenue.
Environment health officer with BUC Lawrencia Kumis told The National, the ban had now been lifted after one month of monitoring and public awareness on how to prevent the disease.
In a letter issued by the BUC, manageress Brenda Tohiana advised of the lifting of the ban on specific food items including smoked and mumu fish and cassava.
The BUC warns the public about basic hygiene, especially the washing of hands with soap before preparing food.

05.08.2010

Source: The National

Buka to host mona festival

By REUBEN KALAUNG

THE Buka township in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will be given a rare treat this month with the hosting of the annual mona festival.
The festival is slated for Aug 12-14 at the Buka showground.
Festival committee chairman and tourist operator Lawrence Belleh anticipates a good number of tourists to visit the region during the festival period.
“The popular Kuri Resort is fully booked throughout the festival period.
“We’ve had calls from as far as the United States for accommodation. Other guest house operators are also taking in bookings for that period,” Belleh said.
The event had attracted 18 groups from the region including two from South Bougainville, Central and North Bougainville. The festival was initiated a few years back, however, the first one was held last year.
Belleh explained that the festival aimed to unify all Bougainvilleans as part of the restoration exercise towards peace building and return of normalcy.
“It also aims to promote Bougainville as a preferred tourism destination,” he said.
The mona is a Bougainville traditional canoe which carries the pride of Buka people as it was used by their ancestors as a sea transport means.
The mona comes in three types – the warrior, voyage and for fishing.
The festival chairman confirmed six monas, one each from Hahalis and Kuri Resort and two each from Gogohe and Malasang.
Belleh acknowledged the Lae Biscuits Company for its cash and kind donation to the value of K15,000 and Digicel has undertaken to be the major sponsor acquiring naming rights.
The festival will start from Malasang village with a welcome and tradition rituals performed by the village chiefs.
A voyage will then be taken to Ieta village then to Sohano Island before heading to Buka township.
Well known entertainer Kanage will be part of the celebrations from Buka town.
Belleh said their fundraising drives had raised K75,000, however, they still needed more to cover all expenses.
He urged kind donations to be made to festival bank account – Bougainville Mona Festival, 1001641151, Bank South Pacific, Buka.
Belleh can be contacted on mobile number 7261 7288 or via email  bougainvilletourism@gmail.com

05.08.2010

Source: The National – Letter to the Editor

Momis must eradicate corruption

THERE is evidence that corruption is rampant in all levels of our society.
This means that the Autonomous Region of Bougainville is not immune to corruption either.
Therefore, I call on our new president John Momis to be on the lookout for signs of corruption before it becomes entrenched.
Some of the symptoms of corruption prevalent in Bougainville are:
1. Educated Bougainvilleans setting up network within and outside of the region to secure funds in the name of impact projects, however, diverting them to serve their own interests;
2. Funds intended and acquitted for specific projects are diverted to other projects to meet cronies’ expectations; and
3. Acquisition of government houses and land by certain individuals through corrupt channels throughout the region.
Therefore, for the sake of transparency and for setting good precedence to pave the way for the drawdown of powers, I suggest the following remedies:
1. Investigate and thoroughly screen companies who bid for contracts to undertake major impact projects within the region. For instance, a reputable company must have its books in order and a track record of prudent management;
2. Funds released from the national government for impact projects must go through the ABG for scrutiny;
3. Ensure acquisitions such as houses, parcels of land, etc, are acquired through legal means; and
4. Implement policies and regulations so that people follow proper procedures when acquiring government properties on sale. This is to allow a fair go for everyone rather than certain individuals benefiting.
For us to reach our ultimate goal of good governance, economic independence and an intelligent society, we must have conviction, confidence, and clear set of principles and values.
This is a critical assessment period for Bougainvilleans to show everyone that we are capable of running our own affairs.
If we let corruption become entrenched and institutionalised, then the future will not be that bright for Bougainville.
As stated by Stephen R. Covey: “While we are free to choose our action, we are not free to choose the consequence of our action.”
 
Brooks
Port Moresby

04.08.2010

Looking for a Job in Bougainville? Click here!

