Church expresses ‘shock and disbelief’

Source: 

The National, Thursday 22nd March 2012

By DULCIE OREKE
THE Catholic church expressed “disbelief and shock” after parliament yesterday passed the Judicial Conduct Bill 2012 into law.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands general-secretary Fr Victor Roche said churches “opposed the bill in the strongest possible terms”.
He said the government had not taken the right direction in its decision to pass the new law.
Roche said despite the government having the majority to rule, “the decision further fails to serve the interest of every Papua New Guinean”.
He said the National and Supreme Courts were the highest lawmaking body and it was not good to suppress them.
Any country that “suppresses the conduct of judges of the National and Supreme Courts is in big trouble”.
Roche said there was not enough time for non-governmental organisations, churches and public to gauge their views through a public debate on the law before it was passed.
He said they were pleased with opposition leader Dame Carol Kidu for opposing the bill.
Former chief justice Sir Arnold Amet branded the law as “dangerous and contrary to the independence of the judiciary”.
He said there were universal conventional laws built into the code of ethics for the judiciary and there was no need for any other law.

Sir Arnold questions constitutionality of judicial bill passage

Source: 

The National, Thursday 22nd March 2012

MADANG MP Sir Arnold Amet says the move by the Peter O’Neill-led administration to pass amendments to the Judicial Conduct Bill 2012 is unscrupulous and insubordinate to the Constitution.
Sir Arnold, from the National Alliance Party, expressed disappointment he had been refused to deliberate on the issue on the floor of parliament when the bill was passed into law.
The bill, introduced on Tuesday and passed three times yesterday by a vote of 63-7, gives parliament the power to refer a judge to the governor-general, who in turn must appoint a leadership tribunal to investigate the judge, who would be suspended from duty.
Sir Arnold described it “as a very dangerous pre­cedent that has very serious ramifications on the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law and constitutional democracy and the traditional separation of powers between the three principal arms of government; the legislature, executive and the judiciary”.
“It’s an abuse – it is corrupt.
“This has been coming after five months of continual efforts by the government to suspend the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, to intimidate, compromise, and control the conduct of members of the judiciary,” he said.
He said there were ample provisions already in the Constitution, including consequential procedures, to deal appropriately with Sir Salamo.
He said a legal team “will soon file appropriate proceedings to challenge the constitutionality of the act in court”.

NRI launches booklet to improve teaching

Source: 

The National, Thursday 22nd March 2012

THE National Research Institute has released a new booklet to improve the quality of teachers and their students in remote areas nationwide.
Research team leader and investigator Dr Eileen Honan said the booklet would provide teachers with an effective way to sustain their own professional learning without any assistance.
The booklet showed teachers how to enhance their learning and improve the quality of their teaching.
She said the research was based on a cycle of action that involved teachers identifying the problems they could solve, developing action plans to evaluate their progress.
“By improving the quality of teaching, we can improve the quality of education in PNG,” she said.
Honan said an important part of quality teaching “is ongoing learning where teachers continually work to improve their teaching to achieve better outcomes for their students”.
The booklet was a result of a joint research study completed by the University of Queensland, Australia, NRI and Deakin University.

Madang police: We could not contain crowd

Source: 

The National, Thursday 22nd March 2012

By ELLEN TIAMU
POLICE in Madang said they could not contain the riotous behaviour of people on Saturday night that led to the stoning of a number of vehicles on Modilon Road.
The stoning incidents happened after 8pm when vehicles travelling on the arterial road leading into Madang had sticks, stones and bottles thrown at them.
A policeman, who was at the station that night, said many vehicle owners went to the Jomba police station demanding to know why police were not there to control the situation.
The policeman said there were more than 500 people had been walking down the road from a People’s Labour party 10th anniversary celebration held next to Smugglers Inn and police had not anticipated such actions. 
People’s Labour Party general secretary, Charles Locke confirmed the party held a 10th anniversary celebration near Smugglers Inn on Saturday but said all their supporters had been transported home by the time the missile-throwing incidents took place.
Locke said the celebration ended at 6pm when all their supporters left the venue.
He said none of the vehicle owners had come to PLP party executives to complain.
The incident happened between the hospital and the provincial administration.
Locke said that was close enough to the police station for police to notice and contain the problem.
He said party leaders, Peter Yama had been a victim as well as one of his vehicles was stoned that night.

