Times highlights

Papua New Guinea

Times highlights logging dilemma

ONE measure of world-wide attention to a matter is its appearance on the front page of the Sunday New York Times. ‘lsolated Papua New Guineans Fall Prey to Foreign Bulldozers’ was the headlie at the top of the Times front page on June 5, as the paper devoted considerable space to a damning story on how some foreign companies had ruined the rain forest and cheated the people. The Times had sent one of its foreign correspondents, Philip Shenon, to Port Moresby and on to New Britain.

Shenon wrote about the threatened disappearance of the rain forest, the logging techniques that prevent reforestation, and of the efforts by some to stop the pillage. The story quoted estimates of payments to villagers of no more than US$l5 million for logs worth US$5OO million. Tim Neville, PNG’s forests minister, has twice escaped murderous assault, which the Times linked to his efforts to save the forests. ★ ★ ★

Motion of no-confidence

thrown out

THE question of the validity of an intended motion of no confidence in the Papua New Guinea prime minister Paias Wingti was finally resolved when the speaker of parliament, Bill Skate, ruled to throw out the motion. The opposition gave notice for a vote of no-confidence in the prime minister, that was to have been moved last month, but lengthy debate on its validity prevented the motion being moved.

National radio NBC said Skate made his ruling in the form of a press statement to the media. In the statement the speaker explained that the prime minister was currently enjoying an 18-month grace period following his snap resignation and immediate re-election last September, whicn means a motion of no-confidence against him would be unconstitutional. ★ ★ ★

Judge attacked,

car smashed

A PAPUA New Guinea national court judge, Maurice Sheehan, narrowly escaped unhurt by some 40 axe-wielding youths along the Okuk Highway, in the Western Highlands, last month. His car was smashed with axes by the youths.