Strike in Ok Tedi enters third day
By JULIA DAIA BORE
THE strike at the Ok Tedi mine entered its third day yesterday, with the shutdown costing the company about US$12 million (K35 million) per day.
The employees walked off their jobs last Tuesday, demanding a rise in their salaries.
The company has described the strike as illegal and urged the workers to return to work.
Yesterday, the PNG Trade Union Congress offered its support for the striking workers, saying there must be equal treatment of the workforce when pay increases take place.
PNGTUC general secretary John Paska and president Michael Malabag said while companies make profit and contribute to economic growth, they should treat the workers well.
They called on the management of Ok Tedi mine not to apply the “strong arm tactics” on its workers.

Two NHC cases put off
By NIDRA KEWERE MAPI
TWO court cases involving suspended National Housing Corporation (NHC) managing director Paul Asakusa came before the deputy Chief Justice Salamo Injia at the National Court in Waigani last Tuesday.
However, the applications were not heard as appropriate documents has not been filed by Mr Asakusa’s counsel prior to the court hearing.
The cases were OS 716/07 between Mr Asakusa and NHC against Richard Maru and the NHC board members, while the other was OS 639/06 between Mr Asakusa and NHC against Housing Minister Andrew Kumbakor.
Justice Injia adjourned the two matters until the appropriate file for OS 716/07 is located before continuing the legal proceedings.
Mr Asakusa is taking Mr Kumbakor to court over the National Executive Council’s (NEC) decision to suspend him.
The NEC suspended Mr Asakusa based on recommendations by the N HC board of directors.
Mr Kumbakor was also present in court to hear the proceedings against him.

K52.78mil for South Fly development projects
SEVEN development projects for South Fly worth K52.78 million have received approval from the Minister for Mining and Lands and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu.
The money has been deposited with the Western province non-community mining continuation community agreement trust account, opened for the three electorates of Western province by Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML) with the State as custodian.
Member for South Fly Sali Subam submitted 10 project proposals to the Department of Mining and Lands last year and seven of them were approved.
The executive officer of South Fly electorate office Andrew Marubu said the money is paid to the people as royalty from OTML.

Allocation of district funds is not fair: MP
THERE is an imbalance in the allocation of district funds in terms of geography and population, which is not fair.
According to the member for Kerowagi and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legislations Guma Wau, such allocation from windfall gains should be distributed on the basis of the land mass and the population.
Mr Wau said this in relation to the allocation of last year’s supplementary budget and the subsequent development budget appropriations this year under the respective budgets.
He said his district of Kerowagi has a population of about 85,000 and the district has a land mass of 400sqkm making it the biggest electorate in Simbu province.
“It would require about K50 million to effectively achieve impact projects in my district in any given term of parliament,” he said.
The National Economic and Fiscal Commission, in consultation with the National Boundaries Commission and appropriate agencies, should introduce appropriate wealth distribution and allocation policies.
“Such policies would effectively distribute development funds to areas where people needed them most,” Mr Wau said.

New commanding officer for PNGDF engineers
THE PNG Defence Force engineering battalion of Igam barracks in Lae welcomed its new commanding officer last Tuesday during an official takeover ceremony.
Lt Col Mark Keru of Western Highlands province was appointed by the PNGDF council as the commanding officer and area commander of the PNGDF engineering battalion of Igam barracks last January.
During the ceremony, Lt Col Keru told a packed crowd who turned out to witness the occasion that the task ahead for them is not easy when they strive to achieve the PNGDF vision.
“I expect us as servicemen to commit ourselves to the call of duty to serve our units, PNGDF, country and above all, God,” he said.
This is fundamental to us being in the military and this was our oath when we were enlisted into the PNGDF, Lt Col Keru said.
He said he would soon pass down his commanding philosophy through the administrative processes where he would expect integrity, loyalty, commitment, discipline and obligation to duty from the servicemen.
“On the other hand, I challenge myself to give you leadership, commitment, accountability and respect,” Lt Col Keru said, adding he has his own leadership and command “style”.
PNGDF support commander Col Joseph Fabila said despite limited resources, every serviceman should strive to provide a secure environment for the country.

Five DF officers get promotions
FIVE senior Defence Force officers were promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel early this month.
They received the new promotion during the closing of the four-day pre-command briefing for unit commanders in Port Moresby.
Those promoted are Major Tana Waea, Navy Lt Com Trevor Lapu, Lt Com Philip Polewara, Major Mark Keru and Major Chris Kenewi.
Defence Force commander Commodore Peter Ilau challenged the unit commanding officers to effectively exercise a chain of command in their respective units.
“It is important that this chain of command must by followed at all times in our Defence Force,” Mr Ilau said, adding it is a management tool used by them and other organisations for stability.

Hospital gets grass cutters
BOROKO Motors donated two Honda grass cutters worth K4,000 to the Mount Hagen city authority to boost its drive to beautify the city. General manager Jeff Lang handed over the cutters to city manager Richard Culligan. Mr Lang said Boroko Motors is happy to support the city authority because despite logistic support and financial problems the city council faced, it managed to use the limited resources it had to beautify the city. Mr Culligan thanked the company for the assistance and urged the general public to keep the city clean and tidy because it’s the image of the province.

Media as ‘checks, balances’
MEDIA can be used powerfully in the achievement of development targets and indicators spelled out under the UN millennium development goals, Sri Lankan veteran journalist Neville de Silva said. In the same way, he said, media could be used as “checks and balances” in making individuals or organisations which are securing millions of funds from international donor agencies, feel accountable for their actions in due process. The public needs to be kept informed on these processes, it needs to know how much funds was made available and how it is used for development, he said.

Kerosene affects change
LIKE burning of fossil fuels in bigger developed world, the use of kerosene in developing countries, contributes in a big way towards global warming and eventually to the effects brought about by climate change, director for the national disaster management office in Honiara Julian Ma’aka said at a journalist workshop held in the Solomon Islands recently. Kerosene is commonly used in traditional and urban rural villages in Papua New Guinea as a cheaper source of fuel for lamps or used in kerosene stoves to cook food. However, Mr Ma’aka warned that it is as effective as the burning of fossil fuels and contains the same harmful substances which contribute to global warming.

Morobe funds disabled agency
THE Morobe provincial government has been funding the Morobe Disable Agency (MDA) over the last five years and has vowed to continue in its commitment. Morobe Governor Luther Wenge said this when unveiling the official Morobe governor’s vehicle in Lae. He said the provincial government was committed to continue the funding of K100,000 annually for disabled people in the province. MDA president Rex Larry thanked the provincial government and for presenting the issue of the UN Convention for the Right of People with Disability on the floor of parliament during the last parliament session.

Man pleads guilty of escaping
A 45-year-old man from Kerowagi, Simbu province has pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody while serving a 24-year sentence for murder and armed robbery. Joseph Kagl Imbo was a prisoner at Beon Correctional Institution when he escaped with 15 others by cutting the iron bars and sheet metal from the walls of the main compound on Sept 25, 2005. Justice David Cannings handed down a five-year sentence, but suspended three years after taking into consideration the mitigating factors, some of which were that no violence was used, he cooperated with police and there was remorse on Imbo’s part.