News 06.2011

30.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Pictures from The Excombatants Workshop.

Pictured are Damian Kora and Ishmael Toroama at the Ex Combatants Meeting
By Aloysius Laukai

Pictured is Lawrence Disin Administrator(right)Sam Kauona lloking this way

30.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BBA proposes Happy city awareness
By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

Bougainville Business Association or BBA will by next week submit a proposal to the newly established Bougainville China Cooperation Committee or BCCC for BBA to carry out awareness throughout Bougaiville on the proposed Happy city at Kokopau.
BBA executive committee director Thomas Rabanz says BBA would require about K500,000 to carry out awareness on the concept of Happy city proposed by Chinese investors early this month.
He said the Happy city concept would be a key factor in reviving the region’s economy however before any agreement is reached, there must be an awareness carried out to educate the public on what will be involved and how the people of Bougainville would benefit from it.

30.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

REDCROSS helping youths
By JOYCE TOHUI

Bougainville’s Red Cross chairperson, AIDA KENNETH says the Red Cross branch in Bougainville has a lot of programs that have been carrying out within the communities.
She told New Dawn FM that one of the programs which they are actually trying to promote and implement within the communities is based on youth which is called youth’s agents of behavioral change.
She added that the YABC training program is to try and help youths in all the districts in Bougainville but firstly awareness must be carried out.
MS KENNETH said that awareness have started already with the help from the National Youth Coordinator from the head office in Port Moresby who visited two weeks ago.
She said that the National Youth Coordinator started the awareness with the urban youths in town who were very interested in the program.
She said there are seven steps to the program but firstly is to help them set up their groups, governance, aims and objectives of what they want to do in those groups.
She also said youths will be assisted in developing their youth constitution in order to look after their groups.
MS KENNETH added that these are basically some of the steps involved in this training.

30.06.2011
Source: The National

Fighters agree to bury hatchet with criminals
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

FORMER Bougainville freedom fighters have agreed to form a peace-seeking committee to meet with notorious criminal Damien Koike and three other armed groups in the Konnou area.
In an effort to stop the conflict in the Konnou constituency of South Bougainville, 110 former combatants yesterday met with Bougainville vice-president Patrick Nisira at the Tsiroge Catholic retreat centre in North Bougainville.
Led by former Bougainville Revolutionary Army leaders Sam Kauona, Ishmael Toroama and Panguna Me’ekamui hardliner John Duni, they resolved to meet with Koike and leaders of the three other armed groups in the Konnou area.
The committee will focus on establishing a peaceful settlement with Koike and his band of criminals who are alleged to have killed more than 50 civilians, including women and children, since 2006.
They will meet with members of the Wissai Liberation Movement, who are alleged to have retaliated by killing Koike’s men, including the outlaw’s spiritual leader, Andrew Manden.
Last week, Wilmo leaders, fed up with the killings allegedly by Koike, retaliated and killed five of
Koike’s men, including Manden.
The peace-keeping committee is expected to leave for Konnou and Sininai as soon as the ABG provides funding.
Toroama said the re-occurrence of the Konnou conflict was a direct result of the former commander’s refusal to take part in the implementation of the weapons disposal plan which was brokered by the United Nations observer mission on Bougainville in 2005.
“We in the BRA implemented the United Nations-sponsored weapons disposal exercise without the help of Me’ekamui and now all of us have to get back there and stop what they are doing, without of course the use of the gun,” Toroama said.
The ex-commanders rallied support for the Autonomous Bougainville Government and restated their commitment for total peace, stability and support for economic recovery in the region.
Nisira stressed the need for a united Bougainville in order to ensure a referendum for independence was held.
“The situation in Konnou, Tonu and Sininai must be addressed in order for unification, peace and stability to find its roots in the hearts and minds of our people,” he said.
“This is our land, our community and we must do everything possible to protect it.
“This is what we stood for in the beginning and we should continue to stand for it today,” Nisira said.

30.06.2011
Source: The National

Bougainville's devt funds

BOUGAINVILLE commerce, trade and industry has proposed to the Autonomous Bougainville Government the creation of two funds boosting the region’s economic development.
Minister Wilfred Komba said his ministry had prepared proposals to set up an endowment fund and business development fund.
Komba said the endowment fund is a future fund concept to allow ABG  invest all its receipts from royalty payments for natural resource development in the region.
He said the capital of the proposed endowment fund would generate income that would be used by ABG for development.
Komba said the business development fund would be set up to help Bougainvilleans borrow funds and participate in joint ventures or start and improve existing businesses.
He said the investment policy did  not allow stand alone investment by   foreigner but promotes investment on a joint venture basis.
“That is why the proposed fund would provide Bougainvilleans financial capacity to be involved in joint venture business opportunities,” Komba said.
He said to make these proposals a reality, the business community in Buka would  request from ABG an allocation of K30 million.
The fund was to be sourced from the K500 million special PNG government grant promised to Bougainville over the next five years.

30.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Siwai leaders make peace after 20 years
By Kaola Hamao

SOUTH Bougainville’s Siwai crisis leaders have reconciled 20 years after the Bougainville war and pledged to continue their reconciliation programs until all communities have made peace.
The Siwai crisis leaders’ reconciliation took place on June 14.
That was the issue of Bougainville Revolutionary Army combined version where leaders surrendered and released the civilians.
The leaders who reconciled included Tonny Anugu, Benjamin Kerape, John Pareu, Fransis Kinima, Nick Peniai, Misak Rangai, Antonny Tuhori, Micheal Po’owa and Joseph Noro.
Most of these leaders have been killed during the Bougainville crisis between 1989 and 1990, including Joseph Rangai, Raymond Mo’otum, Tonny Anugu, Benjamin Kerape, and John Paren.
“This reconciliation has been outstanding since March 1992, when this operation took place,” the leaders said yesterday.
Many attempts and investigation have been done, yet there are no resolutions for these people.
“The purpose is to report the case between Fransis Kinima and late Peter Miriking, who was the Southern Regional BRA commander,” the leaders said.
This was sorted out and preparations for the reconciliation took about nine months.
During the traditional reconciliation ceremony, the two parties handed in one highly explosive ammunition known as the camorra and three homemade guns.
“This was the only the start but there are more to bring peace in Siwai,” the leaders said yesterday.
On hand to witness the reconciliation were United Church Reverence D.Kiaku, Peter Suinai, United Nations representative Steven Pirika Kamma, ABG MP Nick Peniai and others.

30.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Dr : Build better toilets
By JOYCE TOHUI

A SENIOR doctor from the Buka hospital, Dr Barnabas Matanu, is appealing to the people of Bougainville to build toilets to dispose human waste appropriately.
He said that this is a contributing factor towards contraction of diarrheal diseases when people do not have proper toilets to use.
DR Matanu said that rural communities can build pit latrines to help themselves and not use bushes to dispose of their waste.
He said that for people living in urban areas, there must be proper sewage system to use and not roadsides and nearby bushes.
He said that if individual families can have a toilet, then this can minimise problems with such sicknesses.
The doctor appeals to the people to take care of themselves.
Meanwhile, he urged the public to always cover their food from flies and remember to practice basic hygiene in homes to keep away diseases.

29.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Chiefs defend Semoso
By Gorethy Kenneth

THE Buka Council of Chiefs has risen to the defence of Bougainville Affairs Minister and MP Fidelis Semoso and offered to take his place before the Leadership Tribunal.
The chiefs and council elders met in Buka yesterday to lend their support to Mr Semoso, who was referred by the Ombudsman Commission over allegations of misappropriation of public funds. But the unhappy chiefs, voicing their support for the MP, said they were ‘offended’ and offered to take his place instead.
BCC chairman and chief Romeo Tohiana said: “We the people of Buka and all Bougainvilleans have benefited from the monies of which our member is accused of stealing. It is us the people that should be prosecuted not the member.”
Chief Tohiana asked: “Is it a criminal offence for our people to travel safely on good roads?”
The Governor’s wife was arrested and questioned by police last week, in an incident which agitated the chiefs. He asked why Mrs Semoso had been subject to ridicule when she is not a politician nor a public figure but a mere businesswoman who runs her own business.
“The people of south, central and north Bougainville have their roads maintained by the machines purchased by the National Government through their MPs,” he said.
Mr Tohiana claimed the difference is that the machines purchased with public funds for south, central and north Bougainville are now privately owned, while the machines for Buka are owned by the people of Buka through their council of elders. He said money made by the Buka machinery is reapplied to the roads and other projects.
“Is this what the Ombudsman Commission calls misappropriation?” he asked. Mr Semoso is facing six charges involving the use of over K2.7 million and the alleged assault of a woman.

29.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Moimoi calls for equal services
By JOYCE TOHUI

A LOCAL Chief in Bougainville, Peter Maimoi has called on the newly elected member for North Bougainville, Lauta Atoi to ensure equal service delivery to the people of North Bougainville.
In acknowledging Mr Atoi for his election victory, chief Maimoi said that he understood his term in office will be in a short period of time however he urged Mr Atoi to ensure the distribution of basic and essential services must be equally shared among his people.
He said that there are a lot of similar problems faced by the people of his electorate which must be addressed immediately like roads, health and education infrastructures and the most vulnerable affected areas of the Atolls and Nissan constituencies.
Mr Maimoi said that the new member collected votes from all the constituencies in his electorate which had shown the support of the people in his leadership and assured him to prove to his people what he can do in this short period of time in Parliament.
Chief Maimoi said that he believed that the new MP can deliver and urged him to work closely with the Council of Elders (COEs), the Village Assemblies (VAs) and the chiefs to deliver basic services to the rural population. He said that for too long, there are still areas of North Bougainville who have not received any basic services.

29.06.2011
Source: The National

MP blames Rio Tinto for mine losses
By JEFFREY ELAPA

CENTRAL Bougainville MP Jim Miringtoro has blamed Rio Tinto, the former operator of the now-closed Bougainville copper mine, for the losses.
He said the company and the government of Australia were directly involved in the Bougainville crisis and used the PNG government to start a war against its own people for the benefit of the company.
Miringtoro said the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had revealed that Rio Tinto was directly involved and responsible for the war on the island as reported on the television network SBS.
He said more than 15,000 people including PNG defence force soldiers died during the crisis when it started in 1988 and which lasted 15 years.
“The Australian Government and Rio Tinto used the government to declare war on its citizens as a tool to protect itself, and not the lives of the citizens,’’ he said.
“Somare’s testimony revealed what the people of Bougainville knew of Australia’s and CRA’s (Rio Tinto) involvement in the crisis after destroying the environment and the unfair treatment of landowner,” he said.
Miringtoro said Rio Tinto was not welcome to Bougainville and any intention to reopen the mine by the company with no considerattion for the people would not be allowed.
“We do not want the same pig that destroyed our garden to come back.
“Those pigs are looters and we do not want them in Paguna or Bougainville,” Miringtoro said.
He said the Bougainville government and the people had their own plans to bring other foreign investors.
Miringtoro said the problem in Bougainville was no different from other mining operations in the country.
He said the foreign companies had no regard for the welfare and the lifestyle of the landowners as wel. And they did not respect the environment.
He said the big companies mistreated and suppressed the people, dictated and controlled  the government to allow them to continue destroying the environment and the people.
Miringtoro said although Peter Taylor continued to deny their involvement in the crisis, the truth remained as revealed by  Somare.
“I thank the Grand Chief Sir Michael for being honest in revealing the truth. He is a true leader and he could have solved the crisis the Melanesian way if he was the prime minister,” he said.

28.06.2011
Source: ABC Australia Network News

Bougainville miner talks to landholders

The chairman of Bougainville Copper says the company is negotiating with land owners in PNG's Bougainville Province over its plans to reopen the Panguna mine.

For the past 10 years, landowners in Bougainville have been seeking compensation from the Rio Tinto mining group in a court case in the United States.

Bougainville Copper, a Rio Tinto subsidary, owns the Panguna mine.

The Australian television station SBS reports Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare signed an affidavit in 2001 which was presented as evidence in the court case accusing Rio of driving the PNG government's involvement in the war on Bougainville.

Rejected

Its chairman, Peter Taylor, has rejected all the allegations in the affidavit.

He told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat he is hopeful negotiations can soon begin with landowners on re-opening the mine.

"There has been an agreement between the national government, the Bougainville government and the company to sit down and have discussions," he said.

"But we've also agreed that an essential element is to have the landowner representatives at the table, and they are still in the process of forming a single body.

"And once that's done there is nothing, really to prevent us from all getting around the table."

28.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

KONNOU UPDATE
By Aloysius Laukai

The Minister for Community Development Churches, Youth, Sports and women, ROSE PIHEI says that the fighting in Konnou is not crisis related.
She made these remarks when updating Ex combatants at yesterday’s meeting at Tsiroge.
MRS. PIHEI who comes from the Konnou area herself said that the youths involved are to be rehabilitated, Retrained and Educated as most of them never went to School.
She said the government must be proactive and know what is happening in the Konnou Constituency.
She said that when the government is in the dark this is not good.
She said that Bougainville Police must be allowed to move in and contain the situation.
There were many groups sent to Konnou but none of them have reported to the government and the government has no knowledge of the real cause and this is bad for the government.
If a Konnou man gave a report now, can ABG believe that when it has no previous knowledge of what is happening on the ground.
AND this has been going on since 1989 said MRS PIHEI.
 

28.06.2011

Source: Jaive Smare

Dangerous alluvial mining in Panguna.

28.06.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

Sir Michael Somare retires from politics

Papau New Guinea's Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is to leave politics and step down as Prime Minister, effective immediately due to ill health.

The 75 year old is retiring after almost 50 years in active political life.

Sir Michael has undergone two corrective operations following major heart surgery in April at the Raffles International Hospital in Singapore.

His son, PNG's Minister of State Enterprises Arthur Somare says the decision for Sir Michael to retire was taken collectively by his family.

It's not known when parliament will meet to choose his successor.

Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Port Moresby reporter, Firmin Nanol

  Listen here !  

28.06.2011
Source: SBS

Momis talks about the Panguna mine

28.06.2011
Source: SBS WORLD NEWS

ESBC: Becomes the "SBS" case a "Somare" case now?

Silence over Rio allegations

Papua New Guineas's Prime Minister is tight lipped on allegations Rio Tinto started the Bougainville war.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xtko3supAQ

28.06.2011
Source: ESBC Research

SBS correspondent revokes:

Bougainville: Wide spread support for BCL to  come back and to re-open the Panguna Mine!

Brian Thomson, whose Sunday's TV report caused major losses in Bougainville Copper Shares worldwide yesterday, stepped back from the infamous allegations made in his documentary. Thomson confirms that "there is not much opposition at all" against re-opening the Panguna mine: "There is wide spread support for BCL to re-open it...even  the armed rebels seemed to be in support!"

Please scroll down to listen Brian Thomson's explanations that he made in an interview with Cameron Wilson of Radio Australia.

28.06.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

Somare claims BCL actively involved in Bogainville war

PNG Prime Minister, Michael Somare has accused Bougainville Copper Limited, a subsidiary of the mining company Rio Tinto of actively backing the violent military campaign against rebels fighting for independence from Papua New Guinea.

An estimated 15-thousand people died in the conflict between 1989 and 1997.

One of the things that sparked the seccessionist campaign was concern over pollution from Bougainville's Panguna mine.

Sir Michael's allegations, made in a affidavit written in 2001 were revealed last night by SBS journalist Brian Thomson in a Television investigation into the conflict surounding the copper mine.

Presenter:Cameron Wilson
Speaker:Brian Thomson, senior correspondent, SBS World News Australia

  Listen here ! 

28.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

EXCOMBATANTS MEET
By Aloysius Laukai

More than ONE HUNDRED former fighters met in Tsiroge, Northern Tip of mainland Bougainville to discuss ways to address the deteriorating Law and Order situation in South Bougainville.
The meeting started just before lunch time with the Minister for Veterans Affairs, DAVID SISITO welcoming all ex combatants to the two-day meeting.
In his welcome address, MR. SISITO stated that we fought for one thing and that is independence for Bougainville. He thanked former veteran’s affairs Mr. Tovirika for what he had done for the last 5 years in ABG.
He stated that autonomy came about as a result of all our effort during the crisis. The vision for foreign investors to come into our region came about as a result of all those efforts.
He appealed to everyone that the people of Konnou especially Damien Koike must tell the people of Bougainville whom is he fighting for and whom is he supporting. It is time to tell everyone what this fighting is for.
He asked all ex-combatants to support ABG government and move Bougainville forward.

28.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ACTING PRESIDENT CALLS FOR UNITY
By Aloysius Laukai

Acting ABG President Patrick Nisira today called on the Bougainville former fighters to unite and support their government in its endeavours to develop Bougainville.
He acknowledged all factions in the conflict and thanked them for making time available to attend this important meeting. He conveyed the Presidents comment who was in Port Moresby.
He said you were called as you are major stakeholder in solving conflicts and in implementing the peace agreement.
The peace agreement stated that weapons disposal is a pre condition to referendum. That is why we are calling on you again to implement weapons disposal.
If we still have weapons we can not realise economic fiscal self reliance. That is why we are here again.
The meeting ended this afternoon with a resolution on how they would tackle the problems in South Bougainville.
Tonight the members would discuss issues within their districts and further discuss in the morning before a final resolution on the meeting is announced.
The meeting is being attended by Ex combatant heavies like Ishmael Toroama and Sam Kauona in Central Bougainville, Peter Naguo and Michael Komoiki in South Bougainville and in North we have Damian Kora,Marchelling Getsi, Benn Korus and other Combatants totalling One hundred and two.

28.06.2011
Source: The National

Compensation first, then Panguna mine talks
By ISAAC NICHOLAS

PANGUNA landowners in Bougainville are demanding compensation before any talks are held to review the Bougainville Copper Agreement.
Panguna Landowners Association chairman Chris Damana was responding to a report on SBS Dateline programme which claimed the PNG government was acting under instructions from mining giant Rio Tinto when it killed thousands who wanted to shut down Panguna mine in the 1980s.
Damana said: “It is a pity that SBS has seen fit to report our Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s statement at this time when our Prime Minister is critically sick in Singapore.
 “The Panguna landowners have always believed that Rio Tinto/BCL and the Australian government connived with the PNG government at that time to pursue this onslaught of causing death and untold suffering and sorrow to our people.
“Our people of Panguna mine leases and the rest of Bougainville will have to be compensated before there is any talk on the review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement.”
Damana said the landowners were committed to the re-opening of the Panguna mine by BCL “but must be compensated first”.
“A compensation package outside of what our landowners are owed on the 1990 compensations must be negotiated between the Panguna landowners and Bougainville government to address this,’’ he said.
“Panguna landowners’ stand on the BCA review is not a review but a new Bougainville Copper Agreement based on the belief that as the landowners of Panguna Mine we will share what we have been blessed by God with to have on our land for the benefit of all the people of Bougainville.”
Damana said the resources on Bougainville “are for the common good”.
 “On this same note we want to assure other Bougainvilleans, especially the ex-combatants that you are not forgotten,” he said.
He said Bougainville was on the move.
“Despite what is happening in South Bougainville we are progressing. We must have a positive outlook.
“Here we must give credit to where it is due and this means our former presidents, late Joseph Kabui and James Tanis must be congratulated for their part in bringing us to where we are today.
“We fully support our President John Momis and Minister Fidelis Semoso for their move to reopen the mine,” Damana said.

28.06.2011
Source: Weekend Courier

Peace team praised
BY PETERSON TSERAHAY

THE Central Bougainville parliamentary select committee has been highly praised by the people of Central Bougainville following a major awareness campaign on peace, reconciliation special projects and weapons disposal.
The team led by select committee chairman Melchior Dare member for Eivo Torau, John Ken member for South Nasioi, Jude Harris Peace office regional coordinator, Aaron Peter consultant peace office, Richard Lyonns CEO veterans division, Allan Taniung Lands office and Nationwide Micro bank officials visited the most remote parts of Central Bougainville in which no government team has ever gone.
The team visited Marai in South Nasioi, Beresinau village in the Kokoda constituency, Former BCL camp five settlements in the Eivo Torau constituency and in Toniva, North Nasioi and also attended the public forum in Panguna.
John Ken member for South Nasioi said the purpose of the awareness was to open up people’s minds, and most importantly update them on the ABG’s progress.
Paramount chief of the Marai area Benjamin Oama said it is the first time since the inauguration of the first ABG house that a team representing the ABG has ever come up to their home.
“We are extremely happy with this kind of approach the central Bougainville parliamentary select committee is using ,in which the government comes to us instead of us wasting money to go down to Buka to enquire about certain things.” Chief Oama said.
A lot of people were clarified on issues about peace and reconciliation which many people were not familiar with. The team also clearly explained the progress and stages to follow in order to get funds for reconciliations.
The latest project, the Virgin Coconut oil, was also introduced during the awareness in which a lot of people especially, those from Kokoda in Koromira showed a great interest.

27.06.2011
Source: ESBC

ESBC President's address to all stakeholders in Bougainville Copper

To all stakeholders in Bougainville Copper Limited

Ladies and Gentlemen,

it is quite impressionning that a single TV report like the one of Mr. Thomson is able to make the share price in Sydney drop significantly.
BCL shares lost almost 18 percent today!

You can easily imagine that all investors in BCL are not amused to see this.

The worst is that the confidence in Bougainville Copper which is equal with the confidence in Bougainville and its people has been severely damaged.
Months of re-polishing Bougainville’s image in the world has been spoilt within a few hours only.

All those who care for Bougainville better future for years must be aware that reports like the one which was broadcasted will throw us back for weeks, months or even years.

It is absolutely not acceptable that allegations, lies and suspicion rule Bougainville’s future.

One example only: This SBS gentleman, Mr. Thomson, even did not even mention the massive use of poisoness mercury for alluvial mining. But instead he shows children’s wounds and alleges that they have been caused by Bougainville Copper. This is outrageous, infamous and ludicrous.

Therefore may I invite you to stand together and to do all your very best to build up your landowner bodies and the umbrella body as well as soon as possible. This will give you a strong voice in the upcoming BCA negotiations and in the future!

It is not acceptable that self-appointed spokespersons without any democratic mandate on the ground attract public interest.

The actual image of Bougainville is not encouraging at all, it is even meant to chase away good-willing investors.

So, fast-track the ongoing positive development on the ground and restore Bougainville’s image in a sustainable way. I am sure that Peter Taylor, Paul Coleman and our entire crew will give you support to do so.

This address goes to each and every single stakeholder to encourage you to do the best for Bougainville – everyone at his place!

Please feel free to forward my email to all goodwilling friends worldwide.

Warmest regards,

Axel G. Sturm
Escaldes-Engordany,   27.06.2011

27.06.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

BCL rejects allegations of complicity in war on Bougainville

The Australian Television Station, SBS, has aired a report the war on Bougainville which reveals Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare signed an affidavit accusing the mining giant, Rio Tinto, of driving the PNG government's involvement in the war on Bougainville.

Rio Tinto's subsidiary, Bougainville Copper, owns the Panguna copper mine which sparked the civil war on the island.

The affidavit was presented as evidence for landowners seeking compensation for damage from the mine through the court system in the United States.

In the affidavit, Sir Michael said because of Rio Tinto's financial influence in PNG, it controlled the government.

He said the government followed Rio Tinto's requests and that Rio Tinto was directly involved supplying helicopters that were used as gunship, pilots, troop transportation, fuel and troop barracks.

In the SBS program Bougainville Copper's Managing Director, Peter Taylor, rejected all the allegations in the affidavit.

He agreed to speak with Radio Australia, but said with Sir Michael still unwell, he would not comment on any of the statements in the affidavit.

Presenter: Jemima Garrett, Pacific Business and Economic reporter
Speaker: Peter Taylor , Chairman and Managing Director of Bougainville Copper and Executive Director of Rio Tinto Australia

  Listen here ! 

GARRETT: In an affidavit , Prime Minister Somare says that Rio Tinto was directly involved in military operations on Bougainville and that it played an active role. How do you respond?

TAYLOR: Well, I actually can't speak on behalf of Rio Tinto, I can only speak on behalf of Bougainville copper, but I do know that that affidavit is ten years old. It's not new news, it's been in the press before. I can also say that Sir Michael is a very sick man and I really don't want to talk about it.

GARRETT: It is common for mining companies to help the police in Papua New Guinea. Just what sort of help did Rio Tinto, or Bougainville Copper, provide to the police or the PNGDF during the war on Bougainville?

TAYLOR: Bougainville Copper only did what it had to do. There was a state of emergency declared and like any state of emergency you had to comply with the requirements.

GARRETT: Bougainville copper wants to reopen the mine. How can you do that when some of the landowners are still very angry and this court case for compensation for past damage is still in the courts in the United States?

TAYLOR: There are some landowners - according to (President) John Momis, they represent about 3% of the landowners, who are still opposed to the company reopening, but, you know, we haven't had face to face discussions yet and I think we need to do that.

GARRETT: Well what is the way forward. How do you engage people who are armed and quite dangerous, as President Momis has said?

TAYLOR: Well, you invite them to the negotiating table and you hope they accept that invitation and we sit down and we discuss that they've got and the issues that I've got.

GARRETT: How much of an obstacle is the court case, which has been going for ten years now?

TAYLOR: Well it's not a court case against Bougainville Copper so it really shouldn't affect what Bougainville Copper does.

GARRETT: That's because it is a court case against riot into?

TAYLOR: That is correct.

GARRETT: Getting on to other issues, Paua New Guinea's Opposition leader, Belden Namah, says it would be better for a new company to come in and develop the copper mine on Bougainville. How do you respond to that?

TAYLOR: Well, that's not the message I am getting from either President Momis or from the majority of landowners.

GARRETT: But does this sort of comment threaten your property rights, I guess, on Bougainville?

TAYLOR: I wouldn't think so. Our property rights are enshrined in legislation so that shouldn't be an issue.

GARRETT: There is still a strong feeling in various quarters, as we've seen from Belden Namah's comments from landowners, who are against the mine. Just how big an obstacle is this and how can you actually overcome it?

TAYLOR: Well, As I've said, one has to engage people in discussions and that is what I am endeavouring to do and I have the support of the President and I have the support, I think, of the majority of the landowners.

