News 09.2013

30.09.2013

Source: Papua New Guinea Mine Watch

‘Criminal Terrorist’, ‘Fanatic’ and ‘Mentally Sick’ – BCL’s Largest Shareholder Sprays Bougainvillean Leaders

Winners are grinners, Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) Chairman, Peter Taylor, and the largest individual BCL shareholder, Axel Sturm, recently met at the opulent Goodwood Park Hotel in Singapore to discuss Bougainville’s future.

Axel G. Sturm and Peter R. Taylor having lunch in Singapore.

In recent years Sturm has become a frequent commentator on Bougainville affairs. His knack for insulting sound bites has made him a favourite among journalists. Many of Sturm’s most legendary sprays are launched via the European Shareholders of Bougainville (ESBC) website which he administers. There he has slammed Bougainvillean leaders, writers and filmmakers accusing them of being ‘criminal terrorists’, ‘fanatics’ and ‘mentally sick’. Sturm has also attacked PNG statesmen and decorated foreign commentators who he accuses of being ‘naïve’, ‘delirious’ and dishonest.

Yet far from distancing themselves from Sturm’s inflammatory remarks, BCL it would seem endorses them. In an address published on Sturm’s ESBC website, Peter Taylor writes:

“As chairman of Bougainville Copper I am restricted in what I can say due to corporations’ laws. You do not have the same restrictions. Your analysis of the situation on Bougainville is appreciated” (ESBC Website, May 2011).

Here is a selection of Sturm’s “appreciated” analysis, which BCL’s Chairman travels several thousand miles to hear:

On Remembering the Bougainville Conflict

Bougainville writer Leonard Fong Roka has written numerous touching stories on the Bougainville war including one about his father’s tragic murder. This is the advice given to Roka by Sturm:

“Dear Leonard, the Bougainville Crisis was a nasty experience – for sure! But I believe that the Second World War was even worse for Bougainvilleans. Certainly one must not forget what happened and one has to learn from mistakes. But touching old wounds regularly is not helpful at all for healing” (PNG Attitude, 3/11/2012).

On BCL Liability for War Crimes and Environmental Damage

Sturm has denied BCL’s liability:

“We shareholders – as I understand, Rio Tinto, also, is a major shareholder – we are OK to invest another US$5 billion into the mine [on which they will make a large profit – PNG Mine Watch]. And I think that is more than enough compensation for a situation that was not caused by Bougainville Copper” (Radio New Zealand, 16/7/13).

He has also seems to suggest BCL was the victim:

“The mine was closed nearly 20 years ago mainly due to the secessionist conflict in which BCL was made responsible. Therefore, we believe that it would be a friendly sign of the Bougainvillean landowners to invite BCL to come back to work on the island” (Post Courier 8/5/2008).

On the Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare

“I consider him as a poor, delirious old man who is more and more out of his mind” (ESBC Press Release, 26/6/2011).

On Critics of Rio Tinto

Sam Kauona – Former Commander of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army

“Sam Kauona is one of the alleged murderers of the so called Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA)! He is on the pay-roll of foreign notorious backdoor players! Most of his life he spent as a hardened criminal terrorist by intimidating, robbing and also presumably killing innocent Bougainvillean citizens” (ESBC Website, 27/2/2013).

Clive Porabou – Bougainvillean Environmentalist and filmmaker

Sturm accuses Porabou of being a “fanatic”. He claims: “Clive Porabou – mislead and remote-controlled by anarchic left-wing ecologist groups in London (UK) and Australia – still continues spreading lies and jealousy in the internet and on the ground” (ESBC Press Release, 5/4/2011).

In a further exchange Sturm accused Porabou of being mentally ill:

“Parabou: In this regard, the closing down of Panguna Mine involved blood and the loss of lives of twenty thousand fighters, innocent children, men and women from the Southern tip to the Northern isles of Mekamui/Bougainville.

Sturm:   You know very well that only approximately 1200 people were killed by unrest on Bougainville. The others died because of lack of medicines and normal death in that period. … Stop to publish all that bullshit now or are you mentally sick??” (see ESBC Website, 20/10/2011)

Lawrence Daveona – Chairman of the Panguna Mine Affected Landowners Association

Sturm on Daveona in 2008: “When I met him in May in Port Moresby, I had been deeply impressed by Lawrence Daveona. He is the ideal mediator in this sensitive issue. He has our confidence and our full support as well. Earlier than others Lawrence understood that the only way of bringing enduring peace and prosperity to the island of Bougainville means first of all getting all parties concerned together” (ESBC Website, 7/7/2008).

Sturm on Daveona in 2013: “It is true that for many years the ESBC supported Mr. Daveona’s efforts to resume mining by BCL. Unfortunately I had to stop funding Mr. Daveona because of his increasing inappropriate behaviour towards Bougainville’s President, Dr. John Momis and myself. Sadly there was no more sustainable cooperation possible for the benefit of Bougainvilleans. Today, quite obviously, Mr. Daveona follows his very own agenda and private interest which is proved by his recent statements. He does not have any regard for the people of Bougainville or even the Panguna landowner’s future” (Mine Watch PNG, 29/6/2013).

Dr Kristian Lasslett – Lecturer in Criminology, University of Ulster

Dr Lasslett’s research uncovered evidence confirming Rio Tinto’s infamous role in the Bougainville conflict. Sturm claimed: “It’s really shameful if an expert in criminology completely ignores facts and reality. Your naive adoption of statements and claims from rebel groups on the ground disqualify you as an honest scientist [Dr Lasslett’s claims are based on statements made by BCL Managers and internal BCL records – PNG Mine Watch] …I suppose your work in Ulster [Northern Ireland], a region well known for rebellion and organised crime, troubled your vision…Unfortunately you are also allowed to spread your ideas among you students. You shall not use your academic position as a platform for indoctrination and agitation” (PNG Attitude, 26/4/2012).

Brian Thomson – Journalist, SBS Australia

Thomson produced a powerful piece on Bougainville’s tragic past, including material on Rio Tinto’s role in the hostilities. Sturm responded: “Thomson’s loud presentation dismantles him as a naive and unprofessional 3rd class journalist” (ESBC Website, 26/6/2011). Thomson has won two Walkley Awards and a UN Peace Prize.

On Bougainville’s Future and Mining

In an interview with the Post Courier Sturm suggests Bougainville could become the next United Arab Emirates or even the Cayman Islands, a notorious tax haven:

“He [Sturm] also said that if the treasure in Bougainville was exploited, Bougainville would become one of the most fascinating places in the Pacific region [its not already ?– PNG Mine Watch]. Mr Sturm said Bougainville could be compared to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where it was just an ordinary country before oil was found but today was the most prosperous nation in the world. He said if Bougainville considered venturing into mining activities, revenue earned from this industry would be used to fund other sectors such as tourism which would also benefit the whole region. Mr Sturm said the UAE was the wealthiest region and the money gave the Arabs the liberty to cultivate their ancient traditions [note tradition is alive and well on Bougainville – PNG Mine Watch]. Also, in far future Bougainville might become a fiscal paradise like Cayman Islands, Bahamas or other situated next door to the emerging markets of Asia, he said”. (Post Courier, 6/5/2006)

30.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Bougainville Parliament clerk: My sacking illegal

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

THE clerk of the Bougainville House of Representatives who was sacked last week by Speaker Andrew Miriki has branded his sacking as illegal and unconstitutional.

Robert Tapi is adamant that he is still the clerk of the Bougainville parliament, saying the Speaker had breached the Bougainville Constitution by “illegally” terminating him from the position. 

Mr Miriki had announced last Thursday that Mr Tapi was terminated for illegally occupying the position, a thing Mr Tapi denied after seeking legal advice from the Principle Legal Office in Buka. 

“The Speaker does not have the power to sack the clerk. It is only the Bougainville Senior Appointments Committee that has the power to either appoint or sack the clerk,” Mr Tapi said.

He said it stated very clearly in Section 63 (1) and 63 (3) of the constitution that the speaker does not have the power to sack the clerk, instead Mr Miriki “took a shortcut” without “due respect of the appointing committee”. 

Mr Miriki had stated that he had consulted the Parliamentary Service Commission comprising of President John Momis, North Bougainville women’s representative Elizabeth Burain and Kokoda constituency member Joseph Bausina who all unanimously agreed for Mr Tapi’s termination. 

However, Mr Tapi when responding to this said; “the parliamentary service commission has no power over the appointment of the clerk. The parliamentary service commission has the power to appoint the deputy clerk, not the clerk. 

Mr Tapi said the speaker’s action was questionable as he had “exceeded the powers of the office”. 

He also questioned the appointment of acting deputy clerk Edwin Kenehata as the acting clerk by Mr Miriki, saying the Speaker did not have the power to do this.

Mr Tapi said he had advised Mr Miriki to seek legal advice first before taking this decision, but the Speaker still went ahead and executed the decision by issuing the termination letter. 

Mr Tapi, who was appointed to this position in 2005, said his six year term had expired in 2011 however he still continued performing his duties up until his termination by Mr Miriki.

“I’ve sort legal advice and I will continue as the clerk of the House of Representatives until the Bougainville Senior Appointments Committee decides my fate as the clerk of the House,” Mr Tapi said.

“According to legal advice, it (Mr Tapi’s sacking) does not have any legal effect. 

“I will continue as the clerk of the house until the committee decides.” 

Mr Tapi also denied claims by the speaker that he (Mr Tapi) had failed to execute directives issued by Mr Miriki, saying he has always been adhering to directives since his appointment. He blasted the Speaker for announcing the sacking through the media, which he said was “unbecoming of a leader”. 

30..09.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SIRIOSI WANTS COMMISSIONERS POSITIONS ABOLISHED

By Aloysius Laukai

The newly appointed chief Administrator, CHRIS SIRIOSI says that starting next year there will be a change in the delivery of Government service to the people of Bougainville.

He made these remarks at Sipai Parish in the Kunua district and when speaking after his installation as the Chief for his ARAKAPU Clan.

MR.SIRIOSI said that he wants to make changes in the headquarters so that service delivery flows into the districts.

He blamed Commissioners Positions as bottleneck to development and one man shows which he wants to remove.

MR.SIRIOSI said that he will establish a task force that will make sure Districts are delivering services to the people in the villages.

He said that the ABG has been blamed for not delivering services which is the failure of public servants on the ground.

MR. SIRIOSI said that all officers getting paid and not delivering will be replaced.

30..09.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

APPOINTED ON MERIT

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG Minister for Local Level Government and Communications and member for TEWA, JOSEPH NOPE yesterday said that MR. SIRIOSI was appointed to acting Administrator based on merit and qualification.

He also made these remarks at the special ceremony at the SIPAI Catholic Parish.

MR. NOPE said he was not appointed just because he was from KUNUA district.

The local member said that the BEC had faith in what he can do as the chief administrator.

He said that the appointment was for three months when a permanent person will be appointed.

MR. NOPE said that if MR. SIRIOSI wants to get that positing as a permanent Chief Administrator he will have to apply once the position is advertised.

The Minister called on MR. CHRIS SIRIOSI to perform on a higher level and prove what he can do to the Senior Appointment committee who will decide on the permanent chief administrator.

30..09.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SIRIOSI ELEVATED AS ARAKAPU CLAN CHIEF

By Aloysius Laukai

The newly appointed Acting Chief Administrator, Chris Siriosi has been challenged to make changes in the Kunua district which was becoming last district in terms of development happening in Bougainville.

Raymond Naesi Chairman of Sipai Parish pastoral council made these comments at Sipai mission today.

He made these remarks in welcoming the newly appointed Chief Administrator for Bougainville, Chris Siriosi to the new position.

MrNaesi said that as the new Administrator he must now look at balancing development to the Kunua district which has been neglected for many years.

The new chief Administrator was installed as the chief of ARAKAPU clan at a special ceremony at Sipai catholic parish today.

The ceremony started with a special thanksgiving mass led by FR.VICTOR NANAHA.

The ceremony was witnessed by the ABG Minister for LLG and Communication and member for Tewa, JOSEPH NOPE, Minister for Public Service and member for Tonsu, JOEL BANAM, chiefs,Administration staff and the people of Buka, Tinputz ,Wakunai and locals from the last frontier, Kunua Kereaka.

See here the pictures taken by Aloysius Laukai:

30..09.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

TRAVELLING TO KUNUA

BY Aloysius Laukai

We are travelling to Kunua by boat for the special cultural initiation of the newly appointed Acting Chief Administrator, Chris Siriosi .

The ceremony will take place at the Kunua District office today.

Public servants and ABG members are also travelling this morning for this special ceremony.

The Boat I am in has 20 passengers and already overloaded.

28.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS SAYS ABG PARLIAMENT IS INDEPENDENT

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS says that although Bougainville is still an integral part of Papua New Guinea, the Autonomous House of representatives Parliament is independent from the National Parliament.

He made these remarks during the FM 100 TALK BACK show with ROGER HAUOVA this week.

The program had DR. MOMIS discussing issues affecting Bougainville today.

The ABG President was on the FM 100 Talk back show to clear the air following the outburst by the Minister for Bougainville Affairs and Member for South Bougainville, STEVEN PIRIKA in parliament last week.

MR. PIRIKA told the National Government that he had personally appealed to PRIME MINISTER PETER O’NEILL not to give any more money until and unless the ABG acquitted the first 100 MILLION for HIGH IMPACT PROJECTS given to the ABG last year.

The President said that the National Government must cooperate and work together to support the Autonomous Arrangement which is the joint creation of both governments.

DR. MOMIS warned that if the Autonomous Arrangement was seen as not suitable for Bougainville then the people have no other option but go to the extreme that is outright Independence.

He said that the National Government must help the ABG to show to the people that Autonomy within PNG can be another good option.

New Dawn FM will replay the FM 100 TALK BACK Show at SEVEN PM tonight.

28.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MALASANG HOLDS VILLAGE ASSEMBLIES SWEARING IN CEREMONY

By Alex Munme

MALASANG now has its four Village Assemblies sworn in.

An official ceremony to mark the occasion took place at the Malasang Primary School ground yesterday also at Malasang in the Tsitalato Constituency on Buka Island.

Local Level Government Executive Manager Joseph Kaipu conducted the official ceremony.

The verification process was attended and witnessed by Bougainville Police Service representatives, Care PNG Representatives, Village Court Officials, Chairman of Tsitalato Council of Elders- David Talei, Chiefs and the people of Malasang.

The swearing yesterday means that the Village Assemblies Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasure, Secretary and the Executive Members now have the power to make decisions, lead and move the four Malasang villages into the future.

Former Deputy Speaker and Northern Regional Woman’s Representative in the ABG, Francesca Semoso was also sworn in for the Autonomous Bougainville’s Village Level of Government.

Speeches at the swearing in were mainly words of encouragements, work in unity, oneness and take challenges that come with any developments taking place in the course of their responsibilities at the Village level.

27.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Bougainvilleans into tourism

By ROMULUS MASIU

A NEW tourism hideaway has opened its doors for tourists in Central Bougainville.

Topinang Village Bungalows and Tours is a community-based eco-tourism project initiated by the people of Topinang community who see numerous benefits from this project. Its purpose is to involve the community and youths in developing their areas through tourism.

Land shortage and increasing population has placed a limit on other economic activities such as cash crop production and other agricultural activities. 

Tourism, on the other hand, gives the people alternative means to earn an income by showcasing their art, culture and environment without putting too much pressure on land and natural environment.

When fully operational, the project will be provide jobs to youths and women who will be participating in tourism activities such as tour guides, cooks and in crafts market. 

The project will also provide market for fresh fruits and vegetables to the community. Some of the products and services include village style accommodation and meals, transport from Buka to Arawa and onto Topinang and back, trekking, bird watching, mountaineering, visiting native flora and fauna including rare orchids such as the exotic Bougainvilleanum Paphiophedilium, picnic sites hire, traditional feasts staging, village visits and tours, souvenirs, carvings, basket ware and other craft sales and traditional and cultural education.

ABG North Nasioi Member and Minister for Agriculture Nicholas Darku cutting the ribbon at one of the buildings to mark the opening of the Topinang Village Bungalows and Tours.

27.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Suspect urged to surrender

ACTING commander of the Bougainville Police Service, Superintendent Paul Kamuai is appealing to a young man from Ieta village in the outskirts of Buka town to surrender to police. 

The man is a well-known owner of a security firm in Buka town and is wanted by police for a string of criminal offences including the assaulting of a female police officer a week ago. 

Supt Kamuai said the suspect was a threat to the Ieta community and also to police as he was armed with a number of high powered rifles, which he enjoyed discharging to scare off his neighbours.

Numerous attempts by police earlier this week to arrest the suspect has failed as his family members and bodyguards had surrounded him at his residence and obstructed police from taking in the suspect for questioning.

Superintendent Kamuai has appealed for the suspect and his family to cooperate with police as no one was above the law. 

26.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG SPEAKER CORRECTS 8 YEARS OLD ERROR

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG speaker, ANDREW MIRIKI today announced that the ABG House had failed to appoint a Clerk of Parliament either as acting or substantive since the ABG was established eight years ago.

MR. MIRIKI revealed this in a press conference in Buka this morning when announcing the termination of MR. ROBERT TAPI who has been working as the ABG Clerk since the government of the LATE JOSEPH KABUI, President TANIS and now President DR. JOHN MOMIS.

The ABG Speaker said that Appointment of the Clerk should have been made by the ABG Senior Appointment Committee of which the ABG Speaker, ANDREW MIRIKI and the ABG President DR. MOMIS are part of.

He said that this committee is yet to be established when the ABG House enacts the Public Service act at the December session of the ABG House.

MR.MIRIKI said that MR. TAPI has been working and receiving entitlements of the clerk of parliament in the last eight years even though he was never appointed to that position.

He said that he has been continuously and consistently defying the directives and instructions issued from the Office of the Speaker.

On the question of validity of laws enacted and certified by the Clerk since 2005, MR. MIRIKI said that the laws were approved by the BEC and the Assembly which the clerk and the speaker’s role are just facilitators and would not be affected by this change.

The ABG Speaker also announced the appointment of MR.EDWIN KENEHATA from Hanahan as the acting clerk for the next three months.

He said that MR. KENEHATA a Diploma in Education holder has been acting Deputy cleark in the last three months.

Speaker Miriki said a permanent replacement clerk would be appointed after three months and also by the ABG Senior Appointment Committee that would be established by then.

Pictured after today's Press Conference are from left Deputy Speaker Robin Wilson, Speaker Andrew Miriki and Acting clerk Edwin Kenehata

26.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

I AM STILL THE CLERK SAYS TAPI

By Aloysius Laukai

The terminated ABG Clerk of Parliament, ROBERT TAPI says that he is still the clerk of ABG Parliament because the ABG Speaker has no power to terminate him from holding this constitutional office.

MR. TAPI told New Dawn FM this afternoon that he was duly appointed as the Clerk of the ABG House after he completed his job to swear in the ABG President and Speaker after the June 2005 ABG Elections.

He said he that he was appointed the executive Officer for the Bougainville House of Representatives before the establishment of the ABG and he prepared everything that included swearing of the President and his Interim Governments and the newly appointed Speaker who must take over and swear all the other members of Parliament.

MR. TAPI said that all laws enacted between the first house and up to today are legal and in order.

He said when he completed the swearing in of the first house he wanted to go back to the Administration but was told by the Late Jim Frazer that he would now continue as the Acting Clerk for the Bougainville House.

MR. TAPI said that a law was enacted in 2009 to duly establish the role of the office of the Clerk of Parliament and also established the Senior Appointments Committee which includes the Bishop of Bougainville BENARD UNABALI and few other senior citizens of Bougainville.

He said that he was not happy that the Speaker had to dumb him this way after all the time and effort he had personally put in to build the House

MR. TAPI said that he will be waiting for the Senior Appointments Committee which are the people who are empowered to Hire and Fire officers of the Government to make their decision.

26.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

POLICE WANT ARMED SUSPECT TO SURRENDER

By Aloysius Laukai

Acting Bougainville Police Chief PAUL KAMUAI today appealed to a IETA village man near Buka town to surrender to Police.

The well known owner of a Security firm in Buka town is wanted by Police for a string of criminal offences including the assaulting of a female Police officer a week ago.

MR. KAMUAI said that the suspect was a threat to the IETA Community and also to Police as he is armed with a number of high powered rifles and enjoys discharging his rifles to scare off his neighbours.

Earlier this week attempts by police to arrest the suspect failed as family members and body guards of the wanted man surrounded him at his residence and obstructed police from taking in the suspect for questioning.

MR. KAMUAI appealed to the suspect and his family to cooperate with police as no one was above the law and if they had any grievances with the police they were free to come to the police station and sort it out.

He assured the suspect that if any police officers were found to have been wrong they would also be dealt with accordingly.

MR. KAMUAI said that Police in Bougainville want to avoid confrontation with members of the public for the good of Bougainville as a whole therefore everyone should strive to maintain peace and harmony in all regions of Bougainville.

26.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ACTING CLERK PAYS TRIBUTE TO ROBERT TAPI

By Aloysius Laukai

The newly appointed ABG House of Representatives ACTING CLERK, EDWIN KENEHATA today paid tribute to the outgoing ABG Clerk, ROBERT TAPI.

He said that MR. TAPI must be commended for his great effort in laying the foundation and making history in developing the institution of the Bougainville Parliament as it is now seen today.

MR. KENEHATA said that MR. TAPI’s contribution to the development of the institution was immeasurable and that he had the pleasure to have worked under him who has been a good mentor and friend to all staff.

He said that the Bougainville Parliamentary Services has a young and vibrant work force that has performed exceptionally well despite the limited resources and limited space provided for staff, not to mention the importance of addressing staff welfare and safety.

MR. KENEHATA made these remarks at the Press conference in Buka this morning.

He said that the Parliamentary Services has an enormous task ahead and that is to ensure that the mechanisms and procedures are put in place in preparations for the 2015 Referendum which will determine the final status of Bougainville.

MR. KENEHATA said that he would try his best to execute his roles and responsibilities of providing advice to the Speaker and Members of the House.

26.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BUKA ATOLLS COMMUNITY RAISE FUNDS TO CHARTER SOLOMON BOAT

By Aloysius Laukai

The Atolls Population of Mortlock, Tasman, Carterets, Nuguria and Nissan Islanders living in Buka Island are ORGANIZING a Corporate dinner to raise funds so that they can Charter a boat to return to their island.

This was revealed today by the former ABG Member for Atolls, TAEHU KEALI PAIS on New Dawn FM’s Talk back show.

He said that he was very concerned at the problem faced by his people of not having a transport to return to their respective islands.

MR. PAIS said that the fundraising dinner will be held at KURI VILLAGE RESORT next Saturday FIFTH of October,2013.

He said that the last charter to the Atolls was made in January this year and since then small Banana boats have been risking their lives to ferry sick patients and store goods to and from these islands.

MR. PAIS said that even food supplies to the Atolls from Bougainville Disaster and Emergency Services Office cannot be shipped out to the Islands as there is no shipping service.

He said that the people of the Atolls continue to remain silent despite their pain and sufferings as a consequence for government negligence to its people.

The former member said that even projects such as classrooms, health centres or other projects for the atolls cannot be implemented or shipped out if there is no shipping service to the atolls.

Furthermore, he said that it was sad that Government Awareness or visits by respective divisions of the Departments of Bougainville Administration were totally unavailable and the people are been left withoutinformation’s as to how the Government Restoration and Peace Processes are progressing in the Region.

26.09.2013

Source: The National

Mine talks still on 

By MALUM NALU

TALKS are continuing on the reopening of the Panguna mine in Bougainville, Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis says.

He, however, cautioned leaders such as Central Bougainville MP Jimmy Miringtoro and Lawrence Daveona not to jump the gun and bring in foreign investors through the “back door”.

“There are meetings going on now between the landowners and (Bougainville) administration as per the mine,” Momis told reporters on Tuesday.

“When I go back, I will meet with the landowners.

“We have reached about 98% agreement.

“We’re doing very well.

“We are the most democratic government in Papua New Guinea.

“We believe in consultation and consensual decision-making.

“We have conducted so many forums with landowners, resource owners, ex-combatants, civil society.

“I think we’ve come a long way.”

Momis warned that all efforts could be derailed if Miringtoro and Daveona did things their own way.

“We must remember that we are dealing with a highly tense situation,” he said.

26.09.2013

Source: PNG Attitude

Panguna committee discusses moving forward

THE FIFTH MEETING of the Joint Panguna Negotiation and Coordination Committee (JPNCC) was held in Port Moresby yesterday.

The JPNCC was established in March and consists of representatives from the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), the United Panguna Mine Affected Landowners Association (UPMALA), the Government of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL).

“The JPNCC is an important step forward in the potential resumption of mining at Panguna,” said BCL company secretary, Paul Coleman.

“It is a good platform to facilitate robust and transparent discussion between the two governments, the landowners around Panguna and BCL.

“Senior representatives from each organisation attend the JPNCC meetings, which are held every six weeks and rotate between Buka and Port Moresby,” he said.

The JPNCC oversees pre-negotiation activities relating to the potential redevelopment of Panguna including environmental, social and economic baseline studies, including public health, social mapping studies and the Belkol [reconciliation] process.

“The redevelopment of the Panguna mine is a challenging project and requires the full support and approval of the representatives of the people of Bougainville and the traditional landowners,” Mr Coleman said.

“One of the most important items on the agenda concerns the timing and nature of customary process of Belkol, where all sides express regret for the past and agree on a shared desire to move forward.