04.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

DETAINEES HELD WITHOUT CHARGE
By Veronica Hannette

A senior police officer has revealed that some detainees at the Buka Police cell have been there without being charged.
Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector Cletus Tsien says some thirty detainees have been there for too long without any formal charges.
Commander Tsien, attributed the problem to non co-operative action by the detainees themselves.
He said some of these people behind bars are not helping police in their investigations to lay charges.
He said there are two main factors holding the detainees back
(1) Statements on issues committed
(2) They are kept for security purposes
Police are doing their best to minimise the number of occupants in the cell therefore he is encouraging the complainants to come forward so that they are able to lay charges on detainees

04.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

BCL to meet over Panguna mine

By ERIC TAPAKAU

THE owner of the abandoned Panguna copper/gold mine, Bougainville Copper Limited, will focus on preparing to meet with the landowners, National Government and the Bougainville Autonomous Government over the future of the mine,
Company chairman and managing director Peter Taylor said this in the company’s June quarter report released to the Australian Stock Exchange, adding that the company would also look at settling outstanding issues between the parties.
Bougainville Copper Limited made a net profit of K2.811 million in the first six months to June this year compared to a net profit of K1.8 million made in the corresponding period of last year.
The company has not declared any dividend in respect of the six months to June this year.
Much of the profit was from interests from investments as the only mine owned by the company reported no activities in the first six months.
Mr Taylor said that the Bougainville Government had indicated its willingness to participate in talks with the company.
“All parties have agreed that it is necessary to establish a landowner group that can represent all landowner interests to establish a landowner group that can represent landowner interests during negotiations,” Mr Taylor said. “The Bougainville Government and the company has offered its assistance where appropriate.
“The new Bougainville Government has tenure of five years and the early signs are that it is interested in reopening the mine provided the local landowners are in agreement.”

04.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Bougainville festival on

BOUGAINVILLE is preparing for the biggest event of the year, the Mona Festival, to be held on August 16, 17 and 18. This is the annual festival that attracts business houses, the ABG and traditional groups from all over Bougainville. The festival is an event which showcases traditional canoes used in the past. They were used on three occasions - war, fishing and trade. They are now extinct in Bougainville and the tourism office in Buka has been working hard to bring back this festival to show young Bougainvilleans these canoes.

04.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Foreigners pose threat to Bougainville businesses

By Alex Munme

FOREIGNERS are quietly moving into Bougainville and operating small businesses in Buka town.
Bougainville businessmen and leaders raised their concerns on this issue because of the influx of foreigners into the region.
Former Member for Rau in Wakunai District, Thomas Keriri yesterday warned that there will be a checkpoint at Wakunai District for the sake of screening all foreigners passing through to Central and South Bougainville.
“I am very concerned with an increase in the number of expatriates and foreigners coming into Bougainville and want to know whether they have the ABG’s approval to explore business opportunities and set up business in the region,” Mr Keriri said.
He said the checkpoint was set up to protect lives and screen people entering Bougainville without approval. He said police will be notified.
Several businessmen in Buka said this was a real threat to small businesses owned and operated by Bougainvilleans.
“These are multi-million-kina companies from outside coming in to compete with Bougainvilleans and we are no match for them, looking at our financial and management capacity. Bougainvilleans order their goods from these very companies from outside and are now competing with them through retail shops in Buka. A lot of cash will also flow out of the region and the country through these investors as they are foreigners,” they said.
The businessmen said if they want to invest, “they must come through the ABG and invest in other business ventures, infrastructure and trade skill building and not little shops here, there and everywhere.”
They urged the ABG to regulate and control the situation. Bougainville Business Association executive member Thomas Raban said it was a serious problem because it happened in other centres in PNG and it had to be addressed.

04.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Arawa plans afford

By GORETHY KENNET

THE Autonomous Bougainville Government, with help from the National Government have to sort out the defunct, Arawa town sewerage system before they can talk about rebuilding the former provincial capital.
The Post-Courier has been told by authorities in Arawa that the sewerage system will cost the ABG and the National Government more than K10 million to fix. Early this year, it was acknowledged that rebuilding of Arawa may take about K35 million.
The region’s capital was moved to Buka during and after the 10-year civil war on the island.
Administrative officials said that rebuilding Arawa would take several years, and would involve short and long term projects.
Arawa’s sewerage system was also part of the rebuilding plans but with a separate budget.
It is understood that Central Bougainville MP Jimmy Miringtoro has allocated K1 million towards rehabilitating the sewerage system in Arawa, his hometown.
The Bougainville administration yesterday also said the Australian Government stood ready to assist Bougainville and that the National Government was also committed to helping the region rebuild its former capital.
There are also plans to move Bougainville’s House of Representatives back to Arawa in the next couple of years.
These plans are still sketchy but the Bougainville authorities and leaders responsible for these are adamant that all these would be sorted out once finance is available and a scope of work is done.