GARRETT: So at this stage where are the discussions up to?

TAYLOR: Well, there has been an agreement between the national government, the Bougainville government and the company to sit down and have discussions but we've also agreed that an essential element is to have the landowner representatives at the table, and they are still in the process of forming a single body. And once that's done there is nothing, really to prevent us from all getting around the table.

GARRETT: Are all the landowners involved in that, including the ones who are very anti the mine reopening?

TAYLOR: Well, when you talk about landowners who are anti the mine, I am not sure that we are really talking about landowners or some of the former combatants who are manning a roadblock on the way to the mine site. There are very few landowners, I think, who are not prepared to come to the negotiating table.

GARRETT: It's not just Prime Minister Somare's comments on the SBS program that looks at the ongoing problems on Bougainville. What is your response to the program in general?

TAYLOR: To me it was a very one-sided approach. They picked on a single issue that is ten years out of date and they have interviewed people who had a particular interest in promoting the court case in the United States.

GARRETT: That court case has been going on for a long time. Why is it taking so long and where do you see the resolution?

TAYLOR: Well, as I've said before, it is not a court case against BCL, but you are right, it has been going on for over a decade. It's really about jurisdiction. It's about whether the United States court system should be dealing with a matter that has nothing to do with the United States. It's solely a matter for PNG. That's the real issue.

27.06.2011
Source: ESBC Research

The hysterics are going on - but not for long!
by Axel G. Sturm

It is hard to believe: A couple of days without success stories from Bougainville and suddenly came reports about small groups of Me'ekamui "spinners" trying to swim away saving their own skin, making loud noises with a usual mix of lies, suspicion and defamation to mix up the world of Papua New Guinea. This allowed speculators to bring the stock market in disorder with small orders only. The whole mixture is dressed up by some selfish and egomaniacal participants in so-called discussion forums that graciously give consent or refusal to wild theories and speculations.  This confuses the gentle reader with recondite fantasies.

The fact is that Bougainville's complicated decision-making process is slowed down by thickets of emotional sentiments such as; trust, distrust, greed and personal vanity. Even family feuds are involved. Therefore, rational oriented actions usually have to take detours and delays to ultimately reach the desired goal.

Like no president before him, John Momis in 12 months only since he was elected in June 2010, brought Bougainville forward and outlined the way into a peaceful, prosperous and better Bougainville. All of us owe our gratitude to him: the people of Bougainville and the Shareholders of Bougainville Copper as well.

For Bougainville Copper Limited, Momis’ policy means a big step forward into the right direction:

For the first time in more than two decades, a steady dialogue with the aim of reopening the Panguna mine is under way.

For the first time an impressive majority of Bougainville citizens are in favour of resuming mining by BCL – despite some local grumblers or notorious criminals.

For the first time BCL Chairman Peter Taylor and company secretary Paul Coleman visited Bougainville after more than 20 years.

For the first time major measures of development in infrastructure are implemented such as the construction of bridges, etc. by Japanese companies.

For the first time the U.S. government sent experts to Torokina where buried World War 2 relics were destroyed.

For the first time Arawa and Buin are reachable by air again.

However, much more is needed to be done. But for now, all these steps are for a better future to the citizens of Bougainville and Bougainville Copper.

Nobody expected the share price to reach its "fair value" of AUD 30 to AUD 50 now. But a price of less than AUD 2 to AUD 3 is absolutely ridiculous and an ignorance of reality.

This is the reality: The preparation of the new BCA and planning for the reopening of the Panguna mine are discreetly going on in the background - off the record of media attention. The infirm and delirious PNG  Prime Minister Somare or some mislead Me'ekamui supporters without public mandate like it or not.

President Momis is absolutely right when he says that Bougainville’s economic success almost entirely depends on the reopening of the Panguna mine. And Bougainville’s desired independence from Papua New Guinea depends mainly on the island’s economic success. The Chinese have been analyzing the situation and approach with careful steps. They have - who would blame them - in their view the island’s giant wealth in natural resources.

Especially European investors should also analyze carefully the advantages of such speculative but calculable investment. It might have huge advantages to invest in a financial area, which depends neither on the Euro nor on the U.S. Dollar. The soaring of the Australian currency in the last 24 months may be a good indication.

The European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper reaffirm its bullish assessment of Bougainville Copper shares with the warning of an increase in volatility for the coming months. Currently, the BCL securities are massively undervalued and therefore a STRONG BUY!

27.06.2011
Source: SBS Dateline

Blood an Treasure (long version)

  Click here for the original transcript of the report  ! 

  Click here to read the related ESBC press release ! 

27.06.2011
Source: SBS Dateline

Blood an Treasure (extra material)

27.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Rio behind bloody Bougainville war: PM
Brian Thomson of the Age Newspaper

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has accused Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and its subsidiary Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) of being behind the PNG military’s bloody suppression of Bougainville rebels opposed to the company’s Panguna copper mine.
An affidavit written by Sir Michael when he was Opposition Leader in 2001 - and never made public - alleges that Rio played an active role in military operations that ultimately led to a civil war and blockade of the island in which 15,000 people died between 1989 and 1997.
“Because of Rio Tinto’s financial influence in PNG, the company controlled the government,” Mr Somare’s affidavit states.
“The government of PNG followed Rio Tinto’s instructions and carried out its requests … BCL was directly involved in the military operations on Bougainville, and it played an active role. BCL supplied helicopters, which were used as gunships, the pilots, troop transportation, fuel and troop barracks.”
The Somare affidavit was lodged as part of an ongoing class action in the United States by the islanders against Rio Tinto. The case has been bogged down in legal argument for 10 years, preventing much of the evidence, including the Somare affidavit, from being made public. In his signed statement, Sir Michael claims that without Rio Tinto, there would never have been a war.
“It is my opinion that absent Rio Tinto’s mining activity on Bougainville or its insistence that the Panguna mine be re-opened, the government would not have engaged in hostilities or taken military action on the island.” The affidavit will complicate Rio Tinto’s current attempts to reopen the mine, which is being supported by Sir Michael’s Government.
Sir Michael was unaware that SBS’s Dateline program had obtained his signed statement from sealed US court material until his office was contacted this week. Sir Michael is recovering from double heart surgery in Singapore and his office was unable to say if he still stood by his comments.
The ailing leader’s statement reinforces claims from the islander litigants and former rebels that Rio Tinto had a hand in the military’s efforts.
Sam Kauona, a former fighter, said: “It didn’t surprise me, all the time we knew.”
BCL chief executive Peter Taylor was aware of the affidavit, but said he was surprised Sir Michael would “make these accusations knowing they’re completely unfounded”.

27.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

ABG forms committee
By Germaine Koles and Fabian Gatana

THE Autonomous Bougainville Government President, John Momis, in the Bougainville House of Representatives, has announced the establishment of the Bougainville China Cooperation Committee (BCCC), which was approved by the Bougainville Executive Council.
The BCCC would be led by the Vice President, Patrick Nisira as chairman and would have a cross representation from the Bougainville community including the women, former combatants, and the business sector in Bougainville.
The Bougainville Cabinet has directed its administration to source K300,000 for the funding of the committee.
BCCC will be supported by a small secretariat, which will include a personnel assistant, administrative office and a protocol officer.
The responsibility of the committee will be to support and facilitate Chinese investments in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville following the signing of the seven Memorandums of Understanding between the ABG and the Sanghai Chamber of Commerce, Minqing Chamber of Commerce and other companies in China last year.
Mr Momis said this is to protect foreigners as there may be resentments over their involvement in businesses in the region.
The Bougainville–China Cooperation Committee will focus on developing strategic partnership with China to attract Chinese investors in the region on large scale and quantity basis, source and secure foreign aid from the Chinese Government, develop and facilitate social, economic, cultural and technical exchange programs between Bougainville and China, and promote mutual understanding between them.
Mr Momis said his cabinet has also approved the establishment of Bougainville Import and Export Wholesale Company which will be responsible for direct importing of goods from China and exporting of agriculture, marine and other produce from Bougainville.

27.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Village based govt needed

THE key to getting rid of guns on Bougainville is the village based government system, which now needs to be empowered by the Government.
Peace reconciliation and weapons disposal division Chief Executive Officer, Nick Peniai said this in an interview with the Post-Courier.
“People holding on to weapons will only listen to an authority which their bloodline is linked to and that is the village assembly system,” Mr Peniai said.
He said the chiefs have the power and the authority to command ex-combatants in the village to surrender and dispose arms.
“Just let a house clean itself up because the clan governments will involve village chiefs,” he said.Meanwhile, the peace and reconciliation office is focussing on “clear cut implementing programme” to provide funding for NGOs on certain outstanding issues.

27.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Leader condemns OBE

A BOUGAINVILLE MP has decried the outcome based education system, claiming it is a failed system and wants the Autonomous Bougainville Government to outdo it and review the system.
Selau MP Terry Mose last week took the ABG by surprise, asking the Education Minister to explain how the OBE worked in Bougainville, claiming the system was a failure for schools in Bougainville and should be “scraped”. He said the system should be reviewed and that ABG should think about the education and the future of young Bougainvilleans. But ABG Education Minister, John Tabinaman, defended the system by giving his outline and positives of it.
Mr Tabinaman admitted that OBE was a controversial issue throughout the country and it needed a lot of awareness.
He said the concept was a good one and it has been used by International Education Agency Schools in PNG but the only problem was the availability of resources which the Government was failing to provide. This is the system that Kamarau International School in Buka is using where their children learn how to use computers and other equipment and materials that are provided by the school. This is unlike the primary schools in Bougainville and also in PNG.

27.06.2011
Source: The National

MP faces charges of misusing K2.7mil
By JUNIOR UKAHA

MEMBER for Boungainville Fidelis Semoso is alleged to have misappropriated K2.7 million meant for the South Bougainville feeder road project, the Office of the Public Prosecutor said.
Acting Public Prosecutor Camillus Sambua, citing a report into allegations against the MP, said Semoso was referred to him by the Ombudsman Commission for six offences allegedly committed between June, 2006 and May last year.
The Office of the Public Prosecutor in a letter dated June 23 and signed by Sambua said: “Fidelis Semoso was today … referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission for alleged misconduct in office.”
Sambua said division III.2 of the Constitution (under the Leadership Code) and the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership applies to the MP as a leader.
Sambua said the six charges against the MP included:
* Misappropriation of K2.7 million from South Bougainville feeder road project funds without proper tender process;
* Benefit of public funds in the amount of K470,000 from the K2.7 million awarded to Millennium Waters Ltd;
* Misappropriation of K1.4 million from South Boungainville feeder roads;
* Assault and torture of Therese Hani Hapoot;
* Winning a contract under false pretence; and
* Failure to declare interest.
Sambua said he would pursue the file to determine whether there was sufficient, credible and cogent evidence to request the chief justice to appoint an appropriate leadership tribunal to hear the allegations of misconduct in office against Semoso.

27.06.2011
Source: The National

Rio Tinto blamed for Bougainville crisis

AN Australian television network has uncovered claims that the PNG government was acting under instruction from mining giant Rio Tinto, when it killed thousands of people who wanted one of the world’s largest copper mine at Panguna, Bougainville, to shut down in the mid-1980s.
The allegations come from former opposition leader in 2001, and now Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, in court documents obtained by SBS chief correspondent Brian Thomson for the Dateline programme which was shown on SBS Qld last night at 8.30.
In the court documents filed in a US court, Sir Michael said that Rio Tinto and its subsidiary Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL), effectively used its wealth to control the PNG government.
However, BCL chairman Peter Taylor denied the Dateline claim.
Taylor and BCL are currently negotiating with the Bougainville Autonomous Region government to reopen the abandoned mine with the Somare government’s support but amid mixed reaction from Bougainville leaders and ex-combatants.
According to SBS, the affidavit, which was never made public, alleged that Rio Tinto played an active role in military operations that ultimately led to a civil war and blockade of Bougainville in which 15,000 people died between 1989 and 1997.
“Because of Rio Tinto’s financial influence in PNG, the company controlled the government,” Sir Michael’s affidavit stated.
It was lodged as part of an ongoing class action in the United States by the Panguna landowners against Rio Tinto.
The case had bogged down in legal arguments for the past 10 years, preventing Sir Michael’s affidavit and much of the evidence from being made public. In his signed statement, he claimed that without Rio Tinto, there would never have been a war.
“It is my opinion that absent Rio Tinto’s mining activity on Bougainville or its insistence that the Panguna mine be re-opened, the government would not have engaged in hostilities or taken military action on the island.”
Sir Michael was unaware that SBS’s Dateline programme had obtained his signed statement from sealed US court material until his office was contacted last week.
Sir Michael is recovering from double heart surgery in Singapore and his office was unable to say if he still stood by his comments, The Age newspaper reported.
Among the people interviewed last night on the programme were rebel hardliners Ismael Toroana and Sam Kauona, former PNG Defence Force commander Brig-Gen (ret) Jerry Singirok, local chief Philip Miriori and Bougainville President John Momis.
Kauona, rebel leader during the crisis, said: “It didn’t surprise me, all the time we knew.
“We knew that BCL was financing this war on Bougainville because when we were fighting … all the BCL vehicles were being used by the security forces.”
Miriori said Sir Michael’s statement backed his long-standing claims about Rio’s complicity with the PNGDF.
Taylor told Dateline he was aware of the affidavit, but said he was surprised Sir Michael would “make these accusations knowing they’re completely unfounded”.

26.06.2011

Source: ESBC press release 20110626

ESBC President Calls Sir Michael Somare A Delirious Old Man!

"Sir Michael Somare is old, he is obviously too old to rule a country in development" said ESBC President Axel G. Sturm last week-end in Andorra. Mr. Sturm refers to allegations Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister made in an Australian TV network report that had been quoted by the popular Australian newspaper “The Age” yesterday. In this interview Somare accuses Rio Tinto of having caused the civil war in Bougainville. 

“It is sad to see that Mr. Somare did not retire on the summit of his political career,” says Mr. Sturm, “he could have avoided to be sentenced for misconduct in office earlier this year (see: http://www.abc.net.au/correspondents/content/2011/s3174450.htm ). Furthermore: he perhaps wouldn’t have made such infamous statements as he did. I consider him as a poor, delirious old man who is more and more out of his mind.” 

Under the leadership of Sir Michael Somare Papua New Guinea became one of the worst and most dangerous places to live in the world. His government is allegedly one of the most corrupt ones worldwide. 

Sir Michael is also supposed to be behind the so called US Law Suit in California. Insiders allege strong personal financial interest of the Somare family in these activities. . In the US there are heavy penalties for any American company including law firms bribing people in other countries to secure business. The ESBC will ask for an audit by FBI or other agencies on the California law firm's accounts. The audit should check if any bribes were paid to Sir Michael Somare and any others in PNG. We understand there are severe penalties applicable. The case would automatically get thrown out if it was found some bribes were paid by the US law firm or its agents/associates.

Actually Sir Michael’s son, PNG Minister Arthur Somare, faces investigations on misconduct in office and embezzlement of public funds (see: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/09/3240246.htm )and his second son was even recently arrested as suspect in a murder case (see: http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=19546/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl ).

Axel G. Sturm: “My own investigations on the ground in PNG gave no evidence at all that Rio Tinto or Bougainville Copper might have been involved - directly or indirectly - into the cruelties during the “Bougainville Crises”. In so far we strongly back the statement of Chairman Peter Taylor.  We believe that Somare only wants to undermine ABG President Momis’ brave and successful politics that might help Bougainville to become independent from PNG in the near future.”

26.06.2011

Source: SBS Australia

The controversial SBS Dateline report

26.06.2011

Source: SBS Australia

Preview of the controversial Australian SBS Dateline report

26.06.2011
Source: The Age

Rio Tinto caused war: Somare
by Brian Thomson

Sir Michael Somare: "The government of PNG

followed Rio Tinto's instructions"

PAPUA New Guinea's Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, has accused Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and its subsidiary Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) of being behind the PNG military's bloody suppression of Bougainville rebels opposed to the company's Panguna copper mine.

An affidavit written by Sir Michael when he was Opposition Leader in 2001 - and never made public - alleges that Rio played an active role in military operations that ultimately led to a civil war and blockade of the island in which 15,000 people died between 1989 and 1997.

''Because of Rio Tinto's financial influence in PNG, the company controlled the government,'' Mr Somare's affidavit states.

''The government of PNG followed Rio Tinto's instructions and carried out its requests … BCL was directly involved in the military operations on Bougainville, and it played an active role. BCL supplied helicopters, which were used as gunships, the pilots, troop transportation, fuel and troop barracks.''

The Somare affidavit was lodged as part of an ongoing class action in the United States by the islanders against Rio Tinto.

The case has been bogged down in legal argument for 10 years, preventing much of the evidence, including the Somare affidavit, from being made public. In his signed statement, Sir Michael claims that without Rio Tinto, there would never have been a war.

''It is my opinion that absent Rio Tinto's mining activity on Bougainville or its insistence that the Panguna mine be re-opened, the government would not have engaged in hostilities or taken military action on the island.'' The affidavit will complicate Rio Tinto's current attempts to reopen the mine, which is being supported by Sir Michael's government.

Sir Michael was unaware that SBS's Dateline program had obtained his signed statement from sealed US court material until his office was contacted this week. Sir Michael is recovering from double heart surgery in Singapore and his office was unable to say if he still stood by his comments.

The ailing leader's statement reinforces claims from the islander litigants and former rebels that Rio Tinto had a hand in the military's efforts.

Sam Kauona, a former fighter, said: ''It didn't surprise me, all the time we knew.

''We knew that BCL was financing this war on Bougainville because when we were fighting … all the BCL vehicles were being used by the security forces.''

Panguna landowner, former rebel and local chief Philip Miriori said Sir Michael's statement backs up his long-standing claims about Rio's complicity with the PNG military.

BCL chief executive Peter Taylor was aware of the affidavit, but said he was surprised Sir Michael would ''make these accusations knowing they're completely unfounded''.

Brian Thomson's report on the war in Bougainville screens on Dateline on SBS1 at 8.30 tonight.

26.06.2011
Source: SPIEGEL online

Hohe Rohstoffpreise
Metall-Diebstähle bei der Bahn um 50 Prozent gestiegen

Diebe haben es auf Kupferkabel, Oberleitungen und Schienen der Deutschen Bahn abgesehen: Die Zahl der Raube beim Staatskonzern ist nach SPIEGEL-Informationen seit 2009 drastisch gestiegen - vor allem in sozial schwachen Regionen nehmen die Taten zu.

Hamburg - Der Run auf Rohstoffe trifft die Deutsche Bahn immer härter - denn für Diebe sind Zigtausende Kilometer frei zugänglicher Schienen und Oberleitungen des Staatskonzerns zur wahren Fundgrube geworden. Allein im vergangenen Jahr hat die zuständige Bundespolizei nach SPIEGEL-Informationen mehr als 2700 Fälle von Eisen- und Buntmetalldiebstählen bei der Bahn registriert.

Geklaut wurden 2010 demnach:

•347.294 Kilo Kupfer,
•675.570 Kilo Stahl,
•2399 Kilo Aluminium sowie
•1.185.748 Kilo andere Metalle wie etwa Messing, Bronze oder Rotguss.

Neuesten Daten zufolge verschärft sich der Trend sogar: In den ersten vier Monaten des laufenden Jahres wurden bereits mehr als 1400 Diebstähle gezählt. Seit 2009 ist die Zahl der Metall-Diebstähle damit nahezu um 50 Prozent gestiegen. "Der Grund liegt eindeutig in den drastisch gestiegenen Rohstoffpreisen", sagt der Leiter der Konzernsicherheit, Gerd Neubeck.

Auf dem Weltmarkt stieg der Preis für eine Tonne Kupfer seit 2009 von knapp 3000 auf zwischenzeitlich mehr als 10.000 Dollar. "Die hohen Preise auch für Altmetall locken organisierte Banden, die im großen Stil ganze Kabelrollen oder Schienenstränge verschieben, ebenso an, wie Einzeltäter, die ein paar Kilo Stahl im Rucksack mitgehen lassen", sagt Neubeck.

Am meisten geklaut wird nach Erkenntnissen des Unternehmens in sozial schwachen Regionen. Besonders stark betroffen: der Osten. Rund um Halle registrierte die Bundespolizei im vergangenen Jahr 243 Diebstähle, im Bereich Magdeburg waren es 161, in Leipzig 121 Fälle. Es folgen die Regionen Essen, Dortmund, Neubrandenburg und Oranienburg. Mehr als 500 Täter hat die zuständige Bundespolizei allein im vergangenen Jahr festgenommen."

Polizei und Bahn trifft sich am Montag zum "Buntmetallgipfel"

Am Montag dieser Woche wollen sich Sicherheitsexperten der Bahn mit Verantwortlichen der Bundespolizei erstmals zu einem "Buntmetallgipfel" treffen. Laut Einladungstext soll es darum gehen, "Erfahrungen auszutauschen, Gegenmaßnahmen zu eruieren und diese in gemeinsam abgestimmten Maßnahmen zu bündeln".

Doch ist der Imageschaden durch den Metallklau für den Konzern immens. "Hunderttausende Kunden müssen es im Laufe eines Jahres ausbaden, wenn Züge stillstehen oder mit erheblichen Verspätungen unterwegs sind", sagt Sicherheitschef Neubeck. Im Jahr 2010 waren rund 8500 Züge betroffen. Mehr als 360 fielen ganz oder teilweise aus.

25.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

AROMA WIN
By Aloysius Laukai

Aroma Rugby Union 7 aside team became the proud recepients of K80,000 cash prize and Trophy at the Black Orchid 7's Tournament in Buka this afternoon.

They defeated Bougainville's Black Orchid team in extra time.
At the end of the game, the two teams were both on 19 points each and ten minutes extra time was allowed.
They became the champions this year 2011.
Last year's champions were Kimbe Rebels.

Pictured is the Regional member for Bougainville FIDELIS SEMOSO who put in thew cash Prize of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA.

The runner up Bougainville side Black Orchid came second and received K15,000.00.

Regional member also pledged ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA every year for the next five years.
He wants more PNG teams to participate next year which he wants to stage in Arawa.

The official kick off was made by the Regional Member himself whilst the Grand finals for the Plates were by the Mekamui strongman, CHRIS UMA
Final score 19-24

Pictured is Regional member Presenting the Prize to the AROMA Coast team Captain.
Picture by Aloysius Laukai

25.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Regional Member Welcomed Home
by Aloysius Laukai

The Regional Member for Bougainville and Minister for Bougainville Affairs, FIDELIS SEMOSO arrived in Buka to a small welcome by supporters at the Buka airport this morning.

This was after his referral by the Ombudsman Commission to the Public Solicitor for misconduct in office.

He promised his supporters that he would face the case and also wants the ABG to be audited by the same auditors.

He promised to give a press statement concerning the matter by Monday.

MR. SEMOSO is pictured talking to supporters at the Buka airport this morning.
Picture by Aloysius Laukai

24.06.2011
Source: ESBC

Die Hysteriker sind los - aber nicht mehr lange!
von Axel G. Sturm

Es ist kaum zu glauben:  Ein paar Tage ohne Erfolgsmeldungen aus Bougainville, eine paar Tage mit Berichten über kleine Gruppen von Me’ekamui Spinnern, die ihre Felle wegschwimmen sehen und deshalb lauthals krakeelen , das Ganze gewürzt mit einer für Papua Neuguinea nicht unüblichen Mischung aus Verdächtigungen und übler Nachrede, und schon ist der Nährboden bereitet, der es Spekulanten erlaubt, mit Kleinstorders die Börsenwelt durcheinander zu bringen. „Veredelt“ wird die ganze Gemengelage zu allem Überfluss noch von einigen egomanischen Selbstdarstellern in sogenannten Diskussionsforen, die nach Gutdünken die geneigten Leser mit abstrusen Fantasien verwöhnen und dann huldvoll Zustimmung oder Ablehnung zu abenteuerlichen Thesen erteilen.

Fakt ist, dass sich Entscheidungsprozesse auf Bougainville mühsam einen Weg durch ein Dickicht von Gefühlslagen, Vertrauen, Misstrauen, Eitelkeiten und persönliche Gier einzelner bahnen müssen. Selbst Familienfehden sind mit im Spiel. Deshalb muss vernunftorientiertes Handeln gelegentlich Umwege und Verzögerungen in Kauf nehmen, um letztlich zum erwünschten Ziel zu gelangen.

Wie kein Präsident vor ihm hat John Momis in den letzten 12 Monaten seit seiner Wahl im Juni 2010 Bougainville voran gebracht und den Weg in ein modernes, wohlhabendes und glückliches Bougainville vorgezeichnet. Dafür schulden ihm alle Dank: die Bürger von Bougainville aber auch die Aktionäre von Bougainville Copper.

Auch für Bougainville Copper bedeutet Momis' Politik einen großen Schritt vorwärts in die richtige Richtung:

Erstmalig seit mehr als zwei Jahrzehnten ist ein stetiger Dialog mit dem Ziel der Wiedereröffnung der Panguna Mine in Gang gekommen.

Erstmalig spricht sich – allen lokalen Meckerern zum Trotz – eine eindrucksvolle Mehrheit der Bürger Bougainvilles für eine Wiederaufnahme des Minings durch BCL aus.

Erstmalig besuchte BCL Chairman Peter Taylor und Company Secretary Paul Coleman nach mehr als zwanzig Jahren wieder die Insel.

Erstmalig werden nach Jahren des Verfalls wichtige Infrastrukturmaßnahmen wie der Bau von Brücken etc. durch japanische Firmen realisiert.

Erstmalig hat die amerikanische Regierung Kampfmittelexperten nach Torokina entsandt, die die dort vergrabenen Weltkrieg II Relikte vernichtet haben.

Erstmalig sind Arawa und Buin wieder auf dem Luftwege zu erreichen.

Dennoch bleibt noch mehr als genug zu tun. Doch: all dies sind Schritte in eine bessere Zukunft - für die Bürger Bougainvilles und Bougainville Copper!

Dass der Aktienkurs noch nicht seinen „Fair Value“ von AUD30 bis AUD 50 erreicht hat, hat niemand wirklich erwartet. Aber:  ein Kurs von unter AUD 2 bis AUD 3 ist absoluter Hohn und eine üble Verzerrung der Realität.