“BCL is confident that, once these processes are completed, formal negotiations can begin.

“The guidance and strong relationships formed through the JPNCC will be crucial,” he said.

26.09.2013

Source: EMTV

Government Misled:

Momis Lashes Out at Bougainville Ministers 

Government Misled: Momis Lashes Out at Bougainville Ministers ABG President John Momis has lashed out at two Bougainville Ministers of State in the PNG Government.

This follows criticism by the two ministers about the Autonomous Regional Government not acquitting the use of 100 million kina in infrastructure development grants given by the PNG Government.

Mr. Momis said the two are giving misleading information to the government on how the funds were used.

President John Momis met with Journalists in Port Moresby this Tuesday.

He called for an understanding from the PNG Government that Bougainville is still recovering from psychological trauma inflicted by the civil war.

Therefore, the funds cannot be used solely for infrastructure development but for the overall peace building process.

“If the Prime Minister doesn’t agree that the funds should be spent on our priorities, then it needs the two governments to sit down and reach an agreement on which project should be funded,” said Momis.

As far as Momis sees it, Bougainville bank rolled Papua New Guineas Independence when the Panguna Mine was in operation. He says the least the government can do is pay the outstanding 188 million kina in restoration funds.

He rebuked his two Bougainville MP’s Jimmy Miringtoro and Steven Pirika, urging them to give their acquittals before pointing the finger at his government.

“The Ministry of Bougainville Affairs is such an important Ministry. We need somebody who has some integrity, and who has an understanding of issues surrounding the complex Bougainville negotiations,” Momis said.

The Presidents intends to meet with Prime Minister O’Neill to tell him the real situation on the ground.

At this stage the 100 million earmarked for this year has not been released yet.

Meanwhile, Mr. Momis also revealed in his governments October sitting, they will be passing the Inward Investment Law which will work like the Investment Promotion Authority, and will protect businesses like retail for to be solely for locals

26.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

ABG clerk terminated by ABG speaker  

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

THE Clerk of the Bougainville House of Representatives, Robert Tapi has been sacked 

from his job.

Reports’ reaching the Post-Courier state that Mr Tapi was terminated by Autonomous Bougainville Government Speaker Andrew Miriki following failures to adhere to directives issued by Mr Miriki.

Attempts by this reporter to get comments from Mr Miriki yesterday regarding this issue were unsuccessful.

However the ABG Speaker’s office advised late yesterday afternoon that Mr Miriki will be having a press conference this morning to “release 

facts on the issue of termination of the ABG Clerk of Parliament to the media”. Mr Tapi was appointed as the ABG Clerk in 2005 just before the inauguration of the first House of Representatives and 

has been performing this duty until his termination early this week. It is understood that ABG Assistant Clerk Edwin Kenehata is now acting on this position until a suitable candidate is identified to take on the job.

26.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Primary enrolments to rise in Bougainville  

THERE will be an increase in the number of primary school students in Bougainville who will be selected to continue on to grade nine, that’s the word from the chief executive officer for the Bougainville Education Division, Mr Bruno Babato.

This is because of the scheduled opening of Bougainville’s new Tinputz High School in North Bougainville next year.

This institution, which is located in Teaurouki, will start off with two classes before increasing its number of classes in the years to come. 

Apart from this, Mr Babato announced that the enrolment figures for the four secondary schools in Bougainville are also expected to increase next year. 

Mr Babato said he has already directed the board of governors of these secondary schools to increase the number of grade eleven students, adding that this decision was made with the intention of increasing the number of students attending secondary schools.

Mr Babato also announced that the Bougainville Technical College in Tinputz will also be enrolling its first intake starting next year.

He said the institution will be selecting some of the students who are currently doing 

their grade 12 this year, together with some top vocational graduands to further their studies there.

Mr Babato also revealed that Bougainville will soon have its own teachers college.

He said his division is in the process of preparing the necessary documents to be presented to the government for approval.

25.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Communication to address illiteracy in Buka  

BOUGAINVILLE Governor Joe Lera has plans to improve literacy levels in the Bougainville through collaboration with Digicel on communication services.

The governor signed an agreement with Digicel yesterday.

He said the deal will go a long way to benefit the people of Bougainville.

“Communication is one of the top priorities in my 5 year development plan as there’s so much we can achieve such as online learning through internet connectivity or education broadcast through TV and radio programs. 

“The world is also changing around us, policies are being made and old one’s amended to suit the changing trend we are in; and the government has introduced innovative programs that the people must know of and try to tap into. 

“And it’s only through an effective telecommunication service that the people can keep abreast of what’s happening around them,” Mr Lera said.

Mr Lera hopes that the introduction of a package of services will positively impact literacy rates, providing learning avenues at school and at home and robust communication services to the community at large. 

He said there’s so much potential in Digicel as an established organisation that will help his provincial administration achieve their communication goal in the short to long term. 

Digicel’s director for government business Gary Seddon thanked the Governor for his support and said it is Digicel’s priority to work towards enhancing the country’s telecommunication services, making it accessible and affordable to all. 

Digicel recently launched 3G voice and data service in the Bougainville province. 

25.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

DISASTER OFFICE WARNS TRAVELLERS

By Aloysius Laukai

The Bougainville Disaster Coordinator, FRANKLYN LACEY is warning sea travellers that all future travellers who go missing at sea and who do not adhere to Bad weather warnings by his office will have to boot the cost of any search and rescue operation.

The Bougainville Disaster Coordinator made this warning today when announcing that STRONG WIND warnings are still current on Bougainville waters.

He said that currently there is strong wind warning in place with wind speed between 15 to 20 knots.

On requests for food by his office, MR. LACEY said that it’s about time the people of Bougainville contribute to saving monies for emergency needs.

He said that calls by COE for head-tax collections have been falling on deaf ears and with the current food shortage situation the people must pay their tax which in return can assist them in times of need.

MR. LACEY said that at the 25.0only the public servants are being taxed from their salaries.

25.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

NCOBA USELESS

By Aloysius Laukai

The National Coordination office for Bougainville Affairs (NCBA) has been blamed for the current stalemate between the ABG and the Papua New Guinea government on the FIVE HUNDRED MILLION KINA promised in 2011 by the previous National Government.

The ABG Minister for Public Service, JOEL BANAM said that NCOBA had failed to coordinate activities between both governments resulting in this impasse.

He said that this NCOBA office must be abolished as it failed to act effectively as it was established for.

Meanwhile another Bougainville leader, ANDREW PEUGAI said that the Ministry of Bougainville Affairs and its Minister have gone into hiding with the people questioning their activities.

He said that the last time the people of Bougainville knew of the Ministry was when the former Regional Member, FIDELIS SEMOSO was the Minister.

MR. PEUGAI also called on the Prime Minister to replace MR. PIRIKA and put someone who can do a better job.

25.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ATOLLS ISLANDS SHORT OF DRUGS

By Aloysius Laukai

The Atolls District in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, have run out of drugs due to no ship servicing these islands in the last six months.

This was revealed to New Dawn FM today by the District Health Officer for the Atolls district,

ANNE MARIE PAUL.

MRS ANNE MARIE PAUL said that this has violated the National Health guidelines, which states that all health facilities must not run out of drugs for more than two months.

She said that the biggest problem which the people of Atolls are facing at the moment is sea transport between the islands and Buka which is the temporary headquarter for Bougainville.

The Health Officer also said that her people were not getting Government services due to the same problem.

She said that half of the population of the Atolls are currently in Buka and cannot return home also because of the transport problem.

The District Health Officer also called on the ABG and the Bougainville members to work together and alleviate this problem.

Meanwhile New Dawn FM understands that the ABG had allocated FIVE MILLION KINA under its 2012/2013 Budget appropriation for the purchase of a Boat for the Atolls however they are waiting for the National members to counter fund this allocation to buy one new ship for the Atolls district and also the boat will also service coastal ports on mainland Bougainville.

25.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

LERA SECURES DIGICEL TOWERS

By Aloysius Laukai

The Regional member for Bougainville, JOE LERA this week signed a MOU with the Marketing Department of the Mobile company DIGICEL for Bougainville communication companies to use DIGICEL TOWERS for their communication needs.

MR. LERA made this known to NEW DAWN FM in his weekly program on radio MY PEOPLE, MY BOUGAINVILLE program which is aired on New Dawn FM and Radio Bougainville every Wednesday evenings.

Talking from Port Moresby on the phone, MR. LERA said that starting next year he will partner with DIGICEL to build communication towers on Bougainville that can be utilized for this purpose.

He said that a Tower cost about a Million Kina and he would be funding half for a Tower that is FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA.

MR. LERA said that communication was one of his priority areas and he would be putting funds aside to develop.

New Dawn FM understands, that a similar arrangement was signed between the ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS and the CEO for DIGICEL, JOHN MANGOS recently to use these towers under Digicel’s Community Service obligations in which NEW DAWN FM and Radio Bougainville were tasked to take on board on their upgrading programs.

24.09.2013

Source: ESBC

SINGAPORE SUMMIT

Peter R. Taylor, Chairman of Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) met ESBC Presdent Axel G. Sturm on Tuesday in Singapore's former German Club, the prestigious Goodwood Park Hotel on Scotts Road.

Taylor flew in from Sydney on inivtation of Mr. Sturm to exchange in-depth information and new ideas on re-opening the Panguna mine.

Axel G. Sturm and Peter R. Taylor having lunch in Singapore.

Taylor confirmed that "we (BCL) are on track with our plans": Newly installed General Manager Project Development, Brad Stone will assist our Managing Director Paul Coleman who actually undergoes health treatment in Australia. Taylor describes Stone as well experienced: He started amongst others in Panguna and he is a specialist in Papua New Guinea business. He is supposed to maintain and improve BCL's good and promising contact to the ABG and PNG governmental institutions.

Axel G. Sturm thanked Peter Taylor for his commitment to come to Singapore and to improve relations with the European Shareholders.

24.09.2013

Source: Radio New Zealand International

Bougainville president furious at "flawed report" on gender violence

The president of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville is calling on the United Nations to apologise and withdraw a survey on gender violence he says is flawed.

The UN Gender Violence Survey was released last week and included assertions that some of the highest rates of sexual violence in the Asia/Pacific region occur in the province.

It said a quarter of men who admitted rape had first committed the offence by the age of 14.

The report also said one in five men had committed rape, with researcher James Lang saying violence has become normalised in Bougainville.

But President John Momis told Don Wiseman there are a number of things wrong with the report.

JOHN MOMIS: Number one, the ABG research ethics committee first of all expressed their concern about the methodology and protocol that was to be used in the study, and we asked them, through this committee, to submit the report first of all to us, the ABG, which they totally failed to do. Bougainville is a small community, you know, being a matrilineal society. And we the leaders would have found out a long time ago if what they reported was true. None of us, including myself. If it is true that one out of every five people interviewed was a rapist then you are saying that one fifth of the population is rapists. That’s totally bloody untrue.

DON WISEMAN: It has been well documented before this report, though, hasn’t it, that there is a significant problem with domestic abuse, with sexual violence in Bougainville and that this got significantly worse during and after the civil war.

JOHN MOMIS: Before the civil war there was very little. Bougainville is probably one of the safest places for women to walk around. There are white women running around in Buka after dark. That’s something you can’t find in Port Moresby or Lae or many parts of the world. So the report is totally biased.

DON WISEMAN: But to come back to that point about their being a significant issue with domestic violence, sexual abuse within the province, you can’t deny that.

JOHN MOMIS: I can’t deny categorically that this is so prevalent in Bougainville alone. We have as a result of the war the spill-over effects of women abused by people, teenage pregnancies and that sort of thing, but to claim that one fifth of the population commits rape is totally untrue. Because we have never heard of it, the fact that one fifth of my community is rapists.

DON WISEMAN: All right. You’ve asked the UN to do what in terms of this, to withdraw the report?

JOHN MOMIS: To withdraw the report and apologise, and we are saying if you want you could repeat the study. And I suspect it’s been promoted by a lot of the sponsors. I’ve got nothing against gender equality and doing something about gender violence, but to say that this prevalence of misuse by men in Bougainville is not true. An unacceptable level of teenage pregnancies - yes, that’s true. This is something that has been perpetrated during the crisis, but nowhere near the scale that has been said to be the case in the report.

24.09.2013

Source: Radio New Zealand International

Bougainville’s Momis calls for withdrawal of UN gender violence report

The president of Papua New Guinea’s autonomous province of Bougainville John Momis is calling on the United Nations to apologise and withdraw a survey on gender violence he says is flawed.

The UN Gender Violence Survey was released last week and included assertions that some of the highest rates of sexual violence in the Asia/Pacific region occur in the province.

It said a quarter of men who admitted rape had first committed the offence by the age of 14.

The report also said one in five men had committed rape, with researcher James Lang saying violence has become normalised.

But President Momis says the report is wrong.

“Bougainville is a small society as you know. We the leaders, being a matrilineal society, we the leaders would have found out a long. time ago if what they report is true. None of us - including myself. If it is true that one out of every five people interviewed was a rapist then you are saying that one fifth of the population is a rapist - that is totally bloody untrue.”

The president of Papua New Guinea’s autonomous province of Bougainville, President John Momis.

24.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

The Mortlock hakka

24.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BANK QUEUE

By Aloysius Laukai

Despite the developments in technology..the Que at the BSP Buka branch does not seem to change at all you have to stay more than 2 hours before you can be served.

23.09.2013

Source: The National

MP: Bougainville funds for projects, not salaries 

MINISTER for Bougainville Affairs Steven Kamma said the four MPs from Bougainville recognise Bougainville as part of an independent state of PNG.

MP for Komo-Margarima Francis Potape wanted to know why there was constant attack on the national government in parliament by the Bougainville government over a lack of funding, with reference to the Bougainville restoration agreement.

 Kamma said the reason for the criticism led by Bougainville President John Momis was due to the national government’s failure or refusal to acquit public funds.

He said the K100 million allocation to the ABG was public funds.

“I spoke to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and said not to release any funds until AGB furnishes the reports,” Kamma said.

“The funds are specifically for impact projects under the agreement and not for recurrent purposes. The funds have been used for recurrent and salaries – that is not right,” he said.

Vice-Minister for Inter-government relations Joe Sungi wanted to know how the issue could be resolved.

Kamma said the way ahead was to put the money into a trust account and address issues.

He said other options would be to involve the four MPs in the budgetary and planning of impact projects for Bougainville to achieve results.

He said so far the only impact projects in the area had been facilitated by the MPs using the district service improvement programme funds and provincial service improvement programme funds.

He said a committee should be established and the MPs included in it.

23.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Bougainvilleans attend quality training on HIV counseling

By ROMULUS MASIU

TWENTY participants graduated last week with certificates after attending 10 weeks of provider initiated counseling and testing (PICT) training.

This first-of-its-kind training was held in Arawa at the Our Lady of Mercy Centre. 

The training was to disseminate first-hand information on providing the best information to the participants who would provide the best information on counseling and testing in relation to the HIV AIDS epidemic in the region. 

The 20 participants came from all health facilities throughout Bougainville to attend the training program.

On Monday, the participants, who were all health workers, graduated with certificates in a low key ceremony. 

The training was conducted by Rosemary Ravana and co-facilitator Christine Lekara. 

The coordinator of the training was May Matanu from the Bougainville AIDS Council who traveled all the way from Buka to be with the participants during the training. 

Mrs Ravana thanked stakeholders involved in the training throuh various ways including Papua New Guinea’s National AIDS Council, International Education Agency which is doing a lot on HIV training, Bougainville Catholic Diocese AIDS and Bougainville AIDS Council.

23.09.2013 

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

DISASTER WAITING

By Aloysius Laukai

The Bougainville Disaster Coordinator, FRANKLYN LACEY said that he has received reports from South Bougainville of huge hunger in the area due to seven months of continues rains.

MR. LACEY told New Dawn FM today that they were promised TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND KINA by the National Disaster office but the funds are still to reach Buka.

He said that his office had submitted a detailed document on the situation on the ground but the response was taking too long.

MR. LACEY said that plans have been made also to distribute Rice seeds to the people who already know how to plant rice so that they harvest and help themselves.

He said that JAPANESE rice experts are already on Bougainville and can assist the farmers cultivate rice in their local communities.

The Disaster Coordinator said that if nothing is received from the Headquarters he will have to fly to Port Moresby to meet the National Disaster Officials regarding the plight of the people of South Bougainville.

23.09.2013 

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MALASANG SEEKS FORGIVENESS

By Aloysius Laukai

The chiefs and people of Malasang village yesterday asked for forgiveness from the family and relatives of the Grade Eleven student who was injured during last Sunday’s Rugby League Grand final fight.

Former Bougainville Regional member, FIDELIS SEMOSO on behalf of the four Tsitalato Warriors supporters who disturbed the Grand Final presentation said that the people of Malasang were not happy with the actions of four of their villagers but came for redemption from the family of the victim for this unfortunate incident.

He promised that this will be the first and last for the Supporters to behave in this manner that has brought bad name to the entire village.

The people of Malasang village presented a Pig and food which included ONE THOUSAND KINA that was given to the victim.

Meanwhile in accepting their cultural forgiveness presentation, the Minister for Commerce and member for Konnou constituency, WILDFRED KOMBA said that the family have accepted their goodwill gesture but a formal request for compensation would be made after youth has been reviewed by the Doctor.

MR. KOMBA said that the people of Konnou are peace loving people and will follow the legal process to pursue this case.

The Acting Assistant Police Commander, CHIEF SUPERITENDANT, PAUL KAMUAI also praised the people of Malasang for creating a conducive environment for further talks to take place between the two groups.

The Police Chief said that Police were also working on the incident however their commitment to seek forgiveness was also noted.

The ABG Minister for Community Development, MELCHIOR DARE also called on the youths to stop such actions during sports.

He said Sports is supposed to unite people and not create divisions because of fights.

The Minister said that the people must change their attitude and accept both win and Loose in a game.

23.09.2013 

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Reconcile for peace

By Aloysius Laukai

The family of the Grade 11 student from Hutjena Secondary School who was hurt during commotion after the Buka Rugby League Grand Final last Sunday and the Tsitalato Warriors Club on Buka island yesterday reconciled.

The reconciliation was held at the New Dawn Fm premises in Buka town.

Pictured is the mother and the boy shaking hands with the chiefs of Malasang village.

The ceremony was witnessed by the member for Konnou, Wilfred Komba who is the Minister for Commerce and Trade, ABG minister for Community Development, youth and Sports, Melchior Dare, ACP Bougainville Paul Kamuai, former Regional member Fidelis Semoso and Malasang and Buin chiefs.

22.09.2013

Source: PNG Attitude

Francis Ona, the visionary who brought disaster

by LEONARD FONG ROKA

PortraitIT WAS AN AGE OF SUPPRESSION, exploitation and indoctrination that led to rebellion on the Solomon island of Bougainville. It was brought about by sentiment against Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) and the Papua New Guinea government that reached a crescendo in late 1988.

There was violence to shut the Australian Panguna mine in the heart of Bougainville that was championing the exploitation of the land; there was violence to free Bougainville from the stinging political, economic and social claws of PNG and built a new nation in the heart of the Pacific.

It all unfolded in Panguna in Central Bougainville in 1988 when the late Francis Ona (pictured above) and his band of followers, known as the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), executed a sabotage campaign against BCL property and threatened its employees in order to put an end to a mine that promised so much but gave very little to Bougainvilleans.

What a great organisation for the betterment fofor the exploited people of Bougainville was the Bougainville Revolutionary Army.

Bougainvilleans like James Singko, Sam Kauona and Francis Ona created a mood to put people first in every form of development in the South Pacific. That is, the state or the investor must involve the landowner as the primary stakeholder when forging any form of development on the land.

But the question for the Bougainville leaders is this: Did they ever appreciate the scale and scope of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army? Through the eye of history, the group and its leader Francis Ona could be said to have lacked any idea of the purpose of what they created.

When studying the Bougainville Revolutionary Army from an historical angle, the element ‘Revolutionary’ is the subject matter. Did the Bougainville leaders pursue the negative or positive side of this term, revolutionary?

Revolutionary, according to Oxford Dictionary, is involving or causing dramatic change or innovation. But did the late Francis Ona and his followers have this concept in regard to their island home and people?

From the historical backdrop, it’s crystal clear that Bougainville’s leaders in the jungles around the Panguna mine in the late 1980s were running a positive revolution.

After years of struggle against the mining company, the colonial administration and the PNG government they were now fixed in a fight for positive change in Bougainville. And that change had to come in the shortest period, certainly within the lifetime of those leaders.

History will not deny that the late Francis Ona had a vision for a better Bougainville but the problem was with his leadership. He was not capable of translating that vision and energy into effective political leadership of the Bougainville that was needed in the 1990s.

There was also the trap of personal glory. In a letter dating 20 December 1989 addressed to his sister Mrs Cecilia Camel - who was to be his spokeswoman at a PNG, landowners and Bougainville meeting the following week - Ona had four demands.

The first was ‘that the National Government recognise and declare that Francis Ona is the winner over the Bougainville crisis and the National Government the loser of the crisis’. The letter was signed by a Bruno Kobala for Francis Ona.

Ona did not recognise that personal interest and the people’s interest were two conflicting issues as he sought to lead the Bougainville people to freedom.

As the supreme commander of the BRA and leader of the Bougainville people, he lacked the political power to influence and instigate unity and order across Bougainville in a period when the population was psychologically shattered by the revolution and when Bougainville was controlled by young men with guns.

So when the political chasm created by the departure of the PNG state and the dissolving of the provincial government opened wide, the late Francis Ona was lost.

He was shocked and watched as his BRA plundered Bougainville into chaos. He watched as his BRA created division with their reckless pursuit of self-interest.

Francis Ona’s leadership lost control of Bougainville as Bougainvilleans turned against each other.

And his dream of a prosperous Republic of Bougainville faded away.

And so the supreme commander began his buck-passing game that someone else was causing harm on Bougainville.

21.09.2013 

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

STATEMENT BY THE HON JOEL BANAM, MHR, MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE ABG REGARDING ACQUITTALS OF HIP FUNDS

The Hon. Joel Banam, MHR, ABG Minister for the Public Services responded, on behalf of the President, Hon. Chief John Momis, GCL, MHR, who is away from Bougainville on official duties, to the statement made in the National Parliament on Friday, 20th of September, 2013 by the Hon. Steven Piriki, MP, the Member for South Bougainville and Minister of Bougainville Affairs regarding HIPs acquittals.

The Minister full statement is below:

“The ABG is yet again forced to respond to non-factual and erroneous reports that the ABG has not acquitted the funds granted to it as a part of the K.500m Special Intervention Fund, approved at the 2011 JSB and re-affirmed at the 2012 JSB.

The ABG is concerned that a Minister of the National Government, and moreover, a Minister for Bougainville Affairs and a member for South Bougainville, would be so much in the dark that he would voice such an inaccuracy. Further, the ABG is alarmed at the assertion that because the funds have not been acquitted the ABG will not receive the further K100m agreed to be disbursed for 2013.

The ABG has made it quite clear that it is in the process of rolling out the first tranche of K.100m made available to it in late 2012. The funds are not sitting idle. There are 95 projects approved by the Bougainville Executive Council in their 2012/2013 budget appropriation. The account is gradually being drawn down as more and more of these approved projects are actually funded and the current balance is nowhere near the original K.85million which was the opening balance. Because this is an on-going process, the Bougainville Administration has not yet been able to fully acquit these expenditures because the projects for which the funds are being applied are, in many instances, still in progress.

In financial, accounting, monitoring and evaluation terms there are two forms of acquittals: (i) an expenditure report and, (ii) receipts based acquittals. Obviously, given the nature of the HIPs the form of acquittals agreed upon between both governments is an expenditure report backed up by an accounting/financial trail as to the utilisation of funds. An acquittal is not an audit report. This comes later in the process.

The ABG is more than happy to note that there has been routine, regular and full quarterlyacquittals and reporting to the national government on the projects to date. There was an acquittal report submitted at the end of the first quarter of 2013. The second quarter acquittal report was delivered to relevant national government agencies at the 2nd Quarter Budget Review held in Manus, 27th July to 9th August, 2013.

These reports were delivered to senior officials of the national departments of Treasury, Finance and Planning and Monitoring who are mandated to receive them. We are still not yet at the end of the third quarter of 2013, but this acquittal report will be delivered to the national government on time and through the regular process. The Minister of Bougainville Affairs is a part of the national government and if he requires confirmation of acquittals the opportunity to access them is readily available to him and his Department.

The ABG is aware it has to acquit these funds in terms of its financial obligations to the National Government and will do so. There is complete transparency as to the utilisation of these funds.

As a matter of public record, as of Friday, 20th September, 2013, the balance on the subsidiary Trust Account for the K.85million that was appropriated by the Bougainville House of Representatives for the 2012/2013 Budget was around K.26m. This demonstrates that the funding is being utilised according to approved budgetary criteria and being monitored by appropriate Bougainville officials.

Regarding the 2013 HIP funding of a further K.100m, the agreed projects for which these funds would be utilised was agreed by joint Resolution at the 2012 JSB. The ABG and the national government, both,are unable to lift a single finger to proceed with these projects in the absence of the funds being released.

Finally, the ABG wishes to make it clear that the decision to release or not release the funding for 2013 is entirely within the purview of the national government. The ABG is confident, however, that the national government will live up to its stated commitment made in 2011 and 2012, which was jointly agreed under the auspices of the JSB. However, if for any reason the national government is unwilling or unable to provide the agreed level of funding for 2013 then it should state this formally to the ABG and not make public statements which have no basis in facts.

