Corrupt past brought to parliament,  Fabian PORK

By Graham Tenaen Robinson
 
As the parliament bell rang this morning both Government and Opposition MPs turned out with a good representation of 70% in attendance.

The opposition through deputy opposition leader Hon. Sam Basil did not waste time during Q & A on the floor of parliament as he made reference to the Commission of Inquiry set up by Rt Hon. Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare in June 2006 into the Investment Corporation Fund of PNG including the new Pacific Balanced Fund that reported a write off a write-off of shareholder funds amounting to K37 million. The staggering amount is part of 11 terms of reference relating to Administrative and Financial Management Procedure, Appointment of Trustee, Managers including other issues.

Member for Bulolo and Deputy Opposition Leader Hon. Sam Basil asked Prime Minister O’Neill when he was going to provide directions as per the findings and Recommendations of the COI Report into the Investment Corporation, and Investment Corporation Fund to various authorities and state agencies, be implemented?

He further added that many persons implicated in the ICPNG saga were currently appointed to many State Owned Enterprises further retracting the PM’s grand statement during his maiden speech;
“We are serious about stamping out corruption at all levels and all sectors of our community. No entity including persons involved in corrupt practices in both the public and private sectors will be spared” End of Quote”

Hon. Sam Basil emphatically declared on the floor of parliament about the K37 million belonging to employees, cooperatives, churches, students, youths, business groups and individuals had to be compensated and demanded a directive from the PM to stand up to his grand maiden speech about stamping out corruption at all levels, with the best line no entity including persons involved in corrupt practices in both the public and private sectors will be spared.

The defining moment came when Deputy Opposition Leader Hon. Sam Basil went on inform the PM that one of his current-serving Minister was implicated in the findings & recommendations of this Commission of Inquiry with quote’

4.7.10.2 Terms of reference 1 (c)
• Privatization Minister Pok acted illegally when he gave approval under Section 61 of the Act for a K2.5 million advance to Illimo when he had no power to do so.
• Privatization Minister Pok again acted illegally when he gave blanket approval for future advances to Illimo when he had no authority under section 61 of the Public Finance Management Act.
• Privatisation Minister Fabian Pok acted illegally when he gave approval under section 61 of the PFM ACT on 22nd March 1999 for the sale of Illimo to Peak Perfomance Feeds Limited.

A clearly stunned Minister Fabian Pok broke in by claiming that something that happened 15 years ago was brought on to the floor of parliament. He further claimed that he was cleared when no progressive or status report on the commission of inquiry indicate otherwise.

The PM responded;

“It is not my job to investigate something that was done 15 years ago. That is the job of the Ombudsman Commission. If the Ombudsman Commission see fit that someone be prosecuted that there are appropriate channels to follow.”

By JOHN FOWKE

Press reports around the world indicate that "sanguma meris" are being burnt alive in Mount Hagen City. A spectacular departure from the usual method of murder

involving dragging the alleged sanguma behind a vehicle, then arrowing and drowning him/her
after rape and/or torture. This latter method of murder weas the fate of the mother of an old friend of mine near Suave about five years ago. The old lady, a widow and alone in the village of her late husband, was accused of using sanguma  powers to kill a young man of the village, the subject of investment by relatives and a rising star in his course at  UPNG.

There were no investigations . The matter was ignored by empowered officials despite pleas from my friend,
who was in a position to provide petrol and "lunch allowance" in the manner usually demanded. It was suggested that the old lady's murder had been justified in traditional terms. It was said that the officials themselves felt threatened.

Another horrifying case  I remember near Goroka ten years ago was where the unfortunate
person who was judged to be the "sanguma" agency in the death of a woman had his hands and feet chopped off, then his heart was cut out whilst he writhed on the ground. The heart was cut into small pieces which were eaten by every clan-member including children so that they would all posess a part of the
"sanguma"s" evil power and thus be proof against its future malevolence in their midst.

As a minor-courts magistrate in my youth in the Gulf I gaoled many black-magic practicioners of various sorts including those known as mea-mea and vada men. Vada is simply sanguma under another name, a belief that a sorcerer can implant death within a living victim and cause the victim to die at a time and at a place of the sorcerer's choosing.

I myself, already,  at a relatively young age, had abandoned superstition including the Anglican faith in which I was brought up and schooled, and I was confident enough of my own faith that superstition is based upon the fear of the unknown and the misunderstood,  to challenge the sorcerers of the Purari . I suggested that they might put me to death with their powers.

Of course no sorcerer made it known that he would try. Despite a couple of bad bouts of malaria and the periodic ill-health I suffered from the effect of heavy and lonely consumption of Negrita Rum as my only means of social outlet at the long-abandoned post of Beara, I did not of course succumb, if indeed any efforts to do away with me were made.

The laws against the practice of sorcery still exist.  It is not a valid comment to say that "the Government must do something " as it is up to those in control of a very sad and sick police-force  and a similarly-ineffectual and corrupt lower-court magistracy, to use the powers they already have without fear or favour. They know this.It may well be valuable to increase the severity of existing penalties, of course, and   perhaps this will be done.

This is what I meant when I recently wrote.. " for PNG to show itself to the rest of the world as a self-confident and fair and humane modern society is a far bigger job than most commentators,  PNG intellectuals, or the nation's political leaders seem able to contemplate or articulate with any profundity."

The missing factors, olgeta lain ol PNG, are courageous and dedicated, active leadership, and lots of real reform and arse-kicking throughout the public service and the provinces. Hard, honest, fearless men and women are needed.  Leaders  like the late Sir Anthony Siaguru and Jack Karukaru come to mind. These are needed urgently. Before all the forests are levelled and all the minerals and petroleum resources are gone and receipts frittered away  in unplanned and maladministered loan-funded projects.and subsequent repayments.

One has to ask the question - is PNG up to the task, or is it doomed to become little more than an undercover colony for money-hungry  foreign entrepreneurs? The time of The Melanesian Way is long over, as we see every day in terms of  poor  and inappropriate performance ; the almost universal underachievement of its many adherents.

In  one way or another, and sooner or later, PNG will modernise. But my fear is that the Papua New Guineans, the majority of them, will become an underprivileged, impoverished underclass in their own country. The New Mastas are already in place even though they are not sanctioned and hailed as leaders.

Today, the  MelanesianWay is no more relevant than the land-tenure and class-systems and wealth-distribution existing in Scotland before the Highland Clearences and the creation of the industrial slums of Glagow. Modern-day Scotland has good government, moderate general prosperity,good health and education services. On New Year's Day and other anniversaries all Scotland celebrates "lon pesin blon tumbuna" and the wearing of colourful kilts and the music of the pipes and drums are known throughout
the world. 

Lets do the same with PNG, but without the tragedies and impoverishment which was part of the process in Scotland. There is something  to aim for,  ol lain saveman.  What is necessary is idealism and strength in leadership, and full commitment to the common good. Surely this can be evoked? You, ol saveman lain, mai aonega taudia, you all ll have a debt to repay and an obligation to your lain. Wanlain PNG.

Its up to you. I may have about ten years left to enjoy.  Please let me die smiling.

John Fowke is a former Patrol Officer and Kiap in the Highlands of PNG.

PM: Going out against Bloggers

 I was alerted to an e-mail from a friend on Thursday 14th February 2013, he made mention that he is being targeted by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill because he has been a staunch critic of his administration.

"Prime Minister sent one his man namely Sioni from Sepik and he in now in Kimbe doing this job. “Tonight at about 0630pm a white 5 door drove up our street and stop right in front of my house for about 10 minutes then a short gentleman came of the vehicle and went straight to a canteen directly opposite from the gate of my house. The guy who went to the shop didn't buy anything but just there and looking towards my house and then came back and jump on to the car and drove off. To my surprise when they turn around and came pass my house they tooth a horn and continued driving. I don't know why this man is acting that way but we hope he comes the second time and he will receive his blessing from the street boys. I appeal to you all to expose this corrupted government as much as we can so that the PM must know that this is not private company. I will keep all posted on anything by Prime Minister”

 “When the people fear the government, that's tyranny; when the government fears the people, that's freedom.” Thomas Jefferson

By DONALD GUMBIS

Papua New Guinea's Defence Minister Dr Fabian Pok has announced that PNG plans to build up its military capacity from around 2000 personnel to 10,000.

While it is hardly unusual for fast-growing resource-rich countries to increase military spending as their national ambitions expand, Papua New Guinea has yet to address very significant development challenges in basic health and education. Increased spending on the military in such circumstances must therefore be questioned.

Why does Papua New Guinea need a larger military capacity? One factor in the Government's consideration could be the land border with Indonesia. The border skirmishes between the traditional people of PNG's Sandaun Province and Indonesian military spotlight the PNG Government's inattention to border issues. These issues pose a test for the Treaty of Mutual Respect, Friendship and Cooperation PNG has with Indonesia.

In a Radio Australia interview, former PNGDF Commander General Jerry Singirok noted key issues of concern with the announcement. He said there was no PNGDF White Paper to guide this proposed expansion, the PNG Government has never prioritised defence spending and there would be a substantial cost involved in rebuilding a downsized force.

