Steady progress have been made during the Easter period to free-up the mega landslip that covered the length of 100 meters of Sikola section of Gumine road in Simbu province.
Gumine deputy district administrator John Gull said he was happy for the united stand taken by leaders and community to have the Sikola section cleared.
“We have a coordinated effort here with our political leaders, the provincial and district administrations, civil organisations, the Australia and PNG Defence Force joint operation, and the communities,” Gull said.
Supervisors on site, said clearance was made to the epi-center, about 50 meters, where debris as high as 20 meters covered three houses and buried 10 people including a pregnant mother on 12th March.
Earthmoving machines at work, two excavators, a dump truck with a grader is currently deployed to remove the debris at Sikola landslip.
“Once the clearance is made, the 30 kilometers road restoration program will begin at Sikola,” Gull said
Simbu Governor, Noah Kool rallied together K3.3 million and the provincial administration had taken charge of the disaster relief and restoration efforts in the province since March 13.
Gumine MP and Minister for Education Lucas Dawa Dekena, also provided K5 million in support of the restoration program in the district.
He said the relatives of the 10 people buried in the landslide allowed work to progress on the landslip area, and the workmen are working hard to clear up the debris..
Gumine is one of several areas worst affected with the main roadlink cut off to an estimated 50,000 population with another 50,000 people in Salt-Nomane sub-district of Karamui, and Mt Au in Jiwaka province.
Gull said for Gumine the priority is to make the road that is battered, butchered, and pasted with debris along 50 different sections of Gumine road cleared.
Meanwhile, the Civil Engineer to Gumine Works Unit, Ali Junior Kee said work is progressing well to remove the debris from the road.
“We are mobilising equipment from other places to beef our fleet of earthmoving machines to clear up the road starting from Sikola – Wara Sua, to Olegain, and from Gaima ringroad to Onule.
“Hopefully by this week, we will start work into Gumine,” said Junior Kee.
Mr. Ali Junior Kee (third from left) and Mr. John Gull (green shirt, center) surrounded by community leaders at Sikola where the landslip debris removal work is in progress. These men are on site to supervise the work since March 20th when work started.
A disturbing video has emerged on social media, and going viral depicting the brutal torture and eventual death of a West Papuan man at the hands of his captors. The victim, whose crime remains unknown, was brutally beaten while bound and confined within a 44-gallon drum, leaving him with no chance of escape from his tragic fate.
Frank Makanuey, a Papua New Guinean citizen of West Papuan descent, has voiced his outrage and concern over the treatment of indigenous people by Indonesian soldiers.
He highlights that this atrocity and incident is in violation of the New York Agreement, an agreement signed over 69 years ago in secrecy between the US, the Netherlands, and Indonesia, paving the way for the occupation of West Papua in 1963. Makanuey said the original intent and purpose of the New York Agreement is not to exact human rights abuses.
Frank Makanuey
Mr. Makanuey condemns this barbaric act as a crime against humanity, yet laments the world’s indifference towards the atrocities faced by the indigenous population of West Papua in their struggle for freedom.
The footage, showing Indonesian soldiers inhumanely assaulting an unarmed man trapped in a drum, serves as a damning indictment of the ongoing crimes against humanity in the region.
Blurred video shows the barbaric torture of the man by Indonesian soldiers.
Since the implementation of the New York Agreement and Indonesia’s prolonged dominion and occupation over West Papua, countless such atrocities have unfolded, claiming the lives of thousands of indigenous Melanesian individuals.
Mr. Makanuey said further that crimes against humanity have long been outlawed by the United Nations, following the atrocities of World War II.
He calls for an immediate cessation of aggression against the indigenous people of West Papua, asserting that their right to self-determination supersedes Indonesia’s domestic affairs and warrants intervention by the United Nations.
As a respected West Papuan community leader, Mr. Makanuey urges the United Nations General Assembly to take decisive action and grant independence to the Melanesian people of West Papua, in accordance with its Human Rights Charter that was ratified in 1948.
PAPUA New Guinea’s Immigration Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso, has revealed that the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority office is investigating how Mei Lin, also known as ‘Gigi’, a China-born businesswoman accused of orchestrating a methamphetamine “black flight” in March last year, was able to obtain her PNG citizenship.
This follows the publication of an investigative news article by Inside PNG and partner OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) on the 26th of January this year that revealed Mei Lin appeared to have falsified key parts of her citizenship application.
