Pettiness

Petty: Marked by narrowness of mind, ideas, or views. Answers.com

Now, while Ryan Pini has been swimming his heart out trying to make PNG and Pacific Islands history, other people have been marring it with general pettiness.

Apparently, some people are still looking at this blog and the other day I got forwarded the following email conversation from someone who has volunteered to guest blog. Identities were edited so I don't know these people but I gather they have all been educated overseas and some are still living outside the country. They also all sound like book smart people so why such a conversation would even have begun in the first place is beyond me. Why such prejudice is an "issue" when I could list 10 more important issues up for debate in PNG in under 30 secs, is also beyond me. But the thing that most frustrates me is that this conversation/debate took place when probably for the first time in a long time, the whole of PNG was united in one hope- success for Pini and for PNG.

I'm not sure if the contributor forwarded this to me to open up discussions on the privleges of being white in PNG but as you can see, the issue here for me is how petty the "problem" being discussed was in light of Pini's achievements and their greater meaning to the whole of the country.

Anyway, i'll let you all read the following and see what you make of it, before you do, here is a quote from rapper T.I:

"I think racism should only bother you if it prevents you from doing something that you should have the right to do, like voting, using the same bathrooms, or sitting where you want to on the bus. But white people being racist, as long as it ain’t really affecting you, just take it for what it’s worth–ignorance."

(scroll down and read from the bottom up)
From: EO
Date: Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Subject: Re:
To: DK, WM, JO
Cc: JM, LA, NS
D, I don't see how my comments could be construed as rascist. You and I both know expats get a better deal in PNG so lets keep it real here.

By the way, whats with the term 'nationals'? why the fuck are we called that? again, must we be labelled in our own country...that term in itself has such a colonial overtone to it and yet "educated" papua new guineans continue to call themselves and each other that. Why don't we just revert to calling ourselves "natives" while we're at it. People still use the term "Masta" for fucks sake! Isn't that indicative of whats been ingrained in the national psyche? That one is inferior because one isn't a "Masta" or a "wait man"?

The value of an education largely hinges on whats done with it. Some of PNG's brightest are community-school educated (Clement Waine for example) and some of our greatest deadshits have an overseas education. The ordinary shop assistant may not be educated but I've heard so many of my educated friends use the term "masta". Fat lot of good an education has done in getting rid of that mindset!

Have a good weekend all and yes, Go PNG!

E.
p.s To those who haven't said much on this, sorry to have inundated your inboxes.

----- Original Message ----
From: DK
To: EO ; WM ; JO
Cc: JM; LA ; NS
Sent: Friday, 15 August, 2008 4:33:37 PM
Subject: RE:
HAHAHA… You both sound like a bunch of farking racists!!! So now you’re racist against expatriates just because nationals are racist toward you. For some reason I don’t think that’s going to resolve anything but rather harness greater division amongst the two races.

The reason is quite simple i.e. the ordinary shop assistant is not educated. Education is key folks. Our mindsets need to change quick smart because right now it totally stinks. You seriously cannot tell me there is no difference in the quality of education in PNG and in Australia ? If you are then you need to come back home for a reality check.

Look guys it’s Friday; so don’t hang yourself over this debate. Seriously though… GO PNG!!!!!!!

Laikim na lukim

From: WM
Date: Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Subject: Re:
To: JO
Cc: DK, EO, JM, LA, NS
I'm not taking sides here J, my opinion just happens to be in line with D’s and JM’s, now that I've read JM's reply. There is a big difference between Australian and PNGean education and that is just a fact. There is also a big difference between living in Australia and PNG.

I agree E that we do still treat white people with deference in PNG and that is a throwback from colonialism which will one day change as more and more people get an education and realise, hey, we are the same as them, the only thing different is the colour of our skin. No doubt some white folks live protected lives in PNG but I know a few outside Pom who live and socialise with other PNGeans. This is especially true of those with children who have grown up in PNG and been raised with other PNG children. We have to remember, some PNG folks live very protected lives too, especially in Pom where the elitism is really quite obvious sometimes. I suppose it's good to look at it objectively.

