Under PM James Marape: Many Engan Leaders Removed out of Jealousy

 

Under the leadership of Prime Minister James Marape, several top-performing Secretaries and Directors from Enga Province were forcefully removed from major government departments. Among Engans, we often say “Huli-Openi,” but these actions appear to be driven by jealousy rather than fairness.

 

During Peter O’Neill’s term as Prime Minister, more Enga leaders were appointed to key government departments. For this reason, many Engans regard Peter O’Neill as a true brother of the Enga people.

The recent removal of Health Secretary Ken Wai is yet another sign of this jealousy. Earlier, Prime Minister Marape also removed highly performing leaders such as NAC Director Rex Keponge and Chief of Staff Isaac Lupari and Finance secretary Dr. Ken Ngangan

 

Enga people must now seriously reflect on this situation. Sadly, it feels as though we are being looked down upon by our own brother.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH ON ALLEGATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIMS BY THE OUTGOING ACTING HEALTH SECRETARY

I have noted with serious concern the statements being circulated on social media and other platforms by the former Acting Secretary for Health, Ken Wai, with misleading allegations, including claims that his removal from office was influenced by the Minister for Health and that I improperly sided with or favoured Dr Daoni Esorom in appointments within the National Department of Health.

Mr. Wai is a seasoned health professional, and I have always accorded him respect.

However, the continued proliferation and fabrication of allegations through social media platforms can not be ignored, particularly when they undermine public confidence in established institutions and distract from the critical work of the health sector.

I did not participate in shortlisting, assessment, or selection, nor did I provide preference to any candidate.

Any suggestion to the contrary is false.

The appointment of Mr. Pascoe Kase as Secretary for Health followed a rigorous, transparent, and merit-based recruitment process conducted strictly in accordance with established public service procedures.

The process was independently facilitated by the Department of Personnel Management, the Public Service Commission, and a reputable external human resource firm, Vanguard International.

The outcome of this process was subsequently presented to the National Executive Council, which made its decision in the best interests of the health sector and the country.

This decision has been clearly explained by both the Prime Minister and the Secretary for the Department of Personnel Management, and has received broad support and commendation from Provincial Health Authority Chief Executive Officers, Chairman of the National Health Board and the PNG Medical Board, the Health Extension Officers (HEO) Workers Association, the Nurses Association. the Health Support Workers Association, senior academics including Professor Tefuarani and the academic leadership of the newly established University of Medicine and Health Sciences, as well as the Chancellor of the University of Papua New Guinea.

There has also been deliberate misrepresentation of the Department of Personnel Management policy regarding term limits for departmental heads. As clearly advised by the secretary for the Department of Personnel Management, Mrs. Taies Sansan, the policy does not impose a permanent prohibition on former departmental heads from reappointment. It allows eligible public servants to reapply, provided they have completed their terms and have been out of active public service for the prescribed qualifying period.

DPM confirmed that Mr Pascoe Kase had been out of the public service for five years following the completion of his two terms as a departmental head and therefore met all eligibility requirements. His application was duly assessed, shortlisted, and cleared through all required processes before progressing through the appropriate approval mechanisms to NEC. There was no breach of policy, no selective application of rules, and no deviation from due process.

It is necessary to correct the public record on the central and material issue again regarding Mr. Ken Wai’s non-selection.

From the outset, Mr. Wai’s name was removed from the shortlist forwarded by the Public Service Commission to NEC due to serious and substantiated integrity concerns arising from multiple and inconsistent records of his date of birth. Available documentation clearly demonstrates that Mr. Wai altered and presented different birth dates on at least three separate occasions, reflected across his birth certificates, statutory declaration, and passport. Further, these altered details were subsequently entered into the ALESCO payroll system in collaboration with the Human Resource Manager at the National Department of Health. All records evidencing these actions are available.

This conduct is fraudulent in nature and constitutes a serious breach of integrity and trust, wholly incompatible with the standards expected of a Secretary for Health. It was this documented conduct and nothing else that disqualified Mr. Wai from proceeding beyond the shortlisting stage. It was not the action of the Minister for Health, nor the Prime Minister, nor any political authority. It was the direct consequence of Mr. Wai’s own actions.

