Yearbook 2006
Papua New Guinea. At the beginning of the year came an
international report warning that Papua New Guinea's natural
rainforests were threatened by eradication through illegal
logging. Above all, Malaysian forest companies were
identified as lawbreakers. According to the report, timber
is mainly exported to China and is widely used for products
sold to the western world. According to
CountryAAH, Papua
New Guinea's legislation is sufficient to protect the
rainforests, but it is not being enforced. Papua New Guinea
has some of the world's largest rainforest areas.
In August, the government introduced a state of emergency
in the province of Southern Highlands, where large deposits
of gas are to be extracted for export to Australia. Papua
New Guinea's central government accused the provincial
government of corruption and ordered military and police to
establish law and order, as it was called. A local
politician threatened to block the gas project with the help
of landowners in the area. He also urged foreign investors
to stay away.
In September, the Minister of Health stated that the
spread of HIV has reached alarming proportions in some parts
of Papua New Guinea. Experts feared that the country might
be heading for a disaster similar to that in southern
Africa. HIV is spread in Papua New Guinea mainly through
heterosexual contacts. The inferior position of women makes
it difficult for them to refuse unprotected sex. In many
places, witchcraft and sorcery are still considered to be
the cause of AIDS, and it is difficult to get information
out in a community with around 800 different languages and
where most residents cannot read.
Papua New Guinea ended up in a diplomatic conflict with
Australia during the latter part of the year. A lawyer
arrested for sexual abuse was helped to escape from Papua
New Guinea to his homeland Solomon Islands when Australia
wanted him extradited. Australia responded by severing
ministerial-level contacts with Papua New Guinea. Prime
Minister Michael Somare described the Australian government
as superior and culturally insensitive.
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