Tag Archives: Papua New Guinea

The Melanesian Way

NEC Approves Revitalized Village Courts Strategy

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Approved for Release:

Friday, 27th November, 2020

The National Executive Council has recently approved the Crime Prevention through Revitalized Village Courts System Strategy 2020-2030.

This was announced recently by Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape, MP, saying the transformation and revitalization of this first level of judiciary system by approving this strategy will allow Village Court officials and Land Mediators to deal with issues in a more formal setting.

Prime Minister Marape said this will give prominence to the Village Courts system as the forefront of the government’s justice service mechanism in all communities of both urban and rural settings of the country.

“It will formally recognize the Village Court officials as equal and active members of the PNG Law & Justice Sector, performing their mandated roles and responsibilities to achieve the sector’s common goals and objectives.

“The Village Courts system has been facilitating the settlement of disputes in communities of both urban and rural settings throughout Papua New Guinea for decades before and since independence, through the use of good customary conflict resolution techniques plus new legislations, and has proven to be very effective,” Prime Minister Marape said.

He said this will also allow empowerment and capacity building of Village Court officials to perform to their utmost potential as judicial officials; boosting their moral and enhancing performance.

Hence, realizing the purpose of this Village Courts system in maintaining peace in our communities.

“This strategy also aims to mobilize the village courts and non-state actors to implement crime prevention initiatives within our communities.

“It will further enable good management and safe keeping of court records,” Prime Minister Marape said.

The Prime Minister also said Cabinet has approved an appropriation of K7.2 million annually for the next 10 years for the successful implementation of the Crime Prevention through Revitalized Village Courts System Strategy.

Ends.

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Sorcery is True and Real in New Guinea: Three Admited They Killed an Elder

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Three Sorcerers Who Acknowledged of Killing a Tribal Elder
Three Sorcerers Who Acknowledged of Killing a Tribal Elder

Three Sorceress Admitted that they have mistakenly taken the life of a Village Chief in Egenda Village, in Nipa Southern Highlands Province.

Source: Kowi Wolin Korit

A village chief ( late Wolin Korit) who passed away late last month had no symptoms of illness, he was at the age of 50-55 years old when he passed on. He was returning from market place when he suddenly collapsed and died.

With great despair, the sons of the late chief used a traditional ritual called Tombol “Bamboo stick” ( which is still actively used in the Wola area) to identify the causes of their fathers sudden death.

Surprisingly the Bamboo pointed to one of the three sorceress who were involved in taking the life of the innocent man.

Surprisingly the woman admitted that three of them mistakenly took out the heart of the late chief. She pointed out another two of her comrades and all of them admitted that they have eaten the heart of Late Wolin Korit.

Most of you may not agree but Sorcery is real!

Let’s define sorcery first; according to the Oxford Dictionary; Sorcery is supernatural power or the ability to use supernatural powers—witchcraft or magic. The word sorcery often (though not always) refers to so-called black magic—magic used for evil purposes. It’s a spiritual manifestation!

However, the sons of the late chief decided not to do anything with the three women but they have advised the women to refrain from practising Sorcery and do compensation for the deceased.

The picture attached herein shows the three women being brought to the Ples Sing2 for indept interrogation without any harm.

First time in the history of Sorcery related killings and torturing, the three women were kept safely by the tribesmen.

Don’t spread false rumors;the women are not tortured, they are only being questioned.

Besides all the three women admitted that they have eaten the heart of Late Wolin Korit.

Melanesia

Port Moresby: I have seen too many Evictions

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Eviction in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Eviction in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

In the past 10 years I have been and seen alot of our Papua new Guinea citizens been treated like criminals and been evicted like aminals and it breaks my heart when I see kids crying and mothers when everything they have built is taken down by police and dozers and there is nothing you can do about it.

Yes the first thing people will say is, “send them back to the village”. The only problem with this is most are 2nd or 3rd generation Highlanders and NGI who have been in the city since birth.
The only reason why people buy blocks and settle in settlements is because there is no other option for citizens. What are they supposed to do when rentals are so high and the cost of the proper land and house is over K400,000. Government has no solutions.
Everyone wants a proper home and our national Government must breach the gap for citizens with a policy that will give solve the following. 1 Family 1 home.
1. Aquire land in NCD and Central Province
2. Land owners and ILG clans be partners in any land development with the state in at rate share agreement.
3. Government puts all trunk infrastructure into the new suburbs, Eda Ranu, PNG power, Telikom. Roads.
4. Each family is identified and land given as equity for small working class families.
5. Government subsidies should cut first home buyers to about K150,000 per home. With BSP facilities it should be accessible since the land is purchased by the government.
I can’t wait until our citizens live in proper structured housing estates, that is the PNG dream. 2017 I put my hand up with my policy team Martin and Francis we have a working policy that will work only problem is political willingness to achieve all our dreams to own our own home.
Good night please my sisters and brothers do you live in block, renting, living with family and wantoks or do you own your own home??
Melanesia

More women, children fleeing violence: Centre

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By MARJORIE FINKEO, The National PNG
At least 40 women and children a month flee their homes in Port Moresby because of sorcery-related violence and incest by stepfathers and uncles.
Haus Ruth Crisis Centre for Abused Women and Children revealed that cases of sorcery and incest have increased markedly in the past decade.
The number of women seeking refuge in the centre has increased.
China Railway Construction Engineering (CRCE) PNG Ltd showed its support to these women on International Women’s Day on Friday with a surprise visit.

House Ruth Crisis Centre manager Monica Richards said women between the ages of 20 and 45 years were the largest group seeking help because of forced sex, jealousy, rape and other forms of domestic violence.
“What we do is accommodate them, give them skills training like sewing and small business training, so that after two weeks when their term is over, they have better knowledge to go out and sustain themselves,” she said.

Victims get medical treatment and police and court clearance during their stay.

Richards said many teenagers from high schools escaped from their homes because of violence.
CRCE human resources manager Athena Chow said women’s problems were everyone’s problems.

“It is very important to recognise women on their special day, as it is the only time we come out to talk about issues that are affecting women in society,” she said.

“They are very important people in the society.
“They need to be protected, loved and cared for by their partners without fear.”

The centre has been receiving donations of clothes, funding and food.

Melanesia

Rapist dad jailed 80yrs

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By TREVOR WAHUNE, The National PNG
A 46-YEAR-OLD man who raped his daughter for 12 years was jailed for 80 years on Friday.

And Justice Panuel Mogish said: “I wish you turn 126 years old in prison, if you are lucky enough to live that long. You have been raping your daughter since she was six.

“It’s a horrendous, heinous and an evil crime. Such sexual acts inflicted by a father on his daughter is a gross betrayal of the sacred paternal bond.
“Sexual predators like you who preyed on the flesh of their own daughter is most despicable and inhumane. Sick human beings like you should be ostracised from decent communities and, peace and law-abiding citizens.
“They should be banished from human society and made to live in a community of uncivilised animals.”

Justice Mogish lamented that he was worried that such cases were becoming prevalent in local societies. The man from Galeole in Talasea, West New Britain, pleaded guilty to raping his daughter when she was six in 2004 until she was 18 in April 2016.

The rapes were committed in Morobe and West New Britain where the family lived before moving to Port Moresby. The father was on remand at Bomana for two and a half years.

Justice Mogish said: “I agree with the State to not place much weight on the guilty plea as it was belated.”
The aggravating factors were:

  • The victim was only six when she was sexually violated and was as young as 10 when she was sexually penetrated and that continued until she was 16;
  • For over 12 years, the father felt no guilt and continued raping his daughter;
  • There was a huge difference of 26 years between the father and daughter. She was six and he was 32;
  • The father had prior conviction of assaulting his wife and was jailed for six months in Lae in 2007; and
  • The father was violent towards his daughter and other relatives.

“Respect for the dignity of our womenfolk has diminished because of people who treat women as sex objects rather than as human beings who have the same rights and opportunities as men,” Justice Mogish said.
The victim said in a statement: “Every daughter is her father’s pride. Unfortunately for me, it was the opposite. It saddens me to see girls getting along well with their fathers.

