DOMINICA ARE | The Crocodile Prize

HER HEART POUNDED LOUDLY against her chest like the bass of a stereo as she dashed down the hill towards Obil. There was no sign of them and it was slowly growing dark.

With tears running down her cheeks, legs aching, sweat pouring profusely from her face and her heart doubled its beating pace she continued to run as fast as her two bony feet could carry her.

“Hurry up with your bamboo containers, it’s getting late!” Alebia screamed at her children. Quickly but tiredly they stuffed their leftover pork meat into their string bilums, grabbed their ‘male muguhs’ (bamboo container) and were off like the wind towards “Noge-habe nule’ to fetch water.

When they were gone, Alebia and her husband, Sinegare, quickly packed their few belongings along with Dagi’s. They left Korai’s beside their hut and waited impatiently for Dagi to come home first, hoping that their plan might work out well.

Talking, laughing and imitating their mother’s facial expression when she loses her temper, they at last reached the cool mountain spring. They were excited too that they would be leaving for Omkolai to settle there permanently with some relatives as a tribal fight was about to erupt in Urmil.

Unfortunately, they hadn’t noticed that Korai’s bamboo container which was big had a hole at the bottom whilst Dagi’s was small and alright. They were oblivious to their parents’ wicked plan.

Dagi was the first to fill his container and thinking that his parents might be thirsty, he decided to go home first.

‘Father and mother will be thirsty, so I’ll go home,’ said Dagi, as he carefully lifted his bamboo container off the ground.

‘Sure,’ replied his sister. ‘Tell them my container is slowly filling so wait a few minutes for me.’ But they never waited. 

As soon as Dagi reached home, Sinegare quickly grabbed the bamboo container and told Dagi to carry his string bilum and follow them without saying anything as it was time and they must leave immediately.

AXEL RICE | The Crocodile Prize

A World of hunger, a World of hatred, this isn’t what it seemed.
Some live lives that are devastated, while others live lives as they please.
Religiously, theologically, culturally divided, a world of many differences.
Countries, groups and many types of people kept apart by ideological fences.
A colour is just a colour, but there is more to blacks and whites,
life is continuously challenging, from dusk till broad daylight.
Father what is happening, this isn’t what it seemed
Some live lives that are devastated, while others live lives as they please.

World War one, World War Two, World War Three?
Lives are easily stripped from existence, with bombs and M16s.
Some are luxuriant with mansions in Rome,
when many are left with cardboard boxes, they would happily call their home.
Domesticated, left untreated, mothers are as miserable as could be,
no one turn to, no one to seek to, like an abandoned boat in the middle of the sea.
Child it will be okay, it will be fine, soon we will be free,
but for now close your eyes, as I sooth our misery.
Father what is happening, this isn’t what it seemed
Some live lives that are devastated, while others live lives as they please

Wine, bread and the finest meats, the foods they’d dine in a day
While one would crave for just as little as a crumb, I will forever pray.
A million faces, a bustling city, not a 50 toea to spare,
no clothes to wear, no bed for me, no one that even cares.
United as one, divided we stand, what has this planet come to
Racism, poverty, fighting and wars, stormy days and sky blue.
Father what is happening, this isn’t what it seemed
Some live lives that are devastated, while others live lives as they please.

Axel Rice (15) was born in Lae of mixed Australian and Papua New Guinean parentage.  He is a Year 10 student at Coronation College in Lae

AAP

PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S STRONG WILLED deputy prime minister, Belden Namah, appears to be struggling to retain his seat in the national election as rival Sir Michael Somare is on track to return to parliament.

With just over 51% of the vote counted in the West Sepik electorate of Vanimo-Green, Mr Namah with 610 votes is trailing independent Willie Obow Inaru with 2,948 votes.

Mr Namah became deputy prime minister in August last year after helping orchestrate the parliamentary coup that toppled Sir Michael.

Last month, backed by his police and military bodyguards, Mr Namah stormed the supreme court and demanded the arrest of chief justice Sir Salamo Injia.

A firm nationalist, he has railed against what he has called a disastrous election, saying it was orchestrated by Australia and his one time political ally, prime minister Peter O'Neill.

Sir Michael, 76, and now seemingly recovered from the heart surgery that left him bedridden for eight months last year, is in a nail-biting race for the East Sepik seat he has held for 44 years.

With 35% of the vote counted, Sir Michael has 35,314 votes, while Pangu Pati rival Allan Bird is on 31,948.

Known as both the "father of the nation" and "the Grand Chief", Sir Michael has vowed to see O'Neill, Namah and members of their front bench jailed over the August coup.

He has said he will see a new government formed under his National Alliance banner but has not clarified if he will be the party's nomination for PM if it wins enough seats.

Mr O'Neill on Saturday became the first declared winner in the 2012 poll and vowed to form the next government.

In PNG, no party usually has enough to govern in its own right, so a long period of "horse-trading" begins, where MPs enter negotiations with independent MPs and smaller parties.

KELA KAPKORA SIL BOLKIN

THE PNG ELECTORAL COMMISSION announced across all media that election polling in the National Capital District was scheduled for only one day - 26 June. The public and private sector workforce were given time off that day to go to the polling booths to elect their leaders.

On that morning, the polling officials didn’t show up in the Port Moresby North West electorate where I live. I checked the Morata settlement, but everyone I met was also looking for answers. The morning hours slipped by quietly without any sign of polling.

Around midday people were told that polling in Port Moresby North West was postponed to the following day. However, Port Moresby North East and Moresby South electorates went to the polls as scheduled.

A few highlanders at Morata, upon hearing the announcement quickly came up with a plan to help their countrymen and women who contested in Port Moresby North East electorate.

You know, one is a child of culture and society. So in a parochial political culture like PNG people meet their culture obligations of propping up their wantok.

The highlanders swiftly hired buses and travelled to 8 and 9 Mile and other areas of Port Moresby North East with containers of bleach and finger polish.

That day it was estimated that some 5,000 plus men and women crossed from where they lived in the city to the Port Moresby North East electorate to vote.

They were welcomed on arrival by wantoks and told to join the queue. If you ask, ‘How come they don’t have names there and still vote’ there are many ways. 1. Where you stand you can see the common roll so just call any unmarked names on the roll. 2. The polling officials were wantoks. 3. Just call any names and vote.

On average, it was estimated that each individual that went voted three times each for their wantok candidate until the ballot papers were exhausted. 

Their wantoks (the candidates) supplied them lunch and betel nut to keep the adrenaline pumping as they ran between polling booths.

The next day (Wednesday) the Port Moresby North East wantoks had to return the favour.  They arrived in truckloads to North West electorate and inflated the polling booths. They voted until they exhausted all the ballot papers especially in Morata.

LORRAINE BASSE | The Crocodile Prize

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN has become the norm in many parts of Papua New Guinea and is one of the many issues affecting our country today.

There are a number of factors involved with the three most common being domestic matters, bride price payments and the mentality of a male dominated society.

Most men regard women as objects and blame their wives for every little thing they find fault in. For instance bearing a female child when they want a male, work pressure, family obligations, forgetting to clean the house or wash the dishes, children crying, food not cooked to his liking, does not like the way she is dressing, no respect, not enough food in the house and talking to a male stranger to name a few.

This in turn leads to quarrels, arguments, disunity and to domestic violence within and among families creating a tension in the village, community, the society and the country as a whole.

Domestic violence is seen in most parts as a private matter. Therefore, whenever a man hits his wife, most people; neighbours and the authorities concerned pretend that they cannot see what is going on and turn a deaf ear. Only some are brave enough to stand up for the victim.

Since most communities view domestic violence as a private matter, only some of the victims press charges, and prosecutions are rare; most of those affected by it, think it is normal.

Moreover, growing up in a culturally oriented society makes many women think that it is their duty to make their husbands happy and therefore, have no right to refuse sex with their husbands. They obligingly give in to their husbands wishes even though they do not like it.

This in turn leads to many problems and tensions in the family, the community and the society as a whole. These people who are affected by violence sometimes do not know they can get help, are too scared or are too ashamed to come forward.

Another matter viewed as private and a form of violence is rape. Rape in the past was regarded as a war strategy in most parts of Papua New Guinea and was therefore not seen as an issue. There was no concept of rape in marriage either.

Rape or sexual assault is ‘an assault by a person involving sexual intercourse with or without sexual penetration of another person without that person’s consent.’ Men have the mentality that: ‘My wife is my wife and whatever we do in the vicinity of our dwelling is our private business.’

The rapists when reported and apprehended sometimes do not face trial and walk around freely, especially if he or she was someone important in the community; sometimes they break out of jail.

LIAM FOX | PNG Correspondent ABC

COMMONWEALTH OBSERVERS SAY they have a long list of serious concerns about the conduct of Papua New Guinea's general election.

The Commonwealth Observer Group's interim statement says some benchmarks for democratic processes were met but significant challenges remain.

Chairman Edward Natapei says a feature of the recent election is the rise of money politics with candidates trying to bribe voters on a greater scale than ever before.

"The group encourages the further strengthening of and enforcement of laws relating to campaign financing, bribery and undue influence," he said.

Mr Natapei says major problems with the electoral roll were observed, resulting in the "widespread disenfranchisement" of citizens.

In the Highlands, Mr Natepei says his team saw many "anomalies" including multiple voting, bloc voting and underage voters.

Caretaker prime minister Peter O'Neill has been declared the first winner, retaining his seat in the Southern Highlands.

Full results from the election are expected to be known by the end of the month.

MARKETWIRE | The Wall Street Journal

MORUMBI RESOURCES INC has welcomed last month’s resolution of the Bougainville House of Representatives to introduce a mining policy to recommence exploration on the island. The motion was passed unanimously by the 39 member House.

The draft mining policy reaffirms that the ownership of mineral and oil and gas resources resides with the landowners, and that mineral exploration licenses on Bougainville will be registered only to landowner companies and their qualified partners.

The motion called for the government to review and finalise the draft, and present it to the House for passage this year.

Morumbi Resources, through special purpose subsidiaries, Eruupia Mining & Development and Karato Mining & Development, has entered into memoranda of understanding with landowner companies over two areas regarded as being highly prospective in historical geological surveys.

The final boundaries are to be determined by a Morumbi survey crew that will travel with the customary landowners to identify the streams, ravines and mountain ridges that typically define customary land. The crew will utilise mobile GPS recording technology which will be transferred to detailed maps.

Under the terms of each of the MOU's, Morumbi paid K10,000 on signing and has committed to pay a further K3,000 a month to the landowner companies to help them carry out their corporate functions.

In addition, Morumbi is committed to carry out social development programs in line and in conjunction with the programs it is delivering to its other four areas under agreement.

Morumbi Resources Inc is a public company with a light oil property in northwest Alberta as well as early stage mineral exploration licences in PNG. It is currently evaluating resource opportunities in Bougainville by forming strategic relationships with local landowner companies with the view to securing mineral exploration licences on their traditional lands.

