NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

100811 FIRST CASE
By Aloysius Laukai

Coordinator for the Bougainville Disaster Office, Franklin Lacey says that the National Government has in-acted the Small craft act that requires all small boat owners to register and make sure that they have all life saving instruments before leaving the shores.

He said that under the new act boat owners could be charged to any mishaps such as the Torokina incident.

MR. LACEY said that investigations are continuing and the boat owner and the operator could be the first people to answer to charges under this new act.

He said that Police, Disaster Office and other Government Divisions would be involved in implementing this new act.

The Disaster Coordinator also warned all boat owners to comply with this new act.

100911POLICE COMMENTS
By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville Police Service Assistant Commander, THOMAS ELUH says Bougainville could lose its image if actions of certain people are not stopped immediately.

He told New Dawn FM today that the recent organized lootings in Buka town is bad for Bougainville’s image.

MR. ELUH says there are ways of addressing issues and taking the law into one’s hand will only create more problems for Bougainville.

The ACP was also said that investigations into these activities are continuing and called on the people not to support illegal activities.

On the boat mishap in Torokina, MR. ELUH also called on the people of Bougainville to make sure that any deals with outsiders must be done with the ABG administration.

He said that incidents like the Torokina boat mishap is a classic example of people who try to deal directly with landowners and bypass the Authorities on the ground.

MR. ELUH said that investigations are continuing and persons could be charged once the investigations are completed.

100811MORE DEATH EXPECTED
By Aloysius Laukai

Meanwhile reports from Konnou reaching New Dawn FM office in Buka says that more death will occur unless the government intervenes.

A chief from the area called New Dawn FM and called on the Government to intervene as soon as possible as fighting in the area increases.

The chief who wants to remain anonymous said that something must be done as innocent civilians on both sides are caught in between.

He said that within the Konnou area there have been reports of fightings in many more areas which continue to put civilians at risk.

100811ELUH SORI
By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville Police Commander ACP THOMAS ELUH says that the death of WILMO Commander, PHILIP PUSUA should be the last in the Konnou conflict.

Commander ELUH made these remarks when sending his condolence to the family of the late Commander.

He said that the conflict in Konnou has been going on for many years and cannot be solved overnight.

MR. ELUH said that the government was trying its best to end the conflict through peaceful means as it does not want more deaths to occur in the area.

He said that the latest was the move by former combatants to establish dialogue with the fighters in the area.

Commander ELUH is calling on all parties to stop the fighting and talk peace.

100811BOUGAINVILLE HAPPY
By Aloysius Laukai

ABG Vice President PATRICK NISIRA today thanked the National Government for giving Bougainville two Ministries in his government.

MR. NISIRA made these remarks when congratulating the Ministers for Bougainville Affairs and member for South Bougainville, STEVEN KAMA PIRIKA and Minister for Communications and member for Central Bougainville, JIMMY MIRINGTORO.

He said that these appointments reaffirm the commitment of the Papua New Guinea National Government to involve Bougainville in the highest legislative body of Papua New Guinea.

MR. NISIRA said that the ABG is ready to work more closely with the National Government to move Bougainville forward.

The ABG Vice President also thanked the outgoing Bougainville Affairs Minister and Bougainville Regional member, FIDELIS SEMOSO for his contribution to Bougainville as the Bougainville Affairs Minister.

090811report refuted
By Aloysius Laukai
The ABG Minister for Peace and Reconciliation ,NEWTON KAUVA is another Bougainville leader to lass on the Post Courier for misreporting on Bougainville issues.
MR. KAUVA in a news release sent to New Dawn FM yesterday said that the Post courier report of August 2nd was totally malicious, provocative, sensational and must not be seriously taken.
He said that Bougainville and are intelligent and must not be manipulated by this unprofessional biased and hidden agenda kind of reporting.
MR.KAUVA said that the people must understand that Chinese investors are not here to invade Bougainville as the report seemed to imply.
He said that Chinese were here before colonial rule and have assisted us to prosper to this stage.
Chinese were here in Buka, Arawa and Buin as the name China towns still lives on.
We are all part of a global community and this sort of reporting will paint an adverse picture on us as discriminatory region.
At this stage when we do not have the necessary technology,capital and expertize foreign partnership is the way forward to achieve the economic recovery and fiscal self reliance that we are craving for.
He said that the Autonomous Bougainville Government had always said it all along that “There will be no stand alone Enterprise or Business” and we should not press the panic button when Chinese, Australians, Canadians etc come to our region through proper channel to look for partnership opportunities.
The Autonomous Bougainville government is well aware and is in a process of drawing up a policy to reserve certain Businesses for our people which may require less capital and our own local entrepreneurs have proven record to undertake.
The Minister further explained that certain foreigners who are currently operating and competing against our small business people are married to us and our Bougainville constitution allows them to do so.
He said if the people of Bougainville are not happy it is up to the people to decide and revisit the Bougainville constitution to make some changes to it.
Minister Kauva is further appealing to the people of Bougainville to refrain from unlawful intimidation.