Die Realität sieht so aus: Im Hintergrund und ohne großen Presserummel wird intensiv an der Vorbereitung des neuen BCA und damit an der Wiedereröffnung der Panguna Mine gearbeitet – ob es nun einigen verwirrten Me’ekamui Anhängern passt oder nicht.

Präsident Momis hat vollkommen Recht, wenn er sagt, dass der ökonomische Erfolg Bougainvilles fast ausschließlich von Panguna abhängt. Und damit verknüpft ist auch die angestrebte Unabhängigkeit Bougainvilles von Papua Neu Guinea. Die Chinesen haben das längst erkannt und nähern sich mit kleinen, großen Schritten an. Dabei haben sie – wer mag es ihnen verübeln – den Reichtum der Insel an Bodenschätzen fest im Blick.

Speziell Investoren aus Europa sollten sich gut überlegen, welche Vorteile ein kalkulierbar-spekulatives Investment in einem Finanzraum haben könnte, der weder von EURO- noch US-DOLLAR-Krisen abhängt. Der Aufschwung der australischen Währung innerhalb der letzten 24 Monate mag ein deutlicher Hinweis darauf sein.

Die European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper bekräftigen ihre bullishe Bewertung  von Bougainville Copper Aktien mit dem Hinweis auf eine vermutlich zunehmende Volatilität in den nächsten Monaten. Derzeit jedoch ist das Papier massiv unterbewertet und deshalb ein STRONG BUY!

24.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Equal service delivery
By JOYCE TOHUI

Chief Peter Maimoi is calling on the National Member for North Bougainville, LAUTA ATOI to deliver equal services to the people of North Bougainville.
Chief Maimoi urged Mr ATOI to equally distribute basic and essential services among his people.
He said his people are faced with a lot of problems related to roads, health and education infrastructures which must be addressed immediately.
Mr Maimoi said MR ATOI collected votes from all constituencies in his electorate which showed the full support of the people in his leadership and challenged him to prove to his people what he can do in his short time in Parliament.
Chief Maimoi believed member ATOI can deliver and urged him to work closely with the COEs, the Village Assemblies and the chiefs to deliver basic services to the rural population.
He said for too long there are still areas of North Bougainville who have not received any basic services and this trend needs to change.
Mr Maimoi called on the National MP to stand by his words that he will not entertain anybody but work for the common good of the people and the betterment of Bougainville’s future.
He added if the member stood by his words the people will prove to him in the coming general elections in 2012.

24.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

FIRST IMPORT/EXPORT WHOLESALER APPROVED
By Aloysius Laukai

Following the establishment of the Bougainville-China Cooperation Committee the BEC has also approved the first Bougainville Import and Export Wholesale Company this week.

The company will be responsible for the direct importing of goods from China and Exporting of Agriculture, Marine and other produce from the Autonomous Region.

In making the announcement, ABG President JOHN MOMIS said that the business will definitely cut out the many middlemen in Papua New Guinea and thus reducing the price of goods in Bougainville.

The company would be owned by Bougainvillean shareholders with the ABG getting shares on behalf Bougainvilleans who are not able to buy their own shares at the initial stages.

24.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BEC APRROVES BOUGAINVILLE-CHINA COMMITTEE
By Aloysius Laukai

The Bougainville Executive Council this week approved the much debated Bougainville China- Cooperation Committee.

This was announced by the ABG President JOHN MOMIS in parliament.

He said that the committee’s responsibility is to support and facilitate Chinese Investment in the Autonomous Region following the signing of Seven Memorandum of Understandings with the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and Minging Chamber of commerce and various other companies in China last year.

The Bougainville- China Cooperation will focus on developing an all around strategic partnership with China in order to attract Chinese investors to invest in Bougainville on a large scale and quantity basis, source and secure foreign aid from Chinese Government, develop and facilitate social economic, cultural and technical exchange programs between Bougainville and China.

And promote mutual understanding support and friendship between the people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and the Republic of China.

The Committee would be chaired by the ABG Vice President and minister for Health, PATRICK NISIRA.

The BEC also directed the Bougainville Administration to source THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA for the initial funding of the committee.

24.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

TONSU BY ELECTION
By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville Electoral Commission is ready to run another By election, this time for the Tonsu seat which was left vacant when the former member EZEKIEL MASAT who resigned to contest the North Bougainville seat By election just concluded.

Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, REITAMA TARAVARU told New Dawn FM today that the ABG Speaker has already set the dates for the Tonsu By-election.

He said that the Speaker will issue Election writs on August First, 2011.

Nomination will also open on August First and will close on August 8th,2011.

And Polling to begin on the tenth of September , 2011 and will end on September 15th.

Writs will then be returned to the ABG Speaker on September 28th 2011.

MR. TARAVARU said that he expects about FIVE THOUSAND eligible voters to cast their votes in the By-election.

He said that the updated roll for the North Bougainville By election will be used however opportunity will be given for any extra eligible voters who want to register during the preparation time.

MR. TARAVARU said that a total of ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND KINA has been requested from the ABG for the Tonsu By-election.

24.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS HAPPY
By Aloysius Laukai

ABG President Chief John Momis today expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the PNG Government for the return of the Correctional Institutional Service to Bougainville.
MR. MOMIS made these remarks at the passing out of 25 New Graduates from a training organized at the Hutjena Training School in Buka.
He also thanked the Minister Tony Aimo for his commitment over a long period of time to see that the vision is realised.
He said that the Abg and its people were very grateful for this assistance from the Papua New Guinea Government.
Mr. Momis during his speech also Paid tribute to Correctional Officers who lost their lives at Kuveria on the cause of their duties at the start of the Bougainville conflict.
He said that there was a reason to celebrate today’s event as without Police and CIS services Bougainville can not build the harmonious society it preaches about.
All of us have come out of ashes and we all must collaborate with everyone on Bougainville to develop the region.
He also thanked the people of Bekut for allowing their land to be used for this project.

24.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Ombudsman Commission refers Semoso for misconduct
By TODAGIA KELOLA

BOUGAINVILLE Affairs Minister and Bougainville regional Member Fidelis Semoso has been referred by the Ombudsman Commission to the acting Public prosecutor for alleged misconduct in office.
In a media conference yesterday, the full quorum of the three Ombudsman, Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek and the other two commissioners John Nero and Phoebe Sangatari, announced that the leader was referred on six categories of allegations.
Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek in announcing the referral told reporters that the MP Fidelis Semoso has been referred to the Acting Public Prosecutor pursuant to its powers under the Constitution and the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership (OLDRL), after having investigated and formed a view that he is prima facie guilty of misconduct in office.
He was notified of his referral, before the referral under Section 20(2) of the OLDRL.
The Ombudsman Commission gave Mr Semoso his right to be heard on December 3, 2010 on six categories of allegations of misconduct in office relating to use of public funds and his personal conduct.
He provided a written explanation to the Commission on December 22, 2010 in a letter dated December17, 2010.
The Commission considered his response but was not satisfied and concluded that Mr Semoso is prima facie guilty of misconduct in office under Sections 27(5) of the Constitution and provisions of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.
But he stated that the Acting Public Prosecutor has the discretion to proceed with or not to proceed with the matter under Section 177(1)(b) of the Constitution.
When asked by reporters what the nature of the six allegations were, Mr Manek said he cannot disclose them.
“Those are better left to the Tribunal if and when it is set up,” he said
Mr Semoso’s referral brings the number of leaders referred by the Commission for misconduct in office to about 97 and that the success rate of leaders been found guilty according to Mr Manek was about 97 per cent.

24.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Gold and silver production to pass 31m ounces

PAPUA New Guinea’s mining industry is poised to produce 31, 325, 500 ounces of gold and silver and 165, 000 tonnes of copper in 2011.
Officer-in-charge of the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) Philip Samar told Mines & Money conference in Beijing last week (June 15-16) that these production figures were expected from the six mines operating in the country at present. The mines are Porgera, Ok Tedi, Tolukuma, Sinivit, Simberi and Newcrest (Lihir).
Out of the production figures and commodities, Porgera is expected to produce 500, 000 ounces of gold and 80, 000 ounces of Silver, Ok Tedi 400, 000 ounces of Gold, 1, 000, 000 ounces of Silver and 165, 000 tonnes of Copper, Tolukuma 70, 000 ounces of Gold and 150, 000 ounces of Silver, Sinivit 50, 000 ounces of Gold and 2, 500 ounces of Silver, Simberi 800, 000 ounces of Gold, while Lihir is expected to produce 800, 000 ounces of gold.
Mr Samar told the conference that PNG had four major mines on advanced stages of construction which were expected to come on stream in the near future. The mines are Ramu NiCo (mine life 30 plus years), Solwara 1 (5 years), Yandera (10 years) and Frieda projects with expected mine life of 20 years.
The OIC said several potential investors have spoken to him during the conference and have expressed interest in visiting PNG to obtain more information on mineral investment climate in PNG.
He said others visited the PNG booth and enquired about the PNG mining policies and regulatory framework.

24.06.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

Thousands suffer food shortage on Bougainville atolls

Over 12 thousand people from the atoll islands in Papua New Guinea's Autonomous Region of Bougainville are facing food shortages and need urgent help.

Their MP, Lauta Atoi told the PNG parliament that people now cannot grow food on the atolls because of sea level rise and a prolonged drought.

He says there's no long term food security for the atoll islanders.

Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speakers: Lauta Atoi, MP for PNG's Atoll Islands in Bougainville; Manasupe Zurenuo, PNG's Secretary for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs; Pomat Manuai, Chief Executive of PNG's Border Development Authority

  Listen here! 

24.06.2011
Source: The National

Mines ready for huge production

PAPUA New Guinea’s mining industry is poised to produce 31,325,500oz of gold and silver and 165,000 tonnes of copper this year.
Officer-in-charge of the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) Philip Samar told a mines and money conference in Beijing last week that these production figures were expected from the six mines operating in the country at present.
The mines are Porgera, Ok Tedi, Tolukuma, Sinivit, Simberi and Newcrest (Lihir).
Out of the production figures and commodities, Porgera is expected to produce 500,000oz of gold and 80,000oz of silver, Ok Tedi 400,000oz of gold, 1,000,000oz of silver and 165,000 tonnes of copper, Tolukuma 70,000oz of gold and 150,000oz of silver, Sinivit 50,000oz of gold and 2,500oz of silver, Simberi 800,000oz of gold, while Lihir is expected to produce 800,000oz of gold.
Samar said PNG had four major mines in advanced stages of construction which were expected to come on stream in the near future.
The mines are Ramu NiCo (more than 30 years life span), Solwara-1 (five years), Yandera (10 years) and Frieda projects with expected mine life of 20 years.
He said several potential investors had spoken to him during the conference and had expressed interest in visiting PNG to obtain more information on mineral investment climate in PNG.
Samar said others visited the PNG booth and enquired about the PNG mining policies and regulatory framework.

24.06.2011
Source: The National

Semoso accused of fund misuse
By JUNIOR UKAHA

MEMBER for Boungainville Fidelis Semoso was yesterday referred to the office of the public prosecutor for alleged misconduct in office.
The Ombudsman Commission said it discovered the MP had allegedly misused public funds and his personal conduct was contrary to that of a leader under the leadership code.
In a statement, the commission said: “The Ombudsman Commission today (yesterday) referred Fidelis Semoso to the acting public prosecutor pursuant to its powers under the constitution and the Organic Law on the duties and responsibilities of lea­dership after having investigated and formed a view that he is prima facie guilty of misconduct in office.”
Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek said Semoso had been notified of the referral.
Semoso was given the right to be heard last Dec 3 on official misconduct charges relating to the use of public funds and his personal conduct.
Manek said Semoso provided a written explanation to the commission on Dec 22, 2010, in a letter dated Dec 17, 2010, but the commission was not satisfied with his response resulting in him being referred to the public prosecutor yesterday.
He said the acting public prosecutor “holds an independent constitutional office and has the discretion to proceed with or not proceed with the matter under section 177(1)(b) of the constitution”.
If the public prosecutor’s office is satisfied with the referral, it will request the chief justice to set up a leadership tribunal.
Manek also brushed aside claims by Morobe Governor Luther Wenge that the OC was “picking and choosing” leaders to investigate and refer to the public prosecutor.
“We give what (cases) comes here the same treatment,” Manek said.
“The commission goes by the book. The commission stands for fairness.”

24.06.2011
Source: The National

Public servants owe ABG in rentals
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

BOUGAINVILLE public servants owe the Autonomous Bougainville Government thousands of kina in unpaid rentals since 2005, the region’s public accounts committee (PAC) chairman Cosmas Sohia said.
Revealing its findings to members of the Bougainville House of Representatives during the assembly sitting on Wednesday, Sohia said the committee was “alarmed” that no rentals were paid by public servants for government and private accommodation since 2005.
“The failure of public servants to pay for government housing or private rentals means that the ABG misses out on hundreds of thousands of kina of internal revenue each financial year,” Sohia said.
He said that contributed to the backlog in government housing available for genuine applicants.
He said the money, if collected,  could have been spent on building new houses for eligible public servants.
The PAC’s findings followed a recent inquiry into tenancy of government housing properties in Buka town, Hutjena and Sohano.
“These include the Bougainville administration having only a draft housing policy and that retired and retrenched public servants are still occupying government housing,” Sohia said.
He presented 10 recommendations, including:
* All pub­lic servants living in government housing start payment of rental by Aug 1;
* The Bougainville ad­ministration revises organisational structure to reduce differences in salary levels between the national and Bougainville public servants by July;
* The transfer of ownership of government hou­sing from the National Housing Corporation to ABG is completed by November; and
* The PAC enquires into the awarding of contracts in Bougainville.
“The successful completion of this report is a first for the committee and it now puts PAC in a better position to successfully execute its roles and functions more thoroughly,” Sohia said.

23.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

CIS Members at the Parade this Morning

23.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Pictures from today's CIS Graduation Parade

CIS Minister Tony Aimo welcomed at the Ceremonial Stage at Hutjena this morning.
Picture by Aloysius Laukai

23.06.2011
Source: The National

PNG investment at an all-time high

INVESTMENT opportunities in Papua New Guinea are at an all-time high as a result of the economic boom led by the country’s petroleum and mining sector, PNG’s permanent secretary for Trade and Commerce Moses Nangu, said.
According to Fiji Times online, he said foreign investment was “speedier than ever” caused by the much-publicised liquified natural gas project.
As a result of this investment environment, Nangu said the need for skilled and semi-skilled labour was “becoming very important”.
He said it was, therefore, necessary that dialogue and negotiations on the subject with forum island leaders be pursued.
The online news said the Melanesian Spearhead Group was drafting a memorandum of understanding on a skills movement scheme and further discussions will take place in the upcoming Trade and Economic Ministers meeting scheduled for Port Vila, Vanuatu at the end of the month.
Speaking at a meeting of the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), Nangu said the mining sector also continued to thrive with exploration works for other geophysical sectors were ongoing.
PNG ranks 11th in the world as gold producer and 10th in terms of copper production – with a real potential of exceeding present production levels. Silver is a commercial by-product of most mines and PNG also has an extensive reserve of natural gas and oil.
In addition, he said export commodities continued to flourish, taking advantage of international commodity market prices.
The PNG business environment was relatively uncrowded and he said the government welcomed foreign investment that contributed to the economic development and prosperity of the country and its people.
Nangu identified the areas of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, mining and petroleum, manufacturing, tourism, financial services and telecommunications as potential areas of trade and investment.

23.06.2011
Source: The National

ABG seeks K15 million from state 
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

THE Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is still waiting for the national government to release this year’s restoration and development grant of K15 million, Finance Minister Albert Punghau told the Bougainville House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Punghau was responding to questions raised by members on the first day of the region’s assembly sitting in Buka.
Responding to questions raised by members on the progress of this year’s grant, Punghau said they were waiting for a response from the Minister for Finance and Treasury on the release of the grant.
The grant is a constitutional arrangement under the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
He said as soon as the grant was released, a supplementary budget would be drawn up to prioritise the use of these monies as ABG did not include the K15 million grant in its budget this year based on last year’s experience of a 12-month delay in the release of the 2010 K15 million grant.
Punghau said last year’s K15 million was paid by the state in March and the money spent on paying school fee subsidies for Bougainville students in the region and around the country.
In addition, it was used to pay outstanding bills accrued from last year’s ABG election.
Punghau was questioned over allegations of misuse of public funds by the Bougainville finance division.
“These are mere allegations and no one has come up with hard evidence to prove the allegations,” he said.
“I challenge members to submit any information and hard evidence you have to the ABG chief administrator who is the legal authority to deal with these issues,” Punghau said.
He said since taking up office, he had put a stop to any person, including former and current ABG members, using their position to order finance officers to release monies without proper authorisation.
“No person has the authority to order my officers to draw out money that belongs to the people of Bougainville without proper authority,” he said.
He voiced concern that Bougainville did not have an internal auditor despite having the position advertised three times this year.
He said the package was not attractive enough to attract suitable candidates and he urged ABG to address the issue, including improving the package to attract suitable candidates.

23.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Peace vital in development
By GRACE TIDEN

WORKING for peace based on equitable economic development is a new direction for the Autonomous Bougainville Government, a senior minister has revealed.
ABG Minister for Natural Resources, Lands and Physical Planning Michael Oni, speaking at celebrations to mark the 6th anniversary of the ABG in Kokopo, said the Bougainville economy that was almost dead in 1997 has burst into life again with cocoa and copra dominating Buka and the north and to a lesser extent in Central and South Bougainville.
Gold production contributed in central and the south, he said.
He said revenue from cocoa, copra and gold was the lifeblood of PMVs, stores, building and earth-moving companies and many other businesses.
He said the economy has been helped by donors, especially in cocoa rehabilitation and road upgrading and maintenance.
The strong emphasis on building peace through economic prosperity which was something Mr Oni pointed to as the special direction of the Momis-led government.
He also said Australian aid agency AusAID has agreed to provide funding help towards the early restoration of Arawa Town and that the ABG is working on plans to build a special economic zone at Kokopau in the Selau Constituency.
He said there was no stand-alone businesses in the region and that any foreign business that wanted to invest in Bougainville must have a Bougainvillean partner, especially through landownership and they must in the first instant inform the ABG or its administration.

23.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Minister AIMO
By Aloysius Laukai

The Minister for the Correctional Services (CIS) this morning said that Peace was finally retruning back to Bougainville thus making it possible for the CIS to return to Bougainville after 22 years of CIS absence.

He said we were trying to come back to Bougainville but due to land problems we could not make earlier.
He thanked AusAid and ABG for securing the land in Bekut and AusAid funded the project totalling K4.5 Million kina.

The Minister also thanked the ABG for also contributing funds towards the Bekut CIS project.
Pictured is the Minister making his speech in Buka this morning.

23.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

CIS RECRUIT PASSOUT
By Aloysius Laukai

25 CIS recruits passed out from their training at Hutjena on Buka island this morning.
The passout ceremony was done at the Hutjena Oval today.
Pictured is ABG President John Momis inspecting CIS and Police Parade in Hutjena this morning.

23.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Bougainvilleans celebrate
By JORGE RUMAROPEN

The sleepy town of Kavieng came alive on Saturday when the Bougainvillean community celebrated the 6th anniversary of the Autonomous Bougainville Government in a colourful celebration.
People flocked in from as far as Bol village along the Buluminsky Highway, west coast area, the islands and within the vicinity of the town, braving the morning showers in a spirit of unity to observe the ABG event, which was held for the first time in New Ireland.
“The Bougainvilleans gathered today to remember the remarkable things that we have achieved together through the Bougainville Peace Agreement,” ABG President John Momis said in comments posted on the New Dawn FM website. “We also gathered to reflect about the many challenges that still face us as we implement that agreement.”
Six years ago on June 16, the ABG was sworn in after numerous dialogues in a long peace process following the 10-year civil conflict.

22.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

EXCOMBATANTS TO MEET
By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville Excombatants are meeting in Buka on Monday to address growing law and order issues in South Bougainville.

Ex Combatants from South and Central and North will for the first time act on the problem which has been ongoing for a long time.

They have been tasked by the ABG President to discuss and find possible solution to the on going problems in South Bougainville.
Their talks will centre on both Damien Koike's group and Paul Ihrah's faction.

22.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

NO EASY WAY OUT
By Aloysius Laukai

The member for Nissan and Minister for Law and Justice, LEO HANNET says there is no easy way out by introducing a blanket law to stop the unnecessary killings throughout Bougainville.
MR. HANNET made these remarks in response to calls by the member for EIVO/TORAU, MELHIOR DARE who wanted the ABG to pass a blanket law to stop the killings of sorcerers and other suspects in Central Bougainville.
Member Dare claimed that many suspected sorcerers are being persecuted and the government stop all these atrocities.
The Minister for Law and Justice in response said that there will be no blanket protection but the government must find ways to stop these evil actions from happening in our region.

22.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST
By Aloysius Laukai

The National Government has agreed to assist the people of Nissan Island with food supplies through the National Disaster and Emergency Office.
Acting Prime Minister SAM ABAL made these commitments in parliament yesterday when responding to calls made by the newly elected member for North Bougainville, LAUTA ATOI who wanted the government to assist his people.
He said that the newspaper reports of widespread hunger on the island was true due to the five months drought on the island.
The Prime Minister said that the National Disaster office will facilitate the assistance as soon as possible.

22.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Public Servants unpaid bills
By Aloysius Laukai

BOUGAINVILLE public servants owe the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) thousands of kina in non payment of rentals since 2005, said chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Bougainville Cosmas Sohia.

Revealing their findings to members of the ABG house of representatives during parliament sitting yesterday, Sohia said the committee was ‘alarmed’ that no rentals were paid by the public servants for government and private accommodation since 2005.

“The failure of public servants to pay towards government housing or private rentals means that the ABG misses out on hundreds of thousands of kina of internal revenue each financial year,” said Sohia.

He added that consequently this contributed to the backlog in government housing available to genuine applicants when this money could have been spent on building new houses for eligible public servants.

The PAC’s findings, follows a recent inquiry into tenancy of government housing properties in Buka town, Hutjena and Sohano in which the committee identified a number of issues.

“These include the Bougainville administration having only a draft Housing Policy and that retired and retrenched public servants are still occupying government housing,” Sohia said.

He further presented ten recommendations which he urged that the ABG consider and implement.

These recommendations include;

• All Bougainville public servants residing in government housing commence payment of their rental by Aug 1,
• The Bougainville administration revise organizational structure to reduce the difference in salary levels between the national and Bougainville public servants by July,
• The transfer of ownership of government housing from the National Housing Corporation to ABG is completed by Nov and
• That the PAC inquire into the awarding of contracts in Bougainville.

“The successful completion of this report is a first for the committee and it now puts PAC in a better position to successfully execute its roles and functions more thoroughly,” added Sohia.

22.06.2011
Source: The National

Momis calls for peace in South Bougainville
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

BOUGAINVILLE President John Momis is appealing to all Bougainvilleans to work hard together to deliver the vision of the peace agreement.
Momis made the call following ongoing reports of conflicts in South Bougainville instigated by criminals.
He urged the people of Bougainville to work together to end the conflicts or face the risk of serious and widespread violence resuming in Bougainville.
“The problem of local conflict worries me deeply.
“I know that many who are involved have been damaged and traumatised by the many years of conflict since 1988,” he said.
“They use guns and violence to give themselves status and income because they have little or no education and so little chance of employment or business opportunities.”
He said while the Bougainville government could understand and sympathise with what had led the criminals to use guns, the Momis-led government would not allow them to continue their criminal activities.
“What they are doing has the potential to destroy what we have achieved so far through our peace process.
“It is vital that we end the conflict and dispose of the weapons.”
Momis challenged the young men and older leaders of the main groups that started the conflict in South Bougainville to put aside violence and weapons.
“I want to offer you the opportunities that would allow you employment or business activity.
“Right now, I am working with foreign governments and business organisations to set up advanced technical training opportunities in Bougainville,” he said.
Momis said he was willing to find places for members of those armed groups in the South to get training at places like Don Bosco in Port Moresby and the small scale mining college in Bulolo, Morobe.
He reiterated that through the powerful weapon of equitable economic development and with the support of
the national government and donor partners, Bougainville must end conflicts in the area and move towards achieving the vision of the peace agreement.

22.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Bougainville cabinet approves plans for betterment
By Gorethy Kenneth

THE Bougainville Executive Council yesterday approved three main aspects to move Bougainville forward for a better and peaceful Bougainville.
ABG President John Momis and his Cabinet approved the Bougainville China Consultative Committee to be established immediately to draft,
implement and oversee the development of planned Kokopau town under the Special Economic Development zone.
BEC also approved and made a serious decision for all former combatants to meet as early as Friday or as late as Monday at the Parliament House
to speak on who will travel to Konnou to meet with Damien Koike peacefully and which team will travel to Sininnai to talk to Paul Ihira.
The third decision made was the approval of the Export Import or direct export licence for Bougainville to export its goods directly overseas.
Parliament sat right through close of business yesterday. Reports of the Public Accounts Committee on Housing were discussed, the purchase of
the Copra shed in Buka by Pristine 101 and the Education system was also a highlight during the sitting which kicked off yesterday.

22.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Eluh condemns shooting of cops

BOUGAINVILLE police chief Thomas Eluh has condemned last Saturday’s shooting of two Buin based policemen, describing it as an “attack on the
Constitution”.
“In any democratic country in the world, for any citizen to shoot at police, is a most serious category under the law. It is an attack on the
Constitution in any sovereign country,” Mr Eluh said. He condemned the shooting which occurred at Sininai in the Siwai District on Saturday
where two policemen identified as Constable Mathew Ninamo and Constable Joe Parurei received bullet wounds to their legs.
The two were treated at Buka Hospital and were later discharged as doctors said the injuries were not serious.
“I will not tolerate such activities from such crooks, gangs or whatever. I call on those involved to immediately surrender to police,” Mr Eluh
said.
He confirmed the gunmen involved are led by notorious Siwai criminal Paul Ihira who is wanted by police for murder, rape, arson and a string of
other crimes in Siwai.
Mr Eluh has appealed to all law abiding citizens to cooperate with police in bringing the culprits to justice. He said Bougainvilleans were
already fed up with such criminal activities and those involved should stop or face the full force of the law.

