Trading Bougainville Copper (ADRs) 867948

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20081204/thhome.htm

TWO more divisional chief executive officers in the Bougainville administration may get a sack over misuse of public funds that  have delayed important Government decisions.
Acting vice-president Mathias Salas told the Post-Courier yesterday that the cases of the two chief executive officers have been  discussed in the Bougainville Executive Council meeting last week and former acting chief administrator Raymond Masono was also  removed from his position.
He said one chief executive officer would not acquit for up to a total of K900,000 which was put under his management for  airfare and accommodation to Sydney (K300,000) and another K600,000 earmarked for operational purposes for the Autonomy and  Implementation Division.
Mr Salas, who is also the Minister for Lands and Physical Planning and Mining said the chief executive’s fate would be decided  at the meeting of the Bougainville Executive Council to be held today or in the next meeting.
He said the said chief executive officer had failed miserably to furnish reports to the Bougainville House of Representatives on  the drawdown of powers from the National Government.
“We are also behind in the 15 stage process for the transfer of powers and functions from the National Government and this CEO
will also answer for the annual K250,000 allocation by the National Government to his division,” Mr Salas said.
Also under the spotlight and will face likely removal from office will be another chief executive officer who is alleged to have
been getting “kickbacks” from contractors who had won tenders for different contracts in Bougainville.
Mr Salas said a substantial amount of money was deposited into his account from Port Moresby and the ABG is investigating  quietly to establish the source of the money.
“This chief executive officer of known widely as “Mr 10 per cent” and we are trying to establish links to projects from where  the money might have come from,’ he said.
He said this chief executive officer has also been diverting funds without any authority for feeder road projects in other parts of Bougainville to fix feeder roads on Buka Island.
“These two men are in direct breach of the Public Finance Management Act and the BEC will discuss their cases in our next  meeting,” he said.  

.........has known who this Mr 10pc is for a long time. The former President knew, the cureent Acting ("Bougilwood") President knows and bugger it, the whole ABG, both politicians and the public servants, know. He really lives it up in broad daylight. he spends as much time in Pom as he does in Buka. And when he choses a place to stay he does not muck aroiund staying in cheap motels or lodges. He is a VIP at Holiday Inn.

He is not alone, there are ABG staff that hang around him. We will believe the Minister Salas' concerns when real action is taken.

And why does the Minister have to announce it to the world through the paper. He should take action now.

THE problem is ABG is leadersless, aimless, visionless and a bottomless pit of money for everyone.

Where arewe going? At least even if we are not going anywhere we would at least know. But we just don't frigin' know, do we?

u. weiter

That would be a very good case for testing the Region's New Judicial constitutional powers and what the ABG is going to do about this culprits;?? One migth know.They have been chewing on that cake for far too long guys.Send them behind bars and make certain they refund all public monies owed, or otherwise sell their Assets to recoup all the monies.Public service HR in Bougy needs over hauling.
The real bussinesses I can see on the ground in regard to roadconstruction and Infrastructer constructions are SOUTH ENGINEERING, JOMIK, and BUKA METAL FABRICATION(BMF).
The rest are just 10% companies...Maybe I'll ask him to buy me a beer this X-mas holiday.  

http://www.thenational.com.pg/120308/nation31.php

THE Buka General Hospital (BGH) yesterday received an early Christmas gift of medical equipment donated by the Brisbane-Bougainville Community Group (BBCG) in Australia.
The group donated A$2,121.36 (K4,933.40) worth of medical equipment.
The equipment included rapid thermometers, digital infrared thermometers, a blood glucose meter, sphygmomanometer, blood pressure monitor and test strips.
The director of medical services, Dr Barnabas Matanu, on behalf of the BBCG presented the equipment to the hospital’s chief executive officer Dr Cyril Imako.
Dr Matanu had been liaising with BBCG for support for the past nine months.
He said BBCG are friends of the BGH and had also donated equipment and medical supplies in the past years.
Dr Matanu said the funds used to purchase the equipment were raised mainly by mothers and supporters of BBCG to help the people of Bougainville.
He said that the equipment would be available for the pharmacy department to use.
“These medical equipment are expensive and must be treated with care as it is hard to replace them,” Dr Matanu said.
Dr Imako expressed his gratitude for the medical equipment.
“It’s not very often we spend money on pieces of medical equipments like these,” he said.
He said that each medical officer should have equipment like these but because of the costs, the hospital had found it difficult to purchase these equipment.  

