Articles
Kingston Namun "Crisis survivor"
Gary Fagon "Polygamy – taking a second look"
Annette Sete "Changing their lives"
Miriam Mantu "Living life on the streets"
Crisis survivor
As Bougainvillians gather to forget the past, Kingston Namun interviews one young man who says that it's the youths who will make a change for the better
Seeing your father shot before your very eyes is an experience that would always haunt your memories. For Jacob Kia Potoura and others like him who were in the ten-year Bougainville crisis, it was a terrible, yet not uncommon experience.
In 1990, Jacob was in grade eight at Kieta High School. When the blockade began, the students were sent home. Jacob went back to his village, aria, in Buin, South Bougainville, and stayed with his family. His village was a BRA-controlled area so most mothers and daughters had left the village to hide in the, nearby bush and hills for safety.
One morning, over 200 men surrounded their house. The BRA suspected Jacob's father of collaborating with the PNG Defense Force to over take the village. The BRA ordered Jacob and his family out. There were ten of them.
"They began beating us with timber and the gun butts until our faces swelled and our bodies couldn't feel the pain anymore," said Jacob.
They were then told to march in single file all the way to their base camp in Kieta. It was a journey of about 2 hours.
"We knew it was only a trick. We were never going to reach Kieta because we would be killed along the way.
"When we approached the Loluai Bridge, the commander in charge told us to run.
"I knew then that they were going to kill my father, so I didn't run. My brother, who was beside me, couldn't move either. The rebel commander turned around, pulled out his shotgun and shot my father in the chest. He fell down and we knew he was gone. Dead.
"They picked him up and threw him over the bridge and into the water below.
"He then commanded us to walk across the bridge.
"Time moved so slowly. I knew that it was our end. I knew that if there was someone out there who could help us, it was the Lord.
"Then he told us to line up in a straight line across the bridge. Time stood still.
"Suddenly, we heard a car coming.
"It was one of the BRA commanders who was on his way to Kieta, too. He stopped his car, came out and examined us. We knew that he knew we were never going to make it to Kieta alive. He asked the commander in charge if he could take us with him on the vehicle. There was a heated argument between them, but eventually the other commander gave in.
"We boarded the car and made the trip to Kieta. We stayed in the base camp for six months before I was allowed to go home."
For young men like Jacob, the emotional scars are just too deep be easily healed over.
It has been estimated that over 20,000 men, women and children of Bougainville died during the crisis.
Many young Bougainvillian men have turned to homebrew and marijuana to get away from the memories. Trying to come to terms with the hatred and sorrow has left many young men emotionally damaged.
The ten-year conflict has also changed the traditional lifestyle of the people. "Many young men today don't listen to their elders.
Today's young boys hold and operate guns and think they can rule the place," said Jacob.
"We cannot change it immediately because it has gone on for years."
Jacob said that the start of the war was good, but many men used the war to their advantage so it eventually spiraled out of control.
After ten years of fighting, bloodshed and sickness, the great promise of reconciliation will now rest with the Bougainvillians.
Jacob is cautiously optimistic.
"I think the weapons disposal programme is gaining momentum and I believe it will bring lasting peace," he said.
"If only everybody, especially the men, could come to a common understanding then they will all bring the guns.
"However, from the pictures I have seen, I believe high-powered rifles like AK47, Ml6 and SLRs are still being withheld.
"The men will have to take a lead and start handing in the weapons of war if they want the referendum on Bougainville to become a reality.
"It is the young men of Bougainville who are going to make a change for the better."
Polygamy – taking a second look
Gary Fagon finds out whether polygamy is still cherished as an important part of culture, or seen as something to be left behind.
Papua New Guinea can boast diverse cultures and traditions that are not found anywhere else in the world. But there is one aspect of PNG culture that is hotly debated, and that is polygamy marrying more than one woman. Where people come from has a lot to do with their opinions.