Anyway, you all have a good weekend and let's hope Pini brings his A game tomorrow!

On 8/15/08, JO wrote:
I don't think it's a matter of agreeing with so and so, it is an interesting debate that has been brought up- we are all of different opinions. at the end of the day we are all proud PNGeans. I did not put the question forward so that people can take sides, I was just interested in your thoughts.

On the spectrum of education - what is the opposite scale of International education ? I think Education is Education. we are all educated the same way at the end of the day - International education is the same as National education or whatever there is. If you talk to someone on the other side of the world, they will understand when you ask them what 1+1= (if they have been to school) -There is no disctinction between international education or National education? We are all taught the same basic maths, geography, biology,chemistry, english,physics what not......elaborate on what you mean by international education. But then again that is a totally different topic right?

From: EO
Sent: Friday, 15 August 2008 4:11 PM
To: WM ; JO
Cc: DK; JM ; LA ; NS
Subject: Re:
W, well said.

However, I think we Papua New Guineans have perfected our own version of the tall poppy syndrome. We very rarely uplift our own but subject them to rumours , jealousy and innuendo when we see them achieving be it at sport, professionally or in academia. It is a cancer of our own making and something we as a nation have to address.

I also see J's point. There is not point denying colour and race in a country like Papua New Guinea when colour and race are huge facto rs . You see it every day in PNG even in an ordinary place like a shop....a shop assistant will crawl up the arse of a white man before he/she deigns to smile at my black face!

As an aside, Ryan's parents are to be commended for paying for their son's achievements. These are the same parents who live in a rather exclusive enclave in Port Moresby ....much like the rest of the expats who live in PNG.

----- Original Message ----
From: WM
To: JO
Cc: DK ; EO; JM ; LA ; NS
Sent: Friday, 15 August, 2008 3:39:11 PM
Subject: Re:
I'm going to have to agree with D on this.

The fact that other PNG athletes can't afford to train in world class facilities is no one's fault but successive PNG Governments! I'm not going to blame Ryan's parents for affording to get him fi rs t class training facilities. I think just the same amount of respect given to Pini is given to other PNG athletes, the only difference is that Pini competes in a more popular sport that garners more attention, just the same attention would be given to a PNGean that excelled to that level in say the 100m sprint.

There are comparisons to be drawn with an international education. Should the fact that we are here enjoying a better standard of living and a better education system (and undoubtedly more opportunities) be held against us because our country can't provide the same? No. My mama works hard for me to be here and yes other PNGeans may not get the same opportunity and that is sad but it's not our fault. If anything, we are more selfish because at the end of the day we are doing it to better ou rs elves whereas athletes like Pini have the opportunity to unite a nation and bring them pride!

From: JM
Sent: Friday, 15 August 2008 1:27 PM
To: WM ; JO
Cc: DK; EO ; LA ; NS
Subject: Re
Hi guys,

Been avoiding the politics not to play it safe but only cause I’m getting hammered here today na can’t email much but really felt the need to addim tingting blo mi.

I find it offensive that as PNGeans we always come back to black, white, mixed raced, Central, Sepik, Enga what ever. I think the situation is no different in an athletes case as it is to any other, this is still a profession. Opportunities present themselves whether because we excel academically or professionally or our parents have the cash what ever and these allow us to venture beyond PNG and gain experience and training in our respective fields, represent our country abroad and hopefully give back to PNG on some level at some stage.

I think everyone on this email list is an example of this. We have had other athletes in the past who have had the chance to train abroad Ann Mooney, Stanley Nandex himself, Marcus Bai etc and I don’t think we need to cut these people down for doing so, they are still ambassadors and valid representatives. We’re currently doing that ourselves (correct me if there are those of you on this list that I don’t know who are currently at home). We have doctors, lawyers, engineers, geotechs, pilots, nurses etc doing this every day of the week.

A fair playing field is the ideal but it will not be a reality for a long time to come, I think we need to take advantage of the opportunities we can to promote PNG, enhance skills and god willing return to give back.

