High Court ruling leaves asylum seeker families facing deportation to Nauru

February 3, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

Scores of asylum-seeker families, including babies born in Australia, face the prospect of deportation to Nauru after a High Court ruling, reports AAP/SBS News.

The full bench of the court today rejected a legal challenge to the federal government’s offshore immigration detention regime.

It did so after considering the case of a pregnant Bangladeshi asylum seeker who was brought to Australia from Nauru for treatment for serious health complications.

She faced the prospect of being returned to the Pacific island with her one-year-old child.

In a majority decision the court said the woman’s detention on Nauru was not unlawful.

It also ruled the Commonwealth’s role in her detention was authorised under Australian migration laws, and the government’s offshore processing deal with Nauru was valid under the constitution.

Majority ruling
“The High Court held, by majority, that the plaintiff was not entitled to the declaration sought. The conduct of the Commonwealth in signing the second MOU with Nauru was authorised by s 61 of the Constitution,” the judgment said.

“The Court further held that the conduct of the Commonwealth in giving effect to the second MOU (including by entry into the Administrative Arrangements and the Transfield Contract) was authorised by s 198AHA of the Act, which is a valid law of the Commonwealth.”

The ruling has implications for 267 other people – including 91 children – who are in Australia for medical treatment.

Of the 54 children, 36 are attending Australian schools.

The federal government is now under pressure to show compassion towards the group.

Human rights lawyer Claire Hammerton from the advocacy group for child refugees said the concern was now for 90 children set to be returned to Nauru.

“ChilOut is extremely worried about these children and their families, and in particular the 37 babies who were born in Australia, who will be deliberately sent to a place the Australian government knows is unsafe for children,” she said.

Child protection role
Save the Children, which has had a child protection role on Nauru, called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to show some compassion towards the 37 babies and older children.

“If found to be genuine refugees, we urge him to do the decent thing and offer these vulnerable people permanent protection here in Australia,” spokesman Lee Gordon said in a statement.

Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young said the prime minister would be authorising child abuse if the families were sent back to Nauru.

“The evidence is clear and its undeniable that Nauru is unsafe for women and children and sending them back would be torture,” she said.

Amnesty International said it was concerned that asylum seekers would be subjected to human rights violation – referring to reports of sexual harassment and abuse – if returned to Nauru.

“Amnesty International, as well as numerous other organisations and individuals, has submitted several formal requests to visit Nauru with the intention of independently reviewing the conditions and assessing the overall human rights situation, but to no avail,” Amnesty International Australia’s Refugee Coordinator, Dr Graham Thom said.

Ahead of the ruling, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton insisted the government was acting in the best interests of asylum seekers brought to Australia for health care.

Mindful of message
But the government had to be mindful of the message being sent to people smugglers.

Australia also has a detention centre on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.

Although Dutton wanted to reduce the number of children in detention to zero, people smugglers were channelling a message to potential customers that “Dutton’s a soft touch and you can put women and children on boats and be successful”.

The federal government, with Labor’s support, had retrospectively changed laws to bolster the Commonwealth’s ability to pay for the offshore facilities last year.

Its case in part hinged on a sudden decision last October by the Nauru government to allow asylum seekers to roam around the island nation at will.

Backgrounder: Australia stands firm on hardline policies

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Raided journalist: ‘If you phone a source, you’re a bloody idiot’

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 3, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz From Pacific Media Watch By Bill Goodwin in London New Zealand investigative journalist Nicky Hager was working in Auckland when the police raided his Wellington home. His daughter, who was alone in the house, was forced to dress in front of a female police officer, while five detectives began searching through her private letters, photograph album, her clothes drawers, and computer. Over the course of 11 hours, they photographed documents, seized computers, phones and memory sticks as they scoured the house in search of clues to the identity of a confidential source behind one of the biggest political scandals in New Zealand. Hager still feels bad that he was away that day. “They had some ludicrous theory perhaps that my daughter had a memory stick hidden and she would flush it down the toilet. It was just so unlikely,” he told Press Gazette. Prime minister John Key implicated in dirty tricks Eight weeks earlier, in the run up to the general election in September 2014, Hager, New Zealand’s best known investigative journalist, had published a book, Dirty Politics, that rocked the political establishment. It revealed that the prime minister John Key and his officials were secretly colluding with bloggers in a huge dirty tricks programme, smearing and discrediting political opponents and critics of the governing National Party. The book provoked a furore that dominated the news for weeks and led to the resignation of the prime minister’s longest serving official and the justice minister. Dirty Politics was particularly controversial, because Hager had made use of a cache of incriminating emails and messages obtained by a hacker, known as Rawshark, who had broken into the computer systems of a notorious right wing “attack blogger”. Rawshark had intended to release the documents on the internet, but the hacker agreed to let Hager use the documents to write a book exposing political dirty tricks, in return for a promise of confidentiality. Hager knew that the source had committed a crime, but his lawyer advised that if a case came to court, he would win eventually if the public interest were strong enough. Hager was confident that it was. However, experience has shown that every source who approaches a journalist, is likely to be in breach of some law. That might be breaking the Official Secrets Act, or a confidentiality agreement with their employers. “I have had many dozens of important and deep confidential sources in my life and in most of those cases, the vast majority, the person concerned has broken the law when they’re getting the information.” Hager took an early decision to be up-front in his book and press interviews; that his revelations relied on hacked information, and that he had promised his source confidentiality. He made it clear that there was nothing in his house that could link him to his source. “I had secured everything, I removed everything from the house,” he said. “Because I knew it was incredibly controversial.” Sensitive documents seized But there were other materials in the house, including documents from Edward Snowden, that worried Hager, when the police arrived. “I had all kinds of printed-out materials around the house where I was piecing together different stories about surveillance in the Pacific region. So, in my mind, I imagined the police going through all that as well. It was exactly what you don’t want to happen,” he said. Hager claimed journalistic privilege in a phone call to the detective in charge of the investigation. The police had a plan in place for that eventuality – seize everything, seal it, and let the court decide its relevance to the investigation. It later emerged that the investigators had failed to play by the rules and had attempted – without success – to access confidential internet accounts and cloud-storage services used by Hager’s past sources, after finding details written down on papers in the house. Hager is in no doubt that the raid was politically motivated. “I don’t think we will ever find any evidence of it. But I think there is hardly anyone in New Zealand who doesn’t think this was politically pushed,” he said. The raid provoked a wave of public outrage in New Zealand. One member of the public organised a crowd-funding campaign, which raised tens of thousands of dollars to help Hager fight the case in court, while other funds poured in from the Freedom of the Press Foundation in the US. ‘Incredibly generous’ “It was an incredibly generous joint effort by all these different people to make sure this case would happen. A case like this is a big one for a country. It is a very important case, they don’t come along very often,” he said. In the aftermath of the raid, Hager found his existing sources had become more jumpy and new sources were more wary. “Of course there were people saying to me, ‘was my stuff sitting around your house? Do you think they’ll find out about me?’” For Hager, the police actions were symptomatic of a growing intolerance from governments worldwide towards whistleblowers and a tendency to attack and criminalise legitimate media activity. At the same time, government surveillance capabilities have expanded to a frightening level of intrusiveness, and police forces are using surveillance powers to hunt for journalists’ sources. “Journalists themselves are scared. Whistleblowers are fearful, partly because they don’t understand properly what’s possible and what’s not, what’s realistic and what’s not,” said Hager. Protecting sources from state snooping Hager refuses to work with any source with political motives. Even if the information is true, journalists can become contaminated by the timing and motivations of any source with a political agenda. “When you’re doing stuff where reputations are at stake and huge issues of accountability going on, where major clashes of right and wrong happen, we have to be super scrupulous,” he said. After over 20 years at the coalface of investigative journalism, Hager prefers to take a low-tech approach to protecting confidential sources, and that means face-to-face meetings, rather than phone calls. “If you’re meeting a source, you don’t ring them, you don’t text them, you don’t email them and you don’t take your phone. That’s pretty simple,” he said. “If you contact the source by phone, you’re a bloody idiot these days.” There are some things, he said, that should simply never be written down, and any journalist working on sensitive stories should have encryption on their computer. “Its not James Bond stuff anymore.” “The final thing I do is, for some stories, but never with a confidential source, I use encrypted email. I wouldn’t use encrypted email with a source because you still get an email data linking you and that person’s email address.” Police fight disclosure Hager’s legal team filed an application for a judicial review in October 2014. The police fought a rear-guard action to avoid disclosing details of their investigation, but Hager’s legal team were able to secure documents that showed the police had applied for the search warrant, before following up a large number of other leads that might have identified the source. They also revealed an alarmingly cosy relationship between the police and the banking industry. Despite initial denials, Hager discovered that the police had obtained ten months of banking and credit card records, without having to produce a disclosure warrant. “It really upset me, I didn’t like it. Not because I was embarrassed by anything, but just the idea of some detectives sitting somewhere going through where I had coffee, who I generously gave money to because I cared about them. Just the details of my personal life,” he said. Hager’s lawyers drew on case law from around the world to show that the search warrant had been issued without proper consideration of the chilling effect it would have on journalism, and the right to free expression. They included the case fought by freelance journalist Robin Ackroyd in the UK against Ashworth Special Hospital, over the source of a story about the Moors murderer Ian Brady. And my own case in the European Court of Human Rights, Goodwin v UK, which set a new legal precedent for protection of sources across Europe. Judge Denis Clifford found against the New Zealand police in a judgement in December, ruling that they had not been open with the courts about the potential chilling effects of the search warrant on journalism. There was “a material failure to discharge the duty of candour” by police, and the police’s “reasonable belief” that they would discover information about the source was little more than “a hope,” the judge concluded. Case ‘utterly flawed’ “The police’s case was utterly flawed,” said Hager. “They believed they could turn up here, raid the house, turn it over and go through all my stuff and then, when most of the damage was done, after everyone knowing that they’ve been here, they could just tidy it up in court afterwards.” Last month [ending 29 Jan], the police said they would not appeal against the judgement. Its immediate impact is that courts will now have to consider the public interest in protecting journalistic sources seriously before they issue search warrants. The case has almost certainly brought to an end the police’s ability to obtain bank details without a proper warrant, a practice that has probably affected thousands of people each year in New Zealand. But more importantly for investigative journalism, the whole country has seen the police take on a controversial case and lose, said Hager. They are unlikely to be so cavalier again. “They threw themselves into what they knew was going to be a controversial act, they put a lot resources into it and they had comprehensively been defeated on it,” he said. The judgement, Hager believes, is likely to help journalists in other countries, as governments everywhere take an increasingly hostile approach to the media and whistleblowers. “People have to take advantage of each other’s success and progress wherever it happens so that we push things back around the world,” he said. Bill Goodwin is a British freelance journalist who won a landmark 1996 case against the united Kingdom government over breaching a journalist’s right to protect sources of information. — –]]>

TPP out of step with human rights – don’t sign, says UN expert

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 3, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz From United Nations – Special correspondent in Geneva United Nations human rights expert Alfred de Zayas has called on governments not to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership without reaffirming their human rights treaty obligations and their recent pledges to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. “The TPP is fundamentally flawed and should not be signed or ratified unless provision is made to guarantee the regulatory space of States,” says the UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order in a statement. [caption id="attachment_4974" align="alignleft" width="300"] United Nations Plaza-42nd Street – Image by Selwyn Manning.[/caption] De Zayas called for a new generation of trade agreements for the 21st century, which would incorporate human rights and development into their provisions, saying “the TPP is based on an old model of trade agreements that is out of step with today’s international human rights regime”. The expert’s appeal comes on the eve of the gathering of the trade ministers in Auckland, New Zealand, tomorrow to sign the TPP, a trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries that will strengthen the position of investors, transnational corporations and monopolies at the expense of the public. It will lso impact negatively on labour standards, food security, health and environmental protection. De Zayas reaffirmed his call on the UN system and governments across the world “to put an end to free trade and investment agreements that conflict with human rights treaty obligations,” made last year during the presentation of a report on free trade and investment agreements to the UN Human Rights Council. “Trade is not an end in itself, but must be seen in the context of the international human rights regime, which imposes binding legal obligations on states, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,” he said. “Trade agreements are not ‘stand-alone’ legal regimes, but must conform with fundamental principles of international law, including transparency and accountability,” said de Zayas, who is professor of international law at the Geneva School of Diplomacy. “They must not delay, circumvent, undermine or make impossible the fulfilment of human rights treaty obligations.” In his statement, the Independent Expert expressed concern that, despite “enormous opposition by civil society worldwide, twelve countries are about to sign an agreement, which is the product of secret negotiations without multi-stakeholder democratic consultation.” “The options are not to sign the TPP as it stands, as civil society demands, or not to ratify it, which is the responsibility of democratically elected parliaments,” the expert noted. “Should the TPP ever enter into force, its compatibility with international law should be challenged before the International Court of Justice (ICJ)”. “If a public referendum were held in all 12 countries concerned, it will be solidly rejected,” de Zayas said. The UN Independent Expert’s statement on the TPP –]]>

Cut back on $530m smelter bond, Freeport mine tells Indonesia

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 3, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

From ETAN

By Wilda Asmarini In Jakarta

Freeport McMoRan Inc has asked Indonesia to reduce a US$530 million smelter bond the local unit of the US copper mining giant must set aside before receiving an extension of its export permit, says Indonesia’s mining minister.

Freeport’s 6-month copper concentrate export permit expired last week amid a deadlock over the bond, which Indonesia has requested as a guarantee that the miner will complete construction of another local smelter.