Max hails from Henganofi District in the Eastern Highlands Province.
"Polygamy is a common practice in my culture. It is a belief our forefathers upheld many years ago. Even today, this practice still prevails," says Max.
Original motives
Max gave several reasons for polygamy being allowed in his culture, which have their roots in the past.
The first was to ease the work burden.
People believed that workload such as raising pigs and gardening could be reduced greatly if more people were engaged through marrying women from different families.
Popularity and status was also a big factor. Becoming popular in the community was something most men dreamt of. One way of gaining popularity was to marry many women.
Safeguarding traditional land was another reason.
During the early days, there was a surplus of land and one person could end up owning a large piece of land.
He was encouraged to have many children to work it and inherit it. And the most efficient way to get many children was to marry more than one woman.
Another reason for having more than one wife was to increase your clan's number of warriors for tribal fights. More children also made life much easier during people's old age. Elders had to depend on their children in times of need. Men were also permitted to take a second wife if his initial wife was found to be unable to bear children.
Max defends polygamy, saying that the situations and circumstances during the primitive age allowed for polygamy.
Today, the infiltration of Western influences into PNG culture has seen the fading of this once very strong tradition. Yet it is still an important part of people's heritage and culture.
Contrasting view
Therese, a 40-year-old librarian from Madang Province has a different view about polygamy.
"Polygamy was totally unheard of in my culture. This practice was never seen nor allowed or even talked about.
"Men in my culture were obliged to marry just one woman," recalls Therese. She said because having more than one wife had never been accepted in her community, if a man did so, he would demean his character and his family and would lose the respect bestowed on them. "He would be a disgrace to the community," she says. Therese said: "I can't see any advantages at all in polygamy and I am strongly opposed to this concept." She says the coming of the church was good because it brought a lot of changes to her culture and PNG at large. However, she says not all cultures and traditions in PNG should be done away with. She says many of PNG's traditions and cultures were very useful and should be preserved and protected from dying away.
Erico is from Goilala District in the Central Province. He says polygamy was known in his culture, though it was not as strong as in the Highlands. He says polygamy was permitted and practiced in his area for two fundamental reasons: the need to increase the workforce and if a woman was unable to have children. He said if a man had a big piece of land and did not have enough children he would be encouraged by the man's relatives or the community to take a second or third wife. Secondly, if a man's wife couldn't have children, the man would be encouraged to seek a second wife. Asked if polygamy is still strong today in his culture, he said: "No, it is slowly fading away because of the beliefs brought in by churches."
Traditionally, polygamy was most common in the Highlands, and partially practiced or unheard of in other areas.
Different motives today
In the modem society, polygamy is still practiced. However, the reasons are quite different from those in the early days.
Men, especially those who are wealthy and educated, are using their wealth and position to lure women to marry them.
These days it seems like the motives are more for pleasure, entertainment and status. This is why it is found in towns and cities, where the old reasons of safeguarding land or working the land are not so relevant. Wealth and position have become the driving forces causing young girls to get hooked up with married men. This was not the situation in the early days.
It is unfortunate to see most traditional beliefs and customs slowly dying or being corrupted. Protecting PNG culture should be a priority. Because by the time we realise its importance, it may be too late.
Changing their lives
As the number of inmates in the country's prisons increases, one jail is on its way to helping prisoners change their ways after they leave jail. Annette Sete looks at how Beon Prison in Madang is rehabilitating its inmates by teaching them valuable skills
Imprisonment is not only to punish lawbreakers, but also to rehabilitate them so that they can go back into society as law-abiding citizens.
Dick Kari is one of the many prisoners at the Beon Prison in Madang who is engaged in a rehabilitation programme, aimed at helping prisoners learn new skills whilst serving time in jail. He had successfully passed the entry examination to study under the Centre of Distance Education (CODE) programme to learn basic Maths, English and write in Pidgin and English.