22.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Awareness team lauded
By PETERSON TSERAHA

THE Central Bougainville parliamentary select committee has been highly praised by the people of Central Bougainville following a major awareness campaign on peace, reconciliation special projects and weapons disposal.
The team led by select committee chairman Melchior Dare, member for Eivo Torau; John Ken, member for South Nasioi; Jude Harris, Peace office regional coordinator; Aaron Peter consultant peace office; Richard Lyonns, CEO veterans division; Allan Taniung Lands office and Nationwide Microbank officials visited the most remote parts of Central Bougainville in which no government team has ever gone.
The team visited Marai in south Nasioi, Beresinau village in the Kokoda constituency, former BCL camp five settlements in the Eivo Torau constituency and in Toniva, North Nasioi and also attended the public forum in Panguna.
John Ken, member for South Nasioi, said the purpose of the awareness was to open up people’s minds, and most importantly update them on the ABG’s progress. Paramount chief of Marai Benjamin Oama said it is the first time since the inauguration of the first ABG house that a team representing the ABG has ever come up to their home.
“We are extremely happy with this approach,” he said.

22.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

ABG acts on HIV/AIDS

THE AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government’s Policy on HIV and AIDS was done for the best interest of Bougainvilleans, according to President John Momis and acting Administrator Patrick Koles.
In their preface and acknowledgement for the launch of the region’s veryown HIV/AIDS Policy framework, they stressed that this guiding principle was to protect and promote public health and welfare.
The policy will be reviewed from time to time to take into account emerging issues and priorities.
In Momis’ prelude, he said that the AIDS epidemic is one of the greatest challenges of our time. In many parts of the World including PNG, HIV continues to rise without showing signs of decline. Its impact on individuals, households, communities and nations is far reaching.
“As today’s leaders of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, we are well aware that our recent experience of conflict which has destroyed our economy, livelihoods, social, fabric, social services and infrastructure has left many of our populations, especially young people vulnerable to HIV. Reports of increasing consumption of marijuana and homebrew and their links with violence against women and children including rape and other high risk sexual activities are particularly of major concern.
“We are committed to playing our part to ensure Bougainville is free of the AIDS threat. The decision to include HIV in article 34 of our constitution represents that commitment. The development of this policy, which emanated from the recommendation of the Bougainville Parliamentary Select Committee on HIV and AIDS in its first meeting in 2007, represents yet another significant milestone in bringing that commitment closer,” the leaders said. Mr Koles said that the development of this HIV Policy had been a joint effort of several individuals and organisations for which they were grateful.

22.06.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

Mine Waste expert says land-based dumps have lower risk profile

The alternative to deep sea waste disposal is a land-based system, usually in the form of a tailings dam.

Dr Gavin Mudd is a mine waste expert and senior lecturer in the Department of Engineering at Monash University.

He says a land-based tailings dam is feasible.

Presenter:Jemima Garrett
Speaker:Dr Gavin Mudd, Department of Engineering, Monash University

  Listen here ! 

21.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

PNG US Sign Memorandum of Record

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, June 21, 2011 - The Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Museum and Art Gallery and the Joint (Prisoner of War/Missing in Action) POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) today signed a Memorandum of Record (MoR) to reaffirm support for U.S. investigative and recovery efforts in PNG and surrounding waters.

Signed in Port Moresby by Mr. Mek Kuk, Director for the Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery, and JPAC leader U.S. Army Major General Stephen Tom, the MoR is an arrangement of good faith by both countries and covers details such as site preservation, customs and courtesies, and safety. Also at hand during the signing were U.S. Ambassador to PNG Teddy Taylor and Brigadier General Agwi, Commander to the PNG Defence Force, who witnessed the signing.

“The cooperation received from the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery and National Defence Force is key to our accounting efforts in Papua New Guinea,” said Major General Tom. “Both countries remain dedicated to our noble mission of returning these heroes to their families.”

The organizations will use their resources and experience to conduct investigation and recovery operations with the hopes of ultimately identifying the more than 2,000 Americans who were lost during World War II in and around modern-day Papua New Guinea.

Ambassador Taylor hailed the signing of the MoR as a “further indication of the totality of PNG-US relations.” He called the effort a unique military museum team effort that was indispensible in recovering the remains of those who had “paid the ultimate price for their country.” Recovery teams, he said, develop close partnerships with the people in the communities where they work. Those friendships often last a lifetime.

The signing, said Mr. Kuk, “signifies our long working relationship with JPAC.” The MoR, he said, would help the museum achieve its work objectives to recover the remains of U.S. servicemen and ensure their proper burial.

Brigadier General Agwi thanked the Americans for providing technical training and expertise that is helping the PNG Defence Force recover the remains of its own members. “To maintain morale,” he said, “it is important to get the remains back to those who are waiting at home to put their minds at ease.”

21.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

TABINAMAN DEFENDS OBE
By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG Minister for Education, JOHN TABINAMAN today defended the outcome based education saying it gave the students and the teachers room for creativity.
MR. TABINAMAN was replying to statements made by the member for Selau, TERRY MOSE who wanted to know what the Bougainville Education Division was doing to replaced the Outcome Base Education system.
MR. MOSE said that the OBE has led to a major drop in education level in the region.
However, the Education Minister said that contrary to what a lot of people are saying, OBE system encourages participatory learning for both the students and the teachers.
He said in the past the Teachers were allowed to teach only from the books which is different under the OBE system.

21.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

HARD EVIDENCE NEEDED
By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG Minister for Finance, ALBERT PUNGHAU says that ABG needs concrete evidence in order for it to sack or reprimand officers misusing their offices.
The Minister was answering questions from the member for Tsitalato, COSMAS SOHIA who wanted officers from the finance office to be sacked for misappropriating government funds.
Minister Punghau said that a lot of reports he gets are mere allegations and he can not act on these allegations.
He said that once concrete evidence are provided he would then direct the Administrator who is the financial delegate to take actions.
The Minister said that since he took office he made some changes at the finance office restricting unauthorised people from entering the computer rooms and manipulating staff to prioritize their payments.
He said that in the past anyone can just walk into the finance and see what was being printed.
The Minister said that the ABG wants to recruit an internal Auditor but so far no one has applied for the position from the last three advertisements.

21.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

15million we?
By Aloysius Laukai

The Papua New Guinea Government needs to pay the Autonomous Bougainville Government this year’s allocation of the FIFTEEN MILLION KINA development funds for the ABG to implement its programs on Bougainville.
And the ABG has already written to the Treasury of the Papua New Guinea government to speed up the process.
The ABG Minister for finance, ALBERT PUNGHAU made these comments when replying to questions by the member for HAGOGOHE ROBERT HAMAL SAWA who wanted to know if the ABG had received the development funds for 2011.
Minister Punghau said that once these funds are released the ABG will table a supplementary budget to cater for these funds in the work programmes of the ABG.

21.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Goodnews for Boug Students
By Aloysius Laukai

Good news to Bougainville students the long awaited School fees Assistance Scheme is on again after the Autonomous Bougainville Government received the 2010’s outstanding Fifteen Million Kina.
The minister for Education, JOHN TABINAMAN revealed this during Question time in the ABG House this afternoon.
MR. TABINAMAN said that cheques have been raised and distribution to schools throughout Bougainville and including Tertiary and Universities in Papua New Guinea.
He made these comments in response to questions raised by the member for Suir, LUKE KARASTON who wanted to know if the ABG had funds to continue with the School fees Assistance scheme on Bougainville.

21.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

EXCOMBATANTS MEET
By Aloysius Laukai

The Autonomous Bougainville Government is arranging for a urgent Ex-combatants meeting to be held in Buka this week.
This was revealed by the ABG President JOHN MOMIS in parliament this afternoon.
MR. MOMIS was replying to questions raised by the Member for North Bougainville’s Ex-combatants, FRANCO HOPPING and the Women’s member representing North Bougainville, ELIZABETH BURAIN.
Mrs. Burain wanted to know what the government was doing to address the escalating law and order situation in South Bougainville.
And MR.HOPPING wanted to know what happened to the planned Ex combatant’s meeting.
In response, MR. MOMIS said that the Ex combatant’s meeting will gather strategic information on how best they can address the Konnou and the Ihrah problems in South Bougainville.

20.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG MEET
By Aloysius Laukai

The Autonomous Bougainville Government, House of Representatives will sit for its June session starting 2pm tomorrow Tuesday June 21st,2011.

This was announced by the Clerk of Parliament, ROBERT TAPI today.

He said that the ABG Speaker, ANDREW MIRIKI had fixed 2pm, June 21st as the date and time for the ABG House of Representative meeting.

Clerk says that the June session will receive Parliamentary Committee Reports on the inquiry into the Bougainville Resources Development Corporation and the Public Accounts Committee inquiry on Public properties.

The leader of Government Business and Minister for Education, JOHN TABINAMAN said that the Bougainville Executive Council will meet tomorrow morning to consider Executive Government business for the house.

The meeting will end this Friday.

20.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Member Condemns
By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG member for Kopi, PHILIPH KUHENA has condemned the coward acts by Criminals in the Siwai area.

He told New Dawn FM from Buin that the actions by criminals at SININAI village last Friday must be condemned by all peace loving citizens of Bougainville.

MR.KUHENA said the Bougainville has moved out of these painful past and wants to move forwards and such actions by a minority was paining bad picture for Bougainville.

He said that those who attacked the Police vehicle he was in are known by Police and must be dealt with by the Authorities.

Member Kuhena said that he would be calling on the ABG to act fast on these activities in South Bougainville before it gets out of hand.

20.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

POLICE ATTACK
By Aloysius Laukai

Two South Bougainville Policemen are recovering from gunshot wounds sustained from a shootout in Siwai, South Bougainville last Friday night.

A furious South Bougainville Police Commander, PAUL KAMUAI told New Dawn FM from Buin that the Policemen were returning from Arawa when they were shot at by armed thugs from SININAI village.

He said the Police vehicle was on a public road and had civilians including ABG member for KOPI , PHILIPH KUHENA on board when it was attacked.

MR. KAMUAI said that he failed to understand why the Police vehicle was targeted as Police was working with the communities in the region.

He said that Police were fed up of these type of attitudes in South Bougainville however they do not have the firepower to attend to these incidents.

INSPECTOR KAMUAI called on the Autonomous Bougainville Government to address the deteriorating Law and Order situation in South Bougainville.

20.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Atolls hit by dry spell
By JOYCE TOHUI

ATOLLS of Bougainville, mainly Tasman, Mortlock, Fead, Caterets and Nissan are badly affected by a long dry spell experienced on the islands for a period of more than six months, according to reports received from Bougainville Disaster office in the region.
Disaster Coordinator Franklyn Lacey revealed that the dry season has caused serious damage to food gardens and the islanders, who have been experiencing food shortage for a longer period, are now struggling to sustain their daily living with very little they have.
He said that the Bougainville Disaster office recently did secure some money and bought rice that was distributed by MV Kiso Maru to the Atolls.
He said situation at Nissan is far worse and he is seeking a funding of K88,000 for the next shipment to help the Nissan people.
He said he will meet with Bougainville Deputy Administrator Policy, Raymond Masono, to try to get some funding from the K2 million allocated for resettlement program to help with the situation.
Mr Lacey said that his office had already used K100,000 to hire transport for shipment of relief supplies to Tasman and Mortlock islands.

20.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Disaster office needs more funds
By JOYCE TOHUI

THE BOUGAINVILLE Disaster office is facing difficulty with limited funds while trying to help those affected with food shortage in the region.
Bougainville Disaster office coordinator Franklyn Lacey said that not only the Atolls and Nissan islands are affected. He said other parts of Bougainville including small islands of Buka and areas in the mainland are also affected.
Recently, a heavy downpour caused floods and erosions that uprooted and washed away food gardens at Hahon in Kunua District, West Coast Bougainville.
Mr Lacey said that the situation at Hahon is bad. He said they have no food for some time and his office must try to secure some large amount of money in order to help the people there.
Mr Lacey said Malasang village is also feeling the pinch of famine after continuous rain destroyed their food gardens.
He said he has received reports of people facing low food supply in mainland Bougainville.
The other area affected is Hitau island of Pororan. He said they have organised a barter system with the Halia people where they trade fish for food and this has been sustaining them.

20.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Diseases outbreak in Bougainville
By JOYCE TOHUI

AN OUTBREAK of diarrheal diseases has hit the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), especially at Manob village in the northern tip of mainland Bougainville including parts of Buka Island.
Dr Barnabas Matanu from Buka hospital revealed that people from Manob were admitted at the hospital suffering from severe dehydration that needed appropriate treatment and they have given patients intravenous fluids to replace loss of body fluids and some antibiotics.
He said that there were few cases brought in from Hanahan village in Halia constituency and they were also diagnosed as suffering from diarrheal diseases.
Dr Matanu said that in the cases received from Manob, tests were carried out to ascertain if cholera was a contributing factor but so far, tests results have shown negative and the most likely contributing factor could be the dry spell experienced in past couple of weeks.
He said it is understood that during dry season, water supply is a concern and when water is not available, it greatly affects the use of water and limits the practices of good personal hygiene in homes. This would mean that one would not bother washing his/her hands after using toilet or before preparing and eating food.
He urged the public that if proper hygiene practices were not being practiced during the dry spell period, this could trigger occurrences of diarrheal diseases.
The doctor has appealed to the public to practice basic hygiene by disposing off waste properly, using toilets, washing hands after using toilet, before preparing food, before eating and covering food from being infected by flies and dirt.

20.06.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International

Bougainville rebel group lays out demands before mining will be given go-ahead

The leader of a Bougainvillean group that claims the backing of most people in the Papua New Guinea province, says there’s no chance of the huge Panguna mine re-opening until demands for reparation first made more than 20 years ago, are met.

The Me’ekamui Tribal Nation and its self styled president, Philip Miriori, says before any development will be allowed a monument to the island’s civil war dead must be built and outstanding human rights issues addressed.

He says, in addition, the longstanding demands for financial redress from the mining giant Rio Tinto for the destruction caused by the mine must be satisfied.

“Those demands were being put in place 20 years ago, and nobody made any response then on those demands. Ten billion kina, that was for environmental damage and the other issue is the compensation issue.”
The Me’ekamui Tribal Nation’s Philip Miriori.

17.06.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International

Bougainville’s Me’ekamui says no progress until human rights issues dealt with

A dissident group in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville says until a memorial is constructed and human rights issues addressed no progress will be made on the formerly war torn island.

The Me’ekamui Tribal Nation claims to represent 26 tribes on Bougainville and it disputes the legitimacy of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

The group has this week called a meeting in Cairns and invited the PNG government, the ABG government and the developers of the huge Panguna mine, Bougainville Copper Ltd, to settle all unresolved issues.

None of the groups have turned up but the Me’ekamui Tribal Nation’s treasurer, Peter Nerau, says key issues need to be dealt with, including a memorial to the more than 15 thousand dead, before the province can progress.

“The physical monument with names and also to light a candle and a fire as is customary obligation in Bougainville to appease the spirits so that they can rest. Secondly is to pursue the human rights issues and also to register our human rights declarations for the Me’ekamui government in the United Nations.”
The Me’ekamui Tribal Nation’s Peter Nerau.

17.06.2011
Source: Pacific Scoop

Momis warns against corrupt mining deals on Bougainville

Report – By Gorethy Kenneth in Buka

Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis will not tolerate corrupt foreign mining operations and local dealers helping these pacts on Bougainville.

And he seriously wants to put an end to the local conflict, specifically in his Konnou Constituency in Buin, south Bougainville, where innocent people are being killed.

He has also called on those who are still holding onto guns and ammunitions to put aside this violence and weapons so that the ABG can empower them to manage their own affairs and offer them a good opportunity to move on in life.
President Momis this week celebrated his first anniversary as the head of Bougainville and to rejoice with his people the sixth year of operations as an autonomous government.

He spoke strongly about not tolerating the corrupt foreign mining operations that were interested on mining in Bougainville and warned to be cautious in dealing with these sensitive issues in the region.

He called on all Bougainvilleans to free themselves from free handout mentalities and syndromes and advised the Autonomous Bougainville Government stood ready to empower its people to move Bougainville forward.

Momis detailed the successes the ABG has made since the inauguration day in June 15, 2005 and was optimistic the future of Bougainville and Bougainvilleans remained bright.

Thousands of people gathered at the Hutjena Oval from Buin, south Bougainville, central Bougainville, Wakunai, Buka Island and particularly Tinputz to witness the arrival of one of their sons, the Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, who was guest of honour in yesterday’s ceremony.

The highlight of the ceremony was also the taking part of the Panguna District tradtional cultural group to join celebrate the day with every Bougainvillean.

Schools lined up the main highway to wave their PNG and blue Bougainville flags.

Nambawan Super, Digicel and other major corporate entities set up stalls with Kamarau International School to help commemorate and celebrate the day with the whole of Bougainville.

Gorethy Kenneth is the Bougainville bureau chief of the Post-Courier newspaper.

16.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG President CHIEF JOHN MOMIS' SPEECH(unedited)

President of the Autonomous Government

of Bougainville: Hon. Chief John Momis

WE BOUGAINVILLEANS GATHER TOGETHER TODAY TO REMEMBER THE REMARKABLE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER THROUGH THE BOUGAINVILLE PEACE AGREEMENT.

WE ALSO GATHER TO REFLECT ABOUT THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT STILL FACE US AS WE IMPLEMENT THAT AGREEMENT.

It is six years ago today that the first Autonomous Bougainville Government was sworn in, on the 16th of June 2005. Quite rightly we celebrate that, as a significant day in Bougainville’s history because it marks a major step in the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

Bougainvilleans, this is your day!

As President of Bougainville, I am proud that we Bougainvilleans have reached this sixth anniversary. In many ways, this is an amazing achievement. I congratulate all Bougainvilleans.

But it is also important to ask why this anniversary is such a great achievement.

To answer that question, we only need to think back to where we were in 1996 and early 1997. The conflict in Bougainville was intense. The BRA and the BRF were killing one another. So were the BRA and the PNG forces. The Bougainville economy was almost dead. The Kokopau to Buin trunk road had more holes than surface. Most schools and health centres were closed. Thousands had died. Many more were injured or traumatized. Over 60,000 Bougainvilleans lived in care centres.

No other place in the Pacific Islands region has experienced conflict so terrible as the Bougainville conflict.

But we were able to end that conflict through a peace process that began in the middle of 1997.

We Bougainvilleans can all be proud of the fact that it was our leaders that initiated the peace process. It began with meetings between opposing Bougainville leaders held in Cairns, Australia, in 2005. Then when we had difficulties resuming those meetings, the New Zealand Government helped us by bringing large numbers of Bougainvilleans to Burnham Military Barracks in New Zealand, in July 1997. It was in Burnham that we agreed that we would work together for peace. It was some months later, in October 1997, that we began talks with the PNG Government.

That’s where the peace process started. And four years after it began, we signed the Bougainville Peace Agreement, on 30 August 2001.

We can be especially proud of the achievements of the peace process, and of the Bougainville Peace Agreement. Compared to most peace processes in other parts of the world, our peace process has been very successful.

One major reason I have for saying that, is because in a majority of peace processes around the world, within 5 or 10 years of the peace process beginning, the conflict resumes or a new major conflict occurs.

That is the experience in so many African countries, as well as Asia and the Middle East. Even in our own region we have seen how easily conflict can be repeated once it has started – we only need to think of Fiji, where there have now seen three major military coups since 1987.

Yet in Bougainville, it is now 14 years since the peace process began. And so far, the conflict has not begun again.

Yes, it is true that we have localized conflict and killing in the Konnou area of south Bougainville. That is a terrible thing. It must be stopped. But it is also true that the Konnou conflict is localized. It does not involve a resumption of the awful generalized conflict that we experienced from 1988 to 1997.

So indeed, we can be proud that the violent conflict between PNG and the BRA, and between BRF and BRA, is over. But at the same time, because we have experienced that terrible nine years of conflict to 1997, we know the danger of major conflict. We know how easily such conflict can start. So we know that we must do everything in our power to make sure that such conflict never does begin again.

Our main basis for our joint efforts to make sure that we avoid such conflict is the Bougainville Peace Agreement. That Agreement, so painstakingly negotiated by so many people over such a long time, was the basis that was agreed, to finally end the conflict.

The Agreement sets out our goals, and a broad road map or game plan for achieving our goals.

If ending the conflict was the main goal, there were other goals that were essential to ending the conflict. The most important of these, stated clearly in the Agreement, was “to empower Bougainvilleans to solve their own problems, manage their own affairs and work to realize their aspirations”.

We agreed to do that initially through the Autonomous Bougainville Government. Later, the basis for empowering Bougainvilleans to manage their own affairs could be reconsidered, as a result of the agreed referendum on independence for Bougainvilleans.

But it was also clear that the choice that we would make in the referendum on the future political status of Bougainville would depend very much on how well the Autonomous Bougainville Government worked. It was always clear that it would be essential that autonomy should work well. Only then would Bougainvilleans have a real choice in the referendum. It must be a choice between:
• on the one hand, true autonomy that has a proven track record of operating in practical ways to allow Bougainvilleans to manage their own affairs and solve their own problems, and has actually delivered real benefits to the people; and
• on the other hand, future independence, and the possibility that it may deliver benefits to our people.

Today I am calling on all Bougainvilleans, and the Government of PNG, to work hard, and to work together, to deliver the vision of the Peace Agreement.

All of us sometimes get frustrated that the progress of implementing the Peace Agreement is far too slow. I know that I am often very unhappy about this.

But its good, on this 6th Anniversary, to remind ourselves that although we have a long way to go, we have in fact already achieved quite a lot.

The main conflict has been ended for 14 years. We have established our own government – the ABG. We have even run three Bougainville-wide elections – in 2005, 2008 and 2010. Our schools and health centres are running again. Some new powers and functions are in the process of being transferred to the ABG from the National Government.

The Bougainville economy that was almost dead in 1997 has burst into life again. Cocoa and copra dominate in Buka and the north, and to a lesser extent in Central and South. Gold production contributes in central and south. Cocoa, copra and gold money is the lifeblood of PMVs, stores, building and earth-moving, and many other businesses.

The economy has been helped by donors, especially cocoa rehabilitation and trunk-road upgrading and maintenance by AusAID. Japanese constructed bridges will contribute too.

We have two big hydroelectric projects about to be established in Central and North Bougainville by PNG Sustainable Development and PNG Power. They will be just the first steps towards hydro-electrification of the whole of Bougainville, both rural and urban areas.

Some of this activity began even before the ABG was established. Some has also happened since the first ABG election in 2005.

But the strong emphasis on building peace through economic prosperity is something that I proudly point to as the special direction of the Momis-led ABG. We must free ourselves from the dependency syndrome.

This is a major change. We work to build on the good foundations established since the early stages of the peace process. We aim to spread economic development widely and fairly.

We need the people who are missing out on development to get a fare share of economic opportunities. That means must work for much more development in south Bougainville, the mountains of central Bougainville, the west coast, and the atolls.

Hydro-power and better roads and bridges in central and south Bougainville will help. But we also need new cash crops, and new sources of employment and business opportunities for people in all parts of Bougainville.

That is why my government is working so hard to establish a major oil palm project in Torokina (an area of least economic development). That is why we are working with AusAID towards early restoration of Arawa Town. We are establishing a special economic zone at Kokopau. We are actively seeking investors for a wide variety of projects involving Bougainvillean partners.

Working for peace based on equitable economic development is a new direction for Bougainville. It’s one that will take time to bring the benefits that we all so much want to see. But in the first year of my government we have made a start. I am confident we shall see much more development in the new direction in the next four years.

In that first year we have done a great deal of the complex work that absolutely must be done if we are to agree, amongst Bougainvilleans, on whether mining should be re-established.

In particular, my government is working with the landowner communities in the six main leases associated with the Panguna mine to establish landowner associations. The landowner communities have agreed they want their own associations to represent them in all discussions about the future of Panguna. We are clear that landowner communities must be fully involved in all decisions about whether Panguna re-opens, or whether any other new mining project is established.

But we are also clear that these are decisions for Bougainvilleans – for the ABG, landowners affected by possible projects, and the wider Bougainvillean community. They are not decisions to be made by little groups of foreigners with just a few landowners who are manipulated by foreign interests. That is a recipe for corruption and conflict. I will come back to that issue a little later in my speech today.

We are engaging with BCL and with the National Government about preparations for negotiations about Panguna.

We held a 3 day workshop at the end of March to help the ABG leaders and public servants evaluate the main options on the future of mining.

The ABG under my leadership is clear that if the ABG and Bougainvillean communities agree to renewed mining at Panguna, or other new mining projects anywhere else, it must bring maximum benefits to our people. That will involve not just a fair share of mining revenues. It means much more.

Bougainvilleans must get as many mining jobs as possible, and access to business opportunities. If we are to have mining, it must provide the basis for the most broad-based economic activity possible. That is what we will aim for when discussions on Panguna (or any other new project) begin. That is also an important reason why we will not tolerate corrupt mining interests that try to establish projects without working through the ABG – for we know that only careful negotiation and evaluation will ensure that we achieve fair and equitable mining agreements.

The changes we Bougainvilleans have achieved since the peace process began, and since autonomy started have not been easy. And we still face many major problems.

Those problems include:
• very limited amounts of government revenue,
• a weak Bougainville Administration and Bougainville Police Service,
• corruption in financial management,
• that localized violent conflict in parts of south Bougainville,
• the presence of weapons in many parts of Bougainville,
• and so on.

To deal with these and similar problems, much more work is needed. My government is focused on these issues, and is working to achieve major changes.

But let’s be clear. All of the changes we need depend a great deal on achieving equitable economic development. Even the local conflict in South Bougainville happens because many of the young men involved have no employment or business opportunities. So economic development is vital for ending conflict and achieving weapons disposal. Development is also necessary for the ABG to have revenue needed to build a good public service and Bougainville Police Service.

