Minister calls out PNG police mutiny

Posted on The Weekend Australia

Papua New Guinea’s new reformist police minister has warned of a plot by officers to detain and possibly kill him, as a battle for control of the nation’s much-maligned police force turned ugly.

Days after firing the country’s powerful police commissioner, Bryan Kramer claimed he had received intelligence reports about a plot by “high ranking ­officers” to have him arrested and charged.

In an unusual Facebook post on Monday, Mr Kramer admitted that Papua New Guineans — who suffer under endemic crime and corruption — “fear and resent the police force”. The opposition-activist-turned-minister also said his efforts to stamp out politically connected corruption and modernise the force could spell his death.

“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.”

Mr Kramer was a surprise appointment when new Prime Minister James Marape announced his government last month. On Friday, he made his first significant move and announced Police Commissioner Gari Baki had been told “to stop work” as the country’s top cop.

Mr Baki — who is linked to former prime minister Peter O’Neill — has since resisted his removal from office, taking the issue to the courts.

Australian National University analysts Sinclair Dinnen and Grant Walton described the scale of the challenge to reform the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary in a recent paper.

“PNG’s police force is massively understaffed, poorly resourced, ill-disciplined and heavily factionalised,” they said.

Last year, after Papua New Guinea hosted a major Asia-­Pacific summit, hundreds of police officers stormed parliament — smashing windows, trashing furniture and demanding unpaid allowances.

As well as organisational problems, the force has to contend with tribal wars, deadly attacks on people accused of witchcraft and violent roving street gangs known as “raskols”.

Mistrust in the police is rife and many rich Papua New Guineans turn to private security firms before the police.

Stories of police brutality are common. Last October, four policemen in New Britain were sentenced to a total of 47 years in jail over the death of 20-year-old Wesley Kenny. “These police officers came to our home, acting on a tip-off,” Kenny’s father said. “But instead of asking properly, they began to kick and punch him repeatedly until he died.”

Last week in the same province, three other officers were sentenced to 20-year-to-life imprisonment for shooting dead a passerby while drunk and on duty. Violent gangs, widespread theft and rape have made Port Moresby one of the most dangerous cities in the world, with few residents willing to venture out after dark.

Go to this link for more:https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/minister-calls-out-png-police-mutiny/news-story/c132a9ce846a3f955ec7948466f4dd49

Papua New Guinea massacre: 18 dead in horror village attack - ‘We are coming for killers!’

By Joel Day- Express UK

AS MANY as 18 people, including women and children, have been brutally massacred following a tribal feud in a remote village in Papua New Guinea.

Prime Minister James Marape said the news was “one of the saddest days of my life”, and promised to hunt down the killers. Philip Undialu, governor of Hela Province in the central highlands where the attack took place on Monday, said: “It’s a very sad story.” Images shared on Facebook showed the victims of the attack, including several children, wrapped in cloth and laid on palm leaves by the side of the road. The cause of the killings is not yet known but is part of a long-running conflict that has been active for years.

The people targeted in this attack had offered shelter to victims of a similar bout of violence several weeks ago, according to Mr Undialu.

Mr Undialu said: “It was a retaliation of a previous attack. It was a very sudden attack.”

He added: “Both attacks were made in an innocent community where people were not expecting it and all of us are in a state of shock."

Mr Marape said he was “coming for” the killers. (Image: GETTY)

The fresh attacks bring the death toll up to 24 people.

Mr Marape said he was “coming for” the killers.

In a Facebook post, he said: “In memory of the innocent who continue to die at the hands of gun-toting criminals, your time is up.

“Before I had someone else to report to now I have no one else to report to but the innocent you kill.

The disputes are often over land allocation and the distribution of resource wealth (Image: GETTY)

"I am not afraid to use the strongest measures in law on you. I am coming for you."

Mr Marape, who became leader in May, blamed a lack of police on the ground as a major problem in a region that has struggled with violence for years.

Papua New Guineas’s highland regions are very remote with communities based around tribal customs rather than central government.

The disputes are often over land allocation and the distribution of resource wealth.

ExxonMobil was forced to halt construction on a natural gas pipeline last year because of unrest.

Go to this link for more: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1151891/papua-new-guinea-massacre-latest-news-Prime-Minister-James-Marape-Philip-Undialu

Fighting zone declared in Tagali LLG after massacre, long term solution needed

By Scott Waide - My Land, My Country

On Wednesday, some of the bodies of 18 women and children were buried by the roadside in Karida Number One village.  They were the latest innocent victims of a 20-year tribal war driven by local warlords in the Tagali Local level government area. Karida Number One was not directly involved in the fighting that initially left seven people dead in neighboring Munima village.

But they were accused of harboring an in-law involved in the attack. And the women and children paid the price.

For the older generation of the Hela, the killing of women and children has broken the traditional protocols of tribal fighting.

