NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

Aussies enter not guilty plea; yacht seized

BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

Five Australians on bail for entering Bougainville on a yacht allegedly carrying marijuana seem destined to remain in Buka for some time yet.

Yesterday Buka court proceedings were further adjourned to allow the magistrate to see the yacht Pereni for himself.

The court sat on the case for seven hours and it is believed all witnesses have now been called.

The case for the captain was separated from the other four crew and was adjourned to a date to be set.

The five are still out on K1,000 bail until the case is completed.

A New Dawn reporter has seen customs documents that instructed customs officials to seize the Perenti and forfeit it to the state of PNG for not complying with PNG laws.

Election update: 74 candidates nominate so far

BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

A total of 74 candidates have nominated for the Bougainville general elections since writs were issued last Friday.

Five candidates have nominated for the Presidential seat and more are expected before nominations close this Friday.

The presidential candidates are current President, James Tanis, the first woman candidate Magdalen Toroansi, Reuben Siara, John Momis and Martin Miriori.

In the constituency seats, three candidates have nominated for the Terra seat in Wakunai. They are the sitting member Leo Reivasi as well as Justin Kungkam and former kiap Jacob Rerevate.

In the Southern Region, three nominations have been received for the Kopii seat in Siwai, one for the Ramu seat and five for the Motuna Huyono seat also in the Siwai district.

Only one nomination has been received for the Bolave seat in Bana district from a candidate who nominated at the Electoral Commission Office in Lae.

Five women have so far nominated to run in the election, although more are expected in coming days.

The five are Magdalen Toroansi, Elizabeth Sukina in the Kopii seat in the Siwai district currently held by Michael Komoiki, and three in the Northern Region women’s seat - Hona Holand, Cecily Kiots Kekun and Anastasia Lapointe.

In the Northern Region 56 nominations have been received including three for the women’s seat and two for the Ex-Combatants’ Seat.

The two candidates that have nominated for the Ex-Combatants are Franco Hoppin and sitting member Marcellin G Laris.

Five candidates have nominated for Suir, five for Selau, three for the Atolls, five for Peit, ten for Haku, four for Halia, two for Tonsu, three for Tsitalato, five for Hagogohe, three for Taunita/Tinputz and two for Taunita/Teop.

By close of nominations we will know and be able to provide the names of all candidates.

Photo: Presidential candidate Martin Miriori and former Bougainville Premier Dr Alexis Sarei, candidate for Peit, parade through the streets of in Buka on their way to nominate. (Aloysius Laukai)

Australians appear in Buka court this morning

BY ILYA GRIDNEFF

AAP - A former television actor has pleaded not guilty to possessing almost half a kilogram of marijuana on a sail boat surfing charter to PNG.

Putu Winchester, 33, who played a surfer named Pongo in the popular Australian TV series, Home and Away, was arrested in Bougainville with four other men last week.

Winchester - who was also in teenage drama Heartbreak High and police series Water Rats - and friends Thomas Olsen, 43, Clayton McDonald, 33, and Michael O'Neil, 41, yesterday pleaded not guilty to possessing 470 grams of marijuana allegedly found on the 16.5-metre yacht Perenti.

Friends of the NSW men believe the quantity is closer to 47 grams, claiming a recording error when local police weighed the alleged stash at the Buka post office.

Perenti captain, Queenslander Michael Northcote, 46, is waiting for a lawyer to fly from Port Moresby before entering a plea.

PNG customs officers seized Mr Northcote's boat and AAP understands customs and immigration infringements may follow.

The ‘Perenti Five’ were en route from the Solomon Islands as part of RASTA, Real Adventure Surf Tours Australia. According to the RASTA website, the Perenti has sailed the Pacific on surfing tours for the past eight years.

The website advertises: "Sail aboard Perenti, where you will find the surf of your dreams".

But those dreams turned into a nightmare when Bougainville police arrested the men and put them in jail, forcing them to spend a harrowing weekend locked up with hardened criminals.

Since late last week, when the Buka court granted them each K1,000 ($400) bail, they have been staying at a local hotel.

ALOYSIUS LAUKAI reports from Buka:

A case against five Australians charged with illegally entering the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and having in their possession the dangerous drug marijuana has been adjourned for the third time to allow lawyer for the captain to arrive in Buka.

The men were arrested on board  the yacht, Perenti, in waters off Wakunai in central Bougainville.

No plea was entered and the court adjourned their case to 9.30 am today.

John Momis nominates for B'ville presidency

BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

Former Bougainville Regional member and PNG Ambassador to China, John Momis, has become the fourth candidate to nominate for the presidential seat in the second ABG general election.

He was accompanied by a huge crowd of supporters including the sacred Upe group from Wakunai.

Mr Momis will lead the New Bougainville Party in the election.

The other three presidential candidates are current president, James Tanis, Ruben Siara and a woman candidate, Magdalen Toroansi.

President Tanis became the first presidential candidate when he nominated after the issuing of writs last Friday.

He started his campaigning at Gogohe at the weekend and is now in Arawa, Central Bougainville.