With the K500 million for high impact projects promised by the National Government in February, much can be achieved. But it is essential that the projects are determined by the ABG. Only then will the people of Bougainville be empowered to manage their own affairs and realize their aspirations, as promised by the Bougainville Peace Agreement and in accordance with the Principle of Subsidiarity.

With more support from the National Government, and from our donor partners, I am confident that we will rapidly move to the point where we will no longer need PNG and donor support. Instead the Bougainville economy will generate the revenues needed for our sustainable government and development.

All Bougainvilleans must work with the ABG so that we continue to solve the difficult problems that face us, and so that we build peace based on equitable economic development.

Before I finish I want to talk more about the challenges ahead of us. While we have achieved much, we all know that there are still dangers ahead of us. Although we can be proud that we are one of the few conflicts which has not resumed within 5 to 10 years after initial peace, there are risks that serious and widespread conflict could resume in Bougainville. We must be aware of those risks if we are to avoid them.

Major risk factors include:

• That localized armed conflict, which has already spread in south Bougainville, and could easily become much wider conflict;
• The many weapons in Bougainville, which could also easily be used to generate wider conflict;
• Unequal development, where particular groups of people are left out, and become angry;
• Corrupt development, especially things like corrupt mining operations, where outside interests make special deals with a few local leaders or landowners, causing conflicts amongst people in the area of the development.

We must be aware of these problems. These are among the things that could prevent us from taking the unique opportunity that we have given ourselves through the Peace Agreement.

Unlike the rest of PNG, and unlike other countries in our region, the Peace Agreement gives us Bougainvilleans the right to establish structures of government that enable us to “manage our own affairs”, to realize our own aspirations.

When we negotiated the Peace Agreement, the Bougainville leaders were clear that we did not want to follow the way things were being done by governments in the rest of PNG. That meant that we wanted to establish Government that worked in the interests of our people. We wanted government that was honest and accountable to our people. We wanted government committed to achieving equitable development.

The Agreement also gave us a very tight time-line to work with. We had to try to achieve these things through our autonomous government in just 10 to 15 years – in that short space of time before a referendum MUST be held.

And although I am proud of the things I have mentioned that we have achieved already, we all know that its nowhere near enough. We have only moved part of the way towards the kind of government we want. And we face dangers that we will be blocked from making more significant progress.

We must work now to end these major dangers.

For example, we must agree that the corrupt foreigners trying to work with small groups of local landowners must be stopped. I think most of them need to be kicked out of Bougainville. I am calling on all patriotic Bougainvilleans to work with me to get rid of the corrupt foreign mining interests that refuse to work with the ABG.

Another thing we must work on is ending the conflict in south Bougainville and disposing of weapons all over Bougainville.

The problem of local conflict worries me deeply. I know that many who are involved have been damaged and traumatized by the many years of conflict since 1988. They are involved because they have little or no education and so little chance of employment or business opportunities. So they use guns and violence to give themselves status and income.

While we can understand and sympathise with what has led them to use guns, we cannot allow them to continue to do that. What they are doing has the potential to destroy what we have achieved so far through our peace process.

It is vital that we end the conflict and dispose of the weapons.

Instead, we must use the new weapons – these are the weapons of equitable economic development.

Today, I am offering a challenge to the young men and to the older leaders of the main groups that started the conflict in south Bougainville. My challenge is to put aside violence and weapons. Because I recognize that many of you have kept using weapons because you have not had opportunities that would allow you employment or business activity, I want to offer you those opportunities.

Right now I am working with foreign governments and business organizations to set up advanced technical training opportunities in Bougainville. But that is something for the medium and long term.

For the immediate future, I want to find places for members of those armed groups in the South to get training at places like Don Bosco, in Port Moresby, and the small scale mining college in Bulolo. I will be making efforts to contact the leaders of these armed groups to sort out the practical arrangements for such training as a matter of urgency.

Finally, I want to remind the National Government that in signing the Bougainville Peace Agreement, it committed itself to working with Bougainville leaders to enable us to solve our own problems, manage our own affairs, and achieve our aspirations.

That means putting the decisions in the hands of the representatives of Bougainvilleans in the ABG. That means working with us to transfer powers rapidly. That means giving us significant revenue. The high impact project money must come to us, and be spent on what we decide. It must not be held in Port Moresby. We need transfers of both powers and revenue NOW. In that way we can achieve real autonomy before the referendum timetable runs out. As I keep saying, only then will our people have a real choice in the referendum.

I will finish my speech by emphasizing the key points that I have made today. That is to say that we Bougainvilleans have achieved much that we can be proud of.

But there are also major dangers that could drag us back towards serious conflict happening again. We could be like Fiji, with our worst nightmares repeating themselves.

We must work together to avoid those dangers. The conflict in the south, the presence of weapons, and corrupt foreign mining interests are amongst the worst of those dangers.

I want to see new weapons brought into operation in Bougainville. Through the powerful weapon of equitable economic development, with the support of the National Government and donor partners, we must end conflict and move towards the vision of the Peace Agreement.

Please, all Bougainvilleans reflect on what we have achieved, and where we are going. And at the same time, enjoy this, your special day.

Thank you!

16.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Governor-General calls for peace, goodwill in Bougainville
By GORETHY KENNETH

THE Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio has high hopes and is confident the future of Bougainville remains bright.
Sir Michael, who is on his first official trip to Bougainville as vice regal, was received on red carpet and treated with utmost and high traditional respect.
He was in Buka yesterday at the invitation of the ABG President John Momis to celebrate the 6th anniversary of the granting of autonomy on Bougainville and its third inaugural government.
In his speech to the people of Bougainville, the vice regal, who is from Tinputz, north Bougainville, said this was a very special occasion for him to be in Bougainville to celebrate with his people, as the Head of State.
“For me as a son of Bougainville, I am both humbled yet at the same time proud of this wonderful opportunity to serve in this high and unifying office,” he said.
“It is this special relationship that has given cause for this celebration today and it is indeed fitting for me, both as a Bougainvillean and in my official capacity as Governor-General to be with you today at the invitation of my special friend and comrade, the President, His Excellency John Momis.
“The new Bougainville, as enshrined by the Autonomous Bougainville Government must, above everything else, have a strong commitment to the principle of the Rule of Law. The hallmark of all peaceful and prosperous society is that the law must prevail. In its actions but, moreso, as it continues its march to the Referendum it is important the Bougainville should seek to act in accordance with the law.
“It must be seen to the average man and women that there is protection under the law and those complaints and grievances can be addressed through the law. As a modern society, Bougainville should not allow ourselves to again descend into the abyss of lawlessness. I am confident that well intentioned people throughout Bougainville would far prefer this course of action over mayhem and violence.
“Today, we celebrate a new Bougainville, one that has aspirations of self determination by its people for its future. You have charted a course of Autonomy that begun in 2005 and this journey will end by the actualisation of the will of the people in a Referendum, the threshold of which is only a few short years away.
“I have high hopes and offer the goodwill of the people of Papua New Guinea and the people of goodwill everywhere that the process will be transparent, fair and equitable and that whatever the outcome, the people of Bougainville will accept and abide by the collective decision of the people.
“My appeal to all people of goodwill and peace in Bougainville is to allow and ensure that harmony and unity will prevail.
“Bougainvilleans must become unified. We have been at odds with one another for far too long. As a people, you must set aside your differences and work together as one people towards one goal. Where there are divisions, you must seek to bridge the divide. I would not underestimate the challenges facing Bougainville as it moves ahead. But Bougainvilleans have always been a very self-reliant people. I am elated that the Autonomous Bougainville is now in a position to celebrate its 6th Anniversary of its foundation. Given all that has been achieved in such a short period, I have every confidence and high expectation that the future of Bougainville remains bright.”

16.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Momis warns of corrupt deals

AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government President John Momis will not tolerate corrupt foreign mining operations and local dealers helping these pacts on Bougainville.
And he seriously wants to put an end to the local conflict, specifically in his Konnou Constituency in Buin, south Bougainville, where innocent people are being killed.
Further, he has called on those that are still holding onto guns and ammunitions to put aside this violence and weapons so that the ABG can empower them to manage their own affairs and offer them a good opportunity to move on in life.
President Momis had his day yesterday to celebrate his first anniversary as the head of Bougainville and to rejoice with his people the sixth year of operations as an autonomous government.
He spoke strongly about not tolerating the corrupt foreign mining operations that were interested on mining in Bougainville and warned to be cautious in dealing with these sensitive issues in the region.
He called on all Bougainvilleans to free themselves from free handout mentalities and syndromes and advised the Autonomous Bougainville Government stood ready to empower its people to move Bougainville forward.
Momis detailed the successes the Autonomous Bougainville Government has made since the inauguration day in June 15, 2005 and was optimistic the future of Bougainville and Bougainvilleans remained bright.
Thousands of people gathered at the Hutjena Oval from Buin, south Bougainville, central Bougainville, Wakunai, Buka Island and particularly Tinputs to witness the arrival of one of their sons, the Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, who was guest of honour in yesterday’s ceremony.
The highlight of the ceremony was also the taking part of the Panguna District tradtional cultural group to join celebrate the day with every Bougainvillean.
Schools lined up the main highway to wave their PNG and blue Bougainville flags. Nambawan Super, Digicel and other major corporate entities set up stalls with Kamarau International School to help commemorate and celebrate the day with the whole of Bougainville.

16.06.2011
Source: The National

Bougainville MPs meet

AUTONOMOUS Bougainville elected representatives arrived for the scheduled sitting that starts on June 21 in Buka.
All 41 leaders are attending a week-long workshop on gender and elections conducted by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
The leaders will be trained under a method which puts elections in context of governance and democracy.
The course  will focus on gender issues affecting women’s active political participation and representation in Bougainville.
As Papua New Guinea heads towards general election again next year and the regional assembly in 2015, this workshop could not have come at a better time.
The assembly members will be introduced to principles of gender equality, democracy, electoral procedures, barriers that women face in accessing electoral processes, voting and registration.
UN Women’s Gender Equality in Political Governance programme (GEPG) deputy regional manager Jeanette Bolenga said the workshop aimed at helping leaders “understand why women’s participation in leadership is important and also how to improve it”.
“The members are elected leaders and decision-makers of the day of the highest law-making institution of any country and it is important to engage them towards increasing political leadership responsibilities for both genders,” she said.
Bolenga said human rights were for everybody, “so women and men are entitled to equal rights and to equal access to the electoral system”.
However, “even if women and men have equal legal rights in regard to elections, specific practices in a country may discriminate against or work to the disadvantage of women”.
“As a result of historical, cultural and other factors, women have not yet achieved equality in most societies, including equality in the electoral process.
“The training provides tools for all participants to look at elections from a gender perspective and what they learn will go a long way in helping women’s leadership and participation in governments.”
She said even a country’s choice of election system may have a dramatic effect on how many women were elected to office.
Bougainville is leading the Pacific when it comes to temporary special measures with its inclusion of three reserved seats for women.
Under that arrangement the north, central and south have a women’s representative in the assembly.
However, there is still room for improvement as Bougainville was still below the so-called “critical mass” of 30% representation.
Pacific Island countries have fallen behind the rest of the world with the lowest levels of representation of women in parliaments and local governments.
The workshop will be reflecting on how temporary special measures, such as elected reserved seats in parliament, voluntary party quotas and other forms of affirmative action may help Bougainville in achieving an improved gender balance in the assembly.
Leaders are introduced to the principles of different electoral systems and how they affect women’s representation, as well as to the needs for respective voter education.
The workshop is led by facilitator Bolenga (Vanuatu) and Leotina Harihiru (accrediting facilitator) of the Solomon Islands while the workshop facilitator is Hamidan Bibi from Fiji.
The local co-facilitators include Agnes Titus, Steven Simiha, Lawrence Chicka, Patricia Kapapal and Ezekiel Lames.
They were recently accredited after a train-the-facilitators workshop two weeks ago.
The workshop which started on Monday at Kuri Resort, Buka, ends tomorrow.

15.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

BOUGAINVILLE URGED TO CURB FOREIGN INVESTMENT
Local business operators overshadowed by newcomers
By Gorothy Kenneth

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, June 15, 2011) – The Autonomous Bougainville Government leadership has lost touch with reality, especially when dealing with foreign investor issues in the region, Bougainville Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso, said.

Because of this, the leader has chaired an all business meeting recently where it has been agreed in principal that as of June 08, 2011, no more foreign businesses will be allowed to operate in Buka, Bougainville; in areas like retail, transport and agriculture, wholesale, tourism and hospitality and other reserved lists of activities which was endorsed by the Bougainville Executive Council.

The meeting, convened by all business stakeholders of Buka, Arawa and parts of Buin and Siwai at Kenny’s Hall last week was told that what was happening in Bougainville was that the autonomy was beginning to lose its face – Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) was allowing foreign investors to come in at the time the leadership still needed to help its small stakeholders in the region through financial support.

"The leadership is bringing foreign investors in when important issues have not been addressed," Mr. Semoso said. "ABG is allowing this to happen and the action of the leadership totally contradicts the aspirations for Bougainvilleans. I want to warn business houses who use locals as fronts to sell their stock, you will be dealt with in the next four weeks.

"I will not allow or I do not want to see mistakes repeated in PNG where foreigners have gone as far as selling buai or smoke, practically it means we have lost 25,000 lives and we are going 25 years backwards. Not under my leadership.

"We need to get our leadership right," he said.

Mr. Semoso said that on the eve of the region’s sixth anniversary, which falls today, the leadership has not exhausted every avenue to help the Bougainville business houses (the ones who have grown the economy of Bougainville) by providing the financial help they need to grow further.

He said foreign investors who are interested in doing business on Bougainville should have more than 5 million kina [US$2.1 million] and anything below should be given to Bougainville businesses to handle.

"These business houses, they are not asking for free handouts, no.

"All they are asking for is ABG injecting money into the bank so they can loan from it and they will repay it," Mr. Semoso said.

"In light of the problems business houses are facing, we have come up with recommendations to ban all foreigners from having reserved businesses in the region as of the eighth of this month.

"Basically, as the mandated leader of Bougainville, I will not tolerate foreigners involved in businesses where Bougainvilleans are involved in or capable of handling.

"I want Bougainville to develop at our own pace."

Mr. Semoso said that as long as he remains the Regional MP and the minister in charge of Bougainville, he will not let down business houses who are engaged in these reserved businesses by allowing outsiders to compete with them.

15.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG celebrates 6th Anniversary
By Aloysius Laukai

THE Autonomous Region of Bougainville today celebrated its sixth anniversary as an autonomous governed region with traditional singing and dancing from various groups from the mainland of Bougainville, Buka Island and the atolls.
The day began with traditional groups from Wakunai and Ieta according former North Bougainville MP Sir Michael Ogio to a traditional welcome at the Buka airport on his first official visit to the region as the Governor General of PNG.
Sir Ogio was also honoured with a royal salute by the Bougainville Police Service (BPS) who provided escort for the governor general and Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) president John Momis to Hutjena where more than 300 people including school children had gathered to mark the event.
Sir Ogio, in marking the event said the anniversary symbolized the ‘tremendous stride’ the people of Bougainville and its government had achieved since signing the Bougainville Peace Agreement on Aug 30, 2000 and establishing an autonomous government on June 15, five years later.
“Such event serves as a reminder of the past, of what Bougainville has been through and the achievement it has made in unifying its people in peace and prosperity,” said Ogio.
He appealed to all Bougainvilleans to ensure unity prevailed in the region.
“Bougainville must be unified. I would not underestimate the challenges facing Bougainville, if Bougainville is to succeed, you must demonstrate to the world that you are a creative, self reliant and united people,” urged Ogio.
ABG president John Momis in honour of the event reiterated ABG’s commitment to collaborating with the national government to bring peace and prosperity to the people of Bougainville.
“I am proud that we have reached our sixth anniversary, an amazing achievement. Our peace process has been very successful,” said Momis.
He added that despite the progress so far, there are many challenges that the region would face in its journey towards referendum of independence.
Such challenges include localised armed conflict, weapons disposal, unequal development in areas throughout out the region and corrupt mining interests causing conflict among the people.
Momis urged all Bougainvilleans gathered to work together in addressing these challenges.
“I also remind the national government that when it signed the peace agreement, it committed itself to the peace process in Bougainville,” said Momis.
He said that meant working closely with ABG in various ways including granting directly to the Bougainville government the committed high impact project money of K500 million for the next five years instead of keeping this ‘locked’ in Port Moresby.
Momis thanked the governments of PNG, Australia, New Zealand and Europe who have collaborated with ABG in building Bougainville.

15.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

KIDS WATCH
By Aloysius Laukai

Pictures of School children from the Kamarau International School in Buka town.

15.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

GOVERNOR GENERAL HAPPY WITH BOUGAINVILLE
by Aloysius Laukai

The Governor General SIR MICHAEL OGIO called on the people Bougainville to unite to work for one goal that is to show the world what a united people can do to develop their land.

He said that the people of Bougainville must come out of the dependancy syndrome and work for development for the region.

He was speaking at the sixth anniversary for Bougainville at Hutjena this afternoon.

He also called on the warring factions in South Bougainville to join the peace building and peace process.

He said"wanem hevi yu gat plis kam na toktok wantaim ABG lida long pinisim hevi na krai long Sauth Bougainville".

Picture of Governor General

15.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

WELCOME HOME
By Aloysius Laukai

The Bougainville Police Service and the CIS presenting a guard of honor for the GG at the Buka airport.

Pictured is the GG SIR MICHAEL OGIO inspecting Guard of Honor at the Buka airport.
Picture by Aloysius Laukai

15.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Governor General Arives
By Aloysius Laukai

The Governor General SIR MICHAEL OGIO is met at the Buka airport this morning.

He is pictured being met by the ABG President Chief JOHN MOMIS.

Picture by Aloysius Laukai

15.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

HOORAY ABG Celebrates
by Aloysius Laukai

ABG today celebrates sixth anniversary at Hutjena on Buka island
The Ceremony will commence at 11am this morning.
After the Governor General arrives at TEN AM this morning
Picture taken this morning at the main Hutjena Stage.

15.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Torokina leader refutes gun sales
By FABIAN GATANA

GUNS are not being sold out of Torokina.
Member for Torokina Steven Suako said that these were purely rumours.
He also did not agree with the report in last week’s Post-Courier which stated that “every household in Torokina had five to 10 guns in their possession” but he admitted that only a few kept firearms and ammunitions.
He said the comments were fabricated by opportunists aimed at tarnishing the good name of the people of Torokina and posed a threat to them.
“More people are coming into Torokina and harassing the people to buy guns but I will not tolerate this and the ban on the sale of arms and ammunition still stands,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said that arrangements have been made to transport a new ambulance to Torokina.
He said that the vehicle was bought last year but could not be delivered to Torokina because of transportation difficulties as there was no direct roadlink from the main highway to Torokina.

15.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Semoso says ‘no more foreign businesses’
By GOROTHY KENNETH
 

AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government leadership has lost touch with reality, especially when dealing with foreign investor issues in the region, Bougainville Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso, said.
Because of this, the leader has chaired an all business meeting recently where it has been agreed in principal that as of June 08, 2011, no more foreign businesses will be allowed to operate in Buka, Bougainville; in areas like retail, transport and agriculture, wholesale, tourism and hospitality and other reserved lists of activities which was endorsed by the Bougainville Executive Council.
The meeting, convened by all business stakeholders of Buka, Arawa and parts of Buin and Siwai at Kenny’s Hall last week. was told that what was happening in Bougainville was that the autonomy was beginning to lose its face – ABG was allowing foreign investors to come in at the time the leadership still needed to help its small stakeholders in the region through financial support.
“The leadership is bringing foreign investors in when important issues have not been addressed,” Mr Semoso said.
“ABG is allowing this to happen and the action of the leadership totally contradicts the aspirations for Bougainvilleans.
“I want to warn business houses who use locals as fronts to sell their stock, you will be dealt with in the next four weeks.
“I will not allow or I do not want to see mistakes repeated in PNG where foreigners have gone as far as selling buai or smoke, practically it means we have lost 25,000 lives and we are going 25 years backwards. Not under my leadership.
“We need to get our leadership right,” he said.
Mr Semoso said that on the eve of the region’s sixth anniversary, which falls todday, the leadership has not exhausted every avenue to help the Bougainville business houses (the ones who have grown the economy of Bougainville) by providing the financial help they need to grow further.
He said foreign investors who are interested in doing business on Bougainville should have more than K5 million and anything below should be given to Bougainville businesses to handle.
“These business houses, they are not asking for free handouts, no.
“All they are asking for is ABG injecting money into the bank so they can loan from it and they will repay it,” Mr Semoso said.
“In light of the problems business houses are facing, we have come up with recommendations to ban all foreigners from having reserved businesses in the region as of the eighth of this month.
“Basically, as the mandated leader of Bougainville, I will not tolerate foreigners involved in businesses where Bougainvilleans are involved in or capable of handling.
“I want Bougainville to develop at our own pace.”
Mr Semoso said that as long as he remains the Regional MP and the minister in charge of Bougainville, he will not letdown business houses who are engaged in these reserved businesses by allowing outsiders to compete with them.

14.06.2011
Source: Radio Australia News

Chinese investors eye Bougainville resources

Chinese investors have presented details of a plan to build a major new urban centre on Papua New Guinea's island of Bougainville.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government and the Bougainville Business Association have been briefed on the proposal.

Bougainville's President John Momis told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat the plans include a special economic zone.

"They are responding to our call for foreign investors to invest in Bougainville to help the ABG and the Bougainville people to develop their huge natural resources," Mr Momis said.

"By doing so it will enable the Bougainvillians to be the beneficiaries of the development off their resources."

14.06.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

New Chinese-built urban centre for Bougainville

Chinese investors have presented details of a plan to build a major new urban centre on Papua New Guinea's Island of Bougainville.

The multi-millon dollar development would be built on government-owned land and would be declared a Special Economic Zone.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government and the Bougainville Business Association were briefed on the proposal late last week.

Presenter: Jemima Garrett
Speaker: John Momis, Bougainville President

  Listen here ! 

MOMIS: They are responding to our call for foreign investors to invest in Bougainville to help the Autonomous Bougainvile government (ABG) and the people of Bougainville to develop their huge natural resources and by doing so enable the Bougainvilleans to become beneficiaries of the development of their resoureces, instead of just being owners of the resource. In respone to that, the Chinese have been coming to Bougaoinville to look at a number of potential economic projects one of which is the proposal to set up a Special Economic Zone on the northern tip of Bougainville Island including eventually, I suppose, the building of the Buka Passage Bridge to connect Buka Island with Bougainville.

GARRETT: Some reports say the plans entail a 1.2 billion Kina (AUD$480 millon) investment and the building of a new city. Is that correct?

MOMIS: That was put to the Bougainville Business Association and the ABG. I, personally, am not well informed on the exact amount of money that is required but I know of the fact that they are making a proposal to build a modern township that would attract tourists and other investors to come and invest their money to develop projects such as steel prefab housing materials, hotels and things like that. Because Buka Island and the Buka P assage and the surroundings, which includes the northern tip of Bougainville is potentially a very, very rich beautiful tourism hub of Bougainville.

GARRETT: Special Economic Zones are controversial but you actually asked the Chinese to put a proposal involving a Special Economic Zone. Why?

MOMIS: That is correct. Special Economic Zone has been talked about in PNG. It has been tried in Lae, and a couple of other places, but the government of Papua New Guinea and, I guess others, have not had the expertise nor the capital available to develop them. You need, I presume, a lot of money and I think chinese capitalists, or Chinese investors, would have that kind of money. We would provide as partners the rich resources that we have and negotiate something that would be mutually beneficial. We have engaged, ..the ABG I mean, has engaged an expert from New Zealand who is going to give us independent advice as to how we should go about stiking a win-win deal.

GARRETT: You had one group of Chinese investors last week and I understand another group went over on Saturday. What are you hoping to see come out of that?

MOMIS: Three Chinese came went over last week, one of whom is our representative in China who travels throughout China to potential investors. The other one was the architectural engineer who is looking at the proposed site for the Special Economic Zone; the buildings and so on and so forth. And just a couple of days ago a group went over who are interested in mining and construction of a hydro project.

GARRETT: Turning now to PNG politics, is the current instability in the PNG government affecting Bougainville?

MOMIS: The instability in the government does worry us. We would hope that things would be stabilised and that the commitment that the National government has made to Bougainville, especially in the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the other subsequent commitments such as the K500 million that has been pledged to be given to Bougainvile in the next five years and K15 million that is a requirement of the Bougainville Agreement, would flow to Bougainville, without disturbance, I suppose. And also the good relationship we need to have. The rapport we need to have between Bougainville and Papua New Guinea is crucially important to manage the issues of referendum, issues of Bougainville being given the best opportunity to enjoy in ful its automomy, in order to be ready for the referendum to be held in a responsible way.

GARRETT: There have been reports of severe food shortages on Bougainvile's atoll islands. how is the Bougainville government responding?

MOMIS: I understand that the administration is deaing with the issue. this is a perennial problem that Bougainville has and it is not made easy, in any way, by the fact that the administration has very meagre resources at our disposal to deal with this sort of thing. our budgetry allocation is usually for recurrent activities. I am hoping that the administration will have adequate funding. If they don't have enough then they should contact the National Emergency department, in Port Moresby, to get the extra funding which we need to provide food and make provisions for the people of the atolls.

14.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

GALIP PROJECT
By Aloysius Laukai

When the people of Bougainville are realizing the real effects of the Cocoa Pod Borer news of Galip nut becoming a new cash crop industry for the region is reliving.

New Dawn FM this morning talked to one of the Associate researchers at the PNG NUT DEVELOPMENT Project on how the people of Bougainville can benefit from this new development.

MR. GODFREY HANNET told New Dawn FM that they were currently collecting samples of nuts from Nissan, Saposa, Torokina and Buka island and the mainland Bougainville to find the best and high yielding nut that could be cloned for distribution to interested farmers.

He said that the National Agriculture Research Institute is setting up a processing plant to process the nuts for market.

MR. HANNET says that firstly they are looking at the local market but later they would be exporting to overseas markets.

He said that Galip or Canarium indicum is indigenous to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu where it grows in the wet lowland forests.