“They have appealed to ask whether we can postpone it or give them a discount, but we asked them to show their commitment in another equivalent way,” Energy and Mines Minister Sudirman Said told reporters, referring to an exchange of letters with the Phoenix, Arizona-based company.

Freeport, which runs one of the world’s biggest copper mines in Indonesia’s easternmost province of Papua, usually produces about 220,000 tonnes of copper ore a day. A prolonged stoppage in shipments would hit the company’s profits and deny Jakarta desperately needed revenue from one of its biggest taxpayers.

Indonesia wants the deposit as a guarantee that the mining giant will complete construction of another local smelter. The amount would add to an estimated $80 million Freeport set aside in July 2015 to obtain its just-expired export permit.

Freeport Indonesia could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. The US miner wants to invest $18 billion to expand its operations at Grasberg, but is seeking government assurances that its right to mine at Grasberg will be extended.

Its current contract – which gives it the right to work and develop the Grasberg complex – expires in 2021. By Indonesian law, this contract cannot be extended until 2019 at the soonest.

A memorandum of understanding agreed in July 2014 between the government and Freeport, which ended a seven-month export stoppage and outlined a timetable for a contract extension and smelter construction, had now expired, Said said.

An agreement that would maintain operations and investment preparations ahead of contract renewal talks in 2019, was a way to resolve the current problems, he said.

Indonesia blocks Freeport copper exports from Papua in deadlock

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Climate model tool shows warmer South-East Asia future

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 3, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

From SciDev.Net

By Dyna Rochmyaningsih in Jakarta

Scientists in South-East Asia and the United Kingdom’s Met Office have teamed up to develop a model that predicts how the climate in the region will be like in the next 100 years.

According to the model, the region will be generally 2-4 degrees Celsius warmer by 2060 and continue to heat up around 3-5 degrees Celsius until 2100.

The strongest warming will occur in mainland South-East Asia. Extreme rainfall events will occur in the northern part of the region, which covers northern Vietnam, Laos, parts of Thailand and northern Philippines.

From June to August, the region will face significant reduction in rainfall. From September to November, rainfall rates will increase. In the archipelago, the difference between wet and dry seasons will be more pronounced.

The project, called Southeast Asia Climate Analysis and Modelling (SEACAM), was initiated by the Centre for Climate Research Singapore (CCRS) in collaboration with the UK Met Office’s Hadley Centre. Scientists from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam were involved.

SEACAM and the Met Office have put up a climate change tool website for South-East Asia based on a climate modelling system dubbed PRECIS, which stands for Providing Regional Climate for Impacts Studies.

“One of the main aims of the SEACAM project is to enhance collaboration and capacity-building among South-East Asian countries in climate research,” says Raizan Rahmat, CCRS project coordinator and senior research scientist.

Climate scenarios
He adds that prior to SEACAM, there had been limited collaborative research in South-East Asia to create climate scenarios in the region.

“Given the geography of South-East Asia, with its complex terrain and maritime characteristics, it was necessary to generate more detailed climate simulation at a higher resolution than that provided by global climate models used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports,” he says.

Unlike global climate models, PRECIS has a higher resolution that can more accurately predict the future climate of the region. Several climate parameters such as temperature and rainfall have been analysed.

Developed by the Met Office, PRECIS is beneficial for smaller islands in South-East Asia because the climate model shows these islands as land masses rather than ocean points. Lands respond to climate change differently from the ocean.

David Hein, a software engineer from the Met Office, says the model is user-friendly. Scientists can simulate regional climate parameters with a mouse click.

“PRECIS allows anyone with a desktop or a PC to be able to run a climate model. It is simply a matter of clicking ‘Run PRECIS’ and PRECIS will produce data which can be used to study possible climate change in the region,” he says.

This article was produced by SciDev.Net’s South-East Asia and Pacific desk.

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PNG court martial of accused Komo mutineers adjourned again

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 2, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

Deputy Defence Force Judge, Justice Allan David, reviewed the case today but adjourned the hearing to give state lawyers and the PNGDF more time to complete court files.

Counsel representing the state, Captain David Kuvi, told the court they were yet to conduct record of interview with four of the 11 officers who were charged for mutiny and misconduct on an operational service under the Defence Force Act.

He indicated that most of the witness statements the state would be relying on had been collected.

They would now need more time to complete investigations which includes record of interviews for the four remaining soldiers.

They will return to court on February 16 for a hearing and further directions while the 11 officers remain on a bail of K1500 (NZ$760).

The accused officers are commanding officer Major Benjamin Edimani, Warrant Officer Ludwig Miugle, Warrant Officer Robin Melerot, Warrant Officer Scotty Kaule, Sergeant Alex Agiru, Sergeant Amos Kaupe, Sergeant Mairi Mairi, Sergeant Joel Yupanga, Sergeant Urban Guria, Corporal Walter Waimi and Corporal Henry Worihun.

Two deaths
In an earlier report by PNG Today, the Army’s Acting Chief of Staff, Colonel Raymond Numa said the soldiers would face a military court over the death of two of their comrades when they were engaged with locals in Helu province (formerly part of the Southern Highlands).

“All the soldiers that were based at Komo, including their commanding officer, are now in Port Moresby and investigations are already in progress,” Colonel Numa said.

The accused soldiers from Murray Barracks Force Support Battalion had taken the Army to court over their outstanding allowances and refused orders to return.

However, they were later disarmed and brought back to Port Moresby under guard.

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Bowie Retrospective part 3: feminism, music an a’ that

By Selwyn Manning -

February 2, 2016

Ziggy-Stardust-playing-Rebel-Rebel-David-Bowie — ]]>

Feature by Carolyn Skelton. For many LGBTI people, and others feeling alienated from today’s society, David Bowie’s innovative performance and music struck a chord. As I said in my previous pieces, he was not the only one who provided such connections and inspiration. Bowie’s song “Rebel, rebel” celebrates androgyny as an act of rebellion. https://youtu.be/eF551z9KlA8 The increasingly fragmented music scenes since the 1970s include a complex tapestry of mainstream and alternative influences. The 2^nd wave women’s movement was in full swing when Bowie first came to prominence in the UK in the 1970s. UK Women’s Liberationists were both influenced by and reacted against the mainstream music industry. This resulted in a lot of the music of the UK movement seeming to be lost to posterity. Bowie’s name was mentioned several times in the 1970s and 80s Women’s Liberation magazine, Spare Rib [searchable archives of the magazine here]. They are mostly positive, especially with respect to his androgynous style. Articles tend to value the way Bowie challenged the aggressive masculine posturing that had become quite dominant in mainstream rock music. A 1973 article reports on a concert at Earls Court with a photo of Bowie dressed only in his undies, and says: “Who can explain the phenomenon of this frail androgyne… It is known that he’s not at all well, but sadly it seems he’s made his choice and opted for a meteoric existance. ” The monthly magazine also focuses on women’s music and the fact that female androgyny and drag kings, didn’t get as much attention as male performances of androgyny, as mentioned in this 1983 article. In recent decades, NZ’s Topp Twins have also done a fair amount of political, songs as well as some gender bending and androgyny. [caption id="attachment_8854" align="alignleft" width="300"] From CranesAreFlying blog[/caption] https://youtu.be/ULLnrJsA6CY A 1979 Spare Rib article by Lucy Toothpaste, is critical of the way rock music is dominated by the macho posturing and misogynist lyrics of “cock rock”, while women artistes are promoted or tolerated so long as they are not too threatening to the gender status quo. Consequently, according to Toothpaste, many feminist musicians prefer jazz, folk, funk or other less macho forms, and reject the commercial music scene. However, Toothpaste also argues that rock has “an energy and enthusiasm” that is “potentially subversive”. See for instance X-Ray Spex’s late 1970s, Oh Bondage Up Yours: https://youtu.be/ogypBUCb7DA The Spare Rib archives provide valuable evidence of the alternative women’s music scene that existed in the 1970s and early 1980s in London. Women’s liberation musicians tended reject individualism and the promotion of stars, as well as having a collaborative approach. This can be seen in the linked 1983 article about the Holloway Allstars, a group of men and women which included musicians from some all women bands like Sisterhood of Spit. Members of these bands include Lydia D’Usteybyn and Laka D’Asical – pseudonyms, probably thumbing their noses equally at pretentious style and patriarchal naming practices, and that would not be out of place in some 21^st century online forums. A video of the Holloway Allstars: https://youtu.be/fOW_xE15bxo Guest stars was a women’s band that included some of the same women mentioned in the above linked article. They are seen here promoting a reunion performance in 2013: https://youtu.be/OQPwViZjSgs This Spare Rib page of 1983, refers to a Guest Stars Gig and a benefit for Greenham Common. In the 70s and 80s, it is likely that the unwillingness to embrace both gendered and corporate dominated music trends rendered them unappealing to many outside the women’s movement. If not for the following website, most of this music would now be lost: Women’s Liberation Music Archive: feminist music making in the UK and Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s. The page at this link provides details about Sisterhood of Spit, which included some of the Guest Stars’ line-up and a link to the audio file of one of their songs. The archives show much of the socialist themes running through the 70s and 80s UK music scene, from songs and/or gigs in support of the miners’ strike, and the protests against the US nuclear base at Greenham Common, to Carol Grimes, Mau Mau song that critiques European imperialism. Grimes performed with mixed male and female bands, plus some of the continually morphing women only bands. The soundcloud has audio of Bad Habits’ Greenham song, which has a Reggie beat: Increasingly in the 80s, Thatcherism deliberately undermined the strong grassroots, left wing and alternative networks in UK cities. At the same time, in the mainstream entertainment industry, and girl-power style appropriated elements of feminism. Queer style and a sexualised form of female empowerment became highly sale-able, as seen with Madonna. Here Madonna pays homage to Bowie and his influence on her by performing “Rebel, Rebel”: https://youtu.be/lnBwJQnHH8o In the article by Lucy Toothpaste linked above, she identifies the appropriating processes of the mainstream music industry as seen in the 1970s. Since then, the corporate dominated media became ever more sophisticated in appropriating rebellion. They sell it back to the people as fashion, and as accessories to individualised identities. So, where to now for music and cultural productions generally that challenge the status quo, socially and politically?]]>

Australia stands firm on hardline policies against asylum seekers

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 2, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

From ETAN/The Straits Times

By Jonathan Pearlman in Perth

Australia has adopted some of the world’s toughest policies against refugees in recent years and will not relent despite criticisms over measures such as towing boats back to Indonesia and transferring all arrivals by sea to remote Pacific Island detention centres

The controversial approach has been aimed at preventing the flow of asylum seekers who attempt the risky voyage to Australia from transit camps in Indonesia.

In a heavy-handed approach that has damaged relations between Canberra and Jakarta, the federal government has warned that “any people smuggling boat … will be detected, intercepted and safely removed”.

“(Australia) will continue to stop anyone who attempts to come illegally by boat – regardless of where they are from,” Australia’s Department of Immigration said in a recent publication on its website.

Australia’s Navy and Customs vessels seek to intercept boats carrying asylum seekers before they reach Australian waters and force them to turn back, sometimes providing fresh lifeboats.

Australian officials have allegedly paid some people smuggling crews to head back to Indonesia – a move that experts say is illegal under international law. Canberra has refused to comment on the allegations.

Those migrants who make it to Australia by boat are transferred to remote island detention centres in the Pacific island nation of Nauru, or on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. As of the end of last October, there were 621 detainees in Nauru, including 95 children, and 929 on Manus Island.

Failed deals
Australia has attempted to strike various deals with nations across the region to accept these detainees but the efforts have largely failed.

Cambodia agreed to take refugees from Nauru in return for about A$40 million from Canberra in increased aid. But just five migrants took up the offer to move to Cambodia and one of them – a Myanmar Muslim – reportedly ended up moving back to Myanmar.

Numerous other countries across the region have been proposed as possible venues for resettlement, including Malaysia and East Timor. The latest discussions have apparently focused on the Philippines.

Australia’s controversial approach has been heavily criticised as unlawful and cruel by the United Nations and human rights groups but has proven brutally effective.

Following the adoption of the harsh tow-back policies by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott after he was elected in September 2013, the flow of asylum seekers all but stopped. There were 17,204 arrivals by boat in 2012, 20,587 in 2013 but none in 2014.

Current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has insisted he will follow Mr Abbott’s tough approach but acknowledged that the consequences of the policy were “harsh”.

‘Harsh policy’
“We do have a tough border protection policy, you could say it’s a harsh policy, but it has worked,” he said after becoming leader in September.

“It is tough, but the fact is we cannot take a backward step on this issue.”

Canberra has insisted its tough approach was aimed at ending deaths at sea following numerous tragedies in which rickety boats sank while attempting the passage from Indonesia to Australia.

Responding to criticisms last year, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the government could not “stand idly by in the face of these repeated tragedies”.

“Our policies are lawful. They are safe. And they work,” he said in a statement in September.

“They save lives. They reduce the risks run by our border protection personnel. And they have stopped the evil people smuggling trade to Australia.”

During a session of the UN Human Rights Council in November, Australia’s approach came under heavy criticism from numerous countries.

Security ally
Australia’s closest security ally, the United States, urged Canberra to promote “humane treatment and respect for the human rights of asylum seekers”, including those processed offshore in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

Despite its hardline approach to boat people, Australia accepts large numbers of refugees under its humanitarian programme.

The government has agreed to take 12,000 refugees fleeing Syria and Iraq this year, in addition to its current annual intake of 13,750 people.

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Indonesia blocks Freeport copper exports from Papua in deadlock

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 2, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

From ETAN

By Bernadette Christina Munthe and Fergus Jensen

Freeport McMoRan Inc has lost its right to export copper concentrate, valued at more than $1 billion, from one of the world’s biggest mines as talks with Indonesia’s government remained deadlocked over payment for a new metal smelter.