Madang cop charged with attempted murder

Source: 

The National, Thursday 22nd March 2012

THE head of the rapid response unit in Madang has been charged with attempted murder over the shooting of a Grade 9 student at Erima along the South Coast road last year.
Snr Cons Daniel Kapen, 40, of Taulil village, Gazelle, East New Britain, appeared at the committal court yesterday where he was charged.
Kapen is well-known for his no-nonsense approach to curbing lawlessness around Madang.
His bail application is still pending over requests that the firearm used be tendered during appearance today.
The rifle is an Israeli made Galil ACE 22 automatic rifle.
According to police records, a group of intoxicated boys were walking along the Erima road last Dec 11 between 3pm and 4pm.
They were heading in the direction of the school after an earlier scuffle and were leaving when they were stopped by Kapen
The victim, Donald Mara, a Grade 9 student at Malala, and Cedric Waraho, were the only ones standing on the road after the others had fled upon seeing Kapen’s vehicle.
Kapen allegedly got out of his vehicle with his firearm and shot Mara on both feet.

Earthquake rattles PNG

6.6 magnitude earthquake rattles Papua, New Guinea

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

By Paul Martin

TheExtinctionProtocol.com
March 22, 2012
GOROKA, Papua New Guinea — A strong earthquake struck the island of New Guinea in Papua New Guinea on early Thursday morning, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The 6.6-magnitude earthquake at 8:15 a.m. local time (2215 GMT Wednesday) was centered about 63 kilometers (39 miles) east-southeast of Goroka, the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province in the Oceanian country. It struck about 105.9 kilometers (65.8 miles) deep, making it an earthquake with intermediate depth, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the region, but the USGS estimated that approximately 147,000 people near the epicenter may have felt ‘strong’ shaking which could result in light to moderate damage. Another 3.5 million people may have felt light to moderate shaking. Because the earthquake struck fairly deep and on land, no tsunami warnings were issued. “A destructive tsunami was not generated based on earthquake and historical tsunami data,” the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin. Earthquakes in the mountainous nation of Papua New Guinea, which is on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, do rarely cause damage or casualties as most structures in the region are light and flexible. This allows them to bend, rather than snap when a major earthquake happens. In December 2011, a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck near the town of Wau in Morobe province. The earthquake was felt as far away as the capital Port Moresby, about 221 kilometers (137 miles) south-southeast of the epicenter, but there were no reports of damage or casualties. In July 1998, a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck just off the north coast of the country’s island of New Guinea, causing a landslide which resulted in a local tsunami. The disaster left at least 2,183 people killed and thousands more injured. –Channel 6 News

Source: http://revolutionradio.org/?p=27452

Polye is NA leader

Source: 

The National - Tuesday, August 9th 2011

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
THE National Alliance party’s de­puty highlands parliamentary leader Don Polye has been elected as the party’s new parliamentary leader repla­cing Sir Michael So­mare.
The Kandep MP, who is the finance and treasury minister, was elected by less than half of the party’s 42 members du­ring the NA caucus meeting in Minj, Jiwaka region, yesterday.
The parliamentary wing that attended the caucus meeting passed a resolution to appoint Polye but this did not go down well with Madang regional MP Sir Arnold Amet, who claimed to represent the Momase region.
Sir Arnold said there was no vacancy and that the party must follow due process.
He said if the NA believed in party principles, then, it must not violate the party’s constitution for the sake of con­venience.
East New Britain Governor Leo Dion countered that as per the party’s constitution, they were there to elect a new parliamentary leader.
Sir Michael’s term as leader expired this year and he gave instructions last February to begin the process of appointing a new leader.
Dion, who claimed to speak on behalf of the New Guinea Islands region, said they could not keep their people and party supporters in suspense.
He said he fully supported the resolution passed by the parliamentary wing to elect Polye as the new parliamentary leader.
Polye said there was no time left, the general election was nine months away and they needed a leader to take the party into the election.
He told party execu­tives and members that the NA parliamen­tary wing was already split.
He said this was because of the actions of two or three members in the ousted NA-led go­vernment.
Polye said the party, which was built on good values and principles, had been destroyed.
He said the NA was an institution and they needed to protect it from being destroyed by a small group of MPs in the party.
He said because of bad governance, he tried to stem what he described as “the flood but it was so huge” that led others to the opposition to form the new government in order to uphold the good principles and values of the party.
Polye said it was not a bad move and they were rewarded with nine mi­nisterial portfolios.
Of the 42 NA members in parliament, 19 MPs from both sides of parliament attended the meeting.
They included Lucas Dekena, James Gau, Buka Malai, Leo Dion, Sai Besio, Mark Mai­pa­kai, Peter Titus, Andrew Mald, Yawa Silupa, Mi­chael Sape, Mathew Poia, David Arore and Polye.
Four MPs from the opposition present were James Marape, Benjamin Mul, Sir Arnold Amet and Sani Rambi.
Sam Abal, Patrick Pruaitch, Arthur Somare, Ano Pala and Jeffery Nape did not attend.

