A Voice for the Voiceless

BRIEF: Somare Blasts TIPNG

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – The Papua New Guinea chapter of Transparency International (TIPNG) has drawn Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare’s ire over the past week for comments made to the press.  TIPNG board chairman Mike Manning told an anti-corruption seminar recently that a third of PNG’s budget is stolen by corrupt politicians.

Manning said that these politicians are not punished for their crimes, but are re-elected instead.  “Until we impose on people a sense of shame for doing wrong, we are never going to stop corruption,” he added.  Manning believes that the pervasive corruption in PNG is degrading the nation’s infrastructure.

In response, Somare challenged Transparency International to name names rather than make “hasty generalizations”.  He requested that if TIPNG has relevant information, that information be turned over to the police and relevant enforcement agencies.  “Otherwise,” he said, “they should stop playing power games under the guise of transparency.”

Somare and Transparency International have had some minor scuffles in the press before, most recently over the Moti affair and Somare’s alleged involvement in it.

For more information, please see:

Stuff.co.nz (AAP) – A third of PNG govt budget stolen each year – 06 December 2007

PNG Office of the Prime Minister – Name corrupt politicians, Sir Michael urges Transparency International – 10 December 2007

Pacific Magazine – Sir Michael Blasts Transparency International Comments – 18 December 2007

Conference To Take Place in Goma, DRC

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter for Western and Central Africa

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo –  In attempts to end the conflict in the east of the country, the Democratic Republic of Congo government has announced a peace conference. The government has invited all parties to the table, including rebel leader, General Laurent Nkunda. The nine day conference is set to commence on December 27, 2007. The conference will take place in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

Vital Kamerhe, head of the National Assembly and a deputy from the Sud-Kivu region stated that the conference seeks to “bring an end to the war…and to create the basis for a durable peace.”

As a pre-condition for the talks, Gen Nkunda, has asked the Congolese government to disarm the Rwandan Hutu rebels that he claims are attacking ethnic Tutsis.

This week alone, the United Nations has predicted that over 60,000 people have fled the North Kivu region to escape the fighting. Hundreds of victims, hungry and suffering from disease, have fled toward Minova, a town in South Kivu. There are currently 800,000 civilians displaced by the ongoing war, according to the UN.

The Democratic Republic of Congo army has reported on Tuesday they had pushed back Laurent Nkunda’s rebels in North-Kivu after six hours of intense fighting. The current conflict has resulted in nineteen deaths.

For more information, please see:

AFP – “DR Congo troops push back insurgents; 19 dead”  –  18 December 2007

BBC – Dr Congo Invites Rebels to Talks  –  18 December 2007

AFP – Congolese authorities announce Kivu peace conference   – 18 December 2007

BRIEF: Nauru Seeks Meetings With Australia on Facility Closure

YAREN, Nauru – Australia announced last month that it plans to close its detention facility on Nauru, sparking concerns for Nauru’s economic well-being.  Naruru Foreign Minister, David Adeang, said that the Australian facility provides 20% of Nauru’s GDP.

Since its bankruptcy in 2002, Nauru has become increasingly dependent on Australian aid, and much of Nauru’s annual aid package from Australia is tied to the facility, which former Australian official Mark Thompson characterized as “an unmitigated bribe”.

Nauru MP Kieran Keke said in a statement last week, “The financial arrangement with Australia, combined with initiatives like the resumption of phosphate mining, has helped turn the country around from the brink of economic collapse […] We sincerely hope the Australian government will continue to support our efforts to upgrade our health and education programs, to name just two.  Restoring important infrastructure like the power system is also a priority for us.”

The Nauru government is now seeking to meet with Australia to discuss how Nauru will adapt when the facility is shut down.  Australia has not yet given a time frame for the closure.

For more information, please see:

Impunity Watch – Rudd Gov’t to Close Nauru Detention Facility – 26 November 2007

The Age – Nauru fears gap when camps close – 11 December 2007

Radio New Zealand International – Nauru opposition calls for Australian support as camps set to close – 13 December 2007

Sydney Morning Herald – Australian govt exit worries Nauru MP – 13 December 2007

Radio New Zealand International – Nauru Government seeks early meeting with Canberra to discuss cost of camp shut down – 17 December 2007

BRIEF: Kidnapping in Somalia

BOSASSO, Somalia – French journalist Gwen Le Gouil was kidnapped in Puntland, Somalia. According to conflicting reports either three or five armed men abducted the journalist two days ago after he arrived in the city from Mogadishu. Le Gouil, an Albert Londres award winner for his report on humanitarian workers in Sri Lanka, was researching a story on human trafficking in Somalia when the attack occurred.

The kidnappers have demanded $70,000 (£35,000) ransom for Le Gouil’s release. According to Puntland’s deputy Governor Yusuf Mumin Bidde, government officials and elders were dispatched to Puntland to negotiate with the abductors. However, reports speculate that Le Gouil has been moved to Marero, after kidnappers opened fire on negotiators today.

Once known for its stability, Puntland, a port town of Bosasso, has been the center of recent kidnapping, hijacking and piracy.

In the meantime, there are reports that Somalia pirates attacked an Italian-owned cargo ship, MV Jolly Turchese, today. The Italian Ministry has not received any information or communication from the ship, and Andrew Mwangura, director of the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme, says the information is sketchy. Mwangura believes the ship was headed to Kenya’s Mombasa port after delivering cargo through the Suez canal when it was attacked off the coast of Somalia. Presently it is unknown if the ship and its crew were captured or if they escaped.

For more information please see:

BBC- French newsman ‘safe’ in Somalia – 17 December 2007

Reuters: Africa- Suspect pirates attack Italian ship – group – 17 December 2007

Reuters: Africa- Gunmen kidnap French journalist in North Somalia – 16 December 2007

AllAfrica.com- Somalia: French Journalist Kidnapped By Armed Men – 17 December 2007

Brief: Catholic Priest Stabbed in Turkey

Italian Priest Adriano Franchini was stabbed following mass by a 19 year old assailant.  The attacker observed mass with the priest’s congregation but became violent and angry following a brief conversation with the Priest.  The stabbing was in the stomach and the injuries were not life threatening.

The stabbing follows a line of similar cases where Christians have been attacked in Turkey.  The recent string of attacks on Christian leaders began in February 2006.  A 16 year old shot a Catholic priest, while he was kneeling in prayer, in response to the European newspaper caricatures of the Muhammad.  There has been many more killings and attacks against priests and clerics in all regions of Turkey.  Recently, the gruesome killing of three Christians who throats were slit has undergone investigation to determine whether police officers aided the killers. (See story)

Christians comprise less than one percent of Turkey’s population.  However, the Christians are committed to staying in Turkey despite the attacks.  A catholic bishop remarked, “our will to remain here is stronger after these attacks. However, while the Turkish population is generally good, such events attest that there is a sick branch in the big tree of the local population.”  (AP)

For more information, please see:

AP- Priest Attacked, Hurt in Turkey- 17 December 2007

Guardian Unlimited- Priest stabbed after Sunday mass in Turkey- 17 December 2007

VOA News- Italian Catholic Priest Stabbed in Western Turkey- 16 December 2007