The ongoing retrenchment exercise of close to 2000 personnel, which began in 1999, is a difficult issue that the Defence Department is still not adequately addressing. Further to that, there are challenges for the PNGDF to raise its performance level and the security of its weaponry. The recent mutiny case, insubordination and misconduct of soldiers all undermine the ministerial statement.

Policy announcements have tended to be more frequent than policy implementation in Papua New Guinea. But if this announcement reflects a serious intention by the PNG Government, it warrants more discussion.

Donald Gumbis is a Lecturer in political science at the University of Goroka and an intern at the Lowy Institute.

The Guardian

"We know who they are... We need your help."

Paps Charlie: Disgusted!

My PNG Blog

By JOE BEIG

The following accounts of events transpired since formation of O’Neill-Dion government in August 2012 reflect the type of leadership and the government PNG has. These events impose various levels of serious national security threats and pose grave concern for PNG despite its status as a vibrant developing economy. These events are allowed to occur sporadically as a result of lack of transparency and governance by the O'Neill-Dion government. This government, though has numerical strength has been allowed to continuously abuse its powers through deliberate mismanagement of our blessed and beautiful country of Papua New Guinea.

The following events will justify this notion; mysterious jet landing and departure, Djoko Tjandra saga, K6 billion loan from China, approval of sea bed mining, Lombrum asylum center, 89 Australian kiaps, Murray Barracks relocation and land grabbing plan, failed public service housing program, serious PNG/Indonesia border intrusion, Investment Corporation of PNG (ICPNG) and Investment Corporation Fund of PNG (ICFPNG) financial fraud,K25 million inflation of contract to reconstruct the Pineapple Building, lack of political will and direction to effectively and immediately implement the politicized free education and free public health policies, amongst many other events.

These events now place PNG in a defenseless position. Thus PNG is vulnerable to foreign exploitation through trans-border immigration, safe movement and residence haven for persons of questionable characters, used by foreign countries to implement their dubious foreign policies, and frustrate international police work when tracing fugitives and trans-national criminal syndicates, and so on. PNG’s ongoing and increasing corrupt practices, increasing law and order problems, and nepotism in appointments of public office holders are some internal events that also hinder healthy working environments and development. The O’Neill-Dion government has been totally ignorant in these areas too; thus placing PNG’s standing in the region as a very unsafe and unfriendly place to work in. PNG’s standing resembles various events in African, Arabic, and Asian countries.

Our discussion will concentrate on the recent mysterious jet arrival and departure at the Jacksons Airport, because this is a very serious security issue. This event is a serious security blunder and a warning to the sovereign state of PNG and its innocent people.

The explanations given by leaders and those who were directly involved in facilitating the landing and departure of this aircraft or jet are inconsistent and do not respond directly to various queries that Papua New Guineans demand. It was alleged that all relevant airport services and officers at Jacksons Airport, customs, immigration, and the control tower of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were not aware of the aircraft’s flight to PNG. This was a very serious international and internal security blunder. It was also established that the jet had few stopovers at questionable locations before arriving in PNG. This act further reaffirms and tags PNG as a corruption infested country as recently described by Transparency International. Internally, many decent citizens of PNG still have troublesome minds because of PNG’s internal security lapse which has allowed the long flight by a single pilot from security risk countries like Mali and Maldives to PNG. The stopovers from these security risk and corrupt countries are clear indications of some government leaders having direct links with corrupt leaders or dictators in these and other risky countries.

Apart from these dubious links, the mysterious jet arrival and departure will continue to haunt us. Hence, such queries have to be answered. How can this illegal flight not sanctioned by CAA be allowed to land and depart on PNG soil (Jacksons Airport) without being thoroughly investigated? Was this long flight legitimately cleared by all the international airports’ authorities though it was captained by a single pilot? This alien flight has violated all international civil aviation standard operation procedures (SOPs), civil laws and regulations,
international immigration laws, amongst other relevant laws at the international level. For PNG, its conduct is covered under these laws and regulations and is expected to abide by and enforce. What if an aircraft or aircrafts carrying legitimate passengers and doing sanctioned flight(s) collide with this alien jet appearing from the sky in PNG airspace?

Can the ordinary Papua New Guineans afford to be tormented with another painful experience like the plane-crash in Madang and boat-disaster in Morobe in the last 3 years? It will be unbearable. If it did happen, the Chief Executive Officer of PNG Mr. Peter O’Neill or the Prime Minister of PNG Hon Peter O’Neill will be directly held responsible for this maniac act of indecency and will be brought to international court for atrocity against his own people. We all should thank our God Almighty for His abundant grace for not allowing this potential act of barbarism by the PNG government. This event plus others are evidence of the culture and style of leadership Mr. Peter O’Neill is advocating in our country. He is fast becoming a tyrant. The noble leaders who have been democratically mandated by their people should not continue to cling on his leadership style but start disassociating themselves from him to avoid repercussions comes 2017 general elections or get caught up in his devious act and face serious penalties.

Interestingly, the government in its desperate bid to take full control of the content of the boxes on the jet; it appointed a heartless man of a Highlands origin of PNG to clear the plane and passengers from Brussels all the way to PNG’s Jackson Airport. The known Ministers in the O’Neill-Dion government were also present to legitimate this illegitimate flight, ignoring and breaking all international and domestic laws and regulations governing inter-port flights, aircrafts, and airports administration. What an international embarrassment and shame, especially to the 7 million plus people of Papua New Guinea by the thoughtless action of the O’Neill-Dion government.

Though it was a decadent act, the Prime Minister, Hon Peter O’Neill, on behalf of his government allegedly invited Maxwell Carlot to a friendly dinner hosted by his government. Does Mr. O’Neill know that Carlot was a former Lands Minister in Vanuatu government before and after 2006 and was solely responsible for all the corrupt practices in selling State and traditional land in Vanuatu to foreigners? The aftermath of his destructive actions are now being felt in Vanuatu in relations to land ownership, development, and management. He is regarded in Vanuatu as a top conman and sweet-talker as well as an unscrupulous person. With this unethical character, how can he be allowed to use PNG’s facilities as well as luring PNG’s so-called informed senior State Ministers by using PNG as a safe haven to conduct his devious activities? This is again a clear indication of Mr. O'Neill's desperation to hold on the power as Prime Minister so that he can milk wealth as much as he can from PNG’s rich and vast resources.

The black or white money on the alien jet was intentionally brought in illegally to finance Mr. O'Neill's gluttonous desire to hold on power. He allegedly used this black or white money to lure the current coalition partners as well as suppressing and neutralizing any Opposition bid to defeat the 30 months extension of grace period on vote of no confidence in his government. He successfully employed this cunning strategy and consequently extended the grace period for vote of no confidence from 18 months to 30 months on Tuesday, 05th February 2013. This act alone implies that this government is truly desperate for power and control; hence, it is now placed on safe ground to abuse its powers, misappropriate funds, device cunning laws, and use its numerical strength to conduct all its dirty business for its own political and business interests including advance preparations for 2017 general elections and thereafter.

Mr. O'Neill has been entrusted by approximately 30 percent of PNG population during the 2012 general elections because they perceive that he will form the new government and lead PNG to prosperity and sustainable living standards in years to come. Despite this perception, he has explicitly contravened their observation and now reveals his real character which is evil in nature. Thus, he desires to gain as much as he can from the people’s vast resources.

In addition, the alleged involvement of the US Embassy officers inviting Maxwell Carlot for a meeting is an obvious international security threat against the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, undermined PNG’s sovereignty, and disrespected the 7 million plus people of PNG. The most notable point is, US Embassy has craftily used this friendly meeting as a show of respect to this government; however, trialing its cunning scheme to exploit PNG’s vast natural resources without being questioned. It is a grave concern and an obvious challenge to all PNG organisations dealing with security and threat issues. It is a wakeup call for such organisations as PNGDF, Department of Finance, PM’s Department (OSCA), NIO, Customs, Immigration, Border Authority, CAA, Police, and Telekom PNG to improve their information and intelligence collection systems, mechanisms and capabilities. This is a clear violation of PNG laws and a daylight intrusion of PNG’s territory.

These organisations must initiate independent investigations to ascertain the main reason for this illegal flight to PNG including the US interest in this illegitimate flight. Mr. Carlot and his alien jet have obviously imposed a security threat to PNG; therefore, if US Embassy in PNG has invited Carlot for a meeting as alleged, then the action by US Embassy is a direct insult to the decent population of PNG. Based on this allegation, the US Embassy in PNG can be seen as promoting terrorism and indecency in PNG, most likely to create various security situations to manufacture and strengthen its long-term political and economic interest in West Papua and Papua New Guinea (alias East Papua or Papua).

