0 MAN BILONG BUK THE FRANCIS NII COLLECTION edited by KEITH JACKSON & PHIL FITZPATRICK All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, in whole or in part, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the author. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them. Text copyright © is retained by individual authors Cover Photograph copyright © Ben Jackson First Edition: September, 2020 The moral right of the authors has been asserted. Published by JDT Publications Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea Email: [email protected] ISBN-13: 979-8687-63-102-0 Printed in USA by Kindle Direct Publishing. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated, without the author’s prior consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published. In Memory of Francis Nii, 1 March 1964 – 2 August 2020 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This book would not have been possible to produce without the assistance of these people: Andrew Ya McCarthey John Meek Arnold Mundua Jordan Dean Arthur Williams Judy Duggan Ben Jackson Keith Jackson AM Bernard Corden Dr Lance Hill BK Bennett Lindsay Bond Bob Cleland Mathias Kin Charlene Nii Michael Dom Chris Overland Monica Minnegal Corney Korokan Alone NK Bennett Craig McConaghy Norman Wilson CY Young PNG Association of Australia Daniel Kumbon Paul Flanagen Dave Ekins Paul Oates Ed Brumby Philip Fitzpatrick Fr Garry Roche Philip Kai Morre Geoff Hancock Rob Parer George Ivanov Robin Lillicrap Dr Gordon Peake Ronald Sandell Janis Roberts Ross Wilkinson Jim Moore Susan Conroy Jimmy Awagl Tanya Zeriga Alone Jimmy Drekore VK Bennett Joe Herman William Dunlop IN MEMORIAM We honour these friends and supporters who predeceased Francis Nii, who worked with him in humanity’s betterment, and without whom his life would have been much more difficult and painful MURRAY BLADWELL Educator and Philanthropist TERRY SHELLEY Entrepreneur and Philanthropist DAVID WALL Writer and Humanitarian “Chants of good governance Prosperity and advancement Resonate throughout the fatherland.” – From ‘The Battle of Power Begins’ by Francis Nii CONTENTS Acknowledgements In Memoriam PREFACE 1 FOREWORD 7 Can I thank you for your human compassion 8 IN THE ASSESSMENT OF HIS PEERS 13 Unfinished journey: Francis Nii & the struggle for PNG literature 14 The suffering & death of Francis Nii 19 A letter to my dear friend Francis 21 The novel Francis Nii had to write 23 A writer who understood the writing business 25 A man of indomitable spirit 27 A resolute & enlightened life 29 Voices unheard but for writers like Francis 31 THE EARLY YEARS 37 Triumph and tragedy 38 University years: Ondobondo 42 University years: The PNG Writer 46 WRITERS AND WRITING 51 Bush Writer’s dilemma 52 Bush Writer's dilemma continues 54 Call me hot head: how to step on toes 56 Not easy, but SWA devoted to volunteerism 58 Crocodile Prize: From dream to reality 60 Crocodile Prize needs permanent home 63 Simbu writers rock’n’roll for 2016 65 Schools, health centres receive huge gift 66 Writers tour Australia for literary exchange 69 Thank you for empowering me to write 71 An inspirational Simbu success story 73 Want to publish? The truth behind the scenes 74 Marape can boost home-grown literature 80 HEALTH AND DISABILITY 85 Conquering the curse of osteomyelitis 86 Disabled people find nothing to live for 88 Kundiawa Hospital celebrates achievements 90 SOCIETY AND ITS PEOPLE 93 Break free from dinau’s vicious cycle 94 The game that sends PNG bananas 97 The street people for whom there is no tomorrow 99 The price for parental neglect will be paid 101 Betel nut is here to stay – so let’s solve the problem 104 Is it just us - or is the whole world stupid? 107 If Dekla says Papua New Guinea is Eden, then it is 109 Get to know your country: become a local tourist 112 PNG Power needs to learn some lessons 114 A blessed year for Simbu Children Foundation 116 We need research into domestic violence 118 Ilimo farm mystery: 746 cows & grass missing 120 The Karimui road saga. Can Kama change the game? 121 Murray Bladwell was a man of Simbu 124 Disastrous partners: wantokism & business 128 The contradictions in judging personality 131 HERITAGE AND CULTURE 133 Peace ceremonies - our equitable code of justice 134 Remove carvings as a stepping stone to change 137 The rituals & rules of tribal warfare & rugby 147 How my faith in an old custom worked 151 POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT 157 Grand peace ceremony must be the next step 158 It was fear that destroyed O'Neill and Namah 160 Beyond briefcase-carriers & mercenaries 