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NEWS CUTTINGS

General - current (1/9/02 to 31/3/03):

ALIEN HUNT (Post-Courier 12/3/03)

The Government has moved to start evicting foreigners in Port Moresby working illegally in menial jobs like tucker-shop operators. The crackdown will be a combined effort between Labour and Industrial Relations, Foreign Affairs and Immigration and police. And depending on funds, the operations could extend to the rest of PNG. Labour and Industrial Relations Minister Peter O’Neill revealed this in Parliament yesterday while answering questions from North Wahgi MP Michael Mas Kal. Mr Kal was unhappy over the engagement of foreigners — particularly those over the age of 70 in menial jobs which locals can do. Some of these positions` are on the reserved list of jobs for locals protected by legislation. Mr O’Neill said he had already instructed his department to deal with these beginning in Port Moresby. Outside of Parliament, he said that Bogia MP John Hickey’s comments during grievance debate on Friday had been the trigger for this. Mr Hickey had expressed dire concern that foreigners were engaged in menial jobs all over the country which should be done by indigenous Papua New Guinean people. He had made specific mention of an Asian woman serving behind the counter at the Jackson’s Airport domestic departure lounge who uses a calculator to work out food costs. Mr O’Neill said this can’t be allowed to happen — all young PNG people are working the streets and looking for jobs to make a decent living. “With that concern, I have instructed my department to do a crackdown immediately in conjunction with the police, Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration to get these foreigners out of the country, particularly those who are illegally in the country and also without any work permits,” Mr O’Neill said. “The exercise is being carried out at the moment by our department now.” Basically under the exercise, foreigners working behind the counters or in other reserved jobs for locals will be arrested and those without relevant documents to stay in PNG will be evicted from PNG. Mr O’Neill said he would speak with the Prime Minister and the Treasurer about funding to expand this work to districts throughout PNG where there are similar concerns. “As soon as I discuss this with the Treasurer (Bart Philemon) and funding is available I will expand that throughout the country,” he said.

(Editor: and about time too, I've been amazed how many food outlets (reserved activities) are operated by non-citizens particularly those at Jacksons Airport yet there has hardly been a murmur to date.)

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HANGING DILEMMA (Post-Courier 17/2/03)

WARDERS and their bosses at Bomana prison don’t want to be the ones to hang a convicted killer. They told a visiting Australian journalist that the judge who dealt out the death sentence should “do it himself’’. Justice Gibbs Salika recently sentenced Arua Maraga Hariki, 34, to die by hanging for the wilful murders of two young men, Heni Veidiho and Matthew Togiri. But the staff at Bomana prison, where Hariki is being detained pending an appeal, do not want to execute Hariki. Jail superintendent David Melange told Paul Toohey of The Australian: “I think it’s best that the judge come here and do it himself. “The whole staff-prison population here will oppose it.’’ And Acting Corrective Services Commissioner Kelly Karella said there was the problem of building a gallows for the lawful execution to take place. “The question remains, who will be responsible for the hanging? It needs to be clarified between the Attorney-General’s and Corrections (departments),’’ he said. Mr Karella agreed that prison officers oversee executions in other countries. “But we don’t want to hang people,’’ Mr Karella said. “Our role should be caring for prisoners.’’ Hariki is one of four men on “death row’’, sentenced to death and awaiting either reprieve through legal appeal or death through execution.

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OKUK HIGHWAY, 'BIG RISK' (Post-Courier 17/2/03)

THE Highlands Highway is one of the highest risk routes for ExxonMobil operations in the Asian Pacific region. This was confirmed by a risk assessment carried out last year by the global oil giant. Head of ExxonMobil’s PNG operations John Acraman told the Post-Courier on Friday the assessment had resulted in the company’s decision to immediately cease supply of fuels and lubricants to the country’s most populous region. In a letter explaining the decision to the Government, Mr Acraman said: “We regret having to take this decision which has been forced on us by a recent risk assessment of the Highlands Highway. “Our responsibility to conduct our business with utmost concern for the safety of our employees, contractors, customers and the community in which we operate is paramount, even if it means we have to be prepared to forgo or relinquish sales opportunities.” Mr Acraman said the highway had been subject to numerous incidents involving vehicle accidents, product and equipment theft over the years, which had been compounded by a lack of maintenance and associated infrastructure. ExxonMobil’s cartage contractor had also found it difficult to source adequate insurance cover and had been unable to meet contractual requirements. He said ExxonMobil had been actively pursuing alternative fuel transport arrangements to supply the Highlands market but without success. “Unfortunately, we have been unable to come up with a satisfactory arrangement and have now made the decision to discontinue supply to the Highlands immediately, he said. “We will work with our customers to see whether we can assist them to formulate an acceptable arrangement to ensure continued supply of fuel for their needs.” Mr Acraman said fuel supplies were still available from their Lae terminal for retailers who wanted to cart their own supplies to the Highlands. He said ExxonMobil was currently running down its stocks in the region and expected other oil companies to take up supply to its former customers. Major companies that currently supply the Highlands from Lae include Shell, British Petroleum and Niugini Oil Company.