Dick was a proud man during the recent opening of a new rehabilitation centre for the prisoners at Beon in March this year. He was happy because he would benefit from the facility.
The building was an initiative of the Madang Provincial Government and was funded at a cost of K2I,000.
"I came here as a prisoner and most of my rights were taken away from me because of the wrongs I have done. But over the time I was here, I have learnt so many new things, which I could not have learnt, even if was out in my own society. "I am very happy about this new building. I may be in jail but it is as if I am outside in the society learning all those things."
The new rehabilitation centre at Beon houses a classroom, a workshop and a small office. The classroom caters for inmates enrolled with distance education and the workshop serves as a training base for carpentry.
Beon Jail Commander Charles A'au said that as part of the rehabilitation programme many prisoners like Dick were taught skills they can use when they are released from prison, such as carpentry, plumbing, welding, and electronics, plus poultry and rice farming and pig rearing.
Rehabilitation is a policy of the Correctional Institutional Services to help reform prisoners. It is not a new concept in Papua New Guinea. It was introduced during the colonial days, but has never really worked well. Commissioner for Correctional Institutional Services Richard Sikani said there were no clear policies for rehabilitation until recently.
In 2000, a plan for prisons in PNG was drawn up to equip inmates with various skills. He said since then the programme has picked up well.
Many prisoners saw potential in such a programme and were eager to learn. Like Dick, they appreciated the efforts by prison officers and many others who have helped in setting up the programme.
Whatever the offences prisoners have committed, they are still part of this country. Given the chance, they can contribute meaningfully towards the development of Papua New Guinea.
The Correctional Service in Madang also called on government agencies, NGOs and churches to help its Detainee Education programme.
Assistant Commissioner for Welfare and Rehabilitation, Solomon Kai, said the Detainee Education programme was an ongoing process in helping teach prisoners throughout the country basic literacy and numeracy skills.
"For the last eight months we have been trying to make the process a formal one where people in different organisations can come here and teach the prisoners something valuable," he said.
Mr Kai said the correctional service had adopted an "open door policy" where the community was asked to help in the rehabilitation of prisoners.
He said there were numerous prisoners throughout the country who were benefiting from the programme. He said the best example was of a prisoner in Baisu Jail in Lae who is attending classes at Unitech.
Mr Kai said that the rehabilitation of the prisoners in the country was one of the government's priorities but because of the country's financial constraints, they couldn't do enough.
"We need funds to sustain and develop this detainee education programme, but we understand the financial constraints the government is facing therefore we cannot do much at this stage."
Living life on the streets
Like many youths, Sony spends his days roaming the streets or hanging out at the bus stand. With his parents gone, Sony has to resort to his own ways to survive. By Miriam Mantu
Blaring horns from PMV buses sounded while fee collectors from each bus called out their destinations. Dust and black fumes from exhaust pipes filled the atmosphere. People pushed and shoved at each other as they rushed to get onto the next bus.
At the far end of the bus stop sat a young man. His blue cut jeans had stains all over. His shirt was actually white, but it looked brown because it had not been washed for days.
The sore on his leg was attracting a lot of flies, so he constantly swung his leg to and fro to keep them away. He was using a small pocket knife to clean his long, brown fingernails, and from time to time, he raised his head to look at the buses that stopped to pick their passengers.
Family woes
Sony left school four years ago because of school fee problems. His father died when he was ten years old and his mother remarried an expatriate. His mother and her new husband moved to Australia, and left Sony behind.
Sony lived with his father's relatives in the settlement. He spent most of his time with the boys who roamed the streets. He was quiet and shy, but he always had something to say when he was with his mends.
Sony hardly talked when he was at home. The only place to find him when he was not with his mends was in his room. An empty room with no proper bedding. Just a piece of old laplap to keep him warm and a hard floor that gave him backache every morning.
Life with his uncle and aunty was very hard. The young boy usually slept without food because he was too ashamed to ask. Sony felt it wasn't right to complain because they were not his real parents.