Ryan Pini’s colour and training ground should not be an issue and if it is I guess this would mean there is an issue with a whole lot of people including myself as I am both PNG educated with a tertiary qualification from Australia and now onto post graduate study in Australia (by choice) and I am half PNG, half Australian with my lewa in the Waghi Valley.

Tok tasol

JM

On Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 12:37 PM, JO wrote:
What are you talking about? I don't see the link between international education and olympic athletes. Please expand or clarify.

From: DK
Sent: Friday, 15 August 2008 3:31 PM
To: JO ; ' WM '; ' EO '
Cc: ' JM '; ' LA '; ' NS '
Subject: RE:
So what's your view on international education?

From: JO
Sent: Friday, 15 August 2008 2:29 PM
To: DK; ' WM '; ' EO '
Cc: ' JM '; ' LA '; ' NS '
Subject: RE:
D good on him for wearing the country's colors , but I am not proud of a man who trains in Australia when all our athletes are back in PNG -

If he gets such a high standard of training then why can't our other athletes get the same- they should all have the same standard across the board.

From: DK
Sent: Friday, 15 August 2008 3:27 PM
To: JO ; ' WM '; ' EO '
Cc: ' JM '; ' LA '; ' NS '
Subject: RE:
J, plis yu painim wok o? What you on about and what's colour got to do with anything?!?! He's wearing the country's colours , so be proud!

From: JO
Sent: Friday, 15 August 2008 2:20 PM
To: DK; ' WM '; ' EO '
Cc: ' JM '; ' LA '; ' NS '
Subject: RE:
General question to all- Would people be just as excited if he wasn't white?

From: DK
Sent: Friday, 15 August 2008 3:16 PM
To: WM ; EO
Cc: JM ; JO ; LA ; NS
Subject: RE:
Shit! I'm so pumped I got the time wrong. It's 1210h rs (AEST) tomorrow and not 1220h rs .

Catch

From: DK
Sent: Friday, 15 August 2008 2:14 PM
To: ' WM '; EO
Cc: JM ; JO ; LA ; NS
Subject: RE:
He's done the nation proud just to get in! I'm so happy for him… mind you I nearly had a heart attack in the last 50m! 1220h rs (AEST) tomorrow guys… make sure you're watching!

…And E you get your little arse to the nearest pub to watch the race… No excuses! Despite the result, you'll be viewing PNG History!!!

From: WM
Sent: Friday, 15 August 2008 1:48 PM
To: EO
Cc: DK; JM ; JO ; LA ; NS
Subject: Re:
He raced Phelps and made it to the finals!! Boy even beat Phelps at the turn! Honest hamamas kills, let's pray he has an awesome swim tomorrow

Good luck Ryan!

Damn. It's been a long time! But I'd like to come back by first wishing Ryan Pini the best of luck tonight!! I know he will give it his best and we can all hope it'll be a medal best! More on sports and its contribution to nation-building when i get into the swing of things.

Update 15/08/08: Pini has made the 100m Butterfly Finals!! Same heat as Phelps na mangi blo yumi pulled through! Pini has a way of responding to pressure and competition so God be with him tomorrow when he takes the mighty Phelps on and shows them how we make them in PNG!

Update 16/08/08: Ryan did an awesome job getting into the finals! He came 8th but made history by becoming the first Papua New Guinean ever to swim an Olympic final! Well done Pini, you have truly done us proud!

Back with bitters

Poll results (multiple votes allowed): 72% of you felt the PM should resign because it is ethical to do so and 52% because the people have lost confidence in the PM and his office. 20% of you felt the PM should remain until found guilty by a court and 4% of you didn’t know or didn’t care. Overwhelming support for the Chief to STAND DOWN.

I’m back. Finally. Gosh it’s hard doing this blogging thing, especially when it sometimes seems so pointless. I pretty much got discouraged after reading this bullshit in the papers. Having only just drafted a letter to Dadae. Then I had work and more work and work and…it’s too damn easy to make it all about you and forget the bigger picture, of what is really going on, again, especially when it sometimes feels so pointless. But I’ve returned and many thanks to those who emailed me and encouraged the site!

So let’s do a whole 3-week backtrack on what has gone down in PNG.

