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fuagf

05/25/12 6:12 AM

#9062 RE: fuagf #9048

PNG gas project fuels discontent

By Ash Pemberton .. Monday, May 14, 2012


Aftermath of a landslide in Hela Province on January 24. LNG Watch said Instead of searching
for survivors, the government and company chose to clear access roads for the LNG project.

The presence of police and mobile brigade soldiers at construction sites for the PNG LNG (liquefied natural gas) project in Papua New Guinea ? majority owned by Exxon Mobil ? is an indication of the community discontent surrounding the project.

Fears have been raised that conflict over the project could provoke violence like that of Bougainville in the 1990s.

Exxon Mobil and its partners plan to invest US$15 billion in the project, including a production and processing site near Tari, Hela Province, in the Southern Highlands, and a liquefaction and storage plant near Port Moresby, Inter Press Service said on April 16.

Once operational, the project is expected to double PNG's gross domestic product.

Landowners in affected areas have held many protests against the company since building began in 2010, over claims that many were ripped off in deals for compensation and infrastructure funding.

Many landowners complained of being left out of negotiations altogether.

The Post-Courier reported on November 8 last year that MP Francis Potape said many landowners were angry at not being paid when “certain 'handpicked landowners' who are friends with cabinet ministers and key people in departmental heads” had received government funds.

Locals in the Southern Highlands region have stopped building several times with road blockades and site occupations. Some of them involved threats and violence against workers.

Police used tear gas and fired warning shots at a landowner protest outside the prime minister's office in Port Moresby on March 6, the National said the next day. Police said they would treat future protests as “unlawful assemblies”.

The government announced on April 2 that soldiers would be sent to Hela and Porgera in neighbouring Enga province to help police control protests, Radio New Zealand International said that day.

Spokesperson for Hela landowners Sir Alred Kaiabe told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat on March 26 violence was likely to escalate.

"It will definitely get worse,” he said. “Far worse than the Bougainville crisis.

Insert: IT WAS HORRIFIC .. History of Bougainville .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bougainville

“We are Highlanders and we are known for fighting. Fighting is a way of life and we will fight to the day to protect what is theirs if they have been cheated."

Two deadly events related to the project have already occurred this year, causing further outrage against the company and government.

The first was a landslide in Hela Province on January 24, believed to be caused by work at a quarry used for the LNG project. The villages of Tumbi and Tumbiago were destroyed, killing up to 60 people.

Instead of searching for survivors, the government and company chose to clear access roads for the LNG project, LNG Watch said on April 11. This included building a road over the dead.

Locals were forced to dig for their relatives by hand.

When locals blocked earthmoving equipment in protest, officials threatened to withhold 10 million kina (nearly A$5 million) in disaster response funding, Radio New Zealand International said on February 16.

LNG Watch said on February 23 that Exxon Mobil and partner Oil Search Limited had helped manage the National Disaster Committee (NDC) investigation into the landslide, whose report found that “heavy rainwater” was responsible for the disaster.

The NDC was later forced to admit the report was flawed and that they were yet to conduct a proper investigation or establish the cause, LNG Watch said on February 14.

Official inquiries into the disaster promised by the government and company have failed to happen.

The second deadly incident took place at Tamadigi camp on April 3, when one worker was killed and another had his head grazed by a bullet when police guarding the construction site opened fire, LNG watch said on April 5.

The incident was sparked when workers began arguing with officers over the police's treatment of local residents protesting against the LNG project.

However, an Exxon Mobil spokesperson denied the worker was killed by police, PNGIndustryNews.net said on April 11. However, the spokesperson gave no alternate explanation for the death. A company inquiry into the incident has yet to produce any results.

Workers on the PNG LNG project have also complained of “discrimination, unfair dismissal, and a lack of union representation in the workplace”, LNG Watch said on May 1.

The police in the area have acted as a security force for PNG LNG. The National said on May 3 last year an investigation had recommended the memorandum of understanding between police and the company be terminated.

It said mobile brigades were specially reassigned to project sites and that officers' expenses, accommodation, food and body armour were paid for by the company.

