Frank Makanuay: Arrested, and charged, and no bail

Am sorry for Lohia Boe Samuel. I know him personally. A few times after he became an MP, whenever he would see me in public places where we had crossed paths, he would extend the first gesture to acknowledge and greet me. He would address me as kaka, in his Motu lunguage it means older sibling, a label of respect and this resonates in my own dialect, kaka means big brother. I respected him.

What happen is a tragedy. Indeed for him and his family, and his career as a politician and a Motuan leader.

The greatest tragedy however, is that the incident has stopped Motuan people and their aspiration and intention to be represented through the office of the MP for Moresby North West. Whether this tragedy will stop the growth of this Motuan aspiration momentarily or permanently remains to be soon, but no one can deny that LBS ascension to be a national leader was excellent and that it happened at the right time.

He was beacon of hope for the MotuKoita people not only in Moresby Nort West, but also in Moresby South, in North East, where the Koitabu people have become a minority.

This is truly a tragedy.

I don't know what happened, but my young MotuKoita brother is a victim of fame, power, fortune. The people in and around him, should worked hard to help him keep his foot firmly planted on the ground, and find a better way to deal with issues of a post election win.

Truly this is a tragedy because it could have been avoided.

Frank Manakuay: Fuel price, The tale of reality

I feel the pinch of the fuel price hike. I don't know if you feel the effect of it too. I hope you do, so we can suffer together...lol

This morning I took K50.00 Diesel for my Ten Sitter Landcruiser. For K50.00, I recieved only 11 litres. I note the needle on the fuel gauge stop just a little short of the quarter tank. I make four trips around the back road, back and forth, each day for work and school run. I was shocked to discover that on my way home this evening the orange warning light came on. It literally means come tomorrow, I have to fork out another K50.00 for fuel, money I don't have.

It now confirms the estimate that since the diesel price went over K4.00, I will be paying K250.00 Monday to Friday, in two weeks that's a whopping K500.00...throw in another K100.00 for two weekends...its an easy K600.00... 

And now making matters worse is the road construction being done at the main Waigani intersection, presumably the most busiest road intersection in NCD. As a result there is now literally long lines of traffic jam for those of us who live in Moresby North West, doing daily runs with schools and work office in Moresby South or Norh East. We sit in traffic jams along 9 mile to Erima, Gerehu Morata route, and the tunnel near Police Headquarters in Konedobu every morning. So in essence fuel is used either by sitting idle in a traffic jam or taking the longer route around the City limits your consumption is still comparatively high.

Previously though, K50.00 used to give me close to 30 litres of diesel and it would usually take two and a half days, sometimes even three days, just doing the same usual runs before the orange warning light comes on.

Take Back Png huh? Richest black Christian nation huh?

What about West Papua? It’s our Ukraine

 04 March 2022, AMICHAEL KABUNI | Academia Nomad

PORT MORESBY - It took less than a week for the world to come together to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Sanctions were applied to Putin, oligarchs and the Russian Central Bank, there was a suspension of SWIFT banking services and weapons and aid money were supplied to Ukraine.

But the question many are asking, especially in the Pacific Islands, is what about West Papua?

West Papua has been illegally occupied by Indonesia since 1963. Brutal abuse and human rights violations have continued unabated since then and are endemic.

The United Nations Human Rights Commission said on Tuesday that:

“….between April and November 2021, we received allegations indicating several instances of extrajudicial killings, including of young children, enforced disappearance, torture and inhuman treatment and the forced displacement of at least 5,000 indigenous Papuans by security forces.”

The UN knows what is happening, so the obvious question is why isn’t the UN, European Union, United States or Australia doing anything about it?

The issue is complex, and I want to talk about just one, and probably the most important, aspect: the geopolitical benefits of pleasing Indonesia.

Indonesia has been and is an important ally of the US and Australian, the two powers with the highest stake in the region.

During the Cold War, the theory of the ‘domino effect’ of Communist ideology spread through South-East Asia.

Indonesia was an important ally of the West against communism and it actively suppressed Communism.

To please their ally, the US and other Western countries left Indonesia to occupy West Papua following the so called Act of Free Choice, branded as ‘Act of No Choice’ by many people.

It was a form of referendum where about 1,000 representatives of West Papua were forced to sign a document integrating West Papua into Indonesia.

Today the same countries are worried about the rise of China. And they continue to ignore Indonesian atrocities in West Papua.

Southeast Asian countries need US help to stand up against China so remain silent. India has border conflicts with China so it remains silent. Japan has its own conflicts with China, and Australia values Indonesia as an ally.

There are rumours that China sympathises with West Papua, although it appears ironic that a Communist country with a poor record of human rights would be sympathetic or human rights abuses in West Papua.

The reason could be that Indonesia has claims over some parts of the South China Sea which China considers its own and that Indonesia has criticised China over its imprisonment of Muslim minorities.

