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.
Prominent Fiji-based businessman Zhao Fugang is a trusted advocate for China’s interests in the Pacific. But Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies suspect he plays another part: as a senior organized crime leader. Fugang has not been charged with any crime.
KEY POINTS:
Since mid-2023, Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies have secretly designated Zhao Fugang a top international organized crime figure.
Zhao is alleged to be a senior member of a syndicate involved in drug smuggling, money laundering, and human trafficking. There is no record of Zhao ever being charged in Australia or elsewhere. Authorities have not publicized any evidence against him and he denies any wrongdoing.
Australian law enforcement officials have shared intelligence on Zhao with Fiji in an effort to get local authorities to move against him.
From his perch at the hilltop Yue Lai Hotel, China-born entrepreneur Zhao Fugang enjoys a panoramic view of Fiji’s seaside capital, Suva.
But Zhao’s hotel is not just the headquarters of his local business empire, which has stretched from tourism to property development. It’s also the base for the businessman’s parallel job: promoting China’s influence in the Pacific country.
The imposing red-and-black hotel is a favored venue for the local Chinese embassy’s official functions, where Zhao has rubbed shoulders with senior Fijian officials. It’s also home to an official “service center” for Chinese citizens, which has played a public role in fostering security ties between China and Fiji.
Zhao Fugang’s Yue Lai Hotel, located in Suva, the capital of Fiji. [[Photo credit: OCCRP]]
The businessman’s role is typical of Beijing’s steady efforts to build its footprint in the Pacific Islands. The ruling Chinese Communist Party often uses prominent members of the overseas diaspora as proxies to push Chinese interests, under a strategy it calls the “United Front.”
As Western countries fret over China’s rising influence in the strategically important Pacific islands, Australia — a key U.S. ally — has set its sights on Zhao, a joint investigation by OCCRP and Australia’s Nine media outlets have found.
In secret, Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies believe that Zhao is not merely a businessman or political operative. They suspect he is also a senior organized crime figure — and they’re pushing Fiji to move against him.
Reporters pieced together an understanding of Australia’s targeting of Zhao by reviewing documents circulated among law enforcement agencies and conducting interviews with Australian, U.S., and Fijian security officials.
Australia’s top criminal intelligence body, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, went to the extraordinary step of adding Zhao to its registry of Australian Priority Organization Targets in mid-2023, reporters have learned. The list of priority targets is secret, and includes about a dozen top suspected criminals, typically based abroad, who are deemed to be “the most significant threats facing Australia.”
Zhao’s designation is the first time a known political operative has been added to the list, and is an acknowledgement that China is believed to be using organized criminal networks as proxies to push its interests in the Pacific, said John Coyne, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
“This is the beginning of a journey to really look inside to identify… what else is happening across the Pacific in terms of this interference, how else are we seeing that sort of merging or graying the line between organized crime figures and also people who are working for the Chinese government,” Coyne said.
Reporters found that Australian law enforcement has since at least 2021 suspected that Zhao is a senior member of a transnational syndicate that has been active in the region for decades and “likely has good access to corrupt officials,” according to one document.
The syndicate is allegedly involved in crimes including human trafficking, money laundering, and the large-scale flow of drugs to Australia. Its senior members had a “demonstrated ability to coordinate their operations in the region,” the document says.
Zhao has never been charged in Australia with any crime, nor have authorities made their suspicions public.
Inclusion on the list is based on intelligence and is not proof of wrongdoing. The list is circulated among Australia’s main law enforcement agencies as part of a strategy to use the full force of the government to take apart the most complex and tough transnational criminal networks.
Fiji’s Home Affairs and Immigration Minister, Pio Tikoduadua, confirmed that Australian authorities had shared intelligence with him that raised “serious” concerns about Zhao.
Tikouadua said in an interview that Fijian law enforcement may “act on something that has been raised with us by foreign intelligence,” but added that the allegation “must have some basis in fact and in law for us to be able to respond to it.”