.... so wie sich er Kurs von Rio Tinto in den letzten Tagen entwickelt scheint es denen ziemlich schlecht zu gehen. Ob das nicht doch Auswirkungen auf die Finanzierung von Bougainville hätte.

P.S. bei den Rohstoffpreisen aktuell hätt ich auch kein Problem, wenn die Mine ein paar Jahre später aufmacht!  

......zur Wiedereröffnung und die Einladung des ABG an BOC zu Verhandlungen sowie die Zustimmung der Landeigner und das Einverständnis von PNG.

Das alles liegt jetzt zweifelsfrei auf dem Tisch.

Erste konkrete Schritte sind nach den Präsidentschaftswahlen Anfang nächsten Jahres zu erwarten,bis die Produktion startet werden sowieso noch so ca. 3 Jahre vergehen.In dieser Zeitspanne sollte die Bewertung dann auch die einer "Going Company" erreichen.

B’ville Copper keen to reopen Panguna mine   http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20081202/tuhome.htm

...wurde auf Veranlassung von ??? in der Online-Ausgabe wieder gecancelt.

Ein Interesse diese Entwicklung im jetzigen Stadium noch nicht publik werden zu lassen kann realistischerweise nur PNG,ABG oder BCL haben.Sei es um die Wahlen nicht zu beeinflussen oder die Shares-übertragung ans ABG nicht zu gefährden???

Der Text ist bis jetzt nur auf der ESBC Homepage veröffentlicht ;-)))))))))))))))  

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/05/...90.htm?section=world

Dass Sam Akoitai,der Wunschkandidat aller BCL Investierten, sehr grosse Chancen auf das Amt des Präsidenten hat ist mittlerweile gewusst.Wenn es sich bei Sam Kaouna, dessen Invincible Deal von der Mehrheit der Inselbevölkerung abgelehnt wird um den einzigen wirklichen Gegner handelt,hätten wir die Wahlen wohl schon (fast) "im Sack" ;-))))))))))))))))))))))

Nb. Auch Sam Kauona ist pro Mining ;-))))))))))

Bougainville goes to the polls amid mining row
By PNG correspondent Steve Marshall

Posted 7 hours 46 minutes ago
Updated 7 hours 30 minutes ago


Election: The island of Bougainville (AAP: Lloyd Jones, file photo)
The small island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, with a population of around 200,000 is preparing to go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new president to replace Joseph Kabui.

Mr Kabui died from a heart attack earlier this year.

He was elected Bougainville's first president when the island was granted partial autonomy following a civil war over mining in the 1980s and 1990s.

His sudden death has forced a by-election just 18 months out from the next presidential election and it is shaping up as a battle between the 'two Sams'.

PNG's former mining minister Sam Akoitai and former rebel soldier Sam Kaouna, who fought in Bougainville's civil war, are both vying for the top job.

Mr Kauona was responsible for sabotage attacks which forced the now Rio Tinto-owned Panguna copper mine to close and sparked a decade-long civil war on the island.

Mr Kauona says his new mission is to disarm his former comrades who still carry guns, despite the war being officially over.

"Disposing of weapons is very important because in doing that we will make our island safe," he said.

"Firstly for families to live happily, and secondly for our investors to come in and invest on the island."

Armed conflict between two local factions in southern Bougainville has prevented candidates from campaigning in the rebel stronghold, says Mr Akoitai.

"The presence of arms in Bougainville does cause some difficulty for any investors to actually invest in Bougainville and also the business houses in Bougainville to continue trading," he said.

As PNG's former mining minister, Mr Akoitai knows the potential of Bougainville's mineral wealth.

There has been a moratorium in place on mining in Bougainville ever since the war and in recent years the semi-autonomous Bougainville Government has been pushing to gain full control of its resources from PNG's national Government.

Before his death, Mr Kabui struck a deal with Australian businessman Lindsay Semple and his Invincible Resources company.

Invincible Resources was given exclusive rights to mineral exploration on Bougainville, outside Rio Tinto interests on the island.

Invincible also funds the Bougainville Government's resources investment unit, the BRDC.

