Police to unearth cause of clash at Mt Hagen                                                        THE National Government has directed that police get to the root of the ethnic clash in Mt Hagen which left six people dead, hundreds homeless, and properties damaged.
The Prime Minister and other senior Cabinet members refused a push to have a state of emergency (SoE) declared in Western Highlands province, because of concerns about costs and whether an SoE would address the root cause of the problem.
Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye revealed the Government’s move while in Mt Hagen yesterday to talk to the two factions affected, the Enga and Jika Muglmana tribe.
Mr Polye said an ethnic clash in the city was a national issue and therefore Sir Micheal ordered Mr Rambi during the National Executive C ouncil (NEC) meeting to start carrying out an investigation as soon as possible.
He told a big crowd during a funeral of one of those killed at Warakum that an investigation would be properly conducted to establish the cause of the problem and bring to justice people involved.
He said that many innocent people from different parts of the provinces suffered because of the trouble.
He said that parliament needs to review the laws and make it tougher to deal with such problems.
He also admitted police were not properly equipped to deal with the problem.
Chairman of the Tee School restorative committee Joe Tomorope told the minister and his delegations yesterday that they want law to take its own course.
Mr Tomorope denied a media report that many Engans and people from other provinces affected in the ethnic clash move back to their provinces of origin.
He said that all the people are still around and now they are in a process of rebuilding the settlements destroyed during the clash.
 

‘Phone-for-gold’ deal with Koreans doubtful                                                                 By ROMULUS MASIU
THE “phone for gold” deal to be signed by the Autonomous Bougainville Government and a Korean communication company is likely to be called off, ABG communications minister Jeffery Nabuai said yesterday.
Mr Nabual, after their meeting last Wednesday, told The National that they are not too happy with the arrangements of the Korean Telco Co Ltd as stated in the agreement.
Mr Nabuai said his team told the Koreans to re-consider the arrangements adding that “they should not be asking for mining licence from us in exchange for the communication system set-up.”
“We still don’t have the mining power and we are no-where near to give mining licences to anyone,” Mr Nabuai said.
The executives of the Korean company has been in the region for a while now trying to negotiate with the ABG to strike a deal under the condition that they provide the communication system for the island region in return for a mining licence.
Mr Nabuai warned that such deals with foreign companies were not timely and may cause problems with the National Government because both parties are still in loggerheads on the drawing down of powers.
“We are telling the Koreans to follow the proper procedure by applying and expressing their interests in a letter of intent, which was much more open and transparent.
Nabuai said his team comprised ABG police minister Ezekiel Massat, trade and industry minister Joseph Watawi and officials from the Department of Communications.

Erima primary gets water supply                                                             
WATER supply was restored to the New Erima Primary School in Port Moresby at midday last Wednesday.
The supply to the school was disconnected last year due to non-payment of bills.
Eda Ranu disconnected the water after the school incurred a bill of more than K22,000 through uncontrolled use of water, illegal connection to the nearby settlement and damage to the pipeline that drives the water into the school area.
The concerned parents and school administration visited Eda Ranu last week and reached an understanding with the organisation to have the water restored.
A total of K14,288 was paid last week including reconnection fee, which enabled the reconnection work to take place.
Eda Ranu warned the Erima community not to tamper with the metre reading or the pipe work.

‘SHP schools must accept partial fees payment’
SECONDARY schools in the Southern Highlands province must not send children home for fees default, provincial education planner Wesley Tainda said from Tari last Monday.
Mr Tainda said this after receiving reports that several high schools in the province had refused to accept students coming with partial payment of fees for the academic year.
He said the provincial education board, the Southern Highlands provincial government and even the national Education secretary Dr Joseph Pagelio have made their statements clear that “no schools should turn-away children because of fees defaults”.
He said some headmasters and board of managements are “playing politics” by refusing to accept students who come with part fees.
He advised these headmasters and to immediately rescind their decision and accept students with partial fees.
Mr Tainda said parents with part fees must be encouraged to continue paying their fess until they meet the 50% “parental component”.

NEC okay for Youth Policy
THE National Government will spend K21 million over the next 10 years developing the youth of PNG as a viable partner in development.
In its meeting on Wednesday, the National Executive Council endorsed the National Youth Policy 2007-2017, aimed at providing direction for youth development in the country.
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said in a statement that the Government’s endorsement of the National Youth Policy recognises that youths were very important resources for the country’s development and the future of this nation.
“The new youth policy is a shift in paradigm. The shift is about developing youths as opposed to social welfare systems of youth work. It encourages agencies to develop preventative model youth work as opposed to treatment model.”
Major issues and problems experienced by young people today includes poverty, unemployment and underemployment, illiteracy, drug and alcohol abuse, crime and delinquency, exposure to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancies and violence.
The Prime Minister challenged national and provincial departments and statutory bodies to adopt the national youth policy to address youth issues in their policies and programmes.

TIPNG applauds doctor’s bravery
TRANSPARENCY International yesterday commended snake expert Dr David Williams for his bravery and courage in exposing problems of corruption within the Health Department.
“The National’s front page (yesterday) reported statements of allegations of theft and corruption involving doctors stealing anti-venom from medical stores and selling it back to the hospitals, further supports TI PNG’s views that corruption in high office is serious and damaging to the country,” chairman Mike Manning said in a statement.
“It not only affects the provision of basic essential health services, but also has an impact on the public confidence in the public health institutions.”
TIPNG noted that this was only one of a number of allegations made recently about shortage of medicines all over the country.
Mr Manning said health workers and especially doctors were the least of people considered to be corrupt.
He said people’s lives depended on every available drug that was designed to cure and heal whatever disease or sickness individuals came across, and it was they – doctors – who save lives.
 