MR. HANETT said that when the buying of nuts commences, they would be buying any species and later would develop farms with special cloned and identified species.

Many Cocoa and Copra Export companies have already shown interest in paying for these nuts at their cocoa and copra buying points.

Picture of the famous galip nuts

14.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BAN STILL ON
By Aloysius Laukai

The Buka urban council today issued warning to the public of Buka town that ban on the sale of cooked food within Buka town is still on.

The warning came as the Region is preparing to celebrate ABG’s sixth anniversary tomorrow.

In a service message from the office of the Buka Urban Council, people wishing to sell food at tomorrow’s gathering are warned not sell any cooked food to the public.

The message said that the current cholera alert was on and people must make sure they wash all fruits before eating.

The message also stated that Buka town market will be closed tomorrow and open as normal on Thursday.

14.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

CELEBRATING AUTONOMY
By Aloysius Laukai

The people of Bougainville started arriving in Buka town for tomorrow’s commemoration of the ABG’s sixth anniversary.

AND program for the day has been changed to accommodate last minute changes to adjust to the arrival of the Governor General SIR MICHAEL OGIO tomorrow.

Earlier reports that the Governor General was to have arrived today was changed because the ABG President Chief John Momis was out of the region.

MR. MOMIS arrived back to Bougainville this afternoon and the Governor General is expected to arrive in Buka at TEN AM tomorrow morning.

14.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

POLICE REHEARSE
By Aloysius Laukai

Members of the Bougainville Police Service and Correctional Officers combined with students from nearby schools rehearsed for tomorrow’s big day at the Hutjena oval this morning.

The group will be participating at tomorrow’s celebration at the Hutjena Oval.

The CIS and Police officers will be providing Guard of Honor at the Buka airport and also at the ceremony itself tomorrow.

According to the new program, the program will be very tight to accommodate the late arrival of the Governor General from Port Moresby.

13.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG CELEBRATES
By Aloysius Laukai

The Autonomous Bougainville Government turns six on Wednesday June 15th, 2011.

And according to the Bougainville events committee official program the day would be filled with Speeches and activities from South Central and North Bougainville Cultural groups.

Performers would be presenting their items during speeches making the program colorful and long.

All Bougainville leaders are expected to give speeches at the ceremony starting with the newly elected member for North Bougainville, LAUTA ATOI, The Minister for Bougainville Affairs and Regional Member, FIDELIS SEMOSO, ABG President CHIEF JOHN MOMIS and the Governor General, SIR MICHAEL OGIO.

New Dawn FM will take the activities live from Hutjena to its listeners in Buka town and also update its site to its followers on the internet.

13.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BOUGAINVILLE TO RECEIVE GOVERNOR GENERAL
By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville is ready to receive Bougainville’s own son and the sixth Governor General to Buka tomorrow.

SIR MICHAEL OGIO the new Governor General is expected to arrive in Buka at 0850 tomorrow morning.

According to the program, as soon as he arrives in Buka he would be welcomed by traditional group and would have to go through ritual of welcoming a paramount chief.

Villagers from ETA village would perform the official welcome for the Governor General.

He would then pay courtesy call to the ABG President Chief John Momis before retiring to his Hotel.

The program also states that a thanksgiving mass would be held at 2pm tomorrow for the Governor General.

The Bougainville Police Service would perform Guard of Honor for the Governor General at the Buka airport.

13.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Galip business
By Aloysius Laukai

The famous galip nut could become a major revenue earner for locals if current studies become a reality.

In making this known to New Dawn FM today, a research associate with PNG NUT DEVELOPMENT Project at the National Agriculture Research Institute, GODFREY HANNET said that the Galip nut could become one good revenue earner for villagers throughout Papua New Guinea.

He said that since research on the nut started in 2006 results have shown a lot of positive results for the nut.

MR. HANNET said that the European Union Funded project has successfully come up in making Galip nut a good shade tree for Cocoa trees.

He said the nuts are only grown in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and is growing demand for food, Medicine and also for its organic content.

MR. HANNET says that by products would be Soap, Oil, Fertilizer,Perfume and other products.

He said that main products would be Salted Galip, Chocolate coated Galip and Galip Biscuits.

13.06.2011
Source: ABC Australia Network News

Chinese propose urban development on Bougainville
by Jemima Garrett

Chinese investors have presented details of a plan to build a major new urban centre on Papua New Guinea's island of Bougainville.

The Chinese had been invited to build the Special Economic Zone by the Autonomous Bougainville.

The new urban centre would be built on government-owned land on the northern tip of Bougainville Island and would include a bridge across the Buka Passage to Buka Island.

Bougainville's President John Momis says the development would have lots of benefits for Bougainvilleans.

"They are making a proposal to build a modern township that would attract tourists and other investors to come and invest their money," he said.

The proposal would have investors "develop projects such as steel prefab housing materials, hotels and things like that," he said.

President Momis says the Chinese have the capital required for such a project.

He says he has engaged an independent expert to advise on the structure the Special Economic Zone.

11.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Group Photo of the team with the Acting ABG President Patrick Nisira
AL

11.06.2011

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MINING TEAM
By Aloysius Laukai

Another China delegation led by the Special ABG Investment Agent for China, Jason Fong arrived in Buka this afternoon.

The team of seven members arrived in Buka and were welcomed again by Traditional group from Hangan village near Buka town.

In welcoming the team in Buka ABG acting President, PATRICK NISIRA said that Bougainville welcomes good investor to the region.

He said that ABG has always wants investors to visit Bougainville and try to assist the ABG in its program to raise the economy of the region.

The ABG Vice President said that Bougainville Economic policy does not allow stand alone businesses and would like joint ventures to develop the region.

The team are interested on the Panguna Copper mine and would be visiting Panguna before returning to China.

Pictured is one of the team members being welcomed at the Buka airport
Pictures by Aloysius Laukai

10.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Public holidays declared
By Aloysius Laukai

Monday 13th June has been declared a public Holiday to commemorate Queen’s Birthday and also Wednesday 15th is another holiday to celebrate sixth anniversary of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

All Government offices will close on these two days leaving only skeleton staff to man emergency units like the Buka General Hospital and other essential services.

All government services will be opened on Tuesday and Thursday as these would be normal working days.

10.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

OGIO VISIT
By Aloysius Laukai

The Governor General of PNG and former member for North Bougainville, SIR MICHAEL OGIO is to visit Bougainville to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Autonomous Bougainville Government on June 15th.

According to the official program, SIR MICHAEL OGIO is expected in Buka on Tuesday June 14th.

The Bougainville Police Service will do Guard of Honor for the Governor General at the Buka airport.

He will then pay a courtesy call to the ABG President Chief John Momis before retiring to his Hotel.

New Dawn FM understands that this is the first Official visit of the Governor General since he took office last year.

10.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

FIRST MEET
By Aloysius Laukai

The newly elected member for North Bougainville is to make his first appearance as the member for North Bougainville next Wednesday.

According to the ABG’s sixth inauguration program for 15th June, MR. ATOI would speak to the people of Bougainville as the new member for North Bougainville at the Hutjena oval.

He is to the first speaker at the ABG’s sixth inauguration celebration next week.

According to reports, MR. ATOI would be sworn in as the member for National Parliament at the Government house on Tuesday 14th June.

He will then return to Bougainville for the ABG anniversary celebrations.

10.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Lauta wants to move
By Aloysius Laukai

The newly elected member for North Bougainville, LAUTA ATOI wants to see some developments in his six months in office.

He said today that he was looking at the basic services as his priority in the next six months.

MR. ATOI says that water and sanitation needs of the people of North Bougainville are his priorities.

He is also looking at un completed projects by the former member.

Areas he wants to address includes school buildings and road works.

The new member for North Bougainville says that he would also want to look at food security and sustainable economic development.

10.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

NO BRIBES
By Aloysius Laukai

The newly elected member for North Bougainville, LAUTA ATOI today brushed aside any claims of bribery by him or his team during the last election.

He made this call in Port Moresby in response to accusations certain candidates have made on him.

MR. ATOI said that the number of votes collected in all districts is a clear example of how people supported him in the election.

He said that he has been working with the people the churches and the schools through his plantation thus gaining the interest of the people.

Mr. Atoi won the North Bougainville seat with 10,463 votes whilst the runner up Rachael Opeti could only master 5162 votes.

10.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Demand for guards
By Fabian Gatana

TWENTY trained security personnel from Bougainville High Risk Security arrived in Kimbe on Wednesday ready to start work.
The guards will be attached to a security company in Kimbe.
Albert Magoi, a former military instructor and the founder of Bougainville High Risk Security, said that it is the first time in 15 years of training security personnel that a batch has been sent to work in another province.
He said there is also a high demand for more Bougainvillean security guards in the country.
Mr Magoi said that his guards are trained to conduct their duties with the highest professional standard and discipline.
That is why, he said, there is such a high demand for Bougainville High Risk Security trained personnel.
“The men are trained in classes of 24 to 32 per class over a three week period both in the classroom and on practical assignments with a lot of emphasis on physical training,” he said.
He encouraged more Bougainvilleans to join the company to keep them occupied instead of wasting their time being a nuisance to society and also because of the opportunities his company can offer.
For interested persons who wish to recruit or for companies and businesses who wish to employ Bougainville High Risk Security guards, you can contact Mr Magoi on 73308577.

10.06.2011
Source: The National

Bougainville firms speak out
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

MORE than a 1,000 people gathered at Kennys Hall, in Buka town, Bougainville, on Wednesday to discuss growing concerns about foreign businesses entering Bougainville without proper clearance from authorities.
Organised by regional member and Minister for Bougainville Affairs Fidelis Semoso, the meeting called on the ABG to improve its investment policy so that certain businesses were run by indigenous Bougainvilleans only.
Speakers at the meeting urged the Bougainville Business Association to work closely with the Bougainville administration and leaders to address these growing concerns.
Among resolutions passed by the meeting was a call to define who is a Bougainvillean according to the Bougainville constitution and to ensure the policy was not being manipulated.
Participants agreed to meet in four weeks to hear the response of ABG.
Commerce and trade division chief executive officer Albert Kinani called on the people to allow the administration to set policies concerning the conduct of businesses.
He said this in response to claims the Bougainville administration had failed to control the influx of foreigners wanting to do business there.

10.06.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

Pacific move towards China follows neglect by the west

Australia and New Zealand have bungled their handling of relations with Pacifric island states opening the way for the growing China influence in the region.

That's the view of London-based analyst, Cleo Paskal.

She says the U-S and Britain more or less sub-contracted their relations with the Pacific to Canberra and Wellington but although being the natural allies of the west the island states are turning more and more to China.

Presenter:Geraldine Coutts
Speaker:Cleo Paskal, Chatham House analyst

  Listen here ! 

09.06.2011
Source: ESBC Research

FIRST "FAIR VALUE" SELLER APPEARS ON STAGE IN SYDNEY !

Only days after the European Shareholders have published a BCL FAIR VALUE STUDY established by the famous Indian analyst Mr. Anil Bakaya on their homepage, a first cautious seller (*) appeared on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in Sydney today. He asks AU$ 20 per share for each of his 68.036 Bougainville Copper shares. (scroll down to see the today's market depth)

"The actual rediculous low price of AU$ 1.35 per BOC share reflects simply a deep uncertainty of investors," says ESBC president Axel G. Sturm, "If Market Watch analyst Tatyana Shumsky is right in her yesterday's prognosis of future copper prices, Mr. Bakaya has even to be considered as 'pessimistic' in his evaluation of Bougainville Copper's future price. Bakaya had evaluated a fair value of AU$ 30 to 50 AU$ per BOC share on a moderate copper price level."

Although excellent news from the ground in Bougainville were reported in May, BOC share prices have suffered within the last weeks due to ongoing activities of notorious criminal suspects like Damien Koike and his gang in South Bougainville and outrageous claims of self appointed Me'ekamui "president" Philip Miriori and his fantasy Me'ekamui government that is supposed to be remote controlled by the well known Australo-Canadian conman Lindsay Semple and some other doubtful subjects in the United States of America and Canada.

Semple already has tried to cheat Bougainvilleans in 2008 in the so called "Killer Deal" with late president Joseph Kabui.

"All these insidious subjects try to undermine Bougainville's way into a better and prosperous future. But this does not represent the reality on the ground in Bougainville," says Mr. Sturm, "Bougainville has a good and democratic leadership and all Bougainvilleans should be proud of! Of course, the actual situation in PNG's politics in general is not really helpful to encourage foreign investors. Actually Bougainville Copper shares are traded extremely under value."

Market Depth for BOUGAINVILLE COPPER
as at 12:06:55 PM Thursday, June 9, 2011

BOUGAINVILLE COPPER Trade Summary - Status 
Indicative Open Price 1.325 Volume Surplus 0
Last Change % Volume Trades Open High Low
1.350 0.000  0.00 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000
Last Traded 0 @ 0 - No trades today

 
BOC Buyers

Level Buy Quantity Price

1  1 546 1.300
2  3 14,000 1.250
3  1 10,000 1.245
4  1 10,500 1.240
5  1 500 1.230
6  1 3,000 1.210
7  1 2,500 1.200
8  1 10,000 1.080
9  1 10,000 1.050
10  2 14,000 1.000
11  1 10,000 0.900
12  1 5,000 0.890
13  1 6,000 0.885

BOC Sellers

Price Quantity Sell Level

1.350 8,839 2 1
1.360 1,127 1 2
1.385 5,000 1 3
1.390 10,000 1 4
1.400 516 2 5
1.445 14,000 1 6
1.450 180 1 7
1.500 10,105 2 8
1.540 3,000 1 9
1.560 8,000 1 10
1.590 2,070 1 11
1.600 5,000 1 12
1.670 4,000 1 13
1.690 7,000 2 14
1.700 18,000 3 15
1.710 4,000 1 16
1.720 9,000 2 17
1.740 5,000 1 18
1.750 15,000 3 19
1.780 11,600 2 20
1.790 6,000 1 21
1.800 16,000 2 22
1.820 9,230 2 23
1.830 4,000 1 24
1.840 6,000 1 25
1.850 6,000 1 26
1.890 6,000 1 27
1.900 7,000 1 28
2.000 6,106 1 29
15.990 30,000 1 30
20.000 68,026 1 31 (*) 
 

09.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

PAY YOUR LICENCE
By Aloysius Laukai

The Manageress of the Buka Urban Council, BRENDA TOHIANA yesterday confirmed that some Stores were operating without a licenses from the Buka Urban Council Office.

She was commenting during the meeting at Kennys Hall.

The meeting organized by the Regional Member and Minister for Bougainville, FIDELIS SEMOSO after concerns were made on the sudden influx of outside Businesses into Bougainville.

MRS TOHIANA said that all Businesses operating within Buka Town Council areas must first obtain a trading license from the Council.

AND certain businesses are already operating in Buka town without these licenses.

09.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

FODE OFFICER UNDER PRESSURE
BY Aloysius Laukai

The Bougainville FODE officer says that he has stopped new enrolments due to non availability of Education materials.

He told New Dawn FM news yesterday that many parents have been requesting for reimbursement of school fees as his office does not have any education materials.

MR. SIMON KELEH said that it was difficult for him to work under such pressure as the head quarter staff were not helping at all.

He said that since the start of 2011 school year many students and FODE centers throughout Bougainville were still waiting for their books.

The FODE officer said that he could not print papers locally as their only printer broke down.

09.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MINISTER AGREES
By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG minister for Commerce and Trade, WILFRED KOMBA has agreed to work with the Bougainville Business Community to amend policies to suit Bougainville’s needs.

He said that the Policies were rushed during the constitution drafting days and it was up to the current ABG to put in other laws to support these laws and also to patch loopholes that these laws may have created in the process.

The Minister was addressing yesterday’s meeting in Buka.

He said that since he became the Minister last year he had to read the law governing investment on Bougainville and that he agrees to make some adjustments to suit the Business interest of Bougainvilleans.

Minister Komba said that till now there were not mention of specific Business activities that is only for Bougainvilleans except the Five Hundred Thousand Kina mark that a foreign Business has to come in with.

He welcomed such forums where the people can present their grievances for the government to see and act.

The Minister will present to a similar meeting in four weeks time on what actions he taken concerning yesterday’s meeting.

09.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Labour poorly equipped
By Aloysius Laukai

The Regional Labor Office on Bougainville is not equipped to monitor people coming into Bougainville to work.

Senior Labor Officer, SOLOMON GIMIS told the meeting at Kennys hall that many non citizens were already working on Bougainville without proper work permits.

He said that since they established the Bougainville Labor Office in Buka they have already deported some people for not adhering to migration laws of the country.

MR. GIMIS said that they are currently working on certain foreigner sitting as securities in shops who came in as Managers of Businesses.

The senior Labor Officer said that they are yet to set up their office to properly do the checks.

He said currently their office does not have computers and even a vehicle for their mobility.

He explained the many types of permits that one has to have to do certain things on the island.

09.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Pay your dues
By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG and the National Government have been called on to pay their outstanding owed to Bougainville Business Houses since restoration days.

The call was made by the Executive Officer of the Bougainville Business Association, THOMAS RABAN at the Kenys hall yesterday.

MR. RABAN and another Business woman Patricia Wong said that the ABG instead of helping local Businesses was actually killing them by not paying their bills.

They said that the Business Community were ready to support the Government with its economic recovery exercise however all its bills should be settled as soon as possible.

They said that for Bougainvilleans to meet their equity in Business deals with foreign investors they must have money to meet their share capital.

They called on the ABG to put aside THIRTY MILLION KINA from the ONE HUNDRED MILLION KINA yearly allocation.

Some of these funds would then guarantee Bougainvilleans to start up Businesses or to take their businesses to the next level.

09.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Bougainville MPs urged to work with Atoi
By JOYCE TOHUI

BOUGAINVILLE president John Momis has congratulated the Member elect for North Bougainville, Lauta Atoi and urged all four Bougainville national MPs in the National Parliament to work more closely with him and his administration.
He said all Bougainville MPs must work together with Mr Atoi to help to better coordinate and provide funds for the community based projects through the implementation of the government’s District Support Improvement Programs (DSIP).
He added that essential services and development must be brought right down to the village and district levels as this was where the majority of the rural population lived and it could be felt by the people themselves and urged the national MPs to make this happen to achieve the maximum output in all the Council of Elders (COE) areas in Bougainville.
President Momis said that although Mr Atoi’s term in parliament would be only for a short period of time, he believed that with his business background and experience, the people of North Bougainville would see some real change and tangible development in their electorate, especially in the COE areas where Open Members of parliament could help build autonomy through funding of community based projects.
Mr Momis also said that out of the many good leaders who stood for the by-election, the people of Bougainville overwhelmingly chose Lauta Atoi to be their leader and representative until the next general election in 2012.
“I have a lot of confidence and trust in Mr Atoi,” said Mr Momis.

09.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

MRA to showcase minerals in China meet

THE Mineral Resources Authority will be attending the Beijing Mines and Money 2011 investment conference which will be held from June 14-16.
While the conference theme centers around understanding the Chinese government development strategy for its natural resources strategy, building business relationships with Asia and accessing new sources for mining capital within China; the MRA delegation will be there to have a feel of what minerals China would have interest in.
Officer-in-charge of MRA Philip Samar said PNG needs to know what China’s demand for metals is, to be able to compete in the development of mines to supply this demand.
The MRA will have a booth to exhibit its mineral policies, geological and mineral potential, mining and exploration regulatory processes among other features.
“This is a convention and exhibition conference and PNG is attending to exhibiting our country's geological prospectively more (from our country booth) than we are attending the individual conference technical sessions,” Mr Samar said.
Mr Samar, who will be speaking at the conference on PNG’s mining and exploration investment prospects, stated that China was already a financial capital for mining and exploration dollars and was confident that with PNG’s exposure through the MRA, sufficient interest could be created to allow small to mid-level exploration companies into PNG to access this pool of surplus exploration funds within China.
The investment conference will highlight evolving political, economic and operational environment within China, China’s overseas mining investments, project finance and outlook for investment, Mineral commodity supply/demand outlook and the role of foreign companies within China.
Among the attendees will be senior executives from Chinese and international mining companies and governments, Chinese government officials, investors, bankers, insurers and suppliers.

09.06.2011
Source: The National

MRA to attend China meet

THE Mineral Resources Authority will be attending an annual international mining conference in Beijing, China, next week.
The conference theme is centred around understanding the Chinese government’s development strategy for its natural resources strategy, building business relationships with Asia and accessing new sources for mining capital within China.
Scheduled for June 14-16, the Beijing Mines and Money 2011 investment conference is already a sold-out event for the organisers as seen  by the attendance of many of the world’s major mining and exploration jurisdictions including PNG.
The MRA will have a booth to exhibit its mineral policies, geological and mineral potential, and mining and exploration regulatory processes among other features.
MRA officer-in-charge Philip Samar will be speaking at the conference on PNG’s mining and exploration investment prospects.
Samar stated that China was already a financial capital for mining and exploration dollars and is confident that with this exposure, sufficient interest can be created allowing the small to mid-level exploration companies in PNG to access this pool of surplus exploration funds within China.
The conference will highlight evolving political, economic and operational environment within China, China’s overseas mining investments, project finance and outlook for investment, mineral commodity supply and demand outlook and the role of foreign companies within China.
Among the attendees would be Chinese and international mining companies and senior government executives.

09.06.2011
Source: The National

Bougainville sets authority in motion
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

THE Bougainville Executive Council yesterday officially endorsed the Bougainville Restoration  and Development Authority (Brada) as the implementing agency for restoration and development of high impact projects in the autonomous region.
It now remains for the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the national government to formalise this arrangement.
In acknowledging the endorsement, ABG Minister of Works, Transport and Communication Carolus Ketsimur said he looked forward to the signing of the agreement as it would allow Brada to do what it was set up to do.
Ketsimur said Brada would co-ordinate the task of identifying, prioritising and implementing high impact projects aimed at restoring and improving infrastructure and facilitating economic and community development.
“It is now 20 years since the Bougainville civil war which devastated infrastructure and others such as the Bougainville trunk roads were left to deteriorate to a state where they are not much help to our hardworking population,” Ketsimur said.
He said the Bougainville government’s attempts to get off the ground and move forward had been hampered by a lack of proper development planning, mismanagement and misuse of funds, corrupt practices and general lawlessness.
He said as a result economic and general development had been very slow, with Bougainville still largely dependent on the national government and outside aid for money.
“Our leaders who established Brada five years ago had recognised the need for a special body to concentrate on restoration work and building new high impact infrastructure. This need has become more urgent to address,” Ketsimur said.
He said Brada would take on larger and more complex projects, which when completed, would then be handed over to the region’s technical division for ongoing maintenance.
“The order of the day should be co-operation and working together. Our united aim is to provide infrastructure to help our people and our region in the shortest time possible.
“The time for talking is over, we must now take action,” Ketsimur said.
He called on all sections of the government, public service and the community to support Brada in its work to re-build Bougainville.

09.06.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

Food shortage worsens for Bouganville atolls

Food shortage is reported to be worsening in the atoll islands of PNG's autonomous region of Bougainville.

Bougainville regional authorities have conformed the severe shortages on several islands caused by sea level rise and heavy rain.

Bianca Kawin from Leitana Nehan Women's Development Agency in Buka who recently visited the atolls spoke to us.

Presenter: Kenya Kala
Speaker: Bianca Kawin from Leitana Nehan Women's Development Agency in Bougainville

  Listen here ! 

08.06.2011
Source: Market Watch

Fundamentals justify $12,000/ton copper at yearend
By Tatyana Shumsky

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Greater demand from China and tight copper supply will drive copper prices to $12,000 a metric ton by the end of 2011, with investment demand for copper playing a secondary role, Barclays Capital base metals analyst Nicholas Snowdon told attendees of the Metal Bulletin Global Copper Markets Forum in New York.

"We believe copper is heading to $12,000 per ton" and will be driven there by fundamental factors such as resurgent demand from China and tight copper supply, Snowdon said.

The Chinese government's efforts to tamp down inflation by reducing credit availability has cut into metal consumers' business in the first half of this year and significantly reduced copper imports to China. Factory managers have used up their copper inventories without replacing them and have been purchasing copper "hand to mouth," Snowdon said.

"Even that hand to mouth consumption has been enough to drastically draw down domestic stocks," Snowdon said. As this restocking cycle ends and domestic copper stocks dwindle, China will be forced to tap the global physical copper market for supply.

"By July we will begin to see a steady increase in [copper] import levels," Snowdon said.

This uptick in copper demand, coupled with existing tightness in global copper supply, will push prices to new records.

"Investment flows are an insignificant component in price performance," Snowdon said.

08.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

CEO RESPOND
By Aloysius Laukai

The CEO for commerce and Trade, ALBERT KINANI called on the people of Bougainville to allow the Administration to set policies concerning the conduct of Businesses on Bougainville.

MR. KINANI made this remarks in responding to claims of non actions by the Bougainville administration to control the influx of foreigners into Bougainville to do business.

He said that the ABG has put in place policies to address investments on Bougainville but it was up to individuals to seek clarification on which type of partners they need to invite to Bougainville.

MR. KINANI said that his officers were threatened by certain businessmen for screening their partners.

He promised to work with the Bougainville Business Community to amend certain policies to suit Bougainville’s current situation.

The CEO for Commerce said that his office was already working on a paper to officially invite the National Agriculture Bank to establish itself in Bougainville.

He said the Bank would then address the needs of the Bougainville Business to increase economic growth for Bougainville.

CEO for commerce also mentioned the need to bring in Insurance cover for Bougainville.

08.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Business interests
By Aloysius Laukai

More than One thousand people gathered at the Kenys Hall in Buka town to discuss growing concerns about foreign businesses entering Bougainville without proper clearance from authorities.

The meeting organized by the Regional member FIDELIS SEMOSO followed a personal confrontation with a Business based in Rabaul and the Regional member on Monday this week.

The meeting called on the ABG to improve its investment policy to address certain businesses that should be run by Indigenous Bougainvilleans only.

Speakers at this meeting among other things called on the Bougainville Business Community (Association) to work closely with the Bougainville administration and the Bougainville leaders to address these growing concerns.

