PIANGO Monthly 3.4

• Editorial
• Workshop on Democracy and Small States
• VANUATU - MURDER MARCH
• Samoa NGOs receive special attention
• Establishment of Solomon Islands NGO Peace Office

Editorial

This issue is dedicated to the passing away of Mr. Joseph Mandea Ogaie, a member of the Coordinating Committee of the Pacific Islands Association of Non - Government Organizations (PIANGO). The Pacific-wide NGOs Movement remembers Joe as a leader and as a man of vision and integrity. Joe cared deeply about people and about relationships and was an extraordinary mediator and problem-solver. We remember Joe's wisdom and sense of justice. Many of us looked to Joe for guidance and support and he always listened with compassion and respect. Joe had a strong intuitive sense of people's emotional wellbeing and always seemed to know if people were distressed. Joe was like an anchor - someone you could count on and talk to whenever the need arose. He was a role model and mentor to people throughout Papua New Guinea and the region. He will be sorely missed.

(Below is a piece written by Shereen Tuomi, CUSO Systems Analyst/Trainer for NVS about Mr. Joseph Mandea Ogaie)

"Good-bye Joe"

As many of you reading this will already have heard, Melanesia recently lost one of her great sons. Perhaps not one of the most famous; he was neither a leading political figure, nor was he in the habit of putting himself before the public eye. Nevertheless, Joseph Mandea Ogaie, the director of the Papua New Guinea National Volunteer Service (NVS), is a soul who will be sorely missed by many.

Certainly within the NGO and international development community, Joe's name was extremely well-known and respected. The 46-year old Southern Highlander's reputation for honesty, fairness, integrity and vision is one that will leave a lasting impression on all who knew him and had the privilege of working with him.

Joe's history of involvement with community development is a long one, beginning with his work as an educator in his home province in 1975. He began his career as a teacher, but was soon promoted to Assistant Secretary for Community Affairs for the Southern Highland's Provincial Government, which made him responsible for the administration of a number of educational projects, from community school and vocational centres to coordinating World Bank-funded projects. Many of these projects begun and administered by Mr. Ogaie are still in existence. In 1989-90 he was briefly seconded to the United States Peace Corps, but when parliament enacted the National Volunteer Service Act in April 1990, he chose to apply to set up the new NGO.

Mr. Ogaie began the arduous task of developing a national volunteer programme with a budget of only K10, 000 and the belief that the Melanesian spirit of service and generosity could be translated into volunteerism. It was not a belief shared by many; most people stated flatly that Papua New Guineans would never work for free, and even members of the NVS Council were openly sceptical. Nevertheless, Joe persevered , and with help of two CUSO volunteers, John and Colleeen Taylor, NVS slowly but surely came to life. In the second year, NVS placed its first volunteer. Ten years later, it is a thriving concern, placing and supporting an average of 15 volunteers per year throughout the country. The NVS values of cross cultural understanding, Papua New Guineans helping Papua New Guineans, and a spirit of service and self-sacrifice for the greater good are an ever-strengthening beacon in the NGO community of the South Pacific. Much of this is due to the powerful vision, dauntless determination and deep compassion of Joe Ogaie.

Joe's insight, humour, vision, and sheer strength of personality have touched the lives of many people over the years. The news of his unexpected passing on May 22nd of this year has sent shock-waves through many organisations and people the world over, and condolences and offers of help have poured in from all sides. His funeral service in Port Moresby on May 26th, 2000 was attended by hundreds; the burial service in his village of Kendagl in Lalibu district was attended by literally tens of thousands of people. Joe leaves behind his wife Cecilia and six children. The show of support has been greatly appreciated.

As is sadly the case all too often, our keenest sense of importance of someone's life comes after their death. Joe sat on many a Board, advised many an embryonic NGO, created partnerships and dialogues across countries and cultures and oceans. He mould staff members through his belief in their abilities; he gave of himself selflessly and tirelessly that everyone around him might have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. He constantly pushed the boundaries of what NVS and all connected with NVS could expect of themselves. True to Joe's sense of vision, he had felt recently that the time was coming for him to try new challenges, and that it was also time for NVS to prove its ability to fly without him. To that end, he had been patiently grooming NVS staff to carry on its work without him. Although he surely didn't foresee this ending, ironically, those very efforts will enable NVS to continue its work, in celebration of his memory.

Rest in peace, Joe. You've done well.