Former rebel soldier Mr Kaouna was instrumental in the deal.

"That issue is a non-issue because the Government had agreed and voted unanimously when it came to decision-making about Invincible and the BRDC," he said.

"The Government is committed to it and the Government will implement the policy that has been adopted."

Mr Akoitai says most Bougainvilleans oppose the deal the late president stuck with Invincible Resources and the Government's BRDC business arm.

"Every location that I've been campaigning in from the north to the south of Bougainville, they are basically saying that they would like to see the BRDC deal done away with," he said.

Bougainville's Deputy Speaker of Parliament Francesca Somoso is also against the Invincible deal, but says the most important thing right now is for Bougainville to elect a leader.

"The election of the president is really important to Bougainville. Get him in there, whoever it is, and say what can we do now for the people?" she said.

"The most important thing is to get Bougainville back on track."

The winner is expected to be announced early in the new year.  

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5194468/...inville-heads-to-polls/

Bougainville residents are poised to elect a new president in a vote widely seen as a referendum on a controversial deal concerning the island's vast natural resources.

Polls open on Saturday on the autonomous Papua New Guinea island to elect a replacement for late president Joseph Kabui, who died from a heart attack in June.

There is no clear favourite in the by-election, but two main contenders are at odds over a controversial deal Kabui struck, just weeks before his death, with Australian businessman Lindsay Semple.

Under the deal Canadian-based company Invincible Resources, headed by Semple, was given exclusive rights to mineral exploration on Bougainville, outside interests held by Rio Tinto .

Presidential contender and former Bougainville Revolutionary Army commander Sam Kauona is in favour of the Invincible deal.

Kauona was instrumental in the deal and has brushed off criticisms that it is overly generous and will rob Bougainville of much of its wealth.

But Kauona's opponent, former PNG mining minister Sam Akoita, is adamant the deal is no good and says most Bougainville people oppose it.

Deals aside, Akoita said his main concern was returning stable leadership to Bougainville.

"Everybody is excited, people want a new leader and leadership," he said.

"They want to see a leader fulfil the Bougainville Peace agreement, they want leadership of the government and the people, so development can come."

Kauona said security, lasting peace and prosperity were Bougainville's primary challenge.

"We the people of central Bougainville have an unfinished task," Kauona said.

"We have to make Bougainville safe once again by putting out the fire we started.

"We have to get rid of the guns and the lawlessness especially in the south and central provinces."

Other presidential candidates include James Tanis, who was a key broker in the 2001 Bougainville peace deal that ended a long-running civil war. Former Bougainville parliamentary speaker Nick Peniai is also in the race.

In all 14 men are vying to become president.

Election officers say there has been a large increase in voter enrolments. A result is expected by the end of this month.

The election is being held under Bougainville's constitution, as the island heads towards 2015 when residents will vote on total independence.  

eröffnen.

SUPER:Und weil es sich so schön liest hat ein ESBC Mitglied auch eine deutsche Uebersetzung verfasst ;-)

Englische Originalversion unter:http://www.bougainville-copper.eu/pageID_6914684.html

Spätestens wenn das BCL Management zum Meeting mit dem ABG und den Landeignern in Buka landet und die offiziellen Talks beginnen ist BOC aus seinem Dornröschenschlaf erwacht ;-)))))))))))))))))))

B’ville Copper keen to reopen Panguna mine / BCL scharf darauf die Pangunamine wiederzueröffnen

Die Chancen für eine Wiedereröffnung der aufgegebenen Panguna Kupfer/Goldmine stellen sich vielversprechend dar, nachdem das BEC (Bougainville Executive Council) übereingekommen war, Bougainville Copper Limited zu einem Forum mit den Panguna Landeignern (PLA) und der autonomen Regierung (ABG) einzuladen.

Laut Auskunft von ABG Beratern wird die Einladung zum Forum nächste Woche an BCL verschickt.

Dies wird das erste Mal sein, dass BCL eine Einladung nach Bougainville erhält, nachdem die Firma gezwungen war, ihre Geschäftstätigkeiten in der Pangunamine 1989 einzustellen. Vorausgegangen war ein gewaltsamer Konflikt, in dessen Mittelpunkt Forderungsansprüche und durch Bougainville Copper verursachte Umweltschäden standen.