Furthermore, this act evidently strengthens the view that most crises in Arabic and African countries are deceptively engineered and provoked by US. The US has been involved in many wars purely for monetary reasons; especially when its economic interests in that region or a country have been infringed or threatened. If US Embassy thinks, O’Neill-Dion government will protect its interest in the LNG project by inviting Carlot for a meeting then it is wrong because this government will be dethroned soon. The US Embassy’s action also created a wrong signal to decent Papua New Guineans and the world; thus continue to create negative opinion against US. If the US Embassy has invited Carlot for other reasons, then these reasons will be revealed soon or in the near future. The US is fast becoming an un-Christian country because of its various devious acts around the world and internally as well through wicked laws on abortion, laws on gay and lesbian marriages, continuous tolerance on extremist Islamic activities, dangerous gun laws, and its soft support to Israel against the Arabs, and many others. The US apparent ungodly character has again been revealed through this act.

These acts of madness clearly indicate that Mr. O’Neill is not genuine in addressing and countering  corruption in PNG. All his conducts so far are somewhat linked to his suspected involvement in outstanding NASFUND issue. Therefore, he will find it difficult to address and counter corruption effectively because he does not have standing to aggressively fight corruption in PNG. To cover his suspected wrong doings, he has not allowed the Sweep Team to investigate him and his cohorts for the NASFUND’s fraud allegations. Mr. O’Neill was a part of senior management of NASFUND when moneys were fraudulently siphoned out of PNG or invested in-country but under dubious circumstances.

From these discussions, it can be concluded that the above controversial flight to PNG’s Jacksons Airport could have been directed by Mr. O’Neill. It is another evidence of a self-seeking leader who is leading PNG astray. In order to correct and prevent these ongoing corrupt practices, there must be a change in the
leadership of the current government or a total change of government immediately.

The new leadership or government will be able to drive mission-orientated development plans to develop and manage PNG’s vast natural resources so that its 7 million plus people are able to immediately enjoy the benefits before 2030. The noble and newly elected leaders of PNG’s National Parliament have been led to believe that political stability will deliver results in terms of improved social and economic developments. This false assurance of political stability had blindly led them to vote for the extension of a grace period for vote of no confidence from 18 months to 30 months. The support they gave to this Bill will not help in forming a people-orientated government who will truly serve the interest and meet the basic needs of the people of Papua New Guinea. In contrary, by voting for this Bill, they have supported this tyrant leader and his government. This government led by Mr. O'Neill will continue to spread its wings and arms to milk wealth from PNG’s current and new resource developments including its rich and vast cultural diversities for its own political survival and business interest.

By Susan Merrell

All roads lead to Rome.
This is a letter to the editor in Thursday's Post Courier  ('Yutok' 21 February, 2013):

Namah must own up
I would like to ask Belden Namah, Opposition Leader and Member for Vanimo Green to clear himself on a corruption issue that is hanging on his back so that people can see him walking the talk in parliament and in the media.
Can Mr Namah explain how his nominee was appointed as Chairman of the Central Supply & Tenders Board when he was Deputy Prime Minister?
Can he explain to the people of Papua New Guinea why his nominee was appointed without following the appointment criterias [sic] for that position as per the law?
Can he admit or deny the fact that the nominee was an accountant of a foreign road construction company before Mr Namah backed him to be Chairman of CSTB?
Could the Opposition Leader admit or deny the fact that the alleged firm had swindled millions and millions of our people’s money in the K300 million Highlands Highway Rehabilitation in 2006/2007 and again on the K100 million Lae roads in 2011/12?
As such, why then did that firm’s accountant was made Chairman of the key Government procurement agency without being first nominated by one of our country’s premier universities and cleared by the Public Services Commission prior to his appointment?"

Is he talking about Philip Eludeme? 

Eludeme has come to my attention before in relation to two matters - both the subject of governmental Commissions of Inquiry - one is in cahoots with the Opposition Leader, Belden Namah and the other, ironically in today's political climate, in association with Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.  He keeps illustrious company.

As Chairman of the Central Supply and Tendering Board, Eludeme occupies a role with a massive potential for corruption. The Board is responsible for the awarding of all government tenders. Cynically, one social media commentator described the role as "Mr 10%."   

A responsible government (and I believe the O'Neill/Namah government made the appointment) would take into consideration, on making the appointment, not only the scrupulously clean record of any applicant in this vital but sensitive appointment but also reject any candidate with any taint whatsoever, or even a mere whiff of a scandal. Wouldn't they?  Shouldn't they?

So consider: Quite apart from, and in addition to, the questions and allegations posed by the Post Courier letter writer involving hundreds of millions of kina, some other latent and blatant controversies in Eludeme's past.

Eludeme's CV comes littered with allegations of perjury, bribery and conspiring to cheat and defraud the state for which he was referred to the Commissioner of Police in the National Provident Fund Inquiry. 

The Inquiry also implicated (amongst others) the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill and Jimmy Maladina, brother of the former Minister Moses.

In the Inquiry, Eludeme was further referred to the PNG Institute of Accountants for unprofessional conduct and to the Internal Revenue Commission on tax charges. (Post Courier November 2002).
To my knowledge, no convictions flowed from this Inquiry.

However, to suggest that PNG is satisfied by the outcome of the Inquiry is quite wrong.  Never a day goes by when this episode is not mentioned, in bitter tones, on a public forum. 
Lately, the opposition has climbed onto the bandwagon too demanding the government reopen the Inquiry, claiming they have new evidence (which O'Neill is sure doesn't exist).
But that's not all. 

There's more…

Ironically, Eludeme's name also comes up as an associate of the Opposition Leader in the yet-to-be-tabled SABL Inquiry over the Bewani Palm Oil deal. 
In this inquiry, the allegation has been made that permission was not granted for the deal with the correct landowners but was done with compliant ones "hand picked" by Belden Namah - who the witness identifies as being the Forestry Minister at the time.

This time Eludeme was fronting the company Bewani Palm Oil Management Ltd that owned 5% of the shares in a company controlling the palm oil development of 139,909 hectares of land in Bewani, Sandaun Province. His co directors have included, at times: Belden Namah, Bob Namah and Charles Litau 
Litau was a party apparatchik of Belden Namah's PNG Party.  During the O'Neill/Namah administration he was made acting head of PNG Telikom.  It was a controversial appointment with many claiming that he did not have the required qualifications and that there were better men for the job. 
…and more:

Lawyer Tom Sirae was also called up before the SABL Inquiry to answer questions as the registered company secretary of Bewani Palm Oil Development Ltd.  Sirae claimed no knowledge that he held (or still held) that post and couldn't recall anything whatsoever.
Sirae was working for Henao lawyers at the time of the Bewani deal (prior to starting his own firm in 2009) whose principal, Loani Henao unsuccessfully contested a Port Moresby seat on behalf of Belden Namah's, PNG Party in the elections of 2012.

However, Henao's association with the Opposition Leader didn't end there. He is now acting on behalf of Namah in his Manus Island Detention Centre court challenge.
To add to the confusion, the company of which Sirae was registered secretary was different to Philip Eludeme's company - but the name only differed by one word (Management).  The Bewani plantation deal boasts a labyrinth of companies, all confusingly similar in name.
The company that was granted the SABL, for instance, was Bewani Oil Palm Development Ltd, whereas the company granted the Forestry Clearance Authority (FCA) in the following year was Bewani Palm Oil Development Ltd.

Belden Namah was the incumbent Forestry Minister who pushed through parliament the amendments to the 1991 Forestry Act (sections 90a and 90b) in 2007 that paved the way for the Bewani deal (2008/2009) - the Malaysian recipients also gaining a 10-year tax holiday from PNG's generous Forestry Minister.
Belden Namah, on launching the Bewani project, took time to thank Vanimo Forest Products (A subsidiary of RH) and Amanab56, (Namah's own company), for the construction of roads in the province… Ha!
Which leads us to Amanab 56…and more familiar characters… Indeed, all roads lead to Rome.

By GILBERT MONDO

Susan Merrill again at the fore! Your comments are berated illustrious and contravening. Your standing in the public is questionable. Your mirage is outrageous. You prove to be a fool with the intent to demean and criminalize. You are a quake profusely littering the media!

How comes Susan who lives in Sydney, Australia has adequate information of the politics and business activities here in PNG? It seems as though she is a proxy political propogandaist whose work is to derail the political career of Belden Namah.

When Mr. Namah was the Deputy PM before the elections in June 2012, her outrageous comments of assassination of personal integrity and character was the obvious work of a popular plot of the deep political and business interests in the country. Mrs. Merrill is sponsored by politicians and business people to whitewash a national figure who vigorously fights white collar crime and corruption in the country. I am aware of her sources of information which nonetheless is geared toward silencing and provoking arguments of obscurity. I wish not to dwell on her rhetoric as they have no substance and credibility in her arguments.

For those who are bewitched by her malice and derogatory soup, it is pitiful to keep silence when she has done more damage to the emerging young leaders. I wish not not be dragged into the mud of debate as to the information she provide lacks evidence and substance. She is illicit, irresponsible and demonic!

The commission of Inquiry into the SABL has uncovered nothing of credible substance. Why all roads lead to Rome when the unsubstantiated evidences prove otherwise? There is nothing of credible disjunctive proceedings apparent in the current case? Susan and cohorts should be ashamed of themselves because of publishing rhetoric that can stir relentlessness and bitter enmity towards her family and the opponents, if any.

