10 OBSERVATIONS FROM PM's NATIONAL ADDRESS YESTERDAY

Here is a simple explanation of actions the Marape Govt will take based on PM's national TV address yesterday. 

1. 500 police officers who led the protest will be investigated and possibly be criminally charged and terminated They will be replaced by new recruits currently at Bomana as well as thousands of unemployed graduates who wish to pursue that career path. Some cops will go to Bomana prison. This may apply to soldiers as well. 

2. Department Secretaries for Finance,  Treasury and  Personnel Management have been suspended including Police Commissioner Manning. 

3. Individuals who spread misinformation on social media and incited violence will be investigated, arrested and charged under Cyber crime laws. 

4. Sponsors of the protest will be arrested and charged. PMV buses were hired to transport hundreds of people around. 

5. An investigation into the role of public servants is led by Chief Secretary Pomaleu and Secretary of Justic Dr Kwa. 

6. Political rivals of Marape behind the protest in one way or another will be investigated, arrested and charged. The proper way to take change government is on the floor of parliament,  not by sponsoring unrest. 

7. State of Emregnecy is declared for 2 weeks in Pom. Acting Police Commissioner Yamasombi is the SOE Controller. SOE gazette notice yet to be issued. Joint forces of police,  army and CIS were out in full strength last night. Over 200 cars and hundreds of armed disciplined force members patrolling the City. 

8. PM did not mention anythihg about Looters and arsonists who were captured by media and social media so they may not be prosecuted. Police may not have resources to do so. 

9. PM previously advised that businesses that suffered loss will have tax concessions given so they can rebuild. 

10. Public servant pay that was over deducted will be credited back to their accounts next fortnight and   will never be deducted again. 

By Des Yaninen, 7am, Friday 12 January 2024.

Supermarkets To Open Tomrrow

BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA

"This is to inform all members that Metsupt and I , after assessing the situation with Zone Commanders,  have sent word out to major supermarkets to open for business tomorrow."

This was the advisory statement sent by NCD and Central commander Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthomy Wagambie Jr. 

"We have advised them to open for business between 9am and 10am," he added. 

"Zone Commanders will be deploying units to be static within the premises for the morning part. Sector Patrol , Mobile Squad and the PNG Defence Force will be used ."

Once they open and start trading, everything else such as service stations Etc will also open he stressed. 

"We will commence restoring normalcy back to the City."

The shops expected to open include:

1. Vision City

2. Waterfront

3. Food world

4. Stop and Shop Waigani Central and other remaining 

5. Elisio Rainbow will see if they can. If not then next week 

6. Range view to be checked in the morning

"Smaller shopping marts owned by Chinese community will also gradually open during the day,' he added. 

"All members and units must ensure there is no disturbance."

MEDIA STATEMENT: APPEAL FOR PEACE AMIDST UNREST IN PORT MORESBY

Today is a sad and somber day for our beloved city, Port Moresby, the capital of our beautiful nation, where, regrettably, we witnessed internal strife. While it is easy to cast blame, in the end, no one emerges as a winner or loser. As residents of this city, we collectively suffer, losing our peace and the essence of what makes our city special.

The cause of these unfortunate events was the gathering of our city's dedicated police personnel at Unagi Oval, seeking to address discrepancies in their salaries. The cost of the ensuing looting and destruction is substantial, and my heart goes out to all the businesses in the city that have been affected. To you all, it is indeed a dark day, and as the Governor of our city, I share the pain you are currently enduring.

I appeal for normalcy to be restored and for looting to stop while maintaining our view that what has happened is unacceptable, unforgivable, and unjustified under any circumstances.

I now implore the city's police leadership to regain control and direction swiftly. We cannot afford to allow this turmoil to persist another night or day. We must uphold our pledge to safeguard the people and the state. Let us restore order and stability in our city with the support of the PNGDF.

To the citizens, I appeal to you to cease the looting and vandalism of properties. These businesses contribute through taxes, enabling me to manage our city. Without them, our progress as a city would have been hindered. We are inflicting harm upon ourselves. Let us desist from further harm to businesses and government properties.

I call for restraint and calm from all of you. We will collaborate closely with the National Government to restore normalcy. This city belongs to us, and together, as one, we can rebuild our communities and businesses.

I appeal for Peace. Thank you.

HON POWES PARKOP LLB LLM MP

NCD GOVERNO

West Papua - Benny Wenda

The president of the West Papua Liberation Movement has made a new call for Indonesia to withdraw its military from the region, in his New Year's statement.

Benny Wenda said following the movement's successful first Congress in 2023, they are moving forward according to their threefold agenda - full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to West Papua, and a self-determination referendum.

He also said as demanded by the MSG Leaders' Meeting in August of last year, Indonesia must also facilitate a UN visit to West Papua before the next MSG meeting in April this year.

