Human Rights

His admittance follows interim orders that were issued by the Waigani National Court on 23 February by Human Rights judge, Justice David Cannings.

The interim order allowed for urgent medical attention to be given for his “deteriorating medical conditions”. 

Wartoto, who was sentenced on 23 June 2017, was in hospital from March 2017 to 10 January 2018 when he was taken back to Bomana without being formally discharged.

He was among those prisoners who were removed from the hospital on 10 January on orders from the Correctional Service Commissioner, Michael Waipo.

The Lihir Mining Area Landowners Association and 114 others filed the case in September 2013 claiming damages.

Only 43 of them who produced evidence in court were granted their claims. They will be receiving payments between K39,000 and K11,000.

The National Court ordered the state to pay them K814, 500 in damages and K71,676 interest. They are to receive a total of K886,176.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop stated this in a conference with media earlier this morning at the City Hall office.

Parkop was referring to the recent incident that occurred during the Walk for Life program last Sunday which saw opportunists attack and assault motorists at different locations in the city.

Describing the incident as regrettable, Parkop said this will not make him stop the Walk for Life program that has been going on for two years already.

Manager for Active City program, Fazilah Bazari, says they have taken security as a big major issue.

Human rights judge, Justice David Cannings, said no person should be subjected to this sort of intimidation (sorcery-related violence) or terrible events that are being reported.

Sorcery is a criminal matter, but it can also be a civil matter under human rights.

This was highlighted at the close of the inaugural workshop on Human Rights for Judges in the PNG Judiciary and Federal Court of Australia.

The two-day workshop ended on Friday afternoon with judges encouraged to be at the forefront in ensuring everyone’s rights are upheld and protected. 

Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, in closing the workshop, said human rights are different from other constitutional rights and other laws.

Having human rights, rights under the constitution and other laws does not mean everyone knows about them.

Human rights judge, Justice David Cannings, said there is a big problem in making people in Papua New Guinea aware of their rights.

That problem he said is faced by people living with disability, people in remote locations, and vulnerable groups like women who suffer from domestic violence, children who come into conflict with the law, juveniles, and people living with HIV/AIDS.

The two-day workshop began today after a similar one was held last week for magistrates in the lower judiciary.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, in opening the workshop today, said two issues he hopes will be addressed are skills in dealing with human rights cases and the philosophical underpinnings of human rights.

“There is a wealth of case laws on human rights since Independence on the application, enforcement and protection of human rights under our domestic legal framework.

A workshop on human rights for magistrates currently underway outlined that those in the rural areas see human rights as a “rich man’s thing” in going to court over alleged breach of their rights due to costs involved.

The lack of awareness and knowledge among simple villagers sees those in the rural areas resort to customs and cultural beliefs.

Customs are also changing in time and are also being used to violate human rights, especially in cases of women being paid compensation over a beating. The relatives benefit while the victim continues to suffer.

The two-day workshop will address short comings in the way the lower judiciary carries out its duty in terms of enforcing human rights.

Speaking at the opening, Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia says the workshop will enable those in enforcement agencies, like the courts, equip themselves with special skills so they perform to the best standard in enforcing human rights.

Lorengau Town residents, led by non-government organisation, Manus Alliance against Human Rights Abuse, today marched with placards to the Manus Provincial Government headquarters, petitioning the Australian Government to free asylum seekers from detention on Manus and take them back to Australia.

Despite the provincial police commander, David Yapu, saying any protest march today regarding the shutdown would be deemed illegal, residents of Lorengau Town fronted at the Manus Provincial Government and handed their petition to Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin.