PAPUA NEW GUINEA: PM, The National blast ABC over timber report

Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and Forest Minister Patrick Pruaitch have attacked an MP and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over what they claim is a "vicious" and "unbalanced" report on the timber industry

Pacific Media Watch
Sunday, February 8, 2004

PORT MORESBY (The National Online/Pacific Media Watch): Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and Forest Minister Patrick Pruaitch have attacked an MP and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over what they claim is a "vicious" and "unbalanced" report on the timber industry, reports The National.

In a report bylined by the editor, Yehiura Hriehwazi, the PM and Forests Minister were said to be considering libel suits against the ABC and the reporter who filed the ABC report, Shane McLeod.

The National is owned by the Malaysian logging group Rimbunan Hijau and is considered close to the PNG timber industry.

Under the headline, "PM, Pruaitch irked by 'vicious' report: ABC broadcasts malicious report on timber industry", the National news story said: 

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, Forest Minister Patrick Pruaitch and the PNG timber industry have rebuked Huon Gulf MP Zibe and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for what they described as a "most vicious, unbalanced and damaging" news report on the industry.

Zibe was interviewed  by ABC on its AM programme yesterday in which he accused the Prime Minister of being influenced by a "network" of powerful timber interests in PNG. He also claimed that network involved government ministers and people within the bureaucracy and the timber industry.

The Prime Minister and Pruaitch were apparently angered by the report and said they would be meeting this morning to consider libel suits against Zibe, Shane McLeod, the ABC reporter who filed the report, and ABC.

Meanwhile the Forest Industry Association (FIA) held separate meetings  yesterday and agreed to write a strongly worded letter of protest to the Australian High Commissioner in Port Moresby Mike Potts.
            
FIA executive director Dick McCarthy described the report as "vicious and most damaging" as it tarnished all the timber operators in PNG as "illegal activities". He added that the report was also totally unbalanced and failed to air his views and press releases.

He said the report had done immense damage to the timber trade between PNG and Australia that has been going on for the last 100 years.

He questioned why the ABC, the state-owned radio service of Australia, saw it fit to "actively promote" radical environmental groups and an ex-minister who continually quoted from an outdated World Bank review report that had proven to be factually wrong in many aspects.

Sir Michael Somare said elected representatives were mandated to "govern within the laws of the country for the best outcomes for the people."

"When we took office in August 2002, many people were sceptical about our performance. While we still have a long way to go, we have shown that in the last 18 months  we are more than capable of delivering results for our people," said Sir Michael Somare.

"We have managed to control our expenditure levels but still have cash flow problems. We must still explore our options to generate more revenue to support our budget. We have been able to make significant progress in agriculture and mining. All of which have been done within the laws of Papua New Guinea.

"We are doing the same in other sectors like forestry so that the revenue that we create is channelled into infrastructure development as well as debt servicing. We are honouring our commitment to good governance by properly managing our resources," said the Prime Minister.

Pruaitch was more forthright. "I will sue Mr Zibe over this. Although he did not name any ministers, itıs obvious he was referring to me.

"I am very disappointed and angry that an ex-minister of Cabinet who had access to state information and secrets is being manipulated by NGOs.

"He is abusing his privilege  as a former member of an executive government."

"This government is doing an excellent job in running the country.

"The economy is improving with our export-driven recovery strategy of which the forestry sector is actively involved in," said Pruaitch.

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Date Posted: 2/8/2004