MELANIE PETRINEC | The Cairns Post

A GROUP OF MEN on the hunt for a massive cocaine stash and gold in Papua New Guinea had planned to smuggle their bounty through the Torres Strait and into Cairns but came up empty handed, a court has heard.

John Khuu was allegedly going to broker the sales of the cocaine and gold once they arrived in the country for a significant profit.

Mr Khuu has pleaded not guilty to supplying drugs and faced day one of a trial in Cairns Supreme Court yesterday.

Commonwealth prosecutor Glen Rice, SC, told the jury Mr Khuu and eight other men from Cairns and the Torres Strait were implicated in the conspiracy to import the drug after an Australian Crime Commission investigation which involved tapping the phones of the main players in early 2003.

Mr Rice said Mr Khuu had been recorded talking to the group’s alleged leader, John Lake, about how he could on-sell what was believed to be a 5kg stash of cocaine located somewhere in PNG.

Mr Lake had four men on the ground in the Torres Strait hunting for the cocaine in PNG, Mr Rice said.

"The overall plan, led by Lake, was to finance and coordinate the efforts of these island helpers to locate the cocaine in Papua New Guinea," he told the court. "From (the Torres Strait), it would be brought to Cairns with a view to sell for big profits."

Mr Rice said Mr Khuu was "going to assist to find buyers for it (the cocaine), acting as a kind of broker".

The court heard one of the Islander men had also claimed he could find more than 20 pieces of gold "thought to be the size of a fist" in PNG, which could be bought cheaply from locals and sold for a profit in Australia.

Mr Rice said Mr Khuu had offered to find buyers for the gold as well, but it was later discovered to be "fool’s gold" and Mr Lake was more interested in the cocaine.

The court heard Mr Khuu came to Cairns from Toowoomba in March, 2003, to see how the operation was going, but ultimately the drugs were never obtained.

KEITH JACKSON

DAISY HENRY IS IN HER 98th year and is the grandmother of a PNG Attitude  reader who lives in the United States and spends a lot of time in Papua New Guinea.

"Daisy was born into rural Appalachian poverty in a coal mining town in 1910,” says our reader.

“She never went to school, had 12 children, and worked on the family farm and later in a factory.

“She values reading and writing more than just about anything else.

“This amazing woman, who grew up with nothing and no formal education, taught me and all of my 34 first-cousins how to read.

“Her legacy is a generation of people who are doctors, lawyers, professors, and business people.

“This is what I feel like your Prize does in PNG - begin to acknowledge that literature, poetry and language are a step towards better lives for people.”

And with these words came a donation of $1,000 which will be applied to the Crocodile Prize’s underfunded publishing program.

It is underfunded because Australia’s foreign affairs department apparently saw no benefit in providing a grant to assist publish the Crocodile Prize Anthology 2012 – the one book in PNG that each year provides locally-created literature for Papua New Guinean readers.

DFAT could not understand what Daisy Henry understands so well: that reading is the magic key that unlocks multitudes of doors in the human journey.

Reading your own literature - written in your own idiom, about things that matter to you and your nation and your culture – ought to be considered a basic right.

The print run of 200 books we looked like being restricted to would be neither here not there in terms of making an impact, almost vanity publishing; so this extra money in honour of Daisy Henry is like gold.

And I’m adding $5,000 to that – which would have been spent on my trip to PNG in September, a trip I will forego – to get even more books printed.

Who knows, maybe we can shame the Australian government – or encourage some other government or organisation – into ensuring that thousands of Papua New Guineans are able to read their own literature.

It is their entitlement.

Readers can help get more books printed by ordering the Anthology ahead of publication. See advertisement at the top of the blog

MARTYN NAMORONG | The Namorong Report

AS THE UNITED STATES celebrated its Independence Day recently, veteran journalist Bill Moyers examined the contradictions in the life of Thomas Jefferson, the man credited with writing the American Declaration of Independence.

The second declaration of the US declaration of Independence states:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Jefferson who wrote those fine words didn't seem to believe in Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for he was a slave-owner.

This caused me to ponder on the fairness and consistency in debates around the issue of development in Papua New Guinea.

Last year the then Australian Greens leader, Senator Bob Brown, told AAP that he was concerned about the growing negative influence of Australian mining companies in Papua New Guinea.

“It is very, very troubling ... in a marvellous country like PNG where democracy ought to be based on a fair go for everybody," Senator Brown said. "I'm very concerned about that and ... will be continuing to raise this issue in parliament."

Senator Brown had just visited the Ramu Mine project in Madang Province which is partly owned by Australian miner Highlands Pacific. It is planned that the Ramu mine will dump 100 million tonnes of toxic waste into the waters of Basamuk Bay in the Rai Coast area.

Environmental issues aside, let's ask ourselves whether Queensland based Highlands Pacific would be allowed to dump such large amounts of toxic mine waste off the Gold Coast.

Would the Australian people and their government tolerate this? It is easier for the foreign minister of Australia to threaten PNG with sanctions over 'democracy' than it is for him or any member of the Australian government to criticise the unethical behaviour of their miners in PNG.

Silence is often taken to be consent, and so the deafening silence of the Australian government over the activities of Australian miners in PNG infers consent for their repugnant behavior.

The Australian government does not seem to mind if the actions of Australian miners leads to the destruction of the lives and livelihoods of Papua New Guineans. The Australian values of mateship and a fair go or being fair dinkum don't extend beyond the northern shores of Queensland.

The reality is that we live in a region where Australia preaches one thing and practices another. Papua New Guineans have become weary of this, as they frequently express in anti-Australian blog posts.

CATHERINE WILSON | Jakarta Post

IN THE CULTURALLY DIVERSE Highlands of Papua New Guinea, tribal warfare, often employed to “pay back” wrongs done to a clan or settle community disputes, has a long history.

But as tribal fighting increasingly features the use of guns rather than spears — and decimates villages and social cohesion — members of the country’s Islamic Society are quietly taking the initiative to open avenues of community dialogue. Their long-term aim is to change attitudes toward violence through Islam’s philosophy of peace.

Peoples of this island nation have traded with Muslim Malay empires since the 16th century, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that visitors from Southeast Asia actively introduced the faith.

The Islamic Society of Papua New Guinea was formed in 1983, and Islam soon acquired a following in the Highlands, especially the Southern and Western Highlands and Simbu, Jiwaka and Oro provinces, where the religion’s principles were perceived to have a strong affinity with local cultures and societies.

Today, there are approximately 2,000 Muslims in PNG. The main center for national activities and worship is the mosque located in Port Moresby, built in 2001 with generous international donations, including US$100,000 from the Indonesian government.

In a meeting at the mosque, head imam of Papua New Guinea, Mikail Abdul Aziz, said that tribal fighting was impoverishing people and devastating lives.

“When a person kills another, or burns the house of another person, this destroys the community and deprives the community of development,” he said. “If the school is burned, this will deprive children of education. When the hospital is burned, where will the women go to give birth?

“It is turning people into refugees as they flee conflict and take refuge in areas where they have no access to water, shelter or food,” he continued.

In October last year, conflict broke out between the Agarabi and Kamano tribes in Kainantu, a town in the Eastern Highlands, during which a settlement was razed and 15 people killed.

In another incident, 3,000 tribesmen using high-powered guns clashed during a land dispute in Mamale village in Laiagam district, Enga province.

According to an Oxfam report, inequality and land issues are key causes of conflict in the Highlands. Unequal wealth distribution, lack of economic opportunities and a decline in services, including health and education, are seen as factors in contemporary social grievances.

Abdul Aziz said that in the Highlands, people have been warriors for generations, fighting has become a way of life and he didn’t expect people to change their ways overnight. He emphasized that the approach of the Islamic Society through community dialogue was to appeal to people’s admirable qualities.

Successful community engagement was dependent on enabling the individual or group’s best attributes.

“The first thing we do in the Highlands is address the goodness of the people and their strengths, rather than their weaknesses,” Abdul Aziz said. “In the Highlands, they always welcome people; they listen to their leaders and are hard workers.”

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL

AN OBSERVER MONITORING Papua New Guinea’s general election says there have been some disruptions in the counting process which is now underway in eight of the country’s 22 provinces.

While around 80% of the country has finished voting, the Electoral Commission has extended polling into a third week in several provinces where delays have been experienced.

There have been reports of scrutineers, including people who work for candidates, interfering with the counting.

Election observer Ray Anere of the National Research Institute has confirmed a number of incidents related to issues of fairness which will need to be taken up after the election, including interference with ballot boxes.

“There have been some disputes, particularly by scrutineers, which have led to delay of counting,” Mr Anere said.

“But I think those delays have been addressed…. There are some hiccups that amount to a disruption of the counting process here in the National Capital District.”

MARGARET CALLAN | Development Policy Blog

IN JUNE, PNGSDP LIMITED published on its website an independent review of the company’s operations, management and impact. The Review was undertaken by Professor Stephen Howes, Director of the Development Policy Centre [disclaimer: where I work], and Dr Eric Kwa, Associate Professor School of Law UPNG.

Publication of this Review is a welcome development – it was recommended by the reviewers as an important step in addressing criticism that the company’s operations are not sufficiently transparent and accountable.

This concern was raised by John Burton in his Development Policy Centre blog of 12 February 2011, ‘Reporting and sustainability at Ok Tedi’. John noted that the absence of reporting on evaluations meant that it was not possible to judge the effectiveness of PNGSDP’s development investments. Hopefully the publication of this Review will be the first step in a more robust approach to program evaluation at PNGSDP.

What is PNGSDP?

The Review’s Context section provides a helpful guide to the establishment and responsibilities of PNGSDP and the role of the Ok Tedi mine in Western Province’s history, politics and economy.

The Review notes that PNGSDP is a unique organisation – it is registered in Singapore as a not-for-profit company, operates in Papua New Guinea, and its Memorandum of Association sets its objects as promoting the sustainable development and welfare of people in PNG through supporting social, environmental and sustainable development programs and projects.

PNGSDP owns 63% of Ok Tedi Mining Limited, divested to it by BHP in 2001 when BHP exited the now highly profitable Ok Tedi copper, gold and silver mine in the remote Western Province of Papua New Guinea. In pursuance of its objects, PNGSDP has three areas of responsibility – running a development program, managing a long-term fund, and being the majority shareholder in Ok Tedi Mining.

PNGSDP has very substantial assets. As a result of the recent period of high global commodity prices, it now manages well over USD1 billion in funds (in 2010 alone, it received USD338 million in dividends from Ok Tedi). PNGSDP’s annual development expenditure is also significant, about US$100 million. As the Review points out, if SGP were seen as a donor, it would be PNG’s second largest after Australia (AUD500 million in 2011-12).