04.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Hutjena gets new truck

BOUGAINVILLE’S largest secondary school, Hutjena secondary, happily received a new school truck yesterday.
The truck was handed over to the school by the Minister for Bougainville Affairs Fidelis Semoso and fulfills a commitment made by former deputy prime minister Sir Puka Temu during a visit to the school.
The truck was paid for using part of a K3 million funding given to Mr Semoso by the National Government recently to help Hutjena and other schools in the region.
During the presentation, Mr Semoso challenged the students and staff to look after the truck.
“I am happy to deliver this new truck to the school. I want you to take care of this new truck, which has cost about K92,000 to purchase,” Mr Semoso, who is also the Bougainville Regional MP, said.
He said he hoped that the delivery of the new truck would contribute to improving “the educational standard of the school” and challenged the school administration to find a suitable driver to drive the truck.
He warned that if he finds any driver driving the truck under the influence of alcohol, he will smash the truck’s windscreen before assaulting the driver and handing him over to the police.
Deputy principal Wamsie Sae said the truck will address many of the school’s transportation problems.
Meanwhile, maintenance work to be carried out the school’s hall is expected to start soon.

04.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

ABG plans to raise local revenue

By Alex Munme

AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government President John Momis is adamant that his principal task of promoting good governance and the rule of law, and in the process ending the evil of corruption will effectively be implemented.
“ The issues here are closely connected to weapons disposal. Part of the reason why many people continue to make use of weapons is that they have never experienced the operation of a fair and effective law and justice system,” Mr Momis said recently.
“… my government is working now to develop the details of specific proposals for greatly improving the law and justice system. My government is also developing proposals in relation to weapons disposal which will be announced in the next few weeks. For now I will just mention that I am continuing my efforts to engage with key leaders of armed groups in South Bougainville. I am seeking to persuade them to dispose of their weapons. We are exploring ways of getting the key leaders to exert control and influence over elements that have been hiding behind the leaders in order to get protection needed to commit criminal acts. We are working towards opposing leaders reconciling and to a wider group of former combatants developing a new and more comprehensive weapons disposal plan. Learning from our past efforts, such a plan will need to provide incentives to those with weapons to dispose them. I do not mean only financial or economic incentives (such as development projects), though these may have their part. I mean things like amnesty and things like combatants recognising the link between weapons disposal and the setting a date for referendum,” he said.
Mr Momis said in carrying out his policies, his government aims to build revenue sources within Bougainville. At the moment they rely heavily on the National Government and donors.

04.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Buka airport needs fence

NEWLY appointed Minister for Bougainville Affairs and Bougainville Regional MP Fidelis Semoso has blasted the National Government for its failure to make funds available in the past years to fence the perimeters of the Buka airport.
Mr Semoso has called on the newly appointed Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation Benjamin Poponawa to immediately secure K5 million to fence the airport.
He said Buka airport had always missed out on government funding allocated for improvement purposes in all the airports in the country and therefore it was posing a great risk to the people travelling in and out of the region.
Mr Semoso warned that if Mr Poponawa and the National Government fail to make funding available to fence the airport, they should immediately close the airport because it was posing a threat to the travelling public.
“The urgent need now for the Buka airport is fencing and I am calling on my brother Minister for Civil Aviation Benjamin Poponawa to secure K5 million so we can fence the airport. If the Government cannot give us this money, then they should immediately close the airport because Buka airport is now a safety and security risk airport. The safety of the passengers is of paramount importance so if the government cannot give us the money, they should immediately close the airport,” Mr Semoso said.
He said Bougainville had contributed a lot to the development of the country in the past years and the Government’s negligence in making funds available to fence the airport was a slap in the face for the people of Bougainville.
“From 1972-1989, Panguna was the only mine operating and serving the whole country. Now that we have more mines operating in the country, why can’t the National Government give us the money to fence the airport as a token of appreciation for the development that the Panguna mine brought about to the country.”
Mr Semoso is also calling on the Autonomous Bougainville Government to also do the same by securing funds to fence the Buka Airport.

