Buai seller killer

By REBECCA KUKU - The National

PAPUA New Guinea’s 44th Independence Day anniversary celebrations on Monday were marred by violence when a buai (betel nut) seller was allegedly battered to death by police in Rainbow, Port Moresby.
Relatives and friends of Peter Pamben protested outside the Boroko police station, calling on National Capital District (NCD) Metropolitan Supt Perou N’dranou to have the cops involved in the killing arrested immediately.
The killing has turned the market area into a “ghost town” with people fearing unrest. The Stop & Shop in front of the market was also closed.
Boroko police station commander James Wafihambu met with the relatives yesterday and listened to their grievances.
Wafihambu told them that N’dranou declined to meet and had asked him to tell them to follow procedures and allow the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to probe the incident.
“I cannot speak on your behalf but I will bring your appeal to his attention again,” he told the relatives. Evans Arlo told The National that his brother, a bachelor, was allegedly killed in public and in broad daylight by policemen who had arrived at the market to chase away betel nut sellers.
“Peter was chased by the policemen from the market to the Port Moresby National High School gate, where he was caught and (allegedly) battered to death by the police.
“They then, (allegedly) emptied his pockets and stole his money,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter if he was a buai seller or not. He did not deserve to die like that.”
Arlo said they were protesting outside the police station to demand the immediate arrest of those responsible for Peter’s death.
“We are appealing to N’dranou and the good Police Minister Bryan Kramer to please have those involved arrested immediately.
“Too often, we have been (allegedly) assaulted, beaten, harassed and robbed by policemen,” he said.
Arlo also called on NCD Governor Powes Parkop to review and reconsider the betel nut ban policy that had already claimed too many lives.
“The country is going through tough economic times, and many people depend on their betel nut tables to make ends meet in the city.
“Why are policemen beating up men and women for selling betel nuts? Betel nuts are also being sold in police stations.
“Even in police barracks, policemen’s families are selling betel nuts,” he added.
Arlo said they would continue to protest outside the police station till the perpetrators were hauled up.
“We have already lodged police reports and spoken with the Gerehu police station commander, and we are now in Boroko. Policemen are not above the law,” he added.
Peter’s family members, relatives and friends said they would continue to protest outside the police station till arrests were made and investigations conducted.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/buai-seller-killer/

National flag still belongs to Susan, husband says

By BRADLEY MARIORI - The National

THE PNG flag is the late Susan Karike Huhume’s property and not the country’s as no proper recognition had been given, the designer’s husband says.
Nanny Huhume said his wife died in 2017 and no proper recognition or burial was given to her by the Government which remained a concern for the family, especially when she was a national figure and contributor to the independent state of Papua New Guinea.

Susan Karike was a young schoolgirl on Central’s Yule Island where she participated in the nationwide search for a national flag. On July 1, 1971, Karike’s design became official as the national flag for Papua and New Guinea.

“No proper recognition was given when my wife was still alive and up to the time when she died and was buried,” he said.
“The previous governments, from Somare’s time up to now, have done nothing.”
Huhume said because there was no proper recognition or compensation, the PNG national flag was still his wife’s property and not the State’s.
“When she died, no one came to help or properly farewell her,” he said.
“Her contribution to the country will remain and will be seen by generations and generations to come.
“At her haus krai, it took me three months to peacefully bury her without assistance from the Government.
“We got a memo from the Prime Minister’s Office (Peter O’Neill) that they would help us with vehicles and other things to take the body to Kerema for burial and we waited in vain for three months.”
Huhume said there was also no proper recognition or help from the Gulf government.
“We buried her on July 28, 2017, without a proper ceremony.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/national-flag-still-belongs-to-susan-husband-says/

THE SUSAN KARIKE HUHUME MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP OFFICIAL LAUNCH

By Soroptimist International of PNG

In a small but significant ceremony today in Ramu the SI Ramu Club coinciding with the Independence Celebration of Ramu International Primary School, had Mr. Nanny Huhume, husband of Late Susan Karike Huhume, officially launch the memorial scholarship honoring his wife and a very deserving and true Champion of Papua New Guinea.
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Susan Karike Huhume, PNG National Flag designer was 15 years old when she won a competition with her design which became our country's national identity. Our national flag is the only unifying symbol uniting our people of over 800 languages, diverse culture, and traditions, making us ONE PEOPLE, ONE COUNTRY!!! The Flag is a symbol of pride and a sense of belonging. She is and remains the one true hero of this great nation. May her legacy live on in the lives of all who will benefit from this memorial scholarship.
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Soroptimist International recognizes that access to education for girls and women at all ages is a fundamental human right and is vital for development, economic growth and poverty reduction. We live in a world where many women and girls face insurmountable barriers in completing their education, where educational outcomes for girls and women are lacking and access to continuing education is a harsh reality.
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We hope that through this memorial scholarship, Late Susan's legacy will leave on in the lives of the women and girls who can further their education, be independent and economically empowered to sustain themselves and contribute to the development of this great nation.
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this scholarship is to assist girls further their education, particularly girls who come broken homes and girls who are discriminated by their mere gender.
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TARGET
We are hoping to raise a minimum of K15,000.00 per year (K15,000 as late Susan was a 15-year-old when she designed the flag). But more money raised means more girls can get educated.