PNGSDP is run by a board of seven members, three nominated by BHP, one by PNG Treasury, one by Bank of Papua New Guinea, one by PNG Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and one selected by the Board. It provides an annual report on its activities and achievements to the State of Papua New Guinea, BHP and Ok Tedi Mining Limited.

MARGARET CALLAN | Development Policy Blog

IN JUNE, PNGSDP LIMITED published on its website an independent review of the company’s operations, management and impact. The Review was undertaken by Professor Stephen Howes, Director of the Development Policy Centre [disclaimer: where I work], and Dr Eric Kwa, Associate Professor School of Law UPNG.

Publication of this Review is a welcome development – it was recommended by the reviewers as an important step in addressing criticism that the company’s operations are not sufficiently transparent and accountable.

This concern was raised by John Burton in his Development Policy Centre blog of 12 February 2011, ‘Reporting and sustainability at Ok Tedi’. John noted that the absence of reporting on evaluations meant that it was not possible to judge the effectiveness of PNGSDP’s development investments. Hopefully the publication of this Review will be the first step in a more robust approach to program evaluation at PNGSDP.

What is PNGSDP?

The Review’s Context section provides a helpful guide to the establishment and responsibilities of PNGSDP and the role of the Ok Tedi mine in Western Province’s history, politics and economy.

The Review notes that PNGSDP is a unique organisation – it is registered in Singapore as a not-for-profit company, operates in Papua New Guinea, and its Memorandum of Association sets its objects as promoting the sustainable development and welfare of people in PNG through supporting social, environmental and sustainable development programs and projects.

PNGSDP owns 63% of Ok Tedi Mining Limited, divested to it by BHP in 2001 when BHP exited the now highly profitable Ok Tedi copper, gold and silver mine in the remote Western Province of Papua New Guinea. In pursuance of its objects, PNGSDP has three areas of responsibility – running a development program, managing a long-term fund, and being the majority shareholder in Ok Tedi Mining.

PNGSDP has very substantial assets. As a result of the recent period of high global commodity prices, it now manages well over USD1 billion in funds (in 2010 alone, it received USD338 million in dividends from Ok Tedi). PNGSDP’s annual development expenditure is also significant, about US$100 million. As the Review points out, if SGP were seen as a donor, it would be PNG’s second largest after Australia (AUD500 million in 2011-12).

PNGSDP is run by a board of seven members, three nominated by BHP, one by PNG Treasury, one by Bank of Papua New Guinea, one by PNG Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and one selected by the Board. It provides an annual report on its activities and achievements to the State of Papua New Guinea, BHP and Ok Tedi Mining Limited.

KEITH JACKSON

AUSTASIA PACIFIC HEALTH SERVICES – which is already sponsoring the writers’ workshop to be held in conjunction with the Crocodile Prize - has initiated a supplementary award for runners up in the student writing contest.

The Chalkies’ Yokomo Prize for Student Writing is an initiative of ex-Papua New Guinea schoolteacher and School Paper editor, Ed Brumby, and the K5,000 award was provided by Ed and many other former expatriate schoolteachers (chalkies) who worked in PNG before independence.

Yokomo was a notorious fictional comic personality who featured in the School Paper and also in school broadcasts on the then National Broadcasting Commission.

The Chalkies’ award will be divided evenly between the winning piece of writing by a high school or primary school student and their school.

The AustAsia Pacific Health Student Encouragement Awards, three awards of K200 each, have been added for the three students who are runners up to the winner.

AustAsia Pacific Health Services (http://www.webbpacific.com.au) is based in Queensland and provides medical and hospital services in PNG to individual patients, mining, insurance and other companies, as well as patients referred from overseas medical facilities.

It links international patients and doctors with Australian specialists, providing ease of communication, emotional support and comfort on the ground for patients and their families.

IT'S TIME TO ORDER YOUR CROCODILE PRIZE ANTHOLOGY 2012
You can email an advance order here for the Crocodile Prize Anthology 2012. We’ll let you know when it's published and you can pay us then. Just $A20 + $4 p&p for a collection of the best contemporary Papua New Guinean stories, essays and poetry. [Papua New Guinea distribution details to be announced soon]

SIMON SIMBIKEN | Balcony Perspectives

BELDEN NAMAH HAS UNIQUE leadership qualities generally lacking in Papua New Guinea's political arena.

He works hard and is disciplined character with a military background. He is free from the books of corruption and he discourages systemic and systematic manipulation of due processes which has been responsible for malpractices and corruption.

Namah is the answer to PNG’s political and administration problems. He will deliver PNG out of evil men who feed from Haus Tambaran and Morauta Haus. He is here to fight corruption and promote good governance, transparency and unity amongst diversity

Through unique leadership of Namah, Papua New Guineans can now distinguish between: good as against evil, transparency as against corruption, straight as against crooked, patriotic leadership as against foreign influenced puppet regimes, truth as opposed to lies, quality as against quantity, lasting solutions as opposed to temporary quick-fix solutions and the list goes on. He has a unique leadership quality that is lacking in many politicians. His leadership resembles that of late Sir Iambakey Okuk.

Namah embraces revolutionary and visionary leadership. Revolutionary means new discoveries, new ways and new ideas for advancement and progress. Visionary means visualizing and setting targets on what you want to achieve in future. His leadership will move PNG forward.

But, with the leadership that has been in existence since independence PNG will trail behind in real development. If we are not careful in electing good leaders in the 2012 elections, this country will be run down by the same brand of leadership and the next 36 years will be a valuable time wasted.

What has PNG achieved with the kind of leadership we have in the past 36 years? Nothing, so to speak. In fact every step we have taken forward has taken us two steps backward. The administrative machinery, infrastructure and facilities established by the Australian colonial administration have disintegrated and disappeared due to lack of maintenance and sustenance by the leadership we have had since independence whereupon they have failed to leap off from where the Australians have left us.

Hence, PNG needs vibrant and new generation of leadership. We need leadership that can aggressively promote good conduct and instill discipline both at political and bureaucratic levels.

MICHAEL DOM | Crocodile Prize

the house is silent
fighting geckos wake the dog
…enters lahara

sleepless rambling dreams
drugged by the tropical night:
flee the verandah!

neighbours offer tea –
no security lamps here
only buai palms

bubus fire is lit:
shadows playing with torches
their voices pass by

 far off sparks flicker
‘twixt dark skies and black waters:
children are laughing

the floorboard nails squeak –
with bellies full of sago
and smoked magani

a bone dry palm frond
crashes to the ground nearby –
another dog barks

warm, ghostly sleek sand
slides softly between bare toes –
somewhere a pig grunts

glowing graveyard path:
beyond the coconut grove
the bursting seabed (there awaits the sea)

smooth liquid embrace
soaking and soothing, at once
fish skim the surface

murky reflections
have robbed me of my laughter:
stars and eyes glisten

seas hold no quarter:
an irresistible draw
to moonless vigils

According to wikiHow a literary haiku should have ‘a 5-7-5 syllable pattern…‘and adhere to the use of season words, a two-part juxtapositional structure, and primarily objective sensory imagery’. Please count the syllables, a friend tells me I’ve mistaken them before, but some rules can be bent and others broken. A critical point is the splitting of the poem into two parts, where, the bold font is the fragment and the black font is the phrase. If this haiku keeps working, then it might turn out to become a renga

JEFFREY MANE FEBI | Crocodile Prize

“WE SEE YOU’VE COME with the flower of the mountain; that blossoms a pleasant red and dances in the wind while the stars look on. We see; you’ve adorned yourself with this flower and come with a determined purpose; and our attention you’ve courted.

“But before you tell us the reasons, let us show you where you’ll rest your head. Let us bring you firewood. Let us fetch you water. And let you rest for a while. For the night will be querulous and wearisome.”  So sang the welcoming villagers.

“Oh so you’ve seen! Well, we cannot hide it, can we? The wind had spoken about it long before. And the earth has brought forth the dancer on the mountain. We came here for a purpose! We will tell when we’ve rested. We will tell when we’ve drank! We will tell when we’re fed. But for now we say thank you that this place may welcome us too”, sang the visitors in reply.

It was a pleasant surprise for Oromo, the tired and weary traveller, who stood and watched his fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters; all singing together in unison; chorusing a sound that captured his ignorant spirit.

Not a word he uttered, not even a sigh. Mouth half open, he gazed blankly with his mind's eye and listened attentively, trying to capture the lyrics; those words that were trampling all over his heart.

But it ended so soon; and ushered to a sitting spot, Oromo could not but wonder at those echoing words of the songs. He has missed a lot, he realised. Even the younger ones knew the songs; they knew these songs are usually sung only on such occasions. How could he have not known this kind of singsing existed? Did they do this just for him?

People at home sing for different occasions; but this? Welcoming a visitor with a song, and then the visitor responds in song too, it was totally new to him. He glimpsed the world of his grandfathers that day and it found a place deep in his heart.

He was shamed by the younger ones; those cheeky companions. They knew things he did not know and his heart despite the fatigue, yearned for this precious knowledge and more.

WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE

A NEW REPORT HAS FOUND that more than 85% of reefs in the Coral Triangle are directly threatened by local human activities.

Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle shows that the greatest local threats to reefs in the countries that make up the Coral Triangle — Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste—are overfishing, pollution and coastal development.

When these threats are combined with coral bleaching prompted by rising ocean temperatures, the percent of reefs rated as threatened increases to more than 90%.

“Across the Coral Triangle region, coastal communities depend on coral reefs for food, livelihoods, and protection from waves during storms, but the threats to reefs in this region are incredibly high,” said Lauretta Burke, a lead author of the report.

“Reefs are resilient—they can recover from coral bleaching and other impacts—particularly if other threats are low. The benefits reefs provide are at risk, which is why concerted action to mitigate threats to reefs across the Coral Triangle region is so important.”

The Coral Triangle features immense biodiversity–it contains nearly 30% of the world’s coral reefs and more than 3,000 species of fish—twice the number found anywhere else in the world. More than 130 million people living in the region rely on reef ecosystems for food, employment, and revenue from tourism.

You can download the report here

LEONARD FONG ROKA | Crocodile Prize

AMI’AU LISTENED ATTENTIVELY to the sound of crushing dried leaves and twigs littering the forest floor.  Is this another silly wild dog wandering about she wondered?

‘Bekenenu, is it you there?’ she called out to her husband who she had just left further uphill inspecting their cocoa plot.

No answer came so she ignored the strange sound that was now gone and lowered her body into the hole she had dug tracking the huge yam tuber.

Now, a heavy foot was approaching her, crushing the dried leaves of the galip-nut and cocoa trees that hosted her yam. She ignored it.

But exhausted with strained back, she dragged her head carefully out and spotted through her armpit not a black foot but rather, a muscular red-skinned foot of a New Guinean about to attack her. A rapist!

‘Oiiiiii, Bekenenu! Bekene…nu, ere’rengkong mosika*,’ she screamed hysterically for survival.