When he went to the house and found that he had no food again, he would always go into his room and force himself to sleep. With tears in his eyes, Sony would recall the fun times he had with his parents, just like any other ordinary family. And how he had everything because he was their only child. But now, everything had gone the opposite way. He was treated unfairly, and most times he would just hang around with his mends to keep away from his aunty and uncle.
Usually, he had to look for his own money to buy food to keep him going.
A chance
Three hours had passed, and Sony still sat and watched as shoppers on the far side of the bus stop went in and out of the main shopping centre with plastic bags filled with goods. His eyes watched everyone near him. He even stared at people who walked past, as if trying to search them with his eyes. Most of them were carrying shopping plastics.
Sony noticed that the woman standing in front of him had her purse sticking out of her pocket. His eyes latched onto the purse. Then he looked around to see if anyone was watching him. Moving a little closer to her, he pushed his hands into his pockets. He stood there and pretended to wait for the next bus.
The woman started to move towards some people who had already crowded around the door of the bus. Sony followed her. As she pushed her way in, Sony went closer to her, pulled the purse out and slowly walked away.
Searching the purse as he walked, he found a K5 note. He then took the money out and threw the empty purse into the nearby bushes. He pushed the money into his pocket and walked away.
Sao Hoire and Frank Genaia "Herbal medicine"
Vavine Vere "Suffering in silence"
Luana Paniu "No gat skul fi"
Melissa Fairi "Uncertain future"
Herbal medicine
By Sao Hoire and Frank Genaia
Bush herbs are used to treat many village children.
Florence Amuki, a mother of four children who also looks after three children of single mothers, is a strong advocate of herbal medicine. "I always try other ways to heal my children instead of depending on medicine from the hospital," she said.
Florence, 29, a housewife, comes from Kumana village in Bogia District and is married to a businessman from Kamasina village in the same district. She said some imported drugs were not effective on patients because they were kept in the hospital for a long time resulting in them becoming stale. "I guess that is why most of these drugs do not cure sicknesses fairly quickly," she said.
Ms Amuki first heard of herbal medicine through a local health worker who ran community health workshops at Bogia Station. The health worker advised parents on how to use different types of plants to treat the different types of sicknesses.
She said instead of relying on modern drugs, there were herbs to cure illnesses such as asthma and high blood pressure. "Sicknesses that are very common in this village are colds, malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and polio. "Since most of our children suffer from these illnesses, we look for means and ways to treat them by using herbs from the bush," she said.
Ms Amuki said herbs she was introduced to included fruits and leaves of trees. "For malaria, you drink the soup of a type of grass three times a day and for asthma, you eat a type of fruit that when ripe, tastes like passion fruit," she said. "I use a type of grass that smells like lemon to treat cold when my children are suffering from it,” she said.
When Kumoi Robin, nine, gets asthma, he goes to the bush to find a traditional medicine. Kumoi has had asthma since he was a child. His sickness mostly comes when he inhales dust. That's when there is a dry season or if he eats “aibika” greens. He said: “Taim mi liklik babi, papa na mama, save helpim mi tasol nau mi yet save helpim me.” (When I was a baby my parents helped me but now I find my own medicine.) Many times hospital tablets don't help and that was why he was introduced to a plant by his grandfather. He said: “Taim mi save pilai na pilim sotwin kwik taim mi raun I go painim dispela plaua.” (When I play and feel that asthma is getting on me, I quickly look for that plant.)
Suffering in silence
Vavine Vere reports on Joshua's battle with sickness
Sounds of waves crashing against the beach can be heard in the distance. The laughter of excited children fills the humid afternoon air at the village of Kamsina, near Bogia.
Children of all ages run, talk, play, laugh or just look on in curiosity at the newcomers. Some children are naked, others half clothed and a very few fully clothed, but all are unconcerned about their state of dress or undress.