During a brief exchange with a reporter at his hotel, Zhao denied any involvement in criminality. Asked if he worked on behalf of the Chinese government, he gave a one word answer: “Yes.”
Zhao Fugang. [[Photo credit: Nine]]
China’s embassy in Suva declined to answer questions about Zhao, a naturalized Fiji citizen, and said all questions should be directed to local officials.
“The Chinese government attaches great importance to and is fully committed to protecting the safety and lawful rights and interest of overseas Chinese nationals. We always ask overseas Chinese nationals to comply with local laws and regulations, and not to engage in any illegal activities,” the embassy said.
“Your suspicion of the relation between Chinese government and Chinese community in Fiji is entirely groundless.”
Pacific in Play
The intense Australian focus on Zhao comes amid rising Western concerns about China’s ambitions in the Pacific Islands.
China has in recent years managed to establish formal ties with the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Nauru, convincing them to abandon diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, a U.S. ally that Beijing considers a “renegade province.”
In 2022, China signed a secret security pact with Solomon Islands, a leaked draft of which appeared to allow Beijing to send security forces to the country “protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects.” The announcement of the agreement sparked concern in Washington, D.C., as well as the capitals of Australia and New Zealand.
Those Chinese inroads followed earlier gains in Fiji during the authoritarian rule of former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who came to power in a 2006 coup and was voted out in late 2022. Under Bainimarama, Fiji and China inked a bilateral policing agreement in early 2011, complete with deliveries of equipment and training.
Former Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama (left) with Cao Gangchuan (right), former Minister of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, in a meeting in Beijing, China, in 2005. [[Photo credit: Imago/Alamy Stock Photo]]
The pact was “extraordinary in terms of the level of detail,” said Graeme Smith, an expert on China and the Pacific at the Australian National University.
“It’s detailed to the extent there’s even a hotline that you could call in the event of any problem,” he said. “Like, literally 24/7 in Beijing, there would be someone to pick up the phone and say, ‘Here we are. We’re ready to jump on a plane.’”
That’s exactly what Beijing did in 2017, sending an aircraft full of police officers to Fiji to round up scores of suspects in an online fraud operation and bring them back to China. The operation, in which the suspects were marched onto the aircraft by Chinese police and placed in black hoods, was heavily criticized by Fiji’s opposition. After Barinimarama was voted out of power, the new government quickly suspended the policing agreement.
Chinese media reports and press releases show that, from at least 2014, Zhao promoted himself as an “adviser” to Bainimarama. Zhao’s exact relationship with Bainimarama’s government is unclear, but both analysts and former government insiders have said that Zhao made efforts to forge personal relationships with the prime minister and other top officials.
Bainimarama even presided over the opening ceremony for Zhao’s Yue Lai Hotel in 2014. The event is commemorated on a plaque embedded near the hotel’s entrance — which was covered up with a sticker after Bainimarama was voted out of office.
Zhao did not respond to written questions. When approached by a reporter for Nine at his hotel, Zhao said he had simply been acquainted with Bainimarama because the former premier had dined at the hotel restaurant.
“Everyone knows Frank,” said Zhao, referring to the former prime minister by his first name before snapping a photograph of the reporter.
Bainimarama did not respond to a request for comment.
China’s “Front Man” in Fiji
Zhao’s role as a representative of Beijing is spelled out in detail in Chinese media reports and official documents.
Since at least the mid-2010s, Zhao has held a series of senior positions at organizations controlled by the United Front Work Department, an office of the Chinese Communist Party that, among other things, coordinates efforts to use China’s diaspora abroad to influence local elites and push Beijing’s interests.
Zhao has held leading positions in United Front groups, including an organization for the northern Chinese diaspora in Fiji, according to Chinese state media. He has also headed a Fiji-based organization of diaspora Chinese advocating for the “reunification” of Taiwan with China.
