Fix Hela first: Namah

By REBECCA KUKU - The National

OPPOSITION Leader Belden Namah yesterday told Prime Minister James Marape to first sort out the “violence” in his home province of Hela before trying to “take back PNG”.
In a diatribe directed at government policies on law and order, Namah questioned Marape in Parliament what he planned to do “to take back the towns from warlords, criminals and trigger-happy police officers”.

Rabaul MP Dr Allan Marat (left) and Opposition Leader Beldan Namah at a media conference in Port Moresby yesterday. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI

In particular, Namah highlighted during a “Questions without Notice” session the July 8 massacre in Marape’s Tari-Pori district in which 24 people including children and two pregnant women were killed.
Namah asked Marape if he had visited his district since the killings and whether the perpetrators had been arrested.
He said the incident was reported here and overseas, with Marape later issuing the warning to the criminal elements: “I am coming for you”.
“Can the prime minister tell the country now if any arrests have been made?” he said.
He told Marape that if he wanted to “take back PNG”, he must first take back Tari-Pori and Hela.
Marape in reply said Tari lacked police manpower, with only 60 officers to look after more than 400,000 people.
“For a place like Tari, you do not need community police. You need operational police and prosecuting police,” he said.
“As prime minister, and because it happened in my electorate, I cannot be greedy by mobilising resources to attend to that one matter as law and order issues are prevalent in the country,” Marape said.
He however gave Namah a pat on the back as the opposition leader, and reminded MPs on the government benches to heed advice from the other side.
“We are a democracy which requires our Opposition to be at work. And he (Namah) is just doing what he is supposed to do which is very good for the country,” Marape said.
“For those of us on this side of the house, let us not take personal offence when they raise matters of public importance. I am happy he is promoting Tari in a better light for me. So let me also commend him on that.”
Marape said the July incident was still under investigation. He thanked the families of the women and children killed for refraining from payback killings and allowing police to deal with it.
Namah also took a swipe at Hela Governor Philip Undialu and Defence Force commander Brigadier-General Gilbert Toropo for their roles during a gun-surrender ceremony in the Komo-Margarima district of Hela. Namah condemned Undialu and Toropo for celebrating with locals after the surrendering of guns.
“Why are we celebrating when we are supposed to be arresting them for being in possession of these guns? What is the bigger message?
“Are we saying that you can kill with those guns then come back, surrender them and we will celebrate?” he said.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/fix-hela-first-namah/

Warning issued on African swine fever virus

Posted on The National

PAPUA New Guinea has declared a “red alert” on the African swine fever virus – a deadly disease affecting pigs.
Australia declared a “hyper-vigilance” on the same.
A statement from the Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority said if the virus hit PNG, it would decimate the pig population with detrimental effects on people who eat pork. A red alert means a lookout for suspected pork products from virus-infected countries, 100 per cent quarantine checks at wharves and airports, a ban on new import licences, applications of all available quarantine laws and increase public awareness.
Naqia raised the red light after confirming that Timor Leste reported the virus on Sep 27.
“Timor Leste shares a land border with Indonesia and since this is within the same geographical region as PNG the chances of the virus entering our shores are real,” said Naqia managing director Joel Alu.
“The confirmation of the disease in Timor Leste and direct flights between the Philippine cities of Cebu and Manila and Port Moresby now raises our alert to red.
“The Philippines also reported the virus this year.
“A more intense awareness and enhanced biosecurity protocols will be implemented at our borders.
“Naqia has begun instituting precautionary measures at our borders and have being raising awareness on the disease in swine, pork, and pork products.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/warning-issued-on-african-swine-fever-virus/