Amid the happiness one little boy lies behind a hut in the sand and quietly looks on. He wears only a pair of faded red shorts, torn at the buttocks. He looks at all the activities of his mates through sad eyes.
"Hey, olsem wanem?" someone asks and his mother replies from inside one of the smaller huts, "Em sik ya." (He's sick.)
"Joshua, kirap na kam dringim marasin," she calls. (Joshua, get up and come drink your medication.)
Hearing his mother speak he crawls over to the fireplace where the embers of the fire are slowly dying out. He lays his small frame close to the fire just inches away from a small, blackened kettle.
Joshua is only six. But the way he deals with whatever sicknesses are inside his body is admirable. He does not sulk or cry.
The voice of another child can be heard crying. This child is held by a man while a woman standing over them tries to pour what looks like mashed chalk dust solution into the child's mouth with a spoon. The child wriggles and the solution is spilt allover his face. "Dispela senis long weder i kisim planti sik kam," explains the man. "Sampela ol lain bilong taun i kam tok olsem klaimet i senis nau olsem na planti ol pikinini bai kisim malaria kus na asthma." (This change in the weather has brought a lot of sicknesses. Some people from the town said that due to the climatic changes a lot of the children will now get malaria, cold and flu or asthma attacks.)
Ignatius Simbaior is the village councilor and the two children are his. Mr Simbaior explains that a lot of the children in the villages have been sick lately. He says that it is difficult to get good medical help from the people in the Bogia District health centre for many reasons. He says he is worried about the health of the children.
" Ol lain long haus sik no save kam hariap, no gat marasin, o kain olsem. Mi bai tok olsem health sevis long hia i no gutpela tumas," Mr Simbaior said. (The workers in this medical centre do not turn up for work on time, no medicine or things like that. Generally I would say that the service here is not so good.)
He emphasized that the medical fees of 20 toea for treatment and 50 toea for remedial were regarded as fair by the village people. But there was a great need to improve the health care centers around the country.
Mr Simbaior said that people should strive to improve the good health of children in this country. “Joshua wanem hap blo yu i pen?" he asks his little son. (Joshua, what part of your body is hurting?)
But Joshua just stirs a little to make himself more comfortable and continues as before.
No gat skul fi
Luana Paniu meets a bright girl whose parents cannot afford her education
Gav Stoa teenager Medora Daniel doesn't go to school because her parents can't afford it. Medora, 14, is one of many Gov Stoa children deprived of an education for this reason. She only completed three years of formal education at Kusbau Primary School. "I started going to school in 1993 but my parents pulled me out after I finished grade three," she said.
Although Medora did well in school, her parents could not afford the fees. She said that her father was disabled and could not get a good job. "He lost an arm in an accident."
"There are eight children in the family and since my mother is not working it's a real struggle for my parents to look for school fees for us kids," she said. She said that her younger brother and two sisters were the only ones in school. "My two older brothers went to school but one only completed up to grade ten and is now wandering the streets without a job," she said.
Medora said that her other brother completed grade 12 and was the only one working."He works for Lutheran Shipping."
"Even though he earns money for the family every fortnight, it's not enough to support all of us because we still live with our parents," she said. "I'm looking for a job, probably as a gardener or a babysitter, to earn enough money to go to school," she said.
She said that she wished she was in school then she could go further to tertiary studies.
One day she would like to get her own house so she could move away from the Gav Stoa settlement.
"I want to be able to have a good life so later on I can help my parents," Medora said.
Uncertain future
Melissa Fairi reports on how a boy's education hinges on his father finding a job
Taylor Micah is a six-year-old Gav Stoa boy of mixed Sepik, Goroka and Madang heritage. Like any other parent, his mother Naomi, who is from the Sepik, hopes her child completes his education. Taylor is the oldest of three boys. He attends Kusbau Primary School in Madang and is in an elementary class. His father's sister, who used to work at Best Buy supermarket, formerly paid his school fees. However this aunty has moved to Lae.