Mei Lin arrested in Brisbane. [[Photo credit: Australian Federal Police]]
Mei Lin, 41, was charged in Brisbane in January by the Australian Federal Police for allegedly helping to facilitate the smuggling of 71.5kg of methamphetamine (or crystal meth) with a street value of over K33million from PNG to Australia last year by light plane; in what police have argued was intended to be the first of a series of smuggling attempts.
According to the PNG Police and the Court, the dangerous drug was packed in over 80 small plastic bags and was transported to Bulolo Airstrip and was transported by air on a black-flight to Australia. Mei Lin has pleaded not guilty, before the Court in Brisbane.
Inside PNG and international partner OCCRP, in January revealed in an investigative report how Lin, a powerful businesswoman in the city of Lae, built a web of ties with prominent PNG citizens. She owns dozens of businesses including KC 2, located at Lae’s 7th Street, where 71.5 Kg of crystal meth was stored and then transported to Bulolo.
The report also revealed that she appeared to obtain PNG citizenship in 2016 by falsely claiming to have attended two elite local schools in the capital city, Port Moresby.
“We understand that the person that was arrested is a PNG citizen, and Immigration is currently investigating the process of how she got her citizenship,” PNG’s Deputy Prime Minister and Immigration Minister, John Rosso, told Inside PNG in Lae last week.
Among other details, Inside PNG and OCCRP’s January investigation revealed that Lin’s 2016 citizenship application included a letter — rife with grammar and spelling errors — purporting to confirm her attendance at Port Moresby Grammar School that school authorities say was signed by a non-existent staff member and labelled the document as fraud.
This follows a joint investigation in June 2023 by Inside PNG Investigative Journalists and OCCRP who visited the schools Mei Lin claimed she attended in Port Moresby when applying for her PNG citizenship. The school Administrations of the two elite schools, Port Moresby Grammar and Port Moresby International confirmed that Mei Lin has never attended these schools, nor graduated from these institutions.
Inside PNG met with then PNG Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau last year and revealed how Mei Lin got her citizenship. Hulahau shockingly told Inside PNG that there would be an inquiry into how she got her citizenship, however, that didn’t happen.
Immigration Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, John Rosso at a press conference speaking about the investigation into allegations against PNG’s former Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau.
Lin’s questionable citizenship application is not her only entanglement in PNG’s immigration system.
Reporting by Inside PNG and International Partner OCCRP and other media has also revealed that companies linked to Lin have benefitted from a controversial Australian-funded program to care for refugees that is now being probed for corruption.
Australian authorities have also alleged that Lin ordered one of her accomplices to pay A$10,000 (US$ 6,546) to a Sydney bank account in the name of PNG’s then-chief migration officer, Stanis Hulahau, in order to obtain a visa to travel to PNG to take part in the drug trafficking scheme. Hulahau resigned in February and has not been charged with any crime.
However, Immigration Minister and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, told Inside PNG last week that the allegations are serious and investigations are underway by KPMG, to prove the allegations against the then Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau.
“Allegations are allegations until completion of all the necessary investigation and if prosecutions if any, this should be put in place,” said Rosso.
Meanwhile, 15 people have been charged over the March 2023 meth flight. Eight men, including six PNG nationals and two Chinese citizens, are facing trial in PNG. Lin was the seventh person charged in Australia.
Insurance services in the Autonomous Bougainville Region has been restored after more than 30 years through a partnership between the Bougainville Government and Capital Insurance Group.
The re-establishment of this vital services now provides a safeguard mechanism for the establishment of new businesses and expansion of existing ones.
Paved through the Toroama-Nisira Government Bougainville’s vice President and Minister for Commerce, Patrick Nisira said the initiative is desired to restore investor confidence on the island region following the Bougainville conflict.
“Insurance services is a crucial elements of our economic independence journey that we are embarking towards achieving prosperity and self-determination,” Nisira said.
Capital Insurance Group, Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Norton said bringing back an insurance service to Bougainville was their response to the business community that encountered business losses due to natural disasters and human-made causes.
Capital Insurance Group, Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Norton, addressing the public in Buka town.
“This is an important part of our long-term commitment and will drive sustainability and provide the foundation for a gradual roll out of services across Bougainville,” Norton said.
The new branch will be housed in the same location in the existing TISA office in Buka. The services offered include insurance solutions such as business protection, workers’ compensation, motor and general liability to individuals and businesses.
