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August 2023

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North Bougainville By-Elections

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North Bougainville By-Elections

At least four women are amongst male candidates contesting for the North Bougainville Seat in the By-election.

However Autonomous Bougainville Government President, Ismael Toroama said candidates in the by-elections should not use the Region’s aspirations for political independence as a campaign platform to muster votes.

“Every Bougainville leader in the ABG and the National Government must remember that our independence aspirations is sacred in the sense that we lost twenty thousand fighting an unjust war to secure our freedom and having 97 percent of our people expressing their desire for independence during the 2019 Referendum,” said Toroama.

North Bougainville Open is one of three electorates going into by-elections this year.

The former member, Late William Nakin who was supposed to have served his second term under the National Alliance Party, as North Bougainville MP died last July from a short illness.

As the campaign period is underway, President Toroama said Bougainvillians
must not be misled by candidates who claim to represent their aspirations for political independence.

“I want to encourage the candidates contesting the North Bougainville By-elections who have their hearts in the right place, to honor the sacrifice of our people and our desire for independence by truly representing the felts needs and aspirations of our people when they are elected into office,” President Toroama said.

North Bougainville has been without a representative at the National Parliament for more than a year and the Issuing of Writs this July kicks off the race to finding a new Leader.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/orders-for-repatriation/

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News

ORDERS FOR REPATRIATION

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Orders for Repatriation

Reports conducted by the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory Centre on Mt. Bagana indicates a reduction in the State level alert from Stage Two to Stage One, volcanic activity.

Based on this alert, Mt. Bagana Eruption, State of Emergency Controller, Esther Usurup issued repatriation orders for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living at Evacuation Centres at Torokina and Wakunai Districts.

Repatriation Orders are for;

  • IDPs of Tagarau, upper Rikua and Ruruvu (roadside and Urupa Sukot) registered and currently living at Wakunai Station,
  • IDPs of Kopani 1 and 2 currently living at Manetai Catholic Mission area of Panguna District and
  • IDPs of Kenaia, Longkogari, Piva (Kenabaki), and Talelu wards registered and currently living at Piva Station evacuation center.

Orders for those to remain include;

  • IDPs from Siro and Ruruvu (Sisivi) wards and who have registered within the Wakunai station to remain within the evacuation center.
  • IDPs from Tsito/Vuakovi and Koromaket wards and who registered within the Piva Station to remain within the evacuation center.
Repatriation Orders by Esther Usurup

It’s been more than six weeks since the Mt. Bagana eruption displaced hundreds of people and forced hundreds more to live at care centers set up in Central and South Bougainville.

The care centers were set up and managed by International Organization of Migration (IOM) through financial support from US Agency for International Development (US AID).

With the reduction of volcanic activity from Stage Two alert to Stage One, IOM will be facilitating Camp Management Exit plans in the coming days.

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Business

Ramu NiCo to Feature Women LO Group at Inaugural CANCONEX

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Ramu NiCo will Feature Women Landowner Group at Inaugural CANCONEX

Ramu NiCo’s Coastal Pipeline Landowners Women’s Association (CPL WA) from the Rai Coast District in the Madang Province of Papua New Guinea will be participating in the inaugural Community Affairs and National Content Conference and Expo (CANCONEX) in Lae, Morobe Province as one of the successful association along the projects corridor area.

The CPL WA is a successful women’s landowner group and comprises of three zones that are Bugati, Marika and Siroi.

It has 3000 active registered members who successfully ventured into financially viable projects and businesses.

These have come to fruition from the portion of royalties allocated to the women’s group.

The portion, in most cases, is used as capital to acquire loans from the People’s Micro Bank branch in Madang to buy trucks and dinghies, which are being used as public motor vehicles (PMVs) to serve the local people living within the mining tenement area, venture into other small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

The expo is set to be held at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) in Lae, Morobe Province from the 28th to the 30th of August; Ramu NiCo is also a gold sponsor for the hosting of the event.

Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited will attend and participate in the first-ever CANCONEX with the theme of “Promoting National Participation for Sustainable Communities.”

With the encouragement of the President of the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, Anthony Smare, the conference is an avenue for participants to share their experiences and learn from each other, make new connections, seek opportunities and experience.

Ramu NiCo saw fit that it features one of the best performing and successful landowner groups from the four impact communities to represent their fellow landowner groups.

