By Unitech Students Against Corruption

The Baloiloi regime was in power at Unitech for many years.  The regime was commonly considered corrupt and dictatorial.   At a time when the university was slowly falling apart there were many rumours of misuse of funds and coverup.   Those who lived at the university a long time told stories that Unitech student government was corrupt too.

It was so refreshing for those who came to unigate as fresh new minds in 2012 to see change.  The regime changed from Baloiloi to Schram. Albert Schram was a European who did things opposite from Baloiloi. Schram was open and grassroots.  Also seemed fair and honest.

When the new vc got on the wrong side of the previous regime, students rescued him.  We were led by very committed SRC president Joe Kaowai. Joe did not pause when students had to stand up and defend the new vc against the old regime led by chancellor Phillip Stagg.  Students burnt Stagg’s vehicle after he tried to sack Schram.   Our actions won some time for the new vc and kept them at a distance for awhile.

However now the Stagg group seems to have the upper hand against vc Schram.  The victorious in this game are not the innocent it seems. After Albert Schram went overseas for holidays late last year, he was banned from coming back to PNG.  He still cannot come back.  No one knows why and the government is not telling. 

Under new president Livingstone Hosea, it seemed that we students would keep fighting to bring back Schram at the beginning of 2013.  For awhile president Livingstone inspired us with quotations from world leaders who had stood up for what was right.  We all seemed to be of one mind to do whatever had to be done to get Schram back.

Then things went wrong.  First our boycott was called off by president Hosea after only 10 days with nothing accomplished.  Livingstone argued that he did not sell out to someone to suddenly end the boycott but he could not explain clearly why the boycott should end.  His decision to end the boycott was made without allowing debate.  The decision went against the views of most students at that time. What was very strange is that Livingstone Hosea changed from urging us to boycott in the name of personal sacrifice on behalf of PNG to saying the opposite.  Now he was saying that our studies were the most important, not sacrificing for Unitech's future and the future of our country.  Before he said we should speak  out against the government, now he said we had to let the government make the decision regarding vc Schram.  Something smelled fishy.

As months went by, Livingstone’s defence became less convincing. People asked him to fully explain his reasons for ending the boycott. He never responded in an open and complete way.  Recently he began talking loudly against Albert Schram, the vc he was strongly promoting only months before.  Students during the recent SRC campaign were passing out leaflets that talked about the same principles that Livingstone had promoted the previous year.  When he saw them he got angry.  He told his helpers to tear down them down.  Information that was promoting fair and honest election Livingstone Hosea was now trying to keep students from seeing.

At the moment even Livingstone's best friends of the past have mostly stopped supporting him although they are still friends.  Livingstone was no longer was preaching the principles they believed in and what attracted them to him.  It was becoming obvious that Livingstone was a kind of fraud.   Livingstone totally lost the Engan support he once enjoyed.   This is especially surprising because we Engans used to support him very strongly.  There is now open criticism and disgust.

Last week there was student government elections for next year’s officers.   Livingstone Hosea is mixed race Enga-Sepik.  The new president is his relative from the Sepik side.  His name is Eddie Nagual.  It seemed that Eddie won so that the Livingstone Hosea monarchy would continue.

During the campaign, a few candidates spoke strongly that they would try to get vc Schram back if elected.   Eddie Nagual would hardly say what he stood for on anything.   He won anyway.   Even today in the year 2013 at Unitech we still vote along ethnic lines.  It doesn’t matter what the person who we vote for believes in or will do if
elected.  The truth is that if they are a member of our ethnic group we will vote for them.   Eddie won because of the Sepik block vote.  He could believe anything or say anything.  Still he would have won. All that matters is where the blood comes from, not how the brain works or if it works at all.

It turns out the whole SRC election at Unitech was a fraud this year. Eddie Nangual should not have won because he should not have been allowed to contest.  He was involved in civil disorder earlier in the  year and was on a disciplinary list for punishment that should have resulted in his termination.

But something happened that freed Eddie and allowed him to contest. It was a memo signed by the acting vc John Pumwa.   That was strange. Everyone knows that vc Pumwa is quite strict.  Why would the acting vc allow someone with a serious disciplinary problem to run for leadership of the entire students?

The answer is that Pumwa never gave approval or exemption.   The memo with vc Pumwa’s signature was forged by Eddie Nagual’s relative Livingstone Hosea.   This was learnt by the following Unitech managers:

• Acting Vice chancellor John Pumwa
• Acting Pro Vice chancellor Macquin Maino
• Pro Vice Chancellor M.A. Satter
• Acting Registrar Veronica Thomas
• Acting Bursar Bapa Bomoteng

Acting VC John Pumwa learnt about the above fraud.  He did nothing. Instead he tried to pass the decision to a Pro Vice Chancellor.  They also refused to act.  Now VC Pumwa is overseas and the Unitech top management continues covering up the corruption of the 2013 SRC election.  The reason why this story is being published in is to fight the stubborn determination of Pumwa, Maino, Satter, Thomas and Bomoteng to keep covering up the facts.

These supposedly honest managers have proven themselves to be no better than the last lot.  If they had decided to be honest and done the right thing, the SRC election results for president would have been immediately cancelled.  Eddie Nangual would be immediately expelled from school for his earlier disciplinary problem. Livingstone Hosea would be arrested for fraud and expelled permanently from the Unitech.  The entire Unitech management above should be charged with obstruction of justice.

It could be that the Unitech management has gone corrupt because they worry that if they give Livingstone punishment that fits the crime, Livingstone's almost adopted uncle, Don Polye, will corruptly come to his rescue and behind the scenes pressure the Unitech administration to lift the suspension.  Potential corruption at Unitech is endless.

Right now we have a rotten mess at Unitech.  Wrongdoers are protecting the wrongdoing of other people. We strongly urge the government to start an investigation into the corruption of the SRC election at Unitech.   Anyone who has further information is urged to report it in the name of honesty.  Anyone mentioned in this blog who feels wrongly accused can stop covering up.   Start telling the truth.  The Unitech management all know about this story now being on the internet for the world to see.    Unitech management, you are welcome to defend yourself.   End the cover up and tell us the facts as you know them right here and right now.