090811 13 TO CONTEST
By Aloysius Laukai

THIRTEEN Candidates have nominated to contest the Tonsu By-election at the close of nominations yesterday.

By lunch time yesterday, only eleven candidates were still registered until the eleventh hour when two more nominated to close at 13 candidates.

Immediately after close of nominations, the electoral office the held the order of draw for the ballot papers at the BELL ISI PARK in Buka town.

The final names are, Joel K. Noga a former staff of Izikiel Massat the former member for Tonsu, Eddie Mohin former ex combatant, Former Town Clerk for Arawa Town, Uzaiah Toukes,KOUT KAVOP former Government liason officer, Buka businessmen and Philemon Tulo, former ABG staff MICHAEL TOREAS,JONATHAN RINGIN, ISRAEL KOUT, ISAAC HEKEN THOMPSON, former BCL recruitment officer, JOHN DUMIT, Methodist church Pastor, DUDLEY MATUAN, BEN TSIU CHACKCHUK, and former chairman of Leitana Council of Elders,JOEL BANAM.

Polling will begin on the tenth of September , 2011 and will end on September 15th.

Writs will then be returned to the ABG Speaker on September 28th 2011.

The Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, REITAMA TARAVARU said that he expects about FIVE THOUSAND eligible voters to cast their votes in the By-election.

MR. TARAVARU said that a total of ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND KINA has been requested from the ABG for the Tonsu By-election.

090811momis condolence
By Aloysius Laukai
ABG President, Chief John Momis today sent his condolences to the families of the two foreign nationals(believed to Chinese) who are still missing confirmed to have drowned in a boat mishap at Laruma point off Torokina, West coast of Bougainville.
The two chinese were among seven passengers travelling in a 40HP 23 FT Banana boat from Buka to Torokina on Wednesday August 2nd,2011.
Five passengers were PNG Nationals (four Bougainvilleans and one from Gulf Province).
The passenger from Gulf Province is believed to be an employee of one of the Chinese Nationals, who operates a Gold and Scrap Metal buying business in Lae, Morobe Province and who was travelling to Torokina to buy scrap metal.
“This is an example of foreigners coming to Bougainville without the government’s knowledge, so we do not know that they are here until accidents like this happen, and there is nothing the government can do” said the President.
A search party of locals dispatched by the Bougainville disaster office failed to locate the bodies of the two foreigners and the search has been called off.
In the meantime arrangements are being made to inform the families of the two missing persons.
In conveying his condolences to the families of the two foreigners, ABG President JOHN MOMIS warned foreign nationals visiting remote areas of Bougainville of the risks involved due to lack of proper transportation and the need to be aware of such risks when travelling to outlying districts.

080811 RHEMA TRAINING CENTRE
By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville will have its first intake of Motor Mechanics at the RHEMA TRAINING Centre that will open for Business starting next year.

Enrolment is now open for people who would like to register and start paying their fees by installment as spaces are very limited.

According to a circular released by Rhema Training centre, the fees for one year would be ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED KINA.

Persons who are interested can see the Principal at SAWAHI MOTORS KOKOPAU.

Enrolments would be made between today 08th August to 16th August, 2011.

050811240 THOUSAND CHURCH OPENED
By Aloysius Laukai

CLC church today opened its new church building at Kokopau on mainland Bougainville.

The church building was built at a cost of TWO HUNDRED FOURTY THOUSAND KINA.

NICK MOTOU the owner of LIKUI Trading and man behind the building said that it was a struggle to back fill the area and start the building.

He told New Dawn FM today that it would cost another FIFTY THOUSAND KINA to complete the building which would accommodate renting facilities and accommodation.

The church was opened by Pater John Pasterkemp who started the CLC movement in Papua New Guinea.

He is now retired and live in his country HOLLAND.

Other leaders that were at the opening ceremony included, the ABG Minister for Community Development and Churches, ROSE PIHEI, the member for Selau TERRY MOSE and representative of the member for Nort Bougainville, LAUTA ATOI and church members