The successful Women Association from the Ramu NiCo Project in Madang Province is one of the fruitful associations that Ramu NiCo has seen being an active association apart from all the associations in the project’s corridor. Thus, Ramu NiCo thinks highly of this successful women group and other landowner groups coming from afar to attend the CANCONEX.

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OTDF SUPPORTS SEA TIME TRAINING FOR CADETS

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OTDF

Two New Cadets of Sea Time Training, from Western Province have been inducted into the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) Maritime Scholarship Program, in Kiunga Recently.

The cadets, Jacklyn Jeremiah and Sailas Waimona, will now embark on a 24 month Journey, of sea time training aboard P&O vessels.

The training Program is part of OTDF Maritime Scholarship Program, which is delivered in Partnership with Ok Tedi Mining Limited and P&O Maritime Limited.

The Program which commenced in 2013, aims to build human capacity in Western Province while fostering career growth in the maritime industry.

The two cadets were part of the 2022 batch of applicants selected for this Scholarship Program.

They were inducted into the program at the P&O Maritime Kiunga office, by P&O Maritime Health and Safety officer, Superintendent Leo Gideon, and staff from OTDF.

During the induction, Superintendent Gideon highlighted the company’s commitment to safety across its global operations.

The Cadets were also briefed on the P&O Maritime Code of Business Conduct (COBC), which outlines the standard procedures and rules governing their daily operations.

“This induction exercise, serves as a practical guide for maintaining professional relationships with business partners, customers, employees, and communities.” Superintendent Gideon said.

OTDF Program Services Sustainable Manager Andrew Mari said the OTDF Maritime Scholarship Program is open to eligible individuals from Western Province.

“This program presents a remarkable chance for participants to cultivate their maritime careers, enhance interpersonal skills, establish valuable networks, and achieve career goals,” Mari said.

He also encouraged the cadets to become ambassadors for their districts, families, and OTDF, with the aspiration of one day captaining a vessel navigating the Fly River.

Related: https://insidepng.com/otdf-observes-world-environment-day/

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Climate Change

New Climate Change Regulation to Improve Carbon Trading

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Papua New Guinea has some of the largest areas of forest in the world, but measures to conserve the environment through the sale of carbon credits has been unfair for local land owners in the country.

Recent media reports and investigations have uncovered that most in rural areas in Papua New Guinea have little to no knowledge of the complexity of carbon credits and Carbon trading. In turn they are being taken advantage of by those in the business.

Debra Sungi, the acting General Manager Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) at the Climate Change Development Authority, says the absence of proper regulatory framework has allowed for the exploitation of landowners in rural Papua New Guinea.

(Left) Debra Sungi – Acting General Manager Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), Climate Change Development Authority and (Center) CCDA Acting Managing Director William Lakain attending a stakeholders meeting on Friday.

A moratorium on the PNG REDD+ Voluntary Carbon Market Project has the Climate Change Development Authority and stake holders pushing for the Climate Change (Management) (Carbon Market) Regulation 2023 to be approved by the Government.

The document was rigorously debated since 2022 and is the answer to the problem. It will aid in the process of carbon emissions trading in domestic and international approach. Guided by international rules under the Conference of Parties COP 26 Article 6.

Carbon Trade
Carbon Trade
Carbon Trade
CCDA and Stake holders meeting held at Hilton Hotel on the 18th of this month.

A stake holders meeting was held at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby on Friday to debate and present the final draft of the Climate Change (Management) (Carbon Markets) Regulation 2023. And also to Validate the Climate Change (Management) (Carbon Markets) Regulation 2023.

The amendment of the regulation has gone into the second stage and as the national designated authority responsible for Carbon Markets, CCDA is certain that the regulation will help make sure maximum benefit goes to the land owners.

Related: https://insidepng.com/research-and-conservation-of-pngs-biodiversity/

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KAMALI BIBLE TRANSLATION PROJECT

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The people of Kamali Village in the Rigo District of Central Province recently celebrated the launching of the Kamali Bible Translation Project.

The project is an initiative of the Kamali United Church and the People of Kamali Village to translate the bible into the Kamali language.

They believe the people will better understand God’s words in their own language.

“We believe that this translation is very important to us, will have an impact on the lives of people, strengthen church growth and also encounter Jesus as their personal savior.