The ABG and the people of Bougainville would have expected the Minister of Bougainville Affairs and his Department would be advocates for Bougainville and not detractors.

The ABG does not wish to air matters of a routine administrative nature between the national government and the ABG in the public, but it is forced to respond when inaccurate statements and assertions are made under parliamentary privileges where it has no recourse of response.”

Hon. Joel Banam, MHR

ABG MINISTER for the Public Service

21/09/2013

21.09.2013 

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

PIRIKA WANTS ABG FUNDS CONTROLLED

By Aloysius Laukai

The Minister for Bougainville Affairs and member for South Bougainville in the National Government, STEVEN PIRIKA wants the National Government to stop the release of the second batch of ONE HUNDRED MILLION KINA to the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

He made these remarks in Parliament last Friday when answering a serious of Questions from a member of Parliament concerning the release of these funds to the ABG after exchanges of comments were made in the media between the Prime Minister, PETER O’NEILL and the ABG President DR. JOHN MOMIS.

The member for South Bougainville said that no funds will be released to the ABG until and unless they acquit the first ONE HUNDRED MILLION KINA released to them last year.

MR. PIRIKA said that all funds will now be controlled directly by the four members of Parliament and not the ABG.

This however was not received well by the people of Bougainville who made several comments on social media questioning whose interest was the member representing in the Papua New Guinea Parliament.

20.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

UN RESPONSES

200913

UN Bougainville Response to the Reaction of the Joint ABG-NSO-UN Study

Let me take this opportunity to first extend our sincere regrets for recent media reporting of the joint study. We knew that together we, the UN and ABG, were mutually engaging in a very sensitive exercise that would take a time to not only address, but gain consensus on the current situation acknowledged facing women in Bougainville and on the best way forward to address it . However, there are a few issues that I would like to correct and clarify;

First the study was done after long consultation with the Government and civil societies in Bougainville. This culminated into an MOU signed between the ABG and UN for the latter to sponsor and coordinate the study. A Working Group was then established comprising all the local actors and coordinated by Community Development at Bougainville level. The study was then conducted in the field by the National Statistics Office of PNG with the technical guidance of the South African health Research Institute, Partners for Prevention(a group of UN Agencies on study of gender and Violence). The UN office in Bougainville provided the assistance on the ground for the conduct of the study. This study was very technical and complied with all international ethical standards. That said , this is a Government-driven Report with UN assistance.

The second issue is the lack of clarity over two different Reports. The Bougainville study was conducted as part of a six country study of Pacific and Asian countries (China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Indonesia). This multi-country study report was finalized earlier than the Bougainville study . The study in Bougainville was conducted in two phases; a qualitative data collection , and then the quantitative survey. The report which caught the media is the multi-country report which contains part of the Bougainville quantitative data. This report was shared locally with the administration for information purposes while we still awaited for the draft of the Bougainville report which was still being finalized by the consultants.

The issue of the multi-country report capturing the Bougainville data ahead of our consultations locally on the Bougainville specific report is being addressed and the concerns expressed by the President and other Bougainvilleans are acknowledged. The teams of researchers will be in Bougainville for a consultations with the ABG and all stakeholders on the findings, recommendations and next steps so that we can mutually take responsibility to carry the recommendations forward and contribute to a prosperous Bougainville for all, a Bougainville where all men and women live a life that is peaceful, secure and free from all forms of violence. In fact, the UN commends the ABG in having relied upon initial study findings in the drafting of its Gender Policy and the Women, Peace and Security Action Plan. The UN stands by its commitments to support interventions flowing from the implementation of this policy and the other findings.

I would like to take this opportunity again to caution not only the media but all stakeholders to exercise due diligence and responsibility in their reporting on and discussion of such issues. Bougainville is a post-conflict environment and our common efforts need to be geared to build social cohesion and confidence to address social and development issues. If we do not handle information well, we derail the enormous progress we are collaboratively making in the region.

The UN office in Buka, the Policy advisory of the ABG and the Working Group of the Study, or the NSO are all available for any further details, clarifications and suggestions.

20.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Answers sought on Kieta celebration funds 

By ROMULUS MASIU

THE people of Kieta district of Central Bougainville want to know from their district administration as to why there is no funding for the Independence celebrations and the district games in Arawa this year.

The majority of the population who are youths raised the complaint after the “silent and boring” long independence weekend passed without any activities such as the proposed Kieta district games.

The youths said it has become a norm for the Kieta district office administration after they miserably failed again this year to provide funding for the district games that would coincide with the independence celebrations. 

The district games is an annual event in the central regional sport calendar.

Central regional sports treasurer Ben Madaku said the practice has been on-going for the district with funding earmarked for the district games not put to its intended purpose. 

The Kieta district administration will have to clarify to the seven Council of Elders and their people why this has not happened, Mr Madaku said.

He said a budget was drawn up and given to the office of the Kieta district executive manageress Lucy Travertz through the district community development officer Joachim Niarama for this year’s independence celebrations through sporting activities under the banner of Kieta district games. The funding was confirmed for the staging of the district games to take place the independence long weekend, however at the last minute Mr Niarama told the district games committee that there was no funding available.

Mr Madaku said the Kieta district office should now explain to the seven Council of Elders (COEs) of the Kieta district on how funding of the independence celebrations and the Kieta district games were spent and how much they were getting from the government as their share.

An angry Mr Madaku said the district administration shouldn’t be holding onto such money for the independence celebrations and Kieta district games and should be filtered down to the events committee. 

It is understood the district of Panguna faced the same situation with no funding for independence celebrations and their district games.

“The district administration officials should become guests on such events,” Mr Madaku said.

“That is the whole reason why development in the Kieta district is stagnant because of incompetent officers who don’t have incentives and initiatives to move the district forward.”

A five year plan for sports has been drawn up for the district along with its budget, but nothing has been done.

Other districts in North and South Bougainville have participated in sporting activities since the independence weekend.

20.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Momis slams UN rape report

PRESIDENT of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Mr John Momis, made the following statement on the findings UN Gender Violence Survey published in various sections of the media last week:

“The UN Report on Gender Violence has not yet been formally presented to the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG). However, if what has been published in the media is any indication of what is contained in the final report, then, as President of the ABG, I am forced to condemn the report as being a piece of flawed and imperfect research without basis or foundation. The report cannot in any way be an accurate empirical study of certain social conditions in Bougainville and has served to engender stereotypical reporting that does not enhance the social indices of Bougainville. 

I am not prepared to go into a point by point rebuttal of the findings which has not yet been formally released to the government, but on the basis of what has surfaced, The UN sponsored body should immediately withdraw the report and apologise to the people of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea as a whole.

When the provisional ABG Research Ethics Committee met last year with the representatives of the National Statistical Office (NSO) and the UN, it expressed its concern about the methodology and the protocol that was to be used in the study. It also expressly made as one of the conditions of the survey that the study should firstbe presented to the ABG and the National Statistical Office before it was published.

It is a serious disappointment that the report has been given to the media before any of these protocols were observed. The premature release of the report has done irreparable harm to communities across Bougainville. Again, without getting into specifics, none of the findings represent conditions on the ground in Bougainville, a largely matrilineal society, where women are respected, free to walk and live their normal lives unmolested, as purported in the study. The findings, therefore, are not that of the natural disposition of the people of Bougainville and are out of character.

Admittedly, because of the fallout from the crisis, some forms of deviancy such as alcoholism, drug use, and an unacceptable level of teenage pregnancies has exhibited itself into parts of the society. We are addressing these issues, through various ABG policies and programmes, donor funding to NGOs and churches and ironically, through the proposed UN Peace Building Fund (PBF). 

As President, I am concerned about the activities of certain groups which I would term “stretcher bearers”, who are pushing an agenda on this most sensitive issue of gender violence that is self-serving. As a government, we are not just dealing with the victims, but we are addressing the root causes through public policy. We recognise that there is a sense of alienation among a segment of our population which will have to be addressed.

Our major towns and population centres- Buka, Arawa, Siwai and Buin and the villages across Bougainville are strangers to the type of findings in the survey. The report presents a tale of two cities: one conceived in the minds of the researchers and the other being actual conditions on the ground. Bougainville is a small community and if the situation described in the report is anyway true, then the question must be asked: why is it that these conditions did not come to the attention of our leaders? As one such leader, I can assert that there is strong public opinion against the findings. Any rational observer would readily agree that the findings in the UN study are nowhere approaching the levels purported in the report.

I have discussed this matter with the UN representative in Buka and he has made representation to the UN country representative in Port Moresby. I have received a response from the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP representative to which I shall be replying officially. We do not want such a report to be in circulation that might provide the basis for other researchers to use this type of misinformation as the basis for future work on Bougainville, flawed as it is. I will respond further as warranted.”

20.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Nisira appeals for calm

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

THE Autonomous Bougainville Government vice president Patrick Nisira is appealing to Bougainvilleans to refrain from taking illegal action against any Asian, especially Chinese businessmen and woman operating in Bougainville.

He said the people should let the ABG deal with the issue instead of taking the law into their own hands.

Mr Nisira made this appeal after receiving information that some Bougainvilleans were planning of attacking these Chinese business operators to show their frustrations over the ABG’s decision to withdraw the Inward Foreign Investment Bill during the parliamentary sitting last week.

This bill, which was to be tabled and debated on the floor of parliament, would have determined the types of businesses that should be reserved for the locals and the types of investments foreigners could participate in. 

Mr Nisira, who is also the Minister for Police, was not present when this bill was withdrawn due to illness. However, he believes that this decision was made in the best interest of all Bougainvilleans. 

“The ABG does not want to rush the enactment of any bills because once you pass a bill, it becomes a law. 

“I believe that the parliament through its wisdom decided to withdraw the bill after seeing that some things were not right. 

“That is why this bill was withdrawn - for the good of all Bougainvilleans who will and can be affected through the passage of this law. I am appealing strongly to Bougainvilleans, especially business houses, not to interpret the non-passage of this bill as the ABG not caring. The ABG cares and wants to pass a good law. The people must allow the government to tidy up this law so that it will serve its purpose. Bougainvilleans must also refrain from attacking Chinese stores or attacking Asian stores because this is not good for our people. 

“Let me assure the people of Bougainville…we will correct whatever things people are rightfully unhappy about. But they must not take the law into their hands, but let the ABG deal with this legislative process.” 

Mr Nisira added that once this investment bill becomes law, then the ABG will give a compliance period to these Asians to comply with the law. 

20.09.2013

Source: The National

Islanders relocation in smooth roll-out 

By FIDELIS SUKINA

RELOCATION and rehabilitation of islanders from Carterets, Bougainville, affected by climate change is slowly progressing, according to a non-government organisation executive.

Ursula Rakova from the Tulele Peisa Inc is at the forefront of the relocation efforts and says there are already seven families on Tinputz where the relocation is happening.

She said this yesterday during a PNG Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience Workshop in Port Moresby.

She said there were four locations for resettlement of the Carterets islanders – Tinputz, Tearuki, Mabiri and Tsimba.

“We are expecting three more families at Tinputz to raise the number of Carterets islanders to 100,” she said.

“We are slowly bringing in families to the mainland. We expect 200 more people to arrive to Tearuki soon. We expect 20 more families in Mabiri and 30 in Tsimba.”

She added that the relocated islanders had settled in well and had time to make gardens and send some food back to their island.

“The Carterets islanders on Tinputz have been making gardens and selling their surplus. Just a few weeks ago they sent back a boat load of food to their families in Carterets,” Rakova said

She said the government under Sir Michael Somare promised K2 million in September 2007 but never delivered.

“The PNG government has not delivered their promise and we are relying on donations by German Church groups like Misereor and Bread for the World,” Rakova said

19.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BANAM DEFENDS MOMIS/NISIRA GOVERNMENT

By Alex Munme

The Minister for Public Service in the Autonomous Bougainville Government , Joel Banam in a press conference yesterday defended the Momis/Nisira Government.

He said the people should not condemn the government for not implementing policies through projects approved for implementation throughout the region.

He said members and Ministers of parliament make policies which the Public Service must implement which was not happening in the region.

He said directives have been given to the Public Service to implement decisions made by the ABG since 2010 but this was not happening.

Mr. Banam said the current Public Service is being guided by the Nation Governments Public Service Act and he was working to change these acts to suit the Bougainville situation.

He said the new act once approved will see the Ministers as Political heads while the Chief Administrator is next down the structure to implement policies.

Mr. Banam said Chief Executive Officers or CEOs come next and should consult various Minister on all administrative matters and copy to the Chief Administrator before every Parliament sitting is convened.

Mr. Banam has started working on establishing a Bougainville Public Service since taking office.

19.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG PUBLIC SERVICE MINISTER EXPLAINS POLICIES ACT

By Alex Munme

The ABG Public Service Minister, Joe Banam held a press conference with the media at the Bougainville Administration block yesterday in Buka.

The meeting was held to explain and clarify the rumors that the break and entry and stealing from the Asian shop in Buka was because the people were angry after the Inward Investment Policy was not addressed by the last ABG Session.

Mr. Banam said the act was not abolished but deferred to allow ABG to make changes as it was not ready to be passed in the last Parliament sitting.

The Legislative arm of the ABG is currently working on this Policy plus the other four including the Public Service Management Act, Education Act, Mining Act and the Public Finance Management Act.

He said that after the December sitting and by January next year they will start applying these acts.

19.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG BY-ELECTION SCHEDULE

By Alex Munme

THE ABG By-Elections for the five Constituencies in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville is now set.

These constituencies are; Peit, Hagogohe, Rau, Kongara and Lule.

• According to Acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, George Manu, Issue of Writs or Nominations open on Wednesday 30th October, 2013.
• Close of Nomination on Thursday 7th November, 2013.
• Polling starts on Wednesday 04th December, 2013.
• Close of Polling on Thursday 12th December, 2013.
• Return of Writs on Thursday 19th December, 2013.

Meanwhile, five Assistant Returning Officers and one Regional Returning Officer have been appointed to take charge of the By-Elections.

19.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG BY ELECTIONS WILL PROCEED DESPITE SETBACKS

By Alex Munme

The Acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, George Manu is adamant the ABG By-Elections will go ahead despite the organization being blacklisted for outstanding payments by business houses.

Mr. Manu made the comment at a short press conference with the media today in Buka.

He said the K2Million outstanding incurred during the 2012 National General Elections is not the ABGs problem however he is working closely with his counterpart the National Electoral Commission in addressing the outstanding payments. He said Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission also owes one land lord K160, 000 which they are also addressing.

Mr. Manu said he won’t be distracted by these setbacks and is focused on the five By-Elections in the Region. He added that K1million has been budgeted to run the By-Elections in the Region.

19.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SCHOOLS ENDS

BY Aloysius Laukai

Two schools in Selau, Hantoa and Tongono Primary School today ended the close of term by having a one day cultural Day at Tongono opposite the Tarlena Secondary School.

They started by marching to the venue of activity..they sang the PNG and Bougainville anthems

Before staring the program.

19.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MoU TO FUND CT SCANNER FOR BUKA HOSPITAL

By Aloysius Laukai

The Buka General Hospital which currently the referral Hospital for Bougainville will for the first time have a CT Scan Machine thanks to the Regional member JOE LERA who made this possible by making available ONE POINT FOUR MILLION KINA from his PSIP funds.

And a MOU was signed this morning between the Equipment Supplier PREMIER MEDICAL and the Regional member at the Buka General Office conference room this morning.

The special meeting between the Regional member, the Equipment Supplier and the Doctors and Nurses from the Buka General Hospital was also witnessed by the Bougainville media.

In his appreciation remarks, the Acting CEO for the Buka General Hospital MATHEW MONEI said that this would be a dream come true for the Buka General Hospital which under the normal Hospital set up could not have such equipment.

He said that the Buka Hospital was a level 5 Hospital and was not the level to have such an expensive equipment.

The Regional member JOE LERA in his response said that if this is what the people of Bougainville need to improve the capacity of Health Service for the Buka General Hospital and to help save lives, he was happy to support it.

He also said that this equipment was approved at the Regional Forum for North Bougainville after a Doctor from the Buka General Hospital made a plea for Budget support from the Regional member’s funds.

19.09.2013

Source: PNGexposed Blog

Mysterious Hong Kong Consortium appointed Economic and Development Advisor to Bougainville President

Over the past year a range of foreign operators have been courted by leaders on Bougainville, to the anger of everyday people sick of outside exploitation. Now it’s the turn (again) of Bougainville President, John Momis, who has contracted a little known Hong Kong company to advise his government on economic and development issues.

The Seagate controversy erupted with the following post on the popular Facebook ‘Bougainville Forum’:

‘Friends, a story was posted here on the Hong Kong company, Seagate Global, who is evidently planning to build a number of bridges on Bougainville. The odd thing is, I checked out their website and the following claim appears:

“Seagate Global is the economic and Development Advisor to the President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, the location of the Panguna mine, one of the largest copper and gold mines in the world, and a country rich in numerous resources”.

They also claim:

“Seagate Global entered the mining business as one of the best ways to help people. Seagate Global has access to capital and markets for mineral output. Many communities have resources, but no capital or expertise to develop them. Seagate Global acts as the bridge between the two”.

“Seagate controls over 10,000 acres of mineral-rich mines, including large deposits of: Gold, Copper, Iron ore, Chromite, Manganese”.

The company also boasts that is has close connections with the People’s Bank of China, and the China Development Bank.

The company’s Chairman use to run a US Hedge Fund.

I am not suggesting there is anything untoward here, but its the first time I have heard about Seagate playing a key role in the ABG. Seagate has very little online footprint, given it boasts to being an innovative community centred company that places a premium on environmental protection. Also despite claiming to be a large conglomerate its company officials have gmail addresses. Odd.”

John Momis meets with his Economic and Development Advisers at Seagate Global.

This posting sparked a long list of outraged comments from concerned Bougainvilleans who have had enough of these backroom deals with foreigners.

One forum member commented:

‘I just went onto the comprehensive company databases at Hoovers and Bloombergs, to check on Seagate Global’s annual financial reports. Surprisingly there is none. How is that for a company that is dressing itself as a global entity?’.

Another noted:

‘I did a Nexis news searches on Seagate Global; it produced almost nothing. I then searched Seagate’s senior corporate officialdom, once again few returns. The only name that obtains any serious traction is the head of their Malaysian operations, Haider Isnaji. Someone by the same name was done for kidnapping and money laundering … we should put this Seagate episode in context; how many times over the past couple of years have we come across stories of questionable international companies, be it Invincible Resources, Beijing Aerospace Great Wall Mineral Investment or Rio Tinto, entering into agreement with leaders in Bougainville, the contents of which are never made public. ‘.

Lawrence Daveona, Michael Pariu and other Panguna Mine Affected Landowners Association leaders hug officials from Beijing Aerospace Great Wall Mineral Investment Ltd after an alcohol fuelled MOU signing.

The general tenor of the 40+ comments were captured by one contributor:

‘I think Mr Momis is encouraging activity with his Chinese contacts for his own gains. Im sorry – But Its Time to Go Mr Momis – There seems to be a lot of questionable activity surrounding his name and movements. Its Time to Take Bougainville Back People! and Return a 100% Bougainvillean Person to Lead Bougainville – with a vision to restore Bougainville to a productive place for Bougainvillean Peoples Interests- not for Foreigners casting shady business deals, underhand tactics, to get a piece of the action ( white elephant), by undermining the people through lack of transparency’

People are fed up with secret business deals. Its time the ABG and landowner leaders look not to foreigners, but their own people; that is where the island’s future lies.

18.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

LERA SUPPORTS CULTURAL SHOWS

By Aloysius Laukai

The Regional Member for Bougainville, JOE LERA yesterday praised organizers of the Siwai Schools Cultural Show for breaking new grounds in the restoration of cultural activities in Schools with the staging of the 2013 SIWAI SCHOOLS CULTURAL SHOW.

MR. LERA made these remarks at the opening of the Cultural Show at the MONOITU PRIMARY SCHOOL in the Siwai district yesterday.

He said that he believes that staging such shows will unite the people of Bougainville and especially those in schools who the future leaders of Bougainville.

MR. LERA said that Siwai people are good in starting new ideas that others follow and the staging of this show was one of them.

The Regional member said that he strongly supports such activities and will continue to support them in future.

The Regional member also announced that from his 2013 PNG Celebrations allocation from the National government, he allocated FIVE THOUSAND KINA each to celebrations in North Bougainville, Central and South Bougainville whilst TWO THOUSAND KINA went to TOROKINA Celebrations, TWO THOUSAND KINA to the Siwai Schools Cultural Show and ONE THOUSAND KINA went to IELELINA celebrations.

The member for South Bougainville announced TEN THOUSAND KINA towards the Siwai Schools Cultural Show.

This show will become an annual show.

18.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SIWAI SCHOOLS CULTURAL SHOW OPENED

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG Minister for Culture and Tourism, MRS. ROSE PIHEI yesterday said that Tourism can be the biggest revenue earner if promoted properly on Bougainville.

She made these comments at the official opening of the Three days Siwai District Schools cultural show at the Monoitu Primary School yesterday.

MRS. PIHEI said that since here division was established about a year ago she has been busy trying to see the resurrection of cultural activities that can be marketed to visitors of Bougainville.

She said that she was happy to see the Siwai schools initiating the culture that is first for schools on Bougainville to have organized such a colourful event.

Thirteen Primary and Elementary Schools are participating in the Siwai School’s Cultural show which officially ends this Thursday afternoon.

The show was sponsored by Local Businessmen, Local ABG members the member for South Bougainville, STEVEN PIRIKA and the Regional member for Bougainville, JOE LERA.

The three days show was officially opened by the ABG Minister for Culture and Tourism, ROSE PIHEI.

17.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

ABG withdraws invesment Bill

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

BOUGAINVILLEANS will have to wait a couple more months before they can have a policy that guides the type of businesses reserved for them.

This follows the last minute decision by members of the Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) to withdraw the Inward Foreign Investment Bill during the Bougainville House of Representatives sitting last Thursday, citing non implementation of important changes approved by BEC. 

Many Bougainvilleans have been looking forward to the passing of this important Bill as they were not happy with the Chinese businessmen and women operating retail businesses in Bougainville, especially Buka town. 

Numerous calls have been made for the ABG to pass this law to protect the interest of local businesses who are now feeling the pinch of not making profits since the establishment of Asian owned stores in town.

Threats were also issued weeks before the recent parliament sitting that these Asians operating in Bougainville will be forcefully removed from the region if the government fails to pass this policy. Both the Education and Inward Foreign Investment Bills were tabled in the House last Wednesday.

17.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Personal milestone for crisis survivor

By ROMULUS MASIU

WHILE PNG celebrated its 38th independence anniversary yesterday, Ezekiel Hining from Hanong village in the Rataiku area of Ramu Constituency in the Siwai district of South Bougainville also celebrated his 50th birthday anniversary on Saturday.

The occasion took place at the Arawa Assembly of God Church with relatives, friends and the congregation joining Mr Hining in prayer and celebration.

Mr Hining gave a summary of his life describing his 50th birthday as a great accomplishment.

Mr Hining told those gathered that the purpose for hosting the celebration was that it was a point in his life where he could evaluate what he has experienced both physically and spiritually.

“I have experienced the protection of our heavenly Father. He protected me during the height of the Bougainville crisis,” Mr Hining said, before elaborating on his experiences during the decade-long civil war.

“I say this because at the start of the crisis I became one of its first victims when PNGDF soldiers raided my village in Siwai and arrested me as an alleged BRA fighter.

“They took me to Panguna’s Camp 10 for further interrogation, beat me and locked me up there for 21 days. They fed me with overdue cooked foods. I thought I would be killed. Somehow the PNGDF personnel argued among themselves regarding my innocence and they eventually released me.

“That is how I saw the hand of God in those days. It was trying times as the prime minister at the time had declared a state of emergency and issued a shoot-to-kill order.

Mr Hining is confident and optimistic that only the guidance and protection of God will allow him to celebrate his 75th birthday come year 2038.

Mr Hining is a proud College of Distance Education (CODE) graduate after dropping out of grade six in 1977 at Konga Primary School. He attained his Grade 10 certificate through CODE studies.

In 1997, Mr Hining graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies from the Victory Bible School of Ministry in New Mexico, USA.

17.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Concert raises funds for meet

By ROMULUS MASIU

MORE than K13,000 has been raised from a gospel concert in Arawa for the Bougainville Adventists Students Association (BASA) at the weekend.

The money raised will be used to cater for the BASA annual convention meeting to be held in Buin later this year.

The highlight of the concert was Tavatava Church Youth who performed many of their lovely songs.

Another sensational performance was made by Simple Light Singers led by the region’s famous gospel voices in the likes of Graham Rawaku and Sam Russell.

The Kabaku Group also sang their hearts out with their hit renditions. 

A trio calling themselves Kimalich made the concert interesting with their vocal dexterity.

The Victors Praise group also made an outstanding performance. The group was featured in a CHM-produced video clip two years ago.

An emerging group of teenagers called Junior Proclaimers surprised the crowd with their emotionally-charged performance. 

The whole concert was a success. The BASA — akin to Heritage and Sapphire Singers — performed beyond expectations with the female lead singer Marceline Bireo demonstrating her vocal prowess.

It was a great weekend out for families as they socialised and joined in singing praise and worship without religious hinderances.