Mr. Wai has also alleged that I improperly directed or favored the appointment of Dr. Daoni Esorom to senior positions within the Department. This allegation is equally false and misleading. Any directives issued by me in relation to the appointment of a Deputy Secretary for Corporate Services were made strictly in my capacity as the Minister responsible and were driven by clear operational and governance priorities within the National Department of Health.

While progress was being made in clinical standards and governance, there were persistent inefficiencies, weak coordination, and high levels of underperformance within the department’s corporate functions, which oversee finance, human resources, medical supplies, Provincial Health Authority operations, partnerships, and international collaborations. These weaknesses were directly affecting service delivery, development partner confidence, and the effective implementation of key reforms.

I am fully aware that Dr. Daoni Esorom responded to previous allegations raised against him and was duly cleared. His professional record includes demonstrated leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, the restoration of order at Laloki Psychiatric Hospital, the timely progression of the National Anaesthetic and Obstetrics Policy which enabled NEC approval and the subsequent successful kidney transplant program, and the long-outstanding transfer of Buka Hospital functions to the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

These were critical matters that had remained unresolved for an extended period.

At the same time, a number of significant and long-standing priorities remained unaddressed, including the implementation of the NEC decision to establish the Health Services Commission to address the direct deployment of health workers after graduation, the establishment of a central Project Management Unit to coordinate PIP-funded infrastructure projects for PHAs in collaboration with development partners, poorly coordinated medical supply reforms, non-standardisation of PHA executive and specialist positions, weak human resource and financial coordination with DPM and the Department of Finance, outstanding bilateral Memoranda of Agreement with limited or uncoordinated implementation, and long-overdue amendments to health laws and policies. These issues, among others, have contributed to the current state of ineffective and inefficient functioning within the National Department of Health.

It was solely for these reasons, and in the best interests of strengthening corporate governance and operational efficiency, that I issued clear instructions to Mr Wai to recruit Dr Daoni Esorom to assist in improving the performance of the department’s corporate services.

Instead, Mr. Wai appointed a junior officer to act in the role, a decision that raised serious concerns among our development partners. Despite repeated directives to address this matter, the appointment was not effected, and the junior officer subsequently left the position abruptly.

As the Minister responsible and as a long-serving health professional, I was deeply concerned by the manner in which the department was being led.

The WhatsApp messages now being selectively referenced were made with no sinister intent and solely in the best interests of restoring effective leadership, governance, and performance within the department.

I therefore urge Mr Ken Wai to respect himself, respect the institutions of the state, and respect the decision of the National Executive Council.

Attempts to relitigate this matter through social media only serve to undermine stability within the health sector at a time when continuity and focus are essential.

As we enter the festive season, I call on all stakeholders and partners to remain focused and to continue supporting the Marape–Rosso Government in delivering accessible, reliable, and quality health care to the people of Papua New Guinea.

Let us refrain from the spread of malice and misinformation and instead engage in responsible leadership and reasoned dialogue that rekindles hope for a stronger and healthier future for our nation.

I wish to take this opportunity also to extend my sincere appreciation to all health workers, administrators, professionals, and partners across the country for their dedication and service throughout what has been a challenging year.

On behalf of the government and the Ministry of Health, I wish everyone in the health sector a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. May this festive season be a time of rest, renewal, and reflection, and may the year ahead strengthen our collective commitment to unity, professionalism, and the delivery of quality health care for all Papua New Guineans.

______________

HON. ELIAS KAPAVORE, MP.

MINISTER FOR HEALTH

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH ON ALLEGATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIMS BY THE OUTGOING ACTING HEALTH SECRETARY

I have noted with serious concern the statements being circulated on social media and other platforms by the former Acting Secretary for Health, Ken Wai, with misleading allegations, including claims that his removal from office was influenced by the Minister for Health and that I improperly sided with or favoured Dr Daoni Esorom in appointments within the National Department of Health.

Mr. Wai is a seasoned health professional, and I have always accorded him respect. 