They rolled holding onto each other downhill under the consoling shade of the cocoa trees. Ami’au’s muscular body was determined to liberate her from her New Guinean rapist who was struggling to strip her.

As they hit a rotting bole she removed the infiltrators sweat ridden palms and yodelled: ‘Help! Someone help!’

‘Where are you?’ Bekenenu called.

‘Here!’

To Ami’au’s relief, the Redskin darted off as the sound of running feet crushing dried out cocoa leaves littering the ground drew nearer and Bekenenu swiftly approached the scene angrily and ready to attack.

‘Did the infiltrator of Solomon touch you?’

‘No,’ Ami’au sobbed in shock.

Bekenenu tracked the foreigner with his bush knife down Kirokai Creek but withdrew early in fear of been killed by the Redskin strangers in the land.

‘Did you see or talk sense to the Redskins?’ old Taruko asked, with sympathy as Bekenenu returned with sweat freely rolling down his balding face.

‘Ee, send me not into the red ants’ camp for I shall return to Doko’toro as a firefly, uncle,’ Bekenenu sniffed brusquely as he sat on the mat of dried leaves.

Taruko eyed the couple thoughtfully. With the sun burning above their heads, their anger and self- pity was like magnesium burning in the night sky.

The Redskins’ town below was booming with heavy traffic. Taruko’s aged eyes were locked on the great Arawa General Hospital. Slowly, his blinking eyes left the hospital and crept up Siopa Place and then settled at his feet.

SOURCES: ABC | NBC | AAP

SPEAKER JEFFREY NAPE has been charged with trying to bribe a candidate in the PNG national elections, which continue into a third week.

Nape was charged with undue influence and bribery in his home province of Simbu.

Provincial Police Commander Augustine Wampe said Mr Nape was arrested on Saturday when passing through a police checkpoint in his electorate.

Mr Nape told local media the allegations have been made up by rival candidates to tarnish his name.

Police say the Speaker is expected to appear in court after the elections.

Meanwhile, Sir Michael Somare, has taken over the lead from businessman, Allan Bird, after count 23 in the progressive tally for the East Sepik provincial seat.

The PNG Electoral Commission website results for East Sepik, posted just before Sunday midnight, shows the National Alliance Party leader with 5,988 votes while Mr Bird, a Pangu Pati candidate, has dropped to second place with 5,479. The People's National Congress party candidate is in third place with 2,348 votes.

In Kandep, Enga province, Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party leader, former deputy prime minister and treasurer, Don Polye, is leading.

Former deputy prime minister and independent Sam Abal is also ahead in his electorate of Wabag Open.

The sitting MP for Maprik, Gabriel Kapris is leading from the political veteran and former member, Sir Pita Lus.

Another veteran, former prime minister Sir Julius Chan, has made a clear break in New Ireland with 3,990 votes. Trailing is former governor, Ian Ling-Stuckey with 2,873 votes.

PNG's electoral commissioner, Andrew Trawen, said while counting is under way in eight of PNG's 22 provinces there have been widespread reports of scrutineers - some who work for candidates - interfering with the counting.

In Moresby North West, returning officer Joseph Fraghi was suspended after the burning of two ballot boxes early yesterday morning. Scrutineers are not happy with this decision, saying Fraghi was transparent, honest and reliable. Electoral Commission lawyers say burning of ballot boxes and papers is a criminal offense.

In the Southern Highlands, incumbent prime minister Peter O'Neill says he is confident he will form the next government after he was officially declared the first re-elected MP of the 2012 election with a resounding 75% of the vote.

"In a very turbulent 10-month period the PNC has led the government and provided stability, laying the foundation for economic growth and rebuilding our infrastructure, by introducing free education, free health care and unveiling an infrastructure development program," Mr O'Neill said in a statement.

Drama and delays continue to mar the poll amid reports an electoral officer has been hacked to death in the highlands.

FRIK ELS | Mining.com

AS PAPUA NEW GUINEA's sometimes shambolic elections drag on into a third week, already nervous miners with projects in the country would not have been encouraged by news on Friday of another miner falling foul of the country's authorities.

Aldridge Minerals, a junior gold explorer, announced on Friday that for no apparent reason the company's exploration licence renewal application – submitted 18 months ago – for its 340 square kilometre Kili Teke tenement had been denied by the PNG Registrar of Tenements.

Aldridge said it would not be appealing the decision and plans to exit the region entirely because the country is too "volatile".

Aldridge Minerals may have come off lightly compared to embattled seabed miner Nautilus Minerals and its shareholders who have seen the value of their investment halved over the last six weeks.

The Canadian mine developer has been locked in a dispute with the government since the start of June over ownership of a mining project located in its territorial waters in the Bismarck Sea.

The underwater mining facility is already 50% built was slated to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2013, but now appears to be in limbo.

Copper and coal giant Xstrata also appears to have soured on the island nation. Xstrata in June said it was looking for a buyer of its 82% interest in the Frieda River copper project, not saying anything more than the decision is part of an "ongoing review of operations."

The Swiss miner has spent more than $250 million on the project and is walking away from one of the richest copper-gold deposits on the planet.

Other majors operators have not signalled that the country is becoming too difficult to operate in. Apart from Wafi-Golpu, for which a pre-feasibility is expected soon, Newcrest also operates the Lihir mine. Barrick Gold is also active in the country with its Porgera gold mine, while China Metallurgical Group's $1.4 billion Ramu nickel mine is set to go into production by the end of the year.

KEITH JACKSON

THE STORIES AND VERSE in the Crocodile Prize Anthology 2013, which is about to go to press, have been revealed by the organisers of Papua New Guinea’s national literary contest, an initiative of PNG Attitude and the PNG Post-Courier.

The Anthology will be launched on Tuesday 11 September as part of events associated with the announcement of the winners in the second Crocodile Prize.

There are seven categories of the Prize: for short stories, essays, poetry, women’s writing, heritage literature, student writing and ‘lifetime contribution to PNG literature’ – the last three introduced just this year.

Of the more than 400 entries submitted to the competition, 125 have been selected for publication in the Anthology.

Let’s take a closer look at them.

The 30 short stories chosen represent the work of 24 writers (six had two of their stories earmarked for publication).

Twenty-one writers contributed the 53 poems in the Anthology. Michael Dom was the most prolific with 15, while Hinuvi Onafima had five selected and Lapieh Landu and Loujaya Tony had four each.

Twelve essayists have had their work selected for publication – and there a number of multiple contributors in the final list of 17 essays.

We come now to the heritage writers, nine in all who contributed the ten stories that have been included in the Anthology

And finally the school students. Fifteen pieces of work from 12 writers are in the final compilation.

These are the bare statistics. We follow with the names of the authors who were successful in being PNG’s ‘best of the best’ for 2012, and the titles of the works they created for the Prize which have been included in Anthology 2012.

If you live in Australia and you want to order the Anthology ($20 + $4 p&p), email us here. Papua New Guinea and other sales arrangements will be notified later.

HENRY SAPE | Crocodile Prize

A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, when the earth was young and the animals of the world were friendly, there lived two brothers named Hali and Weki in the deep jungles of Sambo valley in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea.

The brothers both being young had never travelled out far from their homestead and did not know what lived beyond those mountain ranges under which they lived.

One evening during dinner, Hali the elder brother told his young brother Weki that he had planned to go on a hunting expedition beyond the mountains and that he was to stay back and collect firewood and gather food supplies from their garden.

As planned, Hali collected his bow and arrows and left the next morning at dawn on the long trip. The thick forest was beginning to come alive with the singing of birds and insects welcoming the beautiful morning.

With eagerness to explore, Hali crossed many fast flowing rivers and travelled over many mountain ranges. By the afternoon, he came across a large beautiful valley that laid stretched out for miles as far as his eyes could see. At the far end of the valley, Hali noticed a spiral of smoke ascending into the clear blue afternoon skies and this made Hali determined to discover who lived in that part of the valley.

He descended the mountain hastily but evening was approaching fast. Hali proceeded further and came across a clearing at the bottom of the mountain where there was a huge breadfruit tree with its branches laden with ripe fruit. He murmured that he would spend the night under the tree and set about building a temporary shelter for himself.

After he had completed the shelter, Hali decided to climb the breadfruit tree to knock down some of the ripe fruit for dinner. Soon after he had knocked down the first fruit, all hell broke loose. There was a sudden fiery flash of lighting that split the valley in half from one end to the other with booming thunder that shook the entire valley. There was heavy rain with fierce winds that snapped off branches and uprooted trees.

In the ensuring minutes, the thunderstorm seemed to encircle the breadfruit tree and Hali was almost torn off the branches by the fierce winds.

Then all of a sudden, Hali could see below him in the dim light a huge ugly giant staring up at him with his big fiery eyes. The ugly giant said in a deep thunderous voice, "Who is up there stealing my fruit?" Then the ugly giant in fury grabbed the trunk of the breadfruit tree and shook it vigorously and tried in vain to uproot it.

In frustration, the evil giant murmured some magical words and slapped the trunk of the tree with all his might with the palms of his huge hands. 

JEREMIAH TONI | Crocodile Prize

This is me
It was me and it will be me
When I am not here, it will be me; gone

This is the rule, it is inevitable
That all follow on
When their bell tolls

This calling beckons
All living things
All things great
All things small
For we are all mortal
Thou shalt live for once
And be gone the next.

This is us
It was us
When we are not here
It will be us; gone
We’ll all be here
But
Only, in the memory.

Jeremiah Toni (18) comes from Butibam Village in Morobe Province.  He is in Grade 11A

DOMINICA ARE | Crocodile Prize

THE WHOLE VILLAGE WAS FILLED WITH SORROW when their chief suddenly passed away after a long illness.

Men and women were forbidden to go out gardening or hunting for a whole day. The family had to gather enough food, children were told to keep quiet and not to play around.

There were no arguments, fights or unnecessary noises as this was their custom whenever a chief dies. The whole village went into great silence as a sign of respect to their great chief and warrior, Chief Baulin.

Two weeks of mourning was resolutely observed and the body was finally buried. There was a big feast to end the hauskrai with many pigs and cows slaughtered.

Garden foods came in multitudes. When the feasting was over, the chief’s immediate family thanked everyone for their cooperation at the time of mourning. Everyone went home satisfied with their portion of the food but sympathized at the passing of their chief.

‘Oh, what a tiresome day,’ said Lucy as she sulkily put down her bilum filled with food from the feast. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her hair was scrappy and her body needed a thorough washing and scrubbing.

She made certain that the food was properly stored before going off to a nearby stream to take a shower. She was later joined by her two cousin sisters and they all began to talk about the late chief.

‘He was a great leader indeed,’ said Heli.

‘He always brought about peace whenever there was a problem,’ added Giba.