04.08.2010

Source: The National

Plan closure of projects, says consultant

By BOSORINA ROBBY

THE closure of any resource project, such as mines, should be included in the operational plan before any work should begin, private consultant Prof Richard Jackson said.
This was to avoid failure of any sustainable and investment projects that mining and oil companies plan for their communities in preparation for the closure, he said.
Speaking at the 8th chamber of mines and petroleum community affairs seminar last week, Jackson pointed out that most of the communities where mines had closed are among the world’s most poor and depressed people, despite having these opportunities.
He suggested to all the stakeholders and resource project managers that though it was commendable to assist the communities with sustainable projects in preparation for the closure, it was most wise to invest in training and education.
“You need to emphasise on education so that future generations will have a chance to seek opportunities outside of their post-mine communities.
“So during your operational years, school teacher’s housing is a better investment than a school itself,” he said.
Jackson also pointed out one thing that did work as seen from the Misima mine was the training and transfer of skills.
He said the locals were taught during the mine life and when it closed, these men then received further training and became most sought after at various mine sites within and out of the country.
“That is true sustainability that is within the power of any company to do.
“It comes from within an organization, and the skills are portable and lasts a lifetime,” Jackson said.
Jackson also suggested that companies should also, during the course of the mine life, slowly integrate local government and ensure local capacity to maintain ongoing mine benefits.
“It has been shown very clearly around the world that the real key to the sustaining of mining benefits after closure is the presence of an efficiently functioning local government,” Jackson said.

04.08.2010

Source: The National

Gas Apa to invest in Bougainville

GAS Apa Ltd (GAL), a landowner company based in liquefied natural gas development area, will invest in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
GAL made the decision after ARB-based Invincible Resources Corp (IRC), a foreign investor-partner of Bogenvil Resources Development Corp Ltd (BRDC), invited the company to participate through shareholdings with IRC, according to Simon Ekanda, GAL executive chairman.
“BRDC is a holding company in which GAL and IRC will have a joint venture stake and not direct into BRDC,” Ekanda said, denying an earlier report that it was buying stake in BRDC.

04.08.2010

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03.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MEMBERS IN DARK
By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG member for Baubake, JOSEPH BUIA today released his frustrations over not getting any funding for his electoral work since the swearing in of the ABG second house in June this year.
The new member said that since their election and swearing in he and many of the members are still stuck in Buka waiting for some funding to start their electoral work.
He told New Dawn FM in Buka today that his people are expecting him to return to the electorate and visit them but he is unable to make any electoral visits until he gets some funding.
The member said that he was very disappointed as a elected member because the first one hundred days for the second house should have been felt by his voters but he can not do anything without the necessary funding.
He called on the ABG President JOHN Momis to do something about the funding situation for the ABG.
Meanwhile the member for Eivo /Torau, MELCHIOR DARE has been visiting villages in his electorate since last week.
He told New Dawn FM from Manetai that his people were happy to see him visit them in their villages.
MR. DARE said that he could not sit and wait for the ABG to release funds but had to move within the first one hundred days to see his voters.

03.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SO MEET
By Aloysius Laukai

The speaker of the ABG House of Representatives, ANDREW MIRIKI is to convene the first meeting of the Standing Orders Committee appointed recently on August 12th this year.
The members of the Standing Orders Committee of which the Speaker is the chairman is calling on all the members to attend this first meeting.
The committee would discuss the ABG’s meeting schedule, a draft work program and other urgent matters.
The Clerk will also advise the members on matters relating to the Standing orders.
The members are, Deputy Speaker, ROBIN WILSON, member for Torokina STEVEN SUAKO, member for Baubake JOSEPH BUIA and Regional member for women representing North Bougainville, ELIZABETH BURAIN.

03.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

HONIARA INVITES MOMIS
By Aloysius Laukai

ABG President JOHN MOMIS has been invited by the Speaker of the Solomon Island government, SIR PETER KENILOREA to deliver the Keynote address during the 9th Solomon Island Parliament Induction program.
The Solomon Islands will go to the Polls starting tomorrow August 4th, 2010.
According to the ABG parliament Clerk, ROBERT TAPI, MR. MOMIS has been chosen because of his wealth of knowledge in Politics, Governance, Diplomacy and Academia.
The induction will be held on 29th August, 2010.
All travel and accommodation to Solomon Islands and back would be met by the Solomon Islands Government.
Meanwhile, Bougainville’s Acting Electoral Commissioner, REITAMA TARAVARU is already in the Solomon Islands to be part of the International Election Observer team that would monitor the conduct of the Solomon Island elections

03.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MONA ON TARGET

The Bougainville Mona Festival is on target as contributions and donations are coming to the Organizing committee.
And work on the Stage is already underway.
And also more cultural groups have registered to take part in this festival.
Mobile giant Digicel has pledged K80,000 for naming right at this show..
Other companies have also pledged their support.

