Controversial daily launched in PNG
By David Robie
A controversial new daily newspaper, published by an associate company of the Malaysian logging corporation which dominates Papua New Guinea's timber industry, appeared on November 11 — free for two days.
Prime Minister Paias Wingti, who launched the paper at its converted warehouse headquarters in Port Moresby on November 10, has been challenged to declare any interest in the publishing venture by his People's Democratic Movement (PDM).
The paper is called the National, a sensitive title for a foreign-owned publication, as the name denotes an indigenous PNG citizen. Until an advertising campaign for the new paper, it had been known as the Pacific Star.
The paper is published by Pacific Star Pty Ltd, understood to be at least 51% owned by Monarch Investments, with a minority PNG shareholding. Monarch Investments is a sister company to Rimbunan Hijau, the Malaysian logging company said by the Forests Ministry to control 86% of PNG's timber industry. The company says its share of the industry is less than that.
Rimbunan Hijau has engaged in a high profile publicity campaign strongly challenging the country's new forest policy, which seeks to control rampant logging. One of the National's senior editors is Wingti's former press secretary.
In a letter published by the rival daily, Post-Courier (Murdoch-owned, with a minority Australian/PNG shareholding), opposition leader Chris Haiveta's press secretary, Yehiura Angwi Hriehwazi, challenged the PDM to declare its interests.
"If the Prime Minister, his representatives or agents have any interest in the newspaper, then for purposes of conducting open commercial activities and as a matter of public interest, the Prime Minister should declare his interests, if any, publicly", Hriehwazi wrote. [Journalism Department, UPNG/Asia-Pacific Network/Pegasus]