Comments

Thanks special to Australian government and New Zealand government also for their helping hand to our small country to get this opportunity for our people to be the part of their family through this visa, I wish am the who have it, God bless.

Yes, sadly the State entities are largely disengaged from issues and activities at the community level, and therefore invariably unresponsive and ill-equipped to respond to crises ... that said, the scenario is not universally identical across the Highlands let alone the country. Tribal conflicts which were frequent in the eastern provinces in the Highlands, are far less prevalent these days, whereas the reverse seems to be the case in some of the western districts in the Highlands. Also the capacity to limit and offset conflict through local settlements, rather than incessant payback and destruction, seems more prevalent in the Eastern provinces and districts? How deep this goes, how much this entails better or more engaged leadership, how much traditional or cultural influences apply, and/or how far long prevalence of major resource projects and associated expectations and increased income disparities and frustration have influenced the current scenarios are of interest; some are inclined to give up in complete frustration with government, political leaders and agencies, and yet they can be and should be a big part of the solution, if engaged, responsive and pushed into greater accountability, but they and corrupt leaders, who gain public office through fraudulent and sometimes violent means, can also be a major part of the problem. Trying to leave govt out of the dialogue is not the way to go, though it can be very frustrating and there'll be more constructive outcomes in some cases than others. There are some examples of constructive engagement around the country, with some leaders ready to listen and engage with communities, innovators and reformers. Examples of constructive engagement with positive outcomes are also noticed amongst communities and able to be replicated, to some extent; one often hears questions asked by people from some of the most resource rich provinces and districts, how come resource poorer Chimbu, or parts of Eastern and Western Highlands nowadays have less conflict, and seem to progress so well academically academically and that their Children's fund isn't pilfered like some others? Certainly, there are lessons to be learnt from place to place, even if all face issues (like prevention of women voting, let alone being elected), but establishing a level of constructive social capital is critical, which can take a wider community beyond immediate descent into conflict is critical, while credible and accountability leadership and national and local administration and services are fundamental.

The Australian government and the Pacific Island Leaders should consider dialogue with the Pacific Island Council Queensland (PICQ) to identify what the diasporas can assist in. Diaspora communities are important because they will have on the ground knowledge and experience in Australia on things like where to find jobs, and what not. Just a suggestion.

Christians should fast and pray for God's intervention. Word of God ; in 2 Chronicles 7: 14, God is saying, if my people humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their sins and wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land and country. Only God and God alone, God of Peace, can solve these problems. God is a God of impossible, problem where human cannot solve it God can. We need God's intervention now.

Interesting article. I have 2 questions; 1. Have we ever thought where the high powered guns are coming from to be used in the clan battles? 2. Are there internal migration from one province into another? Reasons of migration could be for safety or collecting weapons to fuel escalation of violence from bows and arrows formerly to now high powered guns. Provincial borders especially between Hela, Enga and Sandaun to Indonesian border need to be monitored closely for my 2nd question.

The proposed PMI is a good approach in allocating the visa (PEV) to the Pacific Island countries. One of the requirement of the PEV is that the applicant (or the spouse) must have a secure formal ongoing job in Australia. In my view, this will be a challenge. Need to address this and the allocation issue holistically.

Apparently, the lead negotiators are also at risk for being the casualty. The harboring of hostage for ransom is uncommon and just migrated as one of the avenues for money making by this criminal elements. Fighting in the Highlands is like a game orchestrated to gain territorial land, fame and power just to outplay the opponent. Killing lives is the goal and the more lives are killed, the more goals are being scored. If the land or property is acquired during the fighting, there is extra bonus. The victor gain power and dominance while the victim bow out in dismay and re-strategies for the next move. This trend is sniffing its way down to the coast of PNG with escalating violence of killings. For example, in Madang Province, it is seen that beheading and chopping of bodies is the game that determines which group can be fearsome and untouched. Killing and violence is an epidemic and has collapsed the moral social cultural of the Melanesian way, which has strong sentiment to mutual problem solving with respect and peace. Cleary, Melanesian ways of problem solving have extinct with replacement of neo-melawesternisation, a hybrid of western influence and Melanesian culture with some instincts. Violence and killings is a disease of which it boils from the heart and fuels anger and eventually eats the hearts of the unfortunate who felt that they are uncared, unloved and are unable to secure meaning in their lives. They think of themselves as the victims of the left behinds. May of those have no education, unemployed, and are living in the fringe of remoteness. To make name for themselves to gain recognition, aided with influences of alcohol and drugs, they resort to violence and killings. Our villages used to be the place for retiring for holidays or for peace but it is not safe anymore. It is no longer a refuge as home. You can be killed any time when police is not there and hospitals are far away to reach to get treated. Towns and cities are more safer and have easy access to the basic needs and services. You can see why people migrate to towns and cities in search for these.

Come on Aussie come on ... give it a go ... New Zealand has shown it can be done and benefits all ... now is the time to show the true Vuvale Partnership you all been preaching ...

Australia has a lot to learn from France in dealing with the Pacific. Last year (2022) I visited New Caledonia and was quite impressed by the evolution of power relations between Metropolitan France and the island territory. Coincidently, during the week that I was in the most separatist province (Northern Province), the sculpture of Jean-Marie Tjibou shaking hands with Jacques Lafleur was erected at Peace Square (Place de la paix) in Noumea. The Pacific is still in the process of decolonisation. The discourse is the development uses terms such as "local context", "hybrid model", "home grown" etc... to justify or give credibility to development initiatives that usually involve importing ideas, materials, and institutional structures from outside. I think the story of how France relates to the people of New Caledonia in responding to their development needs while accommodating aspirations for self-determination is relevant to discussions and practice of development in the Pacific. In terms of the relevance of France to PNG, we have the investment by Total in the Papua LNG project. France could also assist PNG in the extractive industries with the experiences of empowering the Northern Province government of New Caledonia acquire greater control of the value chain of the Nickel industry. The set-up of the agriculture and livestock sector in New Caledonia can also inform the development of the sector in Melanesia. I thank the authors for highlighting the importance of France in the Pacific.

Looking forward for P.E.V and hopefully it gets the approval from the Senate and we can apply. Hope it happens

More insights like this is needed to foster and revive some "silenced" regional development coordination instruments born out of the 2009 PIF Cairns Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination (Forum Compact), which mobilised both Pacific countries and a host of key donor partners (including Australia, USA, Japan, UN, ADB, World Bank, EU) around accountability mechanisms aimed at regular review and subsequent reform of Pacific PFM and aid management systems through peer review; and annual reporting of donor partners against international principles of good practice (Paris, Accra, Busan) to Pacific leaders ie: donor coordination, use of country systems etc. These were Pacific country led approaches that for some reason have been pushed to the margins of regional development discourse and practice, yet, from the growing geo-political competition in the Pacific, is still very much needed.

Dear Mr Singirok, Thank you very much for your response and for engaging with my academic analysis of your book. Please understand my commentary was not intended as a personal attack, although I can understand why you might feel strongly about the issues. I am sure, we both agree that an open dialogue on issues relating to our country, we both know and love, is important and should be encouraged. It is my duty as an academic to engage in analysis of important topics, such as those engaged in by your book. These are issues on which reasonable people might disagree, but that should not be a reason not to discuss them. Kind regards, Henry Ivarature BA Hons 1st Class (Political Science), UPNG (1988) MA (Public Administration), Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (1991) PhD (Sociology), Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (1994)