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BANK SIEGE

3 killed in Hagen hold-up... A daring daylight robbery at the Bank South Pacific branch in Mt Hagen yesterday left three suspects dead and four bystanders injured. Two of the suspects died on the spot after being shot by police, while the third died after being admitted to the Mt Hagen General Hospital. Picture by JOHNNY POIYA (The National)

Armed policemen in plain clothes take up position outside the Bank of South Pacific’s Mt Hagen branch yesterday to flush out armed men inside who held it up yesterday. (Post-Courier)

BANK SIEGE (Post-Courier 28/11/02)

 

THREE criminals are dead and four members of the public shot and injured as police and gangsters exchanged heavy gunfire yesterday in Mt Hagen. This followed an unknown number of heavily-armed men with high-powered guns walking into BSP Bank in Mt Hagen at about 12.30pm and holding it up. Police confirmed yesterday the gangsters took money in bags and were seen taking them out of the bank before police were alerted. When police arrived the gang started firing at them and for about three hours there was an exchange of heavy gunfire that resulted in the death of three criminals. Highlands Divisional police commander Alfred Reu said eye witnesses at the scene saw a bag of money being thrown on to a utility truck which sped away from the bank premises. An unknown number of gangsters escaped in two Toyota Landcruiser open back utilities. Police believe some of the suspects may have mingled with the crowd outside the bank and then escaped. In the process of escaping, they also held up a man near the Mount Hagen Bowling Club and took his double cab utility vehicle. Police reinforcements arrived about that time and gave chase. They recovered four vehicles — one at Keltiga, another at Rubiamur, the third vehicle at Kuta Hill and the other near Haus Poroman. Police also recovered three high-powered weapons -— two M16s and a .303 rifle from those killed within the vicinity of the bank. One of the victims was a suspect in the Westpac bank robbery last year and was also wanted for shooting and injuring a policeman from Mobile Squad 7. He was also wanted for a murder at Kagamuga airport. He was identified as Wasike Sikm 27, from Maip village Ogelbeng, Western Highlands. The identity of the other suspects were not immediately known. Mr Reu praised Western Highlands police chief Allan Kundi, Metropolitan Superintendent Jimmy Onopia, the mobile group commander and all the men involved in the operation for “a job well done’’. Mr Reu said the actions of his men prevented a group of heavily armed criminals causing more harm to the community. He issued a strong warning to criminals to be wary of their activities as police will be out in force to enforce the law and ensure peace in the community. Mr Reu said Highlands Police will step up operations throughout Christmas and New Year period and appealed to the public to observe the law. The siege brought business in Mt Hagen city to a stand still at 12.30pm. The city was packed with people but the city centre soon emptied out as people fled the shootout scene Customers and bankers were locked up in the bank for more than three hours as police exchanged gunfire with the gangsters.

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WHP REPORTS 4792 AIDS CASES (Post-Courier 27/11/02)

MORE than 4000 people in Western Highlands Province have been infected with the killer HIV-AIDS virus. Western Highlands Provincial Aids Committee spokesman Apollis Yimbak revealed this in Kudjip, Western Highlands last week. Mr Yimbak said reports received at the office states that there are 4792 HIV-AIDS cases, ranking Western Highlands as the second-highest province with the virus, next only to the NCD. He said that included reports that children younger than 15 years were also living with the virus. Mr Yimbak warned people not to rely too heavily on condoms, as he said the use of condoms were not 100 per cent safe. He urged people to seriously consider the repercussions of sex before engaging in it. He urged people from his province to work together with the Health Department to fight the spread of HIV-AIDS, which he said was spreading in the province like wildfire. “We don’t have to wait for the National Aids Council and the health department to make people aware of the disease,” he said. He called for co-operation from everyone, adding that PNG would lose out in a big way if the whole population became infected with the virus. Mr Yimbak said the country was experiencing the beginning of a crisis in relation to HIV-AIDS and leaders and the people must work together to combat this problem quickly if PNG wanted to prevent a major national crisis.

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POLICE DESTROY HOUSE IN MADANG - by Kevin Pamba (The National 26/11/02)

HEAVILY armed police destroyed a settlement in Madang yesterday morning, setting alight buildings and properties worth thousands of kina and sending hundreds of families homeless. The destruction to Finch Road settlement yesterday morning, happened two days before the seven days notice of voluntary vacation of the settlement by squatters of “Tari origin” dated Tuesday November 19 would have lapsed. Technically, the seven days notice would have lapsed at midnight tonight (Tuesday November 26). A successful restraining order taken out at the National Court in Waigani by Madang-based Jacobus Puringi Lawyers and faxed from Port Moresby at 4.52 pm came about eight hours too late as the damage was already done. The settlers and concerned citizens including some native Madang people, had contributed money to send lawyer Jacobus Puringi to Port Moresby on Sunday, thinking they had enough time to seek a restraining order. But police beat them to it and police moved in as early as nine o’clock (when the courts in Waigani open). The exercise was also well timed as Madang resident National Court judge Don Sawong was out of town on business and the settlers could do little but send their lawyer to Port Moresby. Police moved in and destroyed everything, and people were spared what they could remove and take with them. Among the property burnt down by police were a K500,000 complex belonging to self-made businessman, Joe Tari Tipaija. Mr Tipaija said his property comprised a three bedroom permanent high covenant house, conference room, office, shop and fun house (under construction), all joined together. Mr Tipaija said nothing was spared in the destruction except the clothes he and his family were wearing. Mr Tipaija said he took it for granted that as a prominent Madang leader, and the documents he had from the provincial lands office, would spare his property but this was not the case. “The police told me that I can sort out those things with the government latter. They said they were here to carry out orders.” Mr Tipaija said with those words, they went ahead and torched his property along with others. Late yesterday, Mr Tipaija and the settlers, armed with the restraining order, were demanding a face to face audience with Governor James Yali over his actions. Mr Tipaija said the Hulis (Taris) want Governor Yali and his provincial government to fund their survival in Madang for the time that the National Court had extended the seven days notice to December 4, when the issue would be brought before the National Court in Madang. Meanwhile, members of the Madang public have began asking where the Yali regime got the money to fund the police operation especially when the provincial government has been looking for money to put basic medicine at Modilon General Hospital among other basic needs. Some reliable residents said the large police contingent from Goroka for this operation was on a daily allowance of K210 per policeman since their arrival last week, although this claim could not be verified with anybody in the provincial government by last night.

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TWO GUARDS SHOT DEAD IN HOLD-UP by Theresa Ame (The National 12/11/02)

PORT MORESBY police are pursuing five suspects after two security guards were shot dead during a robbery at a major shopping centre on Sunday evening. The masked bandits held up the TST Supermarket at Gerehu at 6.45pm and shot the two guards as they tried to intervene inside the shop. According to an eyewitness, one of the guards died instantly while the other died on arrival at the hospital. Police have appealed for public assistance as the suspects are still at large. Gerehu Police Station commander, Inspector Ben Turi, confirmed the killing of the two guards but did not give details as the next of kin have not yet been notified. Police are on a manhunt to capture the robbers and need the support of the community, he said. The armed robbers entered the TST supermarket as it was closing late on Sunday evening and shot the two guards in the process. According to the eyewitness, five armed robbers mingled with the rest of the shoppers just as the shop was closing at 6.45pm and followed a cashier into the office as she was taking the day's takings in for counting. "They were pretending to shop and upon noticing a cashier walking towards the office they followed her. In the process the cashier dropped the money she was carrying, and the rattling of the coins on the floor alerted security guards who intervened and in the scuffle to stop the robbers, they were shot at. One guard died instantly while another died on arrival at the hospital," said Inspector Turi. He said police were doing their normal patrols that afternoon, covering the main shopping centres and arrived soon after being notified, however the information received was not clear as to the exact location where the robbery was taking place. "The call was received and we proceeded in time but we did not know that it was in the shop, our three vehicles were out on their usual rounds, one was around the shopping area, another one was around the market area while the third one was at the sports centre where the touch competition was in progress. "Upon receiving the call of the robbery all vehicles proceeded to cover all known getaway routes but the robbers escaped on foot as it was getting dark because there was no getaway vehicle in sight," he said. No arrests have been made and Inspector Turi has appealed to the public in Gerehu to come forward and report anything they know in relation to the shooting to assist police with investigations to capture those involved. Inspector Turi further warned that vendors who normally sell goods around the main bus stop area and in front of TST and the service station are asked to use the main market following an appeal from the TST management. He said these markets are illegal and police have tried in vain to remove people. "We are simply requesting people to move to the main market and leave these premises free for people to move about." Meanwhile, TST supermarket and Department stores closed for a short period of time yesterday morning but opened later in the day with business as usual. Details of the two men killed have not been released until relatives are notified and the management could not comment, however police have confirmed that staff who witnessed the shooting are still in shock and could not bring themselves to answer any questions.