Confirmed cabinet ministries

Source: 

The National - Tuesday, August 9th 2011

Peter O’Neill – Prime Minister
Belden Namah – Deputy Prime Minister; Forestry and Climate Change
Don Polye – Treasury and Finance
Sam Basil – National Planning
Bart Philemon – Public Service
William Duma – Petroleum and Energy
Ken Fairweather – Housing and Urban Development
Moses Maladina – Implementation and Rural Development
Charles Abel – Trade, Commerce and Industry
David Arore – Higher Education, Re­search, Science and Technology
Dr Allan Marat – Attorney-General and Justice
John Boito – Internal Security
Guma Wau – Defence
Sai Sailon Beseo – Correctional Ser­vices
Job Pomat – Fisheries
Ano Pala – Foreign Affairs and Immigration
Sir Mekere Morauta – Public Enterpri­ses
Theo Zurenuoc – Education
Sir Puka Temu – Agriculture and Livestock
Thompson Harokaqveh – Environ­ment and Conservation
Sali Subam – Sports
Martin Aini – Labour and Industrial Relations
Byron Chan – Mining
Jim Miringtoro – Communication and Information Technology
Steven Kama Pirika – Bougainville Affairs
Andrew Mald – Community Deve­lop­ment; Religion and Family Affairs
Mark Maipakai – Inter-Government Relations and District Development
Francis Awesa – Transport and Works
Puri Ruing –  Civil Aviation
Lucas Dekena – Lands and Physical Planning
Jamie Maxtone-Graham – Health
Benjamin Philip – Tourism, Arts and Culture
Wake Goi – Assisting the Prime Minis­ter on Constitutional Matters

Beon inmates prepare for mini tourney

Source: 

The National - Tuesday, August 9th 2011

PRISONERS at the Beon jail in Madang have organised a fun-filled day during the Independence weekend with a mini-tournament for themselves.
Three sponsors have donated balls and other sporting gears.
Ruben Micah, classified as a high-risk prisoner but the man who has been organising the tournament since 2009, said yesterday when receiving 15 balls from Nambawan Hire Cars that he was pleased with the response so far.
Melanesian Tours have given K200, four rugby balls and one ball each for basketball, soccer and volleyball.
Two weeks ago, Microfinance Ltd donated volleyball, touch rugby ball and a whistle.
Events planned for the week will be fun-filled for children such as various games, sack races and relays.
The games start Sept 13 followed by the finals.
It includes a flag-raising ceremony in the morning with a live band concert and a mumu to end the day.
This week, the prisoners are expecting a speedy release of funding for fuel so they can do some fishing as part of their fundraising drive.
The only institution giving them their time in joining the games is Divine Word University.
Micah said it was pleasing to see students mixing with inmates.
 “Why can’t other institutions also do the same? The community here, warder’s families and others, are joining in the fun and this is one way of healthy community participation,” he said.
Jail commander Tita Wada said it was one of the best ways to rehabilitate prisoners and as such business communities should.
“Today they are my prisoners, tomorrow they will be your neighbours or community members. The whole event is organised by prisoners,” he said.
He added that in the four years that the “Kapris group” had been detained, and while instilling self-worth among prisoners through such activities, there had not been one break-out – a record so far.
 

Ambush on vehicle leaves two youths dead

Source: 

The National - Tuesday, August 9th 2011

TWO separate deaths were reported in Madang over the weekend.
In the first incident, drunken youths living at the Mero Bridge stopped a 15-seater bus belonging to a businessman from Pangia, Southern Highlands, assaulted and robbed  the occupants and smashed its windows.
Southern Highlanders, in retaliation, travelled in two bus loads and confronted the youths with bush knives and other weapons.
According to police station commander Snr Insp Steven Kaipa, while many fled the scene, one of the youths was hit on the head with a machete.
He was rushed to hospital by traffic police but died laster that evening due to heavy loss of blood.
Kaipa confirmed that the incident last Saturday sparked tension between the Sepiks and Southern Highlanders.
It continued last Sunday with youths blocking the roads with banana stems and stones as soon as Mobile Squad members pulled out of the area after monitoring the situation the previous night.
Last Sunday, Kaipa addressed the Mero crowd, appealing to them to let the law take its course.
“The stretch of road from Biliau Maus Rot to Mero is a hot-spot. If any unlawful activity within this stretch is done it will be met with equal retribution so be prepared to face the consequences,” he told the Sepik community.
In a separate incident also on Sunday, a Western province youth identified only as “Fox” by a friend was found dead at the Banglang Riwo road side not far from the Banglang Club.
According to Kaipa, the youth was stabbed with a sharp object in the right eye and died from heavy loss of blood.
His friend confirmed to police they had been drinking together earlier and was on his way home when he was attacked.
Police are still investigating both killings with arrests expected soon.
Meanwhile, the body of a middle-aged man was found at the bank of Wara-Simbu River outside Kundiawa, Chimbu, in the early hours of Saturday.
The man has been identified as Apa Mosley of Kagai village, Yongomugl in the Sinasina-Yongomugl district.
Police believed the man died from wounds on his head.
The body was discovered by Wara Simbu a resident who alerted Kundiawa police.