Bougainville marks national day for disabled

BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

The people of Bougainville have commemorated National Disability Day with disabled persons making sign languages at the start of the celebrations.

The celebrations included singing, reading sign language and sports for the disabled.

Everlyn Mosanga told participants there are three stages in which a child can develop a disability.

One, in the mother’s womb if the mother does not have a balanced diet, does not seek medical services when pregnant, drinks alcohol or is beaten by her husband when pregnant.

Two, if the mother delivers her baby at home without medical attention.

Three, if there are accidents, fights or violence when under the influence of liquor or drugs.

Ms Mosanga from the CALANG Service said many disabled people were good able people, but became disabled through accidents and other avoidable causes.

She said when many people get malaria they treat themselves with Panadol instead of seeking proper treatment at the hospital or village clinics.

Blood machine arrives at Buka hospital

BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

ABG President James Tanis has delivered a much needed blood machine to Buka General Hospital.

The machine which was bought at a cost of K55,000 came through a donation from the Bougainville Copper Foundation after a request was made by the President when a BCL representative visited Bougainville last year.

Dr Matanu thanked the President and said the machine can help save many lives by carrying out tests previously was done in other PNG hospitals..

He said that the hospital still needs a heart machine to check the many people with heart problems on Bougainville.

Writs issued for Bougainville general election

BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

Writs for the second ABG general election were issued on Friday by House of Representative Speaker Andrew Miriki upon the advice of Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, Reitama Taravaru.

This means nominations for the elections are now open and will close on Friday 2 April.

The ABG President, James Tanis, became the first presidential candidate to nominate and began campaigning after nominating.

Two other candidates nominated for the Atolls seat while one candidate nominated for the Mahari and Haku seat.

On Saturday, sitting member for Hagogohe and Minister for Peace and reconciliation, Robert Hamal Sawa, nominated as a candidate for the Tsitalato seat as did businessman, Cosmas Sohia Ceetow.

Former Bougainville Governor, Ambassador John Momis, is expected to nominate today with several other intending candidates.

In addition, most candidates for the seats in Central and South Bougainville will nominate in their respective districts.

A total of 40 seats are up for grabs in the election: 33 single constituency seats; three seats for women; three seats for former combatants and one extra seat for the President who is voted for directly by the people.

Photo: ABG Parliament worker. Kanaheta [left] with Speaker Andrew Miriki signing the writs at ABG House whilst Electoral Commissioner Reitama Taravaru watches.

After a 44 year dream, first SDA school opens

BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

The first Seventh Day Adventist High School on Bougainville has been officially opened by the Minister for Higher Education and Member for North Bougainville, Michael Ogio.

The school started last year after many years of negotiations between church leaders, landowners and the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

More then 5,000 people attended the opening ceremony, which saw a united Bougainville leadership witness the event.

Those attending included ABG President, James Tanis, Regional MP for Bougainville, Fidelis Semoso, and other ABG politicians.

A senior SDA member and ABG Speaker, Andrew Miriki, told the gathering that the dream of establishing an SDA high school on Bougainville started 44 years ago.

He was happy to be alive to witness the realisation of this dream.

Devare SDA High school started classes with first intake of Grade 9 students last year.

This year will see the first Grade 10 graduation of its pioneer students.

Photo: Bougainville Regional Member, Fidelis Semoso, Local ABG Member, Joe Gitovia, ABG Speaker, Andrew Miriki, and ABG President James Tanis with a Bougainville police officer at the front of the crowd at the opening ceremony of Devare Sda High School. Nationalpic by Aloysius Laukai

Australians on bail as drug case adjourned

BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

A case against five Australians charged with illegally entering the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and having marijuana in their possession has been further adjourned.

The men entered Bougainville on the 16.5 metre Sydney-based yacht Perenti and were detained off Wakunai on the Bougainville east coast.

The ‘Perenti Five’ are the vessel’s captain, Michael 'Northy' Northcote (46), Thomas Olsen (44), Clayton McDonald (33), Putu Winchester (34) and Michael O’Neil (42).

The men entered no plea and the court adjourned their case to next Monday with magistrate, Peter Toliken, releasing the accused on K1,000 kina bail each.

The court further ordered that the passports be held by the court and that they do not leave Buka until their case has been dealt with.

Meanwhile the men are said by the ABC to want to get a new lawyer from Port Moresby.

The stash of marijuana is now alleged to be, in fact, 500 grams not the 10 kg originally reported.

Logging freighter victim of Solomons’ cyclone

BY ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

A large freighter ran aground on a reef off Petats Island last weekend.

According to Buka police, the MV Le Feng, a Chinese logging vessel which operates around the Solomon Islands, was trying to flee a cyclone when its engines failed.

Strong currents washed the Le Feng on to the reef.

Acting Buka police station commander Senior Sergeant Alex Gunan said he had contacted Chinese authorities in Port Moresby.

He said that the Chinese on the boat do not understand English, which makes communication difficult.

Mr Gunan said that the crew on the ship are well and have enough food.