REPORTS OF PLANNED ARREST

By Bryan Kramer-Kramer Report

In last few days I have been receiving intelligence reports within the political circles, police ranks and security forces that there are plans to have me arrested and charged.

Certain high ranking officers within the Police Force are planning my arrest acting on complaint by former Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, including a complaint filed by journalist in Madang who, in June 2018, I exposed for being paid public funds by the former Member of Parliament.

So there can be no question of doubt if certain Members of the Police Force wish to bring charges against me, it is their constitutional right to do so, provided of course they have sufficient grounds based on credible evidence.

For the record I won't be going into hiding or running to court to seek restraining orders, which has been the practice of some Members of Parliament in the past.

The officers need only contact me requesting I make myself available for an interview and I will be happy to turn up to the nearest police station.

Unlike what happened in 2014, they won't have to deploy fourteen uniformed officers to hunt me down to lock me up.

Back then I was illegally arrested on fabricated charges of attempted murder of the former Minister for Police and Member for Madang, charges in my view were politically motivated in an effort to silence me over my efforts to expose high level corruption in relation to the former Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

I say this because after I was locked up in the Police cell, and was refused bail even after I obtained bail order from the District Court. My lawyer had to threaten contempt proceedings against the officer in charge of the station before I was finally released in the middle of the night.

Soon after being locked up in a cell I was subjected to threats and intimidation by an officer directing me to an area located in the back police cell house, an area where detainees are typically subjected to police brutality or permanently silenced.

Fortunately for me, a number of the detainees transferred from Bomana awaiting trial stepped in and took me under their care. They explained while Police control the main door in and out of the cells they control what goes on inside it.

I was eventually released and the charges against me later thrown out by the Courts.

A lot has changed since 2014, back then I was just an ordinary citizen doing my civic duty educating the public on systems of Government, judiciary and exposing high level corruption. However, today I am Member of Parliament and a Minister for State, the Minister for Police to be precise.

It seems certain people in high places are deeply concerned following my recent appointment and recent retirement of the former Commissioner Gary Baki, and perhaps they should be.

So when will I be arrested?

If not today, then perhaps sometime this week. My concern will not be so much about my safety but the safety of the members of the force. When word of my arrest goes public to 800,000 residents in the National Capitals or millions of people throughout the country one would expect an immediate response.

My concern is that 10's of thousands of people will converge on police stations around the city in protest. At that point I will not be in a position to guarantee any officers or the public's safety.

With the exception to a hand full of corrupt officers I have absolute confidence in the remaining 7000+ plus officers who respect and uphold the rule of law and wear their uniform with pride and distinction. This was why I decided to go back on my word to remain in opposition and instead accepted the appointment as Minister for Police. I did so with the genuine intention to address the many issues facing our men and women in blue as well as improve general safety of the public.

Unfortunately many members of the public don't share the same view and have come to fear and resent the police force. One can't blame them given many have been victims to police brutality, lost loved ones to unlawful shootings or subjected to verbal threats, extortion and intimidation. I'm sure I don't have to explain the likely outcome if certain corrupt members of the force collude with corrupt politicians in an attempt to bring me down.

A message to those who are silly enough to think that my arrest will somehow silence me or dislodge me from my cause to fight for the welfare of 8 million people of PNG, I didn't seek elected office to be a career politician.

When Prime Minister James Marape contacted me to notify me of his decision to appoint me Minister for Police he explained the job will come with serious risks to my personal safety and I should take appropriate measures.

My response was, God will decide when it is time for me to leave this earth and if it happens in my cause to fight corruption then so be it, and if he says it's not time then it's not time.

I explained if I start focusing on my personal safety it would be like questioning my own faith.

Since taking office I have declined police close protection, police escort or even a designated driver. I regularly get asked about the risks that come with what I do, my response has always been and will continue to be I have no question of doubt I will eventually get killed for what I do. It goes without saying when you get in the way of those stealing billions in public funds, they will do whatever it takes to get rid of you.

When it happens, I'm certain it will, fighting corruption and the welfare of others less fortunate will no longer be my problem, it will the an issue for the next generation to take on.

For now I will continue to support Marape Steven Government in its vision to fight corruption and ensure a better future for our people.