Freeport’s six-month licence to export concentrate expired last Thursday and it was unclear how soon a new one would be issued as the two sides have yet to resolve a government demand that the US firm first pay a $530 million deposit, reports Reuter.

“Without an export permit, there can be no exports. The exporter knows that,” Didi Sumedi, Indonesia’s director of mining and industrial products said via text message.

However, it was not clear if exports had actually stopped at Freeport’s Grasberg mine in the province of Papua, one of the world’s largest copper and gold mines.

Asked if overseas shipments had ceased, a Freeport spokesman said “everything is normal”, without elaborating.

Last year, Freeport sold 744 million pounds of copper concentrate from Grasberg, valued at around $1.73 billion, according to the company’s fourth-quarter financial results.

Prolonged stoppage
A prolonged stoppage in exports would hit Freeport’s profits and deny the Indonesian government desperately needed revenue from one of its biggest taxpayers. It could also buoy global copper prices, which have slipped more than 3 percent so far this year on worries about oversupply.

But in the short-term, traders do not expect any major market reaction.

“If it lasts a couple of months, sure we may see an impact. But with the new mines and mine expansions this year, the market is fairly well covered at the minute,” said a concentrates trader in Asia.

Indonesia has said it was open to negotiations with Freeport on the $530-million deposit and that if the company did not want to pay, it must provide an alternative to demonstrate its commitment to expanding the country’s smelter capacity.

Indonesia wants the deposit as a guarantee that the Phoenix, Arizona-based company will complete construction of another local smelter. The amount would add to an estimated $80 million that Freeport set aside in July 2015 to obtain its current export permit.

Freeport CEO Richard Adkerson said late on Tuesday the government’s demand for a smelter deposit was “inconsistent” with an agreement reached between the two sides in mid-2014.

Greater share
According to that agreement, Freeport must sell the government a greater share of the Grasberg mine, and invest in domestic processing to win an extension of its mining contract beyond 2021.

The US mining giant wants to invest $18 billion to expand its operations at Grasberg, but is seeking government assurances first that it will get a contract extension.

Freeport’s long-held desire to continue mining in Indonesia beyond 2021 has been beset by controversy, including cabinet infighting, resignations and a major political scandal that led to the resignation of the parliamentary speaker.

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Biman Prasad: Is our Fiji democracy really working?

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 2, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz [caption id="attachment_8862" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr Biman Prasad.[/caption] Dr Biman Prasad, leader of Fiji’s Opposition National Federation Party, suspended for 30 days yesterday by the Fijian Elections Office, assesses the country’s “deeply flawed” post-coup democracy. This article was written and published before the latest move against his party. The exuberant mood among the Fiji people after the 2014 election is fast fading. The realities of the high cost of living, low wages and deteriorating health and education services have not gone away. This is because of a dysfunctional political system born of a deeply flawed and imposed Constitution, and economic policies designed to boost the government’s image, not Fiji’s long-term economic future. The FijiFirst government has been big on announcements, but poor on implementation. Many of their publicity stunts are carefully crafted by government-hired and publicly-funded public relations firms like Qorvis, with the help of pliant media bodies like the Fiji Sun, a grateful beneficiary of exclusive government advertising contracts. But what good is this for the rest of us? Dysfunctional political environment Serious questions continue to be raised about the independence of Parliament, state institutions and the civil service. The highest bipartisan political institutions are parliamentary standing committees. In these, the people’s representatives — from the government and the Opposition — listen to the views of everybody on important legislation. Then they issue their reports making their recommendations. In most “true democracies”, the government listens and responds meaningfully to these findings. Not in Fiji. One such instance is the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights. Last year this committee discussed the amendments to the Employment Relations Promulgations (ERP) Bill. We agreed unanimously — government and Opposition members together — to recommend changes which complied with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. But before these changes could be presented to Parliament, the Bill was changed overnight, without the knowledge of the Opposition members. The committee process, therefore, was just about window-dressing. A bipartisan committee had carefully considered how to achieve the best laws; the government just went ahead and did what it wanted. In a similar way, the Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs considered and issued a report that Fiji should unconditionally implement the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). The government did not go back to the committee. Instead it moved a motion in Parliament to reject the Standing Committee’s report. So the government members of the committee were forced to vote in Parliament against their own report! Recently, the Attorney-General interfered in the work of the Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs by asking the government-appointed chair of the committee to stop deliberating on allegations of torture made by lawyer Aman Ravindra-Singh. The Attorney-General said in his view this was not the work of the committee. But his view should not guide the work of a bipartisan committee. He has an obvious interest in these allegations not being heard because they do not reflect well on his government. But Parliament — an independent institution — has no budget for independent lawyers to advise it. Draconian Media Decree The draconian Media Decree remains in force. State radio and television media organisations and the pro-government newspaper (which is rewarded by exclusive government advertising contracts), continue to deny the opposition any voice. They openly parrot government propaganda. Media organisations operate under the threat of their editors being hauled before the Media Tribunal and subjected to huge fines and other punishments. The lack of access to a free and independent media has been the single most frustrating obstacle for the opposition parties when they try to make the government publicly accountable on various national issues. The only positive thing in all this is that, as I travel around the country, I realise that the people have begun to clearly see through this facade, and the real news has begun to seep through the firewalls. The government continues to interfere in how parliamentary funding is allocated. The original allocation of funds by the secretary-general — who is supposed to be independent of the government was abruptly changed in December 2014. Under the new formula the NFP, with three MPs, gets only $45,000 per annum to run its parliamentary office and conduct its parliamentary activities. The FijiFirst party, despite the fact that half of its MPs are ministers with their own taxpayer-funded civil servants, gets the same amount per MP as the Opposition parties. In most “true democracies”, the Opposition receives a minimum amount of funding to operate on — to pay for researchers, support staff and travel. This is because “true democracy” recognises the importance of a well-resourced and informed Opposition to hold the government accountable. Unbelievably, Opposition political parties are required to apply for permits for meetings with party members and others. This makes a mockery of democracy. Why do the people’s representatives need permits to meet the people? The government, on the other hand, continues to use state resources to do roadshows, meetings and consultations. The Prime Minister seems to be on a permanent taxpayer-funded political campaign tour. This sort of political dysfunction in Fiji has a direct negative impact on the accountability and transparency of government activities. Because the government does whatever it wants and does not listen to anyone else, many of its policies and programs are poorly thought out and implemented. If they listened more to other views, the people would get better policies and services. Inconsistent economic policies In 2013, no doubt with the 2014 election in mind, the Bainimarama government started spending on everything — tuition free education, bus fare subsidies and other social welfare programs. These would be good things if we could afford them and they were delivered well. But they are certainly not delivered well. School textbooks might be free, but they are useless if they don’t reach students on time. Unbelievably, the government has messed up textbook delivery for the second year running. Now it has called in the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to “investigate” its own inefficiency. Health services continue to stagnate and deteriorate with appalling standards of service in hospitals and health centres. The free medicine scheme, another worthwhile idea run badly, is turning into a disaster. Now FICAC has been called in to “investigate” drug shortages in hospitals. All of this FICAC investigating might help the ministers pass on the blame to someone else, but it is doing nothing much for the people. The Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Scheme (TELS) program continues to disenfranchise poor students and their parents by imposing debts on them which they will struggle to pay in the future. A better designed TELS and scholarship program based on means-testing would have brought about better distribution of the benefits and the burden of debt on individual households. The government of course is spending big on roads. That is a good thing, if this spending is run efficiently. Only a few days ago, the Prime Minister himself was reported demanding that the Fiji Roads Authority deliver results. If the Prime Minister is complaining, how confident can we be that these hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent well? After all, these funds don’t belong to the FijiFirst party. They belong to the taxpayers. We are the ones who will be repaying the loans taken out to build these roads, for many years to come. Based on 2013 figures, each woman, man and child in Fiji had a debt burden of about $4440. A child born today automatically inherits a debt of $4440 upon birth — before they’ve even opened their eyes, grown their first tooth or taken their first steps. This debt figure burden rises with every passing year. Government debt levels Government debt stands at about $4.4 billion which is close to 50 per cent of GDP. This means that, like any household that borrows money to spend, we are becoming too deep in debt to be able to borrow any more. The debt table below shows information government’s Budget Estimates and financial data is sourced from the website of the Ministry of Finance. These are devastating figures. Remember that government’s actual revenue figures for 2014 and 2015 will only be known next year. So the percentage of debt to actual revenue will undoubtedly increase if government’s income projections are not met (like previous years, when they have not been met). The government is very proud of its economic growth figures for 2013, 2014 and 2015 years. It is worth noting that this economic growth is much lower than in many Asian countries. But the real test of our economy will be how it grows when the government stops borrowing and spending. The government’s own projections for economic growth has been revised downwards to 3.5 per cent in 2016 and about 3 per cent in 2017 and 2018. Growing debt repayment requirements mean government has to find new sources of income to pay interest and principal every year. In the end, this can only be paid for if taxes increase or Government spending decreases. Either way, it is the people who will bear the consequences. It is the poorest people who will bear the biggest burden if Government services decline. In the 2016 budget, the FijiFirst government was forced to break its election promises. In the election they promised they would keep the policy of zero VAT on basic food items. In the 2016 budget they broke that promise. Most people see little change in their household bills and the poor people only see their costs rising. People think that the Opposition just opposes government policies and offer no alternative. But the NFP, in its manifesto, had carefully proposed a reduction in VAT to 10 percent, leaving VAT on basic food items at zero. We had a credible plan to reduce wasteful expenditure that would not have created much pain for our lowest-income households. The government recently claims that poverty has been reduced. Even if that is true, for the amount of public money it has spent, the reduction is very small. Unfortunately, the government has kept its statistics secret for so long that it is getting harder to trust their objectivity. It seems that the government will only release the statistics that show good things. But, as Professor Wadan Narsey recently pointed out in an article in The Fiji Times, all the information should be available, for everybody to see, as soon as it is ready. In that way, all of us — the government, the Opposition, NGOs and the public — can work together to achieve the best solutions. Of course these claimed reductions in poverty are before the 2016 Budget. Now the cost of basic food items has gone up, wages are not increasing and a huge number of people remain unemployed. So it is the next set of figures that will be the real test. Will the government delay releasing them if they aren’t good? Economic management in Fiji has become dictatorial, confused and inconsistent, mostly reflecting a complete lack of understanding of how business and markets work. Tax and tariff policies seem to veer in different directions in every budget, depending on which favoured businesses the government is listening to at the time. Meanwhile some businesses are being forced by the government to do business they do not want to do. For example, government is forcing private pharmacies to participate in government’s free medicine scheme, even though these pharmacies cannot even recover their costs in doing so. If the government wants services from private business it should, like the rest of us, be required to pay those businesses properly and fairly. The culture of servility and sycophancy has become so deeply ingrained under the FijiFirst government that some business people behave like obsequious fools. Few are prepared to criticise government policies. Big businesses who are benefitting from bad government policies will pay the price in the long term. Their sycophancy and servility will to perpetuate a culture of bad governance, favouritism and ill-will. If the next government does not favour them, they will be the first to be demanding good governance — but it will be too late. Deception The economic and political deception of the FijiFirst government is likely to cost the country and our people dearly. First, there is the political deception that has been created that Fiji has a “true democracy” under the 2013 Constitution. The government is forever talking about its “true democracy” — in its speeches, statements, even its advertisements. If this is “true democracy”, I wonder why it has to remind us so often? Is it because perhaps people aren’t convinced? Many of Fiji’s international partners, including the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), have called for a review of the 2013 Constitution. They know it does not promote genuine democracy. The separation of powers, the derogations in the Bill of Rights, the ouster clauses, and the existence of draconian decrees all render the Constitution undemocratic. More importantly, they make it unsustainable in the future. The dubious claim that this Constitution ensures “equal citizenry” (another favourite mantra of the government) is another deception. Just because we are now calling everyone a “Fijian” does not ensure the protection of minorities and other ethnic groups. The reality on the ground is a stark reminder to many that there is no such thing as equal citizenry. Appointments in the civil service, government boards, and other government-controlled organisations, and selective awarding of government contracts continue to be based on patronage. Recently the Fiji Sun has reported that the government is investigating staff members of Fijian Holdings Ltd (a private company) for “political agendas”. Apparently their crime is not to support the FijiFirst political agenda! In the Ministry of Education, some staff have been promoted 5-7 ranks upwards in a single sweep, bypassing many qualified and experienced people. Similar cases have been highlighted in the Health Ministry. This is a result of the lost independence of state institutions responsible for these appointments. The provision in the Constitution that all appointments below permanent secretary level will be done by the respective permanent secretaries, in consultation with the minister responsible, is a recipe for disaster. Ministers will demand senior positions for their cronies and yes-men. Already we see ministers deciding which people are recruited, promoted and sacked at their whim. The current reform of the civil service by creating a Ministry of Civil Service and removing the Public Service Commission as an independent institution responsible for the civil service, is going to spell further disaster in the future and will be difficult to reverse. Flawed economic policies, aimed mostly at looking good for politics, will cause much economic pain in the future. Fiji’s economy has grown modestly in the past few years on the back of remittances, tourism, borrowing and tax cuts. But borrowing and tax cuts are one-time tricks. After the so-called asset sales to fund spending in 2016, what will be the next rabbit that government will pull from its hat? That is when the economic pain will deepen, which will take a long time to reverse. Can we get out of this rut? It is time to change course The time for dictatorship and arrogance is over. It is now time for dialogue, it is time for bipartisanship in Parliament, it is time to free the media, and it is time to engage meaningfully with our development partners. It is time for the people to demand better. Moreover, it is time to change course. The NFP has always advocated dialogue as a means of resolving national issues and our political record shines proudly untarnished from this approach. I once again call upon the Prime Minister to shed his government’s patronising and dictatorial attitude and initiate a process of sincere dialogue on key national issues such as the review of the Constitution, a process to address the grievances of the indigenous Fijian people, the repealing of draconian decrees, and a process to address the deep concerns within the sugar industry. Telling Opposition leaders to “jump in a deep pool”, telling gay people to shift to Iceland and shackling the nation with debilitating debt is not much of a political legacy. True nationhood, common and equal citizenry can only be achieved if we work together. Reciprocity, humanity and national interest should be our guiding values if we are to succeed at bipartisanship, and not arrogance and condescension. We continue to offer our hands for bipartisanship. It is now up to the government to reciprocate with sincerity and respect, in the national interest. Dr Biman Prasad is an economist and former university professor. This article was first published in The Fiji Times on Saturday, 30 January 2016 and has been supplied to Asia Pacific Report. Two days after publication in the Times, the National Federation Party was suspended from Parliament. Fiji’s National Federation Party suspended –]]>

Fiji’s National Federation Party suspended for 30 days over accounts

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 2, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

Report from Fiji Village

By Vijay Narayan in Suva

Fiji’s opposition National Federation Party has been suspended for 30 days with immediate effect for contravening the Political Parties Registration, Conduct Funding and Disclosures Decree.

The Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem, said the NFP’s accounts were not audited by an accountant certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.

Saneem said this was brought to the Fijian Elections Office’s attention last December by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.

He said the Elections Office asked the company engaged by NFP if it was a registered member of the Fiji Institute of Accountants, and senior management confirmed that it was not.

Saneem said this constituted a breach of the Political Parties Decree.

The decree required the accounts to be audited by an accountant certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.

Saneem said the NFP had 60 days to remedy the breach or face deregistration as a political party.

During this period of suspension, the NFP could not operate, function, represent or hold itself out to be a political party.

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De Brum, Nuclear Zero lawyers nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 2, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

Report from the International Peace Bureau

By Colin Archer in Geneva

The Oslo-based International Peace Bureau has nominated former Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Tony de Brum and the republic’s legal team for their “courageous step” in filing lawsuits against the world’s nine nuclear powers.

Under de Brun’s leadership, the republic sued the states for failing to comply with their obligations under international law seeking the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Tony de Brum was one of the four winners of last year’s Right Livelihood Award, also known as the “Alternative Nobel Prize”. The people of the Marshall Islands were joint recipients.

The IPB is dedicated to the vision of a World Without War.

We are a Nobel Peace Laureate (1910), and over the years 13 of our officers have also been recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. Our 300 member organisations in 70 countries, and individual members, form a global network bringing together expertise and campaigning experience in a common cause.

The IPB’s full citation says:

Geneva, 26 January 2016
Norwegian Nobel Institute
Henriks Ibsens gate 51
0255 Oslo

Dear Sir/Madam

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE NOMINATION 2016: Tony de Brum and the legal team of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The International Peace Bureau is pleased to convey to you its nomination for the 2016 Prize: former Foreign Minister Tony de Brum and the legal team appointed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) to handle its nuclear weapons cases.

On April 24, 2014, the RMI filed landmark lawsuits against the nine nuclear-armed nations for failing to comply with their obligations under international law to pursue negotiations for the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons. As the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation underlines: “The Republic of the Marshall Islands acts for the seven billion of us who live on this planet to end the nuclear weapons threat hanging over all humanity. Everyone has a stake in this.”

The RMI has made a courageous step in challenging nine of the world’s most powerful states at the International Court of Justice. The tiny Pacific nation has launched a parallel court case against the USA at the Federal District Court. RMI argues that the nuclear weapons‐possessing countries have breached their obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non‐Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and customary international law by continuing to modernise their arsenals and by failing to pursue negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament.

RMI’s former Foreign Minister Tony de Brum has played the key political role in gaining support and approval for this initiative. He in turn has been supported by a highly effective legal team. De Brum and RMI have already received at least two important international prizes for their action.

The Marshall Islands were used by the USA as testing ground for nearly 70 nuclear tests from 1946 to 1958. These tests gave rise to lasting health and environmental problems for the Marshall Islanders. Their first‐hand experience of nuclear devastation and personal suffering gives legitimacy to their action and makes it especially difficult to dismiss.

The Marshall Islands are presently working hard on the court cases. Hearings on preliminary issues in the International Court of Justice will take place in March 2016, and an appellate hearing in the case in the US court will take place in 2016 or possibly 2017. The award of the Nobel Peace Prize would do much to draw public attention to this extremely important initiative and to help ensure a successful outcome.

It is certainly not the case that the RMI, with its some 53,000 inhabitants, a large proportion of whom are young people, have no need of compensation or assistance. Nowhere are the costs of a militarised Pacific better illustrated than there. The country is burdened with some of the highest cancer rates in the region following the 12 years of US nuclear tests. Yet it is admirable that the Marshall Islanders in fact seek no compensation for themselves, but rather are determined to end the nuclear weapons threat for all humanity.

The world still has around 16,000 nuclear weapons, the majority in the USA and Russia, many of them on high alert. The knowhow to build atomic bombs is spreading, largely due to the continued promotion of nuclear power technology. Presently there are 9 nuclear weapon states, and 28 nuclear alliance states; and on the other hand 115 nuclear weapons‐free zone states plus 40 non‐nuclear weapons states. Only 37 states (out of 192) are still committed to nuclear weapons, clinging to outdated, questionable and extremely dangerous ‘deterrence’ policies.

IPB has a long history of campaigning for disarmament and for the banning of nuclear weapons (www.ipb.org). The organisation was, for instance, actively involved in bringing the nuclear issue before the International Court of Justice in 1996. The IPB sincerely believes that the Marshall Islands initiative will prove to be a significant and decisive step in ending the nuclear arms race and in achieving a world without nuclear weapons.

Further details about the lawsuits and the campaign are available at www.nuclearzero.org

Yours sincerely

Colin Archer
Secretary‐General

Nuclear Zero

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Vanuatu to install tsunami signs, sirens in urban areas

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 2, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

Port Vila and Luganville will be introduced to a complete tsunami warning system by the end of this year.

This includes the installation of tsunami signage and sirens, says the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD).

The VMGD, in partnership with stakeholders, is working hard to complete the final phase of the Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (MDRR) Project.

Funded by the Japanese government, MDRR aims to strengthen urban planning and tsunamis preparedness in the urban areas of Vanuatu.

The project started in 2013, it comprises of three components:

Risk mapping to support urban preparedness and planning (Vt66million [NZ$884,000]);
Establishing a tsunamis warning system for Port and Luganville (Vt136.5 million[NZ$1.84 million]); and
strengthening the national advisory board on climate change and disaster risk reduction (Vt21million [NZ$281,000]).

Workshops that have been held with the municipal and provincial authorities have assisted mapping out danger zones, drawing up evacuation maps, selecting evacuation routes and signs as well as evacuation key messages.

Starting from this week until July, the project team will be carrying out consultation to communities.

According to the project coordinator, Sylvain Todman, more than 60 consultations are expected in Port Vila and Luganville before the finalisation of evacuation routes, signs location and evacuation messages.

Todman said the project is looking at installing around 500 signs in every community.

He added that the project would distribute tsunamis brochures and make available a dissemination notice board to communities that needed one.

According to VMGD staff, this tsunami warning system is also used by countries like the Philippines, Samoa, Thailand and the United States.

VMGD staff said a live exercise would be conducted in both towns once the system was installed.

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Workers Voice: TPPA protests, climate change post-Paris and Waitangi Day

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 2, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

PlanetFM

Protests against the TPPA protests, the climate change movement post-Paris 2015, and the run up to Waitangi day …

Unite Union’s Joe Carolan talks to climate activist Gary Cranston, E TU organiser Chris Rigby and the Mana Movement’s Repia Trei on this week’s Workers Voice at PlanetFM radio in Auckland.

>> Listen to PlanetFM

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11,000 plus women abused a year, reports PNG police family unit

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 1, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

PNG Today/PNG TV

Up to 35 abused women go to the Boroko Family and Sexual Violence Unit a day in Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby and 90 percent of them report being raped.

This would amount to 11,479 forceful sexual penetration cases processed by the unit, on a yearly average, says Senior Constable Juliana Epe, the officer in charge.

Senior Constable Epe reported that since 2009 the intake of victimised women at her unit had staggered – and the spectrum of cases included the upper echelon of society, such as female politicians.

“We take in between 20 and 35 women a day – I have dealt with women who are managers, departmental heads, secretaries and even female ministers,” she said.

“These women survivors show up with reports of being physically assaulted, bashed up, forcefully raped – others are traumatised with scars, deep wounds on their bodies inflicted by objects and bruises on their faces,” Senior Constable Epe said.

Girls barely out of their teenage years and women old enough to retire from work had become prey to perpetrators of violence-related crimes, according to Senior Constable Epe.

“Females between the ages of 15 – 55 are what we receive, but we regularly receive women between the ages of 30 – 42 who are either single mothers or housewives and we listen carefully to their reports and establish how they would like us to assist,” she said.

Partners charged
“Most of them do want their partners charged and arrested so we assist them to acquire a protection order through the PNG Developing Lawyers Association (PNGDLA),” Senior Constable Epe said.

The number of incest cases that involved male relatives sexually penetrating their daughters or nieces had also seen a rise.

But the inability of the young victims to step forward and give evidence had proven to be a barrier that prohibited “the wheels of justice from turning”.

“Most of the cases involving children are sexual touching and sexual penetration and they are too shy to come out because the perpetrators are known to them – it could either be their father or uncle or cousin brothers,” she said.

“We send the serious cases to CID or the Sexual Offences Squad and they deal with it.

“These cases are futile if the young victim is unwilling to confirm the report and the perpetrator because who will appear in court? It’s a waste of time because it will be thrown out of court,” Senior Constable Epe explained.

She said the dangerous trend of violence-related crimes inflicted on women was increasing every year and she encouraged society to stand up against it.

“The victimised women and their families must step forward and give information as the inability to do this leads to suicides and other social problems, while the perpetrators walk free,” Senior Constable said.

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Chief magistrate rejects arrest bid in Vanuatu conspiracy case

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 1, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

From Vanuatu Daily Post

By Thompson Marango in Port Vila

Attempts to arrest former Prime Minister Joe Natuman and former Acting Police Commissioner Aru Maralau for alleged conspiracy failed after Vanuatu’s Magistrates Court chief magistrate refused to issue a warrant.

Chief Magistrate Felix Stevens ruled that the prosecution and police had failed to demonstrate urgency for an alleged offence made in 2014.

“The prosecution and the police investigators have also not satisfied me about the urgency of the matter and the reasons why a judicial officer should now issue an urgent warrant to execute a warrant of arrest now in 2016 for an alleged offence and complaint, not only made in 2014, but also related to the mutiny case which was discontinued and entered a nolle prosequi against by the Public Prosecutor in July 2015,” Chief Magistrate Stevens stated in an order dated January 26, 2016.

Although the application for warrant of arrest was refused, the Chief Magistrate directed the prosecution to issue summons for the defendants to appear and to serve them with all relevant documents before the preliminary inquiry hearing date on 9 February 2016.

According to the Chief Magistrate Stevens’: “The charges are in relation to alleged offences which occurred in September 2014.

“The alleged offences were in relation to the to the criminal proceeding and investigation of alleged mutiny offences against Mr Joshua Bong, a former police commissioner and some high ranking police officers who were the subject of criminal PI case number 129 of 2014 before the Magistrate’s Court in Port Vila,” he stated.

The criminal PI case was discontinued by the court in July 2015 after the Acting Public Prosecutor, William Timakata, entered a nolle prosequi.

“The charges in this matter concern different offences but related directly to the proceedings in the PI Case 129 of 2014 and have been laid by the Public Prosecutor, 25 January 2016,” stated the Chief Magistrate.

Chief Magistrate Stevens said there had been no attempts made by police to lay charges, interview or even apply for the arrest of the two suspects since September 2014 and no evidence indicated that the two accused were absconding or refusing to cooperate with the investigation.

Meanwhile, the prosecution has been directed by the court to prepare and file preliminary inquiry materials before 8 February 2016 and disclose copies to the accused.

If the prosecution believed that the two accused persons should be arrested and be brought before the court immediately or be arrested, detained and be brought before the court on the next hearing date, the chief magistrate ruled that they should reapply for a warrant of arrest before a judge of the Supreme Court.

The case was adjourned to February 9.

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NZ’s ‘corruption free’ perception ranking drops second year in row

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 1, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz Transparency International NZ

New Zealand has fallen to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index – the second consecutive drop in a survey it has previously topped 7 times because of the corruption-free reputation of its public sector.

“Our government must act immediately to reestablish New Zealand’s stand-out reputation for a trusted public sector,” said Transparency International New Zealand chair Suzanne Snively.

“New Zealand trades on its corruption free reputation.

“There are steps that can be taken immediately to reestablish New Zealand’s exemplary reputation for a trusted public sector,” said Snively.

“Through this, New Zealanders can gain greater returns from all the different things they do – teaching, farming, fishing, tourism, film, sport – because of our country’s reputation for integrity.”

The CPI is produced each year to highlight the global importance of transparency. Dropping to fourth place has huge disadvantages for New Zealand, both from a governing and economic perspective.