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PNG MINISTER'S DAUGHTER SHOT IN ATTEMPTED ASSIGNATIONS (AAP 5/11/02)

The 12-year-old daughter of PNG's Petroleum Minister was shot during one of two suspected assassination attempts in Port Moresby at the weekend. In the first incident, Bill Skate's bodyguard was shot in the arm as he drove the former Prime Minister home from a meeting. Mr Skate's spokesman Leonard Brian said the parliamentary car was attacked by a gunman at an intersection around 6pm on Friday. The former Prime Minister then rushed his bodyguard to hospital for treatment where 20 minutes later, the daughter of Petroleum and Energy Minister Sir Moi Avei was admitted with a bullet wound to her ribs. Mr Brian said Sir Moi's car had been shot at by a gunman at the same intersection on 2-Mile Hill. Both victims were recovering in hospital yesterday after undergoing emergency surgery to remove the gun pellets. Brian said Sir Moi was not in the car with his wife and 12-year-old daughter at the time of the attacks. He said the attack on Mr Skate was politically motivated. "It's definitely an assassination attempt," Brian told AAP. "I think we know who planned this. It's politically related. "They stopped to give way and this guy just pulled out a gun and opened fire. It smashed the windscreen and the bullets went through the bodyguard's arm," Mr Brian said. "They rushed to hospital. Then, 20 minutes later, Sir Moi Avei's wife - who had been driving through the same spot - was also shot at." Mr Brian said the attacks came just four weeks after Mr Skate's wife Mrs Rarua had a close encounter with gunmen. Mr Skate, who is PNG's most controversial politician, is now parliamentary speaker in the new government of Sir Michael Somare. While Mr Skate usually travels with four armed bodyguards, he had one bodyguard in the car during Friday's attack. Impoverished PNG is riddled with illegal firearms. Much of the violent crime emanates from the squalid settlement areas where hundreds of thousands of the unemployed are forced to live. The country's most respected politician, Lady Carol Kidu, represents the squatter settlers in the 2-Mile Hill area. "How many more innocent people will die or be injured before we take control of the situation?" she said. - AAP

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STOLEN POWER LINES SOLD TO SCRAP-METAL DEALERS

Story and picture by YEHIURA HRIEHWAZI (The National 4/11/02)

 

Chief Inspector Seine points to power poles standing derelict. The power lines have been stolen and allegedly sold to scrap metal dealers in Lae.