The program began with a one minute silence being observed to remember loved ones — especially BASA members who lost their lives in the MV Rabaul Queen tragedy. 

It was a touching moment for many as it was the first time for such a gathering to be held since the incident.

Team leader Boney Jory in his opening remarks affirmed the association’s aspirations for the fundraising drive.

Pastor Rex Memora called on the BASA members who were trainee teachers to be an example to their students and community by promoting good behavior.

Youth councillor Augustine Barkson was pleased with the staging of the concert.

“It is a good change to our every day routines. By showing our suppport we are helping our trainee teachers who will one day return and help our community,” he said.

Organising committee chairman Dickson Siparu acknowledged the local business community, families as well as the general public for their attendance and support for this worthwhile initiative. 

17.09.2013

Source: PNG Attitude

Bougainville Manifesto 7 - Sources of conflict

by LEONARD FONG ROKA

IN TERMS OF STRATEGIC POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, the late Francis Ona should be considered as lacking both vision and planning capacity. For him, shutting the Panguna mine was the determining factor of his status and power over Bougainville; he saw himself as the liberator and thus the ruler of Bougainville.

In 1990, all the praise he received from Bougainville when Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) and the Papua New Guinea government left the island blinded his conscience. He, with his power, isolated himself from the public and tried to play the role of a supreme being ruling Bougainville through orders from his Guava village.

As Ona hid himself, the late Joseph Kabui struggled to play the leadership role leading the politically scattered Bougainvilleans under an abusive and disorderly Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) that was now preying on the very people it claimed to defend against external exploitation and indoctrination. 

Francis Ona was lost in the tangle of politics he had created. Taking off to shut the Panguna mine on the rung of family feud, he was now trying to stand on the independence rung. Also standing on it were the BRA sparked chaos of civil war and re-infiltration by the PNG army. He did not strategize his war based on historical fact and experience.

He got well off-track from the Bougainville problem that began with the arrival of colonialism in the Solomons. The question: “What is wrong with Bougainville?” was not answered by Francis Ona when he decided to wage war against PNG and BCL.

The Bougainville problem was not a 1988 issue as many blindly promote.

Bougainville Manifesto 1 informed us: “Our island’s world was made up three parts that are the flesh that is me the human being; the nature that surrounds me, such as the trees, caves and so on and the marriage between the flesh and the nature; this is the spiritual world that governed and is governing my people since time immemorial.

“The human being depended on the nature and the nature depended on the spiritual world that united the man and the nature. The bond between the three was respect and respect! The upset of one is the disadvantage of the world.”

Broadly speaking, the Bougainville crisis began with the dawn of colonialism. Bougainvilleans were subjected to exploitation, indoctrination and genocide by firstly, the colonial powers, and later with much more intensity by the PNG government and people.

Under the stinging colonial administration of British, Germans, Australians and Japanese, Bougainville faced ruthless exploitation. Oral history and written records highlights a wide range of subjection. Bougainvilleans were cheap labourers, sexual subjects, human commodities and isolated bystanders of their wealth.

They stood by as their plantations were servicing colonial masters and PNG labourers shipped in boatloads. They were forced to despise their traditions and swallow western religions and other secular ideologies without a chance to voice their epistemological views about their land. Bougainvilleans were used to destroy their own land and life.

The worst case was the Australian and PNG exploitation of Bougainville minerals in Panguna to fund the development of PNG and not Bougainville.

Parallel to exploitation, indoctrination is denying Bougainvilleans their right to progress for the better. In my PNG Attitude article, A mission to articulate what makes us Bougainvillean, I outlined my islanders’ fate as: “PNG’s seven million people do not acknowledge the distinctive qualities of Bougainville’s 200,000 people but rather indoctrinates them to pave the way for exploitation and eventual genocide.

http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2013/09/a-mission-to-articulate-what-makes-us-bougainvillean.html

“The fate for Bougainvilleans starts from the PNG Constitution. The very first line in the Preamble, “We, the People of Papua New Guinea— united in one nation…” is the foundation of indoctrination of Bougainville people.

“Under the real definition of the term ‘nation’ PNG is not a nation but a country of 800-plus nations. Building a country on lies brings disaster and PNG experiences that in the form of corruption, crime and so on.

“PNG further enforces this lies on Bougainvilleans through the education system. PNG has an education system that does not respect Bougainvilleans but rather, it is a curriculum that turns Bougainvilleans away from their origins or roots.”

This erupted with the colonial administration and has grown worse since 1975 when Bougainvilleans were swimming in tears and still, in post conflict Bougainville, we are submerged in it.

The killing of Bougainville began with exploitation and indoctrination took over with the dying years of colonial rule. Thus, today, indoctrination is backing exploitation and, side by side, the pair will lead to eventual genocide in Bougainville.

Genocide was and is protected by religion-backed humanistic thinking. Yet, history knows that Christianity-centred legal norms were the ones justifying the European to call the indigenous peoples of the colonised world savages and kill them to take over their land to finance the industrial revolution in Europe.

Humanistic thinking, example human rights, is the Third World’s guillotine if one is not allowed to interpret it from our own realistic perspective that would be for the betterment rather than disaster of one’s own people and land.

For Bougainville, the mighty PNG was and is gobbling its race, culture, values, dignity and so on and, in the near future, Bougainville will be no-more than a mere historical agenda. This is purposefully done under the blessings from the norms of human rights and the PNG constitution.

Since the dawn of colonialism the world forgot that Bougainville and its people were human beings; they were human beings with senses that generated changes within their psyche. They felt pain and joy; they saw disaster and success on their land.

Thus all these brought about good and bad development or change to the individual Bougainvillean and his world. As human beings Bougainvilleans had to maintain the status quo to perish or instigate change to survive the carnage on their land and life.

To all that, the colonial administration, and later PNG, just laughed in ignorance and arrogance till hell opened wide in late 1988 for the world to see that somewhere in the heart of the Pacific a people were being denied their rights for survival.

16.09.2013

Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat    

ABG President says Bougainville ready for elections and referendum

Bougainville is gearing up for a referendum on independence some time between 2015 and 2020.

President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, John Momis, says the failure of the PNG National Government to come through with promised funding is hampering their progress.

There are still issues like weapon disposal and good governance that need to be resolved to ensure the referendum has a desirable outcome.

When the referendum is eventually held, Mr Momis says there must be two clear options - full autonomy or independence.

The right to the referendum was agreed to in the Bougainville Peace Agreement and then written into Papua New Guinea's Constitution. It must be held no earlier than 2015.

President Momis says despite the problems they still face he is confident Bougainville will be ready for both the ABG elections and the referendum.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts

Speaker: President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, John Momis

 LISTEN HERE ! 

16.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

HAPPY 38th BIRTHDAY

By Aloysius Laukai in Buin

The people of Bougainville will celebrate the 38 th Independence anniversary in the Districts.

For the Buka district celebrations will be held at Lemanmanu in the Haku Constituency.

Central Bougainville will celebrate in Arawa whilst the people of South Bougainville will celebrate in Buin.

The Regional member Joe Lera will be in Buin today and also join the Siwai School celebrations.

New Dawn FM will carry the celebrations live from Buin to its listeners in Buka.

13.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Sisito continues attack on ABG

By ROMULUS MASIU

ABG Minister for Veteran Affairs David Sisito has labeled the Second House of Representative, which he is a Member of, as “a government with no projects”. 

“We have one more year to go, and there’s nothing to show. There’s no project by the government to provide employment for the youths dropping out of the education system,” he said.

“We get large amounts of money from donors and the national government, but what have we done?”

He said if the government is not doing anything, people would be asking questions. They would question what their government has been doing with all the money it has been getting, Mr Sisito said.

 He said the government must answer to the people.

“I am challenging the government because people are questioning what the government is doing. “That is why I am going out to the media.” 

Mr Sisito’s comments follow a “war of words” between himself, ABG Finance Minister Albert Punghau, and ABG President John Momis.

Mr Sisito maintained his stand that it was only right that he went to the media so the people would know and be clear on how the government is spending their money. 

He said the Government must come out clear and explain all its expenditure to date so the people would know how money was spent.

13.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

20 off to get training

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

TWENTY selected South Bougainvilleans yesterday flew out of the region for the Philippines to undergo six weeks of training in various fields aimed at developing rural areas.

The trip was made possible by a Philippines-based conglomerate, Global Seagate.

The company agreed to sponsor trips by Bougainvilleans to the Philippines to study how the rural people there had developed their areas.

The idea behind this is for the participants to return and do the same in developing their areas using what they learn in the Philipines.

This arrangement was made possible following a meeting between the company and Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis.

Speaking during a farewell ceremony on Tuesday night, Mr Momis said he was happy to celebrate the mission by this group because upon returning they will be utilising the knowledge and skills gained in developing their region.

Dr Momis challenged the South Bougainvilleans to become agents of change by returning and imparting what they have learnt to the other people in their region.

He said rural people should be trained to develop their areas instead of migrating to the developed areas and becoming victims of urbanisation. 

He said the ABG’s plan is to develop the rural areas, not just centering on places like Buka and Arawa. 

“We are not only interested in reconstruction. We are interested in innovation and transformation. Bougainville must be different,” he said. 

13.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SOHANO RESIDENTS WANT MOBILE TOWER MOVED

By Aloysius Laukai

The residents of the famous colonial administration island, SOHANO on Buka island last night called on the Mobile giant DIGICEL to switch off the newly built Mobile Phone tower on the island and relocate it to another place.

The meeting attended by the islanders made a resolution that by tomorrow DIGICEL, should switch off the Tower whilst talk on the future of the tower is discussed between relevant authorities on Bougainville.

They said SOHANO had good mobile phone coverage from other locations and do not see why a Tower was to be located on this island.

The islanders were concerned at the radiation risk this high powered tower poses on the people living on the island.

Many speakers at last night's meeting said that a proper and legal process was not followed when approval was made to secure the location from the Buka Town Authority, the Building and Physical Planning Board which should recommend to the Board for approval of the land.

They said they were not against the service being provided by Digicel but the risk this tower poses to the citizens of SOHANO island.

The meeting resolved that the Manageress of the Buka Urban Council, Brenda Tohiana immediately write to Digicel PNG LTD to switch off the power to the Tower as off tomorrow.

The youths were told by the island leaders not to take the law into their own hands but allow the island leaders to sort this thing according to law.

The meeting had representatives from the island leaders, businessmen,youth and women ,the Buka urban Council, PNG Power and the general public.

We were unable to talk to a Digicel PNG representative and a Lands department official concerning this matter.

12.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Philippines firm to build bridges

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

A PHILIPPINES-based conglo­merate, Global Seagate, has shown interest in building three bridges in the Kunua District of North Bougainville.

The interest comes after Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis’ recent trip to South Korea and other parts of Asia.

Mr Momis said the bridges would be unlike the recent Japanese-designed and constructed bridges along the 

mainland Bougainville Highway covering north and central Bougainville.

He said the proposed project will see bailey bridges, a type of portable, pre-fabricated bridge used extensively in Bougainville, to be built on the highway.

Though the Japanese Government has committed to building more bridges on Bougainville, Mr Momis said Bougainville cannot wait for them and will keep the ball rolling with its development programs.

Much of south, central and west coast of mainland Bougainville have had their bridges either washed away or are in disrepair and this project initiated by Mr Momis would result in a substantial amount of service delivery reaching the people at a more effective rate.

The bailey bridges were designed during the Second World War by the British armed forces as an easy to assemble yet strong bridge to accommodate the movement of its troops as and its armoured units during the war.

The bailey bridge as a tool of peace provides a pathway across ravines and rivers.

A team of engineers from Global Seagate arrived in Bougainville last week to carry out feasibility studies and geographical surveys of the river systems in the west coast before the commencement of the project.

Global Seagate has also made a commitment to support Bougainville’s capacity building effort through its grassroots training program in Philippines.

This project has seen the first batch of workers from South Bougainville leaving for the Philippines yesterday for a six weeks training program.

They will be followed by the 

next batch from central and north Bougainville upon their return. 

12.09.2013

Source: Radio New Zealand International

UN study urges more work with boys to combat rape in Bougainville

A United Nations study has recommended more work with young men and boys to address high rates of rape in Bougainville in Papua New Guinea.

The study by the Partners for Prevention programme found a quarter of Bougainvillean men who have admitted to rape were fourteen years or younger when they first committed the crime.

Ten thousand men were interviewed in nine locations in Asia and the Pacific, and Bougainville was found to have some of the highest rates of physical and sexual violence.

James Lang says the study shows violence against women is preventable and more work needs to be done to deal with trauma and change attitudes.

“The low age of rape perpetration has led us to believe that we need more interventions that help build healthy visions of manhood for young men, help young men understand healthy relationships and consent particularly.”

The Director of the Partners for Prevention Programme, James Lang.

12.09.2013

Source: The National

Bougainville risky for women 

BOUGAINVILLE Island in Papua New Guinea emerged as possibly the world’s most dangerous place for women with nearly 27% of men quizzed there admitting they had raped a woman other than their partners, a new United Nations-backed survey shows. 

Following last week’s high-profile conviction of four men in Delhi, India, for the rape of a student on a bus, the study by Partners for Prevention revealed how widespread sexual violence is in some parts of Asia.

A tenth of 10,000 Asian men questioned admitted to raping a woman other than a partner. 

At 3%, Bangladesh had the lowest incidence of rape of the six countries studied, which also included China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Cambodia.

The overall figure for those countries rose to a quarter when rape of a partner was included.

The results, out this week, were an invaluable guide to factors motivating rape, study author Emma Fulu, of Partners for Prevention, a UN programme to tackle gender-based violence, said.

“It’s the first time we’ve spoken to men themselves, and it enables us to get at the underlying causes of violence, and how we can prevent it in the future,” she said.

Of those who had raped, 58% first did so in their teens, suggesting that interventions during adolescence could be most valuable for prevention. 

Many had witnessed or experienced abuse in childhood, been raped themselves or had a history of abusing their partners.

Alcohol was a factor in 27% of rapes and many of those who had raped also said they had paid for sex or were promiscuous.

“It really highlights the need to work with younger boys in adolescence to change their attitudes to consent and healthy relationships, and these other underlying factors that contribute to sexual violence,” said Fulu, who also co-authored a summary of the findings launched this week.

The research also revealed the influence of cultural norms legitimising violence within marriage and gender inequality more generally. 

Three-quarters of those who had raped said they felt sex was their “entitlement”, for example. 

“They felt they had the right to have sex with women regardless of their consent,” Fulu said. 

Nearly 60% said they did it for “entertainment” and a third to punish their partners.

Partners for Prevention is a UN Development Programme, UN Population Fund, UN Women and UN Volunteers regional joint programme for gender-based violence prevention in Asia and the Pacific. 

12.09.2013

Source: Papua New Guinea Mine Watch

Jubilee Australia: Tell Rio Tinto you are watching

by ramunickel 

“It is important to understand the significance of holding Rio Tinto responsible for its actions and the actions of the PNG Government. At all times, Rio Tinto, through BCL, controlled the government’s actions on Bougainville." (Signed Declaration, 2001).

These are not the words of an outsider but of Bougainville’s current President John Momis, speaking of enormous mining conglomerate Rio Tinto’s role in the brutal military attacks against innocent villagers in and around its controversial Panguna mine, from 1989 onwards. He went on to swear in the same signed statement, submitted to US Court proceedings against Rio Tinto in 2001:

“BCL requested that PNG reopen the mine by whatever means necessary, and later assisted in planning and the imposition of the blockage. I was aware of one meeting where BCL management instructed PNG to “starve the bastards out.” The military actions and the blockage were undertaken for the purpose of reopening the mine so that BCL and PNG could continue to benefit from their commercial enterprise.”

Since 1972 the island of Bougainville, located 500km off the PNG mainland, had played host to the Panguna copper and gold mine - a lucrative operation for Rio Tinto and the PNG state.

Being a large, open-cut mine, surrounding villages suffered from land appropriation, poisoned rivers, village relocation and social disruption, while receiving little over 1% of the earnings.

When negotiations with the company failed and some locals revolted in early 1989, the PNG government staged a military-led counterinsurgency which evidence suggests was funded, facilitated and encouraged by both Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), a local subsidiary of Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, and the Australian government.

Civilians faced the most brutal campaign of state violence witnessed in the region since the Second World War - including internment camps, the mortaring of children, aerial bombardments, assassinations, rape, and the denial of medicine and humanitarian assistance.

When the war finally ceased in 1998, between 10,000 - 20,000 people had died, some 10% of the island’s population, the majority of deaths being civilians.

Unlike neighbouring East Timor and the Solomon Islands, no truth commission has been held for this war, nor has there been an independent investigation into the systematic violations against the people of Bougainville, reparations for the injuries suffered, or necessary steps taken to prevent a recurrence.

Attempts by victims to obtain justice through PNG’s national court system have been blocked. Citizens of Bougainville filed a landmark class action lawsuit in the US against Rio Tinto in 2001, for environmental damage and war crimes during the civil war. Soon after, evidence was released showing the lengths to which Papua New Guinea was going, with the support of the Australian government, to pressure the US to stop the case. Rio Tinto successfully argued the case should be dismissed on the grounds the claims were not resolvable in a US court. In June this year, after more than a decade, the appeals court finally upheld the dismissal.

The Company is now negotiating to restart the highly controversial mine it was forced to abandon in 1989, wanting to take advantage of skyrocketing copper and gold prices; the Chairman has told media he believes only a minority of Bougainvilleans oppose the mine's reopening.

The Company has yet to explain how it will remove the huge amount of toxic waste still polluting much of the site. Worse still, communities on Bougainville have yet to be fully briefed on Rio Tinto’s role in defence force operations during the bloody years of 1988-1990.

Until Rio Tinto commits to full disclosure, any attempt to reopen the Bougainville mine will be another exercise of unaccountable corporate abuse against an already deeply scared people.

12.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BILL FOR ON INVESTMENT WITHDRAWN

By Aloysius Laukai

The expected two bills that were were supposed to be debated and enacted by the Bougainville House Representatives this session has been withdrawn this afternoon.

According to the Acting Speaker, WILSON these two policy. documents including all attachments were withdrawn due to some arnomalities in the documents.

Ministers, Wilfred Komba withdrew the Investment policy whilst the Education minister, JOHN TABINAMAN withdrew the Education policy.

New Dawn FM understands that these two policies could now be tabled in the next session that is the December.

12.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BOUGAINVILLE SHOW RUNS OUT OF FUNDS

By Aloysius Laukai

The recent Bougainville Post Courier Show needs more than ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA to pay outstanding bills from the last show.

This was revealed by the ABG Minister for Culture and Tourism, ROSE PIHEI during her Ministerial Presentation in the ABG House of Representatives this afternoon.

In her brief the Minister said that the Ministry has plans to have shows throughout Bougainville.

She said that the Bougainville show was a eye opener for Bougainville and needs to be promoted.

The minister said that shows will be held in Buin,Arawa, Wakunai and Tinputz as planned.

Meanwhile, members of the parliament commented on the Minister's statement supporting the need to support the promotion of Culture and Tourism.

Members for Haku, Steven Vieni and member for Makis and Minister for Peace, NEWTON KAUVA made some comments that the use of funds must be controlled so that when a show is complete there must be no outstanding bills.

11.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BRIDGE PROJECT

BY ANTHONY KAYBING

A Philippines based conglomerate, global Seagate has shown interest in building there bridges in parts of north Bougainville, specially the kunua district.

The interest by global Seagate ensured after the Autonomous bougainvillea government president John Momis ‘ recent trip to South Korea and other part of Asia.

The president said that the bridges built would be in contrast to the recent Japanese designed built bridges along the main Bougainville highway covering north and central Bougainville.

He said the proposed bridging project will see bailey bridges, an extensively used bridge in Bougainville being built through parts of the region especially the mainland of Bougainville though the Japanese government has committed to building more bridges on Bougainville, the president says Bougainville cannot wait for them but keep the ball rolling with its development programs.

Much of south and central Bougainville and the west coast of mainland Bougainville have had their bridges either washed away or are in disrepair and this project initiated by president Momis will result in a substantial amount of service delivery reaching the people at a more effective rate.

The bailey bridge were designed during world war two by the British Armed Forces as an easy to assemble yet sturdy bridge to accommodate the movement of its troops as well its armed units during the war.

The Baily bridges are now a tool of peace having helped providing a pathway across ravines, rivers and so forth.

A team of engineers from Global Seagate arrived on Bougainville last week to carry out feasibility studies and geographical surveys of the river systems in west coast before the project commences.

Global Seagate has also made a commitment to support Bougainville’s capacity building through grass roots training in the Philippines.

This project has seen the first batch from south Bougainville leaving for the Philippines today for a six week training program; the will be followed by a batch from central and north Bougainville upon their return.

11.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS FAREWELLS TRAINEES

By Aloysius Laukai

TWENTY TWO Agricultural Trainees from South Bougainville left for the Philippines this morning for a four weeks Training of Trainers on Cottage industries that can be developed on Bougainville upon their return.

The training is fully funded by a Philippines Company SEAGATE global and will also train two more group from the Central and North Bougainville.

In his farewell remarks to the 22 trainees, DR. MOMIS said that this training will help them develop their own communities instead of following attractions of Cities and towns.

He said that Bougainville wants to make sure that development occurs in the communities where the people live and thus raising the standard of living in our communities.

The ABG President said that upon their return these twenty two participants can become the agents of change in South Bougainville.

He called on them to be good ambassadors of Bougainville whilst in the Philippines.

DR. MOMIS said that the people of Bougainville must accept the responsibility to change and be prosperous.

11.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SDA PASTOR CALLS FOR GENUINE RECONCILIATION

By Alex Munme

SEVENTH DAY Adventist Church Pastor, Peter Bebe has challenged everyone to make genuine reconciliation.

This challenge was for every home, church, community and the Government to see Jesus Christ as the Founder of Genuine Reconciliation.

The challenge was delivered at the recent reconciliation ceremony at Hahalis village in the Halia Constituency on Buka Island.

Pr. Bebe said Jesus Christ is the founder of reconciliation, referring to His death on the Cross to reconcile humanity back with God. “There is no reconciliation without the Cross. Because of the Cross this reconciliation is taking place today”.

He said reconciliation must first take place in our homes and people who are God reminded and minded come to reconcile.

He said our churches and communities need to reconcile adding that reconciliation is the Heart our churches Mission. Therefore all churches including Catholic, United Church, Methodist many others must reconcile. He said it is the process of making sure all have one mind.

Pr. Bebe while praising, thanked everyone who despite their political and community status, made it to the reconciliation ceremony which was a sign of humbleness, sacrifice and to pour out all their differences so they are free in the eyes of the people and God.

He said reconciliation is a process by God and whoever does not keep his promise will face Gods anger.

11.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS SUPPORTS YOUTH PARLIAMENTS

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS says that educating Bougainville youths to know parliament procedures through youth mock Parliaments sponsored by the Commonwealth Parliament Associations should be supported by the ABG.

He said he is a strong believer of education and supports the conduction of mock youth parliaments especially in Secondary Schools.

The ABG President made these comments in responding to a presentation in the ABG House by the ABG Minister for Community Development, MELCHIOR DARE who said that the last youth mock parliament held between the two secondary schools in Buka were successful and the ABG must support the conduct of future mock youth parliaments.

New Dawn FM understands that a selected youths will travel to HONIARA later this year to participate in a mock youth parliament with Solomon Islands youths in Honiara.

11.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

LERA WANTS BANK OF PNG TO PAY BACK PAPER NOTES

By Aloysius Laukai

The Regional member for Bougainville, JOE LERA says that the BANK OF PNG needs to get all its Paper Monies still out there on Bougainville.

The member made this comments during question time in the National Parliament yesterday.

He said when the BANK decided to change all Bank notes from paper notes to plastic there was no awareness on Bougainville resulting in many Bougainvilleans loosing out.

The Minister for Finance and Treasury said that he would find out from the Bank of PNG and respond later.

11.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ONSA REJECTS PEACE AGREEMENT AWARENESS

By Aloysius Laukai

A Bougainville Businessman, HENRY ONSA yesterday totally rejected the Awareness framework which the ABG administration and the NCOBA have been developing in the past two months.

MR. ONSA said the awareness into the Peace Agreement should have been carried out TEN YEARS AGO saying they are ten years late and are just wasting much needed funds on Air tickets and Allowances.

He was speaking on New Dawn FM’s current Affairs program.

MR. ONSA said that what these people must do is to prepare awareness on Referendum and the outstanding processes of Peace and reconciliation covering just the important areas of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

He said we cannot go backwards whilst the referendum is our next project for Bougainville.

MR. ONSA called on the Autonomous Bougainville Government to immediately tow these officers in line.

Our attempts to get comments from the new Bougainville Administrator were unsuccessful but New Dawn FM understands that the Chief Administrator’s first instruction after taking office was to stop all duty travels both within and outside of Bougainville.

11.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Arawa ‘men in blue’ maintain peace in tough times

POLICEMEN in Arawa are some of the most hardworking civil servants in the Bougainville town. They work under very difficult circumstances maintaining peace in the island’s march towards referendum on autonomy. Despite criticisms from the general public, they still do their best to maintain law and order. Pictured are Arawa-based policemen Sgt Herman Birengka, Constables Chris Mate and Chris Imba at Pakia, Kieta. Words and picture: ROMULUS MASIU

11.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Inmates stage rally

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

BUKA town’s Bel Isi Park came to a standstill last Friday as inmates from the Bekut Correctional Institute in the Peit constituency of North Bougainville staged a one-day gospel rally.