Picture from last year's festival


 

03.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

JSB MEET
By Aloysius Laukai

Officials from the ABG and the Papua New Guinea government will sit for the first Joint Supervisory Board meeting since the second ABG was inaugurated in June this year.
The two-day meeting will start tomorrow, Wednesday.
Combine ABG technical team and cabinet members left Buka for Port Moresby yesterday to join the ABG President JOHN MOMIS who was already in Port Moresby.
The ABG team would want to address the following agendas during this meeting.
1. The Restoration and Development Grant totalling FIFTEEN MILLION KINA which was not included by the National Government in its 2010 budget.
2. Funding of an Establishment or settling in grant of FIVE MILLION KINA.
3. Revisit the status of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the transfer of powers and functions.
4. Preparation for the Bougainville Copper Agreement Review.
5. Restructure of the National Co-ordination Office of Bougainville Affairs(NCOBA).
And number six, Additional support grant to the ABG.
New Dawn FM understands that the last JSB meeting was held in March this year under the former President, JAMES TANIS.

02.08.2010

BREAKING NEWS!

Special JSB Meeting even this week!

A sudden Special Joint Supervisory Board Meeting (JSB) has been fixed for this week. The top level conference (PNG and ABG) is to be hold from August 4th to August 6th, 2010 in Port Moresby and will contain two important items that already have been scheduled:

Item # 6 Preparation for the Bougainville Copper Agreement (BCA) review

Item # 8 Establishment of Committees for the BCA Review

Außerordentliches JSB Meeting noch diese Woche!

Eine Sondersitzung des Joint Supervisory Boards ist für diese Woche einberufen worden! Die Konferenz, an der Spitzenpolitiker beider Seiten (PNG und ABG) teilnehmen wird vom 4. bis 6. August 2010 in Port Moresby statttfinden und zwei wichtige Tagesordnungspunkte beinhalten:

TOP 1 Vorbereitung des Bougainville Copper Agreement (BCA) review

TOP 2 Berufung von Arbeitsgruppen für das BCA review

02.08.2010

Source: ESBC / TOP 100 BCL Shareholder

Step by Step!

Rio Tinto Group Increases Investment in Bougainville Copper!

The Rio Tinto Group now owns 215,920,089 (January 2010: 214,887,966) shares as follows:

This represents an increase of  more than one million  shares (+1,035,123) or +0.25 per cent within the last seven months!

Schritt für Schritt!

Die Rio Tinto Gruppe erhöht ihre Beteiligung an Bougainville Copper!

Die Rio Tinto Gruppe besitzt nun 215.920.089 (Januar 2010: 214.887.966) Aktien wie folgt:

Dies entspricht einer Erhöhung der Beteiligung um mehr als eine Million Aktien (+1.035.123) oder 0,25% innerhalb der letzten 7 Monate!

02.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

RESETTLEMENTS
By Veronica Hannette

Bougainville is currently seeing more migration by people which is creating problems and Ton is no exception.
This was revealed at a workshop at Ton, in the Selau Constituency last week.
The workshop was told the in Ton people have been moving in since landowners from the area have been selling their land to outsiders.
They called on the people to think of their future and minimize the sale of land as land was already becoming a problem in many parts of Bougainville.
The workshop was told that tendering land would bring development but at the same time will cause land owners to lose their identity and value in the society they live in.
Economic Development was mainly highlighted as one of the pillars delivered by the Secretary of Minister for Women, Youth and Community Development Magdalene Toroansi.
Toroansi said that we should carefully study the changes and cultivate resources for economical development.

 

02.08.2010

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

TON WORKSHOP ENDS
By Veronica Hannette

Bougainville Inter-Church Women Forum BICWF continues to penetrate through to remote communities with workshops to empower the communities
Participant at the closing workshop at Ton village last week were pleased at what they had learned from the workshop.
The participants said that the workshop had empowered them to work with youths and the communities to set visions for their individual communities.
They said that they would want more such workshops that would open their minds to developments in their areas.
Speakers when delivering their speeches elaborated on stamping out no care attitudes in their communities.