Namah tells PM to ‘take back Tari first

By Isaac Nicholas - Post Courier

Prime Minister James Marape must “Take back Tari first before you take back PNG”, opposition leader Belden Namah told Parliament yesterday. The alternate Prime Minister, Mr Namah asked the Prime Minister to tell Parliament what had happened to investigations into the massacre of 24 men, women and children in his electorate this year. Mr Namah said an entire community including two pregnant mothers and children were reported killed in Munima, Peta and Karida villages in Tagali LLG between South Koroba and Tari on July 7. High powered guns were reportedly used in the fighting. “The shocking scene was brutal and ghastly, even by the standards of tribal warfare which happens often in many parts of our country,” Mr Namah told Parliament. He said the Prime Minister said at the time: “I am coming for you.” Mr Namah said a few weeks back, Hela Governor Philip Undialu and the Commander of the Defence Force celebrated a guns handover ceremony with locals in Komo, Hela. Mr Namah’s questions included: (.)Can the Prime Minister tell us whether or not any of the Tari killers been caught? And can he update Parliament. (.) Can the Prime Minister tell Parliament why we seem to be celebrating arms handovers in the province when we should be arresting every person with a gun? (.) What is the bigger message our Prime Minister is giving to PNG and the world by allowing a guns handover ceremony? You can kill and mutilate people and then we will ask you to hand over guns in a ceremony?” (.)Can the Prime Minister inform Parliament of law and order policies and of how he intends to take our cities and towns back from hoodlums, criminals and trigger-happy policemen? (.) And finally, can the Prime Minister tell us why he asks each of us to take back Papua New Guinea if he cannot take back Tari Pori? Mr Marape in response said what happen in Tari is a result of many years of neglect and problems faced as population grows but the economy has not corresponded with it. “The lack of police action in Tari is an indication to us, that the statistics we are faced with is nationwide. The Opposition leader’s view is that we step up and contain the law and order situation. Tari and Hela is home to 400,000 people with only 60 policemen. Statistics show one policemen to 7000 people. What has emerged is a symptom of a society that has absolutely little presence of law enforcement or the total government law and justice sector working. “Areas that anchor our current economy at present has minimal presence in the law and justice sector. “These projects continue to survive by the goodwill of the people, without leadership on the ground. “This is a sad point in time for 22, 24 or even one life is important and should not be lost at the hand of a mercenary. “One cosmetic approach will not be a permanent solution to the endemic problem. “Our nation is faced with the threat of insecurity from within our domestic ends, the prevalence of guns amongst us not only for the Hela province, but guns as a migratory species that moves from province to province, district to district hands to hands, and the mercenaries make good money out of this. “This parliament has it in our disposal to discuss, debate in total clarity to find a solution to this issue. “If it’s not a threat today, it will be a threat for us tomorrow.”


Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/namah-tells-pm-to-take-back-tari-first/

PM salutes young man who lost entire family in Tari massacre

By Isaac Nicholas - Post Courier

Prime Minister James Marape has saluted a young ward member who lost his whole family during the massacre in Tari by not taking the law into his own hands. Mr Marape said the young ward member, Oli Ripu, has all the tribal arsenal he can use to retaliate for the killing of his entire family but did not. “He is a small businessman who can buy guns and retaliate but he literally cried in front of the policemen after he spoke to me on the phone,” he said. “He is the ward member of the village, and I said if you go and fight again, what will happen? “In the midst of negativities, good stories do emerge in places like Tari. “The young man said Member I will not go and retaliate, I leave it in your hands, hands of law and justice sector. He had every tribal arsenal to retaliate but he never retaliated and I take my hats of to this young ward member.” “As prime minister, because it is happening in my own electorate, I cannot be too greedy in mobilsing resources to attend to one matter because law and justice sector issues are prevalent right across our country. “One cosmetic approach will not be a permanent solution to the endemic problem our nation is face with, the threat of insecurity from within our domestic ends. “The prevalence of guns among us, not only Hela province, but guns is a migratory species. They move from province to province, district to district, hand to hand. The mercenaries they make money out of this one. “This parliament has it in our disposal to discuss, debate in total clarity and find a solution to this issue. If its not a threat today, it will be a threat for us tomorrow.” Mr Marape was responding to questions from Opposition Leader Belden Namah in Parliament yesterday.


Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/pm-salutes-young-man-who-lost-entire-family-in-tari-massacre/