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.
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.”
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. . 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. .
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. . 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. . 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. . 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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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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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".
PRIME Minister James Marape, pictured, is urging unemployed people living in Port Moresby to return to their provinces and earn a living from the land.
Marape said the land was waiting for them to grow copra, coffee and cocoa. He promised that
the Government would help unemployed people return to their villages to join others there
start commercial agricultural ventures.
“The small agriculture businesses will be broken down into three categories:
Women and girls;
Men and youths; and,
the Autonomous Region of Bougainville,” he said.
“Every day, one billion cups of coffee is drunk worldwide.
“We have already met with the president of China (who) is willing to purchase coffee, copra and cocoa grown in the country.”
Marape added that Papua New Guinea would become “Asia’s food
basket”.
“So if you are not doing anything here in Port Moresby, you must return to the village,” he said.
He said the Government would do its part in distributing money fairly in the country.
“We will also make amendments to some of our laws like the Oil and Gas Act and the Forestry Act to bring in more income for the country,” he said.
“Work with district and provincial governments and become businessmen and women.”
MORESBY South MP Justin Tkatchenko, a member of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Party, says he will support Prime Minister James Marape and his coalition government. “I (had) made a solid commitment from day one to support Hon James Marape as prime minister, and that has not changed at all,” he said. Marape recently made it clear that the PNC was no longer part of his coalition government but party members already holding Cabinet portfolio could remain if they wished to. Tkatchenko, appointed by Marape as the Housing and Urban Development Minister, is one of the seven PNC party members holding Cabinet positions. The others are Works and Implementation Minister Michael Nali, Health Minister Elias Kapavore, Public Service Minister Westly Nukundj, Labour and Industrial Relations Minister Alfred Manase, Border and Immigration Minister Petrus Thomas and Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Nick Kuman. Tkatchenko said he had made his position clear at the outset when he moved to support Marape that he would support him. Nali when contacted said he was yet to make up his mind and would make his decision known after consulting his supporters. The others declined to comment. PNC parliamentary party leader Peter O’Neill declined to comment when asked about his position and of his party. He said he would either move to the Opposition or remain in the middle benches. Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/tkatchenko-pledges-to-support-marape-govt/
By DANIEL KUMBON - The National WeekenderIT IS very easy to forget and gradually lose some of PNG’s authentic traditional practices if people did not practice them.
I discovered this important fact at the recent 25th Enga Cultural Show silver jubilee celebrations.
I was intrigued to see this lady covered from head to foot in white clay sitting with four others in a booth at the far south-eastern end of the showground.
She was wearing lots of equally white necklaces made with ripe seeds or Job’s tears harvested from a plant called waku that grows wild in old abandoned gardens.
This was how women used to express deep sorrow when they lost a loved one.
I realised how ignorant I have been not to notice the danger it posed for this important aspect of Enga’s cultural heritage to gradually disappear without a trace.
I am not sure if I would write this piece if this woman had not decided to participate at the show. She brought back vivid memories of my own mother dressed exactly like her when my own baby brother, late Nuamb died nearly 60 years ago.
I remember many people coming to my house and crying so mournfully. They sat around the stiff body which appeared to me to be sleeping peacefully in a partially opened bilum lying on the ground.
I was worried they might poke his eyes or wake him up when they kept touching my late brother’s face, arms and legs as they wailed at the top of their voices.
This all looked funny to see grown men and women cry easily like children.
Nobody was beating them so why were they crying?
I guess like all children, I did not understand or knew anything about death at that early age of my growth.
A couple of days later, I realised my mother was not breast feeding or holding my baby brother anymore.
I felt happy about it when I was told my brother Nuamb would never come home.
I would now have my mother all to myself, I thought for he had been given all the attention. White ghost
But lo and behold my mother had turned into a white ghost.
I hadn’t noticed the body of my brother taken away and buried on the edge of our garden with the mighty Lai River flowing nearby slowly making its way to the coast.
That evening, I screamed in terror and fled when I saw a ghostly figure covered from head to foot in white clay sitting there in the semi-darkness in the mid-section of our house.
‘Don’t be afraid of me my son, it is only I your mum,’ my mother said to me in a husky voice which sounded almost like a whisper. She had lost her voice after all the crying and wailing for the loss of her son.
Friends and relatives began bringing firewood, food items and ready-made Job’s tear necklaces for my mother to wear.
As the days went by, my mother kept applying mud on her body and continued to wear the ugly necklaces which made hideous sounds when when she moved.
At times my mother picked me up in her arms, held me tight and quietly sobbed in my ears. I screamed and kicked like a small piglet to escape but her grip on me was firm and overpowering.
Chef Henao’s local dish.Stanley Peasero with his textile design used on garments.
And so was her love for me.
She must have wept for me because I was too young to understand that I had lost a brother with whom I could have formed a pair in adult life to support each other to defend clan territory in times of attack from enemy tribes.
I was able to recall all this because of this lady who had come to the show to demonstrate how it was done. Mourning weeks on end
No wonder I was surprised to see her because it was such a long time ago that I had seen my own mother dressed exactly like her.
Nowadays, it was common to see a mourning woman dressed only in a black blouse and a matching skirt. It seemed women today did not like to spend long periods of time in the funeral home or haus krai either.
In the olden times, women mourned for weeks on end. They continued to rub white clay on their bodies until the funeral feast was concluded. Only then were they free to resumed normal life.