02.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Cult ‘queen’ arrested

By GORETHY KENNETH

THE alleged queen of a cult group operating in Buka has been arrested with several of her followers and is awaiting charges at the Buka police cells.
Bougainville Assistant Commissioner of Police Thomas Eluh yesterday confirmed the arrest and said investigations are underway before charges can be laid.
The cult group was operating at Eltupan, the northern tip of Buka Island.
This is one of several cult groups that Bougainville is currently battling.
Leaders of the Eltupan cargo cult claim their group is not a cult but a traditional and Christian way of handling family issues.
There are two other claimed cult groups operating in Central and South Bougainville.
According to police in Buka there is also a youth group at Kopikiri village at the Manetai area and another in South Bougainville led by Jasper Founder.
Police could not give out more information about these cults because their investigations were still being carried out.
But a council leader in Kieta, Dominic Pakei told the Post-Courier from Arawa that the activities of the Manetai group included young and old men and women practising this for the sake of having sexual intercourse with the underage females.
“This one at Manetai, they say that it is not a cult, but a traditional and Christian way of handling social issues in the village. Kopikiri community are being led to worship a devil stone telling the people that they are going to receive presents from God. But this is totally wrong, incest is rife and most women are now getting pregnant with children not having steady fathers,” Mr Pakei said.
He also called on the authorities to help destroy this cult group and appealed to the Kopikiri community to stop this activity because it was affecting their lives.
For South Bougainville, Founder was allegedly leading another cult group there but police yesterday said information on this group was sketchy and that investigations were also still being carried out.
Police said that their activities were also similar to that of Buka and Manetai.

02.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier

Hides firm seals deal with Bougainville

By MOHAMMAD BASHIR

Gas Apa Ltd of Hides PDL1 area is buying into investment in Bougainville following an invitation from the Bougainville Resources Development Corporation Ltd.
Since an invitation in September 2009 following Gas Apa’s expression of interest in January 2009, the Hides based company expressed gratitude at the opportunity to go into a joint venture arrangement with BRDC.
Gas Apa’s managing director Simon Ekanda said yesterday that the opportunity was too good to ignore. “Since the PNG LNG project is going ahead, we the landowners are losing big time because it appears the way it is going that we will not participate in the project,” he said.
Mr Ekanda said the government and developer promised in the initial stages of the project to get their (LOs) approvals but so far they had not benefitted or participated in any activities as promised.
“We have been used and all the fat promises are turning out to be hot air,” he added.
The outspoken Hides landowner leader claimed that the developers had already started recruiting in the Philippines and Thailand with no concern for local manpower development.
“It has now become evident that the developers of the PNG LNG project are here for the money and have no regard for our people’s welfare,” Mr Ekanda said.
He said that was the reason why Gas Apa Ltd opted to go into partnership with BRDC under the Kabui model.
“We already have some funds and will be sourcing more to go into this partnership and hope to fend for ourselves instead of awaiting the PNG LNG project windfall that seems will never come,” Mr Ekanda said.

01.08.2010

Source: Bougainville Copper Ltd. (Compushare) and updated by the ESBC.

For the first time: An almost complete BCL major shareholder listing. Exclusively published by the ESBC !

Find out here who owns Bougainville Copper Limited !

Zum ersten Mal: Das nahezu komplette Verzeichnis der BCL Großaktionäre. Exklusiv von den ESBC veröffentlicht!

Erfahren Sie hier, wem Bougainville Copper Limited gehört !

Pour la première fois: La liste presque complète des plus grands actionnaires de BCL. Publiée exclusivement par l'ESBC ! 

Ici vous trouvez les propriétaires de Bougainville Copper Limited !

01.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier Weekend

‘Peace to drive priorities’

BOUGAINVILLE Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso says his immediate priorities for the region will be driven by the Peace Agreement and includes the three pillars of the government, which is the Weapons Disposal Program, Referendum and Autonomy and the economy.
Another of his immediate tasks would be to progress the JSB meet-ing where draw down of powers can be addressed further and key development initiatives also undertaken. Semoso who was welcomed by the ABG leaders and family in Buka soon after his appointment as the minister assured Bougainville and PNG that he would give 110 per cent of his time to concentrate on the issues of Bougainville, now that he had more powers to deal with the region. The portfolio was previously under Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, but had now been bestowed on the young and vibrant leader of Bougainville.
Mr Semoso announced the National Government, upon acknowledging the confidence and the honour bestowed him, gave K5 million-K3 million for the Hutjena Secondary School Hall refurbishment and K2 million that he will use for resourcing all schools in the region by installing educational television across the Bougainville schools.
“We also have economic priorities to look at. In Bougainville we need to sustain our economy and grow it,” Semoso said. You see, referendum will not eventuate unless we fulfil all our priorities as guided by the Bougainville Peace Agreement. Every activity from now on will be to make sure we comply with the Bougainville Peace Agreement and especially in our pursuit of growing our economy.”          