Moti
First, as mentioned, Dadae and his plain stupidity. Since when is he, as a member of Parliament, able to overrule court findings? At least one good thing came out of it, well two, not only did Salika resoundly slap him down, but it’s now confirmed for all that there is in fact an appeal pending on the case. But when does that go through? What are we waiting on? Meanwhile, Dadae is being thrown into court for contempt and along with him some very senior news people. If they were in contempt, good on the Court but what I really want from the Supreme Court is a hearing of Somare’s appeal and a final decision. How long will this thing drag out for?

Again, I’m disappointed by the restrictions on civil society in PNG. Though apparently I’m not joined in this view by my friend Freddy Gigmai, whose various letters to the editor which the papers seem fit to repeatedly print are let us say, interesting. A Freddy column will be put up in the corner for us to follow this man’s opinions. I believe he may have been a journalist with The National and is truly exercising his right of free speech with letters to the editor, and though I may not agree with all he says, it will be interesting to follow his thoughts.

While we are on court proceedings, Mr Kua needs to stop. He seems to have created animosity with the Bench and is outdoing himself to bring his reputation down. Yes, he may be doing his job as a professional and trying to represent his client’s best interests but his declining relationship with the Bench and this business of arguing on mere technicalities is really not making him the best candidate for President of the PNG Law Society.

Budget
Meanwhile the Govt has produced a stellar budget. I commend it. However, I remain sceptical of trust accounts and though talk of money and economic growth is all well and good, I’m restraining my praises till I see some trickle-down happening. Mr Pruaitch can go on for all he wants about the fantastic growth in this country but what does that matter if living standards in PNG have improved nought and crime and security of person, seems to be getting worse, though stats say there has been slight improvement.

Bart Philomen too shares concerns with this love of trust accounts. Though the Govt. assures us there are only 200. Here’s a really good analysis of the budget including the dilemma with trust accounts and the truth that the Govt.’s budget can only truly be judged by the success and effectiveness of its implementation.

With all that money we should be able to adequately help victims of the flooding in Oro. Are we?

Before I go any further, I must mention the huuuuge coup PNG had with the EU at the PIF. Good? Maybe, however, if we have such a strong economy why in the hell are we so aid dependent? I don’t mind aid, I hate aid dependency and I hate being a pawn between the EU and Australia, making an asset of the rife corruption and thievery in this country. I’m hoping something is shown for this large unexpected windfall.

Congratulations to the Govt for reducing public debt. NONE of this legitimises Somare’s actions in the Moti Affair though. Sir Mek seems to have found more on Somare.

Hmmm of the day
Mr William Duma. Heard many whisperings over the suss conduct of this Member of Parliament. Especially in regards to the discharge of his duties as Minister for Environment and Conservation in the last Govt. There was talk of large “scratch my back” type favours being asked of mining and petroleum type projects requesting Ministerial consent, resulting in those who can ill afford it or with the higher moral ground walking away. Now I see he has implemented this. Is it to get people with petroleum licenses to get a move on and develop projects or will it be too easy now to ask for some cushioning at the end of every year? If the latter, then this can only discourage investors.

Mr Duma is one of the many Parliamentarians that live in Pom when their electorates are outside the NCD, I don’t get how that works but apparently it does. How can you represent your electorate if you visit it several weekends a year? And a member with a “urban” electorate has even less reason, they have all the technology and other modern comforts right within their electorate. I bring this up because of the slow decline of the Hagen Open electorate in terms of law and order problems, and the lack of comment or positive actions from its member. Mr Duma, can’t forward a few thousand kina every time a problem pops up and relax in Pom, nor can those other leaders who take the mandate of the people all the way to autonomous rule! Who are MPs accountable to if not their electorate?

Immigration
About bloody time is all I can bloody say. I do not know how far these improvements have come but probably not that far as last I heard the Dpt was still out of passport books and were issuing them to the most desperate cases, ie; go buy your ticket come in with it and they’ll sort something out…and if they can’t, you’re screwed. Kudos to Mr Abal and Mr Pepson for getting things moving though.