At one point, Zhao served on the council of an Australia-Pacific Taiwan reunification body headed by Huang Xiangmo, a Chinese billionaire and Australian political donor. Huang had his Australian permanent residency canceled and was barred re-entry to the country in 2019 after the domestic intelligence agency alleged that he was interfering in Australian politics on Beijing’s behalf. Huang has denied the allegations of foreign interference.
Chinese-language media reports show that Zhao has made trips back to China to meet with United Front officials, and in 2017 and 2019 attended the organization’s flagship annual assembly.
Meanwhile, in Fiji, Zhao set about building high-level ties.
“He’s really in many ways the front man for the Chinese state in Fiji,” said Smith, of the Australian National University. “There’s no other serious player in town.”
With Zhao’s help, China “got in very, very deep and very, very close” to Bainimarama’s government, he said.
‘Not a Friend’
Zhao appears to have played a key role in promoting China’s security interests in Fiji.
In 2016, company registry documents and media reports show that Zhao set up at his hotel an official Overseas Chinese Service Center. Beijing has denied claims from Western governments and researchers that these centers are part of a global network of offices that have, in some cases, been used to monitor Chinese citizens abroad. China says the purpose of the offices is to help Chinese citizens carry out banal tasks like renewing official documents.
As head of the center, Zhao attended and played host to several high-level meetings on security cooperation, according to reports in Chinese-language media. Senior Fijian police officers attended these meetings, as well as local Chinese business leaders and embassy officials.
At first glance, it may seem strange that a person trusted by China’s government to support its law enforcement efforts in Fiji is suspected by Australia of being involved in serious organized crime.
But expertssay that China has a track record in using “patriotic” organized crime figures as proxies abroad, particularly when part of the job is to influence local elites.
“You need fixers. You need people who know people. And often criminals have a really good Rolodex,” ANU’s Smith said.
“If you can find people that are successful businesspeople and involved in criminal activities, then they’re often your most effective vectors in-country, because they know people and they’re willing to do the stuff that the state doesn’t want to do.”
Previous OCCRP reporting has revealed how the Chinese government has relied on dubious businesspeople –– including a notorious triad leader nicknamed ‘Broken Tooth’ –– to advance its interests elsewhere in the Pacific.
Australia’s suspicions about Zhao’s alleged criminal connections also come amid mounting concern over a rise in drug trafficking through Fiji, which sits between Latin America and deep-pocketed buyers in Australia and New Zealand.
Zhao Fugang (right) stands with Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka (second from left) during an event with the Chinese Embassy at his Yue Lai Hotel in 2023 to celebrate the Chinese New Year. [[Photo credit: Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in The Republic of Fiji]]
OCCRP reported last year on how neglect by senior leaders in Fiji’s previous government led to an explosion of methamphetamine and cocaine smuggling through the country. Fiji Police seized a record 4.8 tons of meth in January — a haul worth hundreds of millions of dollars that would be enough to supply all of Australia for nearly six months. OCCRP and partners are not alleging that Zhao is involved in the recent seizures.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said in an interview that he was unaware of Australian claims that Zhao is involved in organized crime.
Rabuka’s government announced in mid-March that it was restarting the policing agreement that it had suspended last year. But the prime minister nonetheless said he had concerns that China’s government may have links to organized crime groups active in Fiji.
“I do not want to… open the door to someone that could turn out to be not a friend,” said Rabuka.
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.
In efforts to foster the growth of more qualified professional geoscientists in Papua New Guinea, Nickel 28 Capital Corporation, formerly known as the Highlands Pacific is sponsoring two geoscience students at the University of Papua New Guinea.
The announcement was made last month (Thursday, February 22) by Nickel 28 Capital Corporation’s Head of Asia Pacific, Craig Lennon.
“We want to give back to PNG. Having more professional geoscientists is an area that needs more support,” said Lennon during the award presentation.