“This, I have never seen this in my life. This is new,”   Chief Hokoko Minape said in Tok Pisin. Chief Hokoko is a household name in the Tagali LLG.

Chief Hokoko Minape

Hokoko Minape has  been councillor for as long as anyone can remember.  Then, expressing himself poetically through his grief he said:  “The women and the children are like my mothers. I died with them. They are close to my heart. I died of grief. I am already dead.”

Muks Maia, the local church pastor, lives on a nearby hill in Karida village. He ran to the site when he saw the fire from the burning houses.  He was too late to do anything.

“When I got there, I saw the women and children. They had been cut up like animals. There were no men. The total number of those killed is 18.”

Beside the smoldering remains of a hut, one of the men said the women who died were the anchors in the community. Their lives firmly rooted in the village. They cared for the land and the animals, while the men traveled in between Tari, Port Moresby and Mt. Hagen. It has been difficult to mourn for them, with the people unable to settle into their normal lives.

The hut where the worst of the attacks happened, still stands. A whole family, including two pregnant women and their unborn children also died in the attack. On Wednesday, the Hela  Provincial  Government declared the Tagali Local Level government area a fighting zone.

The Police and the Defence force numbers are stretched with only 40 police personnel and one PNGDF platoon. The only thing giving them some sense of security are the army and police patrols that have been going into the village since the raid.

Like Chief Homoka Minape, police and provincial authorities say the killing of women and children is unprecedented.

Three months into office, the Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector  Teddy Augwi, is facing his first major crisis. He says dialogue remains key in finding a solution and bringing the warring parties together.

Today (12/07/19), Police Minister, Bryan Kramer, and Hela Govenror, Phillip Undialu, went  to Karida village. Kramer has called for the immediate surrender of the killers. He has also called on the leaders to not retaliate.

He says the government will be looking at long term solutions based upon his recommendations to cabinet.

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PS.  It was difficult seeing the huts where the women were killed.  In case they become forgotten statistics, here are the names:

1. Keapu Etape (woman)

2. Kirume Nakapi (pregnant woman)

3. Arawali towako (elderly woman)

4. Tukupili minape (woman) 

5. Harime Hari (pregnant woman)

6. Tugu Apale (woman)

7. Kay Haralu (woman)

8. Hangai Hamono (woman)

9. Aipe andrew (boy, 8)

10. Mangape anduru (boy, 7)

11. Kep andrew (boy, 6)

12. Michael andrew (boy, 3)

11. Warame andrew (woman)

13. Chenain pichape (girl, 13)

14. Girume hos (girl, 6)

15. Tapali hotape (woman)

16. Andrew Kalu (man) 

17. Unborn baby

18. Unborn baby

Go to this link for more: https://mylandmycountry.wordpress.com/2019/07/12/fighting-zone-declared-in-tagali-llg-after-massacre-long-term-solution-needed/

WATCH OUT FOR 14 YEAR OLD RISING STAR

Posted by Skerah PNG

You could be mistaken that this is a a photo (taken by M Baru) is of a young girl posing with a medal in hand – a medal possibly won by her mum, dad, elder brother or sister at the Pacific Games currently underway in Samoa.  But not so.  This is Idau Vagi – showing off her Silver medal won in the 40kg category under the Oceania competition at the Pacific Games.

Vagi is among a handful of lifters released from the weightlifting factory in Hanuabada to take on the Pacific.  And make no mistake, PNG’s prospects of dominating the competition in the next decade is still intact with promising performances like Vagi’s.

At just 14 , Vagi is the youngest member of the PNG contingent currently in Samoa.

Her looks are deceiving indeed.  Innocent looking face coupled with a body frame fit for following mum and dad around the shopping mall, Vagi instead is following heavy weights and medals around the Pacific.

Inspired by watching her heroes Toua, Toua Udia, Morea Baru and powerhouse Steven Kari, the young 14 year took up weightlifting at 12 years of age.  There are many young girls and boys just like Vagi who dream about making it big y following the footsteps of their village heroes!

The young kekeni is a Grade 4 student at Hagara Primary School.  From 8am to 2pm she’s busy lifting papers and pencils.  When the clock strikes 4pm, she’s busy at the Hanuabada Weightlifting Gym lifting weights almost double her own weight.

Vagi Idau with former PNG cricketer Mahuru Dai. Both are from Kwaradubuna Clan in Hanuabada

One person who probably isn’t as surprised  as many of us are is the owner of the Hanuabada Weightlifting Gym, Douglas Mea.

Douglas Mea is synonymous with success and the master coach behind PNG’s powerful weightlifting duo in Dika Toua and Steven Kukuna Kari.  If there is ever anyone deserving of Knighthood in sport, Mea should have been Knighted long gone.  The lack of resources and  support, the consistency in his achievements and the fact that he keeps on pumping out a champion after champion one wonders what more can this man do to be officially recognized as champion himself.