The rally, which was led by the Bekut Inmates Gospel Ministry, saw the prisoners giving their testimonies on the types of crimes they committed and what life was like in the prison and urged others not to follow in their footsteps. 

According to one of the inmates, life in the prison was very hard. 

“You will think and think but you will get nothing. You will want to kill yourself, you will want to commit suicide. That’s the type of life you will experience while in prison. That is why we are appealing to you all not to commit crimes like what we have done,’’ he said. 

“While in prison no one will come and visit you. That is why you must all look after your lives. Don’t try to commit a crime as you will end up in prison like us.” 

Similar sentiments were shared by other inmates, however, all their testimonies were based on the changes they were now experiencing after repenting and turning to God.

Many said they now have peace in their lives and the courage to come out and testify publicly because of intervention from God.

“My case is murder. I am very sorry that I have committed this crime. It is a hard life in the prison. But I will not dwell on my past life but to fight and promote what is good. I realise that the crime I committed landed me in prison. But I thank God for His intervention that I am now a changed man,” said another inmate. 

The inmates also called on unity to prevail in Bougainville among the ABG, the people and other stakeholders in the region.

They said unity would only come from God and not money or any other things that people were currently relying on.

The inmates also conducted awareness on illegal activities that on the rise in Bougainville.

One of the activities they identified was the consumption of marijuana by young people.

10.09.2013

Source: The National

Momis: We qualified on our merits 

Autonomous Bougainville Government president John Momis says Bougainville qualified for the United Nations’ Peace Building Fund on its own merits and with little assistance from the national government.

He was responding to a statement by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, who said last week that Bougainville got the nod after Chief Secretary to Government, Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, provided a letter to the UN seeking eligibility to access funds for peace-related work in the region.

“With respect to access to the Peace Building Fund announced last week by the UN representative in PNG, it must also be noted that the ABG received those funds on merit and with little assistance from the national government,” Momis said.

“The formalisation of this particular request had to be channelled through the office of the chief secretary, but the request was approved on the merits of the case presented to the UN by the ABG.”

Momis said he had already expressed his government’s intention to work with the office of the chief secretary, ministry of foreign affairs and  the UN in achieving positive results.

10.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ALL SAFE AT ANIR

By Aloysius Laukai

Goodnews,that despite the continuous strong winds the missing boat reported earlier has been found on ANIR Island NEW IRELAND with all passengers safe.

The Bougainville Disaster Coordinator, FRANKLYN LACEY told New Dawn FM last night that these people will be transported to Buka in the morning.

And a Bougainville Disaster Office Dingy will travel to ANIR in the morning to pick them.

New Dawn FM will talk to the nine passengers so that they can tell us what happened on the six days ordeal at sea.

10.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOSE NOT HAPPY

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG member for Selau, TERRY MOSE is not happy that the sealing of the Kokopau to Siara road has been slow.

He told New Dawn FM that work on the 20 KILOMETER road between Kokopau to Siara was to have started early this year.

MR. MOSE said looking at the gravel already in Kokopau, it does not look as if they will reach more than five kilometres.

He questioned why a Bougainvillean contractor who won this contract could have done such a thing to his fellow citizens.

New Dawn Fm understands that the contract to seal this section of the highway was awarded for 20 MILLION KINA.

Last week, the ABG President DR.JOHN MOMIS also made some comments on the media concerning how the Department of Works and the National Supplies and Tenders Board awarded this contract to a company who has not machines.

10.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

DISASTER COORDINATOR REPORTS

By Aloysius Laukai

The Bougainville Disaster Coordinator, FRANLYN LACEY says that his office has a operation centre in which boats travelling out to sea must report to before travelling to avoid unnecessary mishaps at sea.

He told New Dawn FM that this office gives advice on weather forecast and warn people travelling to sea to adhere to.

MR. LACEY said that the latest boat that is currently missing with nine people on board never got clearance before it took off to Nissan last Thursday.

He said that when first reported only 4 passengers were reported whilst the five extra picked up later were never reported.

Meanwhile, the ABG member for Atolls, PASINI MARENA today also warned his people not to risk their lives by travelling out to the Atolls in small boats.

He said precautionary measures must be taken all the time when travelling out to sea.

10.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

PASINI WANTS NATIONAL MEMBER’S SUPPORT

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG member for Atolls, PASINI MARENA today called on the four members of the National members of Bougainville to provide counterpart fund the FIVE MILLION KINA the ABG has allocated for the coastal boat to service the Atolls and the coastal areas on mainland Bougainville.

He told New Dawn FM today that the ABG has allocated FIVE MILLION KINA but would like some more funds so that a new boat can be bought with.

The member said that service to the Atolls islands was not happening due to no ship to service these routes.

New Dawn FM understands that the Member for North Bougainville, LAUTA ATOI had earlier promised to support the ABG in getting a new ship for the Atolls.

AND so far no real commitment has been from the member for North Bougainville.

10.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BOUGAINVILLE PASSENGER BOAT BY JANUARY

By Aloysius Laukai in ABG House meet

A Passenger Boat to service Bougainville, East and West New Britain and Morobe province will start operating in January 2014.

ABG President DR. JOHN MOMIS made this known during ABG Parliament session's Question time this morning.

He was responding to questions raised by the member for ATOLLS, PASINI MARENA who wanted to know when a Ship to service the Atolls will be available.

ABG President said that FIVE MILLION KINA was budgeted for under the 2012/2013 for the boat to service the Atolls and the coastal areas of mainland Bougainville.

He said this however would require counter part funding from the members of National Parliament to get a boat to service our atolls and other isolated locations.

DR. MOMIS said that the Passenger boat he mentioned is currently being built and would be used as a commercial operation.

He said that the project is a joint venture company between the ABG and another company in PNG.

10.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG HOUSE SITS FOR SEPTEMBER

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG House of representatives started the September session of ABG House at ten am this morning.

The house started and went straight with Questions without notice in which members asked questions on the running of the ABG.

The first question was directed to the ABG minister for finance, ALBERT PUNGHAU on outbursts by his fellow Minister for Veterans Association, DAVID SISITO on his actions to divert funds earmarked for the Konnou Peace process.

Two other Ministers supported the Finance Minister were the Ministers for Commerce and Trade and member for Konnou, WILFRED KOMBA And the Minister for Peace and Reconciliation, NEWTON KAUVA.

Minister Kauva said that these funds were expanded in the Konnou peace process and as budgeted.

In his comments, MR. KOMBA said that these funds were used for Konnou peace process and the peace process and the peace in Konnou has been maintained in the last two years.

The member for Konnou also asked the ABG House to allocated some more funds in next year’s budget for the Konnou Peace process.

09.09.2013

Source: The National

Panguna reopening a priority 

By MALUM NALU

THE reopening of the Panguna mine is one of the top priorities of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Panguna joint negotiations coordination chairman Raymond Masono says.

He also said the ABG was having discussions with the Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL) about reopening the mine.

He told the recent “Sustainability of Bougainville” seminar that there was no “higher impact” project on Bougainville than reopening the Panguna mine. 

“The ABG has prioritised the reopening of Panguna because of its potential to contribute to Bougainville’s social and economic development,” he said.

“However, it also has the potential to contribute to renewed conflict if negotiations are not handled carefully.

“The ABG wants to make sure that this time around, affected and impacted landowners play a key role in decision-making about the mine, and all Bougainvilleans know what is going on and have an opportunity to express their views and concerns.”

Regarding BCL, Masono said traditional ‘belkol’ (appeasement) ceremonies would first have to be held for landowners by the company.

“During the meetings with BCL, landowner representatives raised a number of issues with BCL, one of which was the need to conduct a ‘belkol’ ceremony according to the traditional customs of the Nasioi people,” he said.

“This would be the first step in reestablishing relationships with the people of Bougainville.

“The ABG and landowners have planned to perform a ‘belkol’ ceremony with BCL in the form of three feasts in Arawa, Buin and Buka.

“I’d like to express here that ‘belkol’ is different from compensation,” he said.

09.09.2013

Source: The National

Momis: PM making confusing remarks 

AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government president John Momis has accused Prime Minister Peter O’Neill of making “confusing and misleading statements” about the amount of money allocated to Bougainville by the Government.

Momis was reacting to a statement by O’Neill last week which said the Government remained committed to improving living standards and the business environment on Bougainville through the funding of various impact projects there. 

But he was forced to hold back some funds because of the continued non-acquittal by the ABG.

O’Neill said the Government in 2010 decided to allocate K500 million in an intervention programme.

He said: 

A joint committee identified 11 infrastructure projects to be funded under this programme;  

K100 million was released to the ABG in 2011 for this programme; and 

The funds were never acquitted; 

In 2012, K15 million was released, but the rest was held back when it became clear the funds were not going to be spent in the priority areas identified; and

The balance of K85 million for 2012 is held in trust, together with K100 million for 2013.

But Momis denied this.

“Firstly, the joint supervisory body reached an agreement on the tranche of funding of K500m in February 2011,” he said in a statement.

“The first K100m was not received by the ABG until November 2012, not in 2011, as erroneously stated in the media release.”

09.09.2013

Source: The National

Four lost at sea in Bougainville 

A 23-FOOT motorised dinghy with four people on board has been missing since last Thursday between Pororan Island and Nissan Island.

Bougainville regional disaster coordinator Franklin Lacey said the boat left Pororan Island at 6am to ferry medical supplies to Nissan Island. It never arrived there.

The weather report on Thursday said there were 20 to 30 knot winds and 3.5m waves.

The four people on board included a medical contractor, his assistant, a boat operator and an assistant.

The man who hired the boat was Joseph Tsikula, who has a contract to distribute medical supplies in Bougainville.

He was in the boat with assistant Ruddy Hagali and skipper Michael Tsireh and his assistant Hubert Hamanin.

Lacey said the four ignored bad weather warning and advice to ask the operations centre for approval before travelling.

The matter was reported to the disaster office last Friday afternoon.

The Bougainville disaster office has already alerted ships in the area to be on the lookout while an aerial search is expected to be conducted.

09.09.2013

Source: The National

Momis rejects projects 

By MALUM NALU

THE president of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, John Momis, has rejected various projects being tendered by the Central Supply and Tenders Board (CSTB) on behalf of the national Works Department (DoW).

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said last week he had directed that costings be carried out immediately for the impact projects to get underway, including the upgrading of Aropa Airport, and upgrading of Arawa Town roads, of the Arawa-Buin Road, of Buka Ring Road and the Kieta Sea Port.

“This is a good example of the conflict that we are experiencing with the DoW,” Momis said.

“It is important that we should avoid confusion and duplication.

“There appears to be an urgent need to establish a framework for consultation between the ABG and national government agencies for the development of infrastructure in the region.

“In this context, the ABG has requested that the DoW tenders be withdrawn while the parties consult.

“A letter has been sent to the acting chief administrator of the Works Department.

“The ABG has little confidence in the integrity and efficiency of the national Works Department as they have been known to squander funds earmarked for projects in Bougainville.

“One such example is the award of a K20 million contract for the Kokopau-Siara Road which was contracted last year to a firm which has not yet turned one shovel of earth to commence this project.”

“This is shameful and requires a full explanation by the national government.”

07.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS ON UN FUND

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG PRESIDENT,CHIEF DR. JOHN MOMIS yesterday expressed his desire for closer consultations between the national government and the ABG to make sure Bougainville moves forward a little faster.

He made these remarks when responding to comments made by Prime Minister PETER O’NEIL concerning funding from the National Government to Bougainville.

DR. MOMIS said that under the Bougainville Peace Agreement, the National Government must fund all the reconstruction and rehabilitations and development programs on Bougainville.

He said that the Bougainville Peace Agreement was a legal agreement and holding back funds guaranteed to Bougainville under the constitution was illegal.

President Momis also thanked the national government and Prime Minister O’Neill, firstly for the benefits that will be derived from the UN funding for Bougainville.

He said that with respect to access to the Peace Building Fund (PBF) announced last week by the UN Representative in PNG. It must also be noted that the ABG received these funds on merit and with little assistance from the national government.

He said that the formalisation of this particular request had to be channelled through the Office of the Chief Secretary but the request was approved on the merits of the case presented to the UN by the ABG.

The President has already, through appropriate channels, expressed his government’s intention to work with the Office of the Chief Secretary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN in achieving positive results with these funds.

07.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SIRIOSI VOWS TO MAKE CHANGES

By Aloysius Laukai

The newly appointed Bougainville Chief Administrator for Bougainville and former CEO for Law and Justice Division, CHRIS SIRIOSI has vowed to make changes within the Bougainville administration with the support of all workers.

Speaking at the official swearing in ceremony in Buka this morning, MR. SIRIOSI said that he has a team leader would expect his officers starting with the Deputy Administrators to perform to standard and no less.

MR. SIRIOSI said that his job will not be smooth sailing and would require all sectional heads and their divisions to report to him occasionally and on time.

Meanwhile the Outgoing Chief Administrator, LAWRENCE DISING in his farewell remarks thanked the ABG and the people of Bougainville for working with him in the last three years he was the administrator.

He said that his three years have not been easy considering the amount of pressures he has been working under from the people of Bougainville.

MR. DISING paid tribute to the work of former administrators for their part in getting Bougainville under very difficult environment.

All the former administers, Late Peter Tsiamalili,Late George Lessi, Late JOHN SIAU, Late ARON RIGAMU, Andrew Pisi have passed on except, FRANCIS KABANO who has since moved into the private sector.

Other acting administrators after the late PETER TSIAMALILI were, PATRICK KOLES and RAYMOND MASONO.

From MR. DISIN’s speech New Dawn FM understands the amount of pressures Administrators on Bougainville have gone through serving the people of Bougainville.

07.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

TOVIRIKA COMMENDS ISLANDERS

By Aloysius Laukai

The former ABG Minister for Veterans Affairs and BRA Commander, GLEN TOVIRIKA has praised the people of Buka island for accepting him to Buka island despite his actions during the Bougainville conflict which brought so much pains and sufferings to the people of Bougainville.

MR. TOVIRIKA was speaking at the reconciliation ceremony at BASBI village in the HALIA Constituency of Buka island YESTERDAY.

The reconciliation ceremony was between MR. TOVIRIKA, ISHMAEL TOROAMA and JOHN POMIS TSIRUMETS .

ISHMAEL TOROAMA was not present at the ceremony as he was in Port Moresby.

MR. TOVIRIKA said that the fight started from the PANGUNA MINE AND HIS former combatants see that only PANGUNA can compensate the people of Bougainville if it opens.

To the PNG National government, MR.TOVIRIKA said that the National Government must honour the Peace agreement and put in money for the Peace Process on Bougainville.

He said as a signatory to the Bougainville Peace Agreement he is not happy with the National Government.

07.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MEDICINE MAN MISSING

By Aloysius Laukai

A 23 foot white boat similar to the pictured went missing between PORORAN Island and Nissan island last Thursday, September 5th,2013.

According to the Bougainville Regional Disaster Coordinator,Franklin Lacey,the boat left Pororan island at 0600hrs to ferry medical supplies to Nissan island and never arrived at its destination.

Today is its third day of being lost at sea.

Weather report for Thursday was 20 to 30 knots 3.5 high seas,South Easterly winds.

Situation with the weather as of today is still bad.

Four persons were on the boat" the Medical contractor with two skippers and his assistant.

According to the Disaster coordinator, they totally ignored bad weather warning and procedures in place and did not report to the operations centre for approval to travel.

The matter was reported to the Disaster office yesterday afternoon.(Friday)

The Bougainville Disaster office has already alerted ships at sea to be on a lookout for this missing boat.

National Disaster Management Office to assist with aerial search to commence tomorrow.

The man who hired the boat was JOSEPH TSIKULA Manager/Contractor, who has a contract to distribute medical supplies in Bougainville.

He was in the boat with his assistant RUDDY HAGALI and Skipper,MICHAEL TSIREH and his assistant HUBERT HAMANIN.

06.09.2013

Source: The National

Bougainville unveils awareness plan 

A JOINT plan has been developed to create awareness of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA).

It is an initiative of the national and Autonomous Bougainville governments.

The plan was endorsed yesterday by the joint awareness technical working group whose co-chairmen are the director of National Coordination Office for Bougainville Affairs Ellison ToWallom representing the national government and Bougainville deputy administrator Paul Kebori representing the ABG.

A facilitator’s manual on the BPA was also endorsed.

“The national government is committed to supporting the implementation of the Bougainville awareness framework, which  promotes awareness on various issues,” ToWallom said.

06.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Arawa Health Center needs improvement

By ALEX MUNME

A SENIOR medical officer at the Buka General Hospital, Dr Joe Vilosi, has highlighted the urgent need to improve to medical service delivery at the Arawa Health Centre in Central Bougainville.

The health centre is rundown and has lacked proper facilities, medical staff and drugs for almost 24 years since the Bougainville crisis days. While other aspects of life are developing and many people are moving into the once mining township, the centre needs urgent improvement to cater for the growing population.

Speaking at the Buka General Hospital this week following a short visit to the health centre, Dr Vilosi expressed the urgent need to improve the very low standards. 

He said as a result of the current situation many mothers have died en-route to Buka for better treatment. 

Dr Vilosi said the health centre needs more staff to observe patients after procedural operations.

The move to improve Arawa health centre has already begun with full renovation of five staff houses.

Three of these houses have already been completed, one still under maintenance while renovation work is yet to commence on the fifth one. 

Dr Vilosi said staff from Buka Hospital will be moving to Arawa starting next week to perform their duties there. 

He added that the other positions at the health centre will be advertised later for further staff recruitment.

Dr Vilosi said that the newly appointed acting Chief Administrator Chris Siriosi is in full support of the initiative.

He added that there is also a need for more support from the Bougainville Administration and the ABG.

06.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Wife finds hubby’s corpse

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

A YOUNG man from Novah village in the Tonsu constituency of Buka Island was found dead by his wife early on Monday morning at a small creek on the roadside near his village. 

The deceased, Felix Katsin Puso, was out drinking alcohol with his relatives on Sunday when he met his fate. 

According to reports reaching the Post-Courier, the deceased and some relatives had gone to visit another of their relatives living at the Hutjena government station on Sunday.

After having a couple of beers there, they returned to their village and continued on with their drinking. 

Those who were drinking alcohol with the deceased before the incident were also shocked to learn of his death.

At the moment no one really knows what happened during that night however many believe that he was murdered, and his body was pushed down to the creek to make it look like he died after falling off the road. 

Police in Buka are now working around the clock to ascertain the cause of his death.

They have completed the post-mortem and are expected to round up the suspects shortly for questioning.

06.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

PUNGHAU DENIES DIVERTING FUNDS

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG Minister for Finance, Planning and Treasury, ALBERT PUNGHAU (pictured) today denied claims made by fellow Minister for Veterans Affairs, DAVID SISITO.

Minister Punghau said that funds allocated for Peace building in the Konnou Constituency was allocated under the Peace and Reconciliation office headed by Minister NEWTON KAUVA and not under Veterans division which are two different animals.

He was responding to claims by Minister David Sisito who said funds for Konnou were diverted and he was constantly under pressure from the people of Konnou.

Minister PUNGHAU said these funds were used by the Peace office according to their division’s program on the Konnou Peace process.

He said that the Minister for Veterans should have consulted him before going to the media breaking cabinet solidarity.

06.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ACTING ADMINISTRATOR PUTS HIS FOOT DOWN ON TRAVEL

By Aloysius Laukai

The newly appointed Acting Chief Administrator for Bougainville, CHRIS SIRIOSI today instructed all officers to stop all duty travels unless necessary.

In a memo sent to all Chief Executive Officers an Public servants, MR. SIRIOSI said that all duty travels by officials of the Bougainville Administration to destinations in other parts of Papua New Guinea must be approved an authorized by the office of the Chief Administrator.

And all duty travels overseas must be approved and authorized by the Ministerial Committee on Overseas duty travel comprising of the President, Minister for Finance and Minister for Public service an the responsible Minister.

And all duty travels within Bougainville by Chief Executive Officers and Deputy Administrators must be notified in writing 24 hours in advance.

New Dawn FM understands that one of the main factors the ABG has been blamed for in the past was concerning travel in an out of the region.

06.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG HOUSE SET FOR SEPTEMBER

By Aloysius Laukai

The September session of the ABG House of Representatives will start at TEN AM on Tuesday September 10th,2013.

This was announced by the ABG Parliament Speaker, ANDREW MIRIKI in his notice to the members of ABG House and Ministers and Officers of the Bougainville Administration.

People have been waiting for this session of the house following several reports in the past that this house will pass policies on the Bougainville Investment Issue, the Mining Policy and several other policies in which the ABG has been working on.

New Dawn FM will as usual carry live the proceedings of the house

06.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ONSA WANTS MEMBERS TO BE TRANSPARENT

By Aloysius Laukai

A chief in Buka and Businessman, HENRY ONSA says that three Bougainville members of Parliament must also reveal beneficiaries from their DSIP funds to the people of Bougainville.

He made this call on New Dawn FM yesterday when thanking the Bougainville Regional member, JOE LERA for telling Bougainville how he will spend the FIFTEEN MILLION KINA PSIP funds.

MR.ONSA said if the Regional member is transparent he does not know why the other three members representing South, Central and North Bougainville have been so quiet with their project funding.

He said members must be transparent with all their deals and their silence is deafening.

06.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

COMMUNITY POLICE CONGRATULATES SOHANO

By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville Police Service’s Community Auxiliary Police Officer, CONSTABLE LESLY METEN today thanked the community of Sohano island for upholding the rule of Law on the island.

Constable METEN made these comments on NEW DAWN FM’s TALK BACK program today.

He said that the Community Auxiliary Police team has been carrying out House to House awareness on the island in the last two weeks and they are happy with the outcome.

Constable METEN said that law and order is everybody’s issue and following these awarenesses there have been a reduction of alcohol related problems on the island.

Meanwhile a Public meeting organized by the Buka urban council with the DISTRICT COMMISSIONER’S island during the colonial era, SOHANO ISLAND was cancelled today due to bad weather.

The meeting will now be held next Wednesday afternoon.

05.09.2013

Source: PNG Attitude

Momis reveals tensions in PNG attitude to Bougainville

Hon Dr Chief John MomisTHE PRESIDENT OF THE Autonomous Bougainville Government, John Momis, today welcomed a statement by PNG prime minister Peter O’Neill that the national government remains committed to improving living standards and the business environment on Bougainville through funding impact projects in the Autonomous Region.

But in a lengthy media release, the president also revealed some significant tensions between the two governments and between the ABG and some Bougainville members of the national parliament.

Dr Momis confirmed that the PNG funding commitment was in accordance with an agreement reached in February 2011 on funding K500million from the national government to Bougainville.

He noted that the Bougainville House of Representative is an independent parliament and that it appeared from unilateral actions of the PNG national government that it is seeking to undermine the authority of the House.

He also noted concern that national government agencies were proceeding with projects on Bougainville without consultation with the ABG.

As an example, Dr Momis noted that just this week there had been announcements regarding various projects tendered on behalf of the National Department of Works.

He said the ABG has little confidence in the integrity and efficiency of the Department of Works as it has been known to squander funds earmarked for projects in Bougainville in a less than transparent manner.

One such example was the award of a K20 Million contract for the Kokopau-Siara road which was contracted last year to a firm which has no capacity and which has not yet turned one shovel of earth to commence this project. He said this is shameful and requires a full explanation by the national government.

Dr Momis said he had taken note of concerns expressed by the Deputy Auditor General regarding breaches in audit management letters by the ABG but said he runs an honest, transparent and accountable government.

The matters flagged by the Deputy Auditor General predated 2010 and the ABG had taken definitive steps to clear up these matters and a full report has been provided to the Public Accounts Committee of the Bougainville House of Representatives.

Dr Momis also asked Mr O’Neill not to be misled by some members representing Bougainville in the PNG National Parliament.

He said their intentions were not always honourable or in the best interest of Bougainville and it was sad that they would seek to undermine Bougainville for their own selfish reasons.

Dr Momis said the ABG is committed to working in partnership with the national government to achieve the broad objectives of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and to achieve autonomy for Bougainville.

05.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Minister Responsible for Inter-Government Affairs, Autonomy, Implementation and Monitoring

Facsimile: 973-9408 P.O Box 322

Telephone: 973-9415 Buka 

Email: anthony.kaybing@gmail.comAutonomous Region of Bougainville

MEDIA RELEASE BY HON. CHIEF JOHN MOMIS, GCL, MHR, PRESIDENT OF THE AUTONOMOUS BOUGAINVILLE GOVERNMENT – BOUGAINVILLE HIGH IMPACT PROJECTS REMAIN TOP PRIORITY

President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, the Hon. Chief John Momis, GCL, MHR welcomed the statement by the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, CMG, MP that the national government remains committed to improving living standards and business environment on Bougainville through the funding of various impact projects in the AROB.

President Momis noted and confirmed that this commitment was strictly in accordance with the agreement reached and resolved at the Holiday Inn JSB in February, 2011 in Port Moresby at which time agreement was reached on a funding tranche of K.500million from the national government to Bougainville.

The President noted that the Autonomous Bougainville Government expected the national government to fully respect and live up to its obligation in this regard. He was happy to hear that the Prime Minister was confirming his government’s intentions to honour the agreement.

Apart from this, President Momis noted that there were some incorrect statements in the Media Statement issued from the Prime Minister and in the spirit of transparency and accuracy he wished to correct them.