There are allegations that China maintains a modern day labour prison camp for an estimated one million Muslim Uyghurs. China calls it a re-education camp.

Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation on earth, has condemned China over this issue and rumours started emerging that China then decided to support West Papuans.

It looks like a classic case of ‘my enemy’s enemy is my friend’.

In the Pacific, only Vanuatu has consistently supported West Papua’s independence and spoken up in the UN.

Papua New Guinean, which shares a 700km land border with Indonesia, has been very cautious. Indonesia has huge standing army compared to PNG.

Countries in the region have called for commission of inquiry into West Papua, but it has never taken place.

Further calls to allow journalists into West Papua have been ignored. In the absence of an international presence, Indonesia controls the narrative.

So here is how world politics seem to play: If there is an invasion or occupation or atrocities against a group of people that affects the interests of the West, and the US in particular, there is condemnation and action.

The difference between Ukraine and West Papua is that, in Ukraine, Russia is the aggressor.

Russia is the enemy of the West. So the invasion is considered illegal and killing civilians in Ukraine amounts to war crimes.

In West Papua, the same or even worse has been occurring for over 70 years. Buts it’s been carried out by an ally of the West.

Unless the geopolitics in the region change and US and its allies no longer need Indonesia, it seems the West will continue to ignore West Papua.

It’s possible that one day China can step up its support for West Papua.

There’s no help from Australia, which also supplies arms to the Indonesian military.

The Pacific Islands countries are the only realistic voices. They have to do what Vanuatu has been doing.

DOES THE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY BUY FOOD?

My friend Tanya Zeriga-Alone asked the above question in relation to my earlier post about the need for PNG to increase its internal revenue. And one way it can do that is through a comprehensive import substitution program, with a focus on food.  

Replacing imports by producing our own food keeps our wealth in PNG and our people aren’t robbed of employment and income. It not only makes PNG food-secure but most importantly lifts our citizens out of poverty. There is already a ready market for the food in PNG. And an increase in economic base and employment means more tax revenue for the country.    

For example, Thailand’s strong import substitution development policies of the 1980’s and 1990’s reduced poverty from around 60% to 13% by 2004. The World Bank figures show that Thailand has the best record for reducing poverty per increase in GNP of any nation in the world.      

Now, let’s get back to Tanya’s questions: “Does the Government actually buy food? So what does it do with it?”    

Private consumption expenditures by households in an economy is accounted for by the government as its consumption. So to calculate its GDP [income], the formula is GDP = Consumption + Investment [by private businesses] + Government Spending + [Export minus Import].  

When you buy rice at the shop, you are actually paying a farmer in say Vietnam. That money goes to the rice importer [say Trukai] and eventually gets transferred to the Vietnamese farmer. The PNG Government records that as its imports.  

I believe the answer to PNG’s prosperity lies in agriculture, and particularly food production and how the nation feeds itself. We can earn money from oil, gas, mineral, copra, nickel, etc, and will still spend it on food every day.  

For example, everyday millions of plates of rice is served and eaten by Papua New Guineans throughout the country. Papua New Guineans consume an average of 400,000 metric tons of rice annually. PNG government records this as its consumption. Papua New Guineans transfer an average of K700 Million of their hard-earned money overseas every year to buy rice. The Government records that as its imports.    

 

Now, let’s get back to the GDP formula. And IMAGINE!

 

▪ PNG keeping K700 Million per year to buy rice produced by PNG farmers;

▪ K400 Million per year to purchase milk produced in PNG; and

▪ K200 Million per year to purchase chicken raised in PNG.  

That is already saving K1.3 Billion for just 3 food alone, creating employment for thousands of people, growing our economy and lifting people out of poverty.    

 

Let’s ask ourselves:    

▪ Can Papua New Guineans grow rice? If so, why is the National Rice Policy not implemented, discussed nor funded?

 

▪ Can Papua New Guineans raise chicken? If so, why are we continuing to import K200 Million worth of cheap chicken, to compete with our chicken farmers, kill our poultry industry and send thousands of Papua New Guineans into poverty and hardships?

 

▪ Can Papua New Guineans plant corn that can produce stockfeed?

 

▪ Can Papua New Guineans grow grass and maize to feed the cows?

 

▪ Do Papua New Guineans need specialized University degrees and skills to plant rice, raise chicken, plant corn, potato and grass?

 

▪ Haven’t we Papua New Guineans been farmers cultivating our land for thousands of years, just after the Garden of Eden?    

 

Shalom Beloveds. Tingting! #TogetherWeCan

>>>>>>>

Image 📸: IAI’s Kuk Chips food stall at Vision City, Port Moresby. [We can produce our own potato chips and give K150 Million every year to our farmers, replacing potato chips]🤷‍♀️🇵🇬

France happy with UN reaction over New Caledonia

France says the UN decolonisation committee has welcomed an invitation to New Caledonia following the territory's third rejection of independence from France in December.