This worries Naomi, as neither she nor her husband have a job to work and they cannot pay his school fees. Naomi hopes that her husband can find job quickly so that he can pay the fees. She said that if her husband does not find a job, they will stop Taylor from continuing. Naomi said that when they did not have food for breakfast, she often kept Taylor home. "I no olsem mi les long em bai go long skul, tasol, bikos mi les long em bai go taim em no kaikai long moning na nogut bai em hangre," Naomi said. (It's not that I do not want him to go to school, it's that I do not want him to go to school without breakfast, feeling hungry.) She said that living in the settlement was really hard.
However, they had to bear with it as this was their only home and they had nowhere else to go. The house they live in belongs to her husband's relatives, but they left and her husband renovated it. It's a two-bedroom house and one room is for the children, while Naomi and her husband share the other room. Their toilet is quite a walking distance away. They rely on her husband's relatives for money and food. The relatives, from Karkar Island, send kaukau, fish and greens to eat every week.
Naomi expects her fourth child to be born soon. However, she said that she has never gone to the hospital for check-ups as it is expensive and they could not afford the fee. She said that when she was about to deliver she would go to the hospital.
Joe Weber "How free are we?"
Matrom John "How good is the media in PNG?"
How free are we?
Papua New Guinea has one of the most vigorous, robust and vibrant media of the Pacific, but there have been times when this independence and freedom has been challenged. Joe Weber outlines some of the factors that influence the freedom of the media in PNG.
Regulation of ownership
Papua New Guinean ownership of the media has long been seen as desirable, partly because of a widespread perception that foreign media reports about PNG are sensationalised and harm the image of the country. But it has not been achieved.
The country's two daily newspapers are foreign-owned. The Post-Courier is published by South Pacific Post, a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, with PNG citizens sharing in the ownership of 29 per cent. The National, set up in 1993, is owned by the Malaysian-based Rimbunan Hijau Group, which has set itself the target of becoming a leading multinational conglomerate built upon timber, plantations, media and IT operations by 2005.
The Independent and Wantok Niuspepa are published by Word Publishing, which is owned by the four major churches of Papua New Guinea: Catholic 55%, Lutheran 25%, Anglican 10% and United 10%.
The government-funded public broadcaster, the National Broadcasting Commission, dominates radio in Papua New Guinea and reaches about four million people. Until late 1994, it enjoyed a broadcasting monopoly in Papua New Guinea. Communications Fiji Ltd, a private radio company, then launched NauFM, aimed at a younger audience, and in 1997, it began a second station, YumiFM, in Tok Pisin. The station, operated by PNG FM Pry Ltd, is 80 per cent PNG-owned, with the 20 per cent balance being owned by Communications Fiji Ltd, which also manages the station.
In August 2000, a new commercial radio station, FM Central, was officially launched by Hirad Limited. It was described as a Papua New Guinea company aiming to develop regional broadcasting within the country, and was said to be owned by (unnamed) prominent Papua New Guineans.
EM TV is owned by Australia's Channel Nine network.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION
Freedom of expression is guaranteed by Section 46 of the Constitution. It states: "Every person has the right to freedom of expression and publication, except to the extent that the exercise of that right is regulated or restricted by a law."
John Momis, "the father of the nation" who helped draw up the Constitution, said this section was included to enable rights and freedoms in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be enforceable within Papua New Guinean courts of law.
However, the effectiveness of this Constitutional guarantee has been questioned. In 1989, Bernard Narokobi wrote: "Freedom of expression exists for those with big mouths and for the government. There is more freedom of expression (in the newspapers at least) for Prime Ministers and Ministers than for the opposition. There is even more freedom for the sensational crime reporters, especially foreigners."
The National Broadcasting Commission is the most vulnerable to government pressure of all media outlets in PNG and has faced restrictions to its freedom of expression. It depends upon the government for its budget, which has been cut in real terms over the years. Political pressure has also been exerted in a number of ways.