28.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier / Weekend Courier

Rebuilding lives again . . .

Passengers getting on and off the boats at the main boat stop at Kokopau on the mainland Bougainville.. Nine years after the Bougainville Crisis, Buka town is rebuilding itself thorught he determination of its own people.

By Peter Korugl

One of my fathers, a teacher, taught on the island of Bougainville when he was a young man and he married a local girl. When the couple returned to the village, she was the first Bougainvillean I met.
Later in national high school, I met up with many young men and women from the then North Solomons Province, some who became good mates later in life. And of course, I met many more over the last 30 years.
I found them to be friendly, easy-going and fun loving people and I was really surprised when the Bougainville crisis flared up in 1989 leading to the nine year civil war.
During the years between 1984 and until recently, I had always wanted to travel to Bougainville.
During the crisis, I longed to visit the island and cover the crisis but that did not happen at all.
So the Autonomous Region of Bougainville became, for a long time, one of the few places I had not visited in PNG.
Two weeks ago, I received an email from Bala Liveras, the PA to our Managing Director.
I opened up the email to find an e-ticket with my name on a PX plight to Buka on the August 18, 2010.
I was overjoyed and that afternoon I told my family that one of the things I wanted to do in my life had been fullfilled.
Wedensday, August 18 arrived. I was rudely awoken from bed by my mobile phone and it was Taunao Lahui, the Distribution Manager who was going with us to Buka.
He phoned to tell me that he was coming to pick me up.
We boarded the flight to Buka at about 8am and after an hour’s flight, the plane descended and when it broke out the dense cloud, I took my first look at Buka from the air.
I was looking at the western end of what everyone calls “Small Buka” and what I saw pleased me. It was going to be fun, I told myself.
We landed and proceeded to our Kuri Resort, one of the many places offering accommodation and food on the island.
As we drove through, I took in the town.
Telikom, Bank South Pacific, the PNG Royal Constabulary and the UN.
There are other international donors and non governmental organisations present as I spotted their vehicles driving around.
We went pass the market and I promised to check it out later.
After we had checked in, Blaise, Gorethy, Tau and I decided to visit the market.
I needed a chew so went quickly to the sections where the mothers and a few young girls were selling betelnut.
I saw the huge betelnuts and they were going for 20 to 30 toea per nut. I hid my surprise and bought plenty for the rest of the afternoon. In Port Moresby, I pay 50t for a small one.
Then we proceeded to the fish section where I bought a dried tuna meat and ginger.
Gorethy bought cooked seaweed which we shared.
It was a very satisfying meal, which was washed down by fresh coconut juice.
On the second day, I joined my Post-Courier team on a boat trip to Madehas Island.
It lay south east from Buka town and we went by banana boat to find that the resort that was built on that island was not complete because of a land dispute.
I met two residents, three-year-old Mathias with his grandmother.
They told me the men had all gone to the garden and they were left behind. We returned to Buka town a little later.
I made sure that I was sitting in the middle of the boat on that trip and as my eyes took in the beauty of the place, my mind keeps reminding me of the news stories Gorethy and her team filed over the months about people missing at seat because their boat had run out of fuel or had developed engine trouble.
The Buka Passage is one of the busiest sea lanes I had seen in PNG.
From the Kuri Resort, I had watched the banana boats ferrying cargo and passengers to and from Buka and Kokopau on mainland Bougainville.
I was told there were 1500 boats operating on that passage, day and night without any safety gears or equipment but no mishap as yet.
Very dangerous business, yet the banana boats are the only means of transportation on the Buka Passage.
After my boat trip the day before, I build up enough courage to hire one with Tau and we did another trip around Sohano Island in the morning on the third day.
After the boat trip, we got on our car and travelled the highway from Buka town to Kesi, a village right at the end of the western tip of small Buka.
We went past neat villages, coconut and cocoa plantations until we ended up at Kesi.
After a dried fish meal on the white sandy beach, we headed back for Buka town.
Life has returned to normal and businesses are picking up but the place has its problems.
One of the most noticeable is home brew and alcohol abuse, which residents say is widespread.
It is no wonder that there is a alcohol problem on that island.
In Buka town, there are more liquor outlets, providing people with easy access to alcohol.
This is something the town authorities may need to look into.
And another thing that stands out was the lack of a proper fuel station.
Fuel dealers were using the hand pumps to give fuel to motorists and this is also another dangerous business as fires can start and in that town where the houses are close to each other, a fire is the last thing they need there.
And I finally understood something an Australian friend told me on a trip to my village in the late 1970s.
He said he found it very uncomfortable among the people because he was the only white man among the sea of black people and he was conscious about that all the time.
I had never thought of myself as a white man but on Buka, I felt I was different.
I was informed that on the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, the kind with my colour skin were described as white man or red skins.
And it struck me that the Bougainvilleans must feel the same way among the rest of the Papua New Guineans.
On the fourth day, I went by boat to Kokopau, where I got on a PMV for Arawa.
This is another story I will tell you next weekend.