LNG Watch said on November 10, 2010: “A figure of K2 million has been cited as the per month subsidy Exxon Mobil are/will provide the RPNGC for security services.”

Government complicity in the activities of PNG LNG reflects the state's commitment to fostering corporate profit-making and enriching PNG's elite while most people languish in Third World conditions.

People directly affected by the project may eventually see some development in their area. But it will be only crumbs compared with the wealth taken out of the country by the Western companies involved.

http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51021

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State of emergency declared in PNG provinces
By PNG correspondent Liam Fox and staff

Updated May 25, 2012 19:02:31


Photo: Peter O'Neil condemned the actions of 'renegade' police who set up a road block outside parliament. (AAP: Eoin Blackwell)

Related Story: State of emergency declared in PNG provinces
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-25/state-of-emergency-in-png-provinces/4033242

Related Story: PNG government threatens to arrest judges
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-23/attempt-to-reconvene-png-parliament-fails/4028438

Related Story: PNG court rules Somare should be reinstated
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-21/png-supreme-court-rules-somare-should-be-reinstated/4024652

Related Story: Corrupt 'mobocracy' undermining PNG democracy
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-11/png-corruption-widespread/4004694

Map: Papua New Guinea .. https://maps.google.com/?q=-9.5,147.116667%28Papua+New+Guinea+%29&z=5

Papua New Guinea's government has declared a state of emergency in three provinces.

Effective prime minister Peter O'Neil finally mustered the numbers for a final sitting of parliament this afternoon.

A motion was passed, declaring a state of emergency in three provinces; the national capital district; the southern highlands; and Hela, also in the highlands.

The declaration gives the police greater powers to ensure law and order, and also the participation of defence force troops.

Mr O'Neil says the declaration is necessary to maintain law and order in the run up to next month's general election.

He says the move is necessary in the highlands to protect a massive natural liquefied gas project.

Meanwhile, Mr O'Neil condemned the actions of what he called renegade police in temporarily setting up road blocks outside parliament this morning.

A group of about 40 police set up the roadblocks to both entrances of parliament, saying they wanted to prevent MPs from holding a special sitting.

Audio: Listen to Liam Fox's report (AM) .. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-25/png-chief-justice-to-face-sedition-charges-in-court/4032456

The ABC was told the policemen were loyal to former prime minister Sir Michael Somare but they insisted they were acting on their own initiative.

The road blocks were not sanctioned by police commissioner Tom Kulunga, who sent senior officers to negotiate with the men.

After about an hour of talks, it was all handshakes and smiles, and the men drove off.

Earlier, one of the policeman told the ABC they wanted the country to go to the elections and elect a new government.

Sedition charge

Video: Correspondent Campbell Cooney discusses the arrest of the chief justice (ABC News).. [embedded]
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-25/chief-justice-charged-with-sedition/4032678

Yesterday police charged the country's chief justice with sedition .. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-24/png-deputy-pm-barges-into-supreme-court/4031378 .. after a dramatic attempt to arrest him in court.

Sir Salamo Injia made a brief appearance in court today. He was not required to enter a plea and the case was adjourned until July.

Prosecutors allege he conspired with his fellow judge, Justice Nicholas Kirriwom, to cause a seditious enterprise against the state.

That relates to an email Justice Kirriwom sent to his colleagues in February, describing the O'Neill government as an illegal regime.

Mr O'Neill laid the complaint of sedition, saying the email proves a Supreme Court decision on the rightful leader was pre-determined.

On Monday, the Supreme Court upheld an earlier ruling ordering Sir Michael Somare be reinstated as prime minister.

The next day, deputy prime minister Beldan Namah warned Sir Salamo and two other judges they had to resign within 24 hours or they would be arrested and charged with sedition.

On Thursday afternoon Mr Namah carried through on his threats.

Sir Salamo believes Mr Namah's actions in directing police to arrest him shows the police are not independent and that they are not acting under the command of the police commissioner, but directly under the command of the deputy prime minister.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has contacted the PNG government and urged it not to take action against Sir Salamo.