Just for your information, it seems you do not know. The appointment to the chairman of Central Processing and Tender Supply was not done in privy. I wish not to preempt the discussion on this non-issue. Notwithstanding the denial of certain factions within the current government, the blame is not to be shouldered by Mr. Namah. The ivy brunt which is directed toward Namah is not irrational but rather malicious in intent. The chairman is a career accountant and was selected from a list of applicants who vied for the position. Mr. Namah did not coerce nor bulldozed the person in question. His name was approved unanimously by movers and shakers in the 10 months old government. The approval of all the contracts in question was done through proper procedures. Investigations in these cases will not hold water. Anyone willing to unearth the alleged bogus dealings is welcomed. Let investigations proceed without delay if that is the way of getting issues settled.

The other deals Mr. Namah is in question does not have merit. I wish to challenge Susan and cohorts to bring it up in the court if evidences are convincing. I wish not be to silenced and slaughtered by her lies and venoms. I will challenge her allegations if necessary. And if Susan wishes to continue in the political debates of this country, she should sign up her residency here in Port Moresby, PNG. Otherwise, her prescriptive gossips are all tales of a bitter witchcraft. She is welcomed to live in PNG. But be careful! The polarized heat of torture, hate and enmity against witchcrafts is intense and she can fall victim.

I challenge you to put up all evidences that pertains to all the cases that you have referred. Otherwise it is all craps and does not merit odious discussions. Let us put an end to this discussion.

By GRAHAM ROBINSON

Opposition Leader Hon. Belden Namah was blunt as usual in a press conference this afternoon when replying to questions from the media about his take on the Managing Director defying the orders of the CEO of this country with the eviction exercise at Waigani.

Hon. Belden Namah was quick to respond as he provided a full account of how protocol is followed with directive from the top, claiming Peter O’Neill knew about the eviction, however was tight lipped, yet when things got out of hand, he stepped in to save face.

“The MD or the Minister were not defying any directions from the PM. Initially when an eviction takes place the Chief Executive (referring to PM) is always consulted on any actions by any government departments or by any Minister. It was done (referring to the eviction exercise) with his full knowledge. Let me tell the people of Papua New Guinea, the public servants and the occupants of that particular house at Waigani; If you think that Peter O’Neill is a good guy, the initial direction was given by Peter O’Neill to National Housing Corporation for the eviction to take place. He only reacted to save his own face. But now the actions have already taken place and he is not doing anything. That’s how evil our Prime Minister is.”

Hon Belden Namah went on to clarify his stand regarding the PM claiming that the opposition leader was a national threat to the country, describing it as the joke of the year and urged journalists to study the history of the PM.

He further openly called for an independent investigation to be done separately in investigating both him and Peter O’Neill to conclude the truth on who was a national threat to this country.

“Journalists must study the way Peter O’Neill is operating in this country. Let me put it this way during the impasse (referring to political impasse) everybody branded me, as the bad guy but every action that I took, was to protect him. It was done with his full consent. But when shit hits the fan, he tries to become a good guy.”

“You can’t bet your money, you can’t bet your life because he is an undecided human being.”

The Opposition leader didn’t stop just there yet further described the Prime Minister as a clinical thief.

“I am responsible for creating that monster and I regret creating the monster and if Papua New Guineans blame me, I accept the full responsibility, I accept the blame.That is why it is my responsibility to put this monster to rest.”

Opposition Leader Hon. Belden Namah did not spare a thought about ramifications of his statements as he repeatedly challenged Peter O’Neill to take him to court and that he would produce all evidence in court against the PM of this country.

By LIVINGSTON HOSEA,
UNITECH SRC PRESIDENT 2013

I feel urged and justified that you as tax payers and sponsors of Students in Papua New Guinea University of Technology deserves the right and are entitled to know the story of what is happening to the institution where your children are attending. I believe that equality and transparency to information dissemination is what every stake holder by law deserves a right to. The media has been flooded by a few individuals who are of interest to this institution. I quote from the Mediation Team Report that OHE commissioned a four-member Mediation Team, namely;

Mr. Daniel Kapi (Team Chairman) - retired Senior Civil Servant and former Deputy Chairman of the National Strategic Plan Taskforce that produced the PNG Vision 2050 and a respectable community leader.

Dr. Henry Okole- Senior Research Fellow in governance and institutional matters at the National Research Institute. He is also an advisor to the Provincial and Local-level Government Programme (PLGP) under the Coffey International. He was a member of the teaching staff at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) from 1993 to 2004, and he served as the Chief of Cabinet of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States in Brussels from 2005 to mid-2010.

Mr. Andrew Kwimberi - Senior Lawyer and private practitioner who specializes in conflict mediation and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). He has been integral to the ADR programme in PNG for last few years under the leadership of Justice Ambeng Kandakasi who is the chairman of the Judicial Committee on ADR.

Mr. Jerry Wemin - President of the PNG Human Resource Institute, former CEO and Registrar under the Engineering Act, of the Institution of Engineers PNG, former senior executive of the Papua New Guinea Banking Corporation, Member of the UPNG Council, Company Director, senior lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea, and business consultant.

These men are of high repute and solid integrity and as such I respect and consider their recommendation commendable and mature. Their findings are sufficient to indicate and uphold the integrity of their work. Following is one of the statements that they have made and I quote;

“it is already evident that he (Dr. Schram) walked into a
Pre-existing minefield of poor governance and bad administration practices).”

•There was sufficient information obtained from the Mediation exercise to suggest that there were fraudulent and criminal practices that took place over the years. An Investigation Team - ideally to be led by the Department of Finance – must be immediately commissioned to follow up on the allegations given its wider repercussions to an important state asset and its core place in the welfare of Papua New Guinea;

I feel urged and justified that our general public and ordinary citizens deserves an equal opportunity and a right to the press to know the substantive truth of issues that are affecting the nation.

I feel justified to voice and say that the our Prime Minister was misinformed and he made the statement that was published on page 2 Post Courier dated 20th February, that reports were received that the University students have staged a protest demanding the return of Dr. Schram.” This is a major flaw and mistake, time and again when the First Secretary for Minister for Higher Education Science and Technology called me I told him that the students are attending classes and there is no disruption whatsoever and if you are hearing rumors these are mere speculations.
The students voted me to be there Student leader and I see it unnecessary to start on a negative note. A protest was what everyone expected after Dr. Schram was treated in such an “unfair and unjustified” manner at the International Airport. There was no documentation but was told by immigration officials that the Prime Minister black-listed him. He was not even allowed to say good bye to his wife. I understand the process to be that hard documents must be processed to effect such an action. Verbal provision was an abuse of process.

After this incident it was expected that the students will boycott class right after registration but it never happened. I would like to demonstrate a different student leadership, the University students will not protest unnecessarily when it is not right to. I as a student leader saw that the students’ priority is learning. Bringing Dr. Schram back is necessary because for effective learning to take place someone must lead and be the pillar of quality education. Without a father, there are no children, without are leader, there are no people, without a Vice Chancellor there are no Students and staff. We have an Acting Vice Chancellor and that means that the Vice Chancellor needs to be present.
I decided to engage in a diplomatic dialogue to find the right avenues to resolve this matter. I am only requesting for his return that he clear his name. If Dr. Schram’s papers and degrees are fraudulent per claimed by a “31 page document” then he can be subjected to the Laws of this Land. The students are not supporting a man, we support the transparent and accountable attitude that this man Dr. Schram possess. An agent of change and a hope inspirer, a person with so unique and rare administrative ability, he has achieved so much in a span of one year in this University and I believe that if he stays for a year or two he will prove his critics wrong.

I wish to set the records right, the students have set their priorities right. We never protested from day one and we will not. We are not even interfering in Administrative matters. We as major clients to the University are asking for what we feel we rightfully deserve. We are not asking for anything that is outside of our perimeters of benefit. We always wanted better lecturers, messing facilities, dormitories, a Unitech Environment, Internet and better books in the Matheson Library. Dr. Schram has proven that he can economize with Limited budget to provide most of the needed services to the University.

This country and University needs man of such caliber and ability. Men who will contribute and mentor us to be change makers in a country that is yearning for positive change and Prosperous PNG, men who will give us nets and teach us how to fish for ourselves and not give us fish. It’s about time that Papuan New Guineans carry their own country, but before we do that we need preparation and that preparation is now being facilitated by Dr. Albert Schram as Vice Chancellor.

We need man to fight corruption. We need to start somewhere and I believe that if we can mentor University students to be accountable and transparent they will take it to their work place and it will be cultured in them. This will prospect a bright future for our country; such an exercise is called “VISION”. That is the way forward to accomplish and establish the vision 2050.

I quote “Education is key driver for achievement of Government’s Vision 2050. Tertiary institutions play a key role in national development and international competitiveness. Therefore it is critically important to the wellbeing of Papua New Guinea and the people that education as a service is properly integrated. The outcome of skills and expertise, once inculcated into society, is essential for state building and national development over the long term.”