Ombudsman Commission
What are these new laws being proposed to limit the powers of the OC?

Aids
A few hours ago, it was World Aids Day. December 1st. Take a minute to reflect on the statistic of some 50 000 infected people in PNG. Take a minute to think about the mass of foreign aid and apparent budget surpluses PNG has, and then consider the struggle to get ARVs to infected persons and the struggle to make a concerted effort to teach sex education, especially safe sex education in PNG. I remember a friend’s human biology teacher, skipping the whole reproductive process because he felt ‘everyone knew enough’ about it, in other words he was uncomfortable.

The other problem is the increased risk-taking by people who feel they have nothing to lose. The sign of desperate society.


Lastly but worth your attention, I also got this in my inbox, can anyone shed some light, ie; true/false on the situation?

PNG people should be concerned about Somare's latest moves to turn the business interests of PNG into Somare Inc.

IPBC controls all of the PNG government's interests including its 18% ownership of Oilsearch. IPBC has now been put under the supervision of Arthur Somare even though Michael Somare is the caretaker Minister for that portfolio.

Somare has now appointed Glen Blake to IPBC Board and appointed Sana Somare, his eldest son, to PNG Power Board.

Glen Blake is the Managing Director of the Somare family companies Damai Investments and SBA Constructions Ltd.

Sana Somare is the Managing Director of SBA Construction, a small contractor company in Wewak.

Sana and Glen Blake are directors on the boards of these two companies with all the other somare children.

SBA stands for Sana, Bertha and Arthur construction.

By appointing Blake and Sana to the different boards of the statutory enterprises and IPBC under control of Arthur, Somare is turning IPBC and PNG Government's business interests into "Somare Inc."

Is "political space" enough?

A letter to the Minister of Defence asking him to table the Moti Report has been posted below. If anyone has his email address that would be fantastic, at the moment i've got a postal address and you can still email the national newspapers.

Now on to my rant. There is a reason PNGscape is NOT a Kumul Link (right-hand column). PNGscape exemplifies how much PNGeans are capable of talking about something without lifting a finger to do anything. Yes much of it has to do with our feeling of powerlessness but a whole lot of it, especially for the small population that enjoys a good standard living, many of those who have access to the Internet, is plain LAZINESS. No one wants to do anything.

Am i sounding bitter? Maybe so. When i first drafted the letter to the PM, i posted it on Scape and asked people to join in ...but nothing. No replies, and the replies i did get were dismissive. On principle I try to avoid the site because it displays this accepting/can't be bothered/ it's too hard/ unable to do anything/ ineffective complain complain complain/unproductive attitudes held by so many of us. Me included. Sometimes I can't be bothered. Yes, sites like Scape may be comparable to Habermas' "political space" (or civic space) and allows PNGeans to talk about issues that they may be unable to do so within the constrictions of PNG society, freely, but what good is that if no one is willing to act on it? Is it a slow process that will evolve into an active protest against corruption, misconduct and other issues with the Government and general bureaucratic and political systems of PNG? I don't know, it happened in Indonesia in what was labelled the first "Internet revolution, " so maybe it can happen in PNG

Speaking of Indonesia, if anyone has studied the paternalistic system of Governance under Indonesia's Suharto, you'll find there are growing similarities with Somare's regime (and no 'regime' does not automatically have negative-dictator connotations, however fitting that would be, it's just a sub for 'government.') Growing. And the more people shut-up about it the worse it will get. At this stage other than speaking out in every possible way we can, we must also ensure that our judicial system remain independent and impartial, PNG has been lucky and we need to increase the security of the judiciary so they can continue to act as they have been. How to do that i'm not sure about, because really the intiative needs to come from the Government and that's where we have a Catch-22 situation.

In actual news, Ila Geno the Chief Ombudsman emphasised during the week, at the National Development Forum that Government funds for the community should be used as such and that MPs need to be transparent in how they use the funds and be accountable for its use. He said MPs should make records available to the public and ensure public servants are well salaried to stop temptation. I can only hope some part of that message penetrated the minds of those present.