THE scrap-metal industry in Lae is catering for some illegal activities in the industrial hub of Papua New Guinea with youths risking their lives by bringing down power lines which are then allegedly sold to scrap metal dealers. This situation has the police worried about the extent to which some youths could go to keep the scrap-metal business supplied. All power lines connecting the Yonki Hydro Power to the Wau-Bulolo and Memeng townships have now been stolen. Youth scaled power pylons and snapped off the power lines using bolt-cutters. Senior police officer Chief Inspector David Seine, who is the staff officer to the Provincial Police Commander, expressed grave concern while travelling to Mumeng on Thursday and noticed that power lines had been removed. Some village councillors travelling with him explained that youths climbed the power pylons at night, mainly during the early hours between 2am and 4am, cut off the lines, rolled them and took them to Lae to sell to scrap-metal dealers. Mr Seine went to Mumeng last Thursday to receive 13 youths from Zenag village who surrendered themselves to the Mumeng police. They were involved in various criminal activities like assault, stealing and threats directed at the Zenag Chicken Farm and its staff. A PNG Power (formerly ELCOM) staff member expressed his shock when informed by The National yesterday that power lines had been removed from the pylons. "Ah! Aiyeeeee!" he said in a shocked tone. "Em ol mas long long yah!" (They must be mad), he said in Tok Pisin, angered at the youths who removed the power lines. He said he doesn't know if his superiors are aware of the matter. The provincial PNG Power manager based in Lae could not be contacted for comment yesterday. Mumeng villagers explained that the power lines started disappearing after Yonki power supply to Mumeng-Bulolo and Bulolo (connecting from Nadzab) were switched off after pylons were destroyed by a major flood that hit Mumeng early this year. It was also noticeable while driving along the Lae-Bulolo road that some road signs had also been removed. Important bronze metal plagues telling the significance of a monument at the Bulolo-end of the Markham River Bridge had also been removed, possibly to scrap metal businesses.

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PNG AIR FORCE RETURNS TO THE SKY (The National 27/9/02)

PAPUA New Guinea's air force is back in the sky after being grounded for years due to lack of funds. PNG is hugely reliant on air transport but struggles to pay for imported fuel and spare parts. But this month, the PNG Defence Force managed to get four of its eight military aircraft back in the sky. Defence Force Chief of Staff Alois Ur Tom said two Iroquois helicopters and two transport planes were now considered "fully operational" and were helping with disaster relief following the Mt Pago volcano and Wewak earthquake. "It's a big improvement," Captain Tom said. "Last year we had hardly anything flying." Captain Tom said two helicopters and a large transport plane remained grounded. PNG's mountainous geography presents huge operational hurdles for the country's military, which works closely with the Australian Defence Force.

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GANG STORMS POLICE STATION by James Apa Gumuno (The National 9/9/02)

FIVE men with high-powered arms stormed the Kagua police station in Southern Highlands province last Wednesday night. Acting provincial police commander Inspector Benson Osil said the gang was armed with two M16 rifles, .38 revolver pistol and two bush knives attacked a duty policeman, Constable Thomas Nepan, and stole a rifle and ammunitions. He said the policeman received injuries to his face, head and parts of the body. Mr Osil said the reason for the attack was not known at this stage He said his men quickly responded to the attack and arrested three suspects who were being held in custody at Ialibu police station. He said proper charges would be laid against the suspects after investigations were completed. Mr Osil said other suspects were still at large with the missing firearms and police have appealed to the people for assistance in apprehending them.

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BOTANICAL OFFICE TORCHED BY ARSONISTS (Post-Courier 5/9/02)

Yesterday set fire to the botanical office belonging to the National Capital District Commission. Workers from the botanical garden said the arsonist entered during the early hours yesterday and set the building on fire. Office manager Taina Gebai said the destruction would cost the commission K500,000 to rebuild and re-fit with its files and equipment. Mr Gebai said the culprits had succeeded after attempting to set the building on fire five times in the past. He said during the first three attempts, the culprits only managed to ransack equipment like computers and furniture. “The fourth attempt was only last month,” he said, adding the security guards manning the area were poorly equipped to deter such break-ins. He said the motive of the burning of the office was not known, but fire fighters and police had commenced their investigations. Mr Gebai said he would relocate the administration and accounts staff, but continue work normally with his operational staff.

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THEFT OF SOLAR PANELS ON THE RISE by Metahera Lahari (The National 3/9/02)

THEFT of solar panels in Morobe province is increasing. According to police, people are stealing the solar panels from business houses and individuals and selling them again at cheaper prices. This call comes after the recent theft of seven solar panels stolen from the Lababia guesthouse outside Lae. Police also warned those who were using solar panels to be careful and take measures. He said earlier this year a total of 176 solar panels were stolen from the Omsis Repeater station at Mount Sunbu outside Lae. Police said those buying the solar panels must know that it is wrong to buy stolen property. He said those found in possession of stolen solar panels would be charged with being in possession of stolen property. Police investigations are under way and police are expected to make arrests soon.

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