Additionally, the fact that the national government annually commits public funds to national institutions such as the UNITECH demands accountable and transparent processes in ways that would show proper use (and therefore expected outcomes) and acquittal of public monies.”(Mediation Report, 28th Nov 2012)

We talk about human capacity building and strongly being passionate about human intellect, these all will be only ideas if we don’t fix UNITECH. I believe the very last learning institution is the University and if we don’t care about it then which mechanism is the brain and future of this country? Where are we heading?
The pillars of change are rare and few and Dr. Schram is one. History time and again repeatedly tells us that individuals have changed the course of history. Mahatma Gandhi, Jr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela have taken a bold stand and have shaken the world. We need to have a leader; an individual that gives you hope and the one that keeps you going even when all seems to fail.

There is no legitimate hard evidence or paper in the Unitech Registry regarding Dr. Schram’s termination; most of the decisions are pending the Supreme Court appeal. On the contrary, the former Council was dissolved by NEC and an Interim Council was in place led by Prominent PNG Citizen Sir Nagora Bogan. The interim Council per recommendations;

An interim Council, should one be created, must review rules and procedures for the operations of the University Council. It is strongly recommended here the terms of Chancellor and VC must be limited to two terms if served consecutively;


The recent appointment process of the new VC - for one reason or another - is shrouded in mystery. Apart from a few ‘straight shooting’ academics, it is a topic that not many people really want to talk about. A closer probe is worthwhile and it might reveal Council’s incompetence and lethargic handling of this important matter/process. Conflicting information obtained from the mediation process seem to suggest the appointment process was botched. This happens to be the very issue that triggered off much of the episodic convulsions since the new VC took office in February 2012. As part of the Terms of Reference for the proposed Investigation Team, the appointment process of the current VC must be revisited;

Per the latter recommendation the Interim Council Revisited the appointment process and saw in their Wisdom logical and reasonable to re-appoint Dr. Schram’s position as VC for two terms (six years). The Minister for HERST was there at Parliament House when he was re-appointed.

Regardless, court battles continued to go on, which then got the attention of the Prime Minister who came to Unitech in January 14th to intervene in this Unitech Saga. The PM’s ruling was clear, two months suspension of VC Dr. Schram on full pay, (This means that he is an employee of the University) to allow for the investigation and as such, every court case and any proceedings that will disrupt the Sevua Inquiry must be dropped.

However, when Dr. Schram flew back into the country in February 8th 2013, he was deported to Australia. This was a breach of the TOR by Prime Minister in the January 14th closed door meeting in the council room. Minister Arore who was part of that closed door meeting with the Prime Minister in PNG University of Technology was there to see Dr. Schram being deported. The integrity of the Decision of the PM was not protected.

Initially, it was said and reported that Dr. Schram was 1deported, after being asked in Parliament by Jiwaka Governor it was stated that Dr. Schram 2doesn’t possess any work permit. There is inconsistency and flaw in the two statements, what is the truth tell the country and tell the students?

We the students would like to request the Prime Minister & the Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister to allow Dr. Schram come to PNG using his work permit, which we believe that in the Foreign Affairs and Immigration Ministry, there was no proper documentation to revoke and cancel his Work Permit and if now the system is revisited a major flaw will be discovered and or Dr. Schram work permit is still valid.

Let Dr. Schram clear his name, if he has fabricated his papers per the allegation then PNG Laws will apply to him? The Students and Staff will respect the integrity of the Law.

The WAY FORWARD

1.Dr. Schram legally is still an employee of the university; the decision of council members of 8th of November is under revision by the Supreme Court.

2.Baseless allegations in Lae and POM made by Saulep needs to be dropped to protect the integrity of the PM’s decision in January 2013.

3.Consultation on the ToR for the inquiry need to take place with Chancellor, Sir Nagora Bogan.

Furthermore, we invite anyone to do a quick Google on Dr. Schram’s or see the cover page of his book at (http://www.albertschram.org/CUP/svg/page0001.xhtml), and find His book on railways in Italy on Amazon.com. In it he refers to his thesis in the acknowledgements and in the bibliography on page 183.

His qualification was the subject of debate and I know that those who are interested are not doing enough research. Find out more and advice.

As per one of the other recommendations, I again quote;

“Students should not interpret this to mean that the VC is to be blamed for everything that has transpired (it is already evident that he walked into a pre-existing minefield of poor governance and bad administration practices).”
Senior statesmen have already done findings that is sufficient to question the credibility of the Stagg Council, now what else do we want?
The truth will still prevail, it might take long but still it will prevail.

Yet another "witch" gets burned in Wa, Village, Mendi District, this is one of the many that is being reported. there are many that are being burned or tortured alive that are not being reported in the news media.

By: SONJA BARRY RAMOI

Susan Merrell, a prolific social media commentator and blog artist, was born and brought up as the daughter of a coal mine worker in Wales before moving to Sydney, Australia. After years of studying at the University of NSW and the University of Sydney she reportedly received four degrees and scored a Doctorate, after attaining a PhD in political science from the University of Sydney. She recently boasted on Sharp Talk - Papua New Guinea's largest social media group - that she is a member of the "prestigious" Golden Key Club - membership of which is "by invitation only" to the top 10 % of Sydney University students. Instead of earning praise and respect for revealing her accomplishments more than a few people openly criticized her. In particular, one woman commentator remarked unbelievably that Susan, with her achievements and caliber, "could stoop low to entertain bored Papua New Guinean men".

So how did such a highly educated woman become "the white woman Pngeans love to hate" (originally her own words), and end up becoming reviled, abused, ridiculed, scorned and heavily criticized by far too many Papua New Guineans - even on her own Facebook page.

Firstly - despite her high qualifications - the political scientist and self-proclaimed polyglot decided to become a freelance journalist and started self-publishing her highly self-opinionated articles (the most notable one being about former Australian politician Pauline Hanson - whom we understand she never met) on popular Australian internet forums such as Unleashed on The Drum. She then decided to announce to the world, on the internet site Linked In; that her area of expertise is the political affairs of the Pacific and Papua New Guinea. Fate had intervened leading her to Australian citizen Julian Moti, the infamous former Attorney General of the Solomon Islands, who became her first real "cause". She wrote about former PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare's role in the "Moti Affair" with the wry, dry wit of a writer who it seems became an overnight expert on PNG politics; although she had never met or interviewed Sir Michael Somare to get his side of the story.

Sometime during 2011, Susan Merrell entered the PNG social media scene on Facebook and started sending out friend requests to members of PNG's educated elite - comprised of politicians, public servants, lawyers, doctors, scientists, engineers and journalists. What better way to tap into information on PNG's political and current affairs and really become an expert? Two politicians who accepted her friend request were Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah and Bulolo MP, Sam Basil, who were the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition at the time, respectively. Woe betides to them, because they surely had no inkling of what this would mean to them in the future. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, as Susan Merrell is fond of publicly repeating! Incidentally, both politicians who are once again the Leader and Deputy Opposition Leader were among the first politicians to become members of Sharp Talk.

Dialogue via Facebook commenced. Email addresses and phone numbers were exchanged. The gossip, back-biting and intrigue began. Apparently Susan Merrell, who confided in notorious Australian woman lawyer Tiffany Twivey during a meeting at the Crowne Plaza in Port Moresby, wanted a job as media advisor to the Opposition. According to Twivey - whilst gossiping in a Facebook conversation with a group of her friends on November 15th 2011 - (two of them white women - alleged members of the so-called "White Woman’s Club"), she was "getting so scared" that Susan - whom she indiscreetly labeled "psycho" and described as "weird" - kept making friends with many of her male friends.

Twivey (also known as Tiffany Tee Hee on Fb) further revealed that Susan had been saying... "that she was going to get a job as like press officer for the Opposition - before she had even met them", she then carries on that she has "relationships" with them, she bombards them with texts etc - she has had a go at a few of them - some of whom I act for - I am very concerned about her". However, "belden told me yesterday he wasn't going to have anything to do with her", Twivey also divulged. Three of Tiffany Twivey's friends who participated in the "gossip A-Z meri style" also described Susan Merrell as being psycho. One of the white women suggested "sabotage".

It seems that "sabotage" worked extremely effectively, because Susan Merrell reportedly failed to meet the Opposition Leader Belden Namah and secure a job as his media advisor or press officer. Nor did she reportedly get any support for her proposed package of "250 thousand dollars per annum" to work on the "Woman’s Bill" - the Equality Participation Bill, a Bill which was being supported by the Opposition which proposes to reserve 22 seats for women in Parliament.

"She never went to my office, she never visited my home, I have never met the woman", the Opposition Leader recently advised.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annum - that's too much", he said.

What? She has never met Belden Namah in person? Only spoken with him over the phone and exchanged texts and emails in the hope of getting a job at 250 thousand dollars per annum which was rejected? Is a case of sour-grapes the real reason why I think she was dishonest and unprofessional in concocting her blog story "Sex, Lies & Facebook" using 3 false names and having it published on Png Blogs in early February 2012? A story in which she cleverly inserted the phrase "Mea Culpa - I was wrong" and wrote that "Michele" had posted this same phrase on her Facebook wall. Knowing full well that certain people on her Fb friend list would realize that she was implying that the fictional "Michele" who allegedly suffered " the most sordid, degrading and humiliating episode she'd ever experienced and it was at the hands of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Christian nation of Papua New Guinea" was really herself.

