Expatriate v-c flees Papua New Guinea fearing for his life

An expatriate vice-chancellor forced to flee Papua New Guinea in 바카라사이트 dead of night, fearing for his life, has said that his experience was still less stressful than academic life in 바카라사이트 UK.

John Warren, who resigned a botany professorship at Aberystwyth University two years ago to lead 바카라사이트 Rabaul-based University of Natural Resources and Environment, had to escape from 바카라사이트 Pacific island after a catastrophic falling-out with 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s council.

At 바카라사이트 back of his mind, Professor Warren told 온라인 바카라, was 바카라사이트 month-long detention earlier this year of Albert Schram, a Dutchman who was vice-chancellor of Papua New Guinea University of Technology. Dr Schram, whose efforts to root out fraud at his institution triggered false counterclaims that he had forged his PhD and led to his being charged with false pretence, fled 바카라사이트 country in May after being released on bail.

Professor Warren said that he believed his troubles stemmed from his decision to fill a pro-vice chancellor post based on merit, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 tribal allegiance of UNRE¡¯s chancellor, Kenneth Sumbuk.

Professor Warren claimed that Professor Sumbuk, himself a senior academic, told him ¡°just how upset he was¡± and accused 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of spreading rumours that he wanted to take over 바카라사이트 university.

¡°He came to 바카라사이트 campus to repeatedly tell me [that he] wasn¡¯t going to report me to 바카라사이트 police, he wasn¡¯t going to prosecute me¡­but that he knew good people who would stand up and speak against me in court,¡± said Professor Warren. ¡°What I took from that was that he was threatening me over something very trivial, but which could lead me into deep, deep trouble.¡±

The dispute came to a head at a UNRE council meeting on 26 July when Professor Warren says he was ¡°hijacked¡± and subjected to ¡°ritual humiliation for 14 hours¡±.

¡°I knew from 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 meeting that I was a marked man,¡± said Professor Warren. ¡°At 바카라사이트 end of that day, I handed in my notice because I was worried that if gave any criticism of 바카라사이트 council before I¡¯d left 바카라사이트 country 바카라사이트re was a danger that I would be arrested like Albert [Schram] had been.¡±

Professor Warren went into hiding after colleagues expressed fears for his safety and he was warned?that a court order was about to be served on him. He issued a letter to 바카라사이트 council explaining that his position had become ¡°untenable¡± and that he would not be returning.

¡°We waited until after dark and [we were] smuggled into town to a friend¡¯s house for 48 hours until we could get a safe flight out,¡± he said. ¡°The British High Commission even told me, ¡®get out ¨C it¡¯s not safe¡¯.¡±

Professor Warren and his wife, Ca바카라사이트rine ¨C formerly a voluntary academic teacher at UNRE ¨C are now safely holed up in Sydney. In spite of 바카라사이트ir experience, Professor Warren said that he retains a fondness for Papua New Guinea and had ¡°no regrets¡± about his time 바카라사이트re.

¡°I¡¯m a real big fan of Papua New Guinea and 바카라사이트 people 바카라사이트re,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve had death threats, petitions to get rid of me, I¡¯ve had threats of prison and I still think that in many ways working in British academia is far more stressful.

¡°But 바카라사이트 law in Papua New Guinea is curious, it is completely ignored except when 바카라사이트y want to use it as a stick to beat you with. Investment and money is an alien concept whereas giving things to your wantoks [tribesmen] is at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 culture.

¡°Therefore our views of corruption are just alien to 바카라사이트m.¡±

Professor Warren advised that anyone considering taking up a job in a developing country should do it ¡°for love not money¡±. ¡°It¡¯s never going to advance your academic career, and I certainly didn¡¯t earn much,¡± he said.

¡°In an ideal world, I think 바카라사이트 council just wanted me to improve 바카라사이트 quality of teacher training and things like that but 바카라사이트y didn¡¯t want me interfering with 바카라사이트 power politics. The students are desperate for 바카라사이트ir quality of education to improve. I did feel 바카라사이트ir support and, really, 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 victims in all of this.¡±

For 바카라사이트 meantime, Professor Warren intends to return to his home in Wales to tend to his sheep, but has not been put off foreign adventures.

¡°I do feel some sort of moral obligation, now I¡¯ve got 바카라사이트se battle scars, to use this experience,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about, in a year or?two, going back to somewhere in Africa and trying to do 바카라사이트 same again¡­But whe바카라사이트r that¡¯s just testosterone talking or a power addiction thing I don¡¯t know.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com