NUMBER OF AWARDS PER YEAR
A minimum of 5 girls per year ( 5 from the number of stars on our flag).
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AWARD AMOUNT
to be advised.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING
we hope to seek funds through relevant government departments, the office of the Prime Minister, business houses, corporate entities, and citizens.
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PROJECT START DATE
January 2020
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Thank you All for making today possible and truly memorable.
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Watch this space for more on this memorial scholarship in the weeks to come.
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HAPPY 44th INDEPENDENCE PAPUA NEW GUINEA!
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#SusanKarikeHuhumeMemorialScholarship
#TrueChampion
#LegacyLivesOnThroughEducation
#EmpoweringWomenAndGirlsOfPNG
#HistoryMade
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Visit their facebook page
Soroptimist International of PNG
Soroptimist International of Ramu Club
Kimberly Berem

'Blackface' performance at Exxon Mobil Independence Day event in Papua New Guinea causes controversy

By Anthony Stewart - ABC News

A performance at the Port Moresby headquarters of oil giant Exxon Mobil has sparked controversy in Papua New Guinea, with some locals saying the show disrespected their culture.

The video posted on Twitter shows a man painted brown and dressed in the traditional clothing of PNG's Tolai people while dancing around in celebration ahead of Monday's 44th independence day.

The man performs a version of a traditional dance and the crowd can be heard laughing and cheering.

It is understood the performance was part of an "adopt an expat" event that pairs PNG and international staff, in a bid to celebrate local culture.

PHOTO: Tolai woman Janet Sios (right) with a woman dressed in traditional costume, which she maintains is sacred. (Supplied: Janet Sios)

But members of the local Tolai community told the ABC that they felt the performance "didn't display appropriate respect for our culture".

"For a foreigner to just dress up, walk up, and just dance somehow, without understanding the real meaning [of the ritual] — it's offensive," Tolai woman Janet Sios said.

Ms Sios is the founder of PNG Fashion Week and has spent years working to get better recognition of traditional cultures.

She said her concern centres on the fact that the performance does not recognise the sacred nature of the dance and costume.

The Tolai woman told the ABC that she was disappointed Exxon Mobil allowed the event to happen, but she does not hold it against the person dancing in the video.

Blackface: Why do Australians keep doing it?

There seems to be a clear divide between those who see blackface as a national embarrassment and those who see it as just a bit of fun.

It is unclear whether the dancer is an Exxon Mobile employee or not.

"There's nothing wrong with a Japanese, Chinese or Australian [person] keen to take part in our culture — we encourage that, but there is a process," she said.

"[The performer] probably doesn't understand what I'm talking about — I would like to sit down with him, I would like to explain to him what is our culture."

The performance was branded as "blackface" by social media users, with one Twitter user, who identified themselves as an Aboriginal Australian, describing it as "disrespectful" and "offensive".

But Jordan Seladi, who posted the original video, responded: "As a Papua New Guinean man it isn't [disrespectful]. Most Papua New Guineans are quite happy sharing their culture with others".

Ckret2no1@Ckret2no12

 · Sep 14, 2019

Replying to @jordan_seladi @ExxonMobil_PNG

No! As an Aboriginal Australian its fn disrespectful, offensive, blackface is never OK! #blaclface #Aboriginal #Australia #racism #exxonmobil_png

Jordan Seladi@jordan_seladi

As a Papua New Guinean man it isn’t. Most Papua New Guineans are quite happy sharing our culture with others. He’s not in ‘blackface’. The tolai people cover themselves in body paint from extracted from a tree. He’s represented the region rather well.

2

5:05 PM - Sep 16, 2019 · Papua New Guinea

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The ABC sent a number of detailed questions to Exxon Mobil about the performance and its cultural sensitivity, but the American oil giant avoided questions of cultural appropriation by congratulating the people of Papua New Guinea on their independence while maintaining it was proud of its relations with the local community.

Asked specifically about the blackface accusations, Exxon Mobil later added that "independence is [an] occasion for all Papua New Guineans, regardless of their background or language or tribal affiliation, to come together as one nation and one people".

"We thank our national staff and their families for inviting our expatriate staff to share with them their customs, languages, dances and cultural 'bilas' [costumes]," he said.

"This sharing of cultures was meaningful and drove home for all participants the great lengths to which Papua New Guineans will go to preserve and celebrate their incredibly beautiful cultural heritage."

'It happened almost every year I worked there'

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VIDEO: Papua New Guineans respond to Exxon 'Tolai' dance (ABC News)

A former employee of Exxon Mobil told the ABC performances like this are almost an annual independence day celebration at the company.

Elvina Ogil worked at Exxon Mobil for four years, and said she witnessed similar performances.

"It happened almost every year that I worked there, they had this adopted expat day, where non-Papua New Guineas were dressed in traditional bilas (costumes)."

She said the performances were organised by indigenous Papua New Guineans, but she found the events culturally insensitive and inappropriate.

"It was a caricature of our culture," she said.

Some Tolai women dressed in traditional outfits to celebrate PNG's independence were offended by the video, like Esther Tiamon.

"I think it's offensive. It's not good if others imitate our culture because at the back of their mind they are making fun of our culture," she said.

"What is ours is ours."

Another, Susanne Arua, said it depended on the intent.

"My point of view is that if you dress in anybody's [traditional outfit]... doesn't matter from where, if you are doing it in respect of their culture, where they come from, it's okay," she said.

But she said people should learn about the cultural significance of what they were wearing and they shouldn't dress up "just to get audiences".

Go to this link for more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-17/exxon-mobil-black-face-controversy-port-moresby-png/11519712