‘That’s true,’ agreed Lucy. ‘I wonder who’s going to take his place.’

The three are married to three cousin brothers from the same clan and live close to each other. A week after the chief’s burial, an uncle of Lucy’s husband whom she was very close to died. He died in a faraway village which is an eight hours walk right through rough mountains and terrain.

‘Mama, mama,’ Beka cried running home one afternoon. ‘Uncle Mau has died.’

Who told you that?’ asked Lucy angrily, thinking her nine year old daughter might be lying.

When Beka said that one of their relatives came and told her at the market, Lucy without holding her breath started crying. Later in the night, their relatives met in Lucy and Ken’s house to plan for their trip the next day.

Early in the morning, Lucy with some of the deceased’s immediate family and relatives began the long, tiring trip. Everyone was soaked in mud all over their bodies. The men armed with bows and arrows went as well to claim compensation for the loss of Mau.

This was a practice as when a man dies in the village of the wife the relatives will forcefully claim compensation despite what has actually caused the death.

After the long and hectic journey, they managed to arrive. Everyone joined in the mourning but the armed men kept their distance and shouted angrily at the deceased’s in-laws.

They threatened to burn their houses and destroy food gardens if no one came forward to ascertain why Mau had died and compensate them. Eventually, a village leader came forward and explained.

JOHN FOWKE

THE PUBLISHED COMMENTS of foreign writers and journalists unknown in Papua New Guinea may be annoying to many but are not worth wasting time upon. I refer in particular to Geoffrey Barker's recent piece in The Australian Financial Review.

Anything by people like Rowan Callick or Sean Dorney, to mention two Australian journalists who have longstanding connections with PNG, is worth considering. Others are to be ignored.

But, more to the point, there is right now a glimmering of the start of a real discussion about the need for, and the best form of, a reformed political structure for PNG.

This discussion is starting to take place on the blogs of a number of erudite Papua New Guineans. The discussion may not go on for long, but one hopes that it will build momentum and arrive at a logical conclusion where a much better, fairer, more culturally-aligned system of representation, execution and administration arises in PNG.

PNG is firmly set on the path of democracy because a democratic way of social management fits with what was here in centuries past. Very few regions were headed by hereditary chiefdoms with any hint of despotic power.

Justice was rough, and even lacking at times, but the principle of fairness and open, free speech within the clans was at least an ideal within the social ethos.

PNG is not a candidate for dictatorship, although - through the weaknesses of the party-based parliamentary system - an isolated, enriched and manipulative class of influential people have acquired some political strength.

Bu even these cannot be said to be a true hegemony, divided as they are by personal ambition and greed.

Some of you may be familiar with my own contributions in PNG's press upon the desirability of restructuring national representation based upon the local level councils - these being both accepted and familiar and based absolutely within the heart of the nation's roots - the clans which are basic blocks of this society's social structure.

Their exclusion from the structure which grew from the transition from the Legislative Council of early colonial years to the House of Assembly and self-government was Australia's major sin in its largely-beneficent if paternalistic period of rule.

Among considerations being discussed today are those of regional, district or asples based representation rather than the unrealistic party concept, and the possible need for a house of review or a senate to review the decisions of the lower house or parliament.

Please keep your ears and eyes open on the development of this discussion, and join it or at least discuss it at home and at work and at church. For it is the beginning of a new era in the growth of a fair and progressive, free society.

BRIGETTE WASE | Crocodile Prize

A secret I must keep
Within the depths of my mind I bury it deep
For if a revelation would cause hurt
Tearing a fundamental bond apart

A message not to be read
A voice not to be heard
A discovery not meant to be found
My heart and lips are bound

Looking on with saddened eyes
Young flowers tell me of the lies
That have grown over the years
Diminishing hope, no laughter only tears

The wealth gained has no love
Maybe to share is not enough
The reason there is no peace
To give young flowers to please

A woman's fury is very near
Her scorn is crystal clear
For a silver coin is hard to give
Her dwelling a hovel to live

But a secret I must keep
Within the depths of my mind I bury it deep
The meaning of the closed purse
The truth behind the curse

Brigette Wase(26) was born in Kiunga in the Western Province of mixed Oro and Central Province parentage.  She completed studies at UPNG and works with Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Services. Her hobbies include reading, mostly fiction and history

KEITH JACKSON

AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT five days, PNG Attitude’s readership meter will tick over and register that we have had a million page views over the six year life of this blog.

We journalists love milestones and it can be too easy to overstate their importance. After all, they are mere numbers that mark just another step in a journey.

But they can trigger reflection about what makes a project like this successful and what it might take to ensure its sustainability.

The first part of the thought bubble is the easiest to address. In my view there are three main components of these swelling readership numbers: provocative writing; the Crocodile Prize association; and the often pungent commentary by readers.

Last August I wrote with some satisfaction that PNG Attitude’s average daily readership had passed the 1,000 mark; over the last three months it has averaged 1,700, a remarkable increase.

Our readers, of course, are also our commentators and it’s nearly two years ago that we began to publish rankings of the most commented upon articles each month.

I took a bit of time out to search for what have been the most commented on of all. Here they are:

JIMMY APIU | Crocodile Prize

THE SOUTH EASTERLY WIND left Markham’s vast savannah expanse in its wake as it sped a few kilometres and detoured west, sweeping over the roof of a lone night club before heading north.

Under the roof, Et-Kalsa, a contemporary music band was finishing final touches to its rehearsals for the upcoming music festival at Eriku. Standing at the far end of the bar where the light was dim, John, after 15 beers was comatose. His speech was slurred and his eyes saw two of everything.

He was escorted first to the gents to throw up and later dragged outside and bundled into an old Toyota dump truck and left there to recuperate. The band kept fine tuning.

Monpi, with her belly protruding her third was clad in a silk night gown, stitching a merry blouse, looking at her watch every four minutes. The ash tray beside her was slowly filling with cigarette butts and the room was thick with its stench. She decided to call him, again, and punched in the 8 digits but the lady in the mobile phone told her the number she called was switched off.

She cursed the lady under her breath and absent-mindedly took the last of the 25 Winfield filtered cigarettes and lit it, inhaling till her lungs were full before exhaling, crumpling the empty cigarette packet before throwing it at her husband’s picture frame. She puffed some more and smothered the cigarette in the ash tray and took out the ‘Jeffrey Archer’ paper back from her vast collection of the same author near the bedside drawer and continued reading where she had left off.

She completed a chapter and was up to four pages and decided to call it a night, when she heard the knock on the door.

She looked at her Seiko wrist watch. The long hand was sniffing 3 am. Gathering herself she walked to the door and slowly opened it and stared at John, who met her gaze and bowed his head, looking very sorry.

She pointed her finger at him after letting him in, while the other arm caressed her belly as she paced the floor in the small lounge room and glared at John, who reeked of sweat, vomit and alcohol, with both hands in his trousers pocket.

He tried to string a few words together for his lateness but nothing came out, as he swayed unsteadily. The atmosphere was tense.

“Who were you with!?” she demanded, her voice was amplified and full of hatred as it cut the silent night.

“Oh for Christ shakes Monpi, not again.” he moaned. “Just because I am late you assume I was out with someone!? Oh Paleez!” he continued, his voice incoherent.

“Who were you with John Yobukwa'u!?” she repeated, this time louder as she advanced toward him with a clenched fist.

It meant one of two things; either he would get a hiding or a barrage of the filthiest foul language you could ever imagine was about to be launched. Addressing him by his full name was even worse. It meant two lonely months on the bare mat in the lounge room.

John cowered till his back was against the wall and he shut his eyes in despair and slowly bent his knees, lowering his small frame to the floor. He stole a glance at Monpi’s menacing, advancing figure and covered his head with his palms.

A few neighbours flicked their lights on while others silently opened their windows to eavesdrop.

Her anger was something between a mad dog and a child throwing a tantrum because she was not satisfied, except this was an adult with considerable height and 105 kilograms of fat, muscle, and bones she had inherited from her ancestors in the Western Highlands.

John chewed his tongue as if to extort some plan of exit from his head but to no avail as the volley of disgusting and tainted language continued.

“You have not answered me!” she shouted, looking down at him.

“No one, I told you.” He pleaded and sunk lower.

“Don’t give me that crap, John Yobukwa'u, I married you and practically pampered you long enough to know a lie when I hear one, you useless drunk, how dare you lie to me?!” She screamed.

“But that’s the Gospel truth, paleez” he moaned, still trying to look innocent.

“John Yobukwa'u! I have yet to see you drag your hopeless, pathetic carcass to a church, any church, and don’t give me that gospel truth nonsense, you idiot!” she screamed.

DOUGLAS MARAU | Solomon Star

TAKE A WALK TO the Papua New Guinea stall at Honiara’s Pasifika village and you will come across a long unusual men’s traditional underwear.

Called a penis guard [sic], the traditional wear is used by men to cover their penis.

Bertha Saki from Angoram in the East Sepik who displayed the penis guard [sic] said it is made from bush fibre and decorated using red and black soil.

“It takes a day to make one,” she said.

She explained that it has been a tradition passed down from their forefathers to the young generation and is still being used today in cultural ceremonies.

The penis guard [sic] has since attracted both local and international tourists.

Some said they have never seen something like that but were happy to learn from the culture and traditions of PNG.

It is commonly used by men from East Sepik Province and Sandaun Province on cultural occasions.

KEITH JACKSON

DON’T ASK ME HOW it happens. I’ve long since stopped worrying how PNG Attitude finds sufficient resources to keep itself going day after day, month after month. But it does.

A combination of mainstream media reporting, gleanings from PNG-related stories that otherwise struggle to see the light of day, and – of critical importance – contributions from our own 100 or so more-or-less regular writers. Bless you.

And it should come as no surprise that usually the most commented upon articles each month are those written specifically for PNG Attitude. This month, they represent seven of the top 10.

So why is this? What drives readers to respond as they do?

My guess is that PNG Attitude contributors tend to rise above the bland and go for the intellectual jugular: pointed commentary, shameless controversialism, incisive analysis (calling a spade a wooden-handled, metal-bladed digging implement, er...) and the candid take-no-prisoners criticism.

Which is just as we like it, and long may it continue. 

And when what we do is old hat, and everyone's doing it, we’ll go away. But that doesn’t look like it’ll be anytime soon.

And so to this month’s most remarked upon articles….

1st (26 comments) Bob Carr finds political events in PNG 'confusing' [Keith Jackson]. “The events [in Papua New Guinea last week] were most certainly confusing,” foreign minister Senator Bob Carr told reporters in Canberra early in the month. Whah? Australia’s work experience FM needs to learn the difference between what you say to your wife and what you say in public.

2nd (19) China (and its workers) will rebuild highlands highway [Firmin Nanol]. China is about to provide PNG with a so-called ‘soft’ loan of $3 billion to rehabilitate road infrastructure. Part of the 30 year deal is that Chinese workers will be used, which seems like an invitation to a strife party.