Firstly, the JSB reached agreement on the tranche of funding of K500m in February, 2011. The first K100m was not received by the ABG until November, 2012, not in 2011 as erroneously stated in the Media Release. This amount, in accordance with the Bougainville Constitution, was duly appropriated by the Bougainville House of Representatives in December, 2012. Expenditure of the funds therefore could not be rolled out until early 2013.

It must be noted that the Bougainville House of Representative is an independent parliament authorized under the Constitution of Papua New Guinea and its actions are constitutionally and legally binding and cannot be determined or undermined by any external bodies. In this respect, it is a sovereign parliament and it would appear from the unilateral actions of the National Government that it is seeking to undermine the authority of the Bougainville House of Representatives.

On the matter of a Trust Account the information in the Media Statement is confusing and misleading. The ABG has no knowledge of a Trust Account being established by the national government for whatever purposes relative to the HIP, neither for the K.85million released in November 2012 or for the proposed K.100million for 2013. There is an ABG Trust Account for the HIP established by the ABG, located and managed from Buka and payment for all project costs duly appropriated in the ABG Budget for 2012/2013 for the HIP projects are met from this account. There are 95 projects approved by the Bougainville Executive Council in their 2012/2013 budget appropriation. The account is gradually being drawn down as more and more projects are funded and the current balance is nowhere near the original K.85million which was the opening balance. The Bougainville Administration has not yet been able to fully acquit these expenditures because the projects for which the funds are being applied are not yet completed. The ABG is aware it has to acquit these funds in terms of its financial obligations to the National Government and will do so.

In the Media Statement, it is noted that a reference was made that “there are serious governance issues on Bougainville which we should all be concerned about”. President Momis in addressing this unfounded concern wished to make it clear that while Bougainville has capacity issues it does not have governance issues. The ABG has taken great steps to adopt and to follow rigid governance guidelines as it is very much aware that good governance is one of the criteria that it must fulfil in its lead up to the conduct of the Referendum. The same could not be said for some National Government institutions and practices.

The K.100million for 2013 has not yet been received in Bougainville, despite the fact that agreement was reached at the Kokopo JSB (October 2012) that they would be applied to several of the projects included in the Media Statement.

In this regard, President Momis noted his concern that the national government agencies were committing and proceeding with projects without consultation with the ABG.

As an example, the President noted that just this week there were announcements regarding various projects which are being tendered and evaluated by the CSTB on behalf of the National Department of Works; this is a good example of the conflict that we are experiencing with the DOW. It is important that we should avoid confusion and duplication. There appears to be an urgent need to establish a framework for consultation between the ABG, and national government agencies for the development of infrastructure in the Region. In this context, the ABG has requested that the DoW Tenders be withdrawn while the parties consult. A communication by letter has been sent by the Acting Chief Administrator to the Department of Works to this effect.

For the record, the ABG resides little confidence in the integrity and efficiency of the National Department of Works as they have been known to squander funds earmarked for projects in Bougainville in a less than transparent manner. One such example is the award of a K20 Million contract for the Kokopau/Siara road which was contracted last year to a firm which has no capacity and which has not yet turned one shovel of earth to commence this project. This is shameful and requires a full explanation by the national government.

The President has once again expressed his ardent desire for closer consultations between the national government and the ABG so as to avoid duplication, conflicts in tendering, evaluation and award of contracts. Countless examples of this practice can be cited. Above all, it is important that the ABG should determine its priorities.

President Momis wished to thank the national government and Prime Minister O’Neill, firstly for the benefits that will be derived from the UN funding for Bougainville. With respect to access to the Peace Building Fund (PBF) announced last week by the UN Representative in PNG. It must also be noted that the ABG received these funds on merit and with little assistance from the national government. In this case, the formalisation of this particular request had to be channelled through the Office of the Chief Secretary but the request was approved on the merits of the case presented to the UN by the ABG. The President has already, through appropriate channels, expressed his government’s intention to work with the Office of the Chief Secretary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN in achieving positive results.

President Momis has also taken note of some concerns expressed by the Deputy Auditor General regarding breaches in audit management letters by the ABG as raised at the Bougainville Seminar last week. The President reaffirms the position of the ABG for honest, transparent and accountable government.

The matters which were flagged by the Deputy Auditor General were matters which predate 2010. But even in respect of the complaints and observations made by the Auditor General the ABG has taken definitive steps to clear up such matters and a full report has been provided to the Public Accounts Committee of the Bougainville House of Representatives. It is acknowledged there were breaches of the financial regulations and procedures during the early days of the establishment of the ABG in that a new government was being created and there were matters which required urgent attention, including payments of unretired debts leftover by government agencies during the suspension of the North Solomons Provincial Government and the subsequent introduction of the Bougainville Interim Provincial Government. So there is a history to the audit report which must be understood.

Bougainville is now embarking on its own Public Finance and Management Act, its own Tenders and Procurement Act which will be introduced in the 1st January 2014. These measures will provide stringent guidelines in relation to government enterprises and activities.

Lastly, President Momis wished to request that the Prime Minister not be misled by certain members representing Bougainville in the National Parliament. Their intentions are not always honourable or in the best interest of Bougainville and it are sad that they would seek to undermine Bougainville for their own selfish reasons. The Autonomous Bougainville Government is the constitutionally mandated government of the AROB

.

President Momis ended by noting that the ABG is committed to working in partnership with the national government to achieve the broad objectives of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and to achieve autonomy for Bougainville.

Hon. Chief John Momis, GCL, MHR

PRESIDENT

(4/09/2013)

05.09.2013

Source: The National

Local miners make millions  

By MALUM NALU

BOUGAINVILLE landowners continue to rake in millions of kina from small-scale gold mining as the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) moves to set in place new mining policies and laws.

Constitutional lawyer and Bougainville expert Anthony Regan told the “Sustainability of Bougainville” seminar last Friday that huge amounts of gold were moving out with little or no control.

The proposed Bougainville Mining Act will manage, among other things, this uncontrolled small-scale mining by landowners.

“We don’t know how much gold is going out of Bougainville,” Regan told the seminar.

“Until last year, there was a refinery operating in Buka, under an Italian company.

“They were paying quite a good price for gold.

“They were smelting between three-10kg of gold a week.

“Landowners who brought in their gold were getting K100,000 a kilo.

“Some weeks, there was a million kina being paid out by the company, which made it clear that they were only getting a small portion of the gold.

“There was a lot going to Solomon Islands, lots going to illegal buyers, some going to refineries.

“We don’t know how much gold is produced in Bougainville.”

Under the proposed Bougainville Mining Act, ABG would have more control of this small-scale mining.

“There are many thousands of Bougainvilleans who are doing small-scale mining,” Regan said.

“They’re all doing it illegally unless they’re doing it on their own land, in a riverbed and without using any machinery.

“Just about all of them are illegal.”

05.09.2013

Source: The National

Bougainville creates own mining department 

THE Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is breaking new ground with the establishment of a mining department, constitutional lawyer and Bougainville expert Anthony Regan says.

He told the “sustainability of Bougainville” seminar last Friday that ABG’s mining department would be a significant part of the government, especially in the creation of a new Bougainville Mining Act.

“Before this, all mining powers were exercised in Port Moresby, at Konedobu,” Regan said.

“So what we’re doing now is creating an entirely new thing we don’t have a precedent for.

“It’s very clear in Bougainville that when you come to an issue like mining, there are special needs in Bougainville.

“There’s a whole set of problems that Bouganville’s got with mining.

“There are the historic issues of Panguna.

“It was very hard going ahead with the national government’s Mining Act.

“Most (Bougainville) people don’t like the idea of a national government Mining Act.

“That’s the act that caused the problem with Panguna.

“If we’re going to go ahead with any mining on Panguna, it’s going to be under a Bougainville Mining Act.”

05.09.2013

Source: The National

Panguna mine needs funds for negotiations 

THE national Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) have been urged to secure funding for Panguna mine’s reopening negotiations as a matter of urgency.

Shadrach Himata, Secretary for Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management Department, said this when giving an update of the transfer of mining, oil and gas powers from the national Government to ABG.

“There is an imminent demand by the people of Bougainville for mineral exploration on Bougainville,” he said.

“There is also a perception that there is no mining law on Bougainville and there is also a genuine call by Bougainvilleans for the Panguna mine to be opened.

“As a direct response to these matters, the ABG has developed a draft mining transition bill.

“The people of Bougainville are currently being consulted on the draft bill.”

In relation to Panguna, Himata suggested:

Panguna mine negotiation coordination committee should be fully operational;  

National Government and ABG should secure funding for the Panguna mine negotiations; and 

Baseline studies should get underway immediately. 

05.09.2013

Source: The National

Mine closure plan paramount 

AS part of considerations and recommendations in the mine closure policy in Papua New Guinea, each mining project must develop and implement an ongoing mine closure plan.

This is according to a consultant’s findings on research into mine closure policy with consideration for biophysical, financial, economic, socio-cultural and environmental issues in line with  contemporary international best practice.

David McIlwraith, from GWMDAM Pty Ltd, said during the review of mining policies that with the industrial revolution and improved enrichment techniques such as large scale, open pit mining, it removed not only large capacities of ore but also waste rock. 

It also produced large quantities of tailings as well, all of which required rehabilitation when the mine closed. 

He said unfortunately such rehabilitation on closure did not take place until recent years.

He said developed nations and developing and emerging economies were faced with the need for closure and rehabilitation of mines and mining waste facilities which represented almost a century of mining activities. To demonstrate responsible governance and leadership in mine closure, appropriate planning and strategic implementation must be undertaken to ensure that as many benefits as possible from mining were sustained beyond the life of a mine.

Appropriate planning was also required to ensure that any negative environmental or social impacts from mining activities were minimised before operations begin, during the mine life and eliminated, where possible, after mining operation ceases, he said.

05.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Killer whale frightens Islanders

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

THE presence of a killer whale in the lagoon of Carterets Island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville is now causing fear amongst the islanders.

According to the Bougainville Disaster Coordinator Franklyn Lacey, the villagers are no longer going out to sea fearing that they might be killed by this giant whale. “The islanders are not able to venture out into the ocean to look for fish. This whale has been there during the past three weeks. It is in the lagoon but they do not know where, that is why they are afraid to go out,” Mr Lacey said.

Mr Lacey believes that this whale must have been injured by a fishing boat resulting in its retaliatory attacks on people. 

He added that an outboard motor traveling to the island from Buka early this week had to go ashore at a new location after fearing that they might somehow bump into this whale.

A Carterets islander confirmed yesterday that they are now afraid of going fishing. 

“Our people are no longer going further out into the deeper parts of the lagoon to catch fish. They are also afraid to travel from their island to the other islands because this whale has been swimming towards any canoe or outboard motor that is on the sea. Whenever it sees the sail of a canoe, it would quickly swim towards it.” 

Mr Lacey is now making arrangements on how best to address this so that the islanders can return to fishing again. 

Fish is the main source of protein for the islanders, so if this is not addressed immediately, it may again greatly affect the lives of the villagers who are already feeling the pinch of the rising sea level.

Meanwhile, Mr Lacey is appealing to outboard motor operators in Bougainville not to venture out into the open sea due to the strong winds currently being experienced throughout the country.

04.09.2013

Source: The National

Bougainville Mining Act processes ‘complex’ 

COMPLEX processes are involved in developing and implementing new 

mining policies and law for Bougainville, according to constitutional lawyer and Bougainville expert Anthony Regan.

He told the “Sustainability of Bougainville” seminar last Friday that there were multiple players, difficulties and opportunities for a new Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) that was still developing its capacity to develop policy on such issues.

A draft Bougainville Mining Act based on the PNG Mining Act is now in the process of being drawn up, following instructions from ABG president John Momis in July 2012, amid much controversy as overseas players bid to grab the mineral riches. 

Following months of negotiations, a first draft of the mining act was presented to Bougainville executive council 

in December 2012, still containing alternative options on ownership of minerals. 

The draft was debated for many hours and decisions were made on joint ownership of minerals by landowners and the ABG.

Revisions of the draft act had continued since the beginning of this year, with controversy emerging as issues and allegations were raised in Bougainville, and in paid advertisements in the daily newspapers.

In June of this year, consultations were held with landowner leader Sam Kauona and proposals for further revisions to draft emerged.

The Bougainville executive council debated the proposed revisions and approved changes with new drafting instructions on ownership.

The draft is still undergoing more discussion, particularly on the future of Panguna, through regional forums and meetings with ex-combatants.

04.09.2013

Source: The National

O’Neill : Bougainville yet to provide acquittals 

By MALUM NALU

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has rejected suggestions in a newspaper article yesterday that Waigani had withheld or redirected funds sent to the Autonomous Bougainville Government to spend.

He said the national government remained committed to improving living standards and business environment on Bougainville through the funding of various impact projects in the autonomous region. But he was forced to hold back some funds because of continued non-acquittal by the ABG.

The National reported yesterday that the United Nation was stepping in to assist a “cash-strapped” Bougainville in the peace process and that ABG president John Momis was claiming that the Government owed it K188 million.

“The annual allocation for recurrent expenditure for Bougainville is among the highest in the country,” O’Neill said in a statement.

“They cannot be cash-strapped. 

“Apart from that they get direct funding from donors for programmes in the autonomous region.

“In 2010 the national government decided to provide K500 million in an intervention programme.

“A joint committee identified 11 infrastructure impact projects to be funded under this intervention programme.

“K100 million was released to the ABG in 2011 for this programme. These funds were never acquitted. 

“In 2012, K15 million was released, but the rest was held back when it became clear the funds were not going to be spent in the priority areas identified.

“The balance of K85 million for 2012 is held in trust, together with K100 million for 2013.”

O’Neill said following a meeting last week with officials from Treasury, Planning and the Works departments, he directed that costings be carried out immediately for the impact projects to get underway.

 “These projects include the upgrade of Aropa Airport, the upgrade and sealing of Arawa Town roads, the upgrade of the Arawa - Buin Road, the upgrade and sealing of Buka Ring Road, and the upgrade of the Kieta Sea Port,” he said.

“Äs highlighted in the (Bougainville) seminar last Friday, there are serious governance issues on Bougainville which we should all be concerned about. 

“The last thing we want is these impact projects left unfunded.”

O’Neill thanked the United Nations for making Bougainville eligible to access the Peace Building Fund starting next year.

04.09.2013

Source: The National

Agriculture in Bougainville needs support 

Agriculture in Bougainville is striving and needs government support and land mobilisation by land owners to progress, a seminar was told.

“Farmers need new skills and techniques for the industry to grow, new technologies and new husbandry skills are needed to grow the industry,” Sam Lahis, an agriculture consultant from Bougainville, told participants at the “Bougainville sustainability” seminar last week in Port Moresby

Lahis said the autonomous Bougainville government had introduced two plans which complemented each other and revealed a downturn in the agriculture and economic sectors. 

But he said the needs of the communities must be realised before plans for improving the industry were made.

“Thanks to the rehabilitation plan, cocoa and copra have achieved much for the agriculture sector” Lahis said

But he said the cause of stagnancy of the sector was due to the capacity.

“The outcomes of the plans must be based on community needs, they must not be seen as a must-have project,” Lahis said.

“The ABG government and the provincial members at the national government must work together to introduce more integrated and  better coordinated incentives to support the agriculture sector in Bougainville.”

04.09.2013

Source: Mekamui News

Bougainville: The duty for the government

It is the duty of the government of the day to protect its citizens from internal and external threat; be that threat military, economical, cultural, social, environmental or otherwise. It is the duty of the government to find less environmentally, social and culturally destructive means to earn revenue to run the country.

It is the duty of whoever is the head of that government to provide vision and direction in the government and not to listen to foreign advise on development and progress that is fruitless. It is not the duty of our government to promote the foreign interests at the expense of our freedoms and liberties.

It’s not the duty of our government to make laws that place foreigners in an advantageous position to plunder our finite resources. It is morally wrong for our government to put a price tag (mining) on referendum and independence because we have paid the price twice over in blood.

04.09.2013

Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

UNEP to help Bougainville manage clean-up of Rio Tinto mine

The United Nations Environment program is to help Papua New Guinea's island of Bougainville manage the environmental issues associated with the Rio Tinto-owned Panguna copper mine.

The giant mine was closed more than 20 years ago after it became the spark which lit the civil war on the island.

Since then pollution from mine tailings has been flowing into the environment.

Whether or not the mine is re-opened, a massive clean-up is needed.

Presenter: Jemima Garrett

Speaker: Dr Gavin Mudd, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Engineering, Monash University

Dr Don Anton, Asociate Professor of Law, Australian National University

 LISTEN HERE ! 

GARRETT: When Bougainville Copper, the Rio Tinto subsidiary which owns the Panguna copper mine, was driven out of Bougainville there was no mine closure process.

Since then environmental problems have been festering.

The United Nation's Environment Program's Geneva-based disaster risk reduction branch has agreed to help Bougainville to draw up terms of reference for the clean-up and for environmental studies that will help Bougainvilleans decide if they want to re-open the mine.

Dr Gavin Mudd, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Engineering at Monash University says pollution is continuing to flow from the mine.

MUDD: There's a lot of acid mine drainage that is leaving the site, there is also tailings that's going down the river. And the acid mine drainage of course has extremely high levels of metals and so on so there are actually very significant issues.

GARRETT: Heavy metals can accumulate in fish and vegetation and affect human health.

Inside the mine site many buildings contain asbestos and some abandoned measuring instruments contain radio active material.

Whether or not the mine is re-opened remediation of past damage is necessary.

Associate Professor Don Anton from the Australian National University's College of Law says the involvement of the United Nations Environment Program is a significant development.

ANTON: I think it is a very significant development in the sense that we have an independent, a proven independent third party coming in to look at a very contentious situation.

GARRETT: It is important that landowners get independent advice not tainted by vested interest what difference could the involvement of UNEP make?

ANTON: UNEP is as I say is an independent third party. It is a respected catalyst for both co-ordinating and promoting co-operation on environmental action. It has a long track record from 1972. It has been involved in other rehabilitation programs, like the Mau forest eco-system in Kenya, it has experience in remediation after hostilities, after Iraq and depleted uranium in Bosnia, so it has experience and a well respected track record in dealing with environmental problems.

GARRETT: When it closed the Bougainville copper mine was one of the biggest in the world.

Environmental Engineer Dr Gavin Mudd says its remediation will be no mean feat.

MUDD: . There are very few sites around the world on the scale of Bougainville that have been cleaned up. A lot of the mines that have been dealt with in this manner are either in Canada or Australia and certainly considerably smaller. So in that sense we don't have too many examples. The principles are the same in terms of engineering but certainly the scale of Bougainville is certainly very big and that does present a very big challenge.

GARRETT: Bougainville Copper Ltd is legally responsible for the clean-up.

Dr Mudd says it will be expensive.

MUDD: I'd imagine you would be looking at hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions. It is really hard to know exactly. It depends on the logistics involved and there is a whole bunch of complex factors involved in that so the simple message is it is not going to be cheap. Which ever level of remdiation is done at Bougainville it is certainly going to be a very costly exercise.

GARRETT: Public opinion on Bougainville has been shifting in favour of re-opening the mine.

But many people who lived through the civil war are wary.

Associate Professor Don Anton says whichever decision is made environmental standards must be met.

ANTON: It is clear we should have a rigorous environmental impact assessment with full public participation, full disclosure, full opportunity to comment. We should have, in terms of approvals, conditions imposed upon the operation of these mines if they were to go forward again, including the requirement for insurance, remediation bonds and other security put up to account for problems that may eventuate down the track. Of course this is assuming mining is allowed to go ahead again. It may well be that UNEP reports back, if this is within their terms of reference,UNEP could report back that mining should not proceed again and then it would be up to I suppose the Joint Co-ordinating Committee to make a decision about that.

GARRETT: The Bougainville government is yet to set up environment department department or pass legislation. How can a small government, like Bougainville's make sure it has the wherewithal to effectively protect the environment and keep track of what a large company like Rio Tinto or Boug Copper is up to?

ANTON: It is a very difficult situation because of course capacity in small countries is a major challenge both in terms of personnel and expertise. One thing that might be done in terms of if the mine went forward, would be as part of the conditions for the mine going forward, would be that monies be paid to allow Bougainville to create an independent environment department that would superintend and inspect and monitor the mine.

 Next door to Bougainville: 

04.09.2013

Source: Radio New Zealand International

Artisanal miners an ongoing problem at Solomons gold mine

Allegations of the use of mercury are among ongoing issues at the Gold Ridge mine in Solomon Islands.

It is four years since the country’s sole mine was reopened – a decade on from the ethnic tensions that forced its closure.

Both the mining company and the government are being urged to attend to a range of problems – from reports of river pollution to what are thought to be growing numbers of illegal miners and traders.

Annell Husband reports:

Gold Ridge is thought to contribute about 20% of the country’s gross domestic product. St Barbara Limited took ownership of the mine just under a year ago and according to the company’s website is the sixth owner since open pit mining began in 1998. The managing director and chief executive says the company is very concerned about illegal miners – not because of the gold they’re taking but because of the risks to their safety. Tim Lehany says up to 200 illegal miners – including children – go into the pits every night and the site’s terrain and issues of customary land ownership make it difficult to stop them. He says it’s not the job of the mining company’s security team to get into physical confrontations.

“TIM LEHANY: We believe that is the role of the Royal Solomons Police. These people are all armed with bush knives, we’ve had threats made, we’ve had stones thrown and particularly people who’re intoxicated can get pretty excited and that just adds another dimension to this whole thing.”

Tim Lehany says Gold Ridge Mine Mining Limited, is working closely with the police. He says he wants to see more people being arrested and charged.

“TIM LEHANY: It’s a complex problem. There are lots of aspects to this illegal mining activity and I think it needs to be tackled on a number of fronts. So first of all, I think people need to be arrested and charged with trespass and then of course you can also work on the side where the gold is actually going and where the money changes hands.”

Tim Lehany says arrests at the international airport near Honiara of foreign nationals is proof that the government is trying to do something about the trade in illegal gold. He denies the involvement of Solomon Islands politicians in the trade – but Transparency Solomon Island’s chairperson Ruth Liloqula says their involvement is a known fact. She says a government minister is a licensed dealer and all sorts of other unlikely people – including nurses and students – are being used as front people for those buying the illegally-mined gold at discounted prices.

“RUTH LILOQULA: Unless the government acts there is no way the only mining company we have in the country is going to solve the problem of illegal miners. Because the people that have been licensed to deal in gold are the ones that are encouraging this practice.”

But Ruth Liloqula says Transparency Solomon Islands’ biggest concern is the possibility of mercury contamination at the mine. She says Transparency understands some of the operators are either using or going to get local miners to use mercury for extraction.

“RUTH LILOQULA: The possibility of what is happening in Ghana with the use of mercury and no attention is paid to environmental damage and river system pollution… So we need the government to follow the law – the law is pretty good. But at the moment we are not following it.”

St Barbara’s Tim Lehany says the mining company doesn’t use mercury but he’s also heard the rumours of its use and says if they’re true, that’s a very serious issue. Earlier this year Solomon Islands’ parliament heard that villagers along the Metapona River could no longer use the water for drinking, bathing, washing their clothes or fishing – nor could they grow crops along the riverbanks. But Mr Lehany says if that is the case it’s nothing to do with Gold Ridge.

“TIM LEHANY: We’re not contributing to any poisoning, in inverted commas, of the river. As I’ve said, we have an extensive sampling programme, we can demonstrate that we have not contributed to the condition of the river. Greater concern to us are the sanitary conditions in the villages downstream that pollute the river”

Tim Lehany accepts that human effluent is unlikely to affect crops but they could stop growing for a variety of reasons. But the MP who represents the communities who live downstream of the mine’s tailing dam says they have additional concerns. Martin Sopage says more than five thousand people would be affected by a dam failure and they want the mining company to discharge some of the water.

“MARTIN SOPAGE: The dam is continuing to rise and the construction is continuing to build up and the water is continuing to build up so we can’t think this is safe for us at the downstream. So there’s a very risk for us in the community there.”

But Tim Lehany says lifting the tailings dam is no cause for concern.

“TIM LEHANY: What I can say is that we put a lot of work into diverting run off away from the dam. So we manage the dam by making sure that as little water as possible from rainfall runs into it. In periods of extreme rainfall the dam level rises. We pump as much as we can back to the plant and that’s the way we manage it.”

But Tim Lehany says the company has a licence to discharge water from that treatment plant, which it uses to clear the water of cyanide, arsenic and other toxins used in the mining process. He says the company has done everything that is reasonably required of it and has been in continual discussions with the environment department.

04.09.2013

Source: PNG Attitude

The art of steering public revenue into private pockets

by KRISTIAN LASSLETT

PUT CRUDELY, IT STRIKES ME that the state in Papua New Guinea has become something of a channelling tool for steering the revenue generated - largely from the extractive industries - into the capital accumulation strategies of a largely urbanised national elite who have significant interests in the service sector (legal services and real estate spring to mind).

Taking morality out of this picture, you have to marvel at the profit rates that can be achieved through these scams.

One can pick up a prime piece of urban real estate for several hundred thousand kina - which is about the going rate for a Land Board bribe I am told - and then flip it for triple of four times that rate.

Or if you look at the Finance Department inquiry. Prominent public officials and lawyers were scamming several million in a go. And given there were little overheads, once divided this was all cream.

So it begs the question, why invest in a coffee plantation, for example, where the profit rates are small and unstable, when you can make enormous profits with minimal risk, and near absolute impunity, through scams and the black market in real estate and government contracts.