Shirley Ambang, who was the inaugural recipient of this scholarship when it was first introduced last year (2023) continues her scholarship this year (2024), while Tongia, is a first time recipient of the scholarship.
The scholarship valued at K19,000 per year covers tuition fees, lodging fees, book and living allowances for Ambang and Tongia.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES: Carlos Tongia (Left), and Shirley Ambang (Right), are two of the first N28 Capital Corporation scholarship awardees. They now have a stronger chance of employment in the mining industry with this scholarship.
“This is only our second year for this scholarship. We started last year with the objective of growing to the point that we have an ongoing program with three students each year,” added Lennon.
The tertiary student’s sponsorship package is an initiative of Nickel 28 Capital Corporation carried out in partnership with the Earth Sciences Division in the School of Natural and Physical Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG).
This support takes much of the school fee burden off of the students and their families.
It also assures resource companies like Nickel 28, that there is and will be a sufficient pool of professional geoscientists to recruit from in the future and gives certainty of employment for scholarship awardees after graduation.
Nickel 28 Capital Corporation is a Toronto-based Company that holds 8.56% joint-venture interest in the world-class Ramu Nickel Cobalt operation in the Madang province.
Three adjacent wards within the Morobe Patrol Post in Huon Gulf District have come together to call for peace, aiming to quell over three years of internal strife. Representatives from Mayama (Ward 3), Zinamba (Ward 4), and Amoa (Ward 5) recently convened with District Administrator Andrew Namuesh to discuss strategies for reconciliation in a closed-door meeting at the district office.
The primary goal of the meeting was to restore peace and ensure unimpeded movement and service delivery within their communities. Reports shared during the meeting painted a grim picture of the toll the conflict has taken, including casualties, injuries, displacements, and property destruction in Amoa.
The conflict’s origins date back nearly two decades, rooted in a disputed land boundary issue aggravated by settlement encroachments and increased lawlessness, fueled by the growing logging industry in the Local Level Government (LLG) area.
Participants from the three wards unanimously agreed on the urgency of engaging in land mediation, with plans to follow up with a public peace and reconciliation ceremony. Their collective desire for tranquility was emphasized:
“We want peace and normalcy.”
Recent peace initiatives included the deployment of Morobe Water Police two weeks prior and plans announced by Namuesh to conduct comprehensive land and subdivision surveys to accurately delineate boundaries in the conflict-affected wards. Villagers’ cooperation was sought for these endeavors. Namuesh also revealed intentions to formalize agreements through a Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement during a peace ceremony in the LLG. However, he stressed that the district would not provide financial compensation, highlighting the need for community-led initiatives in resolving issues and fostering peace.
Acknowledging historical neglect, Namuesh underscored the significance of Morobe Patrol Post while calling for a collective shift away from past grievances. He encouraged collective responsibility in elevating Morobe’s stature and reputation.
In response to villagers’ requests, Namuesh noted calls for a permanent police presence and the establishment of a village court system, hinting at potential future developments aimed at enhancing security and governance within the area.
This united effort from neighboring wards in Morobe Patrol Post signifies a crucial step towards peace and stability in the region, demonstrating the power of community collaboration in resolving longstanding conflicts and building a better future for all residents.
In the face of transportation hurdles that have hindered police mobility in Madang, Acting Superintendent Robert Baim has rallied for collaborative efforts between business entities and law enforcement to sustain police presence in the region.
Baim has emphasized the necessity for heightened vigilance and precautionary measures due to the looming threat of opportunistic crimes. “It’s really affecting our mobility, but with the help of a few business houses and supportive police allies, they have been assisting to at least show police visibility around,” remarked Baim, shedding light on the ongoing challenges confronting law enforcement in the province.
Recognizing the constraints imposed by transportation obstacles, Baim has urged businesses to bolster their security protocols, cautioning against potential exploitation by opportunists. He has underscored the risk of delayed police response to incidents under such circumstances, stressing the imperative of increased vigilance within the community. “Opportunists might take advantage of the situation and commit acts that police might not respond to promptly,” cautioned Baim, highlighting the significance of proactive measures in mitigating security risks.