 

However, the continued proliferation and fabrication of allegations through social media platforms can not be ignored, particularly when they undermine public confidence in established institutions and distract from the critical work of the health sector. 

 

I did not participate in shortlisting, assessment, or selection, nor did I provide preference to any candidate.

Any suggestion to the contrary is false.

 

The appointment of Mr. Pascoe Kase as Secretary for Health followed a rigorous, transparent, and merit-based recruitment process conducted strictly in accordance with established public service procedures.

The process was independently facilitated by the Department of Personnel Management, the Public Service Commission, and a reputable external human resource firm, Vanguard International.

The outcome of this process was subsequently presented to the National Executive Council, which made its decision in the best interests of the health sector and the country.

This decision has been clearly explained by both the Prime Minister and the Secretary for the Department of Personnel Management, and has received broad support and commendation from Provincial Health Authority Chief Executive Officers, Chairman of the National Health Board and the PNG Medical Board, the Health Extension Officers (HEO) Workers Association, the Nurses Association. the Health Support Workers Association, senior academics including Professor Tefuarani and the academic leadership of the newly established University of Medicine and Health Sciences, as well as the Chancellor of the University of Papua New Guinea.

There has also been deliberate misrepresentation of the Department of Personnel Management policy regarding term limits for departmental heads. As clearly advised by the secretary for the Department of Personnel Management, Mrs. Taies Sansan, the policy does not impose a permanent prohibition on former departmental heads from reappointment. It allows eligible public servants to reapply, provided they have completed their terms and have been out of active public service for the prescribed qualifying period.

DPM confirmed that Mr Pascoe Kase had been out of the public service for five years following the completion of his two terms as a departmental head and therefore met all eligibility requirements. His application was duly assessed, shortlisted, and cleared through all required processes before progressing through the appropriate approval mechanisms to NEC. There was no breach of policy, no selective application of rules, and no deviation from due process.

 

It is necessary to correct the public record on the central and material issue again regarding Mr. Ken Wai’s non-selection. 

 

From the outset, Mr. Wai’s name was removed from the shortlist forwarded by the Public Service Commission to NEC due to serious and substantiated integrity concerns arising from multiple and inconsistent records of his date of birth. Available documentation clearly demonstrates that Mr. Wai altered and presented different birth dates on at least three separate occasions, reflected across his birth certificates, statutory declaration, and passport. Further, these altered details were subsequently entered into the ALESCO payroll system in collaboration with the Human Resource Manager at the National Department of Health. All records evidencing these actions are available.

This conduct is fraudulent in nature and constitutes a serious breach of integrity and trust, wholly incompatible with the standards expected of a Secretary for Health. It was this documented conduct and nothing else that disqualified Mr. Wai from proceeding beyond the shortlisting stage. It was not the action of the Minister for Health, nor the Prime Minister, nor any political authority. It was the direct consequence of Mr. Wai’s own actions.

Mr. Wai has also alleged that I improperly directed or favored the appointment of Dr. Daoni Esorom to senior positions within the Department. This allegation is equally false and misleading. Any directives issued by me in relation to the appointment of a Deputy Secretary for Corporate Services were made strictly in my capacity as the Minister responsible and were driven by clear operational and governance priorities within the National Department of Health.

 

While progress was being made in clinical standards and governance, there were persistent inefficiencies, weak coordination, and high levels of underperformance within the department’s corporate functions, which oversee finance, human resources, medical supplies, Provincial Health Authority operations, partnerships, and international collaborations. These weaknesses were directly affecting service delivery, development partner confidence, and the effective implementation of key reforms.

 

I am fully aware that Dr. Daoni Esorom responded to previous allegations raised against him and was duly cleared. His professional record includes demonstrated leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, the restoration of order at Laloki Psychiatric Hospital, the timely progression of the National Anaesthetic and Obstetrics Policy which enabled NEC approval and the subsequent successful kidney transplant program, and the long-outstanding transfer of Buka Hospital functions to the Autonomous Bougainville Government. 

 

These were critical matters that had remained unresolved for an extended period.