Topics: world-politics, papua-new-guinea

First posted May 25, 2012 12:03:53

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-25/state-of-emergency-in-png-provinces/4033242

see also

Brazilian police arrest suspects in Amazon murders of environmentalists
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=74161833

Court Rules Against Indigenous Rights in Belo Monte Hearing
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=69182742

The fight of indigenous people for justice from rapacious corporations continues ..


fuagf

01/18/13 10:00 PM

#9119 RE: fuagf #9048

Pato still mum on border

Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister, Rimbink Pato is yet to be briefed on the border altercation between Wutung villagers and Indonesian soldiers one week ago before making a statement on the matter, acting Foreign Affairs secretary Lucy Bogari told the Post-Courier.

Fri, 18 Jan 2013

PORT MORESBY, PNG (Post Courier) ---- Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister, Rimbink Pato is yet to be briefed on the border altercation between Wutung villagers and Indonesian soldiers one week ago before making a statement on the matter, acting Foreign Affairs secretary Lucy Bogari told the Post-Courier.

But the villagers claim there are serious underlying issues which have triggered the recent incident, especially to do with their customary land on the Indonesian side of the border, and they are calling on PNG authorities to do something about it or the border problems will continue.

The first incident a week ago triggered a near-confrontation on the Papua New Guinea-Indonesia border between disgruntled Wutung and Sandaun (West Sepik) villagers and armed Indonesian soldiers.

Wutung rural local level government president Patrick Muliale told the Post-Courier an armed Indonesian soldier tried to prevent a Wutung youth from riding his motor cycle into Bartas on the Indonesian side of the border for reasons unknown and the soldier allegedly assaulted the youth.

Muliale said the soldier was then mobbed by angry Wutung youths and a stand-off ensued between armed Indonesian soldiers and the youths.
“The youths were not satisfied with the treatment and on Saturday, they pulled down the Indonesian flag and another altercation ensued, but officials from both PNG and Indonesia managed to cull the situation,” he said.

Muliale said the situation is tense on the ground and there are other border issues that may have triggered the incident.

“We want Waigani to be more effective and proactive in its approach to border issues,” he said.

http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=30943/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl

======

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea (PNG; Tok Pisin: Papua Niugini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania that occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea (the western portion of the island is a part of the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua) and numerous offshore islands. It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, in a region described since the early 19th century as Melanesia. The capital is Port Moresby.

Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries on Earth. According to recent data, 841 different languages are listed for the country, although 11 of these have no known living speakers. There may be at least as many traditional societies, out of a population of about 6.2 million. It is also one of the most rural, as only 18 percent of its people live in urban centres. The country is one of the world's least explored, culturally and geographically, and many undiscovered species of plants and animals are thought to exist in the interior of Papua New Guinea.

Strong growth in Papua New Guinea's mining and resource sector has led to PNG becoming the sixth fastest-growing economy in the world as of 2011. Despite this, many people live in extreme poverty, with about one third of the population living on less than US$1.25 per day. The majority of the population still live in traditional societies and practice subsistence-based agriculture. These societies and clans have some explicit acknowledgement within the nation's constitutional framework. The PNG Constitution expresses the wish for "traditional villages and communities to remain as viable units of Papua New Guinean society", and for active steps to be taken in their preservation.

After being ruled by three external powers since 1884, Papua New Guinea gained its independence from Australia in 1975. It remains a Commonwealth realm of Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of Papua New Guinea.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea

======

West Papua (region) .. bits ..

West Papua or Western New Guinea refers to the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and smaller islands to its west. The region is administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea.


The King Bird-of-paradise is one of
over 300 bird species on the peninsula.