Denmark, Finland and Sweden are now perceived to have the least corrupt public sectors.

New Zealand, which was ranked number one in both the 2012 and 2013 surveys, fell behind Denmark in the 2014 CPI and then Sweden and Finland as well in last week’s released 2015 survey.

Further downgrades in New Zealand’s scores are likely if areas such as access to information and governance of the environment fail to keep pace with the trends in northern European countries.

“A clean reputation makes us attractive to do business with and secures qualified migrants and confident tourists.

“New Zealand’s high ranking on the TI-CPI is a factor that gives this credibility. The fall in score and rank is a wake-up call to the Government and Public Sector,” said Snively.

“Only when we make corruption prevention routine and comprehensive can we move ahead of the northern European countries and reclaim a number1 ranking.

“With a commitment to a reputation for the world’s highest integrity, the government has an opportunity to take a strong leadership role in inspiring businesses and communities to build on the value integrity brings to creating a more prosperous society.”

Transparency International New Zealand published the Integrity Plus 2013 New Zealand National Integrity System Assessment and is actively engaged in the implementation of its recommendations.

New Zealand’s recent rankings:
2012 Rank No 1 Score 90
2013 Rank No 1 Score 91
2014 Rank No 2 Score 91
2015 Rank No 4 Score 88

Australia:
Australia’s score fell from 80 to 79 and its ranking fell from 11 to 13. The bottom two rankings in the 2015 CPI were North Korea and Somalia.

Asia Pacific:
Srirak Plipat, Transparency International director for Asia Pacific, noted in the CPI report: “If there was one common challenge to unite the Asia Pacific region, it would be corruption.

“From campaign pledges to media coverage to civil society forums, corruption dominates discussion. Yet despite all this talk, there’s little sign of action.

“Between Australia’s slipping scores and North Korea’s predictably disastrous performance, this year’s index shows no significant improvement. Has Asia Pacific stalled in its efforts to fight corruption?”

Transparency International is a global civil society coalition leading the fight against corruption. It compiles a number of measures of different aspects of corruption including the Corruption Perceptions Index, the Global Corruption Barometer, and the Bribe Payers Index.

Percentage of companies that prohibit bribes. Source: charteredaccountantsanz.com/futureinc

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Challenging start to the year in Asia-Pacific free expression

By Asia Pacific Report -

February 1, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

Report from IFEX

By Gayathry Venkiteswaran

Journalists have been killed in terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan in separate incidents that took place in January 2016, heightening concerns over the continued targeting of media personnel.

On January 20, seven staff members of the Afghan Tolo TV were killed following a Taliban suicide attack in Kabul on a minibus that was transporting the station’s journalists. Thirty others were also injured in the attack.

International organisations issued a message of solidarity with the Afghan media. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) tweeted this:

IFEX members including the Afghanistan Journalists Center, Human Rights Watch, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Press Institute (IPI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which ranked Afghanistan 122 out of 180 in their 2015 press freedom index, also reported on the attacks.

Earlier, two journalists were killed in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, a spot where militants have a stronghold. According to the IFJ, journalist Mehboob Shah Afridi of Aaj TV was killed in a suicide bomb attack on the outskirts of Peshawar on 19 January, while on 16 January, unidentified gunmen shot dead journalist Muhammad Umar, who was a correspondent with a local newspaper.

These incidents were not isolated, as journalists have been targeted across the country; a week before the office of the ARY News was attacked by unidentified attackers who hurled a hand grenade at the Islamabad office and a similar attack took place in November 2015 at the Faisalbad office of Dunya News TV.

It was noted with irony that Pakistan authorities had on 13 January searched the home of New York Times reporter Salman Mahmood, reportedly for terrorists. Media freedom activist Asad Baig tweeted:

Dawn, one of Pakistan’s national newspapers, commented that little action has been taken by the state and media houses to protect journalists, leading to the routine killings.

Missing booksellers
Continuing in the spotlight in January was the disappearance of five people associated with a publishing company in Hong Kong, believed to be held in China. The first to go missing, in Thailand, was Gui Minhai, a writer and co-owner of publishing house Mighty Current, which runs the Causeway Bay Bookshop and produces books said to be critical of the Chinese Communist Party, on 17 October 2015.

Three others – Lui Bo, Cheung Ji-ping and Lam Wing-kei – went missing in Shenzhen, China, between 20 and 26 October. Then, in December, a major stockholder in the company, Lee Bo, was reported missing by his wife.

Reports say Lee Bo has since met with his wife, secretly, and Chinese authorities have, after more than two weeks, confirmed that they have detained Lee in mainland China.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association had earlier written seeking clarification on their whereabouts, and the International Publishers Association issued a statement to express their concern that the Chinese government was attempting to quash free speech in the former British colony.

A leaked letter identified 14 publishing houses and 21 publications in Hong Kong as targets to be ‘exterminated’:

The South China Morning Post is monitoring the issue and has created a special page to compile updates and maintain a timeline of the incidents.

Digital rights
Several individuals were convicted for online expression, specifically for postings on the social networking platform, Facebook, that were deemed in breach of national security or defamatory by the respective governments and courts.

In Thailand, a 46-year old ex-stockbroker was sentenced to six years in jail for two Facebook posts about the king that were cited as having breached the country’s controversial lèse majesté law, according to the Bangkok Post.

As of December 2015, prosecutions under the insult law topped 60 since a coup was launched in mid-2014, and the military regime has attempted to get the compliance of online companies Facebook and Youtube to ban any content said to be defamatory to the monarchy.

In Burma, activist Patrick Khum Jaa Lee was sentenced to six months in prison for posting on his Facebook page comments about the country’s army chief. Critics and his family say there is no digital evidence to prove the crime, and that the charge under the Telecommunications Law threatens freedom of expression.

On a more positive note for digital rights, Bytes for All in Pakistan has created a series of cartoons on the importance of encryption to protect one’s privacy online as well as to ensure individuals are able to express themselves freely. As they say, “We believe the best way to respond to the attempts to put curbs on encryption is for everyone to learn about it and actively use it.”

Members calling for action
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance has come together with the Community and Public Sector Union to launch a campaign to restore adequate funds for Australia‘s national broadcaster – the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) – and to end government interference in the station’s editorial and programming. More details on the Hands Off Our ABC campaign are on MEAA’s website.

Key Regional Reports
Several groups painted a bleak picture for 2015 in terms of impunity in Asia, reflected in reports by the Pakistan Press Foundation and the Freedom Forum in Nepal. Other forms of attack against the media in Indonesia were recorded by Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, while the Thai Journalists Association reported that, in 2015, the atmosphere in Thailand was one of paranoia, and marked by control by the military regime. Amendments to the constitution in progress have worried activists and critics of the regime. Journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk, who was detained twice by the junta, tweeted on the targeting of students who challenge the regime.

South Pacific
In the South Pacific, Pacific Media Watch reports the IFJ released its report Strengthening Media in the Pacific – an insight into the media landscape and working conditions for media workers in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The report was a culmination of research and media consultation in the Pacific’s media in 2014 and 2015 and highlights the challenges and success stories from the region as the media continued to rapidly develop and grow.

Gayathry Venkiteswaran based this on IFEX member reports from Afghanistan Journalists Center , Aliansi Jurnalis Independen/Alliance of Independent Journalists , Bytes for All , Committee to Protect Journalists , Freedom Forum , Hong Kong Journalists Association , Human Rights Watch , International Federation of Journalists , International Press Institute , International Publishers Association , Pakistan Press Foundation , Reporters Without Borders , Southeast Asian Press Alliance , Thai Journalists Association

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It’s easy to be cynical … harder to fight for your dream

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 31, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

Pacific Media Centre

By Kai Ping Lew

When Alistar Kata first asked if I would take part in this mini doco, I was really excited for the opportunity. The Pacific Media Centre has added so much to my learning curve as a journalist and I was more than happy to have a way to give back to it.

It’s a crucial support system for anyone who wants to report on the Asia-Pacific region, and Alistar’s video, The PMC Project, gives a little insight into the work they do, the team there, and why it matters.

Most people who want to become a journalist get told that they won’t get paid a lot of money. They get told that the media industry is driven by commercial values, that the large media corporations are owned by a few people who drive the agenda and nothing of real importance that harms their interests will never make in into mainstream news.

They get told that governments and societal elites will shut them down if they ever try to cover anything that paints them in a bad light.

These things are more or less true to a certain extent, varying from country to country, but an aspiring journalist plods on anyway because we are idealistic.

We dream of a more equal society and hope that we will have some small part in making that happen.

We dream of exposing corruption at the highest level, of giving voice to those who do not have the means or the access to make themselves heard, of improving peoples’ lives by giving them information that can help inform their choices.

Media industry challenges
This dream can sometimes seem childish and naïve in the face of the derision of others and the challenges facing the media industry today. Many industry professionals who have been in journalism long enough have become jaded and speak of their battles with tones tinged with cynicism.

It’s easy to be cynical. It’s harder to stand by your intangible, nebulous dream and fight for it.

It’s harder to know that the road is long, the battles will be vicious, and you will have to face Goliath armed with a pen and your wits, and jump into the fray anyway.

David Robie is one of the people who has been in journalism for as long as he has who continues to burn with passion and idealism.

Under him, the Pacific Media Centre has grown as a resource, a media outlet, and a haven where like-minded journalists can find their purpose anchored, their small struggles appreciated, and a word of advice to spur them on when all they see are roadblocks ahead.

It is a place that nurtures idealism when the fire is dwindling. It is an outlet for the unheard voices of the Pacific, to give greater prominence to their issues.

“Making a difference” is a lofty ideal to aim for, and us aspiring journalists need all the help we can get to reach it.

To that end, I am grateful for the opportunities and knowledge I have gained through the Pacific Media Centre and hope I can continue doing so, wherever I am in my career.

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Hilda Heine sworn in as first Pacific woman president

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 31, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

From Marshall Islands Journal

By Giff Johnson in Majuro

The ousting this week of President Casten Nemra, only two weeks into his term as president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, by a successful vote of no confidence, suggests family ties have trumped customary authority that once dominated the Nitijela’s leadership lineup.

Dr Hilda Heine’s election on Wednesday — with 24 out of 30 votes — is another unprecedented twist in the leadership battles that have played out in Nitijela this month — she is the first woman elected president in the RMI.

Indeed, she is the first female head of state of an independent nation in the Pacific Islands.

She was sworn in on Thursday by District Court Judge Milton Zackios. Her husband, First Gentleman Tommy Kijiner Jr., was with her.

Despite Kwajalein Senator and Iroij Mike Kabua’s orchestration of Nemra’s one-vote victory as President on January 4, the coalition that propelled him to the presidency as the youngest and only the second commoner president collapsed in fewer than five days.

Key to this was the defection of the three Heine family members — all Cabinet ministers during the past four years of the Loeak administration — to the opposition.

The Heines’ move to the opposition followed Nemra offering Cabinet postings to only two of the three — Hilda and Wilbur, but not Thomas.

Read more about this saga in the weekend edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.

Hilda Heine elected first female Pacific leader as president of the Marshall Islands

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Novès’ Six Nations selection heralds new era of French rugby

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 31, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

From The Student Newspaper

By Nghia Mai in Paris

For so long the French national rugby union team was a team feared for its paradoxical combination of Latin flair and Anglo-Saxon rugged physicality.

However, the nine time Grand Slam winners and three-time World Cup finalists had not fared well under the four-year reign of Philippe Saint-Andre. Since 2012, they had reached no higher than fourth in the Six Nations, and were awarded their first ever Wooden Spoon in 2013.

A deserved 62-13 thrashing at the hands of the All Blacks in an embarrassing World Cup quarter-final exit put a nail in the coffin of Saint-Andre’s international coaching career.

His successor Guy Novès, appointed in July last year, is considered rugby’s Sir Alex Ferguson, having led his club Stade Toulousain to 10 domestic championship titles and four European titles over a 22-year career with the club.

One of his many promises after taking over in November was an emphatic return to “champagne rugby” after years of Saint-Andre’s experiments with pragmatic 10-man rugby. His 31-man training squad for the upcoming Six Nations fulfilled part of that promise.

With a significant amount of players announcing their retirement from international rugby in the last couple of months, this is a relatively young squad. Dusautoir is replaced by Toulon hooker Guirado as captain, showing Novès’ long-term vision for the French team, particularly for 2019.

The squad includes eight uncapped players, rewarding deserving form for their respective Top 14 clubs. Two of them were actually nurtured during Novès’ time at Toulouse.

Young flanker Camara could be a natural successor to Dusautoir and scrumhalf Bézy; this French star in the making, whose kicking has been excellent this season, is comparable to Morgan Parra, a World Cup survivor also named in Novès’ squad who would provide much-needed experience.

Most of the young talent in the squad is spread across the forwards pack, with Jefferson Poirot and Camille Chat in the front row, Paul Jedrasiak in the second row, and Kevin Gourdon on the flank.

The absence of Bastareaud is notable in that it demonstrates the change in style Guy Novès is spearheading. This is especially apparent given that he opted for more pace in the centre, with the likes of Fickou (another Toulouse prodigy) and uncapped Danty – the player Bastareaud could have been if he had taken spin classes.

However, Guy Novès has made it clear Bastareaud is not completely omitted and could still be part of his plan.

Within the initial optimism, one area of concern for this squad is the back three, where Guy Noves went for flexibility in players who could cover both wing and fullback, such as Benjamin Fall, Maxime Medard, and Hugo Bonneval. However, the latter two prefer the number 15 jersey. This is a problem for France because the Top 14 is currently dominated by wingers from Fiji, not leaving Noves with many options.