I am also aware that Bire Kimisopa was challenging the new member for Goroka Open in Court. Anyone have updates on that? He was a truly outstanding politician last term and if he doesn't succeed in returning I hope that the current Goroka Open MP can be just as upstanding and outspoken.

Letter to the Minister of Defence

Below is a letter to Minister of Defence. I've not found an email address for him yet and if anyone could help that will be much appreciated. Till then, if you agree with the sentiments please print and send the letter to the Minister at the address below and to the national newspapers or any potentially effective forum.

Minister of Defence Mr Bob Dadae

c/o The Ministry of Defence

P.O. Parliament House

Waigani, NCD, Papua New Guinea (as at http://www.parliament.gov.pg/)

Again, I encourage sending letters either by your real identity or under pseudonym if you feel unsafe to do the former. What matters is showing the numbers in discontent. I would also encourage you to step-up efforts and get other people involved. Forward the letter (or letters so far) and address to your contact list or forward this link, whichever way you think would get more people demanding transparency and accountability from the government.


Dear Minister,

I am writing this letter as a concerned Papua New Guinean to implore you to table the Defence Force Board of Inquiry’s Moti Report in Parliament.

As the Minister of Defence, the discretion to table the Report lies with you. I believe that this discretion is to be exercised in the nation’s best interest, and as a citizen of this nation, I believe that it would be in the nation’s best interest to officially publish the Moti Inquiry’s Report directly. Such an action would promote accountability and transparency, both fundamental principles of democracy, in the Government.

It is evident from the opinions of the public expressed through letters to the national newspapers, talkback radio, Internet discussions and other forums of public discourse, that many Papua New Guineans strongly demand a thorough and conclusive investigation into the issue. This, Mr Dadae, can only succeed once you have officially tabled the Report. There is no evidence that the Report is being currently contested in Court, therefore, I believe your discretion as to the Report’s publication should be exercised without delay.

I recognise that as a Minister, you must be cautious in your handling of this issue as it directly involves the Prime Minister, who has discretion over your position within Government. However, I implore you to be a true representative of the people and to uphold the laws of this country by tabling the Moti Inquiry’s Report. To withhold the Report from publication only serves to accelerate Papua New Guineans’ growing loss of confidence in the Office of the Prime Minister and the Government.

I ask that you make the decision to table the Report with the best interests of this nation at heart and that you are not swayed by the interests of individuals. In the event that you further delay publication of the Report or refuse its publication, I request transparency and that you publicly state your reasons for doing so.

I place my faith in you and your office to make the right decision and remain hopeful that the voices of Papua New Guineans are heard and represented in Parliament.

Yours Sincerely,

Kumul Karai

OC,RH & the National, money tricks, violence against women

Ok so I put the wrong address down for letters to the PM so correction it’s; pmsmedia@pm.gov.pg NOT pmsmedia@pm.gov.AU , as you may well be able to tell ‘.au’ is a prefix I drop behind a lot of my emails for work and family purposes. (Thanks Peter)

Now back to Moti. I found one of the drafted letters to the PM published in the Post, of course with their editions and nothing at the end asking the PM to adhere to the laws of this country which he himself implemented but I’m happy it was published anyway. I was also a bit surprised to find out that the Ombudsman Commission has been conducting an investigation into the Moti issue since last year (navigate to "News" tab). Yes, it begun around the same time as the Defence Force Board of Inquiry and the inquiry by the office of the Chief Secretary but is apparently still on-going though I fail to see how a small incident, time and logistics wise, could take such a long time to investigate. Maybe they’re hoping we’ll forget about it but thanks to the Post for printing this, we now know it’s still around.

I’ve drafted a letter (posted below) asking the Ombudsman Commission to basically hurry-up with their investigations. If any of you agree with this please feel free to copy and paste the letter and email or airmail it off to the Ombudsman Commission. I’m still not on to that letter for the Defence Minister requesting he table the Moti Report in parliament.