NHC’s debt over K100mil: Tkatchenko

By HELEN TARAWA - The National 

THE National Housing Corporation (NHC) has a liability of more than K100 million accumulated over many years, Housing and Urbanisation Minister Justin Tkatchenko, pictured, says.
Tkatchenko told The National that all the liabilities were allegedly from dodgy deals.
“All these liabilities will be fully investigated, audited and hopefully found false and so not entertain them at all,” he said.
“For NHC, we will be doing a complete staff restructure.
“At the moment, we have got 300-plus staff throughout the country.
“With the new staff restructure, we will cut it down to fewer than a 100 over the coming months.”
Tkatchenko said he would go through the Public Services Commission and the Department of Public Services to do the restructure to get a more productive and conclusive staff to operate the NHC in a professional and robust manner.
“Gone are the days of looking after political supporters and wantoks in the system.
“We will remove all of that in the system to ensure that we have a NHC that works for the benefit of the people of PNG and that is streamlining for productivity and output.
“I am not here to be a friend or a buddy to anybody; I’m here to do a job.”
Tkatchenko said Prime Minister James Marape had given him the task of cleaning up NHC.
“Over the years of corruption and mismanagement, I can go into NHC knowing nobody is doing my job without fear or favour.
“I have also instructed that all security companies, hire cars and casual employees cease immediately.”
Tkatchenko said acting managing director Elizabeth Bowada had terminated more than 60 casual staff last week.
“We can no longer tolerate the misuse and abuse of these privileges and we have already started to address that.
“My biggest challenge now is the liabilities of NHC.
“I can’t believe the rots and the mismanagement of having nearly a K100mil in liabilities that have never been addressed by management and previous governments.
“It will be my task to clear all the liabilities and that everybody is accountable and proper financial processes are put in place to stop the leakages of money, rots and corruption.
“I appeal to all Papua New Guineans that have issues with NHC staff, my doors are open to their complaints and allegations of misuse and malpractice that has been going on in there.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/nhcs-debt-over-k100mil-tkatchenko/

Former PM accuses newspaper of exaggeration

Posted by The National

FORMER Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, pictured, has accused the Australian Financial Review (AFR) newspaper of sensationalism regarding a Sydney property linked to him ahead of a Commission of Inquiry into the controversial PNG UBS loans.
In a statement yesterday, O’Neill said: “The Prime Minister (JamesMarape) has announced that the Commission of Inquiry will take place and I am looking forward to this matter being cleared by an independent and transparent process.
“I have stated in Parliament that I will be the first person to appear before the Commission of Inquiry.
“I have never met anyone from UBS to negotiate these loans that are the subject of the report.
“The UBS loan was negotiated by relevant and rightful government officials, including Treasury.
“The information that was first leaked from the Ombudsman Commission through dubious circumstances was politically biased.
“If the AFR was serious about finding truth, they would be looking at the leaks.
They would investigate who was behind the leaks and if these are the same members of the OC that were involved in ensuring people mentioned in the report had no right of reply to the claims before they were published.”
O’Neill highlighted the “cheap attempt by the newspaper to link the UBS loans to a residential property in Sydney.
“Attempting to link this property that is owned by a family friend of 30 years is a cheap shot and misleading by the AFR.
My children have been renting while studying in Australia, and our family do not own any property in Sydney.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/former-pm-accuses-newspaper-of-exaggeration/

PM interested in Malaysia’s policies

Posted by The National

PRIME Minister James Marape wants to know how Malaysia developed from a rural agri-based to a modern economy through Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad.
He made this known when he met with Malaysian High Commissioner Mohamad Nasri Abdul Rahman recently.
Marape said his desire is to draw from that experience to “Take back PNG” and make it the richest black Christian nation.
Marape acknowledged the long and fruitful relations and reaffirmed PNG’s continued support and stressed that under his watch, he would work on consolidating this relationship to ensure tangible outcomes for Papua New Guinea.
In terms of investment, Marape assured the high commissioner that all investors were welcomed and any amendments to policies and regulations were in no way intended to discourage foreign investment, but to protect the interests of the investors as well as PNG citizens and ensure foreign investors were complying with PNG’s domestic laws and regulations.
In response, Mohamed informed of a large presence of Malaysian investors in PNG and indicated that other Malaysian businesses were interested in investing in the country and further made mention of his government’s interest in the new Marape-Steven administration and whether the policies and priorities and the interest by Petronas, Malaysia to invest in PNG’s gas and oil sector.
Marape was encouraged and informed the high commissioner that he would be happy for Petronas and Kumul Consolidated Holdings to meet at a later date to consolidate ideas and find practical ways of developing the petroleum and gas sector in PNG.
In other matters, Mohamad advised of training opportunities available to Papua New Guineans particularly for public servants under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme, which could be utilised to help develop PNG’s human capital.
Marape expressed his intentions to visit Malaysia in November 2020, just prior to the Apec Leaders’ Summit in Kuala Lumpur to further enhance existing relations as well as promote business, trade and investment opportunities.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/pm-interested-in-malaysias-policies/