 

At the same time, a number of significant and long-standing priorities remained unaddressed, including the implementation of the NEC decision to establish the Health Services Commission to address the direct deployment of health workers after graduation, the establishment of a central Project Management Unit to coordinate PIP-funded infrastructure projects for PHAs in collaboration with development partners, poorly coordinated medical supply reforms, non-standardisation of PHA executive and specialist positions, weak human resource and financial coordination with DPM and the Department of Finance, outstanding bilateral Memoranda of Agreement with limited or uncoordinated implementation, and long-overdue amendments to health laws and policies. These issues, among others, have contributed to the current state of ineffective and inefficient functioning within the National Department of Health.

 

It was solely for these reasons, and in the best interests of strengthening corporate governance and operational efficiency, that I issued clear instructions to Mr Wai to recruit Dr Daoni Esorom to assist in improving the performance of the department’s corporate services. 

 

Instead, Mr. Wai appointed a junior officer to act in the role, a decision that raised serious concerns among our development partners. Despite repeated directives to address this matter, the appointment was not effected, and the junior officer subsequently left the position abruptly.

 

As the Minister responsible and as a long-serving health professional, I was deeply concerned by the manner in which the department was being led.

 

The WhatsApp messages now being selectively referenced were made with no sinister intent and solely in the best interests of restoring effective leadership, governance, and performance within the department.

I therefore urge Mr Ken Wai to respect himself, respect the institutions of the state, and respect the decision of the National Executive Council. 

 

Attempts to relitigate this matter through social media only serve to undermine stability within the health sector at a time when continuity and focus are essential.

 

As we enter the festive season, I call on all stakeholders and partners to remain focused and to continue supporting the Marape–Rosso Government in delivering accessible, reliable, and quality health care to the people of Papua New Guinea. 

 

Let us refrain from the spread of malice and misinformation and instead engage in responsible leadership and reasoned dialogue that rekindles hope for a stronger and healthier future for our nation.

 

I wish to take this opportunity also to extend my sincere appreciation to all health workers, administrators, professionals, and partners across the country for their dedication and service throughout what has been a challenging year. 

 

On behalf of the government and the Ministry of Health, I wish everyone in the health sector a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. May this festive season be a time of rest, renewal, and reflection, and may the year ahead strengthen our collective commitment to unity, professionalism, and the delivery of quality health care for all Papua New Guineans.

______________

HON. ELIAS KAPAVORE, MP.

MINISTER FOR HEALTH

Dr Daoni's response to Outgoing Acting secretary Mr Ken Wai social media post allegations

 

Dr Daoni Esorom

Date: 24/12/25

Time: 5pm.

I don't usually respond to social media posts when issues arise in my line of duty unless I am compelled to. However, the post by Mr Wai on the 24/12/25 contains alot of serious allegations that has compelled me to respond. 

 

(1) Instructions to the Acting Secretary by Minister. 

Instructions by Minister to the acting department head to improve department functions, operations and health service delivery are lawful Instructions that must be carried out by the secretary. The Health Minister directives to the acting health secretary were in order and I was ready to take up the position of deputy secretary - national policy and corporate services - to move the functions of this key wing of the NDOH. The wing currently lacks leadership and have failed to deliver on some of the core corporate functions of the department. This wing is critical to the functions of the health sector and deals with - health policies, laws & regulations, budget formulation and mornitoring, PHA reforms, coordination and support, HR and workforce, IR, service delivery and partner contracts management amongst other key functions. It was done with the noble intention to complete the outstanding - policies, review of long outstanding laws and regulations, HR and work force issues, PHA reforms, improve corporate  governance, medical supplies reforms and other key outstanding corporate functional functions/activities. 

 

(2) Appointment as Acting Executive Manager - Strategic Policy Division (15 April - 15 July 2025

During these 3 months period as the A/Executive Manager the team that I led successfully under took the following (a) Kidney transplant - we ensured that the surgical team at PMGH who undertook the first kidney transplant had the - policy, legal, ethical and operational cover (b) Completed the initial concept paper on the set up of the health services commission to address the critical health workforce shortages in the health sector (c) Finalized the MOU and instruments for the transfer of all the health powers to the government of AROB. This has been outstanding since the agreement between the GoPNG and AROB in 2001 peace agreement. The health sector was one of the last sectors to fully delegate these powers to the Autonomous government. 