Injury does not help either, with Yoan Huget still out, as well as young talent Teddy Thomas who scored three tries on his Test debut. This is probably why the Fiji-born France Sevens player Virimi Vakatawa was included as the 31st player, a big gamble according to many.

Based on first impressions, this looks like a very exciting squad. The France of old with a twist, it promises plenty of dynamism and enthusiasm. Their first match against Italy on February 6, is a suitable outing for the youngsters.

However, we will have to wait and see whether the proud Gallic rooster will crow again under new management.

The Student is an award-winning weekly independent newspaper produced by students at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1887 by Robert Louis Stevenson, making it the UK’s oldest student newspaper. All staff are volunteers, who fit work for the newspaper around their studies.

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Vanuatu airport claim: ‘No one at air control’ for Virgin flight

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 31, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz From Vanuatu Daily Post By Jane Joshua and Jonas Cullwick in Port Vila Virgin Australia, has temporarily suspended its flights to Vanuatu over runway safety concerns at Port Vila’s Bauerfield Airport. Sources informed the Daily Post that there was “no response” from control tower at Bauerfield when a Virgin Airlines flight bound for Australia left the airport on Monday. In other developments in the airport safety row, the National Bank of Vanuatu has revealed it is “happy to work” with the Vanuatu government to fund the immediate runway upgrade needs up to the value of US$1 million. Virgin offers three weekly flights between Brisbane and Port Vila, but the Sydney Morning Herald reported:

“The carrier said after a further review of the runway on Wednesday, it had decided it would only operate one last return service between Brisbane and Port Vila on Saturday to return customers to their port of origin.”

Port Vila's Bauerfield Airport ... three airlines now refuse to fly there. Image: Vanuatu Daily Post

Previously Air New Zealand had suspended its flights to Port Vila and Qantas suspended its code-sharing arrangement with Air Vanuatu over similar concerns. These concerns may soon be eased as the National Bank of Vanuatu (NBV) has considered assisting the Vanuatu government. Bank offer Speaking exclusively with the Daily Post, an executive member of the NBV, Michael Fimeri, said the bank was happy to work with the Vanuatu government to fund the immediate needs of the runway, to resurface the runway up to a price of US$1 million, assuming it could work out satisfactory terms with the government. “The loan has a zero percent interest, subject to the terms agreed with the government,” he said. Asked how soon this could happen, Fimeri replied: “The funds are available as of [Saturday], subject to negotiations with the government.” He added that he understood there was a quote to fix the runway from a local company, which would happen in a “short space of time”. “We will fund the upgrade, subject to the government agreeing,” he said. While negotiations were yet to happen, he said from a banking perspective, the country needed the runway. “It is an interest free loan, subject to terms agreed by the government and NBV,” he said. “The money is available. It needs to be funded immediately.” Benefit for Vanuatu When asked how NBV would benefit from the loan, he replied: “NBV will benefit from the fact that Vanuatu will benefit from it. It is an interest free loan.” On Friday, Air Vanuatu issued the following statement but did not comment on the recent suspension of flights when asked to: ”Air Vanuatu senior management, captains and compliance officers have been holding daily meetings with Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV) and Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL) and remain satisfied the condition of the runway is safe to continue jet operations at present. “Our flight captains have the final say should the extra safety measures in place, including daily mechanical ‘sweeping’ of the runway, not meet our standards. “This week we have had one flight delayed due to the sweeping not meeting the approval of our operating captain. We will continue to demand daily sweeping and runway inspections and will not depart if our operating crew and compliance officers are not satisfied. “Air Vanuatu operates under a safety first policy at all times and will continue to do so. Should conditions deteriorate before the planned upgrade of the runway commences, we will review services to Port Vila”. Meanwhile, AVL are refusing to confirm or deny an incident that allegedly took place Monday. Sources informed the Daily Post that there was no response from control tower at Bauerfield when a Virgin Airlines flight bound for Australia left the airport. It was reported to the Daily Post by a person listening to the relevant radio frequency that when the plane was ready to leave the airport the captain repeatedly attempted to contact the control tower to request clearance for departure, but there was no response. Prolonged silence After a prolonged silence, the plane took off without incident following communication by the captain with the pilots of other aircraft in the vicinity. One of them considered the incident more amusing than not, jokingly told the captain of the aircraft “Welcome to the Pacific!” Sources confirmed the incident and said similar situations had occurred in the past, especially when there was only one person at the control tower and had to use the restroom. One local pilot said such incidents often happened with local flights, but this was the first he had come across it with an international flight. “There was really no drama only an inconvenience to the Boeing captain who after waiting for five minutes decided to take off. But if there was a major incident the captain would have filed an Incident Report, As it is, there was really no issue,” he added. AVL’s management responded to a request from the Daily Post for a comment saying they had nothing to say on the matter as they were not aware of such an incident. It is not known whether such an occurrence would have contributed to Virgin’s decision to suspend its service to Port Vila. AVL also said they could not comment on reports that a manager, air traffic, Lindsay Taylor, who was said to have spent over 20 years in the control tower of Bauerfield Airport, was given only four days’ notice before having his services terminated recently. No comment When the Daily Post contacted AVL for a comment, it was told that management could not comment on the report. No reasons were given. These situations could not have come at a worse time for Vanuatu and Bauerfield when the airport was in the spotlight over concerns about safety issues. These longstanding concerns about the condition of the runway to safely handle Boeing 737 aircraft have led Air New Zealand to suspend its flights into Bauerfield. Last weekend, the Director of Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV), Joseph Niel, directed AVL to act on measures required by airline operators to ensure jet operations could continue safely at Bauerfield airport. Air Vanuatu also said several extra precautions were now in place until permanent repair at the aerodrome begins. The safety measures imposed by Air Vanuatu require daily “sweeping” of the runway plus regular inspections prior to and after take-off; new obstacle and runway surveys and 200m of runway to be marked at the end of runway 11 for urgent repair. Jonas Cullwick, a former general manager of Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC), is now a senior journalist with the Daily Post. Daily Post in editorial clash with Vanuatu government over airport safety –]]>

Pasifika Renaissance calls for Pacific oral histories on video

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 31, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz From Pacific Media Centre Pasifika Renaissance, an NGO dedicated to Pacific oral histories, has appealed to groups documenting traditional knowledge to upload stories to their YouTube channel. Among recent collaborators are Papua New Guinean journalist and community worker Milton Tyotam Kwaipo, from Rabaul, who runs a multimedia studio in Madang Province.

Milton Tyotam Kwaipo ... multimedia studio in Rabaul. Image: Pasifika Renaissance

After earning a BA majoring music, journalism and public relations at the University of Papua New Guinea in 2006, he later worked for NGO World Vision International in PNG, Timor Leste and Vanuatu from 2009 to 2015. He also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development in 2014. In 2015, he started Milate Multimedia Produxion that focuses on using multimedia (music, audio, radio programs, video and photography) for social empowerment through sharing of ‘positive stories’, focusing on local communities developing themselves rather than waiting for outside sources to aid them. He is also a musician, playing a flute, saxophone and other instruments. Pasifika Renaissance’s appeal said: Since many interested and motivated people have asked us about possible participation in our NGO’s activities, we decided to invite you to document oral traditions from knowledgeable elders in your village or island by a video/digital camera, tablet or cellphone to upload your videos on our YouTube page. The topics of your elders’ narrations include legends, folktales, colonial histories, experiences of WWII and dying cultural practices. Narrators can speak in their languages or English in your videos, since the target of your videos is younger people on your island. This project will primarily enable you to record disappearing oral traditions of your home island and share them with your people. Furthermore, through this project, we seek your active involvement in revitalising your island’s traditional culture and creating a larger “renaissance” movement in a wider Pacific region. In addition, if you have an opportunity to take videos of cultural practices (e.g. fishing, festivals, rituals, dances) on your island, please share them with us to upload them on our YouTube page. If you are interested in this project, please send us a message on FB or at pasifika.renaissance@gmail.com, so we’ll send you more detailed info. We are very looking forward to your participation in our endeavor! We are very keen to collaborate with a researcher, government official, and interested community member of the Pacific islands to pursue our common goals. Please contact us to discuss possible collaboration. Thank you! The latest upload to the channel has been a “Western-style” dance “Kahlek Dil” from Pohnpei. In addition to earlier Western influence in island music in the 19th century, Pohnpeian people learned several forms of foreign dances during the German administration (1899-1914). One of them is marching dances, which were created through interactions with foreigners in the Marshall Islands and spread throughout Micronesia in the early 1900s. –]]>

‘Donated’ Russian weapons may have dual purpose in Fiji, says analyst

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 31, 2016

fiji-peacekeepers-fijilive-259x300 — ]]>

AsiaPacificReport.nz From Evening Report By New Zealand-based security analyst Dr Paul Buchanan Last week Fiji took delivery of a shipment of Russian weapons that were “donated” by Russia pursuant to a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in February 2015. The Fiji government says the weapons are needed by Fijian peacekeepers in regions like the Middle East because what they currently have in their inventory are obsolete.

Fiji peacekeeping troops on parade. Image: Fijilive.com

The shipment includes small arms (squad) weapons, two trucks, tear gas, other non-lethal munitions and possibly a helicopter. The shipment will formally be unveiled in February in front of a Russian delegation that will include military trainers who will remain in Fiji to instruct Fiji Defence Force personnel in their proper use. Fijian Opposition figures believe that the shipment is illegal because it was not approved by Parliament and that it could be used against domestic opponents of the current military-backed elected government. The issues Let me briefly outline the issues: The shipment is perfectly legal, as it is not part of a treaty that needs parliamentary ratification. Plus, it is a “donation” of military aid so it does not need parliamentary approval. It is not clear that the formal unveiling will reveal all of the weapons delivered. It is quite possible that some or most of the shipment will be concealed. The Opposition is correct to be concerned about the ”dual use” potential of the weapons.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (right) meets Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. Image: Fiji MFA

Squad weapons, tear gas and non-lethal munitions can be used in peacekeeping but can also be used as instruments of crowd control at home. Given the Fiji Defence Force’s history, that is a very real possibility. The arms shipment could trigger an arms race with Tonga, which also has a military and is a rival of Fiji. The Tongans are not likely to view the shipment kindly even if it does not specifically include naval equipment. Squad weapons can and are used by navies as a matter of routine. Although Fijian military inventories may well be obsolete, most UN peacekeeping missions are armed by the UN using NATO-standard equipment. That includes small arms and troop carriers used in “blue helmet” operations. Thus the claim that the Russian arms are needed for peacekeeping is debatable at best. The MOU with Russia also outlines military educational exchanges. These follow on a similar programme with the Chinese military (PLA). The Chinese also have funded and undertaken numerous infrastructure projects such as port dredging and road building that have a parallel “dual use” potential: they can be used for civilian and military purposes alike. For the full report, go to: 36th-Parallel.com for Asia-Pacific analysis. 36th Parallel Assessments is a non-partisan, non-governmental geopolitical risk and strategic analysis consultancy. Located in Auckland, New Zealand, 36th Parallel Assessments offers tiered political risk, market intelligence and strategic forecasting services. It combines open source intelligence and trend analysis, qualitative subject studies and targeted research on matters of economic, political and social import from a South Pacific perspective. In doing so 36th Parallel Assessments serves as a window on national and regional trends, including the activities of extra-regional powers and actors in the Trans-Pacific context. Controversy over Fiji’s ‘secret’ Russian weapons shipment –]]>

Vanuatu airport crisis: Daily Post hits back on safety

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 30, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz – Vanuatu Daily Post editorial today in response to the Vanuatu government attack. THE PRICE OF POLITICS … CONTINUED The [Vanuatu] Prime Minister’s Office has wrongly accused the Daily Post of calling Sato Kilman’s name into disrepute, and of partisan bias. These allegations cannot go unanswered.

We thank Prime Minister Sato Kilman and his team for their contribution to this nationally important dialogue. We regret that it took the publication of our editorial to get a response, but any kind of talk—no matter how heated—is preferable to the silence that preceded it. The PM’s response adds useful context to the conversation. We spent over a thousand words detailing the most recent chapter in what he rightly notes is a series of failures that has spanned a decade. But the PM helped to pull the timeline further back, and to show how even the World Bank plan—which we described as having “warts”—was flawed in important ways. This is useful context, and we are better off for it. But the accusation that we have somehow politicised the issue is simply false. The entire piece is an argument against politicising this topic. Yes, Mr Kilman’s government is hardly the only one guilty of playing political football with the lives of our travellers. We agree on that point. The key point in the editorial was: “Three different governments, three different plans. That’s no way to run a country.” Back to 2008 We can extend the blame all the way back to 2008, when a runway resurfacing plan should have been started. Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones asks, “why didn’t Mr Kilman demand that something be done during his term as Prime Minister when it was well known that the situation was getting critical? At the end of the day, the decision to stop flights landing at Bauerfield has come directly under Mr Kilman’s watch as Prime Minister. “In politics someone else is always at fault and we accept that in the case of Bauerfield runway, there have clearly been errors made by successive governments that have culminated in the current situation which will be catastrophic for the economy in Vanuatu. “We hope that the arguments over who is responsible do not detract from the real questions demanding urgent answers. When is the runway going to be fixed? When will Air New Zealand and Virgin flights resume? When will Qantas resume its code share?” The World Bank confirmed [on Friday] it had just received a letter from the government of Vanuatu, asking them to continue their work on this critical task. The government has clearly come to the same conclusion that we advocated in the first place: “Why the World Bank plan? Because it’s the one we have. It’s got warts, sure, but it’s the one plan that has the shortest time to completion, and the only one that’s survived a proper and public due diligence. This isn’t about partisanship; it’s about pragmatism.” Bias accusation rejected Finally, concerning the accusation that the Daily Post is guilty of political bias: We reject that accusation. Marc Neil-Jones: “We can assure you that Daily Post has never sided and will never side with any political party to try and get them into government. “We know that it is a sensitive time after elections but do not accept the comment that ‘Daily Post is using a very serious issue to clearly attempt to bring disrepute to the current caretaker Prime Minister’. We would simply say that the 14 MPs, including ministers in this government, who were jailed on bribery and corruption charges, have already brought your government into disrepute well before news of the cancellation of flights to Bauerfield.” That said, my door is always open. Email me at dan@dailypost.vu. Call me at 55 44 602. Drop by our office. Note: Some have said that the Daily Post has traditionally leaned away from the Moderate and toward the Nationalist political agenda. I suspect that this perception is the colonial legacy of French and English rivalry rearing its ugly head. I can only respond that, having grown up in Québec, I sympathise deeply. I firmly believe we should cast off this last vestige of colonialism and quit fighting Europe’s cultural wars. Venez me voir. Je vous écouterai, et j’espère qu’on s’entendra. Caretaker PM slams Vanuatu Daily Post –]]>

Pacific health warning over Zika virus infection

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 30, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

From The Fiji Times

By Losalini Bolatagici in Suva

Fiji and other Pacific Island nations have been warned about the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, has this week sent an update on the Zika virus infection to public health ministries and health professionals in the Pacific Islands region.

Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services will release an official statement in relation to the virus, which shows symptoms of mild fever, rashes and joint pain.

The rare tropical disease can also cause possible birth defects, transmitted through bites from the same kind of mosquitoes that can spread other tropical diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya and yellow fever.

SPC closely monitors the Zika situation regionally and internationally, including dengue and chikungunya.

“We provide an ongoing service to the region’s public health professionals whereby we maintain a map of epidemic and emerging disease alerts for regional health security purposes,” said acting SPC Deputy Director (Public Health Division) Dr Salanieta Saketa in a statement.

“According to the information available to us, no Pacific countries have reported confirmed cases of the Zika virus infection so far this year, but further investigation is under way to ascertain circulation of the virus in a number of Pacific Island countries and territories.”

She said Zika virus infection could only be confirmed by a laboratory diagnosis and Pacific Islands countries had very limited capacity for Zika testing.

“We’re working closely with our partners from the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network to overcome this challenge and facilitate access of all countries to the few laboratories which can perform the testing,” Dr Saketa said.

Part of SPC’s update concerned the latest findings on the possible association between Zika virus infection in pregnancy and congenital central nervous system malformations, including microcephaly.

While this was not proof that Zika virus had caused these malformations, a possible association could not be ruled out given the evidence available, Dr Saketa said.

“In view of the latest findings, we provided countries with a number of recommendations. For example, we recommend all travellers, particularly pregnant women, who are visiting known affected areas to take extra precautionary measures to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes.”

First Zika hospitalisation case in NZ this year

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Caretaker PM slams Vanuatu Daily Post for outspoken airport editorial

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 30, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz

From Pacific Media Watch

Vanuatu’s caretaker government has attacked the Vanuatu Daily Post for an outspoken editorial in Wednesday’s edition “The price of politics”, accusing the newspaper of “slanting” its commentary on the country’s international airport furore.

The caretaker Office of the Prime Minister, Sato Kilman, also claimed editorial director Dan McGarry was “trying to further the aims of the Opposition” to become the government.

The newspaper ran the attack at length today without responding. It has a long tradition of editorial independence.

Official results from the snap election more than a week ago are still awaited.

The election was called by President Baldwin Lonsdale in December after he dissolved Parliament to end a political stalemate that followed the conviction of 15 government MPs for corruption.

Preliminary unofficial results indicated Parliament is “in for a shake-up”, with many long-serving MPs set to lose their seats, according to Radio New Zealand International.

At least one defeated MP has blamed “corruption” for his loss. The Daily Post reports the MP from South Ambae, Vanua’aku Pati’s once popular Richard Mera blamed his defeat on alleged corrupt political practices including vote buying.

Urgent issue
The Daily Post’s editorial said the airport runway issue was an important, urgent and serious issue and needed a solution.

Last week, Virgin Australia became the latest airline to suspend flights to Vanuatu. Earlier, Air New Zealand and Qantas had decided to suspend flights there, due to concerns over the runway safety at Bauerfield airport.

The letter from Kilman’s office thanked the Daily Post for “drawing attention to this issue” and reporting “some of the problems encountered”.

“However, it is obvious to the Office of the Prime Minister that Dan McGarry has slanted his article in such a way so as to make the issue a political issue and try to further the aims of the Opposition of getting into government,” the letter claimed.

“The problem of the airport runway has been outstanding for a long time and if the truth be known, there was a proposition from the World Bank several years ago to fix the airport.

“Nothing happened with that World Bank proposition for a few years and when Sato Kilman came in as Prime Minister in 2011, so arrangements were made with a Chinese group — Shanghai Construction Corporation to prepare a feasibility study.

“Shanghai Construction Corporation which is one of the largest construction companies in China and the world presented their report to Government in collaboration and cooperation with Airports Vanuatu Limited and Civil Aviation Authority after several months of study and assessment.

“Prime Minister Kilman is of the same opinion as former Prime Minister Natuman that repairs to the current airport [were] needed before the government could look at a new international airport.”

Runway overhaul
The Kilman letter spoke of a series of changed governments and a deal with a Singaporean company as the controversy unfolded.

“The Daily Post should stop trying to play politics and leave it to the politicians. They should stick to reporting the truth and only the truth,” the letter added.

According to RNZI, emergency repairs with a $1 million grant could get underway on Port Vila airport’s deteriorating runway in Vanuatu next month.

A full overhaul of the runway is expected by the end of the year with a $60 million grant from the World Bank.

Full caretaker PM’s letter

–]]>

Dr Paul Buchanan’s Analytic Brief: Fiji’s strategic pivot

By Dr Paul Buchanan -

January 30, 2016

36th-Parallel.com Analysis by Dr Paul Buchanan. [caption id="attachment_68667" align="alignleft" width="300"] Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets with Fijian Prime Minister Voreque “Frank” Bainimarama. Source: Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[/caption] Last week Fiji took delivery of a shipment of Russian weapons that were “donated” by Russia pursuant to a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in February 2015. The Fijians say that the weapons are needed by Fijian peacekeepers in places like the Middle East because what they currently have in their inventory are obsolete. The shipment includes small arms (squad) weapons, two trucks, tear gas, other non-lethal munitions and possibly a helicopter. The shipment will formally be unveiled in February in front of a Russian delegation that will include military trainers who will remain in Fiji to instruct Fijian Defence Force personnel in their proper usage. Fijian opposition figures believe that the shipment is illegal because it was not approved by Parliament and that it could be used against domestic opponents of the current, military-backed government. Let me briefly outline the issues. The shipment is perfectly legal as it is not part of a Treaty that needs parliamentary ratification. Plus, it is a “donation” of military aid so it does not need parliamentary approval. It is not clear that the formal unveiling will reveal all of the weapons delivered. It is quite possible that some or most of the shipment will be concealed. The opposition is correct to be concerned about the”dual use” potential of the weapons. Squad weapons, tear gas and non-lethal munitions can be used in peacekeeping but can also be used as instruments of crowd control at home. Given the Fijian Defence Forces history, that is a very real possibility. The arms shipment could trigger an arms race with Tonga, which also has a military and is a rival of Fiji. The Tongans are not likely to view the shipment kindly even if it does not specifically include naval equipment. Squad weapons can and are used by navies as a matter of routine. Although Fijian military inventories may well be obsolete, most UN peacekeeping missions are armed by the UN using NATO-standard equipment. That includes small arms and troop carriers used in “blue helmet” operations. Thus the claim that the Russian arms are needed for peacekeeping is debatable at best. The MOU with Russia also outlines military educational exchanges. These follow on a similar program with the Chinese military (PLA). The Chinese also have funded and undertaken numerous infrastructure projects such as port dredging and road building that have a parallel “dual use” potential: they can be used for civilian and military purposes alike. For the full analysis, go to:

36th Parallel Assessments is a non-partisan, non-governmental geopolitical risk and strategic analysis consultancy. Located in Auckland, New Zealand, 36th Parallel Assessments offers tiered political risk, market intelligence and strategic forecasting services. It combines open source intelligence and trend analysis, qualitative subject studies and targeted research on matters of economic, political and social import from a South Pacific perspective. In doing so 36th Parallel Assessments serves as a window on national and regional trends, including the activities of extra-regional powers and actors in the Trans-Pacific context.

–]]>

War Reporters and RSF book pay homage to Robert Capa

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 30, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz From Pacific Media Watch [caption id="attachment_8782" align="alignleft" width="300"] Robert Capa, in Paris, autumn 1935.[/caption] Reporters Without Borders has unveiled its new video campaign, War Reporters. Its release coincides with the publication of RSF’s 50th book in the “100 photos for press freedom” series – this one dedicated to the work of Robert Capa. Created by the advertising agency BETC (Production Stink and director Owen Trevor), this video highlights the urgency of supporting photoreporters, without whom we would never know the realities of war. Let’s support those who risk their lives every day to keep us informed and provide us with independent images that are very different from the official ones served up by governments. As the photoreporter James Nachtwey said: “I have been a witness, and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated.” There are the official images. And there is the reality. Photoreporters are heroes. They are men and women who put their life on the line every day. The craft has lost 40 percent of its personnel in the past 15 years. Supporting them is really urgent. Thanks to them, newspapers manage to publish reportage photos of great quality. New festivals enable photoreporters to continue working independently and to experience the public’s interest, which proves that the demand is there. Let’s support photoreporters, so that they are able to work in way that provides a vision of the world that is nuanced, human and complex, one that makes a debate possible. Let’s support those who show us what the official images don’t show. Without independent reporters, war would be a pretty show…. –]]>

EMTV now owned by PNG after decade of Fiji ownership

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 30, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz article by Pacific Media Centre

From Pacific Media Watch

By Leanne Jorari in Port Moresby

After almost a year of negotiations, paired with several road bumps along the way, Media Niugini Limited is now 100 percent Papua New Guinean-owned.

State owned enterprise Telikom PNG, the country’s leading telecommunications company, has become the sole owner of EMTV’s parent company, Media Niugini Limited, with the announcement in Suva that Fiji Television Limited had divested all its shares.

Fiji Television had owned EMTV for a decade, after Australia’s Channel Nine network ownership.

In a closed-door meet yesterday in Suva, Fiji, the shares were transferred and the handover/takeover completed between major shareholder of Fiji TV, Fijian Holdings Limited and the SOE.

The CEO of Telikom PNG, Michael Donnelly, praised the Media Niugini team for their job well done and promised to remain in the race to win the business and continue the form the company has kept throughout the years.

The acquisition of Media Niugini, paired with the recent purchase of radio station FM 100 will allow Telikom to delve into the media industry using the synergies between the organisations to invest in multi-dimensional platforms, ushering the entrance of the digital era in Papua New Guinea.

According to Donnelly, all parties were in agreement with the K20 million (NZ$10.2 million) asking price with a mandatory deposit of K2 million, paid by Telikom PNG towards the end of 2015.

In Suva, Fiji Village also reported Fiji Television Limited’s divestment of its shares.

Since mid-last year, Fiji TV has been on the lookout for potential partners for Media Niugini Limited and in October, the company was approached by Telikom PNG.

–]]>

‘No secret’: Russia supplied small arms to Fiji at government’s request

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 30, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz article by Pacific Media Centre

From Sputnik News

The Russian Foreign Ministry has denied media reports alleging supplies of firearms and ammunition to the Pacific nation of Fiji were “secret”, saying the deliveries were carried out on request by the Fiji government.

Western media reports have claimed that a secretive shipment of at least 20 containers with weaponry had been recently sent from Russia to Fiji as part of Moscow’s efforts to gain influence in the region.

“A shipment of light firearms and respective ammunition is delivered on official request of the Fiji government with the purpose of equipping a motorised infantry battalion which is part of the United Nations peacekeeping force deployed on the Golan Heights,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

“Responding to claims of ‘secrecy’ of the delivery, I would like to note that Fiji is planning to hold an official ceremony of the transfer of Russian weaponry in the second half of February,” Zakharova stressed.

According to Zakharova, Moscow will continue its “multifaceted practical cooperation, including in the military-technical area, with Fiji and other countries in the South Pacific region”.

Russia ships arms to Fiji: What will be the quid pro quo?

Venezuela has its eye on Russia as arms supplier

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West Papua testimony: ‘After the massacres, the injustices continue’

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 30, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz article by Pacific Media Centre

From Popular Resistance

By Jason MacLeod

This testimony was written in collaboration with Mama Tineke and Daniel Rayer, two West Papuan activists who survived the 1998 Biak Massacre, and David Denborough from the Dulwich Centre. It contains the voices of many of the people of West Papua. MacLeod has collaborated with and is in part based on a similar testimony developed for the Biak Massacre Citizens Tribunal.

We have come to testify. There is much that we want the world to know.

We want you to travel with us to the remote places of Papua—Wamena, Paniai, the Jayawijaya Highlands, the Star Mountains, Mindiptana, Timika, Arso, Mamberamo, Biak, Merauke, Asmat and many other places. We want you to hear stories of suffering from the mouths of ordinary people. Our memories are clear and sharp.

“In this river our father was murdered.”