The resource sector is an indirect beneficiary of this illicit economy as a largely urban-based band of predatory capitalists - to put it inexactly - want a steady flow of foreign capital into natural resource because (even with the mammoth tax holidays) it breathes life into internal revenue.

And Phil Fitzpatrick is 100% spot on that Australian business plays a big role. I have seen Australian banks ignore highly irregular activity. (Who can forget the Sandline inquiry where it was alleged that a K500,000 bribe was plonked right into an Brisbane bank account of a PNG official).

Political solutions won’t solve these problems; they may in fact exacerbate them. Some of the most revealing moments into corruption and graft have been a product of schisms in the national elite (particularly the breakdown of the Somare dynasty).

A much more holistic attempt to break the parasitic class is needed. In a different situation, the uprising in Egypt was very much a cross-class alliance built on frustration with the especially parasitic character of Mubarak and his cronies. But that movement appears to have fractured.

It’s going to be a very tough path ahead for PNG if it’s going to break the bottleneck of power which is strangling the country.

But its uplifting, and a rare treat, to see the likes of Gary Juffa and others, developing serious analyses of the situation confronting PNG.

ESBC: Do not miss the article below and you will find out that Mr. Lasslett  appears as mentally disordered person. 

04.09.2013

Source: ESBC / PNGexposed Blog

Militant anti-mining activist gets struck back!

Lasslett's famous hobby is spreading unrest and uncertainty amongst indigenous people by publishing allegations and lies on mining companies such as Rio Tinto or Bogainville Copper. He is a notorious troubblemaker who obtains by fraud the confidence of  grass-root people in Bougainville. He tries to manipulate these people to follow his absurd philosophy.

Unexpectedly, last month  Lasslett got struck back from the ground in Bougainville.

Please read here the amusing whole story: 

http://pngexposed.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/leaked-document-reveals-secret-abg-plan-to-reopen-bougainville-mine/

If you prefer to download this amusing dispute as PDF click here !

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ONSA WANTS GOVERNMENT WORKS TENDERED

By Aloysius Laukai

A Bougainville Businessman, HENRY ONSA wants projects awarded by National Members under their DSIP and PSIP programs to be tendered so that the public can apply to implement these projects.

He made these remarks on New Dawn FM today when congratulating the Regional Member, JOE LERA for distributing his FIFTEEN MILLION KINA between the three regions.

MR. ONSA said that projects approved for implementation under the PSIP must be made public so that the people know who will benefit from these funds.

He said that National Members must use the existing Tender Boards to award contracts instead of awarding contracts themselves.

MR. ONSA said Contracts must also be monitored by these technocrats to make sure that Government funds are not wasted.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS ON EMPOWERMENT OF PEOPLE

By Aloysius Laukai

ABG President DR. JOHN MOMIS says that Bougainville will no longer be a mere recipient of Goods and Services but will strive to be an active and eminent agent of change in its own development.

He made these remarks during the Port Moresby Bougainville Association Forum last week.

The President said that to achieve this Bougainville will have to build and maintain relationships that go beyond their comfort zones and create policies to improve the region’s development.

He said that everyone has the responsibility to build an ideal society based on being part of an international community and see that it is promoted in that context.

DR.JOHN MOMIS who is known as the Father of Decentralization in Papua New Guinea said that the on-going breakdown of Papua New Guinea’s social structure was the result of lack of empowerment of the people of this country.

He said that the structural distribution of power was more important than the distribution of goods and services.

The President stressed that without empowering the people they become vulnerable and easy to manipulate.

He said that to achieve national solidarity, the National Government must uphold the principle of subsidiarity which stipulates that the National Government must not usurp the powers the Autonomous Bougainville Government as well as the Provincial Governments.

The President’s main concept of this paradigm shift is to create a structure that will actively distribute decision making power and political power evenly to the people at the grassroots.

He said that this will see people being empowered to do more as well as receiving goods and services at an even rate.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

RESSETLEMENT OF CARTERETS ISLANDERS SOON TO START

By Aloysius Laukai

The resettlement of FOUR HUNDRED CARTERETS Islanders to KAROLLA Plantation will begin as soon as paper work on the scheme is completed.

This was revealed to New Dawn FM in Buka by the ABG’s Special Projects Officer, APHRAIME EMINONI.

He said all negotiations with the host community and the Carterets islanders have been completed and a submission made to the BEC for approval has been prepared for presentation by the Ressetlement Committee.

MR. EMINONI said the process took a long time as the Government has to make sure issues that can erupt from the resettlement is addressed before the actual exercise starts.

He said that initially they are targeting 40 to 60 families to settle at the KAROLLA plantation whilst others will be relocated in different areas.

The Special Projects officer said that they have to move only some to the resettlement site looking at the population expansion in the future.

MR. EMINONI also mentioned that families that will move to the Karolla relocation site have already been identified.

Meanwhile, the Caterets Resettlement site run by the Caterets NGO group TULELE PEISA in Tinputz will by end of this year move ONE HUNDRED islanders to Tinputz.

Those families that moved in 2007 are already harvesting Cocoa and Coconut and other foods and vegetables for sale.

ANG they have been allocated ONE HECTRE to each family to grow their cash crops and other food which they can sell at the nearby Tinputz market.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

TASIKUL SAYS SPORTSMEN COMMITED TO SUSTAINBILITY

By Aloysius Laukai

The President of the Bougainville Rugby Football League and Senior Magistrate, BRUCE TASIKUL has vowed to make sure Sports bodies build their capacities to raise funds so that they can sustain their activities in future.

He made these comments at the Hutjena Sports Oval when accepting a cheque of TWENTY THOUSAND KINA from the Regional member for Bougainville, JOE LERA today.

The President of the Bougainville Rugby Football league said that his association was grateful that the Regional member has made it possible for his team to travel by air to Rabaul as Shipping between Rabaul and Buka is unreliable at the moment.

He said funds from the Regional member went straight to purchase tickets for the 21member Buka contingent.

MR. TASIKUL said that the tickets for their trip costed TWENTY ONE THOUSAND KINA.

He said other funds were raised through several fundraising they organized in Buka.

The BOUGAINVILLE RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGE President said they had previously received FIFTEEN THOUSAND KINA from the Member for NORTH BOUGAINVILLE, LAUTA ATOI of which some have been used to raise more funds.

He said that his association was trying to find ways to raise their funds instead of knocking on doors each time they want to travel out of the region.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

LERA SUPPORTS BOUGAINVILLE TEAM

By Aloysius Laukai

The Regional Member this morning donated TWENTY THOUSAND KINA towards AIR TICKET for the Bougainville Rugby Football team’s travel to participate at the New Guinea Islands Rugby Football trials to be held in Rabaul at the weekend.

In Presenting the Cheque to the President of the Bougainville Football Rugby League, and Magistrate, BRUCE TASIKUL, MR. LERA said that sports was one way of rehabilitating Bougainville’s youth most of them were affected by the Bougainville conflict.

The Regional Member said that this was his first time to assist Sports and was now looking at setting funds for sports in the future.

MR. LERA said that Sports contributes in moving youths out of illegal activities and he will continue to support it.

The Regional member said that his vision of developing person to develop the nation includes helping the person through sports.

The team totalling TWENTY-ONE sportsmen including officials will leave for Rabaul at the weekend.

Regional Member JOE LERA presents the Cheque to the Bougainville Rugby Football League President BRUCE TASIKUL surrounded by the team

03.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Poor planning in Bougainville

By ROMULUS MASIU

THE Bougainville Administration’s Finance and Planning Division have come under fire from the ABG Minister for Veterans Affairs, David Sisito, for a poor planning effort for the autonomous region. 

Minister Sisito took a swipe at officers of the two most important divisions suggesting things were not up to standard when crucial decisions in regards to the K100 million earmarked for development by the National Government were made. 

To date the K100 million for 2013 has been withheld and Mr Sisito has blamed Planning and Finance for not doing their part in providing the best plans and advice for impact projects on the ground. 

Yesterday, Mr Sisito blasted the officers at the Finance and Planning offices in Buka labeling them as incapable and letting the government down, pinpointing the delay of K100 million from the National Government as the sole failure of the Finance and Planning Office in Buka. “The National Government is holding on to the K100 million because there is no acquittals yet from the Planning and Finance Office in Buka. There is no proper planning of these things – how the money is spent and the scope of work is not provided by officers in these two offices – signaling a break down in executing the funding to the ABG by the National Government.”

Mr Sisito who is also the Member for Central Bougainville Ex-Combatants in the Bougainville House of Representatives now wants the ABG President John Momis and his Cabinet to quickly hire a planner on a contract basis who will come and work in the Planning office. He also wants the same for the Finance office in Buka. 

Mr Sisito who is a key member in the Momis-Nisira Cabinet said at the moment finger pointing is taking place and Member for Central Bougainville and Minister for Communication and Information Technology in the National Parliament Jimmy Miringtoro is one victim of this. 

03.09.2013

Source: The National

Momis: Bougainville owed K188 million 

By MALUM NALU

THE national government owes the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) a massive K188 million, according to president John Momis.

He told a “Sustainability of Bougainville” seminar that the money was to pay for arrears incurred by the National Government, as well as unpaid grants, and should be given as a matter of urgency.

Momis said the ABG was also faced with a huge bill from “home guards” who provided security for people and property during the decade-long Bougainville crisis.

“The money that we are entitled to legally, constitutionally, is K188m,” he said. “They (national government) haven’t paid us yet.

“The referendum is around the corner.”

Momis said a lot of pressure was being put on the ABG by businesses houses on Bougainville for debts incurred by the National Government.

“Many of the debts owed to business houses in Buka were done during the time of administration, when North Solomons provincial government was under suspension,” he said.

“Most of the debts were incurred by the administration of the national government, which went around making all kinds of commitments and debts, which are now left at our door.

“We did not make these commitments, we were not in government then, and yet we are expected to pay these debts that we are not responsible for.

“The national government must foot the bill.

“It is their irresponsible behaviour that led to this huge debt.”

Then there are the ongoing demands from home guards.

“We have meagre resources to deal with the home guard claims,” Momis said. “We have little money.

“The money that the (national) government gives us is totally conditional.”

03.09.2013

Source: The National

Trauma, homebrew, drugs halt progress 

BENEATH the façade of a Bougainville working towards peace is an undercurrent of evil that threatens to sweep it all away, says John Momis.

Dancing to the beat of reggae and rap, with dreadlocks reaching to the ground, are youths intoxicated on home brew and stoned on marijuana.

Such is the intensity of this homebrew and marijuana culture that it could jeopardise the whole peace process and future of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARB).

Added to this is the fact that thousands of people, who have lived through the decade-long Bougainville crisis, are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder without any trauma counselling.

It is a problem that has not gone unnoticed by Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) president Momis, a seasoned politician and former Catholic priest. 

“We have a big problem with trauma, drugs and alcohol,” he said.

“I met a psychiatrist, whose father was a kiap at Hutjena some years ago, and he said, ‘your young boys and girls who consume homebrew and drugs will be brain-dead in five or six year’s time’. We are not doing anything about it. We just want to build bridges and roads.

“You can see now the stupidity of people who are representing us (Bougainville) in national parliament.

“Communication and awareness is a major thing that we should do.

“ABG, with its meagre resources, has decided to have a jointly-funded satellite system throughout Bougainville so that we can create awareness, enable people to be agents of change, and not be mere passive recipients of goods and services.”

03.09.2013

Source: Islands Business

UN can help cash-strapped Bougainville

Cash -strapped Bougainville will be eligible to benefit from the United Nations’ peace building fund, says UN resident coordinator David McLachlan-Karr (pictured). 

McLachlan-Karr also announced that Interpeace, an independent Geneva-based organisation, had been contracted to assist with the implementation of the Bouganville Peace Agreement. 

He said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon had declared that PNG was eligible to receive money from the fund in June this year. 

McLachlan-Karr said the fund, which was created by the UN’s peace building commission, would support the national Government and the autonomous Bougainville government’s joint commitments on implementation of the peace accords, especially with reference to filling some of the critical gaps identified by the parties to achieving genuine autonomy in the lead-up to ARB elections in 2015 and before the referendum to determine the future of Bougainville., which can take place, with the consensus of the parties, between 2015 and 2020. 

“I’m happy to announce that the steering committee for the peace building fund has been established with the agreement of three co-chairs, the President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (John Momis), Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe (Zurenuoc), and the UN resident coordinator,” McLachlan-Karr told the seminar. 

“Under the three co-chairs who will be managing the peace building fund, are representatives of key bilateral governments and donors such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, United States and will also incorporate the World Bank and a number of community services organisations. 

“We’re happy to say that the fund comes at an opportune time for both parties (Bougainville and PNG) and the people to build more consensus around the outstanding challenges we have for unification, security sector improvements including removal of arms and threats to safety, rehabilitation of youth and strong involvement of women.” 

McLachlan-Karr did not give any figures. 

“Many people have asked me what the level of funding is. The level of funding is determined based on the quality of the submission of the peace-building priority plan that will be submitted. 

“Let me just say that it will be in the order of millions and it will be available for three years from 2014-2017 as an adjunct to the UN support for the work that’s going on in Bougainville. 

“This is a significant step and it, of course, brings Bougainville more closer to the orbit of international scrutiny,” he said.

03.09.2013

Source: The National

Good policies can help grow Bougainville 

By FIDELIS SUKINA

PROPER policies and investment by the private sector and Bougainvilleans can help the region grow, an academic says.

Professor of economics at the University of the South Pacific Satish Chand, who travelled to Bougainville to do research, said with its current growth, Bougainville had a long way to go to improve health services, education and develop a skilled workforce.

Bougainville is small with just 3% of the total population of Papua New Guinea and 3% of the country’s land mass.

He said almost half of the population was still under 20 years old and creating job opportunities for them was an issue which investment would bring.

He said releasing land for investment by villagers in Bougainville was still hard but some parts such as Siwai were now moving forward and surveying their land for development. He said it was a ‘positive step’.

Chand said Bougainville had potential for investment but needed the government to introduce policies.

“Bougainville has a huge investment potential. We just have to tap into the resources and build the infrastructure to support it,” he said.

“But, of course, we need policies from the government to lure investors because only the private sector can sustain these investments.”

He said the investment must be supported by communication infrastructure on land and sea. He suggested that the ABG government should provide shipping services for the region.

Chand said cocoa and copra production had dropped because of the falling prices.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ABG PRESIDENT RETURNS HAPPY

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS returned to Bougainville this morning after attending a Peace Workshop organized and sponsored by the Unification Church based in South Korea.

Speaking to reporters on his arrival in Buka, President Momis said that he was happy to attend the program in South Korea as he had the opportunity to talk to Government officials there to find ways they can assist Bougainville.

He said that Bougainville can learn something from South Korea, as they too rebuild after the famous Korean war to what they are today as one Developed nation.

DR. MOMIS said that SOUTH KOREA will be sending a team of experts to Bougainville to see where they can contribute to the development of Bougainville.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS HAPPY WITH BOUGAINVILLE FORUM

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS says that he fully supports the Bougainvilleans working in Port Moresby for organizing the Bougainville Forum held in Port Moresby last week.

He made these remarks in Buka today after arriving from Port Moresby.

PRESIDENT MOMIS said that the forum has for the first time cleared the air to Bougainvilleans living outside of Bougainville as they have been complaining that the ABG was not doing nothing but chewing Bougainville’s monies.

President Momis had the opportunity to bring to light many issues relating to the ABG as well as its preparation for the up coming Referendum.

He said that the ABG will establish a monthly bulletin that can be distributed to Bougainvilleans outside of Bougainville to keep them abreast of what is happening on their island.

DR. MOMIS also called on Bougainvilleans living outside of Bougainville to unite and support the progress of Bougainville.

03.09.2013

Source: EMTV

Bougainville Peace Agreement Seminar

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS COMMENTS ON PUBLIC SERVICE

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG President Chief DR. JOHN MOMIS has described the Bougainville Public Service has indispensable in moving the region towards progress.

ABG President made these comments at a Press conference in Buka this morning.

He said that the Public Service was an essential component in efficient service delivery to the people of Bougainville in ensuring that development happens in a transparent manner.

Despite the public heckling over questionable status of the service, the President has reaffirmed his faith in it and said that his office is committed to upgrading the service into a more proactive function of State.

He said that contrary to regular belief the Bougainville Public Service is controlled and employed by the National Government whilst the ABG only makes recommendation for the services highest official, The Chief Administrator which is different from the rest of Papua New Guinea.

On the removal of the former Chief Administrator, LAWRENCE DISIN ABG President said that this was done in the best interest for Bougainville.

He explained that MR.DISIN’s services were not entirely retired from the public service but would be used in a different capacity and will continue serving Bougainville.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

LERA WILL BE STRICT ON RELEASE OF FUNDS

By Aloysius Laukai

The Regional Member for Bougainville, JOE LERA says that he will be very strict on the release of project funds to make sure there is control in the implementation of projects.

He told New Dawn FM last week that Funds approved for projects would be released according to work plans and as the projects are implemented.

MR. LERA said this is to control the use of these funds and to make sure all payments are done for items in the project plan.

The Regional member said that NO LUMP SUM payment will be released at any one time to avoid misuse of funds on different programmes.

He said in the past many projects were not completed because contractors paid something else apart from what they had received the monies for and to date nothing is to be seeing in places where members have spent money in.

The Regional member said that this would teach Bougainvilleans to plan properly before seeking assistance as all projects will be monitored to make sure Government funds reach the rural population.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

HYDRO WILL RAISE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS

By Aloysius Laukai

The INTRODUCTION OF Hydro Power system to supply Electricity to Bougainville was progressing well according to the ABG Special Projects Officer, APHRAIME EMINONI.

Speaking to New Dawn FM at the weekend, MR. EMINONI said that work on the RAMAZON Hydro project is going smoothly and work on the site that Turbine and other equipments will be stationed.

MR. EMINONI said that the RAMAZON HYDRO Power will provide electricity needs for Tinputz, Selau and Buka island.

He was commenting on the Government’s Rural Electrification program that will cover the Tinputz, Selau and Buka rural communities.

MR. EMINONI said that Rural Electrification program will reach the HAKU area by the end of next year.

On the Tinputz to Selau area, all wiring will be covered under the Hydro Power Program.

He said once the RAMAZON HYDRO POWER is commissioned it will automatically connect to the load that covers the entire North Bougainville and repaying Bank loan obtained from the Banks would easy.

He also commented on other Hydro Power systems planned for the entire Bougainville Region.

The Special Projects officer said that the TOGARAU Hydro project is small and will only cover WAKUNAI.

He said the LALUAI HYDRO will supply Kieta District, KIETA,TONIVA, ARAWA and PANGUNA and will meet the electricity need for the PANGUNA Copper Mine.

For South Bougainville, SILIBAI HYDRO will supply Buin town and nearby villages whilst MIVO river in Siwai is near the LALUAI volcano which could be damaged if the volcano erupts in future.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

RUGBY UNION FOR SCHOOLS LAUNCHED

By Alex Munme

SEVEN Primary Schools and two Secondary Schools in North Bougainville will taste Rugby Union soon in their schools.

They are Malasang, Hahela, Sohano, Gogohe, Hanahan , Lemanmanu , Petats Primary Schools and the two Secondary Schools are Hutzena and Bishop Wade Tarlena.

The green light for the schools rugby union program in these schools was given at a small but significant launching at the Reasons Bar & Grill today in Buka town.

Division of Education Senior Standard Officer, Peter Kamuai, Division of Community Development CEO Mana Kakaroutz were among the teachers, players and code officials for the launching today.

The rugby schools program was given its blessing by the Senior Standards Officer Peter Kamuai in the absence of CEO Bruno Babato.

Mr. Kamuai says the program is allowed to be rolled out in the schools after a MOU was signed between the code representatives and the Education Division.

Certificates were also presented at the launching to the schools who are taking up the program in their school.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

VERONICA WANTS PARENTS CONTRIBUTION

By Aloysius Laukai

The Principal of Sohano Primary School, VERONICA BINTA is appealing to Sohano residents and especially parents and Citizens of students attending Sohano Primary School to help SOHANO youths in carrying building materials from the beach to the School Grounds.

MRS. BINTA told New Dawn FM today that the AUSAID sponsored building materials were offloaded at the weekend at the KATSIN Brothers Wharf at Ieta village.

AND the school engaged Sohano youths to ferry the materials to Sohano island starting this morning.

She said that Parents and Citizens can either help carry these materials or they can contribute food and drinks to the youths.

MRS. BINTA said that AUSAID had paid for the TWO IN ONE CLASSROOM and a Teacher’s House.

03.09.2013

Source: Radio New Zealand International

Bougainville memo clear

The chairman of the group representing landowners around the Panguna mine in Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville says an agreement with a Chinese company has nothing to do with mining.

News that a memorandum of understanding had been signed by the landowners’ chair, Lawrence Daveona, the local MP in the national government - Jimmy Miningtoro, and a Chinese company - Beijing Aerospace Great Wall Mineral Investment, angered the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

The MOU was widely condemned on Bougainville with the government presuming it involved an unsanctioned restart of mining at the Panguna mine, but Mr Daveona says that is not the case.

He says the MOU is about establishing tourism projects, developing agriculture and rehabilitating land that is covered in old tailings from the Panguna mine.

Mr Daveona told Don Wiseman any firm deal with the Chinese company is still some way off.

LAWRENCE DAVEONA: There are a lot of things you have to go through before you even start talking about who to deal with. It’s a process we have to follow.

DON WISEMAN: The one thing I guess you’d need to answer, I imagine some people on Bougainville would be interested to know is, is why is a Panguna landowner or the representative of a Panguna landowner group involved in a discussion about tourism and things like this because that’s not going to be a very likely thing around Panguna, is it?

LAWRENCE DAVEONA: My reasons are very clear. I would like the people of Bougainville to benefit, first, in agriculture and tourism. I made that very clear during our discussion and unless I see the people of Bougainville benefitting first then I won’t be talking about the reopening of Panguna mine. That is my stand. That is why I’m talking about agriculture and tourism. Because Bougainville depends very much on agriculture right now. Tourism is something new that I want to bring in, so that people on Bougainville - north, central and south - will benefit from tourism. There’s a lot of money in tourism. Even if we do not open the Panguna mine we can make more money out of tourism to sustain 250,000 to 300,000 Bougainvilleans plus have more surplus money to give out. I’m not into mining, I’m not. I don’t want mining to be open. Personally, I want Bougainville to benefit some other way. I will stand by it, and that was my stand before I signed that MOU.

DON WISEMAN: So what’s the next stage, then, Lawrence?

LAWRENCE DAVEONA: They’ve invited us to China to go and have a look at this technology we wanted to see. But before that I want our minister and president and us, we are working on a reconciliation for the minister and us together so that we can move forward on our plans. Without having this reconciliation, without the president, we cannot at this stage think about going to visit China through the MOU.

03.09.2013

Source: PNG Attitude

Gangs of Bougainville: 7 men, guns & a copper mine

by STAN STARYGIN | Journal of Conflict Transformation & Security | Conclusion

THE OPENING, OPERATION AND CLOSURE of the Panguna Mine and the ensued civil war have doubtless been by far the most impactful events in Bougainville’s 33,000 years of history.

It does not take a sage or a seer to predict that what happened between 1969 and 2001 will continue being at the forefront of Bougainvilleans’ minds for many years to come.

Contrary to its name, the Bougainville Peace Agreement of 2001 did not bring peace to Bougainville. It brought a disarmament and weapons containment process which failed by 2006, a weak autonomous government which has been on life support since its creation in 2005, and the entrenchment of the residue of civil war combatants in the form of street gangs that continue to control half the island.

With, perhaps, the exception of Buka town, Bougainville has frozen in time. It is no longer in 1969 or 2001, or anywhere in between. Nor is it in 2012. The disarmament and weapons containment process failed in 2005 and the ABG was created the same year; there has been no significant change since.

Rephrasing the words of an American playwright, in Bougainville, there is no present or future, it is year 2006 happening over and over again, now.

The existence of the gangs is a constant reminder to all Bougainvilleans and outsiders that, in the words of Uma, “we have a fight here and it is not over”.

Gang leaders like [Chris] Uma have spent their entire adult lives looking at the world through the barrel of the gun.

They have had numerous opportunities to go back to civilian life but they have consciously ignored them realizing that, in Bougainville, being a man with a gun bestows the status of power and money whereas the life of a civilian often gives neither.

Only a small portion of the gang members relate to the Panguna land under the traditional rules of land tenure in Bougainville.

This, however, does not mean that[ Ishmael] Toroama’s “now that a war has been fought over it the Panguna mine belongs to all Bougainvilleans” will not strike a chord with those who are dispossessed of the mine by the traditional rules of land tenure.

Only time will show with how many of the gang members this will resonate and how many will be willing to step aside out of respect for the traditional rules of land tenure.

A sizable portion of the gangs exercises varying measures of control over the Panguna mine. While there is some potential for events in the area to recalibrate these measures, it is unlikely that this recalibration will be of significant nature.

The gangs’ views on reopening of the Panguna mine are diverse, often inconsistent within the same gang, and often oscillating over fairly short spans of time. There has been one constant in these views; that constant is self-interest.

Despite what the gangs might say in public, self-interest is the best litmus test to gauge the truthfulness of these statements.

Reconciling these views is not as easy a task as they range from [the late Francis] Ona’s two decades old claim for 10 billion kinas to various other forms of compensation to Mungta’s admonition that reopening of the Panguna mine would be a disaster for Bougainville.