 

(3). Ministerial instructions to resolve the social directorate and mental health & Laloki hospital outstanding problems.

From the 18 Oct 2024 - 18 Feb 2025. On the 18 Oct 2024 I was appointed by the Health Minister to solve the long standing management challenges at the Social Change & Mental Health Directorate (SC & MHD) and Laloki psychiatric hospital. These institutional problems have taken the NDOH 11 years to resolve with minimal successes. Ministers and health secretaries have come and gone; they have even gone to court to resolve the ongoing problems but none have been able to resolve these institutional problems. The outgoing acting health secretary has been a member of the SEM for 14 years but has not been able to resolve these institutional problems. When appointed by the Health Minister, the team I lead got it resolved in 3 months. We developed the corporate governance and clinical governance frameworks to address the management challenges in the directorate including a clinical governance framework for the Laloki hospital. At the same time lead the investigations into the management of the directorate and Laloki hospital. The police is currently continuing its investigations. I can't comment anymore on this matter as police investigations are ongoing and the case(s) are in court. Why am I highlighting these facts? This is to ensure that our people understand that the Ministerial instructions given to me via the secretary's office were all successfully implemented and were completed in the shortest time possible and with successful outcomes. I am a performer and the teams that I have led have managed some of most challenging health problems that PNG have faced. These include: HIV, polio, infectious diseases outbreaks and recently the the CoVID-19 pandemic. These includes instituting key interventions to some of the organizational challenges within the health system. The instructions given to Acting Secretary if complied with would have resulted in completing some of the long outstanding and critical health reforms, health policies, outstanding laws and regulations and most importantly reforms to the medical supplies system to ensure that our country does not run out of medicines and other health commodities. 

 

(4) The Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria (GFATM) 

(a) History. I was the Principal Advisor for the STI/HIV/AIDs program from 2002 - 2011. In May 2004, as the Team leader, led the NDOH team and our partners that successfully work on the submission to access USD 30M for the HIV program to fund the global initiative of 3 by 5 and to strengthen the country's health system. The main global objective was to put 3 million HIV patients on HIV treatment by 2005 then. By the end of 2005, PNG as a country achieved 83% coverage of our country target. This was the first ever successful HIV GFATM submission for PNG. PNG then was one of 4 priority countries for the Global Fund that also included China, Thailand and Cambodia. The grant was implemented successfully and ended in 2010. I must clarify that I have never managed the National TB and Malaria programs. To link the HIV GFATM grant to these programs is wrong and assertions to allude that funds have been misapplied are serious allegations with no facts and evidences to support them. 

 

(b) Building on the successes of the first grant in 2004, in Feb 2010, again lead our team in NDOH to submit another round (then round 10 of the GFATM) and again we were successful and recieved USD 50M from the GF. I was then the Principal Advisor for the STI/HIV program in NDOH from Feb 2002 - July 2011. Mr Ken Wai assertion that I misapplied USD 3.4M in 2014 is *completely false, a fabricated lie and a serious allegation.* Why? I left the NDOH in July 2011 to pursue other professional interests including private medical practice, going back to Uni to undertake studies for my MBA and also to work in the private sector between July 2011 - April 2018. I was out of NDOH at the material time that Mr Ken Wai is making these serious and baseless allegations. I was recall to NDOH from the private sector in June 2018 by the health secretary then to manage the national polio outbreak.

 

Why? Because the health department could not find any capable person to manage the national polio outbreak. The outcome - we interrupted the polio virus from spreading in 4 months and eliminated polio in 6 months. In the process saving more than 3 million PNG children that would have been severely affected by polio. We undertook 8 rounds of supplementary immunization activity (SIA) rounds over 2 years (June 2018 - Nov 2020). Each round achieving 98% coverage of the set targeted children population. A feat never before achieved in PNG whether in the SIAs or routine immunization (RI). As a result PNG got the award for the best managed disease outbreak response in the Western Pacific region (WPRO) during this period. It is important to note that between this period 2018 - 2020 the same team that I was leading was managing 2 concurrent infectious disease outbreaks- polio and the CoVID-19 pandemic. A very difficult and challenging situation for our country to be in. 