Workshop on Democracy and Small States

PIANGO was invited and was represented by the Coordinator at this workshop which was held in Malta from 10-12 May 2000. The workshop was jointly organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), with the support of the Government of Malta. This was the fourth in a series of Commonwealth meetings on the theme Deepening Democracy, whose purpose is to help member countries in their efforts to strengthen their democratic processes and institutions. Key aspects of the Democratic process in small states discussed included the roles of the executive and the legislature, mechanisms for scrutiny, accountability and oversight, sovereignty and democracy, and the culture of democracy. The workshop also looked at the role of Civil Society in small island states especially in relation to the practice of Democratic principles.

Some of the main points that were brought up as part of the main conclusions of the workshop included:

• No voting system is perfect, there are strengths both in the proportional representation and the first-past-the-post systems.
• Democracy can be a source of resilience; resilience comes from political and social systems and these should respond to the local political cultures which underpin these
• There can be no true Democracy when there is under-representation of women in Parliament
• Strengthening local government, transparency of elections, a responsible media and a strong opposition are all considered important.
• Alienation of the young from politics was viewed with concern
• Good systems lead to accountability; this inter alia includes an independent auditor; effective institutions like parliamentary Committees and an Ombudsman, independent judiciary and separation of powers. These should exist and not only on paper
• Accountability is also achieved by compliance with human rights, and it would be good to have justiciable human rights laws
• Media complaints councils, Integrity Acts and Codes of Conduct are useful for providing checks against irresponsibility, corruption and abuse of power
• Strong links with a responsible media are desirable, which should receive full information
• In certain circumstances the right to silence and privacy may be as important as the freedom of speech
• Abuses of fundamental freedoms and human rights in small states often escape international attention
• There is a need to overcome the fears and prejudices of government in their dealings with civil society and NGOs. At the same time, NGOs needed to be credible and professional
• It is necessary to carry further the discussions on the right and obligations of the government, the market and civil society
• The concept of sovereignty, which implies inter alia 'identity' and 'autonomy' applies as much to small states as to larger countries
• The ability to act in a sovereign manner may be limited in small states, e.g. by the activities of multinational corporations
• Some solutions may be found in regional co-operation and more general co-operation among small states. Small states may also draw on resources which are currently under-utilised; primary among these, is the contribution of women to economic and social life
• Small states must ask themselves the following questions: how can international co-operation be enhanced to ensure the security of small states? How may assistance be obtained from the developed world at least cost to small states? What should small states do to help themselves?

Participants at the workshop included government ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, public servants, academics, electoral officials, and figures from civil society. There was also observers from Malta, the United Nations and other international organizations and Commonwealth non-government organizations.

VANUATU - MURDER MARCH

Vanuatu chiefs have petitioned the Government against the murder of an expatriate businessman in the capital, Port Vila last month.

Justin West was found dead in his house and Police have arrested a man believed to be linked with the alleged murder.

The Vanuatu Council of Chiefs or the Mafatumauri in a petition addressed to Prime Minister Barak Sope want the government not to release hardened criminals until they have served their full sentence in jail. This follows the chief's allegation that the man believed to behind the murder was a known criminal released during the millennium celebrations.

The march today was supposed to be organised by the Vanuatu National Association of Non Governmental Organisation (VANGO) and the National Council of Women (VNCW). Both groups pulled out at the last minute saying the chiefs were using the petition to further their own agenda. According to VNCW, the council of chiefs have added additional points to the petition, which are 'unlawful, discriminatory and undemocratic."

VNCW said the chiefs have blamed the entire national problem on women. " This is not what the public wanted when they attended the public meetings following the murder of Justin West. This position taken by the chiefs is an insult to the widow of West," VNCW President, Grace Molisa said...

(Courtesy of PACNEWS, 12/7/2000)

Samoa NGOs receive special attention

(By Lefiu Faatiga from SUNDAY NEWSLINE, SAMOA)

A graduate diploma program is the latest initiative launched this week to assist Non-Government Organizations in the region, including NGOs in Samoa. Samoa, by the way was the home of the inaugural workshop for the regional graduate diploma program classified as the 'Graduate Diploma in Non-For-Profit Management'. The course was the first of a series where participants can undertake over a period of time and is designed to enable participants to:

