Break-away

Headlines

Papua New Guinea

New citizenship laws looked at

The Papua New Guinea government is looking at introducing new laws to control the granting of citizenship to foreigners.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Kaputin said this after a former PNG government minister Karl Stack and businessman John Cunningham renounced their PNG citizenships to become Australians.

Kaputin said while he accepted the principle that people should have the right to choose their nationalities, he would not tolerate foreigners who thinks they could treat PNG without dignity, respect or integrity. He said for two prominent naturalised citizens, with such large business interests in PNG to resume their original nationalities called into question the provision for granting of citizenships. ***

Break-away

discussed

A delegation from the border village of Wutung in Papua New Guinea’s Sandaun province had travelled to Indonesia to discuss with authorities their moves to break away from PNG.

The Indonesian consulate in Vanimo has already given assistance to facilitate the talks in the West Irian capital Jayapura, but Sandaun’s provincial premier has urged the national government for immediate intervention. He said the case was a national matter and out of his jurisdiction. Wutung villagers say most of their traditional land was now on the Indonesian side of the border and if they could not have it back, they would rather break away from PNG and join with Indonesia. ***

Rabbits

introduced

Rabbits have been introduced to Papua New Guinea after a 30-year government ban on their import was lifted. Forty-five rabbits were exported from Western Australia and there are plans to release their offspring to village farmers throughout the country.

The first batch of nine females and six males have already mated and, according to the person who imported them, Dr Tan Grant, a lecturer in agriculture, there should be enough rabbits by next year to sell and distribute. He said the idea was to encourage rabbit farming at village level. ***

Legal

services halted

Government legal services in Papua New Guinea came to a halt as lawyers from the attorney-general’s department continued their indefinite strike which started on June 7. Lawyers from the offices of Public Prosecutor, Public Solicitor and State Solicitor, backed by their support staff were on strike after a two-week notice to the government to remove justice secretary, Luke Lucas.

State lawyers say the appointment of Lucas was illegal in that it went against public service regulations on retirements and age limits.