Nevertheless freedom of expression in Papua New Guinea has survived, but it is up to journalists to defend and maintain it. In 1990, Sean Dorney, ABC correspondent, noted: "The gravest danger facing the PNG media is inaccuracy. The more times journalists do not get the facts correct, the more ammunition they give those in Parliament who want to be given the power to silence them." Those words are still true today.
DEFAMATION
The Defamation Act 1973 defines and regulates civil and criminal defamation in Papua New Guinea and senior PNG journalists know that threats of legal action are common. They are taken very seriously, even in many cases being settled out of court, as large sums of money can be involved.
In August 1999, the Supreme Court overturned K40,000 damages for defamation which had previously been awarded to an American missionary couple. It ruled there was no malice in the publication in The National of a media statement issued by the then vice minister for Foreign Affairs.
In March 2001, Enga Governor Peter Ipatas filed a defamation lawsuit against the provincial caretaker administrator Kundapen Talyaga, claiming K500,000 for general damages for having falsely and maliciously printed and published, or caused to be published in the print media, false and serious allegations.
PRIVACY
The Constitution provides everyone with "the right to reasonable privacy" and individuals' rights to privacy have been protected by the courts. In July 1999, the National Court found that the actions of heavily armed police conducting a search of a family home in the presence of journalists had been a breach of privacy.
No separate privacy law exists in Papua New Guinea and this may be partly because the media has been reluctant to pry into people's private lives.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Section 51 of the Constitution grants every citizen the right of reasonable access to official documents, but no Freedom of Information legislation has been passed by Parliament. Transparency International is now drafting a bill.
CENSORSHIP
A Chief Censor has responsibility for ensuring the "standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by a reasonable adult person in Papua New Guinea" are maintained. The Act excludes all publications sponsored by the national government or a provincial government, and allows others to be exempted, such as educational materials and daily newspapers.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS
The media is able to report on what occurs in Parliament. Since the June 1997 general election EM TV has broadcast live parliamentary debates. Previously, sittings of the legislature had been broadcast live by the NBC when issues were of national interest.
There have been occasional difficulties. In October 2000, the Speaker Bernard Narokobi rejected a plea from Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta to refer the Post-Courier to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee for inaccurately reporting that he had been referred to the committee. The newspaper's report came after deputy Opposition leader Peter Peipul alleged the Prime Minister had misled Parliament and called for him to be referred to the Privileges Committee. The newspaper mistakenly reported he had been referred to the committee, although the Speaker later refused to refer him. The Speaker also rejected the plea to refer the Post-Courier and added: "In all the circumstances, I'm of the view the Post-Courier publication was an innocent ignorant mistake made by innocent ignorant reporters."
PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE MASS MEDIA
In 1996, the Press Council was transformed into the Papua New Guinea Media Council and its scope was widened to include television, radio and other media. In April this year, the British government provided funds to allow a Complaints Tribunal to be set up and a new code of ethics to be prepared.
COPYRIGHT
In 1978 the Papua New Guinea Parliament passed the Copyright Act, but it has never been implemented.
VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION
Recently, Papua New Guinea Media Council Chairperson Peter Aitsi condemned increasing attacks on Papua New Guinea journalists.
How good is the media in PNG?
Matrom John sought out some views on the role of the media in PNG
Gerald Tommy (Business Studies student)
Media in PNG is fragile and the main threat to it is the government, which is the main contributing factor to issues such as law and order problems, unemployment, corruption as in mismanagement of public monies, and politicisation of statutory bodies such as hiring and firing of officers in the best interest of political parties. The government is a threat to the media's existence in the country because the government itself also sees the media as a threat to its integrity and existence if it reports the truth. Therefore, the media is influenced in a way that it is very guarded when reporting to the public on these issues. I personally feel that there's more to be reported than is being reported.