Der BCL Chairman Peter Taylor hatte einen Brief an den ABG Interimspräsidenten geschickt mit dem Inhalt "dass es jetzt an der Zeit sei eine aktiven Diskussion über die Zukunft des Mining in Panguna zu beginnen"

Das Bougainville Executive Council hat im Laufe dieser Woche über Mr. Taylors Vorschlag debattiert und kam zu der Übereinkunft BCL, vertreten durch CEO Mr Taylor und Company Sekretär Mr Paul Coleman, zu diesem Meeting nach Buka einzuladen.

Das Forum wird BCL die Gelegenheit bieten die offenen Punkte wie Umweltschäden, Landeignerkompensation und die BCL Pläne für die Pangunamine zu erörtern.

In einem weiteren Brief an die Panguna Landeigner sagte Mr Taylor außerdem, dass BCL bereit ist für die Überarbeitung des BCA (Bougainville Copper Agreement). Ferner brachte er zum Ausdruck, dass die Überarbeitung auch Themen wie Mining und gesellschaftliche Aspekte einschließen würde.

Die Überprüfung schließt ein, beschränkt sich aber nicht auf:

- Finanzielle Mining Arrangements
- Steuerthemen
- Umweltthemen
- Kompensation
- Infrastruktur
- Landeignerversöhnung

Mr Taylor sagte, die BCA Überarbeitung ist Teil des ABG 15-Punkte Plans, der von dem verstorbenen Präsidenten Joseph Kabui sowie dem PNG-Government verabschiedet wurde.

BCL, einst der Betreiber einer der größten Tagebau-Minen der Welt führte weiter aus, dass die Überarbeitung des BCA nur dann effektiv sein kann, wenn alle involvierten Parteien in den Prozess eingebunden würden.

Diese Parteien sind: Die Nationale Regierung von PNG, das Autonome Bougainville Government, die Landeigner und Bougainville Copper LTD. Um mit den Verhandlungen zum neuen BCA zu beginnen, muss das ABG einen formalen Antrag an PNG stellen.

BCL beabsichtigt Vorgespräche mit dem ABG und den Landeignern zu führen, verlangt aber von diesen beiden Parteien formell eingeladen zu werden bevor die offiziellen Verhandlungen zur Überarbeitung des BCA beginnen.
„BCL ist bereit die Pangunamine wiederzueröffnen, wenn das der Wunsch von der Mehrheit der Landeigner und der Bougainviller ist“ so Mr Taylor. Die von BCL in Auftrag gegebene Order of Magnitude Studie zeigt dass profitables Mining in Panguna möglich ist, die Investitionskosten jedoch auch hoch sein werden.

Diese Studie ist der erste Schritt zu einer Entscheidung, ob eine komplette Machbarkeitsstudie zur Wiedereröffnung sinnvoll ist. Die Studie kommt aber auch zu dem Schluss, dass solange der Zutritt zur Mine verwehrt ist, es nicht möglich ist eine Entscheidung hinsichtlich Durchführung einer solchen Studie zu treffen.

„Basierend auf der Tatsache, dass eine Minenbesichtung unabdingbar ist, um weitere Schritte einleiten zu können, werden wir uns weiter darauf konzentrieren, die Beziehungen zu den Landeignern und Regierungen zu pflegen und alle involvierten Parteien in die Überlegungen mit einzubeziehen und über den aktuellen Stand auf dem Laufenden zu halten“ sagte Mr. Taylor.  

JETZT werden (endlich) Nägel mit Köpfen gemacht!!! Das klingt ja alles richtig konstruktiv!! Jetzt könnte wirklich ordentlich was vorwärts gehen mit Ergebnissen, die die Kurse bewegen - diesmal aber in die richtig Richtung. Und der Mr. Taylor hat sogar seine Sprache wieder gefunden. Der Dezember könnte die Wende sein! Wer die Chance nicht ergreift, dem kann nicht mehr geholfen werden. Mal schauen, ob sich das bis Australien durchspricht...

Danke auch für die Übersetzung ins Deutsche, das liest sich so noch viel besser!

Gruß
Donn  

......des Bougainville Executive Council eine Woche nach dem Besuch der Weltbank in Buka erfolgt ist.

