The debate continues

G'day from Canberra, Australia,

Since leaving Bougainville on the 8th of May I've managed to spend my time running around NZ and Australia. Places I've managed to visit (in order of appearance): Port Moresby, Brisbane, Napier, Wellington, Auckland, Sydney, Woollongong, Canberra and Jindabyne. Have managed to see most of my friends and family which is fantastic, but all this travel and socialising left me exhausted! Am now temporarily settled in Canberra, where I've been relaxing and taking things in. I hope to work at Perisher Ski Field for the winter season so I hope the snowfall improves soon...

Enough about me though. Those who have worked in PNG, whether as a volunteer or on a salary, may take great interest in this article. Susan Merrell, a freelance journalist hits the common points on the debate around whether Australian aid can really help PNG. I encourage you to check the comments that follow, they run across the spectrum. For a local perspective check out this blog post on Tubuans and Dukduks.

Also have some news on Bougainville. Apparently there was a bit of drama in Arawa with a ship coming illegally into PNG waters (again) and handing out arms to a local faction that is competing for the last of the oil at Loloho. The faction was successful and managed to out do a dodgy Kiwi/local joint venture which had spent months working to salvage the oil (this had nothing to do with the NZ government or other Kiwis working in Bougainville).

The dodgy Kiwis apparently retaliated by complaining to the authorities on their way out of PNG. The PNG Customs and Immigration Department eventually intercepted the boat and seized the ship when it left Loloho on its way to Singapore. It is anyone's guess as to what is going to happen to all that valuable oil now...

The real issue here is the impact on New Zealand ex-patriots in Bougainville. I'm reliably told that a curfew was imposed on the weekend of the 19th of June because factions associated with the ship fought local police and threatened to seize assets associated with NZ. This just reinforces the importance of local relationships in ensuring any ex-patriots are safe. All it takes is one group with selfish interests to put everyone at risk.

On a less serious note, to those who offered support for Alvin I am pleased to say that my last act in Bougainville was to purchase an open ticket that will fly a dermatologist to Buka so that Alvin can finally get the treatment he needs. Bjorn has updated his website with the details here. My flatmate Victoria (still in Buka) is now pushing for confirmation of the travel dates. I will continue to post updates on this as they come through.

All right, plenty to chew on in this post! Lukim yu.

Bogan I Go Pinis

Hey there,
After 21 months of adventures I finished my contract and left Bougainville on the 8th of May 2010. It was an amazing adventure....I wish I could say more, but words fail me!
Thanks for reading my blog, I don't know if I will keep it up but at least for now it stays for those with an interest in the issues I've written about. If you are interested in Bougainville and have any questions I can be contacted on hi.mrwolf@gmail.com. If I can't help I may be able to forward you onto someone who will.
Peace, love and jagermeister,
Wolfy.

Elections

The elections have closed and the results are in: John Momis will be the new President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. He will be Bougainville's third President (James Tanis is the outgoing President, voted in after Joseph Kabui passed away during the first term). If you'd like to know more, the Ginger Ninja has covered it here.

Alvin IV

G'day,

Sorry for the lack of updates on the Alvin issue. We had originally intended to have the dermatologist visit Buka in early April but due to some miscommunication with my bank the funds for the dermatologist's flights were not transferred in time. Am pleased, however, to let you know that we have raised a total of 1,582.55 kina through the website and direct donations to me. This will cover the cost of flights for the dermatologist.

We have contacted the dermatologist twice this week and we are currently waiting for confirmation of arrival and departure dates. I am hoping he will wish to come within the next two weeks. Will keep you posted.

Thanks for the support.

Enough law, no order

In my previous post I told the story of our Chief Administrator's run in with raskols in Siwai. Although this story was of interest on its own, it illustrates some significant problems facing law and justice in Bougainville.

As a local senior official has often said, "Bougainville has lots of laws but no order." The system of law and justice in Papua New Guinea is a slowly merging mix of customary and formal* approaches to conflict resolution. Bougainville is establishing a similar system post-Crisis. But it faces some significant challenges.

For example, at present there is approximately one police officer for every 1,341 Bougainvilleans, which, given that the population is mostly rural and spread over mountainous terrain, puts the formal system under some strain. The Bougainville Police Service are also unarmed and under resourced (shortage of houses, vehicles, police posts etc).

It is therefore not surprising that the BPS are struggling to assert their authority in the community. But we need that to change because there are a number of trends in the community that the ABG needs to get a handle on. They include:

• the prevalence of violent crime in the community (i.e. sexual assaults and retributive killings);
  
• the prevalence of domestic violence in the community;
  
• the continued presence of guns in the community;
  
• the trade in small and light arms over the border with the Solomon Islands; and
  
• the continued existence of the Morgan Junction and Tonu roadblocks.
  

These challenges are significant and I should note that none of the problems detailed here are unique to Bougainville – you will find similar examples in many other provinces in Papua Guinea, as reported by local media. The question for the Autonomous Bougainville Government is: can it take advantage of its autonomous status and steer the region away from the trend of rising crime and insecurity in Papua New Guinea?

 

* When I use the term 'formal' I am referring to the legal system introduced by Australia and adopted by Papua New Guinea when it gained independence in 1975.

The Mob Rules

I have a story for you. As far as I am aware this is a close a rendition of the truth.

Our Chief Administrator, the bureaucratic head of the public service, was recently accosted in Southern Bougainville. Six thugs, or raskols, decided they wanted his government vehicle and used an M16, a .303, a shotgun, a hand made gun and a grass knife (a grass knife is a very long machete) to try and persuade him to hand it over. He refused, explaining that his driver had the keys, which was a good idea since the driver wasn't there at the time. The raskols left and promised to come back for the car later.

The Chief Administrator then collected his driver and went and complained to the local chiefs. The chiefs in turn called on the local ex-combatants to round up the raskols.

I should note at this point that ex-combatants are still relied on as an alternative to responding to crime through the police. Their 'bush justice' essentially involves finding those who are allegedly guilty, taking them into the bush and applying brute force. Sometimes only the ex-combatants return.

And so the raskols were rounded up. As soon as the Chief Administrator heard he rushed down to intervene, fearing of course that they wouldn't survive the encounter….but they did, although one had a few chunks taken out of him with a machete. They are all in custody in Buin, apart from Mr Chunks, who is in Buka General Hospital. Reconciliation between the raskols, their people and the Chief Administrator is currently being planned and the Chief Administrator is in good spirits.

End of story time. You can now return to your completely different world.

Dunedin, what happened?

First the Bowler was lost, now Gardies…one by one Otago's famous student institutions are disappearing…I propose a day of remembrance, lest we forget.