Kokoda Track landowners to stage protest march
By FRANK ASAELI
LANDOWNERS of Kokoda Track including Mt Kodu landowners will stage a protest march to Parliament to present a petition to the Deputy Prime Minister and Mining Minister Dr Puka Temu for the renewal of exploration licence (EL) 1348.
In the meantime, Koiari and Sogeri landowners in support of Mt Kodu resource owners have closed the Kokoda Track from tourists yesterday morning at Kepo (from Port Moresby), the entrance towards Owers Corner until Frontier Resources EL 1348 is renewed.
They are also awaiting clearance from the Police headquarters for the planned protest march next week.
“This area has not been developed for a very long time, we want development,” the group’s spokesman Bagua Watti said.
Mr Watti, a former public servant, represents 12 clans along the track from Kepo (Karadabu) up to Kodu, where Frontier is carrying out exploration for a possible mine development.
The landowners said the Australian and PNG governments should not interfere and stop the exploration of Kodu as it would bring development to them after many years of neglect if the mine was developed.

Lakari appears in court
A senior police officer in Enga province charged with murder appeared before the Wabag committal court for mention yesterday.
Chief Insp Martin Lakari, who was remanded in custody, appeared before Sn District Court Magistrate Jeffers Wia.
Police prosecutor Epenes Nili told the magistrate Lakari’s file was not ready and the magistrate adjourned the case to Mar 10.
Mr Lakari was arrested and charged last Wednesday by Wabag police with unlawful killing of a high school student by his policemen during the national election last July 4 at Mambal polling area in Kandep district.
Provincial police commander Supt Micheal Chare said yesterday he would serve suspension notice to Lakari today.
He said Lakari would be suspended from official duty while the case is pending in court.

Alleged criminal escapes
A MAN deemed a “hard core criminal” is on the run after escaping from the custody of Correctional Service (CS) while being hospitalised at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
William Kapris Nanua, 29, from Karapia village in East Sepik escaped last Saturday.
Police had wanted Kapris for the murder of a police officer in West New Britain and an attempted murder of another in Morobe province, including several armed robberies in some parts of the country including NCD.

No films for driving licences
THE public in Madang province cannot renew driving licences or get new ones as the provincial land transport registry ran out of films since late last year. This could mean that drivers whose licences had expired in the last three months were driving around illegally. At the same time the registry was not issuing new PMV registrations because it ran out of blue plates. The provincial administration had put out a public notice stating that the situation would remain until the Madang provincial budget was passed and divisions were given their annual allocations to operate.

Tariff reduction to continue
THE national executive council has received 14 recommendations of the 2007 tariff review report (TRP). Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said cabinet had also been made aware of an intention to continue the tariff reduction programme in 2008 for 2009 and beyond. He said the Government’s intention of the TRP was to encourage a more efficient and productive private sector through greater exposure to international competition and reduce the burdens of tariffs on producers, consumers and business.

Tiensten criticises officials
NATIONAL Planning and District Development Minister Paul Tiensten has slammed bureaucrats for inefficient delivery of services to the people, who needed their advice in various development and health activities. Mr Tiensten said in Kokopo that this attitude had resulted in many mothers and children dying, health facilities and schools closed and lack of provision of extension services, high incidences of curable diseases and the list goes on. He said it was a sad culture to see that many bureaucrats do not follow directions and advice given by the Government.

NCW Act needs changes
THE National Council of Women’s Act (1979) is outdated, according to council president Scholla Kakas. Ms Kakas said the Act was old and needed changes to be made in order to cater for Papua New Guinea women. The Act had always been vague and ineffective meaning it does not give a clear idea on women’s place in the country and a review of it would critically look into all sectors as gender was a cross-cutting issue today. The National Council of Women is holding a week-long conference to review the act in Madang this week. The conference is sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund and the UNDP.

Call to stop bad behaviour
A CHIEF and ex-combatant leader of the Panguna district in the Ioro constituency has called on all ex-combatants in the region to abstain from bad behaviour. The concern was raised by John Duni due to the fact that law and order situation was now becoming a major issue in the Central and South Bougainville regions. Mr Duni said at the moment, all ex-combatants in the region are divided into different factions, causing more confusion to the peace process.

New CEO for B’ville LLGs
THE local level government division in Bougainville has a new chief executive officer, Puaria Kamariki. The hand over ceremony between the outgoing CEO Patrick Heromate and Mr Kamariki was witnessed by Bougainville Government Minister for LLG, Jonathan Nagti and Women’s Affairs, Magdalene Toroansi, division heads and LLG staff. Mr Kamariki said he was aware of the challenges of the position and the expectation that the Government and the people of Bougainville had in him.

NIPG remembers Gross
NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan has paid tribute to a pioneer plantation entrepreneur and leader in New Ireland during the sixties, who passed away in Australia recently. The late Jim Gross passed away last week after a brief illness. Sir Julius said the late Mr Gross was inspirational, serious and hardworking and his achievements were above his colleagues. As a leader and a member of New Ireland, he led the province with dignity and respect and was the prime mover of agriculture, securing and developing more than 12 plantations. He said the late Mr Gross had retired to Australia in the mid-eighties, until his passing away last week after a brief illness.