 

I am a performer in the health sector and professionals in the health sector, both in PNG and internationally, and our partners know my history and achievements. I urge the outgoing acting health secretary to be mindful of what he posts and circulates on social media. *Venting your frustrations on social media for not being appointed as the health secretary and blaming the portfolio Minister and colleagues on social media is childish, immature, unprofessional and well below the belt.* This is after the competent government agencies and NEC has made the appointment for the health secretary. And may I remind the outgoing Acting Health Secretary that we have laws that protect citizens including the Cyber Crime Act that citizens can utilize to seek legal redress if they are aggrieved. Instructions have been given to my lawyers to deal with these serious allegations circulated by the aggrieved outgoing acting health secretary on social media.

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2026 everyone.

Outgoing Acting Health Secretary Claims Integrity Cost Him Permanent Appointment

Outgoing Acting Health Secretary Ken Kandap Wai has claimed that his refusal to bow to political pressure was the reason he was not appointed to the permanent role of Health Secretary.

In a detailed public statement, Kandap Wai said he lost the confidence of the Health Minister after repeatedly rejecting directives to appoint a particular doctor to the position of Deputy Secretary for Health Policy and Corporate Services during his seven months in office.

 

Kandap Wai said he was appointed Acting Health Secretary on 12 May 2025 and during that period received at least 10 directives, verbally, via WhatsApp, and in writing, from the Minister to appoint what he described as the Minister’s “wantok” to the senior role.

 

He stated that he refused the appointment on integrity grounds, alleging that the doctor had previously been implicated in the mismanagement of Global Fund financing for tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria.

According to Kandap Wai, the issue led to the National Department of Health (NDOH) reimbursing USD3.4 million to the Global Fund in 2014.

 

He said the incident resulted in Papua New Guinea losing its status as a Principal Recipient of Global Fund grants for the past decade, costing the country an estimated USD365 million (K1.3 billion) in funding.

 

Kandap Wai argued that continued loss of direct control over Global Fund resources has contributed to rising cases of TB, HIV, and malaria, as funding is now managed by external entities rather than the NDOH.

 

“The health sector relies heavily on international partners such as DFAT, WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, ADB, NZ Aid, and others,” he said, adding that appointing the doctor could have damaged relationships with key development partners.

 

He said the Minister openly informed him on several occasions, including in meetings with senior executives of the department, that he did not have ministerial support because he refused to comply with the directive.

 

Despite missing out on the permanent appointment, Kandap Wai said he stands by his decisions, stating that his priority was protecting institutional integrity and the interests of the nation.

 

“The record of my performance over the past seven months speaks for itself, particularly in laying the groundwork to address long-standing medical supply issues,” he said.

 

Kandap Wai, who is also an ordained pastor based in the National Capital District, said he harbours no regrets.

 

“I am not crying. I hold my head high because I did the right thing. I leave judgment to God,” he said.

He concluded by wishing Papua New Guineans a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2026.

Can Tonga do more for decolonisation?

 

WORLD Human Rights Day passed with little fanfare on December 10. One of the Pacific’s human rights champions was Akilisi Pohiva – teacher, journalist, advocate, and Prime Minister of Tonga. MELE TUUAKITAU looks at Pohiva’s legacy

AS a small island state in the Pacific, Tonga is the only remaining Kingdom that has never been colonized in the region, valuing sovereignty and self-determination which are principles that could shape a moral stance for West Papua.

Unified under King George Tupou I in the mid-19th century, Tonga has been governed by a constitution that was established in 1875. This legacy has long been a source of Tongan pride.

This Tongan expression of sovereignty and self-determination is a key link that could support Pacific struggles such as West Papua. The Late Samiuela Akilisi Pohiva (1941–2019) rose from a modest upbringing to become the defining figure of Tonga’s pro-democracy movement and one of the Pacific’s most influential political voices.