They talked on loop holes being manipulated by certain groups to conduct Business on Bougainville.

A number of Resolutions have been made at the meeting to address issues such as defining who is a Bougainvillean according to the Bougainville constitution and if this is been misused put other policies to stop it being manipulated.

The meeting also agreed to meet in Four week’s time to hear responds from the Minister for Commerce and Trade regarding these issues.

08.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BBA AGREE
By Aloysius Laukai

The Bougainville Business Association yesterday agreed to support the proposal by the Chinese delegation to start up the first Economy Zone for North Bougainville.

The Bougainville Business Association after studying the Chinese team’s presentation said that this would indeed trigger economic development on Bougainville.

The presentation to develop a modern city on Bonus plantation was made after several consultations between the ABG and the China Chamber of Commerce.

The Proposal if approved will see the development of the first Bougainville city on North Bougainville.

The Association whilst agreeing with the principles highlighted that there needs to be further consultations between the ABG and the people of North Bougainville who would be affected by the development.

They also agreed to lead the Awareness Campaigns to promote the proposal throughout North Bougainville.

08.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Momis opposes meeting on Panguna in Cairns

THE Autonomous Bougainville Government is opposed to any meeting regarding the Panguna mine to be held in Cairns, Australia.
President John Momis said yesterday all discussions regarding Panguna mine should be held in Bougainville so that everyone in the mine community can witness the discussions.
He was responding to a statement by a Philip Miriori who had claimed to speak for a “Me’ekamui Tribal Government” who invited the ABG and other stakeholders to meet in Cairns, Australia, to discuss “unresolved issues” about the Panguna mine. Mr Momis said he would be happy to discuss any issues about Panguna that Mr Miriori would like to raise. But, he said, it was not appropriate for meetings about Panguna to be held in Cairns.
“Panguna is in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. If we need meetings of stakeholders, they must be in Bougainville, where the major of Bougainvillean stakeholders can have access.
“The Autonomous Bougainville Government will not attend any meeting in Cairns. I advise other stakeholders to refuse to attend such a meeting,” he said.

08.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

North Bougainville MP to defend allegations 

NORTH Bougainville MP elect, Lauta Atoi, said he will defend allegations of bribery cited by losing opponents in last week’s by-election.
Mr Atoi was replying to a report on Monday’s Post-Courier about moves being made by losing candidates to dispute his election through the Court of Disputed Returns.
Mr Atoi said he was not concerned about the allegations nor the threats.
“I am prepared to defend, protect and serve the interest of my people who have spoken through the ballot box. I appeal to them not to panic because the minority who want to instigate a challenge of my election will do so at their own wisdom as we exhaust all legal avenues,’’ Mr Atoi said.
He said Bougainville did not have adequate “time and room to entertain narrow-minded, ill-conceived petty politics and back-chatting by self-interested people in the pretext of promoting democracy and good election process”.
“Bougainville wants development and that is what we should be contemplating and deliberating on and not abusing time and windows of opportunities for personal gains. I appeal to you all my fellow colleagues, intellectual community and people to respect the outcome of the electoral process instituted through the democratic process. In collaboration with my colleagues in the National Parliament and the Autonomous Bougainville Government, I will uphold the true spirit of our ancestors for economic liberation and prosperity through wealth creation, better living standards and a better, brighter future for Bougainville and Papua New Guinea,’’ he said.
He thanked the people for having faith in him to represent them in the National Parliament.
“I have an obligation to fulfill your aspirations within the remaining six months of 2011 and five months of 2012 and I assure you that I will do what it takes to deliver basic services,” he said.

08.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Meeting set to discuss Asian businesses 
By GORETHY KENNETH

THERE will be a meeting in Buka today over Asians doing business on Bougainville, specifically Buka Island.
Minister for Bougainville Affairs Fidelis Semoso closed down one Chinese shop operating in Buka town this week and today there will be a demonstration in Buka by the public for Bougainville to be “kongkong” free.
But Bougainville Business Chamber of Commerce executive Thomas Rabanz said last night that he would also be present at the meeting which will be held at Kenny’s Hall to help these Asians operating in Buka - because they are actually married to Bougainvilleans.
There are several businesses operated by Asians in Buka and Mr Semoso has advised he is not against foreign investment but to promote partnerships and joint ventures.
He said that foreigners coming to do business in Bougainville should only operate businesses that Bougainvilleans were not engaged in.
But Mr Rabanz said that Mr Semoso will have a lot of questions to answer. 

08.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Bougainville Government okays multi-billion mordern city project 

THE Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Executive Council has approved a multi-billion kina proposal to transform its gateway to mainland Bougainville-Kokopau- into a high tech-metropolitan area.
The project is estimated at K1.2 billion and will be a sophisticated large urban area with a variety of modern city buildings including a trade centre, an overhead bridge linking Kokopau and Buka Island, a sports complex, a shopping mall, a six lane road and many more fountains and gardens and solar-panel thatched residential areas.
Thomas Rabans, executive of the Bougainville Business Council, said last night this project will be funded by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce through the Chinese Government and that they were in full support of it.
The Business Council and the Bougainville Administration also advised the paper that ABG President John Momis and his executive council members are now in negotiations with the Chinese Government and should be expected to take the proposal to the next level for approval for the funding from the sponsors of the project so the project should start in two years time.
“Kokopau will be highly transformed and this is exactly what we wanted,” Mr Rabanz said.
“We are in total support of the concept because it will benefit everybody on Bougainville. You see, from the business community’s point of view, this project was initiated by the Chinese, no, it is wrong, it’s not a Chinese project, and we ideally and initially wanted this to happen to Kokopau.
“Politically speaking, they don’t want it built in Buka, they want it built in Arawa or Buin but we are saying, now this is an ideal project for Kokopau and we the business houses are fully supportive and behind this because it will be the best model for the Pacific,” he said.
“We also have wholesaling agenda....ABG will partner with China to supply goods throughout Bougainville, PNG and the South Pacific, we will get into downstream processing.”
He said the ABG was in talks with the Chinese Government who has agreed to help fund the industrial town which will include an overhead bridge linking Buka town and Kokopau across the Buka passage.
The change at Kokopau will look somewhat like Abu Dhabi or Singapore - and it will cost K1.2 billion.

08.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Solomon Islands to seek legal advice on robbery
By GORETHY KENNETH

SOLOMON Islands will have to seek legal clarification from the PNG Government before they can call up four Bougainvilleans suspected of spearheading an armed robbery in that country.
The four men, allegedly from south Bougainville, have been identified as suspects in the armed raid at Fauro, Solomon Island’s Western Province last month where 20 bags of soil containing minerals extracted from the prospecting site and gold bars were stolen.
These men were also identified as the main players in the armed raid at the Solomon gold prospecting camp near Kariki village in the Shortlands Island.
Acting Solomon Islands police commissioner Walter Kola said from Solomon Islands that this was an issue that needed to be dealt with by the foreign affairs and police heads of the two countries so that mutual understanding could be reached and no diplomatic ties sabotaged.
In another case, Bougainvilleans could also be suspected of an incident where armed men entered a small settlement adjacent to the entrance of the GBR RAMSI base in Honiara and destroyed properties while threatening women and children and taking several valuable items away with them.
“According to information that transpired from this investigation, the four men were clearly identified as from Siwai. Siwai is a village in the southern part of Bougainville,” Mr Kola said.
“We know the suspects but our police will have to follow the international laws – because it will have to deal with PNG, Bougainville and Solomon Islands before the suspects are questioned by local police in Honiara.”
So far, 10 men have been questioned from Solomon Islands and the investigations is only awaiting the legal clarification from the two governments before the Bougainville men can be called up for questioning.

08.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

A legend dies

MAN whose radio voice graced the airwaves for over 30 years has passed on.
He is Bougainvillean, Paul Haliken.
Haliken was a pioneer NBC radio broadcaster and a brilliant pidgin announcer who was heard over Bougainville, the Pacific and Papua New Guinea for a good part of 30 years.
Paul, who was disabled to a wheelchair, finally succumbed to illness yesterday evening at the Buka Hospital in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
“Paul has always been a very close friend and professional colleague. Paul Haliken and I started our radio careers in December of 1971 on Radio Bougainville, Maus Blong Sankamap,’’ long time colleague and friend, Justin Kili, now General Manager of PVM Advertising, said yesterday.
“I moved on to journalism and further broadcast training at the Department of Information and Extension Services (DIES) headquartered at Konedobu prior to Independence while Paul continued to work the airwaves of Maus Blong Sankamap. He later moved to work for a time at the PNG Service of Radio Australia. Upon his return to PNG, he became a businessman and a successful one back at his home of Tinputz on the northern part of Bougainville Island until the Bougainville crisis forced his business to close,’’ Mr Kili said.
Paul Max Haliken passed away at the Buka Hospital at 8.15pm on Sunday after a short illness. The late broadcaster’s body was buried in Tinputz yesterday.

08.06.2011
Source: The National

Chinese business investors depart autonomous region
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

A TEAM of Chinese investors will leave Buka today after spending two days in Bougainville to market their investment plans.
Their visit was a follow-up of a similar trip to China eight months ago by a Bougainville delegation of businessmen led by ABG President John Momis.
During the visit to China, seven agreements were signed between the ABG and the Chinese chamber of commerce inviting investors to Bougainville.
The Chinese investors, led by special investment agent Jason Fong, yesterday presented to members of the Bougainville Business Association and Bougainville government a proposal for the establishment of a special economic zone (SEZ) for Kokopau and Buka.
Fong said the SEZ would mainly involve cocoa, estimated to net an annual revenue of K1.5 billion for Bougainville.
This analysis would provide Bougainville with a gross domestic product of K3.85 billion from a potential production of 200,000 tonnes of cocoa, targeting 6% of global demand and marketed mainly to China.
Requirements from the proposal included the transfer of a 99-year lease to Gang Xin Zhao Fang (PNG) Co Ltd free of charge; minimum of five and maximum of 10 years tax holiday for industry developers and global merchants; and a request for special economic zone laws to be passed to protect investors.
The proposal highlighted issues the Bougainville government needed to address, which included ABG defining and passing a SEZ policy covering the Bougainville land use policy, public and private investment and tax concessions.

08.06.2011
Source: The National

‘Panguna talks only on Bougainville’

AUTONOMOUS Region of Bougainville President John Momis says his government will support any talks on the Panguna copper mine but all meetings must be held in Bougainville.
Momis said this in response to a statement by Philip Miriori, who had claimed to be speaking for a “Mekamui Tribal Government” and who invited the ABG and other stakeholders to meet in Cairns, Australia, to discuss unresolved issues about the Panguna Copper Mine.
Momis said he would be happy to discuss any issues about Panguna that Miriori would like to raise but it was not appropriate for the meetings to be held in Cairns.
“Panguna is in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. If we need meetings of stakeholders, they must be in Bougainville where all the major Bougainvillean stakeholders can have access,” Momis said.
“There is no need for a meeting in Cairns. The ABG will not attend any meeting in Cairns.
“I advise other stakeholders to refuse to attend such a meeting.
“It is important for the ABG to work with all parts of the communities living in the areas of the Panguna mine leases.
“Miriori might be a spokesman for part of the Mekamui groups but there are other Mekamui groups.
“There are other parts of the community that do not support the Me’ekamui leadership.
“The key thing is ensure that all voices are heard so that consensus is achieved.
“Since 2009, the ABG has been consulting the communities in the six main lease areas associated with the Panguna mine about how they wish to be organised to be represented in the proposed process to review the Bougainville Copper Agreement.
“As a result of a long series of public and well attended consultative meetings with the communities, the ABG is helping the communities establish landowner associations to represent the communities.
“That process continues, slowly and carefully,” Momis said.

08.06.2011
Source: The National

SoIomon Island keeps tab on guns

THE Solomon Islands acting police commissioner Walter Kola says the police force is doing all it can to prevent guns from being smuggled into the country from neighbouring Papua New Guinea.
Kola said it was difficult to speculate on how rife the problem was but admitted that illegal movement across the Solomons border with the Autonomous Region of Bougainville was an ongoing concern.
This comes as police confirmed that four men from Bougainville were suspects in an armed raid
in Western province last month.
The raid occurred at the Solomon gold prospecting camp near Kariki in the Shortland Islands.

08.06.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International

Bougainville president says Panguna talks should be held locally

The President of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville John Momis is insisting that any meetings to discuss a re-opening of the Panguna copper mine must be held in Bougainville.

According to the newspaper, the National, the head of the autonomous government is responding to a statement by Philip Miriori, who had claimed to be speaking for the so called Mekamui Tribal Government.

Mr Miriori invited the Autonomous Bougainville Government and other stakeholders to meet in Cairns in Australia to discuss unresolved issues about the mine.

But Mr Momis says while his government will support any talks on the Panguna mine, all meetings must be held locally so landowners and the people affected can be involved.

07.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Hagogohe COE support ABG economic building efforts
By AL

Chairman of Tahetahe Tsuhana village assembly and member for Hagogohe Council of Elders (COE) STANLY GIMOTS says the Hagogohe COE support fully all efforts made by ABG to raise its own internal revenue.
Mr. GIMOTS also called on all leaders in Bougainville to support ABG in its aim to reach economic independence which he said is an important benchmark of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
He added that re-opening Panguna mine was the answer to addressing Bougainville’s economic woes.
Mr. GIMOTS said this in response to recent statements by Me’ekamui Tribal Government president Philip Miriori that Panguna mine will not re-open unless outstanding grievances are resolved and that the ABG government was not the legitimate authority to speak on Panguna mine issues.
Counter attacking these statements, Mr. GIMOTS said the re-opening of Panguna mine is a ‘people’s issue’ and ABG president Hon. Chief John Momis, as the leader of the legitimate government of Bougainville elected by the people, had the authority to make important decisions for the common good of Bougainville.
He said after the crisis, the people of Bougainville now see Panguna as a mine that belongs to every Bougainvillean and that the decision to re-open the mine not only laid with the landowners but also with the entire Bougainville population.
Mr. Gimots added that the people of Bougainville want the mine re-opened to compensate in terms of economic development for the region.

07.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BRADA has no time to waste

ABG Minister for Works, Transport and Communication Hon. CAROLUS KETSIMUR says the recently endorsed Bougainville Restoration And Development Authority or BRADA has no time to waste in restoring Bougainville’s infrastructure.
He said it is now 20 years since the Bougainville civil war which devastated infrastructures and others such as the Bougainville trunk roads were left to deteriorate to a state where they are not much help to the region’s hardworking population.
Hon. Ketsimur urged that time is running out fast , time for talking is over and BRADA must now take action of rebuilding Bougainville.
He added that the people of Bougainville are calling for better feeder roads to transport their farmed goods to the main markets and for export.
He said the people also need better health and education facilities and basic water, power and communication services to be brought closer to them.
Hon. Ketsimur urged BRADA to prioritize the delivery of these needs.
He cautioned BRADA to avoid getting trapped by lack of proper development planning, mismanagement and misuse of funds, corrupt practices and general lawlessness which he revealed the Bougainville government had been hampered with for so long.
As a result, Hon. Ketsimur added, the economic and general development has been very slow with Bougainville still largely dependent on the national government and outside aid for money.
Hon. Ketsimur called on all sections of the government, public service and the community to support BRADA in its work to re-build Bougainville.

07.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Momis calls for support of Bougainville national MPs
By AL

ABG president Hon. Chief John Momis in congratulating new member elect for North Bougainville Lauta Atoi, has urged all four Bougainville members of the national parliament to work closely with him for the greater good of Bougainville.
Hon. Momis urged that the regional member and minister for Bougainville Affairs Fidelis Semoso, Bougainville Central MP Jimmy Mirintoro and South Bougainville MP Steven Pirika to work with North Bougainville member elect Lauta Atoi and pool together their resources to achieve greater output at the COE level.
He said the national members of parliament must work together to better coordinate and provide funds for community based projects through the implementation of the government’s District Services Improvement Program (DSIP).
He added that this is where most of the people live and the national leaders together with ABG must pool all resources together to make development happen at the village and district level.
Hon. Momis said also that although new member elect Lauta Atoi’s term in the national parliament would only be for a short time before the next general election, he believed with Atoi’s business background and experience, the people of North Bougainville would see some real change in their electorate.
Hon. Momis said he has a lot of trust and confidence in Mr. Atoi and he hoped in his short term as the North Bougainville people’s representative in the national parliament, Mr. Atoi would be able to work more closely with the Momis led government to bring government services closer to the people at the council of elder’s (COE) level.

07.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS WELCOME MEET
By Aloysius Laukai

ABG President Chief John Momis has accepted to meet with the Mekamui faction to discuss issues concerning Panguna on Bougainville and not in Cairns or any other place outside of Bougainville.

He made this remarks whilst replying to calls by PHILIP MIRIORI to meet in Cairns for PANGUNA talks.

President MOMIS said that and I Quote “Panguna is in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and any such meeting must be held in Bougainville where all major stakeholders can have access to.

He said that the ABG will not attend any meeting of such in Cairns.

President Momis said that it was important to work with all parts of the communities living in the areas of the Panguna mine leases.

He said that Philip Miriori might be a spokesman for part of the Mekamui group however there are also other parts of the community that do not support the Mekamui leadership.

President Momis said that the key thing is to ensure that all voices are heard so that consensus is achieved.

07.06.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

Sacked PNG Foreign Minister on US China rivalry in the Pacific

Papua New Guinea's outgoing Foreign Minister, Don Polye, says he would like to see more United States investment in the Pacific.

Earlier in the year, United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, warned the US Foreign Relations Committee that the Pacific, and Papua New Guinea in particular, is an arena for growing strategic competition between the US and China.

Despite China's rapidly diversifying interests in the region, the United States has just one major investment in Papua New Guinea - the PNG LNG project.

And the US has alienated key Pacific nations, such as the 8 tuna-rich countries that are parties to the Nauru Agreement.

In Papua New Guinea, an influx of new Chinese investors, some of whom are illegal immigrants, is creating a backlash.

Mr Polye, who as you've heard was sacked this week as PNG's Foreign Minister, following ongoing leadership tussle with acting Prime Minister, Sam Abal.

But in the lead up to next year's general elections he will continue to be a major force in PNG politics.

He spoke with Radio Australia's Pacific Business and Economic reporter, Jemima Garrett, in his parliament house office, before he lost the Foreign Minister's job.

Presenter: Radio Australia's Pacific Business and Economic reporter, Jemima Garrett
Speaker: Don Polye, Papua New Guinea's outgoing Foreign Minister

Don Polye

  Listen here !  

GARRETT: Don Polye, thank you for joining Radio Australia and welcome to the program.

POLYE: Thank you for giving me that opportunity.

GARRETT: US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, says PNG is one of the hot spots for strategic competition between US and China. What are you seeing on the ground?

POLYE: There are two things I'd like to mention here. What Hilary Clinton said probably is true. But we like to see every player play our rules and our standards here in Papua New Guinea, where every rule of law and every rule of business is followed. Secondly, we welcome the competition because its going to be a positive development for Papua New Guinea. In other words, an increase in investment into the country, will definitely boost our business activities and economic activities here. I welcome the competition and look at Papua New Guinea as a strategic place to invest in . However, I would like to make the point that we should work together on a level playing field following all laws.

GARRETT: John Momis, the President of the Autonomous government of Bougainville, has said apart from the PNG LNG project American investment is conspicuous by its absence. In fact, he said there was so little he thought the US had a policy of NOT investing in PNG. How do you respond to those comments?

POLYE: Well, it is quite true to an extent. You look at history. Americans have never invested much in the Pacific region, as a business. Of course they've got military bases up there in Guam, and the Philippines and others. And of course, they had the involvement in the second world war and they came to PNG but after that you come another 20 years and you really would not have seen any American investments here, and the one we have seen is the Exxon Mobil. I think Chevron came in but they went out some years back so really I think this is on a bigger, larger scale but on a smaller scale investments and trade there hasn't been as much as other countries investing in PNG.

GARRETT:Do you think the United States has left too much of the running to Australia?

POLYE: Laugh - I really don't know about that. I can't answer the question. But I think, the US is a big economy maybe they are too big. And they care less to invest. I mean they've got all their businesses, there. They are already a flourishing superpower so they probably 'why should we invest in other countries? We are big already. We have ventured a lot of these American dreams' and so forth. But Australia, I don't think they've come and invested in PNG because of such mind set by US. Australia would naturally be investing because PNG is the closest destination to invest. Even in the colonial days Australia showed a lot of interest in PNG in alluvial goldmining and other activities so traditionally you'll find Australians have always been here -easy for them to invest in a country they have always been familiar with but US, like I've said, maybe they are too big.

GARRETT: Papua New Guinea has also recently walked out of talks to renew the Pacific tuna treaty with the United States because the United States wasn't paying what PNG thought was a reasonable licence fee or willing to offer competitive market access. Are PNG's relations with the US at something of a low point?

POLYE: I don't know I do not like to see Papua New Guinea's relations with the US at a low point. I would like to think that we could discuss those issues on the table. I know there has been some exchange on the media on this, when our acting Prime Minister did make some comment on this issue but I think new can always discuss those things. Come to a roundtable and see how best we can address those issues. I would like to also make, PNG sees US as important in the region, in the Pacific although they did not have a big investment in the country we regard them as very important to the Pacific region. And therefore we would like to see them invest more here and fisheries is one area and I would like to encourage them to relook at the issues that PNG has raised. We are probably saying that because we are applying the same fees to others like Japan. With Japan, for some time pulled out from fishing in PNG but recently, in the last 2 to 3 years they tried to show a lot of interest in investments here. So I would like to think the US and Papua New Guinea should discuss more. Understanding one another better would be the way forward. And I encourage the US to invest more in PNG and in the Pacific because that is what is happening at the moment.

GARRETT: Let's turn now to China, just how much interest is PNG seeing in investment from China, particularly in the resources boom?

POLYE: My view is that China's approach to investments - they just do investments regardless. They are aggressive. Most of the businesses you find, the big companies are owned by the state and they come in a big way. And Chinese business men and women I also see them in a driving to invest here in Papua New Guinea. I think it is also a cultural thing too. I also think it is an issue of standards, and the legislative framework that's in place in the country, as to how you go into business within those frameworks. There is a lot of factors that really drives people but China is becoming a major investor in this part of the world.

GARRETT: Some commentators have suggested that there are now double the number of Chinese citizens in PNG, both legal and illegal, compared to the number of Australians. What is your assessment of the situation?

POLYE: It could be true. I do not have any official report to give you a specific answer on this but what you hear people saying could be true. I have just talked about the asylum seekers issue. In PNG there are people who come in illegally without our systems even knowing about this. That is an area of challenge to me as Minister for migrations, in really coming up with laws. In fact, I am reforming laws now to combat or to address some of those issues so we stop illegal migrants into Papua New Guinea. The point that I alluded to earlier on - we encourage investments in the country but by following the rules. Sometimes unfortunately, the rules are not followed. Illegal immigrants come in because of the incapacity of our own systems in the country, we do not effectively detect them and take necessary actions. So we do admit to some of those shortfalls, on our side, but we would like to also encourage people who come into this country to be responsible. I encourage people who come here to do business in a genuine, honest, and through the legal processes. But those who come in illegally �by the reforms that I am doing you will find I am getting much tougher on illegal immigrants.

GARRETT: Australia does give substantial aid to the PNGDF but would you like to see more aid specifically to this issue of illegal immigration?

POLYE: Yeah - well illegal immigration is a big area that we can address together. The business in this country must b e on a level playing field. It is unfair for some business who come in to do general business complying with all rules while others just come in to rip-off things and stay out of the legal spectrum and that is not good. We are reviewing the issues. We have a meeting coming up in July this year - somewhere in Canberra or Brisbane yet to be confirmed - but in that meeting we will have to address those issues of immigration, of border security, how we do that because it affects business and most of those illegal immigrants in this country have been Chinese and we'd like to discourage that. And to protect business, I think that is where PNG and Australia and of course others in the region, the Pacific Islanders, Indonesia, Malaysia, all of us should be working together.

07.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Media Tool for Development
By Aloysius Laukai

Media professionals in the Pacific region recognize the need for more collaboration in the use of best media practices to promote agriculture and rural development particularly in relation to climate change, food security, water issues and health.

The media professionals from both the government and private sector also called on their respective organizations to improve capacity building to enhance the role of media in promoting agriculture and rural development in the region.

Participants from 10 Pacific Island countries that attended a weeklong training workshop in Nadi, Fiji, issued a statement of commitment that they would implement and practice the skills and knowledge acquired and learnt during the training which was supported by the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (ACP-CTA) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). PNG was represented by a media officer from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and New Dawn Radio from Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

The participants stated that they appreciated the efforts and progress made since the endorsement of the Pacific Media Planning Seminar in 2010 which was endorsed by the Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry meeting in Fiji also in 2010 and at the Ministers of Information, Communication and Technology meeting in Tonga.

“We, recognize the need for more collaboration between the agriculture and rural development sector and its linkages to climate change, food security and health, forestry, water and other development sectors referred to in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Of importance is the use of best media practices to promote agriculture and rural development and the need to increase awareness in these areas.”

The participants stated that they would seek and anticipate capacity building like this training to be undertaken in the Pacific in the near future, especially to refresh knowledge and skills in agriculture and rural development and the continuous support of governments, civil society, media organizations and other relevant stakeholders in this regard is vital.

07.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

FIRST CITY PROPOSAL
By Aloysius Laukai

Eight months after the Bougainville delegation visiting China a Chinese team is on Bougainville marketing its first model city for Kokopau on the Northern tip of mainland Bougainville.

The proposed Economic Zone for the Agriculture sector targeting mainly cocoa and Copra.

The city would have the capacity of having FIFTEEN THOUSAND people in it which could later increase to several Million people.

In Presenting the Proposal to the members of the Bougainville Business Association, ABG’s special investment Agent, JASON FONG said that this would trigger the economic activity of Bougainville.

According to the presentation the city which is to be built on ABG’s own plantation, BONUS PLANTATION would have roads, bridge, port, airport, Hospital, Stadiums, Technical College AND other infrastructures.

The city is to be connected to Buka island which would also see the upgrading of the Buka airport to get direct flights to and from other International ports.