Ein kleiner Wink mit dem Zaunpfahl könnte da Wunder gewirkt haben. ;-))))))))))))))))))))))

Schliesslich sollen die 16 Mio USD die von der Weltbank in die Amelioration der Lebensverhältnisse der Inselbevölkerung und die Ausbildung des B' viller Miningministerium gesteckt werden,auch kurzfristig ihre Früchte tragen.

Der BCL Chairman Peter Taylor hatte einen Brief an den ABG Interimspräsidenten geschickt mit dem Inhalt "dass es jetzt an der Zeit sei eine aktiven Diskussion über die Zukunft des Mining in Panguna zu beginnen"


Das Bougainville Executive Council hat im Laufe dieser Woche über Mr. Taylors Vorschlag debattiert und kam zu der Übereinkunft BCL, vertreten durch CEO Mr Taylor und Company Sekretär Mr Paul Coleman, zu diesem Meeting nach Buka einzuladen.  

Die 4 Offiziellen aus Panguna, die Donnerstag nach POM kommen sollten, sind nicht gekommen, da ihre Tickets nicht rechtzeitig verfügbar waren...  

kommen morgen immer noch rechtzeitig mit der 1. Maschine zum Meeting an.  

Ich habe bei BCL nachgefragt, was sie von dem Zeitungsartikel halten und ob sie schon eine Einladung erhalten hätten.

BCL antwortete, dass man die Einladung noch nicht erhalten habe, sie aber kurzfristig erwarte. In der Tat könne dies ein positiver Schritt sein, es gäbe aber noch andere Dinge, die man bedenken müsse, beispielweise die Wahlen, von denen die nächsten Schritte abhängen.

Fazit: Hinter den Kulissen geht es mächtig voran, und es könnten in naher Zukunft weitere Schritte folgen, das aber hängt in hohem Maße vom Ausgang der Präsidentenwahl ab....  

Beim Kursverlauf hier kann ich Dich verstehen, das Du nicht glauben kannst, das man bei Malle Bau im Sommer Intraday 500% Plus machen konnte.  

Während bei malle die Lichter wohl bald ausgehen werden sie bei BOC gerade erst angezündet.

Die chilenische Kupferproduktion sank im Oktober um 7% gegenüber dem Vorjahr. Der Hauptgrund hierfür liegt ausnahmsweise einmal nur periphär an der wirtschaftlichen Lage: die beiden größten Kupferminen des Landes, Escondida und Chuquicamanta hatten zuletzt mit rückläufigen Vererzungsgraden und größeren technischen Problemen zu kämpfen. Während in nahezu allen Bereichen des Industriemetallsektors wirtschaftlich bedingte Produktionskürzungen angekündigt wurden, blieb es im Bereich Kupfer bis dato noch relativ ruhig.  

...Provinz Yunnan für einen Lichtblick. So kündigte die Regionalregierung in Yunnan an, dass man angesichts der schwachen Nachfrage und damit verbunden niedriger Preise, insgesamt eine Million Tonnen Metalle aufkaufen und einlagern werde. Im Einzelnen sollen 150.000 Tonnen Kupfer, 300.000 Tonnen Aluminium, 150.000 Tonnen Blei, 300.000 Tonnen Zink und 100.000 Tonnen Zinn beschafft werden. Dies entspricht etwa 50% der aktuellen LME-Lagerbestände beim Kupfer, 16% beim Aluminium, 350% beim Blei, 145% beim Zink und 2.400% beim Zinn. Das heißt, die chinesische Provinz Yunnan beabsichtigt etwa 24 mal so viel Zinn zu kaufen als aktuell als LME-Lagerbestand ausgewiesen ist. Sollten di e Chinesen diese Maßnahme wie angekündigt vornehmen, dann dürfte dies zunächst einmal zu einer Belebung einzelner Metallsektoren führen.  

Kaouna

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/.../200812/s2439462.htm

Die Wahlen haben planmässig am 6.12 begonnen und sollen am 20.12 abgeschlossen sein.Das Resultat wird für den 23.12. erwartet.Den angeforderten Hubschrauber um die Wahlen zu unterstützen bekam das ABG von PNG jedoch nicht zur Verfügung gestellt.So müssen sich die Wahlteams mit ihren Wahlurnen teilweise zu Fuss in die abgelegensten Regionen begeben.(Sogar auf der Nord-Sued Hauptstrasse müssen mangels Brücken 12 Flüsse durchquert werden)

Einige Publikationen rechnen jetzt damit dass das Wahlergebnis erst Ende 08/Anfang 09 vorliegen könnte.