“It was not easy to absolve everything that happened because I lost my virginity to someone I did not love, but to my father. That’s very painful and it will haunt me for the rest of my life.

“My family has never been the same as before. We face hard times and always had arguments. The rapes caused disharmony.

“I feel torn apart and had thought of doing things I am not supposed to, but it was my mother’s courage and encouragement that gave me strength to pursue life and education. I initially dreamt of becoming a geologist but all was shattered because I couldn’t concentrate on my studies as I was constantly disturbed. I missed many classes to attend interviews.”

Justice Mogish told the man that “your daughter sees you as a monster. The sentence must serve as a deterrent to all.”

The Melanesian Way

Relatives of ‘raped’ schoolgirl take K2000

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The NationalNational

By Rebecca Kuku
Relatives of the grade 8 schoolgirl who said she was raped by her teacher in a Southern Highlands school accepted more than K2000 from the teacher’s family as part of “bel kol” compensation payment.

However, the girl’s father told The National that the compensation was received by his family without his consent.

“My family are now calling on me to bring my daughter back up for her to be compensated as the bel kol was already received,” he said.

The father made a call last week for police intervention after he was threatened, intimidated and pressured to remove the police report he had made against the teacher accused of raping his daughter, 16.

The teacher has been charged with raping a minor and is in custody. Police Commissioner Gari Baki said relatives of the accused would be arrested and charged with threatening.

He said threats against people reporting rape cases were against the law.

“Do not accept compensation for rape cases,” he said.

“If someone is raped, it is a criminal offence and a complaint must be laid with police who are duty-bound to arrest the suspect or suspects involved.”
Baki said teachers were given the responsibility to look after students and not to abuse them.

“The threats and intimidation that the accused relatives are allegedly making on the relatives of the young girl are unacceptable,” he said.

“Police will do everything possible to ensure that this matter is dealt with properly and those that are making threats will be arrested and charged.”

The Melanesian Way

Villagers want police, State to pay K100,000

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BY PISAI GUMAR, The National PNG

A COMMUNITY in Lae is still living in shock over the death of two men, one a student, during a clash with police who came to investigate an arson report on Sunday

Dead were Angkef Lazarus, 28, who leaves behind a pregnant wife, and Kwane Gaius Obless, 19, who was in grade 8 last year.

Police had gone to Munum village in Wampar, Huon Gulf, Morobe to investigate the burning down of homes estimated to be worth K50,000. Councillor Sowe Doney said the people wanted K100,000 to be paid by the police and the State to cover funeral expenses.

Huon Gulf district chief executive officer Moses Wanga and his assistant Cliff Wembiong discussed the matter with provincial administrator Bart Ipambonj yesterday.

Wanga said district officials would investigate the incident and collate information for the provincial administration’s deliberation.

Ipambonj plans to send a team of officials to the village to conduct law and order awareness. Provincial police commander Alex N’Drasal said the people needed to understand what caused the problem.

“We should understand what caused the burning of homes and valuable properties leaving families homeless,” N’Drasal said.

Villagers Roy Tepo and Epof Titus said pol



Melanesia Network

Plans to merge land commissions

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THE Government is looking at merging the National Lands Commission and the Land Titles Commission under a new organisation which will be called Lands Tribunal Commission, Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Davis Steven says.

Steven presented a statement in Parliament yesterday on the National Lands Commission (NLC) and said the commission was established under the National Land Registration Act and it conducted hearing on former customary land acquired by the colonial government prior to independence to ascertain if any settlement awards could be awarded and kept a register of such national land.

“It is also important in ensuring titles are formally issued to the state as this is a very important factor when discussing economic development issues in the context of our country,” Steven said.

He said it was one such practical issue that was discussed as part of the government’s efforts to address the themes developed for the leaders’ summit this year.

“So under the current white paper on Law and Justice in Papua New Guinea, there is a proposal to merge both the NLC and the Lands Titles Commission as the Lands Tribunal Commission,” Steven said.

He said the Department of Justice and Attorney-General had initiated administrative arrangements on the merger and was finalised for the legislative framework subject to any further review of the white paper.

“I hope to bring before Parliament for consideration when it is ready,” Steven said.