A former teacher turned activist, he used radio and his newspaper Kele’a in the 1980s to expose corruption, challenge entrenched power, and champion transparency and accountability, values he argued were rooted in Tonga’s own moral traditions.

Despite being dismissed from his job and even jailed for his activism, Pohiva remained unwavering. His decades-long struggle culminated in 2014 when he became Tonga’s first commoner elected Prime Minister, marking a historic victory for the people’s movement over hereditary privilege.

As Prime Minister, he extended his moral leadership across the region, urging unity grounded in compassion, justice, and moral courage. He championed human rights across Oceania, most notably the plight of West Papua, insisting that Pacific leaders uphold the principle of leaving no one behind.

West Papua’s long-standing cry for help has echoed across Pacific regional meetings and spaces for years, yet the issue remains unresolved. Among the strongest voices was that of  Pohiva, who consistently used his platform to highlight the suffering of the West Papuan people.

“Tonga does not condone the injustice, cruel violation of human rights, dignity and brutal treatments around the world especially in West Papua in the Pacific,” he declared at the UN General Assembly in 2015.

Throughout Forum meetings, he stood firm, unafraid to speak when others remained silent, earning him the reputation of a “true leader.”

Even as Indonesia’s political and economic influence in the region grew, Pohiva never wavered. During the 2016 Pacific Islands Forum, he urged regional leaders: “We should not let others control us. We should stand together in solidarity in support of the people of West Papua.”

He called for UN investigations into human rights abuses and backed the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP)’s bid for recognition. Pohiva refused to abandon what he saw as his moral duty to his “brothers and sisters” in West Papua, grounding his stance in principle rather than politics. Since his passing in 2019, questions have lingered over whether Tonga or its future leaders will continue his firm stand for Pacific solidarity on this issue.

While an equally vocal advocate has yet to emerge, Pohiva’s legacy continues to inspire Tongan youth and civil society.

“Pohiva taught us that even a small nation can have a loud voice when it speaks the truth,” youth leader Vika Taufa reflected.

A just and peaceful Pacific cannot be built on silence and selected solidarity, instead we must try to stand up for those who cannot and be the voice for the voiceless.

While Pohiva remained an advocate for West Papua, he also reminded us that true leadership means standing up for those who cannot speak freely, especially if it is within your capabilities. He reminded us that the problems of  West Papua were not  distant issues but  Pacific wounds.

If we consider the future of the Pacific, justice must remain as the foundation of our vision, the challenges we face, whether it is climate change or our culture slowly fading, we must consider those who are around us. This future also requires the empowerment of Pacific Youths, so that they can continue the legacies of leaders like Pohiva.

They must be filled with history and knowledge of issues that are happening around them and not just limit them to their own countries. For Pohiva, justice was not something to be negotiated or to turn a blind eye to, it was a moral imperative. His constant stance on West Papua was noticeable.

He also urged the other leaders to put truth over diplomacy even if that put him in a difficult position. In standing with West Papua, we are not merely defending the rights of certain people or that particular land but we are standing together with them to support the people of the Pacific, our very own people. Pacific youth, churches, civil societies and regional leaders now have to carry Pohiva’s legacy and his responsibilities forward. They must continue this advocacy through actions rather than words, by ensuring that the Pacific is aware of the struggles of West Papua and that they lend a helping hand if they are able to. In the future, there are hopes of a better life built on justice where West Papua is free of their struggles.

Most of the Pacific – especially the younger generation – are not aware of the struggles that the West Papuans face. Ronny Kareni is a musician and activist for West Papua and even though he was born in the territory he states that you don’t have to be from West Papua to be able to speak on their situation.

“Growing up in exile has taught me that identity is about memory, connection, and purpose,’’ Kareni said.

“It began when I witnessed the strengths of the elders, the songs of longing and hope, and the communal spirit that refused to be broken in refugee camps.’’

 Ronny believes that identity is one of the things that shape them as West Papuans and that it has allowed him to share their stories through a personal lens with the world. That way the world can view what they are dealing with through his experiences. He also confirms that there are ongoing human rights violations and brutal military occupations that have effectively rendered West Papua as a non-international armed conflict zone, under humanitarian law.