"Felicity" who also featured in this very popular blog story was also a fictional name and also a fake profile created by Susan Merrell. Felicity was really Susan Merrell! How do I know? Because Susan Merrell laughed about it to me - at how she convinced a female friend in Sydney to pretend over the phone to Belden Namah that she was Felicity instead. One may easily conclude that Susan Merrell is an unscrupulous fraudster who deliberately set out to lure and entrap the Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea in an elaborate plot in which it is highly possible and plausible that a fake Belden Norman Namah played a leading part pretending to be the real Belden Norman Namah on Facebook by sharing the real Namah’s email address and phone number with gullible, bored young girls and women - whilst the real unsuspecting Belden Norman Namah became the victim of a vicious character assassination attack.

Mea Culpa - I was wrong! Namah was suddenly no longer the hero and political savior of Papua New Guinea in Susan Merrell's mind...and certainly not somebody who she could patronize or make a protégé. Whilst serving as Deputy Prime Minister in the O'Neill Government during the political impasse, he became transformed by Susan Merrell into a "monster" with "chilling eyes" and ‘a would-be Dictator’ akin to Idi Amin and Hitler! In April 2012, she welcomed the Governor of NCD to Sharp Talk - "Mr. Powes Parkop, I believe you are now a member of Sharp Talk, welcome. Now all you need to do is to remove your backing of the rogue MP Namah. Secure your place in history by helping to overthrow a potential dictator that will make Idi Amin look like a pussycat". The Governor ignored her.
No big deal anyway, because her cleverly contrived ploy to indirectly link herself to her Sex, Lies & Facebook story worked perfectly to get her anti-Namah internet campaign well under way. This became evident after well-known PNG writer and blogger Malum Nalu publicly asked her on Facebook if she had "an affair with Belden Namah". Speculation about her supposed "intimate relationship" with Belden Namah has been rampant on the PNG social media scene for more than one year now. Foreign conspiracy theories also thrived and still thrive. In fact I recall advising her - after seeing Malum Nalu's question to her - to publicly reveal the real truth of her relationship with Belden Namah. "I think I should advise you to write another more detailed story. Think about it", I told her. - "Thanks but no, would serve no purpose. That article had a specific purpose that I think has most likely been served", she replied.

Basically Susan Merrell, who is quite possibly 15 years older than Belden Namah (complete with wrinkles and a sagging neck & chin - despite cosmetic surgery) built her fan club on Facebook by grandstanding on the Namah name. People, including myself, sympathized with her and respected her relentlessness in expressing her opinion in the face of sometimes overwhelming opposition, outright condemnation and personal attacks - especially after she publicly claimed that a fake profile (called Benjamin Zgia) threatened to 'put a bullet through her brain'. The PNG social media scene during the height of the political impasse in 2012 became divided by Pro-O'Neill, Pro-Namah, Pro-Somare and Pro-Constitutionalist supporters. It became a psychological battlefield in which Doctor Susan Merrell seemed to delight in provoking and taunting her opponents on the Namah side. Especially Graham Robinson doing PR postings for Namah - "he thinks he is a master manipulator but he's met his match here", she confided in me.

As long as she got the attention she sought, it became crystal clear that she was not backing off and would not cease her constant & continuous negative and self-opinionated commentary about Belden Namah - despite all the countless objections raised by outraged Papua New Guineans who told her to stop! After all, her motto is - "hit the ball one more time. When all seems lost, give it one more try - it may be the strike that matters". And of course she has her fan club on the PNG Facebook scene to rally her on. It really makes no difference to her die-hard fans that the real Susan Merrell barely resembles her much younger looking Facebook profile picture. But it made a difference to me. When she finally met me, after liaising with me for months behind the scenes on Fb, I realized whilst talking with her face to face the full extent of how cleverly she had contrived to set Belden Namah up to become the bad guy and the fall guy - because that is exactly what she did. She set him up.

Her negative portrayal of Belden Namah unashamedly persisted and still persists even after many people publicly commented - as early as one year ago - that she must be "obsessed" with him. At one stage early last year someone actually advised her to receive counseling. One year later she truly earned the distinction of becoming "officially obsessed" with Belden Namah. I also realized the full extent of what I believe to be her "delusional obsession" when I recently noticed a vulgar exchange between herself and a lawyer which appeared on a status on the "Belden Norman Namah" Facebook wall on January the 3rd - last month.

Shocked at the vulgar comment she made concerning the Opposition Leaders private part and alleged sexual proclivity (too vulgar to repeat here) I told her that she was "way out of line" (someone had to tell her) and that her comment is vulgar, disrespectful and embarrassing. Just imagine if she made vulgar comments about the Australian Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott on his Facebook wall. Anyway, that set her off! She told me that I have no right to tell her that she is way out of line, became personal, jumped to conclusions, indirectly threatened me and then in-boxed me:
“I can give you chapter and verse on all types of things that would severely damage and embarrass, Namah. Perhaps you should talk to him first before you provoke me. If you are aiming to curry favour with Namah by opposing me -you'll find that could dangerously backfire. You really are treacherous, aren't you?"

More than once she has publicly revealed that a psychiatrist has questioned her sanity over her interest in Papua New Guinea. "One of my best friend (sic) is an eminent psychiatrist who was awarded an AM in the honours (sic) list this year. He thinks I have a psychiatric problem too. He wants to know what motivates me to want to help PNG under the circumstances. Apart from this he thinks my psych (sic) is very healthy", Susan Merrell declared.

The laws on mental illness in Australia may still be the same, if so then only 3 separate statements from three people are required to have someone believed to be mentally affected committed to a mental asylum.

"PNG does not need you" - she was told repeatedly - to which she retorted more than once “more powerful people think otherwise". A favorite method of dealing with her opponents was to label them xenophobic - of having an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners. So who are these powerful people? Are powerful people pulling her strings and feeding her with false information which she 'consumes as gospel' and propagates to a trusting and unsuspecting PNG and Pacific Islander population -through the internet and on occasion through the mainstream media in PNG and the Solomon Islands? Is there any truth in the allegation that Australian Ross Garnaut who was recently banned from re-entering Papua New Guinea has been encouraging and sponsoring her diatribe?

At one stage as she drew a lot of likes & admiring comments for her sharp wit on Sharp Talk, she revealed that being on Sharp Talk "is like a drug". During one recent online drama, a commentator, who happens to be a lawyer, openly called her "condescending, mean and nasty" and said "if she has gained the respect of some Sharp Talk members then she needs to control her sharp tongue", to which another commentator (an Australian who grew up in PNG) who labeled her "a serial pest" responded - "if she keeps poking it where it is not welcome it will soon become blunt"

Her real moment of notoriety, glory and Facebook fame came recently when Prime Minister Peter O'Neill reportedly joked at a news conference in Port Moresby - regarding the "Vanuatu Connection" in which a "mystery jet" allegedly carrying fugitives landed in Port Moresby - that the Editor of the Post Courier should perhaps unfriend Susan Merrell on Facebook - after she boldly called on the Prime Minister to resign over allegations that he had met with the alleged fugitives - and further attempted to rally Sharp Talk members to stage a public protest over the incident. To my knowledge she has also never met Peter O'Neill nor interviewed him.

"Get rid of O'Neill and send a message to the others that things in PNG are changing (for the better)", she urged.

Her uncalled for comments against the PM and her attempt to instigate a protest march - especially made as a foreigner who has hardly spent much time in PNG before (maybe only a few weeks) - drew the ire of Susuve Laumaea one of Papua New Guineas most renown,award-winning, political and public affairs journalist - of 37 years standing; who has served PNG with merit as a government printer, provincial secretary and as Chief of Staff to 3 PNG Prime Ministers - Somare, Namaliu and Skate.

"The people of PNG do not need journalistic mercenaries, unethical parachute journos shit-stirring them from far away...to set them off on a destructive melee. Get the facts right, if you don't know, find out, if you can't find out, shut up" - Susuve Laumaea, the media and public affairs assistant and speechwriter to the present PNG Prime Minister, bluntly told Susan Merrell. "I don't deal with accomplished liars and people who love implying untruths", he said.

"You Susan Merell maybe looking in on PNG from the outside and you may be seeing things that perhaps many of us cannot see from where we are, but it does not give you the liberty to agitate and stir discontentment, instigate petitions against legitimate governments or duly elected and appointed PNG public officials and leaders. Go talk to Tony Abbot and Julia Gillard and say the same sort of things you are saying about PNG leaders to them. I do not think a fly-by-night or day journo, a yellow one at that or a parachute journo, operating on hearsay, speculation and clutching at straws can comment with any authority on PNG affairs".
"Comment about issues and topics about your own country or about subjects meeting your competency as a journo, go have a yarn with Julia and Tony .... on PNG affairs, find out, if you cannot find out, leave out, if you cannot leave out shut up.... aren't those virtues of journalism ...... that's all I am saying, I am not telling you to shut up as a journalist on issues that you can comment on factually, based on evidence and truth .... but I believe journalism has its professional ethics, responsibility and cannon rules of conduct, observance of the truth etc .... History is littered with yellow journalism and you know how lowly that is". "I know that you concocted all the crappy story about Opposition Leader Belden Namah....” he further added.
Susan Merrell responded: "Susuve Laumaea, I'm a journalist, I ask questions. I don't get paid and I won't be silenced by the likes of you. It's clear to me that you have no sources because I am in receipt of all the facts of that story. Hard to reveal that which doesn't exist. Goodnight you're boring me".