In dem Interview gibt Sam Akoitai an den Invincible Deal zu revisieren,sollte er die Wahl gewinnen.  

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTTRANSPORT/...EM_and_poverty.pdf

B'ville Photos an S 9  

http://news.theage.com.au/world/...in-bougainville-20081208-6tvq.html

Simmering tensions in Papua New Guinea's autonomous Bougainville region have stopped voters reaching polling stations to choose their new president.

Bougainvilleans were supposed go to the polls last Saturday after former leader Joseph Kabui died from a heart attack in June this year.

But security fears tied to issues dating back 20 years to the closure of the island's giant copper mine are causing concerns for election officials.

Mathias Pihei, Bougainville's acting electoral commissioner, said some polling had been completed in the region's north but in the capital Buka, and in central and south Bougainville not one ballot had been cast.

"Remember the people in Bougainville are still traumatised," he told AAP.

"Problems have not been resolved yet, everyone has been traumatised to a certain degree and we are holding an election when people are not reconciled.

"There was a lot of mud-slinging in the lead-up. We had to go on air (local radio) to appeal to the voters to give everyone an even playing field.

"People were raising issues with candidates that went back to the crisis, they are keeping it in their mind and they want answers.

"I am confident we will go on... we have people on the ground negotiating."

The island of Bougainville spent nearly a decade during the 1980s and the 1990s fighting a civil war with PNG after central Bougainville landowners shut down the massive Panguna mine.

Despite Australia and New Zealand brokering a peace agreement between the two warring parties in 2001, Bougainville remains plagued by heavy weapons, fractured infighting and tension from years of arrested development.

Armed roadblocks, unresolved financial disputes with the Bougainville government and factional tensions linked to the civil war have been cited as factors stalling this year's presidential race.

"In the south and central Bougainville we have some concerns from information on the security issues," Pihei said.

"People are demanding compensation money and have set up roadblocks.

"It can been seen as being opportunistic but we are being cautious before we leap."

One group in central Bougainville will not allow voting until the government pays for late president Kabui's funeral costs.

Another group wants compensation for a dead villager they lost when he assisted police in a failed raid on wanted pyramid scheme operator Noah Musingku.

Pihei also said Bougainville's nationalist faction known as Mekamui, who have candidates running in the election, have been using armed road blocks in the central and south to intimidate and stop voters.

Polling officials in Buka were demanding cash advances before the election can start because in the past they had not been paid, he said.

The election is the first to be held under Bougainville's constitution, another sign that the island is heading towards total independence, expected in a 2015 vote.

The United Nations, Australia and New Zealand have officials in the region monitoring the elections in an informal capacity.

© 2008 AAP  

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=43575

Radio New Zealand International

More Bougainville areas to join election process tomorrow
Posted at 04:24 on 09 December, 2008 UTC

Voting in the Presidential election in the central and southern parts of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville is expected to start tomorrow after delays caused by security concerns.

The chief electoral officer, Mathias Pihei, says voting has been delayed by road blocks and demands by police for allowance payments.

He says it will get underway on Wednesday.

Anthony Regan, an academic with the Australian National University who is presently in Bougainville, says road blocks are a common feature there and they won’t stop people voting.

“People aren’t overly worried about them and they can always, just about always, persuade those involved to stop what they are doing or to do it in a way that doesn’t actually interfere. It is just a form of protest, except this one at Sinanai[ in south Bougainville and thought to involve the money scam operator Noah Musingku] as I say, that is not going to be a difficulty. I think sometimes people from outside hear about road blocks and think they are a really serious issue, not knowing that is part of life here.”
Anthony Regan  

http://www.thenational.com.pg/120908/nation40.php

THE people of Hagogohe in North Bougainville will soon benefit from a forest mill for a housing scheme. North Bougainville MP Michael Ogio launched the forest mill recently. Mr Ogio told the gathering that he had a good working relationship with North Bougainville Members. He said the K70,000 expenditure on the Lucas forest mill was the outcome of mutual efforts by the National Government through his office and the Autonomous Bougainville Government through the office of the Member for Hagogohe so that people could benefit from constructive politics. Hagogohe MP Robert Sawa said the forest mill was a public property of the people that would improve the living standards of the people in his constituency and the people of North Bougainville.  