3rd= (16) Reports of major election failures in Hela Province [Reginald Renagi]. Elections in the Hela Province got the PNG poll off to a rocky start with ballot boxes and voting papers hijacked or destroyed. There were also serious problems with the electoral roll, bribery, thuggery and general sneakery. A few PNG blogger Pollyannas thought this was OK. The only OK thing in reality was the avoidance of widespread violence. But as this was written the count was just beginning.

3rd= (16) Good stuff & bad stuff about the Crocodile Prize [Keith Jackson]. There’s a lot that’s gone right with the 2012 Crocodile Prize. And a bit that’s gone wrong. The right was real good – record entrants, record entries, record sponsors, better organisation. The wrong was Australia (at the level of DFAT in Canberra) not coming to the part on an initiative that’s generally agreed to be of great importance.

5th= (15) Many MPs in PNG have wasted the people's money [Joe Wasia]. In Papua New Guinea political candidates, especially in national elections, come up with constructive and attractive policies to be elected to parliament. However, Joe argued, they are “goats in sheep’s coating”. About 75% of all Papua New Guineans still live in rural areas where there is no basic infrastructure, health, education or roads.

5th= (15) How to make PNG a regional middle power by 2050 [Francis Hualupmomi]. Francis offered a strategic calculus for the Papua New Guinea government to navigate PNG through the uncertain environment of the early 21st century. He argued that PNG should translate its resources into becoming a regional power.

7th (13) Could PNG create a truly Melanesian parliament? [Paul Oates]. What is the most appropriate form of government for PNG? It was bequeathed Westminster, which has held the country together (a monumental achievement) but not worked according to Hoyle in terms of the integrity of constitution, parliament or judiciary. Perhaps time for a rethink, proposed Paul Oates.

8th (12) Belden Namah proves his critics wrong, by Belden [Belden Namah]. “It is a shame that the prime minister Peter O’Neil [sic] is crying foul when all along he was collaborating with the PNG Electoral Commissioner, Mr Andrew Trawen, and the so-called Australian expert advisors advising through Australian High Commissioner, Mr Ian Kemish, for opposing the deferral of the 2012 elections.” You can click through to Belden’s eccentric take on the mid-election political scene.

9th= (10) West Papua conflict is infiltration & rape of Melanesia [Leonard Fong Roka]. Leonard’s thesis is that the conflict in West Papua is a signal to the rest of Melanesia to be aware. “The grip on [our] ancient cultural and political tranquillity is being lost by our brothers in West Papua.”

9th= (10) Your muruk might be my emu – PNG motives & perspectives [Phil Fitzpatrick]. This elegant piece persuasively proposed that mutual cultural awareness is critical in consolidating an effective relationship between PNG and Australia – and that this obvious prerequisite is not observed by the generality of Australian government or private intervention in PNG.

NICHOLAS GRUEN | Clubtroppo.com.au

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND HAVE PROPPED UP Pacific countries since their independence. They can go on propping up the micro-states indefinitely but Papua New Guinea, with its six million people and its resource wealth, is becoming independent of our handouts.

Private security companies are moving in and guns are flooding in. A showdown looms. The prospect is for civil strife and take over by the colonels. They will bring order, Torrens title, ethnic cleansing, and refugee camps on Cape York.

The news stories of slush funds and “big man” chicanery indicate a terrible misapprehension. The reason that the government of PNG has deteriorated since independence is not the locals’ innate cultural defects.

This patronising, outsider-judgement will have serious consequences. The problem is not the culture. Given a chance, Melanesian ambitiousness would sustain a flourishing polity. PNG’s problem is its unworkable political structure.

In 1975 the Whitlam government set up PNG with a single chamber of parliament (a “unicameral” system) to which MPs were elected from single-member electorates (so-called “majoritarian” representation). This design—a single chamber composed of electorates each represented by a single member—has never worked for any country.

Where did Australian officials get the idea? In 1975 the only Australian instance was Queensland. World-wide, there were only two democratic examples. One was New Zealand, at that time unicameral for 25 years and regretting it even more than they had regretted the bicameral parliament they had had for a century.

The other was Northern Ireland, at that time in flames. In short, they had no model; they experimented. Other majoritarian, unicameral countries were Mauritius, then under a state of emergency, and some catastrophic African states.

PNG joins these as a failed state. The usual “explanation”—dysfunctional culture—misses the point that the purpose of a political system is to deal with the culture. That is what it is there for: if men were angels no government would be necessary. PNG culture is beside the point. PNG is afflicted with a political structure that cannot cope with any culture.

PAUL OATES

IF ONE STARTS TRYING TO CONNECT the dots, recent articles by various Papua New Guinean writers provide a fresh perspective on PNG electioneering. For outsiders looking in, we ought to try to understand what is on the inside.

In many places, elections are a time for joyous celebration. Candidates vie for votes by trying to outdo each other in public displays of wealth distribution – a clear demonstration of Melanesian culture.

The wealth given away by candidates comprises cash, soft drinks (since beer is illegal in some places), and of course, pigs.

Reciprocal gift giving has been taken to a new height with the proliferation of money and material goods. Candidates are showered cash donations and with gifts of hundreds of pigs.

How can those who receive this wealth expect to repay it, since an MP’s salary cannot possibly reimburse what has been spent?

Where does a successful or unsuccessful candidate get the means to repay the gifts given by supporters?

If you live in rural PNG as a member of a clan with no real opportunity of advancing or changing your circumstances, what do you do? Celebrate when and where you can at someone else’s expense, or not get involved? What do you have to lose?

For unsuccessful candidates, losing means a big loss of face (sem), yet if everyone has a great time perhaps that aspect might be overlooked.

The important factor is that everyone recognises their obligation to support their own candidate irrespective of whether that person is able to operate effectively as a Member of Parliament.

Years ago, government employees used to take turns at collectively spending their combined pay packets. One fortnight, someone would have a great time spending everyone’s pay but be poor until their turn came around again.

The euphoria of being able to have a great time was obviously more important than spreading an income evenly over the time it was meant to cover.

So has the day of the dinau (loan) disappeared? It is reported that short term cash loans are an increasing drain on limited pay packets in PNG as interest accrues at frightening speed.

Who cares if your local candidate hasn’t a clue of what to do if he is elected. What does it matter if every candidate is saying much the same thing. The important factor is that clan and tribal loyalties have been adhered to.

So why would anyone expect any change in a future national government? After all, it’s another five years down the track to another great time and everyday people don’t have real power to force or expect the government to do anything.

Perhaps the only power people have is to be seen to support their own clansman and enjoy the moment?

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of Papua New Guinea’s Institute of National Affairs, Paul Barker, says independent politicians will play an important role in the formation of the new government.

Polling continues in the general election with the Electoral Commission extending polling due to a series of delays.

In preliminary results for 10 of the 111 seats, independents lead in five.

And with independents accounting for over half of the record total of 3,435 candidates contesting, Paul Barker says they stand to win a good slice of the vote.

“When you’ve got the right conditions of balances of power, independents become very powerful,” Mr Barker said.

“In PNG where you have a much larger proportion of independents, yes, they’re a significant force to be reckoned with and also they often do contain some of the most capable members of parliament within those independent ranks.”

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION | Port Moresby

TWENTY-FIVE SENIOR KARATE INSTRUCTORS from around Papua New Guinea yesterday completed a two weeks coaching and training camp in Port Moresby.

The camp was organised by the PNG Karate Federation with funding assistance of $10,000 from the Australian Sports Outreach Program under the Pacific Sports Development Grants.

The Karate Federation – the umbrella body for karate styles, clubs and associations in the country – used the grant and the camp to equip karate instructors with intermediate and advance knowledge techniques in the art and sport of karate.

Trevor Roberts, president of the Queensland Karate Federation and a World Karate Federation referee, facilitated the course.

Australian High Commission first secretary, Tim Bryson, said he was pleased to see that the camp had achieved its objective to enhance local expertise in Karate, and thanked Karate Federation president Carl Mari and his team for putting together such a well organised program.

TREV SHELLEY

PAUL OATES’ RECENT ARTICLE, What should Australia do? What can Australia do?, serves to highlight the conundrum faced by Papua New Guinea and Australia.

It seems the socio-cultural disposition of our nation (certainly at a political level) is to deflect blame towards Australia for any failings incurred post-independence.

Whether it be the implementation of the failed Westminster system and its unsuitability to PNG’s social dynamics or the ineffectual aid programs that seem to haemorrhage funds at a great rate (with little or no return), it is apparent, through the eyes of many Papua New Guineans, that Australia offers nothing of real substance.

Conversely, there exists a continued call for Australia to intervene. Surely any additional assistance or intervention by Australia would essentially end in criticism and inadvertently help perpetuate a cycle that would inevitably see a return to the status quo – that is, a systemic failure of whatever was introduced with PNG again pointing the finger at the former colonial master.

The blame-game thrives as we attempt to identify the culprit responsible for PNG’s current state. 

Australia cannot be blamed for mass corruption and misappropriation of our nation’s resources. 

Nor can tribalism, as I know of no ethnic group within our country that actively promotes fraudulent acts as values one must possess in order to exist or succeed.

The ‘Melanesian Way’ is all too often used to deflect blame in a weak attempt to mask our own misgivings and incompetence.

Neither Australia nor tribalism is responsible for PNG’s current state. The true driver of corruption in its purest form is greed – nothing more, nothing less. Modern day corruption manifested through greed has no respect for tribal boundaries.

As Paul Oates succinctly states, ‘The impetus for that change must come from PNG.’

This will serve to guarantee that an organic solution is delivered, and ensure accountability rests solely on the shoulders of our leaders, removing the option of blaming Australia, which in turn serves to absolve PNG of responsibility.

Rest assured, any system introduced to or nurtured from within PNG, no matter how robust or agile, will be able to withstand an individual’s blatant intent to continuously defraud or circumvent it, in an attempt to benefit either themself or their cronies.

DSIP [district improvement] grants or free education, although relatively sound in concept, fail to deliver the intended benefits because people in positions of authority, manipulate the system for their own gain: Lae City roads, the Gumine-Karamui road and the deplorable state of the health system are examples of this.

Sadly it is the educated elite who conspire to defraud the general public of what is rightfully theirs whilst lacking the political will or conviction to inspire change.

They essentially practice politics without principle whilst achieving wealth without work (ironically two of Gandhi’s seven dangers to human virtue).

Too much thought is dedicated towards identifying complex solutions.  As simple people, we Papua New Guineans respond to simple concepts.  Keep it simple – enforce the rule of law in every facet of our society (political landscape included) to guarantee an individual’s security and inevitably public order will follow.  It is upon this essential foundation that PNG’s future must be built.

