Gumine man assigned to Tokyo

Weekender

By ENNIOKUBLE
LIKE most young lads at the early stage of their education, Moses Niggi Kaul never knew that he would one day be the flag bearer of Papua New Guinea as a diplomat.
He was brave when he stepped into the classroom for the first time at Boromil Community School in 1978.
He took all risks as he journeyed through and into the Department of Foreign Affairs, and now nothing can substitute his experiences to serve as ambassador.
The call came early this year, when the National Executive Council appointed Kaul, as Ambassador to Japan. On a personal note he will present the gratitude from his Kawaleku people to the Japanese Government for upgrading the Boromil school buildings through the Grassroots Grants more than 10 years back.
He owes his education to his late mother as his father, a community health worker, lost his life early when Moses was still a toddler, from a tribal related fight.
Nevertheless, Kaul sailed through the Nile of learning, his basket going through turbulences to reach the shore not creamy but charming.
Moses drew his strength and composure from the challenges that were present as he was one among many who were swept into the current of nation building after independence. Papua New Guinea was putting up to challenges to unifying 850 fragmented tribes as well as finding its place among other nations.
From Koblemeru sub clan, Kawaleku tribe of Gumine district, Cimbu, Kaul graduated with Bachelors of Arts degree, majoring in International Relations at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1994, after successfully completing all his preparatory education at then Gumine High School and Aiyura National High School.
He started his career with the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1994 as a migration officer and foreign services officer.
After obtaining his Masters degree in Parish (France) with a PhD honorary certificate, he was appointed as Boarder Laision Manager to Vanimo, West Sepik in 2002.
That was a challenging job as he puts it, not only because of the security issues surrounding the PNG-Indonesia border, which is too open on both land and sea, or the political strife in West Papua but also his future career prospects within the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“The boarder liaison manager post was vacant at that time. My decision to apply for the position received mixed reactions among my colleagues. Some fear that I may be made redundant after completing the post.
“Others feared the uncertainties present out there. But I said, I was not crazy, and I want to learn new challenges so I landed in Vanimo in 2002 where I served for five years,” Kaul recalled with ease.
Working within the scope of migration laws and coordinating team efforts with other government agencies on the ground Kaul enhanced the jurisdiction of his office in Vanimo and made bold decisions to safeguard the interest of PNG.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs recognised the efforts I put into containing potential issues at the border and when my term was up the Secretary cross-posted me from my border liaison manager’s office directly to consul general’s office in Jayapura.
“That direct appointment is not normal for the department to make, and my appointment was exceptional,” the cool ambassador-designate to Japan said.
From March to December 2006 Kaul, as acting consul general, performed his assigned duties with due diligence and secured the concurrence from his supervisors in Waigani to extend his work to the PNG Embassy in Jakarta as first secretary to the ambassador.
From his Jayapura consulate office and his Jakarta office as first secretary, he worked within the realm of promoting mutual interest in Indonesia, a country with similarities and diversities.
His duties also allowed him to assist the ambassador to represent PNG’s interet in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Timor Leste, as these countries have concurrent accreditations to the PNG Embassy in Indonesia.
In the absence of the ambassador and minister counselor, Kaul performed charge de affairs duties. The Department of Foreign Affairs obviously extended his appointment for another four years, which spanned from 2006-2012.
Kaul’s willingness to take up new challenges in areas that seemed uncertain paid off by preparing him well for future diplomatic roles in foreign missions.
“Perhaps that appointment to Vanimo, Jayapura, and Jarkarta has prepared me well for further foreign missions work. The short-term trainings that I took in international related fields during that time have also given me the stamina,” he agreed.
And the call to represent over 800 tribes of PNG in Japan as ambassador took five years to come, and he was well-prepared for the call as it came.
“I am a dedicated, loyal person and my conscience is as true to duty. I can assimilate well in new job environments with other persons and am always up for a challenge.
“I believe I have attained necessary qualifications and experience to competently deliver optimum outcomes to the best of my ability in the realm of international relations and diplomacy,” a humble Kaul said.
Kaul is fully aware of his primary role in maintaining relations between PNG and Japan.
His walk in the land of the rising sun, a nation whose history is knitted to PNG, a strong development partner and a true friend since 1975 would be intriguing, challenging and rewarding.

  • Enio Kuble is a freelance writer.