The invitation was made by the French overseas minister Sebastien Lecornu who briefed the committee in New York last week.

Mr Lecornu said while the series of referendums under the Noumea Accord has been completed, it only marks a step in the process started in 1988.

He said it is now necessary to get out of the logic of pro- and anti-independence politics and instead open a new page of discussions to build a common institutional framework.

France wants to hold another referendum in June next year about a new, yet to be determined statute for a New Caledonia within France.

In December, more than 96 percent of voters rejected independence in the third and final referendum, which was marked by a majority of voters abstaining.

The vote was boycotted by the pro-independence parties after Paris rejected concerns about the impact of the pandemic and refused to postpone the plebiscite.

Pro-independence politicians visited the UN days before the vote, with their parties rejecting the referendum outcome as illegitimate.

They said they will only discuss a path forward once France has had its presidential elections, and then they will only talk about terms to attain independence.

New Caledonia has been on the UN decolonisation list since 1986

Manning refutes allegations raised against PNG contingent in Solomon Islands

ROYAL PAPUA NEW GUINEA CONSTABULARY

MEDIA STATEMENT

Wednesday 09 February, 2022

Police Commissioner David Manning has refuted serious allegations raised against members of the PNG Police and Correctional Service deployed to the Solomon Islands to assist in the peace-keeping mission.

Commissioner Manning said members of the PNG contingent to the Solomon Islands have acted properly and within the confines of law.

Allegations were raised in the social media that PNG Defence Force personnel allegedly forced entry into a home and assaulted a man in the presence of his wife and daughter.

“First of all, the PNG Defence Force is not part of the PNG contingent deployed to the Solomon Islands. Secondly, at no time did any of member of the PNG contingent assault any member of the public in Honiara. I am aware of two separate incidents where two men were detained by members of the PNG contingent and taken to the Henderson Police Station in Honiara, Solomon Islands for questioning and charging,” Mr Manning said.

According to reports the Commissioner has received from head of the PNG contingent to the Solomon Islands, Assistant Commissioner Perou N’Dranou, one of the two suspects identified as John Natei, was accused of using offending and obscene language against members of the PNG contingent whilst the other, a pastor, named as Maxwell Filei, was accused of posting defamatory and false information about the PNG Contingent in the social media aimed at breaching the peace.

According to the report from Honiara, Natei used obscene language against members of the PNG contingent and accused them of bringing COVID-19 into the Solomon Islands. The pastor posted on Facebook that PNG Contingent members were indulging in liquor and womanising.

“I have been reassured by Assistant Commissioner N’Dranou that members of the PNG contingent have conducted themselves professionally at all times. The post by the pastor was not only defamatory but had the potential to breach what is already a fragile situation on the island,” Mr Manning said.

Both suspects were taken in on Monday 7 February for interview by the Royal Solomon Islands Police. Natei was apprehended for using insulting words and spreading false rumours whilst the pastor was apprehended for spreading defamatory and false information in the media with the intention to provoke the breach of peace. His Facebook wall attracted many negative, defamatory and abusive comments towards the PNG contingent in the Solomon Islands.

However, on Tuesday February 8 the pastor and a delegation from his church, the Kingdom Harvest Church, apologised to members of the PNG contingent. He presented a letter for reconciliation which was accepted and was facilitated by the Royal Solomon Islands Police.

Today Max, his family members and members of the Kingdom Harvest Church reconciled with the PNG contingent at the Henderson Police Station where food and cash were exchanged between both parties.

The first suspect, Natei, was arrested and charged by the RSIP Police. He is out on bail and will appear in court on 28 February.

“Both incidents are serious matters of concern that have attracted negative comments from the general public in the Solomon Islands, hence the course of action we have taken. I repeat again that I am pleased with the conduct of the contingent in the Solomon Islands. They have been good ambassadors for PNG and will continue to do so until they return to the country,” Mr Manning said.

Authorised for release by:

David Manning, MBE, DPS, OStJ, QPM

Commissioner of Police

*****

(Photographs of the reconciliation ceremony in Henderson, Honiara, Solomon Islands.)

Fiji looking into West Papua issue

 Edwin Nand, Senior Multimedia Journalist edwin.nand@fbc.com.fj | @EdwinNandFBCNews

Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has confirmed that Fiji is taking a multilateral approach to issues regarding West Papua which has been fighting for independence from Indonesia.
Speaking in parliament late yesterday, Sayed-Khaiyum confirmed the Fijian government’s position is to help uphold the rule of international law.
“We are working very closely with the MSG, Pacific Island Forum and the UN to ensure that we take this matter forward in a way that respects international law and that’s what we need to do because we believe in the rule of law and it should be maintained internationally – as we have our position similarly – in the South China Sea that international laws must apply.”
West Papua has support from some Melanesian countries which believe that it should gain independence from Indonesia.
There have also been issues of human rights abuses in the region.
Source: https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/