“We believe that this translation will help people to understand God more clearly in their own language,” Kamali Bible Translation Project Chairman Willie Porau said.

Following the launching, there will be more consultation with the PNG Bible Translation Association, with a framework to be established.

The framework is a guide on how to go about completing this project.

The PNG Bible Translation Association will be supporting this project with training programs for the translators who will be involved in this project.

“Our part as BTA is to manage the translation. Whatever update, whatever that you are doing, we must be aware on our end.” A PNG BTA Rep said.

The BTA Rep also explained that they will support them in any training that they need, however they will meet the cost of all training.

“Most of our translators are trained in our head quarters in Ukarumpa, in Aiyura Eastern Highlands Province, but some training will be held here just to equip our translators.” he said.

There are also plans in place for a one book workshop to be hosted in September, where participants will be trained on how to better translate the bible into the Kamali vernacular.

During the workshop, they will focus on translating the book of Ruth, with the new testament to be translated after the workshop.

Though it is a challenging exercise, the church is privileged to have the support of the people of Kamali, church pastors, Rigo District and the PNG Bible Translation Association.

The Chairman says it is through team work, that will help them achieve their goal of translating the New Testament of the Bible.

The PNG BTA Rep also urged the people of Kamali to support translators who will be working on their bible.

“Look after your translators, take care of them, just your pastors.”

Related: https://insidepng.com/rigo-rice-supports-domestic-rice-demand/

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International

Discussions begin at the 2023 Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders Summit

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Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders Summit

Vanuatu Prime Minister, Ishmael Kalsakau, official opened the 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group, Leaders Summit in Port Vila.

Environment and Climate Change, security issues, and trade agreements were top on the agendas discussed ON Wednesday (August 23).

In attendance were Pacific leaders from Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Fiji, French territory of New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea.

The welcome ceremony held at the Vanuatu Convention Centre started with a plenary session and each Pacific Island Leader was given the opportunity to make their statements.

PNG Prime Minister, James Marape in his remarks outlined PNG’s stand on Climate Change Mitigation and called on industrialized nations to make real interventions to assist Pacific Countries facing effects of Climate Change.

“I call on China, the United States and Australia to make real interventions to the Small Island States in the Pacific,” said Marape.

Marape conveyed Papua New Guinea’s support of Vanuatu’s move to seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice on the impacts of Climate Change on the people of the Pacific.

Prime Minister James Marape at the MSG Summit

“I want to offer our support to Vanuatu’s leadership on the initiative to seek an advisory opinion on the International Court of Justice on matters of Climate Change through the United Nations through international law to protect the rights of future generations that are adversely affected. That is correct leadership and I commend Vanuatu,” said Marape.

Marape said Pacific Leaders must continue to represent views within the context of Melanesia and the Pacific.

“We all have interest in dealing with environmental issues, with Climate Change being big among us. We have development challenges; our need to ensure that genuine investors are not here just for today’s need but more importantly for the sustenance of our children after us. These challenges remain our collective voice, if we want to be heard today,” Marape told the MSG member countries.

A Leaders’ Retreat will end the summit for the leaders with an Outcomes Declaration signed on Thursday (August 24).

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Namah: Goina’s Suspension is Ill-decision

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Namah

The actions by the National Executive Council to sideline PNGDF Commander, Major General Mark Goina, is described as too soon and serves no purpose.

Speaking as Chairman of the Permanent Parliament Committee- Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Defense, Vanimo Green River MP, Belden Namah said it’s myopic and unsound.

“Why suspend the Commander when there are layers of authority between the training unit and the Commander? The Chief of Training and Deputy Commander should be suspended as well,” said Namah.

Major General Mark Goina was sidelined through an NEC decision announced by Prime Minister James Marape, late last Friday.

Marape said the suspension was for three months and it will allow a General Board of Inquiry into the Kupiano killings to continue.

But Namah said this is all superficial.

“Allow the Commander to get to the bottom of this incident. These soldiers killed and wounded are his soldiers and he owes their families”, Namah said.

Namah said NEC made an ill-decision and urges the Prime Minister and NEC to seek professional advice on such matters.

The last Defense Board of Inquiry conducted by PNGDF was in 2005 and involved a clandestine operation that flew Solomon Islands Attorney General, Julian Moti into Muda Island in Solomon Islands.