MR. FONG said that a Chinese government loan to ABG at only 2% interest can start up the project.

The delegation also presented their proposal to the Bougainville administration and the members of the Bougainville House of Representatives.

07.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville 

Policy to support.
By Aloysius Laukai

The planned Happy City for North Bougainville needs the ABG and the people of Bougainville to support to make it a reality.

During his presentation in Buka this morning, ABG Agent for China Investment, JASON FONG said that the ABG must define and pass a special economic policy with relevant legislation that would address the following areas.

Land use policy, Qualified Industrial Sectors, set Public Investment indicating minimum and maximum limits, Limit how much a Private investment would invest up to, Tax Concessions and for the ABG Public sector/Overseas Borrowing, Debt/GDP ratio under International Monetary Fund standards.

And request special economic zone laws to be passed to protect investors.

07.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Filming on Mister Pip movie begins
By Gorethy Kenneth

FILMING on Mister Pip movie began in Pidia, Central Bougainville, officials advised from the venue yesterday.
Young Bougainvillean Xannjah Matsi plays the main character- Matilda while Francesca Semoso, Florance Korokoro and Dr Joel Healesville, all Bougainvillean women, take on their roles on stage.
The drama is based on the novel by New Zealander Lloyd Jones and tells the story of the last white man who left the strife-torn island of Bougainville during the 1990 blockade by Papua New Guinea Government.
The last white man, Mr Watts, reopens a school and uses his favourite novel, Dickens’ Great Expectations, to inspire students, particularly a gifted 14-year-old named Matilda.
The action takes place during the decade-long civil war in the Autonomous Province, off the coast of Papua New Guinea.
People from all over Bougainville have been excited about the movie and have thanked the New Zealand team for taking the risk to come over to Bougainville to shoot, especially when the place is still undergoing peace process.
The film will also be shot in parts of New Zealand and Australia.

06.06.2011
Source: The National

Bougainville men in Solomon Islands gold raid

FOUR men from Bougainville are main suspects in a cross-border raid on the gold prospecting camp in the Solomon Islands’ Western province, the Solomon Star newspaper reported at the weekend.
The newspaper reported yesterday the gang had been identified as from Siwai, in the southern part of the autonomous region.
The Solomon Islands acting police commissioner Walter Kola told a media conference in Honiara last Thursday that according to information that came through to his office, the four men were identified as main players in the armed raid at the Solomon Gold prospecting camp near Kariki village at Fauro in the Shortland Islands.
He said that according to information gathered during investigations the four men were “clearly identified as from Siwai”, The Star reported.
Solomons police had not made any arrest yet but were questioning 10 men in relation to the raid although Kola did not specifically say whether the four Bougainvilleans were among them.
He said that although the suspects have been identified, police had to follow some bilateral procedures before they could be questioned by local police in Honiara.
The Star said this was because the suspects were from Bougainville which was part of Papua New Guinea.
“It is an issue that needs to be dealt with by the two governments, foreign affairs and police heads of the two different countries so that a mutual understanding can be established,” Kola was quoted as saying.
Earlier police reports also confirmed the Bougainvilleans were assisted by some criminal elements in the area.
Although firearms were used, there were no reports of injuries.
The Star said that during the raid the armed men damaged properties and stole 20 bags of soil containing minerals extracted from the prospecting site.

06.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Tension high in Buin

BOUGAINVILLE police are handicapped to address the infighting in Buin because it involves Damien Koike and his people from South Bougainville, fighting against themselves.
News reports reaching the Post-Courier from Tabago Mission said that Mongai, a place where Mongai home guards was set up to “quell” rebel leader Damien Koike, is deserted.
Mongai faction is reported to be in Buin town and police there are keeping the place under control.
Reports also stated that civilians from Mongai have moved to Muguai. Last week, killings have been going on and while the Post-Courier was there, it witnessed civilians moving towards Buin town in fear of being killed by Koike and his followers.
Koike wants to discuss his issues with a “neutral element”.

06.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Torokina bans arms sale

a ban has been placed on Bougainvilleans, Papua New Guineans and others having access to guns and ammunitions from Torokina, the chiefs advised over the weekend.
This is because, of the 13 clans that make up Torokina, youths, mothers and school children have been told and successfully adhered to awareness and orders from the elders not to sell or trade arms for money or anything.
A major awareness program has been carried out for one month (in May) which has successfully recommended that ban on movement into Torokina by those intending to buy weapons.
The awareness has found in every household there is an estimate of five to 10 guns or ammunitions collected and kept in house. Their sale has now been banned and youths have adhered to the orders.
Peter Tsuremai, a chief from Torokina, speaking on behalf of the 13 clan chiefs has warned that the Autonomous Bougainville Government to play its part in coming up with a policy and law as to how these weapons will be disposed.
He said the ABG will also have to help with the recommendations contained in report presented to the leadership – ABG President John Momis. In the report it details the committee members are now carrying out statistics of every household or from the 6000 plus population, the database of weapons collected and kept in house.
“For the ABG, they have to act. This is because the longer we keep them (weapons), and youths ignored by the leaders and our elites, they will resort to sales again.”

06.06.2011

Source: Post-Courier

Croc kills Buka boy
By GORETHY KENNETH

A five-year-old boy is still missing in Buka’s northern tip, Karoola Plantation, after being taken away by a crocodile last Friday.
Buka police have confirmed the report, saying a boy, maybe aged five, was playing and washing at seafront at Karoola Plantation at about three o’clock in the afternoon on Friday when a crocodile appeared and dragged him away.
Police were immediately alerted and a search was conducted after family members and community became aware of the missing child with some claiming that a crcocodile had taken him away.
The search failed to find the boy on Friday.
Over the weekend, the police conducted another search but could not detail the results of the operation. However, they said the body of the child still could not be located.
Family members told the Post-Courier they also swam to search in case the body was left in the sea bed rocks or somewhere in the mangroves but to no avail.
They are hoping the police and other authorities will help find at least the bones or the dead body of their child and hopefully find and kill the crocodile.

06.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Oil Palm for Torokina

TRADITIONAL clans of Torokina will meet this week to discuss the preparations for the biggest impact project of a lifetime – the Torokina Oil Palm Project.
Michael Piriri is the liaison officer for the multi-million Kina Oil Palm project and Hakau Investments, a subsidiary of Lae Biscuit Company is the developer.
Peter Tsuremai told the Post -Courier over the weekend that officials from the developer, Hakau Investments, are in Buka for further talks on the issue and to meet with the leaders to complete phase one and kick-start phase two of the project.
He said this week the 13 clan chiefs and elite leaders will meet for the preparation of the project and major issues of concern include the clan boundaries, traditional declaration of boundaries and other issues to iron out would be the benefits and the signing of the agreement with the landowners before the developer can come in and carry out its operations.
“You know, the government of Papua New Guinea initially announced the K20 million project to be pumped into this but our understanding is that the developer has successfully bid under the K3.5 million contract which they won – it is Hakau Investments,” Mr Tsuremai said.
“We have made a commitment to sit down this week and meet with the 13 clans to also find out what concept to apply on Bougainville, specifically on this project and the possibility of being in partnership, we have to be in partnership and that is what we will discuss when all of us meet.”
Mr Tsuremai said the population of Torokina is about 6000 plus, there has been no major development and impact project in that part of the region and the oil palm project was a major step forward undertaken by the ABG and the PNG Government. He said from his clan, they were willing to provide and give 10,000 hectares and this would also be one of the major issues to be discussed when the meeting convenes this week.

03.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Torokina out of service
By Gorethy Kenneth

WOMEN leaders of Torokina are calling on Autonomous Bougainville Government to help Torokina with delivery of services and development in that area.
A mother gave birth while walking 4km from her village to the nearest and only Piva Health Centre in Torokina last month and another incident happened in February where a mother gave birth on the road and men had to carry her on a stretcher to the health centre for medical help. A spokewoman, Agatha Eminoni, said this is because there is no ambulance, sometimes there are shortages of medicine and no health extension officers to serve the people.
“You look at the services in Torokina, there is none, although schools are in operation but not to standard. The fact that mothers are giving birth while walking to the nearest health centre is saddening,” she said.
“We are asking ABG to to help us, especially the women of Torokina.”
Mrs Eminoni spoke of how transport is a major problem when it comes to health services in an out of Torokina and Buka and the lack of communication services. She also said the Torokina Oil Palm project will be a step forward that should boost the moral and economy of Torokina.

03.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Fighting in Buin continues

BOUGAINVILLE police are handicapped to address infighting in Buin which involves Damien Koike and his own people from South Bougainville, firing guns and fighting against themselves.
News reports reaching the Post-Courier from Tabago Mission has detailed that Mongai is deserted. Reports have also stated that the Mongai faction is in Buin town and the police there are keeping the place under control.
Mongai is in the place where Mongai Homeguards were set up to “quell” rebel leader Damien Koike and his followers.
Reports from Tabago, in Buin, also stated that the civilians from Mongai have moved to Muguai.
Last week killings have been going on in Buin and Post-Courier witnessed civilians moving towards Buin town in fear of being killed in the crossfire by Koike and his followers.
Koike is refusing to talk to anyone except a “neutral element”. United Nations on Bougainville, the churches and the ABG are doing their best to find a solution and come up with a roundtable discussion so Koike and his team can be provided an avenue to speak.

03.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Cocoa needs more study
By HAIVETA KIVIA

COCOA bean exported from Papua New Guinea is one the finest in the world but more money, research and expertise is needed to eradicate Cocoa Pod Borer for PNG to maintain its status in the world market.
Chief executive officer Barnabas Toreu highlighted this in his presentation in the conference on Provincial Governments and Commodity Boards Response on Implementation of Priority Impact Projects, in Lae.
Mr Toreu said cocoa is a food product that sells in one of the most competitive food (confectionery) markets in the world and the demand for chocolate is such that quality becomes the most important requirement by processors and manufacturers.
He said PNG cocoa is characterised as fine or flavored as opposed to the bulk of cocoa produced by Ghana and Ivory Coast, the major producers in the world.
“Chocolate flavour is the most important quality criteria of cocoa bean product and that is what makes PNG competitive, flavour,” he said.
He said to improve production and quality factors like Cocoa Pod Borer, smoke contamination and poly-aromatic hydrocarbon (compounds of chemicals in cocoa beans) of cocoa beans must be controlled.
He told the conference that his board has embarked on cocoa quality and market promotion to enhance PNG market position as a supplier of high quality cocoa beans by 2014 by minimising the risk of smoke contamination and poly-aromatic hydrocarbon.
He said the outcome of the project is ensure PNG maintain its fine or flavour status and overall quality of PNG Cocoa beans so as to remain internationally competitive.
He added that other components of quality control are; fermentary and drier inspection, non-compliance follow up, licensing and registration, drier facility improvement, cocoa quality mini project, fermentary data base and production database.
Mr Toreu added that K2 million has been appropriated and quality control project will cover all cocoa growing provinces but delay in rolling out the program was due to late release of funds.
The second project is to enhance, facilitate and promote the adoption Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB) management practices to increase production and improve livelihood of smallholder farmers.
CPB’s latest attack is occurring in Morobe province on Siassi Island, and last week it was reported that Madang province was also hit by it.
Mr Toreu said K5 million was appropriated for the CPB program and implemented in East new Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville, West New Britain and Madang.
He said the outbreak in Morobe should be assessed quickly and he will be speaking to Morobe authorities, and will release some funds for assessment and containing measures.
Kampalap councilor Barnabas Nalong said they only detected the CPBs just last month.
He said they have taken some precautionary measures but they need experts to assess the situation in their cocoa blocks on Siassi Island.
Mr Nalong has advised Morobe Governor Luther Wenge of the CPB presence on Siassi and he will be talking to Provincial Administrator Kemasang Tomala about it as well.

03.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Bougainville women call for clean-up of war relics  
 

CONCERNED women leaders of Torokina want Australia, United States of America and Japan to return to Torokina and clean up their war relics.
They also want the Autonomous Bougainville Government to step in and make a law to protect and stop these guns and ammunitions getting out of Torokina. And they are asking if the Police presence and manpower be beefed up and police post upgraded to a police station.
Agatha Eminoni, woman leader from Torokina speaking on behalf of the silent majority-women of that area, said they were now demanding the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the National Government to immediately come up with a law to protect guns and ammunitions being taken out of Torokina.
This is because she claims general and ordinary Torokina people have been ridiculed and threatened by the people of Buin in public, Buka and Arawa for allegedly supplying guns and ammunition to rebel leader Damien Koike and selling to other people throughout PNG.
But Mrs Eminoni disputed that because Torokina remains a public knowledge for its war relics and these accusations might somewhat be malicious and people threatened for misinformation.
“The people of Torokina have been threatened by people of Buin for allegedly selling guns but we don’t go selling outside,” the women leader said.

02.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Computer lab for Buin secondary

Teachers and students of Buin Secondary school, South Bougainville were happy beneficiaries last week of a fully furnished computer laboratory which boasts 100 computers now waiting to connected this month.
The lab once ready, will allow more than 765 students, access to the outside world through internet service and facilities.
According to school executives, they plan to set aside one part of the building with 50 computers to cater for grades 11 and 12 and the other half would be for grades 9 and 10.
The computer lab is part of a K2 million contract to Bougainville Engineering Construction Limited to construct also 13 buildings including dormitories, classrooms and teacher’s houses

02.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS CONGRATULATES LAUTA
BY JOYCE TOHUI

ABG President, Chief JOHN MOMIS today urged all four Bougainville National MPs in the National Parliament to work more closely with him and his administration.

He said this will help to better coordinate and provide funds for community based projects through the implementation of the government’s District Support Improvement Programs.

He added this is to achieve maximum output in all the Council of Elders areas in Bougainville.

President MOMIS said this when congratulating Member Elect for North Bougainville, LAUTA ATOI this week.

Chief MOMIS said although MR ATOI’S term in Parliament is short, he believed that with his business background and experience, the people of North Bougainville would see some real change in their electorate.

MR MOMIS said out of the many good leaders who stood for the by-election, the people overwhelmingly chose LAUTA ATOI to be their leader until the next general election in 2012.

And he hoped that in his short term as the North Bougainville’s representative in the National Parliament, he will work more closely with the ABG to bring services closer to the people at COE areas

02.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

LAUTA ASSURES TO WORK TOGETHER
BY JOYCE TOHUI

Newly Elected Member for the North Bougainville Open Electorate, LAUTA ATOI has assured his people that he will work closely with the Bougainville National MPs in the National Government.

He said this when accepting his declaration by the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, REITAMA TARAVARU on Tuesday this week.

MR ATOI added that he will work side by side with the Regional Member and the Minister for Bougainville Affairs, FIDELIS SEMOSO and also his two member colleges, JIMMY MIRINGTORO and STEVEN KAMA PIRIKA respectively.

He said seeing the National MPs working together will strengthen their relationship to work closely with ABG and bring the most needed basic services and development to the people of Bougainville.

Meanwhile he has appealed to the losing candidates and supporters to brush aside differences and bring forth their brilliant ideas to help him deliver effectively for the common good of the people.

02.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Filming of Mr Pip underway
By Maria Laukai

The filming of Mr Pip is now underway at Pidia, home of the late William Takaku by executive producers of the movie, Andrew Adamson and Robin Scholes who arrived in Bougainville two weeks ago.
The film is about the last white man Mr Pip living on the war-torn island of Bougainville who re-opens a school and inspires students by reading the book ‘Great Expectations’.
Mr Pip will be played by United State’s highest paid actor in TV drama Laurie Hughes.
A number of Bougainvillean actors and actresses will be playing major roles in the movie, including 14 year old Hutjena Secondary school student Xzannjah Matsi who will be starring as Matilda, a student of Mr Pip and Kieta beauty Florence Keroro who will be acting the part of Mrs Watts.
Former ABG member of parliament Francisca Semoso also landed a role in the movie after she went through audition along with other aspiring Bougainville actors and actresses early this year.

02.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Businessman warns Bougainville is out of time

Bougainville Chamber of Commerce executive Thomas Rabanz has this week accused ABG administration for not taking the issues of referendum and independence seriously.
He said Bougainville is facing possibility of not meeting requirements of referendum and independence if it fails to handle outstanding issues like non-payment of bills it owes to business houses for services rendered many years ago.
Other issues include weapons disposal program and emergence of Asian business in Bougainville.
Mr. Rabanz claimed the ABG administration does not know where its priorities are and it does not know how to set priorities.
He said evidence of lack of total negligence is based on not paying attention to payment of services rendered.
Mr. Rabanz said ABG president John Momis, as a leader, should not be blamed for this failure as it is not chief Momis’ issue to sort out but the work of the ABG administration to handle.

02.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Cholera treatment centre faces closure

The cholera treatment centre at Lemanmanu village, Haku constituency, may shut down if the Bougainville Cholera Task Force does not immediately address critical issues faced by the centre.
The treatment centre is at present the only avenue for treatment of any suspected and diagnosed cases of cholera in Bougainville.
Health workers at the centre say the operation is in chaos with the staff claiming that the centre is facing severe lack of funds to address water and sanitation, surveillance and clinical management.
In addition to these, cleaners are planning to go on strike over non payment of their allowances in the last five weeks.
In a petition to the cholera task force team, the health workers have requested that the cholera task force provide a detailed financial report on expenditures of all monies allocated to tackle cholera in the region including the K60 thousand grant by AusAID in April.
They warned that if these issues are not dealt with immediately, health workers would be fighting a losing war against cholera in Bougainville.
Bougainville Cholera Task force team in response yesterday said they are also facing a severe financial crisis to address the cholera issue.
The task force also said the number of cases was now being contained despite the rise in patients to more than 20, brought to the health centre.
The task force added that health workers have managed to contain the disease from spreading further.

01.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Mongai local shot by criminals.
By MARIA LAUKAI

A South Bougainville man who was shot while visiting his mother on Monday evening at Mongai village, South Bougainville died on Tuesday night at the Buka General Hospital.
Isaac Malabus, 24, of mix Muisuru and Mongai parentage, was undergoing surgery to remove bullets from his knee and stomach when he died from complications caused by internal bleeding.
His body was transported to Buin yesterday by relatives and South Bougainville former combatants who had also travelled with him to Buka from Buin on Tuesday morning.
According to South Bougainville police commander Paul Kamuai, the late Malabus on his way to visit his mother was confronted by five former Me’ekamui combatants and shot below the knee and stomach when he failed to inform them of the location of freedom fighters in the area.
Kamuai said the shooting had escalated tension amongst communities in the Konnou constituency where already there had been reports of the notorious Koike and his men killing men, women and children.
He added that the problem at Konnou area has become an armed conflict which the police in South Bougainville have no firepower and capacity to address.
However Kamuai said despite their situation, they are prepared to support the Bougainville government in any decision it makes to address the Konnou issue.

01.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

South Bougainville factions put up road block
By MARIA LAUKAI

Former combatants in the Konnou constituency of South Bougainville who gave up their guns in exchange for peace after the Bougainville crisis have taken up arms again, this time, against a notorious criminal, Damien Koike and his men.
Koike is reported to have been responsible for over 55 deaths of men, women and children since 2006 in the Konnou area, including the recent shooting and wounding of innocent civilians last Wednesday at Siniminoi and on Monday at Mongai village.
In revenge of having their women and children constantly living in fear of the gun wielding criminal, leaders of factional groups in the Konnou area agreed on May 27 to put a stop to the killings in the area.
Leaders of Mongai homeguards, Buin Freedom Fighters, Peace Struggling Force (PSF) and Wissai Liberation Movement (WILMO) under the banner of Konnou factional group, resolved counter attack the crime activities.
Konnou Faction commander Philip Pusua said yesterday that the first action they have taken is to set up a road block at Mongai junction to stop traffic moving between Buin and Buka.
He said the aim of the road block is to minimize the flow of information.
Mr Pusua added that the Konnou factional leaders had also agreed to not allow any peace team or organization to approach Damien Koike and his band of criminals until the government takes an immediate action to stop the continuous killings in the Konnou area.

01.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

PLOA responds to Me’ekamui

Panguna landowners in Bougainville yesterday warned the Me’ekamui tribal government to stop misleading the world with media statements that ‘it will not open the mine’ as reported on New Dawn’s website on Monday (May 30).
Panguna Landowners Association (PLOA) Interim Executive Secretary Lawrence Daveona in response to the Me’ekamui press statement urged that the Me’ekamui seek PLOA’s advice before issuing such statements.
The Me’ekamui had on Monday claimed that the tribal government controlled the assets at Panguna and all natural resources within its borders.
They also disapproved Bougainville president John Momis’ authority to enter into any understandings or agreements with Me’ekamui owned land.
Me’ekamui president Philip Miriori had also in the same statement invited state ministers, ABG leaders and BCL company representatives to a meeting set for June 14 – 17 at Hilton Hotel, Cairns, Australia to discuss Panguna mine issues.
In an email to New Dawn FM, Daveona expressed that it is a pity that Me’ekamui government had embarked on trying to dismantle tremendous efforts ABG had put in place since the signing of Bougainville Peace Agreement in 2001.
He said false assertions made by the Me’ekamui tribal government included;
• Claims the Me’ekamui government has over the assets of Panguna mine.
• Claims that Me’ekamui tribal government are the legal authority in Bougainville and
• Claims that BCL had no rights to Panguna.

Responding to each of these claims, Daveona said the legitimate authority under which any negotiations with respect to the re-opening of Panguna mine is Panguna Landowners Association (PLOA).
He added that the ABG and its president John Momis is the ‘only’ authority that is recognized world-wide and until such time as provided for under the Bougainville Peace Agreement, ABG operates under an autonomous arrangement with PNG.
He also responded that whoever was advising Me’ekamui government on the licensing issues of the leases is using the Bougainville people's ignorance on the present status of the Panguna BCL mine leases.
Daveona warned that PLOA is very much aware of foreigners who are at the center of spreading this misinformation and advised the Me’ekamui government hierarchy to consult directly with the legal authority on the ground.

01.06.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Bougainville progresses in development
By MARIA LAUKAI

Bougainville, having come out of a 10 year conflict, is doing its best to rebuild a new nation from a province that has suffered the loss of more than 15,000 human lives and also its basic services says ABG vice president Patrick Nisira.
Honourable Nisira said this in response to criticisms that the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), since its inauguration in 2005, has not trickled basic services to the rural areas.
He said ABG is trying its best to rebuild out of a province that has suffered the loss of its entire infrastructure development, communication, education and health services.
He said, since its establishment in 2005, ABG has reconstructed 577 education facilities, 346 Elementary schools, 216 Primary Schools, 5 Boarding High Schools, 1 Day High School, 4 Specialized Training Centers, 2 Technical High Schools, all enrolling 65,954 students.
Nisira added that in the public health sector, the ABG and the state have reopened 127 Aid Posts, 32 Health Centers and the Buka Hospital.
He said this was a success story considering ABG is operating out of a meager K9 million from its ‘infant’ internal revenue annual budget and budgetary support of the PNG government and funds from overseas friends.
He added that a latest study carried out in Arawa, Buin and Buka by the New South Wales University shows that Bougainville people are better off in terms of income per capita than some provinces of PNG.

01.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Atoi outlines development strategy
By GORETHY KENNETH

NEWLY--ELECTED North Bougainville MP, Lauta Atoi, is a very determined man when it comes to helping develop Bougainville, especially his northern electorate, if finance and resources permit.
Yesterday, before the declaration, the Post-Courier interviewed him in his home, surrounded by thousands of his supporters, Atoi, a former Kumul icon, detailed his priorities for the next six months.
“I have a heart for my people of the Atolls and low-lying islands and especially those of Teua/Kunua who have been neglected for many years,” Mr Atoi said. “I have plans for all the electorates of north Bougainville before looking at the bigger picture.
“There are places that are less developed and there are those that really need help – it’s about service delivery but my approach will be all about income generating activities.
“I have the water project and I want to spend K5 million on water tanks for all north Bougainvilleans, which is the main need for the people in the north.
“I want to work together with the ABG to revive all feeder ports in the region and help save plantations that will help generate our income so that we become financially self-reliant instead of asking and begging and receiving all the time. Also I want to help get back the eight plantations that have been sold to foreigners.
“But most of all, get a landing craft and a proper service boat for the people of the Atolls and the low-lying islanders and a fish market to help the islanders market their fresh fish for a living.
“I want to help the government of the day change their mindset.
“It’s not about service delivery, it’s about making money for Bougainville and its people.
“Bougainville is a maritime province and we have to take advantage of that.
“Let’s work to have reliable shipping services, when copper mine gets up and running again, let’s have our own ships export or take copper across international waters. We must have a shipping network overseas.
“I want to tell my people I am their servant leader, no longer a private person and my biggest desire is that I want to help my people. Yes, this government is about service delivery.
“It should also be about building the nation, building the economy and coming from a business background, I want to see Bougainville create opportunities. We need to create a fiscal self-reliant nation so that we can have our independence.
“Time is running out, we can’t pretend that everything is okay. We have a lot of factions to deal with...let’s sit down and find a solution to this issue.
“I know ABG has been working hard to work on these factions, I am prepared to work with the ABG to see how best we can find solutions to these issues,” Mr Atoi said.

01.06.2011
Source: Post-Courier

Atoll man’s win a first
By FABIAN GATANA

LAUTA Atoi, the first Atolls man in the history of politics on Bougainville to be a national MP, was declared winner of the North Bougainville Open seat yesterday after an 18th elimination.
Mr Atoi held a favourable lead from the primary count right through to the eliminations, finishing with a strong 10,463 votes to claim the seat.
In his declaration speech, Mr Atoi said that because he would only be in office for a period of no more than six months before the next elections, he would deal with the people first and seriously look into what was affecting their lives. He said for many years people in the remote parts of North Bougainville had been neglected like his people in the Atolls and it was time they too benefitted from government services.
Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Fidelis Semoso, urged the newly-elected MP to work in close dialogue with him and the other two Bougainville Open MPs to bring about change to the region. Mr Semoso said that “winning an election was easy but proving to the people that you are a true leader and can provide services to the people is the real test”.
Mr Atoi only has a limited time in office and there is a big challenge on him to prove himself.