• Acquire knowledge of the history, culture and ethics of the NGO sector and its role in both the Pacific regional and international context
• Gain skills that facilitate lifelong learning and professional development
• Develop analytical abilities that lead to informed decision-making
• Become autonomous, self-reliant and confident leaders and managers
• Appreciate the nature, interrelationship and practical applications of a variety of forms of governance and management
• Secure adequate funds and other resources for their organizations
• Display sensitivity towards the needs of different ethnic groups within the community
• Develop research skills that form the basis for effective strategic planning
• Develop specialized skills in building the capacity of international and indigenous NGOs; and
• Share their knowledge and experience, and build network of mutual support and learning

The 3-day course from the 29th of June to the 1st of July 2000 held at the Samoa Polytech was attended by 12 representatives from Samoa, two from Tonga and one each from the Cook Islands and Niue. Participants were mainly managers and senior leaders within the NGO sector. This course was first offered to Melanesian NGO leaders in December 1999 in Nadave, Fiji. The initiative to offer this to NGOs within the Pacific region follows a partnership arrangement between the Pacific Islands Association of Non - Government Organizations (PIANGO) and UNITEC Institute of TECHNOLOGY based in Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand. The hosting of the course in Apia, Samoa was a collaborative effort between Women In Business (Samoa), National Council of Women (Fiji), UNITEC Institute of Technology (Aotearoa/New Zealand), UNDP (Fiji), and PIANGO (Pacific Islands Association of Non - Government Organizations).

The hosting of the course in Samoa was made possible through financial assistance from NZODA and UNDP.

click here for more on the above.

Establishment of Solomon Islands NGO Peace Office

Non - Government Organizations in the Solomon Islands have come together to set up an office to coordinate their efforts into assisting to bring peace back to the Solomon Islands. Below is a general letter of awareness about the initiative and appeal for assistance signed by the Chairperson of the NGO FOR PEACE COMMITTEE, Mr. George Saemane. For further information on this initiative or if you wish to assist, contact either Mr. George Saemane or Mr. Casper Fa'asal on the following address:

NGO FOR PEACE COMMITTEE
C\-Development Services Exchange
Solomon Islands NGO Umbrella Organization
P.O Box 56, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Phone: 677 23760, Fax: 677 21339
E-mail: robpoole@welkam.solomon.com.sb

3 July 2000
Dear Sir/Madam
RE: Solomon Islands NGO Peace Office

Today I write to you as a follow-on from last week's media announcement concerning the establishment of the Solomon Islands NGO Peace Office. Through this letter I wish to notify you and your members of some of the foundational details of the Office. The Peace Office will be located within the existing DSE building in New Chinatown, Honiara. Primarily people currently on unpaid leave will staff the Office. The staff will consist of both volunteers and members of the NGO for Peace Committee. Currently the membership of the Committee is Casper Fa'asala, George Saemane, Rose Niarongoa, Eva Wagapu, Leliana Firisua, Francis Tekatoha, Ross Scholes and Sr Vicki Wilson. This staff will share the office space and workload with their sister committee NGO Peace Media Education Program (PMEP). The NGO Peace Office is an organisation established under the auspices of the Development Services Exchange (DSE). The Peace Office was established primarily with a twofold joint purpose and aim:

• To provide a series of medium-term (no longer than six months) practical programs for restoring national peace.
• To provide a series of long-term (between three and four years) practical nationwide programs, focussed particularly towards the youth.

There are several avenues and means by which the Peace Office foresees being able to achieve the above purpose and aim. Apart from conducting various awareness programs through radio and the print media, and the running of various nationwide project workshops and programs, the Office also intends to liaise with the various churches. While at the same time developing appropriate and suitable links with the government and other NGOs, including SICA and those groups currently involved in and concerned with the peace process and related issues.

We are pleased to announce that the NGO PMEP has already commenced its radio program. Plans are also well underway for some of the other programs and projects the Peace Office intends to initiate and run.

Finance to undertake this proposed endeavour will be sought from various international communities, who have already expressed interest and offered support and assistance towards a permanent resolution to the current ethnic tension here in the Solomon Islands. The office also looks forward to receiving support from your organisation. Working together and through appropriate and necessary coordination of projects and programs I believe we can overcome this current tragedy, which has gripped our country.

Attached is a copy of the recent NGO for Peace Committee meeting minutes. Thanking you in advance for your attention to this letter, and we look forward to our future contact and shared endeavours.

Yours truly,

GEORGE SAEMANE
CHAIRPERSON - NGO FOR PEACE COMMITTEE