Namah said the Strategic Leadership of the force was part of the decision authorizing the use of PNGDF aircraft. Yet the Commander was not suspended. And he cooperated with the inquiry.

Meanwhile a General Board of Inquiry has commenced into the killing of Leading Seaman, Eric Gwale and Corporal Watata Kutegen and the wounding of a soldier and a civilian.

Both soldiers were killed by live ammunitions fired during the final exercise for the Corporal Qualifying Course on 4th July 2023.

Now that Goina is suspended. Deputy Commander, Commodore Phillip Polewara is acting Commander.

Related: https://insidepng.com/nec-sidelines-goina-as-inquiry-continues/

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News

Melanesian Spearhead Group

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MSG

A number of declarations are expected to be signed by members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group this Friday when the summit ends.

Prime Minister James Marape will be flying into Vanuatu tomorrow (Tuesday 22. August 23) to join other leaders of MSG countries for the official opening.

The 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders’ Summit and related meetings commenced in Port Vila as scheduled

  • 18th August – Senior Officials Meeting
  • 19th to 20th August – Pre-Summit Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
  • 21st August – Foreign Minister’s Meeting (FMM) today (21.08.23
  • 22nd August – Official Opening of Leader’s Summit
  • 23rd August – Plenary Sessions
  • 24th August – Leader’s Retreat

Vice Minister assisting Prime Minister Muguwa Dilu is currently presenting Papua New Guinea at the MSG Meetings.

Dilu told MSG leaders in his opening statement for member countries to take ownership of development issues and provide leadership in pursuing the objectives of the MSG.

“The theme (Being Relevant and Influential ) resonates well, the need for the MSG to remain focused and bolster the efforts towards the common goal of building a stronger and resilient MSG family that is responsive to the needs and aspirations of its people, said Dilu.

He added that MSG must provide market opportunities, empower its people and strategically open up the MSG region, wherever possible to the world to seize economic opportunities to building back better economic resilience post COVID-19 through strategic economic partnership.”

Today’s FMM opened with statements from Fiji, Solomon Islands, PNG, Vanuatu, FLNKS, and Indonesia, before leaders went into a ‘Closed Session’ where in-depth concerns were raised on environment and climate change, security issues, and trade agreements, besides an operational report from the MSG Secretariat.

Other documents that are expected to signed on Friday include;

  • An Outcomes Declarations
  • A Declaration on Climate Change
  • Concord for Peace, Mutual Respect, Cooperation and Amity.

MSG members include, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and FLNKS (Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front) and Indonesian Indonesia as an Associate member.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/research-and-conservation-of-pngs-biodiversity/

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Marape Speaks Against Killings

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James Marape Speaks Against Killings

Prime Minister James Marape says, the Government is currently evaluating the police structure and the role of the defence force in Enga.

Marape said this in response to the recent killing of five suspected hired gunmen in Enga, whose images were widely shared on social media.

The Prime Minister described the act of violence as a case of “jungle justice” and requires a more peaceful and just resolution to the tribal flights and gun violence seen in the province.

“I want to implore the warring tribes of Enga to abandon violence and also denounce the concept of ‘jungle justice,” said Marape.

Marape said the Police Force has been issued explicit directives to decisively address the ongoing tribal disputes in Enga.

“Police Commissioner David Manning has been mandated to intervene in the persistent tribal confrontations in Enga, to quell the escalation of violence, and to apprehend those who persist in armed conflicts,” Marape continued.

On 15th August 2023, Police Chief, David Manning issued an internal circular to police to use lethal force.

The directive Manning issued read;
“I have directed RPNGC personnel to be prepared to deploy lethal force where it is required and reasonable. Commanders are instructed into respective operational orders.”

The continuous tribal flights and killings in Enga has forced airline companies to temporarily suspect flights into Wapenamanda airport.

While condemning the killings Marape said investigations have been conducted into the financiers of these tribal clashes, many of whom reside outside the province of Enga.

“To all warring factions in Enga, I appeal you to relinquish your weapons and allow the peace initiatives initiated by the Enga Provincial Government to progress,” Marape said.

The three month State of Emergency in Enga is still in place.

Related: https://insidepng.com/calls-against-orders/

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