On the grapevine, notable sources have told that members of the former Somare Government entered elections with K3 million each, which was supplied from a fund initially set aside for resolving possible land-owner problems with the (now failed) proposed Australian gas pipeline project. Now I read that Patrick Pruitich is siphoning off a certain K500 million to a different trust account for future gas projects. My question is does the whole K500 million still exist? Or could this be the same money that was used for elections and is now being publicly announced (true or otherwise) as being stored away, to ward off any requests for its possible re-distribution or questions as to why it hasn’t been re-distributed yet?? Maybe I’m totally off the mark but only time will tell.

In other news I truly laughed at The National printing this crap. What they fail to inform readers is that this consulting firm is employed by RH to write these reports and has been employed by RH to do so for the last few years. Selective reporting indeed. I have no doubt RH employs PNGeans etc… but at what price are they “contributing” to this nation, and what is their NET contribution once social factors including: government and public sector manipulation, environmental damage and the fact that they “govern” certain remote areas of PNG are taken into account.

Please send a letter to the Ombudsman Commission and the papers if you agree with the drafted letter below and return to this site for a letter to the Defence Minister. We should not be prepared to let the Moti issue die, especially since it is unclear whether Somare has in fact appealed the decision of the National Court, and if not are we all expected to sit around in limbo?

Before I sign off I heartily endorse Lady Kidu’s campaign for zero tolerance on violence against women, the women of PNG who are standing up to the “norm” of violence against women in PNG, and The Post for championing this campaign! I don’t know if the petition is still doing the rounds, if it is, please sign it!

Update: I recieved a prompt reply from Mr Ila Geno, the Chief Ombudsman, which is posted below.

Letter to the Ombudsman Commission

Below is a letter to the Ombudsmen Commission. If you agree with the sentiments please cut and paste and send it to the Mr Illa Geno the Chief Ombudsman at ila.geno@ombudsman.gov.pg, and John Nero the Ombudsmen at john.nero@ombudsman.gov.pg. Again, I encourage sending letters either by your real identity or under pseudonym if you feel unsafe to do the former. What matters is showing the numbers in discontent.

Dear [Mr Geno] or [Mr Nero],

I am writing this letter as a concerned Papua New Guinean to request that the Ombudsmen Commission act with urgency in completing its investigations into the Moti Affair. Further, I ask that the Ombudsman Commission take into account recommendations made by the Defence Force Tribunal’s findings in the “Moti Report,” in concluding its investigations.

I believe it is of vital importance that these investigations are completed thoroughly and directly. Delay in taking such measures has resulted in the People’s loss of confidence in the Government, the Office of the Prime Minister and in the legal processes of this country. It is the Ombudsman Commission’s duty to ensure that public offices are held in the highest honour, and I implore your Office to fulfil its obligation by taking action on this matter. It has been a year since the Moti incident and the failure of the Ombudsman Commission to release its findings on the matter is both concerning and disappointing.

I request the Ombudsman Commission fulfil its duties under Section 218 of the Constitution, which requires supervision of the Leadership Code and the duty to ensure that all governmental bodies are responsive to the needs and aspirations of the People. Corruption such as that alleged in the Moti incident not only relates to possible abuses of public office, including the office of the Prime Minister, but exemplifies the wide-spread abuse of power in decision-making processes, throughout governmental bodies and agents, which results in neglect of the People’s needs and aspirations. I implore the Ombudsman Commission to address such practises by concluding its investigations into the Moti Affair and releasing a Report, which I hope is both diligent and precise in its findings and recommendations.

I thank you for your time and place my faith in the Ombudsman Commission to fulfil its Constitutional duties.


Yours Sincerely,
[Your name/pseudonym]

Update: I recieved a prompt reply from Mr Ila Geno, the Chief Ombudsman, which reads as follows:

Kumul karai,
Congratulations for expressing your concerns which I understand and appreciate and could not agree with you more in clearly stating the importance of institutions such as the Ombudsman Commission which must be seen to be performing its duties diligently and timely. I want to assure you that Ombudsman Commission is continuing with the investigations as stated in the print media lately and will independently take its position after satisfactory completion of investigations.
Regards.
I.Geno.

I thank Mr geno for his reply, however, I still believe urgency is required on this matter and continue to encourage those in agreement with this blog to express their sentiments to the OC and to the national newspapers.