Reconciliation of these views, if at all possible, may not be of lasting nature136 and may have the effect of rupture on the production of the reopened mine.

It has been argued that indigenous cultures are a hindrance to development.

Whether this claim passes the test of time or not, is not relevant to the Bougainville gangs’ views on the Panguna mine for a very simple reason: by ‘development’ the gangs mean that someone will come and do all the work and they will get paid simply for being there.

Until conditions exist for that someone to come in and do all the work, the gangs will keep themselves and the people of Bougainville under permafrost and year 2006 will keep happening on Bougainville, year after year and again and again, now.

You can read the full journal article - a rare and fascinating account of the men and issues behind civil turbulence in Bougainville - here  Download The Gangs of Bougainville

Stan Starygin has been involved with legal and judicial reform projects in early recovery and post-conflict countries across Africa and the South Pacific. The paper was almost entirely researched and written in Papua New Guinea, with intermittent critical input into the developing draft from Bougainvilleans and those others familiar with the Bougainville Crisis and its present state

03.09.2013

Source:  PNG Attitude

So who are you to mine my Panguna minerals?

by LEONARD FONG ROKA

BOUGAINVILLE HAD SUFFERED FROM EXPLOITATION by external powers since 1899 when the Germans and British bargained over it as if it was their commodity.

This exploitation intensified under Australian rule with the discovery of mineralisation in Panguna and the granting of a prospecting authority to Conzinc RioTinto of Australia (CRA) in 1963.

With the legal backing of the colonial government (and, from 1975, the Papua New Guinea government), so the Solomon Island people of Bougainville were brutally intimidated.

Panguna’s rich mineralisation is clear. It is shown, for example, in the Porter Geoconsultancy paper, Panguna Copper & Gold.

But Bougainvilleans since time immemorial, whether they had any idea or not of this sub terrestrial wealth, just knew it as their land with all of its cultural and spiritual connections; and they knew nothing should come between their land and themselves.

This wealth, however, was available only for those with the financial power and technology to exploit it.

One reason why Bougainvilleans fought Bougainville Copper Limited and the PNG government was the influx of non-Bougainvilleans who grabbed our land, raped our mothers and looted our gardens.

This leads to the question of whether Bougainville itself has the resources to localise mining? We need a vagrancy law to enable us to control migration to our island. And we need tertiary institutions that will provide the appropriate education and skills.

These developments must be on Bougainville first before we talk about mining Panguna.

The people with conflicted interests in this controversial mine are Rio Tinto (with its player on the ground BCL), Papua New Guinea (with its legal trickery in Bougainville) and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (with pro-mining leaders the late Francis Ona hated).

Where is Rio Tinto coming from? In an Islands Business article in April, BCL chairman, Peter Taylor said: “The mine has the potential to process 60 million tonnes of ore per annum, a similar rate that it achieved prior to the mine being suspended.”

This rate was for the pre-crisis mining operations. It was done for PNG development and not Bougainville. To re-start the Bougainville economy at such a rate is suicide for Bougainville.

Bougainville, as it prepares for a referendum on its future independence, needs not this size of mining. Panguna must be downsized relative to a level of sustainable economic growth.

The fact is that Rio Tinto, which is having nightmares in its other mining projects, is interested in making a profit from the Chinese economic boom and is not wanting to mine to develop Bougainville.

PNG is now fooling Bougainvilleans as it did in 1976 with the useless provincial government system. In mining, it is clear that PNG has the all the power to decide Bougainville policies.

In a July Lexology article, Reopening of Panguna copper-gold mine in PNG: risks and benefits,  Rockwell Olivier and Dan Ward wrote: “Although the PNG Constitution was amended to allow the Autonomous Region of Bougainville to make laws in relation to mining, such laws aren't necessarily guaranteed.

“Section 292(3)(a) of the PNG Constitution provides that even if ABG passes the proposed mining laws, the National Government would still need to agree with the legislation, otherwise the law won't take effect until a dispute resolution process reaches a final determination.”

To this, Bougainville has no power to control or design its own mining development; PNG is still hanging on.

Back in Bougainville, the problem is that we have greedy leaders in Kieta. There are people running after their personal interest and brain-washing uneducated local people.

Their issue is money into their Panguna pockets from Rio Tinto, ABG and PNG. Decisions made are so far not representative of the people. It’s getting the whole Bougainville Island frustrated because there is no progress.

So, who are you to mine my Panguna minerals? Rio Tinto will be mining my Panguna for the Chinese market with the blessing of PNG and not the Bougainville government, its people and their future betterment and nationhood.

02.09.2013

Source:  The National

Momis: Mining essential for survival of Bougainville 

MINING is essential for the economic survival of Bougainville, Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) president John Momis says.

He, however, cautioned resource owners not to “get into bed with any Tom, Dick and Harry”.

Speaking at a “Sustainablity of Bougainville” seminar in Port Moresby last Friday, Momis said Bougainville could not depend on agriculture as many people were saying.

“We have a new mining law which, for the first time in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, gives the total right of ownership to the landowners,” he said.

“But the right and the authority to issue licenses, right from exploration and development stages, belongs to the (Bougainville) government.

“It is the government’s responsibility to effect equitable distribution of benefits.

“It is the government that decides whether the mining project goes ahead.

“The landowners, the resource owners, own the resources, but the fact that they own these does not give them the license to get into bed with any Tom, Dick and Harry.

“They must do it only under the regime of the government.

“I’m sorry, my friends Jimmy Miringtoro and Lawrence Daveona, you are totally wrong.”

Momis said Bougainville could not depend on agriculture alone.

02.09.2013

Source:  The National

Corruption shadows ABG 

By MALUM NALU

Massive corruption among the bureaucracy on Bougainville is the order of the day as it pushes for full autonomy and possible independence, according to deputy auditor-general, Peter Siparau.

He told the ‘Sustainability of Bougainville’ seminar last Friday that public servants on Bougainville were a law unto themselves, who were seemingly answerable to no one, including the governments of Bougainville and PNG.

President John Momis, concurred with Siparau, saying  the audacity and arrogance of some public servants there defied imagination.

Siparau said things were totally out of control from 2006-2010, when millions of kina were stolen through outright fraud and corruption, with “disclaimer audit opinions” issued – meaning the auditor-general was unable to rely on accounts and records of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) for the years ended Dec 31, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Siparau, a Bougainvillean who has been auditing ABG since 1997, said in 2010 alone, unacquitted amounts totalling K7.391 million were paid for travelling allowances, hire cars, and peace process reconciliation.

Serious audit issues include revenue collection, no registers kept for liquor outlets, no registers kept for motor vehicle registration, no registers kept for driver licences, and no segregation of duties with the same person collecting and banking monies.

Vehicle hired from private sources  totalling K2.275 million were not specified or indicated, payments were not properly approved by appropriate financial delegates, segregation of duties by officers was not done, personnel reimbursements were paid to officers but no approvals sighted, no quotations for purchases, and payments were charged to wrong votes – contravening the appropriation act.

No tenders were called for and even if they were, there was no prequalification with tenders given to cronies or associates who then did not complete the job but were paid in full.

Physical stock takes were not carried out to confirm existence and value of assets, assets purchases and disposals were not recorded in the assets register, and assets such as motor vehicles were purchased without any policies in place.

Budgetary reviews were not done and as such lot of incorrect expenditure was charged to incorrect expenditure votes, revenues budgeted for were not collected, and no liaison/co-ordination between the planning office and each division to monitor budgets.

Monies were invested in unlicensed financial institutions, while a disclaimer audit opinion was issued for South Bougainville Engineering for period 1997-2004.

Three trust accounts were maintained with no instruments in place to ensure no fraud and misapplication of monies. 

Momis said the bureaucracy and not politicians were in control.

“The treasurer is an appointee of the national government,” Momis said.

“I’ve spoken twice to the national government to remove him, and at one stage, he wanted to sue me.

“Under the current delegation situation, ABG has no power to promote, demote, hire and fire public servants who are members of the national public service.

“The only person we can hire or fire is the chief administrator, and we have done that.

“When things didn’t work, we finally decided to remove the chief administrator, not because he is corrupt, but because he allowed things to happen right before him and was not prepared to take action.”

02.09.2013

Source:  The National

Musingku a ‘national problem’ 

THE name of reclusive Bougainville leader Noah Musingku, known as “King David Peii II” of the kingdom of Papaala, came out of obscurity during the “Sustainability of Bougainville” seminar in Port Moresby last Friday.

Notorious conman Noah Musingku starring as King David Peii II

Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) president, John Momis described the head honcho of the infamous U-Vistract money scheme, which robbed thousands of Bougainvilleans and Papua New Guineans of millions of kina, as one of the “many problematic people” on the path to a referendum for full autonomy or independence.

Former ABG president and Bougainville Revolutionary Army commander James Tanis described Musingku as a “national problem” as he started U-Vistract in Port Moresby.

Constitutional lawyer and Bougainville expert Anthony Regan said Musingku appointed himself as monarch of a “triune government” of Bougainville with president Momis and a prime minister under him.

Momis said: “Noah Musingku is just one of the many problematic people that ABG has to deal with.

“Let us not allow him to stop us from pursuing our objectives, which are to set up good governance, rule of law, good legislative programmes, investment programmes, and so on and so forth.

“I don’t think we should be worried about what Noah Musingku is doing, already he’s marginalised.

“He will only succeed in confusing people, if those who believed in his past actions, allow him to do so.

“I don’t think that we should be too worried about what he’s doing.”

Tanis said he never signed a financial agreement with Musingku as some people said.”

“But I did visit Tonu (Musingku’s village),” he said.

“If you look at his background, he started here in Port Moresby.

“I still believe that Noah Musingku is everybody’s because almost every Bougainvillean was an investor (in U-Vistract).

“It is also a church problem, it is a faith problem, and it is a problem of belief.”

02.09.2013

Source: M-Cam Inc.

An Open Letter of Dr. David E. Martin (M-Cam Inc.) to the ASIC, FSA, and SEC Re: Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper Ltd.

Copied to Global Reporting Initiative, Transparency International, International Council on Mining and Metals, World Bank, and IFC

August 15, 2013

Sirs,

I have had two opportunities in the past 12 months to visit the Panguna Mine, the Arawa village and the Six Mine Lease Areas (SMLA) of the property formerly operated by Bougainville Copper Ltd (‘BCL’, majority owned by Rio Tinto with 53.8% of the issued shares).  Most recently, I spent two days at the mine on August 12-13, 2013.  Given the fact that both BCL and Rio Tinto report to their shareholders that, since 1989, they have not been capable of accessing the mine site for security reasons, I felt that it would be helpful to provide you and their shareholders with information that may be helpful clarification to material statements made by both companies.

Rio Tinto’s 2012 Annual Report has a footnote on the BCL project on page 206 which indicates that it’s incapable of safely accessing the mine site.  Rio’s Annual Report preamble statements about The Way We Work (page 14) are inconsistent with direct observations made during my visit to the mine, overburden deposition, and tailings discharge in the only major western riverbed at the Panguna Mine in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.  Dislocated communities, significant health and safety issues, and profound environmental degradation are evident everywhere.  While it would be convenient for the companies to attribute this to the conflict and post-conflict incapacity to manage conditions at the mine, the physical evidence of mining practice suggests that pre-conflict operations neglected to take appropriate consideration of Rio’s own stated standards.

Figure 1.  An aerial view of the BCL Panguna mine site.  From the mine pit to the end of the lower tailings is approximately 18km and at its widest is about .75km.  The diversion of the river around the mine site rejoins the former natural river bed below the Overburden primary deposition and diverts not more than 40% of the natural river flow (which now runs blue with copper beneath the overburden and through the tailings).

The following footnote is reproduced from Rio Tinto’s 2012 Annual Report.

43 Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL)

Mining has been suspended at the Panguna mine since 1989. Safe mine access by company employees has not been possible since that time and an accurate assessment of the condition of the assets cannot therefore be made. Considerable funding would be required to recommence operations to the level which applied at the time of the mine’s closure in 1989. An Order of Magnitude study undertaken in 2008 indicates that costs in a range of US$2 billion to US$4 billion would be required to reopen the mine assuming all site infrastructure is replaced. The directors consider that the Group does not currently realise a benefit from its interest in BCL and therefore BCL information continues to be excluded from the financial statements. BCL reported a net loss of US$2 million for the financial year (2011: net loss of US$2 million). This is based upon actual transactions for the financial year. The aggregate amount of capital and reserves reported by BCL as at 31 December 2012 was US$137 million (2011: US$139 million).

The Group owns 215,920,089 shares in BCL, representing 53.8 per cent of the issued share capital. The investment of US$195 million was fully provided against in 1991.  At 31 December 2012, the number of shares in BCL held by the Group, multiplied by the share price as quoted in the Australian Securities Exchange, resulted in an amount of US$111 million (2011: US$164 million).

This footnote represents the only material disclosure regarding BCL in the Annual Report.  As is evident, no mention is made of any liabilities that may arise from a closer examination of several important facts surrounding the Panguna Mine’s operation and cessation of operations.  These include:

a.       Unquantified environmental remediation costs.  To consider re-opening the mine under rudimentary compliance with global environmental best practices would entail reclamation of land that could far exceed the estimated costs in the 2008 Order of Magnitude study.  Given the affected watershed, surface and groundwater damage covers an excess of 18km at depths of over 100m in many locations (Figure 2).

Figure 2.  The Middle tailings deposit completely filling the valley and riverbed.  The riverbed field of view in this image is approximately 3km. 

b.      Management of landowner claims.  To date, the landowners and ex-combatants have identified several claims against the companies that have not been adjudicated by any court of competent jurisdiction.  In the event that BCL or Rio Tinto are exposed to prosecution for these matters, civil and criminal liabilities arising therefrom could represent material impact on performance. 

c.       The legality and corporate complicity with the formation of the 1967 Bougainville Copper Act which exists as a supra-Constitutional agreement affording Bougainville Copper Ltd rights in direct conflict with the Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.  As evidenced in related cases (including inquiries into Indigenous Rights in Australia), this unilateral agreement benefiting BCL’s interests over those of the right holders under the Organic Law of Papua New Guinea could be subject to challenge potentially opening inquiries into Fraudulent Inducement.  This observation is made from both the facts surrounding the establishment of the Act as well as the incapacity for local landowners to fully understand the structure and consequences of the Agreements into which they entered.  Should improprieties be found, BCL and its shareholders could be liable for considerable financial damages including, but not limited to, complete remediation of the sites impacted by the mine.

d.       Securities reporting compliance.  Shareholders have been inadequately informed as to the nature of the assets of BCL and may have economic harm arising therefrom. 

At present, the Autonomous Bougainville Government is being advised on its proposed new Mining Act by Australians (including ANU's AusAID funded Anthony Regan) who are advocating for many of the status quo pre-conflict conditions and the possible reinstitution of the conditions similar to the 1967 Bougainville Copper Act.  With no capacity to consider this advice in light of global best practices (another risk of Fraudulent Inducement), the interests of the companies are being advocated at the expense of a fully transparent, globally informed process.  Most problematic is the fact that the negotiations including the companies are being done without competent and complete understanding of the facts on the ground.  A simple example of this is the reported Asset Value of property at the mine.  No single building on the mine site is intact.  No operational equipment remains on the mine site.  The 2010 Annual Report estimated Plant & Machinery depreciated value of PNG K 296,094,000 is grossly inflated.  The most intact building on the site is pictured in Figure 3 below.  Metal is being sold as scrap and infrastructure damage (including considerable landslides) make the asset estimates grossly inflated.

Figure 3.  A view of the location of ball crushers and concentrators. At this location, only one defunct crusher remains on its stand with the others destroyed for metal salvage.  Twenty four years of metal salvage has left the remaining structures damaged beyond reasonable repair.

Setting aside the considerable questions surrounding the establishment, operation, and violent cessation of operations of the Panguna Mine, it is important to note that the companies and their shareholders can now benefit from direct, on the ground observations and photo documentation.  As such, in accordance with the reporting standards set forth by Australian, United Kingdom and United States regulators, it is important for the companies to more accurately state their condition with respect to the Panguna Mine and offer a more realistic assessment of their asset and liability condition.

Given the recent trading activity stimulated by press statements regarding the possible re-opening of the Panguna Mine, it is important that regulators closely monitor this situation.  While regulators and the corporations involved may continue to seek refuge in the reasonability of their defense of misleading and erroneous statements due to their limited access, the availability of that access to an independent third party severely curtails the assertion of insufficient visibility.

I would strongly recommend that an independent inquiry into the matters articulated above be commenced as failure to do so may lead to further damage to shareholders’ interests and those of the affected communities.  I will be delighted to offer a more detailed assessment as and when required.

Respectfully Yours,

Dr. David E. Martin (dem@m-cam.com)

02.09.2013

Source: Post-Courier

Funds for training centre

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

CENTRAL Bougainville MP Jimmy Miringtoro has pledged K20,000 towards the United Bougainville Training Centre in Buka town.

While making the pledge last week before flying off to Port Moresby, Mr Miringtoro said he decided to support this institution after seeing the important development roles and changes it was effecting in the lives of its students.

Mr Miringtoro, who is also the Minister for Communication and Information in the O’Neill-Dion government added that such trainings provided by the Bougainville Training Centre should be encouraged and supported by everyone as it was contributing towards healing Bougainville both physically and spiritually.

He also saluted the students who were selected to undergo three weeks of intensive trainings there, saying they had made the right choice because the knowledge and skills gained will help them in their lives in future.

Mr Miringtoro said he will be delivering the money over to the school upon his return to Bougainville.

He also pledged to allocate more funding towards the institution’s training programs for next year.

Centre Director and Training Facilitator, Albert Magoi, thanked Mr Miringtoro for his generous commitment towards the school. 

Mr Magoi said this assistance was for a worthy cause as these students will be taught skills and knowledge on how to become better people back in their communities. 

Mr Magoi is now appealing to other Bougainville MPs and the ABG to also assist the school as it has been playing a pivotal role in developing the youths to contribute meaningfully in their lives.

He said the physical skills, knowledge and the spiritual trainings taught there will greatly help the students when they pass out after completing their three weeks of intensive training. 

Apart from Mr Miringtoro, regional MP Joe Lera has also pledged to allocate funds towards the construction of two dormitories, two double classrooms and a chapel. These classrooms will be used by the students during their sewing and computer lessons.

Students currently undergoing training there come from all over Bougainville and are receiving their trainings under a sponsorship package from the Post-Courier. 

Meanwhile, many Bougainvilleans, especially youths, have been expressing their interest to enroll at the United Bougainville Training Centre after seeing that this institution will play a pivotal role in shaping their future lives.

However, the institution was only able to select less than 60 students due to a lack of proper dormitories and classrooms to house them.

Mr Magoi said if there were enough facilities to cater for many students, then he would increase the intake to more than 100 students.

02.09.2013

Source: Papua New Guinea Mine Watch

Momis peddling half-truths and sounding more than a little desperate…

Mining essential for survival of Bougainville: President Momis 

by PINA

Mining is essential for the economic survival of Bougainville, Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) president John Momis says.

He, however, cautioned resource owners not to “get into bed with any Tom, Dick and Harry”.

Speaking at a “Sustainablity of Bougainville” seminar in Port Moresby last Friday, Momis said Bougainville could not depend on agriculture as many people were saying.

“We have a new mining law which, for the first time in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, gives the total right of ownership to the landowners,” he said.

“But the right and the authority to issue licenses, right from exploration and development stages, belongs to the (Bougainville) government.

“It is the government’s responsibility to effect equitable distribution of benefits.

“It is the government that decides whether the mining project goes ahead.

“The landowners, the resource owners, own the resources, but the fact that they own these does not give them the license to get into bed with any Tom, Dick and Harry.

“They must do it only under the regime of the government.

“I’m sorry, my friends Jimmy Miringtoro and Lawrence Daveona, you are totally wrong.”

Momis said Bougainville could not depend on agriculture alone.

02.09.2013

Source: The National

New Zealand to send more police to Bougainville 

NEW Zealand will be sending more police officers to Bougainville in response to the region’s request for further training.  

A group of six officers are already mentoring Bougainville’s community auxiliary police, but during an official visit to Buka, NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the mission would be renewed in December. 

“I think I can say with some certainty at this stage that it will continue. While the current phase comes to an end, discussions are already underway as to what the new phase might look like.” 

McCully led a cross-party delegation to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu two weeks ago.

It is not known how many police might be sent, but he said New Zealand was open to discussions about mentoring their regular police service as well as continuing the community policing project. 

“We’ve got reasonably open minds about it. It’s clear on the New Zealand contribution here ... we’ve got a good history, a good track record and we should maintain it.” 

New Zealand officer and team leader of the Bougainville community policing project Rob Lemoto said it was rewarding, mentoring their Papua New Guinean counterparts. 

“It’s been a wonderful experience to immerse ourselves in the culture here, and to support the Bougainville police service into becoming a more professional and more trusted police organisation.” 

He said the challenges were rebuilding the police service there and developing good leaders as the region struggled to establish its autonomy ahead of an impending referendum over its independence. 

Speaking to New Zealand media, Bougainville President John Momis said he was hopeful New Zealand would provide more police. 

“Because they’ve done a very good job with community auxiliary police. Police here (in Port Moresby)are trained to bash heads and kill people and so on and so forth, not to serve,” he said. 

“Police training in Port Moresby is not the best so we are seriously looking at asking Australia and New Zealand to train our policemen. It’s a different culture.” 

PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said he had also formally requested New Zealand police to provide further training to PNG police and to reopen the joint services college in Port Moresby to train senior police and defence officers. 

02.09.2013

Source: Radio New Zealand International

Bougainville landowner chair denies MOU is about the Panguna mine

The chairman of the group representing landowners around the Panguna mine in Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville says an agreement with a Chinese company has nothing to do with mining.

There was widespread anger after news a memorandum of understanding had been signed by the landowners’ chair, Lawrence Daveona and a Chinese company - Beijing Aerospace Great Wall Mineral Investment.

The autonomous Bougainville government believed it involved plans to re-open mining at Panguna without its approval, but Mr Daveona says that is not the case.

He says the MOU is about tourism, agriculture and rehabilitating land that has been wrecked by tailings.

“I would like the people of Bougainville to benefit first in agriculture and tourism. I made that very clear during our discussions and unless I see people of Bougainville benefitting first then I won’t be talking about the re-opening of Panguna. That is my stand.”

Lawrence Daveona

02.09.2013

Source: Australia Network News

New talks on Bougainville peace agreement

in Port Moresby

It's been more than 10 years since the Bougainville peace agreement was signed, formally ending Papua New Guinea's bloody civil war.

But, while at first there was a flurry of activity to implement the deal, in recent years the pace has slackened.

Now politicians and community leaders have gathered in Port Moresby to discuss Bougainville's future.

  Click here to watch Liam Fox's report ! 

01.09.2013

Source: PNG Attitude

The spectacular art of

Bougainville’s Charleen Morris

by KEITH JACKSON

One day into the next by Charleen Morris

CHARLEEN MORRIS WAS BORN IN Bougainville and has worked in graphic design and art for more than 20 years.                      

It happened to be the inimitable Leonard Roka who first drew my attention to Charleen’s work. And I was knocked out by it.

And I was also impressed by a bold idea she has for using art to assist the development of Bougainville.

Charleen Morris“I have always wanted to contribute some way to Bougainville, as an artist,” she told me, “but it was a question of how?

“It has been about timing and understanding how I could use my craft to make a small difference.

“After working with some charities here in Oz and abroad, seeing how it all works, I thought it was time to take it home to Bougainville.”

Charleen’s plan is to host an international art exhibition that will showcase Bougainville artists of all media together with some international artists to add further support.

“It’s quite a development process, maybe ambitious,” she says, “but nothing has ever stopped me from trying.

“I would be happy if we have just a small exhibition to start, but I figure, I may as well use what knowledge and contacts I have to carve the path as the journey carries me.”

Flower Box (Charleen Morris)  →

Charleen says the outcome will showcase Bougainville arts, crafts and traditions and raise funds to support small community projects that will have immediate effect – like education materials for schools and supplies for aid posts.

She also wants to “demonstrate, inspire and create an avenue of income for local artists” and run art workshops for the community, “to bring unity, a sense of purpose and achievement through creativity, retaining traditional art forms and storytelling.”

It’s a visionary and progressive idea and I’m mulling over how PNG Attitude and I may be able to assist in a practical as well as a promotional way.

Meanwhile, you can catch more of Charleen’s splendid art here, here and here.

01.09.2013

Source: Papua New Guinea Mine Watch

Regina Kauori on re-opening Panguna mine

by Mekamui News

Regina Kauori who is the Youth Co-ordinator for Kieta District and working with North Nasioi Council Of Elders told Mekamui News in an interviewed in her office in Arawa that reopening Panguna mine is not the answer to the youths of the District.

Regina Kauori, Youth Coordinator

She says the youths grown up during the crises have some kind of pain and feelings to what the big hole up there brought to their parents, relatives and brothers and sisters.

When working with the Youths in the District the youths told her that Panguna mine should remain close and leaders should talk about other ways towards the Region’s economic recovery. We have many resources apart from mineral resources.

ESBC says: Ridiculous! Beautiful Regina should know that there was continuous exhausting tok-tok since more than ten years. Nothing happened except feeling sorry for themselves! Why doesn't she think about calling on BCL to come back to the region? BCL would rebuild within a few years a splendid infrastructure in and around Arawa! That means plenty of work for the youths?