The media should be the voice of the silent majority. Journalists must tell the truth and nothing but the whole truth must be given to the public.
Media must make sure the public sees that there's a need for good governance, then the right people are appointed for the right jobs when election time comes.
When people and resources are properly managed then issues such as corruption can be wiped out and lawlessness and unemployment, etc, will be minimised.
Everlyn Imaroto (Business Studies student)
Journalists are doing a good job in terms of reporting. They are doing good research especially on political issues and keeping the public informed. Media in PNG is better than media in other countries since the PNG government is not in control of it and it seems that democracy is at work. Journalists risk their lives for the good of the people and the public should appreciate what journalists do because they are the wealth of knowledge.
John Wakon Police commissioner
Media is a very powerful tool. Whatever media says people believe. It can make people what they are and can break them. Media can be both good and bad, that is people can use media for their good or bad deeds. The public must have good relations with reporters. For example, police sources try to explain any incident to reporters if they do not understand. This is done in order for reporters to write a fair and balanced story. If there is mutual understanding and trust built between the public and the media then fair and accurate stories will be written.
Thelma Oaike (Business Studies student)
Media is quite good in PNG at the moment in the sense that it informs the public on the latest important issues. It is also a growing industry that has expanded over the years with more young enthusiastic people who are interested to inform the public. But it can also be danserous at times for these journalists, therefore 'they are very courageous. They also have to make sure the information they get is correct.
Robert Geladia (Business Studies student)
I don't think that media in PNG is as good as it can be because of these two reasons.
Firstly, news reported is mostly of the main towns, especially Port Moresby and not of the whole country. This could be due to the media's head office or headquarters and most of their employees being located in those main towns.
Secondly, the media, especially the newspapers, are always reporting bad things about the economy, social and the political issues of this country. From doing so, the media will indirectly discourage good things from happening in our country such as more foreign investments, tourism and also foreign aids and many more. I'm not saying that we should hide the bad things happening but we should at least put our own good image too.
The reason why only bad things are reported is that, as I've already stated above, the headquarters or head offices and most of the employees are located in those main towns, Port Moresby and Lae and that's where the rate of the criminal activities is high.
Therefore to conclude, the media should at least have a fair distribution of employees all over the country and try to at least report fairly on both good and bad things, or more of good things, to improve our image not only for the sake of foreigners but also our young generation.
Br Michael McManus, Lecturer
Sixty Minutes reporter Richard Carleton can flit around the globe interviewing the famous and the infamous. In a single 20-minute segment he can uncover a conspiracy, expose a tyrant or destroy a career. "I know what I am talking about," says his arrogant demeanour. "I feel sorry for all you unfortunate people, who aren't as clever as I am," gloats his condescending smile.
Is his celebrity status likely to improve his reporting? Or is he using his reporting career to enhance his celebrity status?
The Age newspaper in Melbourne created a new populist sport out of attacking former Victorian Premier Jeff Kenneth. In every edition for six years, including Saturdays and Sundays, his every action was vilified, denigrated and mocked. The newspaper was unrelenting in its cynicism about his successes and in its glee about his failures. The Age indulged itself in a gluttonous feeding frenzy on every morsel of anti-Kennett sentiment that could be found.
Did the journalists feel uncomfortable about this style of political reporting? Was their party allegiance an employment issue?
Both Richard Carleton and the Melbourne Age would relish the opportunity to highlight the deficiencies in all sectors of PNG life. They would certainly expose the corrupt, shame the indolent and rage at the cheats. The recycled criminals in positions of authority would be pursued relentlessly. But all this media activity would be an exercise in futility since the nation's institutions are not strong enough to deal with the fallout. The continuing overwhelming popular support for the recycled criminals will thwart the media's effort.
The free media in PNG is a tame, toothless tiger, destined to maintain the status quo. Isn't it?
Return to Communication Arts Publications