The story of West Papua's fight for de-colonisation will be never ending

The story of West Papua's fight for de-colonisation will be never ending 

I moved with my parents to our village in Green River, West Sepik in mid 1990.

For almost three decades my parents lived in Amanab, just north of Green River.

It was quite an experience for me adapting to life in the village that is situated about less than 20 mins drive from Green River government station and several kilometres from the PNG/Indonesia border.

Some of the care free life adventures I enjoyed though were going fishing, hunting for 'ton' in the jungles and swimming at the pristine Green River that meanders from Kambriap in the far north and quite near the PNG Indonesian border through to my village and then to the Sepik River, at Yabru village.

I recall sometimes I felt a bit apprehensive when we used to have Indonesian military helicopters heard flying over and then the sounds fade.

They were quite regular.

One one Sunday during church service we literally saw a helicopter and hear its sound- I think it was like a Chinook hovering around the Kambriap area.

At that time there was quite a heated guerilla ambushes and attacks between the Indonesian military and West Papua freedom fighters.

The borders were not quite as opened today.

We believe they were looking for OPM guerilla fighters.

It was at that same year refugees at Amanab, Green River and Vanimo (Black Wara) were repatriated back to their districts in West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya).

In Green River, there were reports of villagers along the Sepik coming across dead bodies of Indonesian military floating down the Sepik River presumably killed by OPM rebels around the Patom and Huhi areas.

I heard it from elderly men who were trustworthy village leaders.

This week we hear reports about Indonesia launching an oppressive against the West Papua Freedom fighters (formerly identified as OPM).

SBS International TV in Australia has reported about this.

In Papua New Guinea, a Facebook video that has gone viral, has a group in military camouflage and weapons, identifying them as 'Sepiks' have claimed to be now fighting with the West Papua Freedom fighters to kick out Indonesia and ultimately declare Independence.

"That's their ultimate goal."

The PNG police and military officials are investigating the viral video because the PNG government's political stance on West Papua issue is that 'it is an internal issue for Indonesia.'

Though Melanesian countries like Vanuatu has openly declared its position that Indonesia must afford Independence to West Papua.

You see, the issue of West Papua is complex and will be never ending.

The energy and campaign option be it protests, guerilla ambush and war or media releases and attendance to world meetings to garner support will not cease.

This is their cry from the heart.

But in my view they need to fight as 'one'.

And not necessarily taking up arms.

They must talk and discuss. No matter how long it takes.

War must not be an option.

What should Papua New Guinea do?

The report about Papua New Guineans supporting the West Papua Freedom fighters could trigger Indonesia to step up its presence at the border and with the border already opened up, innocent PNG citizens can be caught in between.

I just received information from my uncles back in Green River that they bring their sun dried cocoa beans through the Hauser River and then to a country Indonesian post.

They say roads there are prefect and small sedans pick them up where the river ends and they get off.

Indonesia has really built attractive infrastructure along its border from Jayapura to the mid highlands, west of places like Green River, Yapsie, Tumolbil and Telefomin.

These infrastructure and improved services are like bright city lights for PNG citizens at the border where service delivery as compared to Indonesia is poor.

While the PNG government sees West Papua issue as 'internal' its people at the border from Vanimo to Western Province can be caught in a cross fire when the political war escalates and the government must do everything it can to protect the people.

• Develop the border region so that people are not attracted to Indonesia

 

• Step up military, customs and police presence to stop any illegal border crossing for people to join the freedom fighters

 

• Government must proactively engage in dialogue to settle the West Papua issue once and for all. The country and its people will be caught in between in any circumstance

Man killed during hit and run accident along Poreporena Freeway

Nothing much but we stress here that can our bus drivers take heed and be conscious about safety.

Obey police and traffic rules.

Last week members of NCD Traffic Police impounded two buses and fined them K1000 each using Traffic Infringement Notices.

The PMV operators were told to pay the fine at the Department of Finance and produce the official receipt before they could reclaim their buses.

This police action was taken because the PMV buses were traveling along the Poreporena Freeway; which is an unauthorized route.

Coincidentally, a man who came out of a PMV along the Hohola section of the Poreporena Freeway was run over and killed yesterday by a speeding vehicle.