The lady in mourning at the show sat with four other women. All of them were elaborately dressed in authentic everyday attire as women were expected to wear.
At their feet were three pairs of newly made Job’s tears necklaces, two gourds filled to the brim with fresh drinking water, cooked sweet potatoes, wooden digging sticks and other memorabilia from the past
Today people still helped contribute something at a haus krai but lots of cash and cartons upon cartons of Coke was involved.
Even so it was still encouraging to see people still embraced and kept alive some aspects of traditional culture as was evident here at the show. One woman was making a traditional umbrella using young leaves harvested from the pandanus nut tree. Another was making grass skirts while the fourth was making strings from bush vines to make a bilum or string bag.
At another part of the showground, two men were chopping a log using stone axes demonstrating how effective it was in olden times. A video recording of this event has gone viral on the internet.
Other men were building model homes, made fences, stone axes and human hair wigs etc as children ran around free and naked as was common in the village.
Fertility ritual
An activity that attracted a lot more attention was the re-enactment of a fertility ritual called the Mara Karenge’ which involved the slaughter of a pig on a raised platform.
The pig was ritually led to its slaughter by several men. It was lifted up to a man who was already standing on the platform.
Then the nemogol or ritual leader climbed onto the platform and slaughtered the poor animal with one blow as the other man propped it up for him. The two men then threw the carcass to the ground and jumped down after it to cook it in a mumu to offer it to the spirits.
Another attraction already gaining popularity is the Yokonda Ancestral Salt Ponds near Sirunki situated at 2,000 meters above sea level.
Visitors have gone there by the busloads to see the ingenuity of traditional salt extraction methods. They tasted the rare favorable salt as they sprinkled it on food offered to them which was cooked in an earthen oven or mumu using hot stones.
When I was a child, I saw my father travelled twice to Yokonda all the way from Kandep on bush tracks and brought back a couple of round parcels of salt wrapped with pandanus nut leaves.
He went with other men from my tribe taking with them trade items like kina shells and tree oil from the Foi people of Lake Kutubu in Southern Highlands.
The oil gourds usually changed hands until they finally reached not only my people but others too in Kandep.
Some kept the oil for their own use or took it up to Yokonda to barter for the precious salt.
To reestablish this ancient trade link, a cultural group from Enga went to Lake Kutubu in 2018 to take part in the Kundu and Digaso Festival. A group from Kutubu was anticipated to attend this year’s show in Wabag but did not come.
The Enga Show Society did not rest to establish more cultural links, even overseas.
Australians to the show
For the first time, an Australian indigenous cultural dance troupe from the Torres Strait Islands on an exchange programme attended the Enga Cultural Show silver jubilee celebrations.
This was made possible by the High Commissioner to PNG Bruce Davis.
A stark cultural contrast – Torres Strait islanders meeting Governor Sir Peter Ipatas.
The people stood motionless as he officially opened the show and when a member of the dance troupe picked up the microphone to introduce her group to the Enga public.
They then performed some elaborate dances to the amazement of everybody who was able to crane their necks to get a glimpse of them.
Even people dressed in traditional attire abandoned their own performances and stood around to watch the Torres Strait Islanders strut their stuff. It was a sight to behold.
Enga cuisine and fashion
Two other new cultural activities that were included in the jubilee celebrations was the introduction of Enga Fashion Week and a Tasting Enga banquet featuring local dishes.
Both these events proved to be big hits on the first try.
The Fashion Week was staged on Friday Night at the Enga Take Anda where raw talent was show cased as they modelled unique textile designs created by Stanley Peasero of Sirunki.
The organisers were satisfied, they had found what they were looking for.
They invited at least one model and Stanley Peasero himself were selected to go to Port Moresby to take part in the prestigious PNG Fashion Week festivities scheduled for Oct 7 to 12.
‘That is a big plus for Enga in our first attempt at such an event,” said an excited Stanley Peasero from Wabag.
The other major blockbuster event was creating local dishes involving top chief, Julz Henao who declared there was enough rich organic food in Enga province that could be used to create many local dishes of international renown.
The Yaskom Hotel at Sirunki was parked to capacity on the night of Aug 10 with patrons who ampled an inclusive three-course meal to showcase the exquisite produce and flavours of Enga.
The local dishes were created by Henao who is said to have cooked for world leaders during the 2018 Apec meeting in Port Moresby.
Believe it or not kaukau or sweet potatoe leaves were part of the ingredients for one of the local dishes.
The pig that was slaughtered in the ritual.
Many years ago, we ate not only the tubers but the sweet potato leaves as well when we students were introduced to it by American teachers at St Paul’s Lutheran High School.
International tourists look for something that is different or something unique to a particular locality in any part of the world.
Enga has everything the world might want – authentic cultural practises, exquisite local dishes, unique sand paintings, unique textile designs and much more.
Tickets for the show were sold on-line for the first time this year resulting in nearly 200 tourists from many parts of the world attending.
Enga must brace itself to receive more visitors from now on.
Proper hotel facilities must be provided and grade 10, 11 and 12 school leavers must be trained now to cook food that is palatable for visitors.
In 2018 over 95,000 visitors arrived in PNG which represented a 9.5 per cent increase from 2017.
They collectively spent K700 million in the country according to an article by Lisa Smyth published in Paradise, Air Niugini’s in-flight magazine.
Enga must urgently prepare itself to tap into the lucrative tourism industry.
