Links
Wartime Links
Dog Platoon at Driniumor River, Aitape -- http://www.kilroywashere.org/003-Pages/BillGarbo/BillGarbo.html
Bougainville - The Forgotten War in the South Pacific -- http://www.gn.apc.org/inquirer/boug.html
http://www.onthenet.com.au/~vetnet/wewak.htm
-- Wewak and surrounding area during World War II
http://www.onthenet.com.au/~vetnet/newguine.htm
-- Information about Salamaua, Wau, Battle of the Bismarck Sea, 3rd Division,
Nassau Bay, Salamaua Falls, Huon Peninsula Campaign, Lae, Finschhafen, Sattelberg,
Shaggy Ridge, Saidor, and Madang during World War II
http://www.onthenet.com.au/~vetnet/papua.htm
-- The Coral Sea, Kokoda Trail, Japanese land in Papua, Imita Ridge, Gona,
Buna, and Sanananda during World War II
The story of the PNG Coastwatchers is one of extreme bravery and sacrifice.
This is one man's story about the events that contributed so much to the ultimate
Allied success in the Pacific campaign. -- http://www.janeresture.com/png_coastwatchers/index.htm
Wrecks and Reefs
"Wrecks and Reefs around Port Moresby" is a book that documents
the history of early shipwrecks and World War II wrecks that lie in the waters
around the capital of Papua New Guinea. This book is primarily intended to
be a guide for scuba divers and it includes tales of cannibals, retribution
for a ruthless Japanese submarine that took the lives of innocent citizens
and the mystery of a lost airliner that disappeared along with thirteen unfortunate
souls.
The books includes information on the history of diving in the Port Moresby
area from the days of the early hard-helmet pearl divers to the modern self
contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba). For overseas scuba diving
visitors there is a chapter on accommodation available in the area. The website
for the book is located at -- http://www.datec.net.pg/~mecba.
For World War II wrecks around the Kiriwina part of the Trobriand Islands
- Latitude 8° 40' 0S Longitude 150° 55' 0E please visit -- http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/png_kiriwina.html
Nelson Lee Links
Nelson Lee and Associates -- http://www.nla.com.pg
-- I am afraid that many of the links on this web site do not go anywhere.
Here are some that I have been able to piece together.
PNG Diving Sites
The following is sample of some of the web sites dealing with diving in PNG.
It is not a complete list and if you would like your organisation mentioned
in this newsletter please let me know.
PNG Religious Sites
Misc Sites
News Items
Police Report 2003
Police have released a report stating that there were 1682 robberies in the
National Capital in 2003 but since many people no longer bother to report
robberies these figures are probably meaningless. Some people only bother
reporting crime if they no that a report is a requirement to claim insurance.
New Year
The New Year for Moresby residents was wet and wetter. Moresby received 53.6
mm of rain on New Year's Day. The wet usually is expected to go from November
to May but has been much shorter in recent times. Despite the wet weather
the fireworks the Lamana Motel were a success. Hundreds of onlookers and patrons
braved the brave weather to watch the half-hour fireworks display.
Jail Break Outs
The National Capital leads in the number of prison escapees in PNG. More
than 100 escapees are still enjoying freedom nationwide. Bomana Jail had the
most escapees still at large with 47 followed by Buimo Jail with 24 still
outstanding.
PNG World War II Timeline
1942
- January 23, 1942, Japanese capture Rabaul and Kavieng in the Bismarck
Archipelago, invade Bougainville in the Solomons.
- May 8, 1942 Allies win Battle of the Coral Sea.
- July 21, 1942 Japanese landing near Gona, New Guinea, starts Papua Campaign.
1943
- January 22, 1943 Campaign for Papua, New Guinea, ends.
- March 2-4 1943 The Allies defeat the Japanese in the Battle of the Bismarck
Sea.
- September 4-16 1943. Southwest Pacific forces recapture Lae-Salamaua,
New Guinea.
- October 2, 1943 Australians seize Finschaffen, New Guinea.
- November 1, 1943 South Pacific forces invade Bougainville.
- December 26, 1943 Southwest Pacific troops invade New Britain at Cape
Gloucester.
1944
- February 20, 1944 Reduction of Rabaul completed with Japanese abandonment
of it as an airbase.
- February 29, 1944 Southwest Pacific forces begin invasion of Admiralty
Islands, Bismarck Archipelago.
- April 22, 1944 Southwest Pacific forces land at Aitape and Hollandia,
New Guinea.
- May 27, 1944 Southwest Pacific force lands on Biak Island, New Guinea.
Red Cross Madang
Red Cross PNG has been banned from providing humanitarian help to squatter
settlers evicted in the recent eviction exercise. It has been alleged that
police are prevention the Red Cross from helping the displaced settlers. The
Red Cross is empowered under the Geneva Conventions and by its own act to
prevent and or alleviate pain and suffering among the vulnerable without taking
sides or without influence from any person or group. Neither the police nor
the government authorities have given a reason for the denial to the Red Cross.
Food Aid
Two tonnes of rice has been provided to drought affected Kiriwina on the
Trobriand Islands in Milne Bay Province. The cruise ship Melanesian Discover
delivered the rice. Seven tonnes of rice has also been distributed to the
Milne Bay Provincial Disaster Committee to distribute to other affected areas
such as Woodlark, Calvados Chain and Mainland Rabaraba areas. The Disaster
Committee will also be giving the people food crops to plant after the drought
breaks so that the people in the areas can grow their own food.
Chimbu Liquor Ban
After seven years the liquor ban in Chimbu Province has been lifted. Liquor
bans in Enga, Southern and Western Highlands are still in force. The only
location in these provinces where liquor can be sold legally is at lodges,
resorts and hotels.