IAN McPHEDRAN | The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)

HUNDREDS OF FORMER KIAPS who served with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary between 1949 and 1973 have become eligible to receive the Police Overseas Medal.

The medal was first presented in 1991, but until now only officers who served in humanitarian emergencies or peacekeeping missions in places such as Bougainville and East Timor were eligible.

Ex-kiap Chris Viner-Smith of Canberra  said the patrol officers were policemen, magistrates and jailers in some of the wildest and most isolated country on earth.

"Per capita, more Australians died serving as kiaps than were killed in the Vietnam War," said Mr Viner-Smith [pictured here as a young kiap].

They suffered losses above anything the Australian Federal Police has ever incurred as they faced daily perils that included arrows, spears, disease, plane crashes and mental health problems.

Mr Viner-Smith, who served as a kiap from 1961 when he was 20 until 1971, has been fighting for 11 years for recognition for the patrol officers. His fight was won when Labor minister Senator Kate Lundy and opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison joined forces last year.

"This is acknowledgement of the job 2,000 young Australians did in helping a stone age people to become a nation. We enforced a mixture of European and tribal law and we didn't rule by the gun, but by gaining the respect of the people," he said.

The administration of the award will be managed by the Australian Federal Police.

MIRIAM ROKO

IN THE OLDEN DAYS Segera Tutubes, or cannibals used to live on the Island of Tatana here in Port Moresby, the nation’s capital.

They were violent and aggressive and had no knowledge of the difference between doing good or evil. They were warriors who would kill and eat people. Their homes were built between the Kwila trees growing on the mountain tops, hideouts that could accommodate 50 to 100 people or more.

They lived on raw meat, pigs, fish, seashells, human flesh or any other meat they could lay their hands on. Sometimes they would go looking for kaukau, bananas or fruits.

Children were their main target, so children were forbidden to cry. The parents would warn their little ones not to cry.

They loved roaming the villages in the night. There was great fear, as these Segera Tutubes were hairy, strong, violent and aggressive. They were more like apes than humans.

One night a baby was heard crying. The mother tried her best to tame him by breast feeding and the father tried his best to sing him to sleep, but without success. The sound of his crying reached the mountain top bringing the chief of the Segeras and his men into the village.

The crying brought them to the home of the child and, upon the demand of the Segera Tutubes, the parents decided to give the child away and it was taken away to the mountain with great joy and laughter and the kundu drums beat while there was feasting on the baby.

Children were claimed many times when the parents were not careful or when the children were heard crying. The parents could not refuse the Segera Tutube’s demands because they feared being killed themselves.

One day a beautiful young girl was asked by a young man in the village to marry him. Upon her parent’s refusal she started crying and lamenting at the top of her voice for two days.

As soon as the Segera Tutubes heard the sound they came down to the village and claimed the young girl.

She was her parent’s one and only child and, upon realising what was happening, they begged the chief to give them a few days so they could prepare to give her away in a proper manner.

The parents and the village people were sad and in great sorrow.

That night the village chief called an urgent meeting to make plans and decide on how they would give the girl away and how they would put an end to the Segera Tutubes demands, terrible abuse and unnecessary killings.

Their plan was that the girl be dressed in her best traditional attire and her parents encouraged to be strong, as this was to be the last demand of the Segera Tutubes.

The second part of the plan was for the men to go fishing. The village men were great fishermen and experienced in catching plenty of fish, because they had been giving fish and other seafood to try to tame the Segera Tutubes.

The women were required to cook food in coconut cream and make sago pudding (dia or bariva).

Two days later the sad day arrived for the young girl to be given away. She had her last meal with her parents and relatives and the women dressed her with tattoos, armshells, bird of paradise feathers, pigs’ teeth necklaces and a grass skirt.

The men started beating their drums and singing and the girl was given away. That was the saddest day as the parents were in great sorrow and suffering.

That night the men sailed out to catch fish.  All night they caught fish while the young boys and old men did the smoking.  On the second day they returned to the village, with flags raised as a sign of a good and plentiful catch.

The women started cooking and making preparations. When the men arrived they fed them and continued cooking because they were going to feast with the Segera Tutubes.

There were fish of every kind as well as turtles and other seafood. When the food was ready they put the pots on the big, double rigged canoes.

Then the village chief and other leaders invited the chief of the Segera Tutubes to come on the canoes.  When he got on, the rest of the Segera Tutubes, young and old, followed and not a single Segera Tutube was left behind.

When the men started sailing out to sea, the women and the old men and the young people started singing and celebrating in the village.

When they reached the deep blue ocean the men gave the Segera Tutubes’ chief permission to start feasting.

While the Segera Tutubes were preoccupied with feasting the men started to attack them and threw all of them into the sea.  Not knowing how to swim, because they were mountain folk, they all drowned – and that was the end of the Segera Tutubes.

When the men returned to the village they started singing:

Segera, Segera Tutube
Amui kau kau amai laiamu
Segera, Segera Tutube
Segera, Segera Tutube
Amui vamu vamu amai laiamu
Segera, Segera Tutube

Segera, Segera Tutube we bring you your kaukau and meat
Segera, Segera Tutube and that is the end

Miriam Roko (50) was born in Tatana village on Tatana Island near Port Moresby. She is married with three children and one granddaughter. She worked as a clerk, at one time being the sole computer operator at Ela Motors and then going on to other companies. She also has qualifications in business studies. She is involved in church ministries and is a Youth Parent working with young people

THE JAKARTA POST

INDONESIAN DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL Darmono has said a team will be sent to Port Moresby to clarify reports that tycoon and fraud fugitive Joko Soegiarto Tjandra [pictured] had been granted citizenship in Papua New Guinea.

“We are aware of the reports, and we need them [PNG] to confirm if the information is true,” Darmono said.

Australian media previously reported that Joko was among several foreigners given certificates of citizenship last week by the Immigration and Citizenship Advisory Committee of PNG.

Other reports, however, said that prime minister Peter O’Neill had ordered Joko’s citizenship revoked.

Darmono said that he had never received official information from PNG on the issue. “We have sent official letters concerning Joko’s alleged whereabouts in the country, but never received any response,” he said.

Joko reportedly flew to Port Moresby on a chartered flight from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta on 10 June, the day before the Supreme Court issued a decision convicting and sentencing Joko to two years’ imprisonment and ordering the businessman to pay US$58.42 million in restitution to the state.

The businessman is known to have controlling shares in a number of plantation companies in Papua New Guinea.

EOIN BLACKWELL | AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

NORTH WAGHI MP BENJAMIN MUL [pictured], an independent politician, and some of his supporters have been allegedly caught dishing out funds in the neighbouring Anglimp South Waghi electorate when security forces intervened and confiscated a bag containing over K4,500 in cash.

Police say they also found seven guns as well as an undisclosed amount of money.

Six members of the Royal PNG Constabulary, believed to be acquainted with the MP, were also questioned and their weapons confiscated on Wednesday.

However, Highlands Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Teddy Tei said the policemen were part of his divisional headquarters team tasked to oversee polling operations currently underway in the newly established Jiwaka province.

Police said they also confiscated Mr Mul's mobile phone and allegedly found pornographic images stored in it. Investigations are continuing.

Polling in parts of Papua New Guinea have been extended another week after confusion over the state of the electoral roll, logistical problems and poor weather prevented polling in some areas.

Counting has begun in 12 of PNG's 111 seats, such as Prime Minister's Peter O'Neill's Southern Highlands Ialibu-Pangia electorate, where preliminary results show the 46-year-old has taken well over 50 per cent of the vote. He is likely to be the first candidate declared.

Counting is expected to begin in Enga province and the National Capital in the coming days.

FRIK ELS | Mining.com

SINCE EARLY JUNE the Canadian mine developer Nautilus Minerals has been locked in a dispute with the government of Papua New Guinea over ownership of a seabed mining project located in the Bismarck Sea.

Nautilus Minerals share price dropped nearly 10% to $0.93 after news of violence, kidnapping, vote rigging, delays and incomplete electoral rolls in PNG’s general elections.

Shareholders in Nautilus have seen the value of their investment plummet by more than half since the company initiated the legal battle on 1 June over the copper-gold-silver project.

A week ago Nautilus CEO Stephen Rogers told Reuters he expected to settle things within “months” once the election is over, but that now seems a remote possibility.

Nautilus says PNG undertook to help fund the Solwara 1 project – now almost half built – as part of an agreement signed last year that gave PNG 30% ownership.

But the government appears to be digging in its heels over the issue. Last week it alleged that Nautilus is the party that breached the terms of the deal and that the government is “therefore entitled to terminate the agreement”.

Not long ago, the future looked promising for Nautilus, the first company to explore the ocean floor for polymetallic seafloor massive sulphide deposits.

In late April, the company announced it had signed China’s Tongling Non-Ferrous Metals Group as the first customer for its pioneering sea-floor mine.

The mine was slated to begin production late next year, but Nautilus is also facing funding problems with its German partner which is building the $160 million surface vessel, the base for the entire underwater operation.

MARTYN AWAYANG NAMORONG

SOME PAPUA NEW GUINEANS have taken offence to the recent article by Geoffrey Barker in The Australian Financial Review, calling for Australia to intervene in Papua New Guinea.

The article feeds into the stereotype that PNG is a failed state. On the other hand, some Papua New Guineans have used the article to fuel the stereotype that Australia is this nasty neo-colonialist trying to destroy PNG.

The problem with both sides is that it is usually the elite that has the vested interest.

The Papua New Guinean elite has rightly accused Australian private companies of profiteering from the so-called aid funds that would flow from Australia as a result of an intervention.

The Papua New Guinean elite, however, has a vested interest in being in power and would not want to be subordinated by Australian consultants.

And it is these two money-hungry, power-hungry groups on both sides of the Torres Strait that mess up relations between our two countries.

At the political level, folks like Somare, Namah, Marles, Carr, Howard, Downer, etc have not acted constructively.

But there are also good people on both sides who want to build a mutually beneficial relationship. That has been the case since the Kokoda Campaign during World War II.

In recent times we've seen Kevin Rudd cutting the crap out of the air conditioned corridor aid workers living at Fort Shitscared - the Australian compound in Port Moresby.

We've also seen Julie Bishop, Shadow Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, call on the Australian government to ease visa restrictions.

So is PNG a failed state? No it is not!

Does PNG have problems? Yes we do!

When I was recently in Brisbane, I helped Rotarians pack two containers of medical equipment and supplies for Madang and Kokopo.

The most poignant moment for me was seeing birth kits being packed for mothers in remote areas of Madang Province.

PNG has very high maternal mortality rates and the Rotarians in Queensland understood something that both the Australian elite who oversee aid to PNG, and the PNG elite who steal and run down the country, do not.

The well being of any nation is determined by how well it takes care of its women.

KEITH JACKSON

THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT hurdles facing those who decide they want to represent their people in Papua New Guinea’s national parliament.