Be that as it may, that little hump hasn’t prevented Mea a single bit and young lifters like Idau Vagi is testament to that.

Vagi is the daughter of proud parents Vagi Tau and Nou Reva from the Kwaradubuna Clan of Hanuabada – a clan also renown for producing national cricketers in the likes of Rarua Dikana and Mahuru Dai and in rugby league, Kumuls (late) Dikana Boge and brother Philip.

For a young girl, she has quite a hectic schedule with school and training taking much of the time.  Aside from this, she says she likes to spend her free time “telling stories with her friends“.

And what’s your favorite food, we ask.  Surprisingly, it’s SNAX biscuits – the food the PNG Athletics team are trying to keep away from!

And what is this kekeni’s ambitions?  What does the future hold for her with this promising performances?

Vagi has her sights on training hard to compete in as many Pacific Games as she can and the ultimate – participating in the Olympics.  It’s a big call but a positive one indeed to see someone still small dream big – dreams much much bigger than her very own Hanuabada Village.

Go to this link for more: https://skerah.com/sports/watch-out-for-14-year-old-rising-star/

YOUNG LAWYER APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF MIBANK

Posted by Skerah PNG

The CEO of MiBank, Tony Westaway, today announced the Board decision to appoint Miss Wavie Kendino as a Director of MiBank.

Miss Kendino is a Senior Associate with Dentons based in their Port Moresby Office.

Wavie has a broad range of finance, corporate and commercial law experience and has assisted in advising financial institutions, the PNG government, central bank, state owned enterprises, corporates and NGOs on arange of transactions, projects and matters.

She is listed in the Chambers-Asia Pacific, 2019 legal rankings as an “Associate to Watch” and mentioned in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019 Guide.

In welcoming the new Board appointment, the CEO said Miss Kendino will strengthen the Boards skills sets in addressing the critical areas of Legal Risk and Compliance.

MiBank provides services to more than 200,000 registered customers with 12 branches and more than 100 MiCash Mobile Money Agents throughout PNG.

The Micro Bank is 100% Papua New Guinea owned and its target market comprises those citizens at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

Miss Kendino will join fellow Directors to the MiBank Board who include Allan Marlin (Chairman), Dame Carol Kidu, Jason Mcilvena and Paul Nindipa.

Pic Credit : Lily & Denton

Go to this link for more: https://skerah.com/business/young-lawyer-appointed-director-of-mibank/?fbclid=IwAR14P99teSfzCdHF8IWCHMDsLMz_0ICn7jSh3e0fW6xG-YtDG74aCmQdjKs

Wabag to host Tigers vs Hunters

Posted by The National

WABAG’s Aipus Oval will for the first time host a Queensland Intrust Super Cup match when the SP Hunters play the Easts Tigers in round 18’s ‘Country Week’ in Enga on July 20 (next Saturday).
Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) chief executive Reatau Rau said after an inspection by Hunters coach Michael Marum early this week, the Queensland Rugby League gave its approval on Tuesday.
“QRL ISC competition manager Dave Maiden confirmed that outstanding issues in particular the condition of the playing surface after his visit at the end of May have met the requirements set and the game will proceed as scheduled,” Rau said. Rau said the Enga government had invested in a new stadium which included modern change rooms, and medical and referees’ rooms.
“The match will be the first to be played at this new facility,” Rau said.
He said the theme for the week was ‘Get in the Game’ and this included community engagements and conducting coaching clinics which the Hunters will attend.
“The QRL has advised that activities such as clinics, school visits, junior league visits, coaching and referees course updates and female participation visits must be undertaken at each host venues during that weekend,” Rau said.
He added Kimbe was also looked at to host the match. However, the town was not considered as they did not meet one of the conditions which was to play a Digicel Cup match last weekend at the Sir Muthuval stadium.
“That game was cancelled due to the volcanic disaster and moved to Kokopo, which ruled them out,” Rau said.
He said a travel itinerary for the Hunters and a programme of engagements leading up to game day would be released early next week.
“We will also advise on ticket prices, where you can purchase them and when they go on sale next week,” Rau said.
He thanked the support of QRL, and their partners and sponsors.
“On behalf of PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka, directors and stakeholders, I thank Dave Maiden and QRL for their confidence to host the Country Week in Wabag,” Rau said.
“This is the first time for residents of Enga and nearby Highlands towns to see the Hunters play in Wabag,” he said.
“The game will be televised ‘live’ and we plan to deliver the standards and experiences applied in Port Moresby to make the week a success.”
Meanwhile, the 13th-placed Hunters take on competition leaders Sunshine Coast Falcons in Brisbane, Australia, on Sunday (2.35pm kick-off). Woods Kawage’s return from injury should give the Hunters more direction out of dummy-half.

Go to this link for more:https://www.thenational.com.pg/wabag-to-host-tigers-vs-hunters/