......on portraying the negative? The heading of Melbourne Age's article will have anybody who does not know what's happening on the ground believe there is havoc, mayhem and confusion in polling booths and tally rooms in Bougainville. I suppose the Aussie public finds reporting like this more juicy and far more palatable than to report the actual situation on the ground at this time. In contrast the NZ press have very wisely asked those on the ground and have Tony Regan's comments which is a far more accurate account of the situation with campaigning and polling that is going on.

It never ceases to amaze me how over the years I have watched the Australian media reporting on events in PNG they take a disproportionate liking  reporting about rascals, tribal fights, plane crashes, corruption and other supposedly disorderly state of affairs.  

http://news.theage.com.au/world/...nville-election-20081210-6vrw.html

December 10, 2008 - 6:56PM

Bougainville's presidential by-election has seen a slow start with poor voter turn-out and heavily armed road blocks stopping some regions from voting.

Bougainville this week began choosing a new leader after former president Joseph Kabui died from a heart attack in June this year.

Voting in Papua New Guinea's autonomous region has seen less than expected numbers in the north and the capital Buka, while ongoing disputes in central and southern parts has meant not one vote has been cast.

Bougainville minister for local level government Jonathon Ngati said armed ex-soldiers and former commandos in his southern region had refused to end their road block.

"They want money and have refused to stop their road block," he said.

"The situation is very tense and we are trying our best to negotiate and we will go back again this week."

The heavily armed men want $A75,000 from the government after one of their relatives died in a failed raid on a pyramid scheme operator.

No vehicles would pass until their demands had been met, Ngati said.

Anther group in central Bougainville will not allow voting until the government pays for the late president Kabui's funeral costs.

Australian National University professor Anthony Regan, who works with the Bougainville government, said there were numerous reasons why there was a poor showing at the polls.

"There are 14 candidates and no ideological battles or inspiring campaigns.

"It has not been a presidential style race between two candidates as we have seen in the past," he said.

Regan said previous elections usually brought in a little more than half of the 130,000 registered voters.

"Voting in by-elections usually gets half that turnout so this year's by-election follows that trend."

"It is a bad time of year, people have to return to where they are enrolled, which for some could mean days of travelling," he said.

A general election would be held in Bougainville in 18 months and this was when many would go to the polls, he said.

PNG's newspapers have also reported low voter turnouts for Bougainvillians in the capital Port Moresby and East New Britain province.

The island of Bougainville spent nearly a decade during the 1980s and 1990s fighting a civil war with PNG after central Bougainville landowners' shut down the massive Panguna copper mine.

In 2001 a peace agreement was signed but Bougainville remains plagued by heavy weapons, fractured in-fighting and simmering tensions from years of conflict and neglect.

© 2008 AAP  

..............POLLING IN SIWAI AND BUIN IS MOVING FORWARD SMOOTHLY. THE MINOR PROBLEMS AT THE START HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.  

http://www.nbc.com.pg/news/articles/2008/12/...nville_by-election.htm

Polling delayed for Bougainvilles by election
Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:00pm

Polling in South Bougainville has been delayed again due to security reasons.

Polling will now start tomorrow (Thursday) because the number of roadblocks have increased.

Acting Electoral Commissioner for Bougainville, Mathias Pihei said because of the timing that the information of the threats reached his office two-days prior to the polling, they did not have enough time to assess the magnitude of the problem.

Provincial Returning Officer, Reitama Taravaru said the Assistant Returning Officer for Buin left Buka with the polling requirements at 12-midnight to get three outboard motor boats in Arawa and travel to Buin.

Mr Pihei said the situation with South Bougainville will be a stress on a one-to-one basis and will not affect other constituencies.

In Central Bougainville, the threat that reached the Electoral Office relates to the outstanding claims for villagers regarding the past elections.

He said they were closely consulting with the people responsible and that the delay for poling on South Bougainville would not affect the schedule of polling.

Polling in North Bougainville started on Saturday and is progressing well.