 “This silence is both political and historical avoidance,” he said.

Ronny believes that being silent about these issues are politically related but are also historical. Although West Papua is a land of many tribes and rich biodiversity, we must be able to look beyond the headlines and listen closely to what the people need.

“It is a fight for the right to exist fully: to sing our songs, to speak our languages, and celebrate who we are,” he said.

It is important that the Pacific Islanders are well informed of these situations, so that we are able to make sure that we are helping the right people rather than encouraging what is currently happening or turning a blind eye to the people who are our brothers and sisters.

Neomai Pohiva, Akilisi Pohiva’s granddaughter said: “West Papua’s cry for freedom is the unfinished struggle of our Pacific, their voices, long silenced by repression, calls us to stand together because until West Papua is free, the Pacific cannot truly be whole.”

When speaking about regionalism, West Papua and the spirit of leaving no one behind, Pohiva, challenged the Pacific leaders.

“We should not let others control us. We should stand together in solidarity in support of the people of West Papua,” he said.

The life of the late Akilisi Pohiva is an example of true leadership, and not one rooted in privilege or politics, but in the moral responsibility to stand firmly for truth, even when the path is difficult. This is a genuine calling for Tongan youth to embrace his spirit of justice as a moral obligation.

Let us be the loud, clear voice for accountability and transparency and extend that spirit of Pacific solidarity to all our Pasifika family across the ocean.

Our nation holds a mighty legacy of sovereignty, we continue Pohiva’s legacies to transform moral principle into meaningful actions, safeguarding the future of the Pacific, which is built on freedom and the commitment of leaving absolutely no one behind.

Mele Tuaakitau is a journalism student at the University of the South Pacific serving an internship with the Pacific Network on Globalisation

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https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/can-tonga-do-more-for-decolonisation/ 

#westpapua #mining #genocide #ecocide #deforestation #humanrights #tonga #southpacific #pacific

WHAT DO THE KING AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL ACTUALLY DO? NOTHING. THAT’S THE POINT

Mental Colonisation Is Killing Papua New Guinea

Let’s be serious for once.

Many people keep shouting “don’t change the Constitution” but when you ask them a simple question, they go quiet.

What does the King of England actually do for Papua New Guinea?

What does the Governor-General actually do for the people?

No one can explain it. Because there is nothing to explain.

The King of England does not run our country. He does not make our laws. He does not control our money. He does not solve corruption, crime, unemployment, health care, education, or roads. He has zero responsibility for PNG, yet he sits at the top of our Constitution. That alone should sound stupid.

The Governor-General is just a local extension of the same useless setup. Ceremonies, signatures, speeches, photos. When politicians steal, nothing happens. When the system fails, nothing happens. When people suffer, nothing happens. So what exactly are we protecting?

This is not independence. This is mental colonisation.

We are colonised in the mind. That is why we keep defending foreign symbols that do nothing for us. That is why we are scared to change a Constitution that clearly does not work for PNG reality. That is why we keep recycling failed systems and expecting different results.

Our Constitution is outdated and colonised. It was written to make the transition smooth, not to build a strong future. That time is over. Keeping it untouched while the country falls apart makes no sense.

Other countries changed their constitutions. They became republics. They stood on their own feet. They stopped pretending a foreign crown gave them legitimacy. Why are we still acting like we need approval?We need to change the Constitution. Not talk about it forever. Change it.

Papua New Guinea must become the People’s Republic of Papua New Guinea. A system where the Head of State comes from this land, chosen by the people, accountable to the people, and grounded in our reality.

Until we fix the Constitution, nothing else will work properly. You cannot build a future on a broken foundation. We are not poor because of fate. We are stuck because we refuse to decolonise our thinking.

The crown will not save us. Only change will.

By The Hardest Pills to Swallow 

Ps : If I’m wrong, then correct me with facts, not emotions.This is not a personal attack on the King of England or the Governor-General as individuals. This is not hatred, jealousy, or disrespect. This is a commentary on a colonial mindset that no longer serves Papua New Guinea.