At the time, Susuve publicly revealed that he believed that she had never met Belden Namah before and persisted in asking her to provide proof of her personal meeting with Belden Namah and continued to question who pays her after she initially asked who paid him.
She then contradicted herself:
"Mate, you seriously need a refresher course in journalism - it's questions that get to the truth, you seem reluctant to ask them unless you already know the answers. That's not journalism, that's court litigation. Oh by the way, how do you meet someone "impersonally"? English not up to much either, I see. For the record: I categorically aver that I have met Belden Namah and that I do not get paid by anyone on a regular basis - except sometimes when my articles are accepted in some publications".
(Impersonally is an adjective which can also mean neutral, formal, dispassionate & business like.)

Sharp Talk - a platform initially intended for constructive debate on matters of national interest where members are privy to the latest breaking news sometimes days before it hits the mainstream media appears to have degenerated into a platform where far too often untruths and falsehood, rumors, speculations, insinuations and innuendo has been disseminated and propagated against PNG and PNG political leaders. PNG Politics appears to have become a very dirty game - complete with ugly, uninformed speculations, gossip and outright deliberate slander - influenced by foreign power brokers and clever manipulators and paid Spin Doctors with vested interests who think they can get away with saying anything about Papua New Guinea's mandated Leaders.

The latest news from Sharp Talk is that Susuve Laumaea, fed up with all the unsubstantiated "buai pekpek" has offered to organize a public debate in which "Sharpies" can raise their concerns directly to the Prime Minister. Congratulations Sharpies. Sharp Talk has finally come of age. Even the Prime Minister is listening! Yes, "the pen is mightier than the sword" but nobody has the power to wield it without facing the consequences. The truth always prevails, one way or another - eventually!

By Susan Merrell

There is so much smoke surrounding the name of Philip Eludeme, current Chairman of the Central Supplies and Tenders Board (CSTB - in the way of unanswered allegations and dubious past deals) that I'm forced to wonder why the Taskforce Sweep or Ombudsmans Commission do not have him in their sights, suspecting the smoke may lead them to the fire – because there's a serious conflagration burning unchecked in PNG. (Maybe they already do.)

Another cursory google search has unearthed these allegations – they're out there already in the pubic forum, for anyone who has an interest to find.  They're lurking there available to those who have the power and the will to investigate:

On March 9, 2012 a poster on a popular social media website, that has been mooted as changing the face of politics in PNG, remarked:

Philip Eludeme a business associate to Belden Namah who is the SOLE DIRECTOR in this Bewani Palms Management Limited on this oil palm project is now the Central Supplies & Tenders Board (CSTB) Chairman.

Yes, I saw that too in the written reports on the yet-to-be-tabled SABL Inquiry.

Whether this constituted a conflict-of-interest situation with his subsequent appointment is moot and really of little or no consequence – as it certainly creates that perception.  A government seeking to slough off the mantle of corruption can ill-afford to create this sort of public perception.

On April 23, 2012, the same commentator in the same forum said:  
                                                  

Today's Post Courier Page 2 Talks about ROAD BUILDER DEFENDS HIS SUCCESSFUL BID. The Owner of Wopa Construction Limited has been awarded a K10 million project to seal Mt. Hagen City ahead of well know Construction Companies with Credibility and who have been in the industry for so long. The owner Fred Wak is the Owner of Highway Inn at 1mile in Lae, Also recently appointed a Board Director at PNG Power Limited and has been awarded a K10 million contract through CSTB whom the Chaiman is Philip Eludeme who was the Party Secretary to PNG Party Sometime back. How sad such is happening to our people's money. I don't think it was awarded on Merit....God Bless PNG

And it's not only the social media that has been wondering about this man as is in evidence by the posting that I reproduced from last week's Post Courier (my previous article) that also asked similar questions and made similar connections.  That Philip Eludeme was party secretary for the PNG Party is something about which I know nothing and therefore cannot comment on the veracity of the statement.

Then, in coincidence with my last article, once again, the social media voiced it's own separate concerns over the behaviour of the Chairman of the CSTB, writing: (18 February, 2013 – Sharp Talk)

Can someone confirm if CSTB Chairman called the Transport Department and advised it to give preferential treatment to a particular company for the tender to build national wharves and jetties? Nawae Construction was the only contractor that went through the normal process meeting all requirements of the tender. However, a second company purportedly registered in India and of which Jimmy Maladina is a director, was sought to be given preferential treatment and included besides Nawae.

A well-respected member of the PNG community replied:

CSTB did the same thing with Angau Hospital Redevelopment project. They dont go along with the agencies recommendations. Its colusion.

Furthermore, I am greatly troubled by the article of Gilbert Mondo who exhorts: "Let's put an end to this discussion" …when it's only just beginning and not even nearly resolved. Why's that Gilbert?

It's because he states in his penultimate paragraph: "I wish not to be silenced and slaughtered by her lies and venoms."

Well that would be extremely difficult for me to do, Mr Mondo (or whoever you are) as I have never mentioned you  - and had no knowledge of your existence prior to three days ago.  I have no interest whatsoever in Gilbert Mondo.  But that's not who you really are, is it?

So who are you?  Let's guess – it doesn't take a Rhodes Scholar.  Dear readers: you whistle, I'll point.
Furthermore, if you are who everyone has now guessed that you probably are -due to your inattentive faux pas and lapse into the first person -(I do hope, for the sake of PNG, that you're mathematical ability is not impaired by the same slap-dash attention you give to the written word) then to invoke the current sickening situation regarding the burning of a women alive in PNG in order to threaten me into silence is conduct unbecoming of someone in high public office and brings the government of PNG into disrepute and by association the people.  Well done, you should be ashamed.

But, then again, that's what this post is all about, isn't it?  Conduct unbecoming amongst other allegations even more heinous.  

A Papuan New Guinea environmental advocacy group has accused Prime Minister Peter O’Neill of “falling silent” on the controversial  Solwara 1 deep sea mining venture planned off the coast of Madang.

“Why has our Prime Minister fallen silent on this core issue?” asked Wence Magun, national coordinator for the Madang-based Mas Kagin Tapani and also a steering cvommittee member of the Deep Sea Mining (DSM) Campaign.

The campaign wrote to O’Neill last December about its environmental concerns about the Solwara 1 mine and asked for documents relating to the approvals process of Nautilus Minerals Solwara 1 deep sea mine be made publicly available.

The campaign is still awaiting a response from the PNG government. The group’s statement today said:

Wence Magun, national coordinator for Mas Kagin Tapani, said: “After receiving our letter last December, Our Prime Minister described the environment as a “core issue”.

“But communities are still waiting to hear how he will address the many risks associated with the Solwara 1 mine – and they want to hear this before his Government re-opens any discussions with Nautilus. Why has our PM fallen silent on this core issue?”

Nautilus has been in dispute with the PNG government since last year and the company suspended operations relating to the Solwara 1 project in November 2012.

High hopes
Michael Johnston, Nautilus president and CEO, expressed just a few days ago that the company has high hopes for a resolution to the dispute.

Patrick Kaiku, lecturer in political science at the University of Papua New Guinea and another DSM campaign steering committee member, said: “Not only is a response from the Prime Minister overdue, the petitions from the various coastal communities in the proposed Solwara project areas, that were submitted in November last year to Hon. Byron Chan, PNG Mining Minister, are yet to receive a formal response.

“Our campaign’s two reports show that there are many errors and omissions in the Solwara 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

“This means that we don’t yet understand the risks to our coastal communities posed by this mine. How could the PNG government have granted Nautilus its 20-year operating licence when so many questions remain unanswered?”

“In the interests of transparency and informed debate the PNG government should now release the documents we requested in the letter we sent late last year. We don’t want discussions to be held with the company behind closed doors while the people of PNG are left in the dark.”

Oigen Schulze, director of Zero Inc, a community organisation in New Ireland province, said: “Local communities have not sanctioned the Solwara 1 project. No one knows what the impacts of this form of mining will be.

“Communities want to know what concrete steps the Prime Minister will now take to ensure we are not being used us as guinea pigs in a seabed mining experiment.

‘Secret visits’
“We know that Nautilus are secretly visiting remote communities in New Ireland province and trying to convince them to agree to deep sea mining. This is not informed consent – these communities have not been provided with information about the risks they also face.”

Dr Helen Rosenbaum, coordinator of the Deep Sea Mining campaign, said: “Solwara 1 is the world’s first deep sea mining experiment. The eyes of the world are watching to see how the PNG government deals with the flaws in the Nautilus EIS and the high level of community concern.