[ administrative picture ]


Map of the island of w:New Guinea

Green = western New Guinea, (Indonesia) divided into the two provinces of West Irian Jaya (light green) and Papua (dark green).
Beige = eastern New Guinea, the 'mainland' portion of the nation of Papua New Guinea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Papua_%28region%29

======

Indonesia–Papua New Guinea relations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia%E2%80%93Papua_New_Guinea_relations

======

Free Papua Movement

The Free Papua Movement (Indonesian: Organisasi Papua Merdeka, abbreviated OPM) is a militant organisation[citation needed] established in 1965 to encourage and effect the violent overthrow of the current governments in the Papua and West Papua provinces of Indonesia, formerly known as Irian Jaya to secede from Indonesia, and to reject economic development and modernity as well as to eliminate non-native populations in the island. It has received funding from Gaddafi's Libya and training from the Maoist Guerrilla group New People's army, a Foreign Terrorist Organization designated by the US Department of Homeland Security.

The movement is outlawed in Indonesia, and agitating for independence for the provinces has incurred charges of treason. Since its inception the OPM has attempted diplomatic dialogue, conducted Morning Star flag-raising ceremonies, and undertaken militant actions as part of the Papua conflict. Supporters routinely display the Morning Star flag and other symbols of Papuan unity, such as the national anthem "Hai Tanahku Papua" and a national coat of arms, which had been adopted in the period 1961 until Indonesian administration began in May 1963 under the New York Agreement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Papua_Movement

======

Pacific Islands Report
http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/
Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center

With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Authorities Mum Over PNG-Indonesia Border Incident

Local official claims PNG youth assaulted by Indonesian soldier

By Haiveta Kivia

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Jan. 17, 2013) – Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato was still waiting yesterday to be briefed on the border altercation between Wutung villagers and Indonesian soldiers one week ago before making a statement on the matter, acting Foreign Affairs secretary Lucy Bogari told the Post-Courier. But the villagers claim there are serious underlying issues which have triggered the recent incident, especially to do with their customary land on the Indonesian side of the border, and they are calling on PNG authorities to do something about it or the border problems will continue.

The first incident one week ago today triggered a near-confrontation on the Papua New Guinea-Indonesia border between disgruntled Wutung and Sandaun (West Sepik) villagers and armed Indonesian soldiers.

Wutung rural local level government president Patrick Muliale told the Post-Courier that last Thursday, an armed Indonesian soldier tried to prevent a Wutung youth from riding his motorcycle into Bartas on the Indonesian side of the border for reasons unknown and the soldier allegedly assaulted the youth.

Mr. Muliale said the soldier was then mobbed by angry Wutung youths and a stand-off ensued between armed Indonesian soldiers and the youths.

"The youths were not satisfied with the treatment and on Saturday, they pulled down the Indonesian flag and another altercation ensued, but officials from both PNG and Indonesia managed to cull the situation," he said.

Mr. Muliale said yesterday that the situation is tense on the ground and there are other border issues that may have triggered the incident.

"We want Waigani to be more effective and proactive in its approach to border issues," he said.

Meanwhile, acting secretary for the department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, (DFAT) Ambassador Lucy Bogari says the government has its schedule, so the Post-Courier, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Rimbink Pato will be fully briefed before he makes an official statement on the incident.

When that statement will be made is not known and Ambassador Bogari said DFAT’s director general for political security and treaties will have a report ready for Minister Pato.

But Ms. Bagari’s response has not gone down well with Mr. Muliale, who asked the DFAT to be more proactive in its approach and to have more effective border administration office to deal issues as and when they arise.

Mr. Muliale said his people are continuously being harassed by Indonesian soldiers and authorities and the underlying issue is the international border.

"Our traditional land where we make gardens and where our hunting grounds are is on the Indonesian side of the border and we use traditional border passes, but when they (Indonesian authorities) refuse us entry and want passports, we are placed in a dilemma," he said.

He said they are then unable to go to their gardens, which is rightfully on their very own land but in Indonesia.

"The Indonesian check point used to be at Tami River but when they built Bartas, they also moved it closer to the Papua New Guinea border," he said.

PNG Post-Courier: http://www.postcourier.com.pg/
Copyright © 2013 PNG Post-Courier. All Rights Reserved.

http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2013/January/01-18-05.htm