162 Rationality required on Bougainville issue 164 Buai ban is political suicide for Governor Powes Parkop 167 Advertisement supporting O’Neill was a decoy 169 Political staff - big time destroyers of politicians 171 Simbu people demand resignation of O’Neill 174 The people’s mandate is not for sale 176 When government brutalises, patriots arise 179 How to stop PNC forming government 180 The defection of Sam Basil 182 In crisis a leader’s true worth is measured 185 Let’s deploy money for Karimui cocoa 187 Time to pay landowners their money 189 As cash dwindles, schools face closure 191 Politicians need courage & wisdom to settle grievances 193 Could Indonesia possibly invade PNG? 195 Bad decision by politicians costs millions 198 Brutal politics at play in resignations 200 O’Neill’s citizenship saga: who’s telling lies? 202 I celebrate this Independence Day 204 LAW AND ORDER 207 The threat of modernised tribal war 208 Politicians refuse to extinguish tribal war 210 Banning guns a major step towards peace 212 Simbu on edge as vote recount triggers violence 213 New government must restore confidence 215 CRIME AND CORRUPTION 217 Is changing government a solution to corruption? 218 Is Peter O’Neill behaving like a truthful man? 221 Vote of confidence a victory for corruption 223 Corruption originated in electoral commission 225 Law firm offers to assist police on O’Neill 227 Impartiality of judiciary is in question 229 Governor under scrutiny over yoga contract 231 Is Lupari truthful about school subsidies? 233 So Baki thinks he can bury O’Neill case 235 O’Neill relatives involved in alleged scam 237 AUSTRALIA AND AID 239 AusAID should really focus on PNG’s infrastructure 240 What have you done Australia? There are no footprints 241 Reject this malign, disrespectful asylum deal 242 Australia must retract plan for Bougainville 244 Roads & bridges are key to effective aid 247 True Australians bond with a flawed nation 250 Australia, you’re being outgunned by China 254 Pacific Beat’s end signifies corrosion of bonds 257 Generosity is what counts 258 THE LATER POET 263 The PNG Attitude Poetry 264 WHEN THE END CAME 277 My father’s last moments on earth 278 Francis Nii’s last project 282 The death of Francis Nii 287 END NOTES 291 Life and Literary Events 292 Books Authored and Published 295 Tributes 305 Glossary 311 PREFACE By Phil Fitzpatrick As you read in this book the contributions and assessments of Francis Nii and his work by his peers, you cannot help but notice the constant references to his resolve and indomitable spirit. These remarks by fellow writers generally relate to the way Francis overcame his physical disabilities and carved out a new career as a writer, critic and advocate. There is no doubt that among his many attributes was an incredible toughness of mind and body that helped him survive after the terrible accident that left him a paraplegic. In those early days at the Kundiawa General Hospital he was one of a number of paraplegic patients being treated there but he alone survived for more than a short time. That physical toughness was evident in his appearance at the first Crocodile Prize writers’ workshop held at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby in 2011. That a man in a battered old wheelchair could make his way from the highlands to the Papua New Guinean capital was remarkable in itself but the harrowing story of his return home, where he was left stranded at the Mount Hagen airport and suffered broken bones in his legs during the jarring drive back to Kundiawa in a crowded PMV is heart rending. And yet several years later he undertook a much more ambitious journey by air and road to Australia to present at the Brisbane Writer’s Festival, albeit this time assisted by good friends including Daniel Kumbon, Martyn Namorong and Murray Bladwell. There is no doubt that Francis was a tough and determined individual. I would aver that this toughness and determination were present well before his accident and enabled him to survive while others in a similar condition fell by the wayside. If might be useful to speculate what he might have achieved had not that terrible accident befallen him. A good way to measure that potential is to read what he wrote over the years. This collection of Francis’s written work has been arranged into a number of categories which reflect his wide-ranging interests. Paramount among these are his essays related to writers and writing. This passion to write was cultivated by Francis in his university days 1 and, as he relates, grew from his love of books and reading when he was a child.