Marape declares LLG in Hela ‘a fighting zone’

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK - The National 

PRIME Minister James Marape, pictured, has declared the Tagali local level government in Hela “a fighting zone” which police officers and soldiers will enter to arrest those involved in the killing of 16 women and two children.
“This killing is not normal in a tribal fight,” he said.
“This killing has gone beyond the traditional fights rules of engagement where only warriors in the battle field are targeted.”
He said a State of Emergency currently in force in Hela would be extended to declare the Tagali LLG a fighting zone.
“Police and soldiers now in Hela will go to that area and use every means to round up the suspects and any guns and ammunition,” Marape said.
He sent his condolences to the relatives of those slain.
He also directed Police Minister Bryan Kramer and Hela Governor Philip Undialu to go to Hela today to visit his Tari-Pori electorate.
“Kramer will go there to confirm the number of deaths,” Marape said.
Hela has the LNG project, Kutubu oil field, Mt Kare gold mine and Hides gas that provides electricity to the Porgera mine in Enga.
Marape said the province of more than 400,000 people had since 1975 never had more than 60 officers.
“And because of lack of police presence, law and order problems have gone out of hand,” he said.
“Since 2011, I have been requesting additional police manpower.
“But police presence in the province have never been beefed up.
“That has allowed gunmen to roam around thinking they are heroes.”
Marape said the barbaric killings had prompted the Government to look at the Jerry Singirok and Bire Kimisopa gun reports.
“We will be announcing stiffer penalties like life imprisonment for people illegally in possession of guns and those hiding behind tribal fighting and continue to kill children throughout the country.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-declares-llg-in-hela-a-fighting-zone/

Life with Foxcy: death, warfare & great misfortune

Foxcy (far left) and fellow students bear Governor Sir Peter Ipatas at Laigam in 2006 

By DANIEL KUMBON - PNG Attitude

WABAG - The young boy thought his mother was sound asleep and tried to lie down beside her as he had always done, clinging to her warm body for comfort and safety.

He did not understand why some people gently lifted him and placed him some distance away to play games with other children.

He was too young to realise that the lifeless form he saw people sitting around and crying over was gone for good, never to be with her favourite, and last, child.

His mother had treated him with special care after she had lost a girl before he was born. She had four children - two boys and two girls - but Foxcy was her favourite.

Today Foxcy Yambai from Laiagam in Enga Province is 26 and he seems to have been born to suffer loss and misfortune all his life. First his mother and then, when he was in Grade 7 in 2004, his father, this latter tragedy severely disrupting his education.

I know Foxcy well as the gifted handyman living next door who can do anything with his hands, especially carpentry.

He has been a family friend for nearly 10 years but never told me his heart-wrenching tale until recently while he helped me fix the door of my backyard cookhouse.

I had intended sharing on Facebook an old photo of Enga governor Sir Peter Ipatas being chaired by a group of students from Laiagam.

Then I noticed that one of them resembled Foxcy, who was right there in the yard helping me.

“Is this you?” I asked.

“Yes, that’s me,” he said with a look of shock and dismay which he turned into a forced smile.

Foxcy did not want to remind himself that some of the young men in the photo now led successful lives having benefited from the support of their parents and the provincial government’s free education, while he had missed out completely.

On that day, he had put on his best clothes and, with the other students, welcomed the governor to Laiagam.

Sir Peter had made the visit on 17 March 2006, just before he was suspended to face a Leadership Tribunal investigating allegations of corruption.

The Tribunal was a feared institution described as ‘the lion’s mouth’ because few leaders escaped once caught in its claws.

As soon as he landed in his yellow helicopter, the students politely asked him to sit in the chair they had specially prepared and then heaved him onto their shoulders.

“We wanted to see if he would win his Leadership Tribunal trial and planned to carry him in the chair for all to see,” Foxcy explained. “People had to see the governor’s facial expressions and body language to make their judgment whether he would win or lose his case.”

It is traditional Engan practice to make predictions of a person’s fate - how they will conduct their future lives - based on how they present themselves in the public domain, how they perform at a singsing, how they dress for the occasion and how they distribute food or give a public speech.