28.08.2010

Source: Post-Courier / Weekend Courier

Semoso visits pinepal

By Gorethy Kenneth

THEY only see it on television and on movies. But early this month, for the first time since the crisis era, their dreams came to reality, the children of Nissan Island and Pinepal for that matter saw for their own eyes — a real helicopter.
This may sound funny and stupid, but it shows how far behind even the people of Pinepal are and how for many years they’ve felt neglected by both the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government — how they claim their people are liabilities to the Government.
It was the day of their lives, students of Uruh, Sacred Heart Community school in Pinepel, off Nissan Island , the children and the population of Pinepel had a helicopter land on their island for the first time since government days and — seeing, feeling and touching the real helicopter — something that they never dreamt they would see and have on their island one day.
Bougainville Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso hired Niugini helicopters all the way from Wewak, early this month for K75,000 some hours just to honour his commitment and promise and visit Nissan Islanders and Pinepal people — basically to bring mini donations to the youth groups, the women groups, churches and schools in these islands.
These funds were myriad and could take the islanders a long way, in terms of development in their communities.
The helicopter set off just after 10 am on Thursday August 19, 2010, the day Bougainville was getting ready to kick off the Bougainville Mona Festival.
On board was Bougainville Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso, Autonomous Bougainville Government vice President Patrick Nisira, Post-Courier Buka bureau yours truly and special projects officer to the Minister for Bougainville Affairs Fabian Lalu and the pilot.
The helicopter arrived in Nissan Island to a rousing welcome, the Nissan Traditional way.
Mr Semoso presented thousands of his mini donations to the Nehan Catholic church, Nissan High School and primary schools, the Nissan Women’s group, the sporting groups and youth groups and made pledges to help more youth and sports groups in Nissan.
Later the team set off to Pinepel, an island off Nissan headquarters where the whole village was waiting — at Uruh Community School.
Mr Semoso and Mr Nisira were made chiefs of Pinepel island, something of high traditional value in the village culture way.
MrSemoso shed tears when he heard school students singing about how he was the first Government Member to visit their place in so many years and how they felt the Government had forgotten them and that they were a liability to the ABG and the National Government.
He asked for hope from the students and the people of Pinepel and assured that in November this year he would return for a much longer period to bring more goods for the islanders who most of the time are proned to disaster because of their proximity.
Mr Semoso asked for the people not to lose hope but have faith in the Government and the ABG especially and that he was there as their leader to serve and make them feel part of Bougainville.
But while the presentations to the schools, the youths, the sports groups, the churches and the women groups was being carried out in Pinepel — hundreds of children were amazed at seeing the helicopter right at their door step.
The Post-Courier received a request to take pictures of students, young and old people on the helicopter — we could only take one because the pilot was wary about damage to the side doors and because hundreds of children wanted their picture taken on the helicopter or with the helicopter — that day of witnessing the thing they normally and only see as toys was a plus in their lives and will never be forgotten as Maria Taul, a 10 year old elementary student explained.
That day, apart from the donations that could better the lives f these islanders, most children said that the fact that a helicopter landed on their island would go down in the history of their lives and would be remembered in a long while.
The people could not thank the Minister and vice president enough — the helicopter returned to Buka through Kessa Beach with a load of baskets full of pigs, fish, food and many more both from Nissan Island and Pinepel islanders.