Despite the adversities, Baim has reassured the public of the police force’s preparedness to tackle any criminal activities. He has affirmed the unwavering commitment of law enforcement personnel to uphold law and order, while urging cooperation from residents in safeguarding their communities.
The concerted efforts between business establishments and the police epitomize a unified approach towards addressing the security challenges prevalent in Madang. Baim’s proactive stance underscores the pivotal role of community engagement and collective action in ensuring public safety amidst logistical constraints.
Furthermore, the repercussions of fuel rationing have extended to operations at the Jomba police station, where suspects detained in cell blocks are being managed amidst logistical constraints.
Acting Superintendent Robert Baim, the Madang Provincial Police Commander, disclosed that the fuel shortage impacting police mobility has also affected the management of detainees at the Jomba police station. Despite these hurdles, Baim has assured that the police force is diligently working to uphold essential services, including the management of detainees. “The fuel rationing police are managing at the moment has also impacted operations at the Jomba police station, where suspects detained in cell blocks are being managed,” affirmed Baim, addressing the additional strain imposed by fuel shortages on law enforcement activities.
Baim’s proactive approach and collaboration between stakeholders serve as a beacon of hope in navigating through the challenges posed by transportation constraints, reaffirming the collective commitment to maintaining security and order in Madang.
The Papua New Guinea Defense Force has hosted a brief visit of Commander in Chief of France Armed Forces in New Caledonia, Brigadier General Yann Latil to Port Moresby.
In a security meeting with PNGDF acting Commander, Commodore Philip Polewara and Defence minister, Dr. Billy Joseph, both countries discussed on humanitarian support and disaster relief exercises.
A similar meeting held with Foreign Affairs Minister, Justin Tkatchenko and Fisheries Minister, Jelta Wong expanded into measures of minimizing illegal fishing.
As this is the first visit, The French Commander in Chief toured few military barracks including a brief visit to the Air Transport Wing near Jackson’s airport and Basilisk Nasal Base at Konedobu.
His tourend included a stop over at the Bomana War Cemetery outside port Moresby where he laid a wreath to remember the fallen soldiers.
The Defence relationship between PNG and France reached new security height when both nations signed the Status of Forces Agreement (SoFA) in 2023.
Morobe Provincial Health Authority (PHA) CEO, Dr. Kipas Binga, has announced that a financial report and acquittals will be submitted to Morobe Governor, Luther Wenge once the funds allocated to address the drug shortage in Morobe have been utilized.
Dr. Binga clarified that out of the K3.5 million allocated by Governor Wenge on December 4, 2023, K1.5 million was earmarked for the regular operations of the Morobe Provincial Health Authority (MPHA). The remaining K2 million was specifically designated to tackle the pressing issue of drug shortages that had plagued the province.
The CEO emphasized that the K3.5 million provided by the governor constituted a substantial lump sum payment covering both operational expenses and the drug shortage initiative.
Of the K1.5 million allocated for regular operations, K200,000 has already been utilized for public health purposes.
However, Dr. Binga assured that the remainder would be carefully budgeted, primarily targeting the first quarter of the current year.
Regarding the K2 million allocated to address the drug shortage, Dr. Binga affirmed that the funds are readily available.
Once these funds are utilized, a comprehensive report will be compiled and submitted to Governor Wenge for review.
The K2 million donation by Governor Wenge was a response to the “Nogat Marasin Campaign,” which gained traction in Lae City.
Led by a dedicated team of Lae citizens and supported by Morobe Citizens the campaign aimed to draw attention to the critical shortage of medical drugs in the province’s health centers.
This initiative underscores the collaborative efforts between local authorities and concerned citizens to address pressing healthcare challenges, with transparent financial reporting ensuring accountability and effective utilization of resources in Morobe Province.