Wenda called on West Papuans to rally behind the liberation movement, and for all their military factions, all political groupings, and all international solidarity groups in the Pacific and around the world, to respect and honour the Congress resolutions.

He also called on all relevant parties to do more to ensure that New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens is released from captivity unharmed.

More ownership claims over Santo Hydro Power

While the development of the Sarakata hydropower expansion in the eastern part of Santo Island brings progress in electricity, disputes over ownership claims have emerged among the original landowners.

Chief Joel Path of Hog Harbour expressed bewilderment at the situation, revealing that landowners of small rivers feeding into the Sarakata River are demanding a share in the hydropower benefits.

Chief Path, having seen copies of their claims, conveyed their argument that the hydropower at Fanafo wouldn’t exist without the contribution of these small river sources.

The current beneficiaries are from the village of Fanafo. The claimants are actively gathering signatures for a petition to present to the relevant authorities.

Chief Path finds the claim amusing, suggesting that the original landowners could counter by requesting the claimants to redirect the rivers back to their land instead of contributing to Sarakata hydropower.

While he couldn’t specify the number of river sources flowing into Sarakata River, he confirmed their abundance.

Daily Post observed during a recent visit to Santo that the Vanuatu Utilities and Infrastructure (VUI) Limited, managing Sarakata hydropower, has already installed posts from Turtle Bay to Port Olry.

Chief Path anticipates that villages in East Santo will soon receive electricity from Sarakata hydropower upon completing transformer installations.

He believes this power expansion will significantly benefit the local population, providing electricity to homes in areas like Hog Harbour and Port Olry. Notably, tourist resorts in these areas, such as Lonnoc Eco Beach Bungalows near Champagne Beach, currently rely on solar power systems.

Port Olry, one of Vanuatu’s largest villages, was the country’s first to receive electricity from a coconut fuel power station established by UNELCO over a decade ago. Since then, various projects, including bungalows and a butchery, have flourished in the village

Source: VDP

LET US KEEP WEST PAPUA LIBERATION IN OUR GOALS FOR 2024

In 1975 when PNG got independence our population was 2.5million. West Papuans were around 1.5million people. Today 48 years later we are almost 17million according to UN or 12million in our estimates. West Papuan Melanesian population remains below 3million. Over the course of 60 years since they illegally invaded in 1962 Indonesia has systematically wiped out the Melanesian people, directly and indirectly. Silent genocide. 

Number of West Papuans professionals, senior public servants, businessmen and women etc are lowest in whole of Indonesia. We have trained more West Papuans to be Lawyers, pilots, doctors, accountants etc than whole of Indonesia in 60 years. If we allow ourselves to become numb or indifferent to injustice right before our door steps  we will allow it to happen to us too. If we close our eyes, ears and dare not speak against  Killings and Violence right before our eyes too we will become numb and indifferent to it too when it happens to us. 

We have made a big statement against the views of the majority of the World to recognise Jerusalem as Capital of Israel. Why can’t we have the courage to make similar or some more significant statement about the plight of our people on our ancestral land

As we start the year too I want to remind you of a great Papuan artist, Mecu Imbiri. Aged now but his voice and song is timeless and ever powerful rally for Papuan Freedom. Let their songs be heard so they are not forgotten. Through the songs it’s tells their plight, pain, horrors and cry for help and most of all for freedom.  We need to escalate the voices of freedom at all levels and platforms in 2024!

Powes Parkop: FAREWELL 2023. WELCOME 2024

FAREWELL 2023. WELCOME 2024. We reflect, learn lessons and set goals for 2024. We also paid tribute to a patriotic fearless Melanesian Leader - Late Lukas Enembe 

Today we ended the year with our final walk and yoga for life program 4km from Sir Hubert Murray to Ela Beach via Paga Hill. All turned up in our various colors reflecting our 2023 journey - Green for World Environment; Red for Ending violence against Women; White for Peace and human rights; Pink for Pinktober campaign against Cancer; Red, Black and Gold for PNG. 

TRIBUTE TO LUKAS ENEMBE - A PATRIOT

Today too we raised the morning star proudly and highly. To pay tribute to late Lukas Enembe, a fearless Melanesian Papua Patriot. Never afraid to speak his mind for the plight and freedom of the people of West Papua. Never allowed the draconian apparatus of the Indonesian state to shut his mouth, eyes and ears. A Free Melanesian and a Free Papuan to the end. We will do a bigger tribute for late Enembe and West Papua in next two weeks. 

We ended with Albert Einstein famous quote - “if you keep doing the same things expecting a different outcome you are insane”.

Let’s reflect on 2023 and learn lessons. In 2024 let’s set goals and ensure we do things differently to achieve those goals if the means or methods we used in 2023 did not bring us close to our goals. BYE BYE 2023 AND WELCOME 2024