The victim reportedly came out of a PMV on this unauthorized route and was crossing the Freeway when he was knocked over.

This is exactly the reason why Traffic Police are clamping down on PMVs who are using this unauthorized route.

It is not only illegal but very dangerous.

Police warn PMV Operators to refrain from driving along the Poreporena Freeway.

Who owns the land behind the National Broadcasting Corporation in Port Moresby?

 This is a critical question to be asked at this time as you realise squatter settlements-huts and houses have been erected.

Sooner it will be a full settlement of illegal settlers.

Lately, as Port Moresby expands and more infrastructure like roads are built, people have been displaced.

In most instances these people have own permanent dwellings like homes and or shops worth thousands of kina.

The state gives them a notice to vacate within a period of say 90 days and when they do not, reason being it costs much to relocate, their time lapse and the state demolishes their property.

Thinking hard about this, all could have been avoided.

- People would not have been displaced

- Properties worth in thousands of kina would not have been destroyed

- The state would not be affected in having to give notice and wait before it could begin work

What do we need to do?

Look at the NBC situation, illegal settlers are moving in.

Electricity is being pulled through this beautiful landscape with a million dollar view.

Before the NBC or anyone who owns this land tussles with the 'illegal settlers' when they have permanently erected their dwellings, STOP THEM NOW.

The recent incident at 9 Mile roundabout is a sad reality, a man said he lost properties worth millions of kina.

Poor bugger has been doing well and though he owned the place, the state did not stop him when he started. 

He has grown overtime only to be dragged down to ashes to start again.

The challenge is for all government agencies, urban planners or land administration people is to be proactive and protect state land or any property from illegal 'annexation' well before people claim ownership of it and then you go into a dispute.

The practice of displacing people after they have settled overtime on state land must be discouraged, just stop them when they are trying to move in.

Build strong institutions to rid corruption

 We have to build strong institutions to arrest corruption. 

First thing is to have a top executive who can ensure the systems are working well and are not corrupted by a few. 

If there are holes there fix it. 

We have people who are laxed or complacent and they allow corruption to thrive and permeate into the fabric of institutions. 

Have people like Sam Koim who are decisive and focused to achieve this because they began well. 

I am pointing to the public institutions. 

But there are private institutions that need attention too. 

Take ownership of elections, don't beg from politicians

 Jackson Kiakari, a candidate for the Port Moresby Northwest by election highlights a point that may not be as audible  to everyone.

If you watched his video campaign he said he has no money to buy votes.

In fact he stressed he does not believe that offering money or gifts to anyone and getting votes turn out well as far as development was concerned.

An important subtle point that protuded was that voters must own elections. 

What does that mean?

Rather than voters asking politicians for money, voters must own elections by giving them cash to campaign or providing any necessary  support.

The support should be influenced by policies and ideals of the candidate and the return for this is equal service delivery- not individual handouts.

Its time we take this course and  own elections- not candidates and political parties owning us.

RH 5 Mile fuel station rakes customers

 When ownership of the 5 Mile service station was changed last year, Papua New Guineans protested against it.

What we saw  was indeed a protest of great magnitude with very less or nill number of cars refueling at the service station on a daily basis.

A great contrast to what it used to be described as one of the busiest service stations in Papua New Guinea.

The protest was against logging giant Rimbunan Hijau (RH) who got the contract from Mobil after local company Lifu Holdings held the contract for several years.

Sadly though the protest has been short lived.

RH still wins. Mobil still wins.

The place is now raking customers again.

We just received a close up picture of the service station.

We think if we want to challenge the status quo we must be firm about it.

In this case do not buy fuel there at all.

Would you prefer shopping at trade store or supermarket?

 Are you are  a transactional or relational shopper?

A transactional shopper is cost conscious and  desires to shop at low cost places. 

A relational  shopper has a relationship  with a shop and no matter what tje cost is, they will always shop there. 

Carefully monitor prices of food items at major Port Moresby shop, their prices ar more than a trade store at your suburb.

This pop drink sachet cost ﹰK0.65 at ﹰStop and ﹰSﹰhop but at a trade store at ﹰGarden ﹰHills it costs ﹰKﹰ0.50.

Shop wisely.