“An important function of a good insurance company is to provide its clients with risk management advise and recommendations. This has an important role in minimizing and preventing accidents, fires, break ins, vehicle crashes and workplace accidents,” Norton said.
ABG Secretary for Department of Commerce, Trade, Industry and Economic Development, Alex Kerangpuna thanked Capital Insurance Group for sharing Bougainville’s aspirations for economic growth and for their commitment to establish their services in Bougainville.
“Our endeavor to bring in insurance services cannot come easily without having an established business partner in the insurance sector that takes up the challenge to invest here,” Kerangpuna said.
A new government hall built for community engagements was declared open in Ioro, Panguna District in Bougainville.
This facility is a purpose-built for community meeting spaces with kitchenettes and storage rooms, a disability access ramp, chairs and storage racks, ceiling fans, and a 9,000-litre water tank.
Delivered at a cost of K30 million, it is one of several infrastructures built by the Australian government through the 19 districts in the Autonomous Bougainville Region.
Australian High Commissioner to PNG John Feakes was in Bougainville to witness launch of Australia funded projects.
“These buildings provide meetings spaces for community governments and wards, furthering their efforts to meet their community’s development needs, ” said Feakes.
This community government infrastructure initiative supports Australia’s localisation policy, which prioritises contracting of local Bougainville-based service providers. The project created employment and skills development opportunities in the construction sector for over 200 people across Bougainville.
Minister for Community Government and District Affairs in the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Theonila Roka-Matbob, said the Community Government facilities are designed to support community governments and wards.
She added that the hall now provide a functional space for the elected women and men to work together to perform their leadership and administrative duties and for community meetings and local activities.
Residents in Arawa town should start enjoying a more reliable access to electricity supply with the completion of renewable energy upgrades come 2025.
This includes the Autonomous Region of Bougainville’s first commercial-scale solar farm with battery storage.
These upgrades are part of a broader suite of the Australian support for provincial power stations across Papua New Guninea and include plans to upgrade Buka’s power station.
To mark the project’s half-way point, Australian High Commissioner To PNG, John Feakes, was taken on a tour by Autonomous Bougainville Government President, Ishmael Toroama to the power station
Feakes said Australia is committed to improving access to energy in Bougainville and is supporting the ABG’s economic development and energy goals.
“The solar panels installed are already providing power to Arawa. Once fully completed in 2025, this project will further improve power supply for local businesses and enhance many facets of people’s lives, including health and education, and increasing safety and security, especially for women and girls,” said Feakes.
The PGK18.8 million renewable energy upgrades in Arawa are being implemented in two stages.
The first stage is a small solar plant at PNG Power Limited’s (PPL) existing power station that, as of March this year, has begun supplying power in Arawa.
The second stage will deliver a larger solar farm with a battery energy storage system at a new site that PPL acquired in 2023 with assistance from the ABG.
Once completed, the upgrades will decrease running costs for PPL by reducing reliance on expensive diesel fuel and will cut carbon emissions by 1,800 tonnes of CO2e in the first year alone, allowing PPL to supply more reliable power to the people of Arawa.
“Australia looks forward to jointly launching the completed project with the Government of PNG and the ABG in March 2025,” Feakes said.
Youths at June Valley have initiated a neighborhood watch program aimed at creating and maintaining a safe community.
The Doma Youth Association began this program in their Port Moresby community on Monday with the promise to continue the initiative.
Association chairman, Pia Kak told Inside PNG that he wants to create avenues where youths can feel a part of.
“The association will focus on how to create a safe avenue for women and children, and also to continue to provide cleaning services in the community like grass cutting and sweeping,” Kak said.
Doma Youth Association members of June Valley taking part in neighborhood clean-up.
The Doma Youth Association is made up of young men and women who are unemployed and others who are seeking further education opportunities.
He added that had seen enough youths causing problems in their own community, hence that is the reason he came up with the idea of creating an association.
The Doma Youth Association is registered with the Investment Promotion Authorities (IPA) and can be engaged for general services like drainage cleaning and other clean-a-ton programs.
“I want to improve this community by providing the most appropriate action in the community and also to gain trust so the people can engage Doma youth’s in the near future for any general work,” Kak said.
Australia has announced more support for Papua New Guinea’s Women’s rugby league development through an investment of a $9.7 million.
Belinda Gwasamun a rugby player with PNG Orchids said she was privileged to travel and play in Australia and at a World Cup and had more dedicated consistency to the high-performance training through similar development program.