As the governor sat aloft in the chair, the people would observe if he showed any fear of being dropped or expressed any sign of doubt in the young students who carried him to the grandstand to make his public speech.

The people would also observe the students to detect signs of weakness or fatigue.

Many people who turned up that day affirmed Governor Ipatas would win his case because he had acted normally and was sure of himself. There was no guilt or doubt on his face.

And the eight students who had represented the people had also shown confidence - no missteps, no weariness or frowns but open smiles indicating unity, stability and displaying genuine support for the governor.

Sure enough, five months later, in August, Governor Ipatas ended his case with a lighter penalty than many had feared, a fine and not dismissal from office.

The tribunal had found him guilty on 16 counts for which he was fined K1,000 each.

Supporters in Port Moresby who packed the Waigani court house to hear the verdict dug deep into their pockets and raised K30,000 on the spot, almost double the required amount.

Back home in Enga, feasting and jubilation caught on like a bushfire when the announcement was made of the governor’s win.

Foxcy Yambai was among hundreds of people from all over the province who poured into Wabag to receive the governor and continue the celebrations. Foxcy the orphan had repeated Grade 7 in 2005 after leaving school to attend his father’s funeral back in 2004.

Now, Foxcy was in Grade 8, Governor Ipatas came to Laiagam and the students decided to carry him on their shoulders.

Life seemed to be changing for Foxcy and the following year he successfully completed Grade 8 and was accepted to for Grade 9 at Philikambi High School.

But bad luck seemed to follow him everywhere and he was forced to return to his village when the school was forced to shut down as the result of tribal warfare.

He was able to return to Philikambi the following year to do Grade 9 and this time things moved smoothly until he completed Grade 10 in 2009, winning a place to attend Kopen Secondary School in Wabag.

But further misfortune as he had no money to pay his project fees. The school refused part payment so Foxcy was forced to waste another year unable to advance further up the education ladder.

Then there was further tribal warfare and his life once again became difficult. So he visited his cousin, Angu Kikala, to ask if she would allow him to stay with her family in Wabag.

Angu took pity on him and said he could until the fighting stopped. And that’s how we came to know Foxcy, because Angu and her husband Philip Kikala were my neighbours.

Philip was the former member for Lagaip Porgera and he and his wife Angu were my school mates at St Paul’s Lutheran High School in Wapenamanda in the early 1970s.

When there was a ceasefire in the tribal war, Foxcy went home and built himself a house in his village. But fighting erupted again and he had to return to Wabag. His house was burnt to the ground when the whole Pyain tribe was involved in the fight.

In Wabag, Foxcy started selling buai, loose cigarettes and similar good to raise some funds hoping to re-enroll at Kopen Secondary School.

But the cost for Grade 11was K2,000 and Foxcy did not have that much. Again the school authorities would not accept part payment.

To make matters worse, his Grade 10 Certificate had been lost by the deputy school principal.

He couldn’t do anything without his Grade 10 certificate so he gave up trying to pursue an education at Kopen or anywhere else.

At this stage, he lost faith in the education system. The much hyped up free education policy meant nothing to him now.

Little did he know that he could easily get a copy of his Grade 10 certificate from the measurement unit at education department headquarters in Port Moresby.

But he couldn’t afford to pay for the airfare to Port Moresby.

Foxcy longs to complete Grade 12, he longs to see total peace among his Pyain tribesman and he longs for his village of Mamale – which was very advanced village and home to the Apostolic Church headquarters, Laiagam High School, Laiagam Primary School, its main street lined with modern shops.

But all this is gone.

And gone too are more than 80 Pyain tribesmen killed in the prolonged warfare.

Foxcy today

“When you add all the people from other tribes killed in the fight, the death toll is well over 100,” Foxcy said. “This is a lot of people killed over a piece of land.

“I hate tribal warfare. I have seen it destroy my proud tribe, my proud village and all the mission and government institutions gone. I have seen all this happen.’

“I worry for my future and for the future of all the small Pyain children born during the conflict. What legacy will we leave behind for them?”

Foxcy regrets he has not been able to benefit from Sir Peter Ipatas’ free education policy considering the fact he had carried him on his young shoulders 13 years ago.

“I just wish to complete Grade 12, but I can’t,” he said.

Go to this link for more: https://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2019/07/life-with-foxcy-death-warfare-great-misfortune.html

Shocking massacre of women & children in Highlands

MONICA SAGER | The Week

PORT MORESBY - At least 24 people, including pregnant women and children, have been killed in Papua New Guinea in one of the country’s worst outbreaks of tribal violence for years.