The first is getting elected from the huge field of aspirants who believe – because of civic duty, personal pride or desire for self-aggrandisement – they have heard the clarion call of the people.

In February 1964, as a very young man recently arrived in the then TPNG, I went on a three week election patrol through rural villages south of the highlands town of Chuave [see photo].

Most of the votes cast in the 'whisper ballot' reflected tribal and clan loyalties rather than being a response to espoused programs of national or even local action.

In subsequent years, elections have developed a more commercial tone – the transaction being one of loyalty offered combined with gifts given with the medium of exchange being that precious vote.

And with fields so large, even second, third and fourth preference votes can be of great value in determining a winner – which candidates well understand and build into their campaigning and spending.

In such circumstances, people of substantial wealth are hugely advantaged.

And rich politicians also benefit when, having been duly elected, they set down in Port Moresby for the negotiating, bargaining and blackguarding that are part of the process of determining who will rule PNG for the next five years.

For, while PNG has a long tradition of political parties, party loyalty can be ephemeral and unreliable. The period between the declaration of polls and the first day of the new parliament is crucial as the political horse-trading reaches fever pitch.

Newly-elected members, once prevailed upon to cast their lot with a particular group, are even barricaded in luxurious quarters to prevent rivals from persuading them to take another tack.

Which brings me to Belden Namah - an interesting man of toughness, resolve, cunning, volatility, belligerence and wealth.

An ex-Army captain imprisoned for sedition for six years in the aftermath of the Sandline affair (he opposed the use of mercenaries), Namah subsequently deployed his intellect and guile to persuade West Sepik landowners to entrust him with logging concessions from which he has made a lot of money indeed.

When he was later elected to parliament (for the seat of Vanimo-Green) in 2007, even though a first time MP, he was made Minister for Forestry. It was like the fox promoted CEO of the chook pen. Then, after last August’s ‘coup’ against Michael Somare, Namah became deputy prime minister.

His political career has been anything but uncontroversial – just in the last few months he has challenged constitution, judiciary, parliament and his prime minister.

He was aboard the notorious Falcon business jet intercepted by Indonesian fighter aircraft late last year about the same time he was allegedly involved in propositioning a male staff member at Sydney’s casino, an act which he has denied and on which the NSW Police are still to report.

Namah is an extraordinarily complex man of formidable personality and enormous wealth.

When all of these attributes combine, and in light of what we have observed of him, they suggest the new parliamentarians in PNG (and that may be as many as half the total number) are in for a turbulent time as they gather in Port Moresby to sort out the shape of the next national government.

Namah has already started his campaign against incumbent prime minister Peter O’Neill and made it clear he’s over being kingmaker and wants the top job. “The only way for me to run this country is to become a king myself,” he remarked earlier this week.

Will those new MPs be able to withstand the onslaught of tough-mindedness boosted by the prospect of financial advantage?

The process will certainly sort out the nation-builders from the self-promoters.

Let’s hope there are enough of the former to give PNG the leadership it needs.

BARBARA SHORT

SO MICHAEL SOMARE is still at the Windjammer! It's a lovely spot and I remember sitting here with him in the 1970s, listening to the nightly news broadcast. He was a great guy.

But things were different then.

Last year Somare had to go to a Singapore hospital to be given a new lease on life. I had to go to North Sydney hospital for chemotherapy. I also know what it feels like to be at death's door.

But I have Sepik friends in Wewak who have been and are sick and have not been given treatment. Pity about them. Pity about Wewak hospital. It used to be great…

Somare's comments echo of hurt pride. He saw himself become the "Big Man", the "Chief" of Papua New Guinea.

While he was at death's door he heard how some of the younger members of parliament, his protégés, who he had made ministers and given important portfolios to, were showing him disrespect.

Someone needs to get through to Somare that, on his watch, the country has gone backwards. Wewak hospital is in a bad way. Port Moresby hospitals are in a bad way.

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?

JOHNNY BLADES
RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL

WITH WOMEN ACCOUNTING for only around four percent of candidates standing in Papua New Guinea’s general election, debate rages about whether reserved women’s seats should be created in parliament.

Despite years of lobbying for the seats and greater representation for women in general, PNG’s females are still held back by traditional attitudes on gender.

Although it had some high-profile support, legislation to create 22 reserved seats failed to pass through the last parliament.

At the grassroots level, there is mixed support among men.

Lawrence Igiam is an unemployed father of two who said men are resisting the bill for their own sake.

“Because of our culture, then women are seen as second class and a threat to the men; because of men’s fear of women being in possession of the power,” he said. “That’s why everything is done in favour of the men.”

In the last parliament, PNG had a sole woman MP who has since retired.

Lawrence Igiam said the prospects of another female MP emerging from this election are slim.

“As you can see, they contest with the men and have only about 10% chance of becoming a member of parliament. But if they were given the chance, through the reserved seats of 22, I think they should do very well and we will see goods and services delivered to the people of Papua New Guinea.

“For a start, women are the best managers in the house so when they go into the parliament, if the bill was mandated and they were given the chance to have the 22 seats, I think they would look after the country well.”

But other men, like former policeman Bob Wali, say the time isn’t right for reserved seats.

“Naturally, mothers are mothers, you know that,” he said. “Well, for creating reserved seats for them, it’s perhaps too early.

“Why don’t they contest like other ordinary citizens?”

Tom, in his mid-20s, also believes that women’s rights are currently adequately recognised in that they are legally entitled to contest elections.

“To make it fair to everyone of us,” he said. “It’s good for the women: women and men, gender equity. So everyone has their rights of representing their people for the sake of the country, their own people, the community. It’s for the betterment of every one of us.”

However an advocate for reserved seats, Betha Somare, says female candidates are disadvantaged from the outset because women are judged by higher standards than men in PNG.

She rejects the argument that it’s a level playing field.

“Say up in certain areas of the Highlands, and it’s been documented, women candidates that have stood, their supporters have been threatened,” Ms Somare said.

“They’ve been threatened in that if you stand, then your whole house line will suffer. So in order to stop unrest and things like that in their area, they back off.”

Betha Somare feels a more careful approach is needed in the campaign for reserved seats.

She says that due to the prevailing cultural hang-ups on gender, pushing too aggressively for the seats is counter productive.

DAVID WALL
HTTP://DEBERIGNY.WORDPRESS.COM

A DAY OR SO AGO I met with a group of friends who had either lived in Papua New Guinea or were very interested in the country, and I noted some of their comments.

They mentioned that the problems in the country are easy to identify, but their solving is much more difficult, as most practical solutions would likely be unacceptable to the present-day educated elites.

The Australian government of course can’t just step in, that time has well and truly passed. Neither does it have the resources to pour in to outbid the Chinese in the race for influence.

The damage was done years ago with the look north policy of the PNG government, and prior to this with the sell-out of West New Guinea.

The Indonesians would not relish the idea of Australia once more being their adjacent neighbour on the island of New Guinea. Much better options for PNG and Australia were all there in the early 1960s, but that time is passed.

The group felt that the present elections in PNG would solve very little. The best that can be hoped for is some sort of decisive result that eliminates as many destabilising and psychopathic candidates as possible. We had one particular gentleman in mind.

Early reports from the Southern Highlands indicate that O’Neill will certainly be re-elected with a massive majority, and Somare, now referred to as the old man, will be comfortably returned to his old seat – thus PNG will be back just where it was six months ago. One of us quoted a commentator who said: “God Bless New Guinea!”

It was felt by us all that the electoral roll like the census is highly questionable. The true population of PNG is more likely to be around 8 million. This would leave more than a million people not accounted for.  

The PNG government should give serious consideration to the population explosion in their country. We considered that family planning measures must be given top priority as government policy in the country. One person said that the Catholic Church should be politely sidestepped on this issue.

The following measures for consideration were put forward:

There should be a total revamp of the once proud police force (now a tattered and largely disgraced image of its former self).

An expatriate deputy principal should be appointed in as many schools as possible in the country (the average grade X student today is at least two grades worse than his or her counterpart of thirty years ago – he or she would not rate for reading and comprehension against a good 11- year-old Australian student).

Every government department should be subjected to intensive auditing.

Public service conditions must be revised and dismissal made much easier for misconduct (although care would be needed to ensure that this was not used to facilitate nepotism). The dismissal process in practice in the private sector is the reason why performance in middle management in this area is so much better than in the lax public sector.

Everyone in this small group has many friends in PNG and we all want the best for the country.

MICHAEL DOM

In the temple of our democracy
The tome of our founding law
Has been torn asunder
And the desecraters
Elevated to demi-gods
For whom, upon corrupted altars,
Our children’s futures are surrendered.

But would we see our nation rise?
It is for us to become a sacrifice.

Who would lead us Péngé?
Would it be you my friend?

Go then to the temple
And hurl yourself upon the altar
A sacrifice for an unrepentant lot.

You who would lead us
What right is yours?
What glory?
What duty?
What destiny?
A privilege indeed
A blessed burden.

EMMA WAKPI

I am reading with interest the discussion in PNG Attitude arising from Geoffrey Barker's article. From the tone of the discussion there seems to be a feeling of helplessness and defeat, yet I refuse to accept this and will continue to hope for my country for what good are we if we give up?

I was in the middle of writing a longer paper in relation to holisitic community development but in response to the discussion decided to show there are positives happening in PNGand that all is not doom and gloom.

Yes we are in the birthing stages, the labour is hard and painful and we need someone to hold our hand and encourage us even as we are ranting and raving, but we will get through if not in my lifetime then in the next generation but we must start and do something and move.

NO CULTURE EVER REMAINS STATIC. It is constantly evolving in order to adapt to the influences of its surrounding   environs.

PNG is no exception. The reality of a very technological era is encroaching upon a people who are crawling out of the Stone Age and learning to stand and walk in these modern times.  We are being asked to make astronomical adjustments in development and attitudes that took our “developed” friends hundreds of years to “perfect”.

In order to do this we need to understand the reality of our current situation- the forces influencing and encroaching upon our thought and behaviour and how this can be harnessed to facilitate and empower a nation whose population is rural based with very limited formal education.

There are good discussions and plans (2050 Vision, MDGs etc) to help PNG become a “smart, wise, fair and happy country.” As we all are aware however a plan is only as good as the people implementing it and the majority of the people for whom these plans are intended have no idea of its existence.

The government has realised that this mammoth task can not be achieved by itself and that it requires various approaches from all sectors. The challenge is rather than reinventing the wheel, how can we better build the capacities of what is existing and has been proven to work in order to capitalize on the wealth of knowledge and experience already on the ground?

In order for plans to be successfully implemented, grassroots community mobilisation has to occur. People within communities must grasp what real development is and take ownership of their own well being: there must be a seamless integration of the physical, social, psychological and spiritual development of an individual and community simultaneously.  If this does not happen, nothing “injected” into a community can ever be sustained.