Scouts
Two 14-year old Scouts attending Igam Primary School in Lae are attending
the 20th Australian Scout Jamboree in Adelaide South Australia from the 5th
to the 15th of January. More than 16,000 scouts from around the world are
expected to attend the jamboree.
Swimming
Two officials from PNG Swimming have been selected to officiate at the Oceania
championships in Suva, Fiji. They are Allan Mulas and Sue Babao. PNG is also
expected to send swimmers to the event.
New Year Honours
The following people have been awarded honours in the Queen's New Year's
Honours list.
* Knight Bachelor *
- Mr ToVadek -- Knight Bachelor (Kt.) for services to the community.
* CMG *
- Maurice Sheehan -- The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint
George (CMG) for services to law and order.
* CBE *
- Education Minister Michael Laimo -- Commander of the Civil Division of
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to politics.
- Mel Togolo -- Commander of the Civil Division of The Most Excellent Order
of the British Empire (CBE) for services to Commerce and Industry.
* OBE *
The following people were made Ordinary Officer of the Civil Division of the
Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Rose Winne Bais for services to women and community development
- Chief Inspector, Brian Kwane Boze for services to the Police Force and
the community
- Seki Ua Karinggal for services to Parliament
- Kevin Edward Murphy for services to sport development
- Bishop Nou Oru for services to the church and the community
* MBE *
The following people were made Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the
Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Max Benjamin for services to the agriculture and the tourism industry
- Otto Robson Ganaii for public service
- Koke Itua for services to the local government and the community
- Yaungtine Koromba for service to the local government and the community
- Br Gaeme Leach for services to the community
- Dia Martin for service to the government, church and the community
- Betty Esmie Morea for services to the Girl Guide Association of Papua
New Guinea
- Ganiga Rea for services to the church and the community
* ISO *
The following person was made a Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)
- Margaret Kila for services to the Ombudsman Commission.
* BEM *
The following people were awarded the British Empire Medal, Civil Division (BEM)
- Henry Ameua for services to agriculture
- Mea Amini for services to the church and the community
- Benjamin Yikoson Metio for services to the Parliament
Andersons - Konedeobu
A robbery attempt by four heavily armed young men at the Andersons store
in Konedobu saw the robbers escape with only a camera and a wallet thanks
to well trained guards who took control of the situation. The guards sounded
alarms and police were quickly on the scene but the robbers had escaped in
a getaway dinghy parked close by.
Bougainville
The United Nations Observer Mission has been extended for another six months
on Bougainville. The decision to extend is contained in a statement posted
in the UN Security Council's official web site.
Buka Power
Businesses on the island of Buka have been told to expect more power problems
due to the fact that there is no money to pay for fuel to generate electricity.
Recently the town has had to suffer a communications blackout because there
was no electricity to charge the telecommunication batteries.
Bougainville Copper
The Bougainville Copper Project -- http://www.riverbendnelligen.com/bougainville1.html
by Peter Goerman. -- A plea from the webmaster of this particular website
-- "please send us your photographs and your comments for publication
on this website. Share your memories of Bougainville with the rest of us".
The following pages by Peter Goerman should also be of interest --
PNG Provincial Games
The Kerema team that took part in the PNG Provincial Games have finally returned
home after being stranded in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, with no money for
return airfares for over a month. About 30 sportsmen were stuck when poor
organisation by officials left the team without money for even food. Many
members of the team fell ill with typhoid and malaria. The organisation was
so bad that most of the team arrived in Goroka when the games were already
into the final session.
Southern Highlands
A police mobile squad will be based in the Southern Highlands on a permanent
basis to help deter crime in the province. Law and order has gotten out of
hand in the province and it is hoped the mobile squad will help to stop tribal
fights and criminal activity.
Stranded Teachers
Many teachers are getting ready to return to their schools and prepare for
the 2004 school year. Some teachers still have not received their travel entitlements
and have not even gone on leave yet. Many provinces will find that the school
year is disrupted while the travel dispute drags on well into the school year.
Claims of non-teachers receiving travel entitlements and other dubious use
of the limited travel funds have already been mentioned in the various forms
of the media around PNG. I think it will be a long time before the mess is
sorted out but hopefully it will be before the holidays at the end of this
year!
Shell Depot
Disgruntled landowners who have not received land rental payments for many
years closed the Shell depot at Badihagwa just at the edge of Port Moresby
over Christmas. It would appear that the lease expired on the land in 1984
and for various reasons nothing has been done about the problem until the
landowners took action. Shell is blaming the Lands Department for the problem
and has paid the department money recently. The money has not yet been passed
on to the landowners. It would appear that a court order against the lands
department backs up the claim by Shell. The lands department counters by saying
that records show that Shell has only ever paid and amount of 62 Pounds to
the landowners in 1959.
Home Brew
The police have arrested a man and his family for home brewing alcohol in
Hanuabada. Police confiscated a bucket of fermented yeast, three distillation
barrels and bottles of the finished product from the family kitchen. Police
hope that roadblocks around town will prevent already distilled alcohol from
moving out of Moresby to outlying villages.
A 11-year-old boy along with eight others has been arrested in Tubuseria
village for consuming home brewed alcohol. Many young people can buy a 500
ml bottle of home brew for less than a bottle of beer with less alcohol content.
Illegal Fishing Licences
The Acting Fisheries Minister has been removed from the fisheries portfolio
for ignoring standard procedures. It is believed that the Acting Minister,
Peter O'Neill, approved 17 fishing licences to Asian companies without consulting
with relevant authorities such as the Internal Revenue Commission, Investment
Promotion Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry all within three
days. The licences have been revoked because the Fisheries Minister does not
have the power to issue licences.
PNG Media
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