The deaths are said to have taken place over several days in Hela Province. At least eight of the victims are reported to be younger than 15 and two of the women killed were pregnant.

“Rival tribes apparently clashed over control of local gold deposits in the mineral-rich soil,” says AFP.

A representative from the provincial department of health posted pictures on Facebook of what he said was a massacre in Karida village.

“The pictures show a row of bodies wrapped in cloth and tied to long poles,” the BBC reports. “He said some of them had been chopped into pieces and their body parts were hard to recognise.”

Papua New Guinea’s recently appointed Prime Minister James Marape wrote on Facebook that it was “one of the saddest days of my life”.

Tribal violence is an ongoing issue in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands region, but Hela’s governor Philip Undialu said they had not heard of such incidents happening in this particular area.

“It's a very sad story,” Undialu said in the BBC report. “It was retaliation of a previous attack. Both attacks were made in an innocent community where people were not expecting it and all of us are in a state of shock.”

Rivalries are “often prompted by rape or theft, or disputes over tribal boundaries”, says the BBC, adding that the population has doubled in the last 50 years leading to “intensified competition for both land and resources”.

Ahmad Hallak, the head of mission for the International Committee of the Red Cross in PNG, told the ABC: “It’s an open secret that the prevalence of modern weapons is definitely adding fuel to the flames.

“Tribal violence is an historical phenomenon; it’s been going on for time immemorial. In the past, though, using bows and arrows [and] spears, much more limited battles would take place. With the presence of modern weapons this is no longer the case, and we are seeing humanitarian consequences very similar to Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan.”

The Red Cross estimates that dozens of people are killed and thousands are displaced by tribal violence annually but this is said to be the most serious incident in years.

“The case has highlighted poor resourcing for police,” adds the ABC.

On Facebook, prime minister Marape asked: “How can a province of 400,000 people function with policing law and order with under 60 policemen, and occasional operational military and police that does no more then band aid maintenance?”

Marape warned those “who have been living off killing others” that he is “coming for you”, adding that he is “not afraid to use strongest measures in law”.

Go to this link for more: https://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2019/07/shocking-massacre-of-women-children-in-highlands.html

Power elites behind brutal Highlands slayings must be targeted

By BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO - PNG Attitude

PORT MORESBY – Sixteen children and women slashed to death by warlords and their tribesmen were laid to rest in Hela yesterday.

And towards the eastern edge of Southern Highlands in the Kagua-Erave area, a massacre said to be much larger continues unabated, perhaps 50-100 victims have lost their lives as warring tribes ransack villages and orchestrate guerilla warfare.

With limited reliable reporting, the number of deaths is likely to be much higher. Roads have become dangerous to travel and as a result schools, aid posts and other basic government services have come to a standstill.

With the use of high powered guns and hired hit men, tribal fights are much more deadly than those fought in traditional times.

In the Highlands where the payback system and bigman mentality are still dominant, battles among the elites for power quickly spiral into all-out tribal and ethnic war.

It gets complicated when political differences and tribal conflicts intertwine. Lurking behind the images of men with guns and piles of bodies is a battle among the elites for power, prestige and wealth.

Money and drugs are used to procure high powered guns for the foot soldiers who follow orders from the top.

It’s continuing warfare, there’s no sparing the innocent and there’s no contemplation of peace. As aptly described by one observer, the situation in Hela and other parts of the Highlands is not just chaos, it’s organised chaos.

The killing of women and children is an emerging trend in tribal warfare and may reflect a change in the rules of engagement.

It seems warring tribes are after children, especially male children and their mothers, in the hope of exterminating future threats. However, we all know that will only lead to a vicious cycle of revenge, death and continuing violence in the future.

Churches, community leaders, ward councillors, village court magistrates, tribal leaders and police all have an important role to play in ensuring that peace prevails.

However, when these interventions are not present or too weak, tribal conflicts quickly get out of control and become difficult to stop.

In the Highlands, often isolated and beyond government control, tribal conflicts occur frequently. Sending in the police or army will not address the root causes. Nor will just going after the foot soldiers.

The organising elite must be held accountable. They are the ones bankrolling these battles and killings. They are responsible and they must act to stop the slaughter.

Go to this link for more: https://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2019/07/behind-the-brutal-highlands-slayings-power-elites-must-be-targeted.html