“The people of PNG deserve to know that their government is acting in their best interests and is not putting their lives and livelihoods at risk.”

PACIFIC MEDIA CENTRE

By JONATHAN ROGERS

PAPUA NEW GUINEA bonds anyone? If all goes according to plan, the Pacific Ocean nation will soon make its debut in the international debt markets with a dollar issue led by Barclays, BNP Paribas and JP Morgan.

Whatever the merits of such a deal as an investment proposition, you would have to say hats off to bankers from these three houses for escaping unscathed from the beauty contest for the deal held in Papua’s capital Port Moresby, perhaps the world’s most dangerous city.

Port Moresby was last year ranked by the Economist Intelligence Unit as the second-worst place to live among the world’s 140 capitals. So-called “raskol” gangs control the city and are rather fond of robbing banks while toting M-16 machine guns. Never mind the mandate, you’d be lucky to escape the pitch with your life.

The same is true of those brave blokes from the ratings agencies who came up with a Single B rating for the benighted country, assuming they paid a visit. That puts it on a par with Sri Lanka, but I’m not entirely sure the political risk community would endorse that ratings parity.

The individuals who pronounce on political risk often seem like windbag panjandrums reeling off a stream of bland platitudes, but I’m sure they have a field day when it comes to Papua New Guinea.

JUST OVER A year ago a former colonel called Yaura Sasa led a pre-dawn mutiny and arrested the head of the armed forces, declaring himself Papua’s new military leader. The attempted coup proved unsuccessful, but the political risk input is lost on no-one.

To add to the aura of chaos: the website of the National Parliament of Papua has never been fully functional, and the constitutional court twice overturned the general election results of August 2011, setting off a prolonged period of political infighting. The country at one point had two prime ministers, two cabinets and two chiefs of police.

Meanwhile the country has one of the highest turnover rates among politicians, with often up to 80% losing their seats in general elections and no party ever having won an outright majority.

Contrast this with Sri Lanka, where strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa is digging in his heels, and it seems to me the apples compared with apples implied by the ratings parity of the two countries just doesn’t wash.

Nevertheless, I expect to see the terms of a debut bond from Papua New Guinea emerging before too long, and the outcome probably won’t be too different from that seen on debut trades from Sri Lanka and Mongolia: a single-digit-yielding deal multiple times covered and gushing praise all round.

I WOULDN’T WANT to wear that risk even on a heavily over-collateralised basis, but many investors will, and there are reasons for that. Leaving aside national income accounts, political risk, corruption and social instability, there are technical factors that favour issuance from emerging-market sovereign issuers.

The asset class is in diminishing supply as previously frequent issuers such as the Philippines and Indonesia issue less and less overseas. This means that sovereign-focused and emerging-market index funds have few opportunities to book big tickets, and are compelled to invest in anything new from the sector.

Meanwhile, a similar dynamic applies to debut issues, with fewer first-timers emerging from Asia than there have been in the past. Debut deals tend to go well because if you’re already long, say on Hutch paper, you will be more inclined to diversify into a new name.

I expect any deal from Papua to become quickly illiquid, get locked away and appear in scrappy size from time to time on broker screens. And I won’t make a call on performance, but it’s worth noting that last year’s attempted coup prompted negative ratings action, something that would have affected a Papua bond if there had been one outstanding at the time.

Investment bankers fall over themselves to bag sovereign mandates and, putting aside the dangers of wandering around Port Moresby with an iPhone in your hand, the mandate for Papua was no exception.

Sovereign work is regarded as the most prestigious an investment bank can do and is often the foundation for winning corporate and FIG business from issuers in the sovereign’s domicile. I doubt we will see a wave of issuance from Papuan corporates or banks any time soon, but the leads will certainly give a sovereign deal from the country pride of place in their pitch books.

They need to remember one thing: sovereigns default. Here’s a short list of examples of defaults that have occurred in the past 10 years: Liberia, Gabon, Nigeria, Paraguay, Indonesia and Ukraine. As we move into the more “exotic” reaches of the Asian sovereign space, you would have to wonder whether that list will be added to in this decade. Only time will tell.

This article was first published on the International Finance Review 2nd March 2013

THE gruesome killing of a woman last month in Mt Hagen for the charge of witchcraft or sorcery has been roundly condemned by all and sundry.

This may appear an inexcusable act perpetrated by uneducated and illiterate village folk but the first step to solving any problem is understanding.

What makes a normally sane person/s act in such a barbaric manner to another fellow human being?
And, more importantly, what are the factors that make such violent and brazen acts still prevalent in the 21st century?

The belief systems in Papua New Guinea are very much dominated by culture and tradition. Such significantly social norms such as marriages, deaths, lineal relationships, conflict resolution, leadership and decision making are still oriented toward our cultural roots.

Christianity and western philosophies (education) on law and order and moral conduct are not always aligned with how our ancestors ordered their lives. Unfortunately, many people in this country still hold fast to customary practices that seem out of sync with the modern course that we tread in these times.
But one must remember that around 70% of Papua New Guineans are classified as rural-based and subsistence farmers.  That means many people are illiterate or uneducated and continue to cling to what they know.

We must not discount the strength of these beliefs no matter how antiquated, how backward or counter-productive we may consider them to be.

The point here is that the people (Papua New Guineans), for better or for worse, believe wholly in their ancestral traditions. It is presumed that every society that inhabits this land has in their oral tradition stories and rituals regarding the spirit world and the super natural powers that are supposed to exist alongside man in the environment. These beliefs are what they use to explain the various occurrences such as death, personal misfortune, calamitous events and the like.

There must be an explanation to every event.

Beliefs are powerful no matter how crooked or unethically they may appear.The young woman burned alive last month may have been as innocent as the next person of any particular crime in the eyes of the law but her killers were only acting within the confines of their beliefs. They justified it as such and carried out their actions without consideration for the consequences.

To their minds, one must assume they were doing the right thing. They were acting for the good by removing an evil or a blemish on their community they believed existed.
The people, who perpetrate these heinous crimes, are for the most part normal functioning members of their societies. In certain parts of the Islamic world women and girls are stoned to death for perceived transgressions against the moral code adhered to by Muslims.
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This is an extreme interpretation of Sharia law but that is not to say that is not done based entirely on belief.
History also shows instances of people killing for their beliefs no matter how unfounded they may appear today. The witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts,  in the late 1600s shows that even the governing authority of the day was not immune from acting on claims and accusations that could not be quantified or scientifically proven – it was all done on hearsay and largely a matter of what society held as evil and needed to be destroyed.

The question now is how do we eradicate this practice in PNG?

Making laws specific to the crime is the obvious solution.  Going as far as treating these acts as capital crimes should be a formality. Enforcing these laws is the real challenge.
There cannot be any justification to behave this way in a country that not only claims to be Christian and professes to follow religious doctrine as its core truth but is in the on the path to assimilate completely to a modern world.

Education or enlightenment must be a long term solution to putting an end to sorcery killings. People must understand that no matter how profound their belief, this is neither the time not the place to be killing on the misguided assumption that they are doing the right thing.
PNG has entered the 21st century and if it hopes to make meaningful progress then a paradigm shift must be exacted not in modern PNG but with the majority in the rest of the country.

OP/ED

ISLAND Business

The Papua New Guinea government will legislate to ensure free education is compulsory, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says.

He said this would ensure “no child is left out of school”.

O’Neill told graduating students from Divine Word University yesterday that people were the most important resource.

The prime minister said his government supported their education.

Addressing the 31st graduation at the Madang campus, O’Neill said the government and public servants alone could not develop the country’s economy and needed all citizens to contribute.

He appealed to the new graduates to make their contributions for their country wherever they would be engaged.

The prime minister was accompanied by Madang Governor Jim Kas, West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, chief of staff Isaac Lupari and businessman Sir Peter Barter.

O’Neill said the government was putting in place policies such as “free education” and “breaking down obstacles” such as lowering the interest rate at the National Development Bank from 22% to 6% this year to empower people and develop the economy. The prime minister appealed to the new university graduates to aspire to become somebody useful to the development of their country.

“We want PNG to be an aspirational nation,” he said.

O’Neill paid tribute to the churches for their efforts in nation-building and acknowledged the work of the Catholic church, citing DWU as a fine example of its input.

DWU president Fr Jan Czuba said the university had always supported government policy like other universities.

He said the testmanent of the university’s contribution was the graduation of 1741 (50.3% female and 49.7% male) graduates – the highest number in its short history.

“It is a great contribution that this university is making to the development of human resources in Papua New Guinea,” he said.

Czuba said the graduates were “idealistic and committed people” who would drive the country’s economic, cultural and social progress.

“PNG’s economic and social development depends on the human resource sector which has reshaped its social and economics requirements, thus presenting economic and social challenges,” he said.

“PNG’s universities, including this university, have to respond to the social and economic changing needs for skilled and ethically oriented workforce.

“PNG needs to expand its economy and industry to sustain the long-term economic and social progress, and universities are essential to achieve those national objectives.”

Australian deputy high commissioner Margaret Adamson said Australia also recognised the importance of education to the future of PNG and continued to offer support.