“I am excited to see more female athletes playing rugby league and to have more opportunities and exposure through the support of our own domestic national competition. This is the way forward for the Orchids to be more competitive at the international level,” said Gwasamun.
PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina signs a document as Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea John Feakes looks on.
PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina said the investment is welcoming for the enhancement Women’s rugby league development in country.
“The last two years have started the phase for long term improvement in the game in PNG. Our female game is in its initial professional competition stage, and we are looking forward to getting it off the ground for the first time,” said Hondina.
The Australian support will see the establishment of a national women’s competition in PNG and support towards a women’s talent identification program.
The partnership expands to building the capacity and credentials of PNG Rugby League coaches, support staff and administrators, benefitting both the women’s and men’s game.
Australian High Commissioner to PNG John Feakes said Australia remains committed to promoting greater inclusion of women and girls in sport.
“Women’s rugby league in PNG has come a long way in a few short years. PNG Orchids’ debut performance in the 2017 World Cup and PNG now establishing a women’s national competition shows that barriers to gender equality are being broken down. I am excited to see where the game goes in PNG, there is so much untapped potential in this country,” Feakes said.
“The QRL prides itself on being an experienced and responsible steward of the game in Queensland and we’re happy to share our knowledge and expertise with trusted partners,” said Ikin.
QRL Chief Executive officer Ben Ikin said it’s a privilege to partner with the Australian Government, PNGRFL and the PNG Hunters to help support the growth of rugby league in PNG.
L-R QRL CEO Ben Ikin, PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina and Australian High Commissioner to PNG John Feakes.
The Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea has responded to social media users’ questioning a joint exercise between the Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) and the PNG Defence Force’s First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1RPIR).
In a statement released by Australian Authorities, Australian Defence Advisor to Papua New Guinea, Colonel Travis Gordon said the training in question is a continuation of a long history of cooperation between ADF and PNGDF that stretches back decades.
“1 RAR’s travel to PNG is the first rotation this year of the longstanding Olgeta training series, focused on activities to enhance PNGDF capability and capacity. Planning for this rotation commenced in August 2023,” said Col. Gordon.
Following the announcement of a team from ADF’s 1RAR preparing to travel to Papua New Guinea, many social media users questioned the role of the Australian Army in PNG.
Thus the head of the Australian Defence Force in country says the trainings is part of the longstanding Defence ties between Australia and Papua New Guinea, the ADF regularly deploys Mentor Training Teams to work alongside the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).
“The partnership between the ADF and the PNGDF plays a vital role in the broader relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea,” Col Gordon explained.
These teams deliver training and activities with the PNGDF on a rotational basis, returning to Australia upon completion of their training activities.
The 1 RAR’s deployment to PNG is only for the purpose of participating in the next Mentor Training Team activity.
The beautiful Yule Island in Central’s Kairuku district is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Lieutenant Léon BOURJADE, a French flying ace in the First World War who died in 1924.
The restored plaque of Lieutenant Léon BOURJADE.
As part of the celebrations, crew members of Auguste Bénébig a French navy vessel based in New Caledonia, anchored on the island and performed a memorial action through the cleaning and restoration of the grave of Lieutenant Léon BOURJADE. Famous for his “acrobatic” landings, his name is still associated with aviation through the expression “landing like Bourjade”.
French Navy vessel Auguste Bénébig at anchor on Yule Island, Kairuku District.
French Ambassador Guillaume Lemoine, European Union Ambassador Jacques Fradin and Central Governor, Rufina Peter were part of the dignitaries to the island.
The commemoration ceremony of Lieutenant Léon BOURJADE comes days after the first official visit of General Yann LATIL, Commander of the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC), to Papua New Guinea. He made a 3-days official visit to Port Moresby at the end of February, where he met officials from Department of Defence and PNGDF to sign a 2024-2025 cooperation plan.
French Ambassador Guillaume Lemoine (right), European Union Ambassador Jacques Fradin (obscured), crew members of Auguste Bénébig and Central Governor Rufina Peter (center) laying wreaths in honour of Lieutenant Léon BOURJADE
The FANC enable France to have permanent military presence in the Pacific Region in order to protect French interests in the region and maintain France’s military partnerships in this area of strategic interest.
With over 1,650 military personnel, the FANC provide regular support for missions involving government action at sea. They have the capacity to intervene in the event of a security or climatic crisis affecting the area. The FANC regularly share their expertise in the field of HADR and maritime security with the security and defence forces of partner countries in the Pacific.