“On that mountain slope there used to be villages. They were destroyed by the military.”

“On that open field, our old men were forced to burn their koteka [penis sheaths] because they were considered primitive.”

“In the past that mountain was ours, now people have destroyed our mother”

We want you to travel with us to the sites of the massacres. We want to testify about the killings and the beatings with rifles.

Torture
We want to testify about the people who were disappeared, those who were imprisoned and those who were tortured.

There have been many forms of torture – the burning, the stabbing of the genitals, the rape of women.

These are some of the injustices that we want the world to know.

On some days bombs have fallen like rain. We have been up against Hercules aircraft and helicopters and boats. They had overwhelming power.

And after the massacres or murders, the injustices always continue.

Rather than acknowledge the truth, they tell lies.

The perpetrators are promoted not punished, while the victims are dragged into court.

Morning Star
Some of us have spent years in prison. One of us was jailed for 15 years simply for raising our Morning Star flag.

Over years we have faced one injustice after another and then another. There has been violation after violation since 1963. Entire villages have been destroyed. And Papuan people have been turned against other Papuans.

Injustices continue to this day. Today we face human rights violations, economic injustice, and every week thousands more migrants come in white ships and planes. We are becoming a minority in our land.

Those who resist face continuing discrimination. We are excluded from employment, education and health care. And for women, it has been worse. They suffered the rapes and assaults and then even more. They were shamed by their own families and often marriages broke apart. These are forms of double injustice and women’s suffering that no one should ever have to face.

These are just some of the injustices that we are testifying to today. We want the world to know about this.

We also want to testify to the effects of these injustices

Some of our bodies bear the scars.

Feeling fear
And so do our souls. We will never forget the sound of the killings. Some of us still feel the fear. For those who fled we don’t know if we will be safe when we return.

Other survivors have been left with physical disabilities and troubles in the mind.

The rapes brought shame – so much shame that some women did not seek medical help.

And sometimes survivors may feel guilty for being alive. The killings can make us doubt that we have a right to live.

There have been effects for children too. Fear came to the children who did not go to school for months.

When the foreigners have taken our land, cut down our forests and destroyed our rivers, this destruction affects us too. The loss of our sacred places has brought sickness to our people.

And sometimes we feel like we are slaves in our own land. Some of us have to struggle everyday just to feed our families and send our children to school.

But there is more that we want you to know.

Remembrance
We want you to know our testimonies of remembrance.

We are survivors and also witnesses. We have always remembered those who were killed. We will remember them until we die.

There are many ways that we do this.

We have cultural ways of joining in memory and in prayer. We place stones or wreaths of flowers. And there are traditional songs that we use to connect us with those who have died and with the ancestors. These are songs we can sing to those who have passed. We do this in a quiet place, a garden, a beach.

Or we remember through making statues of our loved ones, or photos, or lighting candles. We commune with our ancestors.

But we never forget them. They are with us. Those of us who are still alive have a responsibility to keep progressing the struggle. I have dreams of those who were killed in the jungle. They come to me in my dreams and they encourage me to keep going. I dreamt of them just last week. I listen to their voices.

If they knew that we were meeting together now, if they knew that we were gathering this testimony, they would be very happy. This would mean something to them.

Another world
They have gone over there to another world. We will always remember them.

We also want you to know the stories of our resistance, action and rescue

Our people have a long, long history of resistance. We Papuans have been resisting outsiders for centuries. Back to the 1850s, the Dutch who were seeking to protect their spice trade, faced more than 40 Papuan rebellions – both violent and nonviolent. Diverse tribes came together to resist.

Angganeta Menufandu, a Konor (indigenous prophet) from Biak Island, led a mass defiance of government and mission bans on wor (ritual singing and dancing) and urged her followers not to pay taxes and to withhold labor. When the Japanese invaded, towards the end of World War Two, they were initially welcomed but, after acts of cruelty, the movement for a free and independent West Papua began again.

The killings and massacres began in these times. And our resistance continued.

Our struggle for freedom continued after WWII when the US drove the Japanese out of West Papua at the cost of thousands of lives. And since 1963 we have resisted Indonesian government rule.

We remember our long history of resistance. This history raises us up. We carry it on.

Resistance groups|
Many of us have formed organisations of action. We come together for survivors of human rights abuses, for women, for people all over Papua. We form resistance groups.

We are students, young people, older people, women, men, religious leaders and traditional leaders. We take action on behalf of those who are living and those who are no longer alive.

Some of us, who witnessed massacres, were involved in acts of rescue on the days when bullets were raining down, and when the sky was on the fire. After the Biak Massacre our family gave shelter to two men who were fleeing for their lives.

My father gave them his clothes. He sat my sisters on their laps. We sat down quietly and we opened all the doors and all the windows. When the soldiers came in with all their weaponry, we stood there shaking.

As they held their guns at us, and asked us if we were hiding anyone, we said no. We were all shaking, my father, my sisters, myself, but we survived, and the two men survived too.

For four days they stayed with us. We had almost no food but my mother found a way to feed us. We are survivors, rescuers and resistors.

Right across Papua, and for so many years, we have continued to resist, to rescue and to raise the Morning Star. When we cannot fly our flag we have painted it on our bodies, stitched it into noken string bags.

When one of us was imprisoned for 15 years for raising our flag, he was offered amnesty if he apologised, but he refused. “Why should I say sorry? I have done nothing wrong. It is the Indonesian state who has to say sorry. And not just to me but to all the Papuan people. They have to return our sovereignty.”

Demanding freedom
And even though it is risky for us there are many times we have come out on to the streets in our thousands, even in our tens of thousands, to demand freedom.

These are just some of our stories of resistance. There are stories of resistance all over Papua.

We want you to know that building unity is not easy – but we are doing it

The Indonesian government and corporations use many methods to divide us. To turn Papuans against Papuans. If some people raise their voice, the company will come – or the government will come – and say, “Hey come into the office, let’s talk.”

They then give that person money, or a scholarship, or a good job. These are some of the ways our opponent uses to break our resistance.

But we keep taking steps to come together. There is a long history to this.

When the Amungme have a problem we build a traditional house. In this house – this Tongoi – people come, sit down and talk. We invite every leader and chief from every village. People come together in one mind.

When people then go out of the Tongoi they are going to bring a change. These are traditional ways of calling up assistance. In our culture, no one can stand up by themselves. Everyone needs everyone.

Coming together
So we keep taking steps to come together. We have now formed the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. Inside this United Movement are the National Federal Republic of West Papua (NFRWP), the West Papua National Coalition of Liberation (WPNCL), National Committee for West Papua (KNPB), National Parliament for West Papua (PNWP) and other non-affiliated groups.

We are strengthening our struggle and as we do so more and more people join us. People in other Pacific nations are raising their voices.

Our resistance is like a mat or noken – many strands woven together to become one.

Our resistance is like a spear, sharp and dangerous.

Our resistance is like a drum that speaks with the voices of the ancestors.

We want you to know about Papuan skills in survival

Despite all the injustices we have faced, we are survivors and we have many skills. We are wise about when to speak, when to stay quiet, and when to sing our songs. Some of these songs were written in prison for the future of West Papua. Some of our singers have been arrested and murdered. But we continue to sing freedom.

Papuan dances
We also have our dances. We wear our traditional dress, and dance traditional Papuan dances. Our Papuan culture helps us to love and care for one another. When we live inside our culture we are free.

We have prayer, faith in Jesus Christ, and God as our witness.

And we have each other. We are among friends and we want to acknowledge all those who have stood with us.

There are other Papuan survival skills too.

Like mothers’ skills of endurance. Mothers who sell fruit and vegetables to feed their families and send their children to school display their produce on hessian mats by the side of the road. Rain, hail, sun and dust they sit. They survive.

Some of us travelled by canoe with 43 others all the way to Australia to seek another life. Years later, some of us sailed back to West Papua with the Freedom Flotilla. The West Papuans, Aboriginal elders and other Australian supporters on board the Flotilla carried a message of peace and solidarity, and reignited ancient connections.

And we have skills in humour, in jokes and in laughter. Even in the hardest times, we pray, we sing, we dance, and somehow we find a way to laugh.

We want you to know about our hopes and our dreams

Free West Papua
We carry a big hope together … a free West Papua. We have held onto this hope for many, many years.

As we lift up these injustices to the light, then all the other cases will also be lifted up.

And we carry a hope for justice – international justice, western justice, West Papuan justice, spiritual justice.

That is why we are testifying today.

We are sharing with you testimonies of injustice.

We are speaking about the effects of these injustices.

We are sharing testimonies of remembrance.

We are sharing stories of resistance, action and rescue.

We are sharing the ways we build unity.

We are sharing our Papuan survival skills.

And we are testifying to our hopes and to our dreams.

What we are testifying here has been an open secret. We have always known this, God has always known this, but now you will know it too.

This means that now you are also witnesses.

So these stories and our hopes will now also be carried by you.

Thank you.

David Robie’s review of Jason MacLeod’s book Merdeka and the Morning Star

–]]>

Pacific Islanders debate paradox of ‘Oceanianism’ and global citizens

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 30, 2016

AsiaPacificReport.nz article by Pacific Media Centre From Indepth News By Shailendra Singh in Suva Discussions about the concept of “Global Citizenship” are gaining momentum in various international forums, but remain largely unexplored in the Pacific Islands. According to Ron Israel, co-founder of The Global Citizens’ Initiative, Global Citizens think beyond communities based on shared group identities. They see themselves as part of a larger, emerging world community.

The late Professor Epeli Hau’ofa ... the “new Oceania”. Image: USP — The late Professor Epeli Hau’ofa … the “new Oceania”. Image: USP

In the Pacific, the late Tongan academic and philosopher, Professor Epeli Hau’ofa, had gone as far as proposing a common regional identify he called the “new Oceania”, comprising of people with a common Pacific heritage and commitment, rather than as members of diverse nationalities and races. In Hau’ofa’s conceptualisation, an Oceanian was anyone who lived in the Pacific, and was committed to the region, regardless of ethnicity or religion. His framework also accounted for the “astounding mobility” of Pacific Islanders over the last half-century or more. This expanded version of Oceania covered larger areas than was “possible under the term Pacific Islands region”, forming a “world of social networks that crisscross the ocean, all the way from Australia and New Zealand in the southwest, to the United States and Canada in the northeast”.

Oceania covered larger areas than was “possible under the term Pacific Islands region,” forming a “world of social networks that crisscross the ocean, all the way from Australia and New Zealand in the southwest, to the United States and Canada in the northeast”. — Oceania … a “world of social networks that crisscross the ocean, all the way from Australia and New Zealand in the southwest, to the United States and Canada in the northeast”.

Hau’ofa felt that a common, enlarged Pacific identity was crucial for the advancement of collective regional interests, including the protection of the vital Pacific Ocean. Connecting and mobilising people to agitate for common interests is the thread that binds the Oceanian and the Global Citizen concepts. Global Citizen Global Citizen is just more expansive. Its proponents link it to the universal values of justice, democratic participation, diversity, and global solidarity as the building blocks for peaceful, tolerant, inclusive and sustainable societies. Pacific Island commentators laud the concept, but feel that certain cultural, economic, geographical and historical obstacles could stand in the way of its implementation. Former University of the South Pacific academic in literature, Dr Som Prakash, feels that some Global Citizen values are incompatible with the cultural beliefs, philosophies and life-styles of Pacific Island societies. For instance, egalitarianism is seen as inimical to the hierarchical nature of some Pacific societies, such as chiefly power in Fiji, the aristocracy in Tonga, and matai (chiefly) system in Samoa. “Democracy, for example, is not always welcomed by traditional chiefs who are given much more power and authority than the ordinary folks,” says Prakash. “It takes a while for the ordinary Pacific cultures to get accustomed to the questioning of elders and chiefs. Often peace (one of the pillars of Global Citizenship) is argued to be better attained under a benevolent dictator.” There are some other apparent contradictions. As pointed out by Fiji’s former vice-president, Ratu Jone Madriwiwi, in collective Pacific societies like Fiji, group interests supersede individual interests. Agents of change Global citizenry, on the other hand, centers on individuals as the agents of change through instilling in them “awareness of the interconnected nature of the world and the need for a global focus for development”. However, the likes of Fiji-based university student, Duane Mar, do not see the above paradoxes as obstacles. Mar points out that the Pacific is equally affected, if not more, by some common world problems, which transcend geographical cultural, and philosophical differences. “Global citizen is a person whose ideals and thought processes are based around those of the general global issues, such as poverty, climate change and human rights,” says Mar. “In many rural Pacific communities, the people are very much aware of issues like climate change, and the need to combat poverty. These issues are discussed at the community level and from there, villages often work with NGO groups to address them.” Moreover, collectivism, based on group solidarity, has some clear parallels with the Global Citizen concept of “interdependency”, even though the Global Citizen model encompasses an “interdependent world” rather than just the village, or clan. Global Citizen, as espoused by UNESCO and other institutions, promotes the idea that people’s “individual and collective actions have a global impact – and it is their responsibility to engage in positive actions for their communities and the planet”. The idea of collective responsibility to address global problems is likely to resonate with Pacific peoples, especially in relation to global warming and sea-level rise, seen as a severe threat to the region. Global warming For years, one Pacific leader after another has stood up at various international forums to urge the industrialised nations to take responsibility for global warming and implement meaningful policies to reduce carbon emissions. As Kiribati President Anote Tong has often pointed out, the Pacific region contributes the least, just three percent, to global warming, but many islands are on the “frontline” of sea level rise.” Speaking at a recent meeting of Pacific Island leaders, Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama blamed the industrialised nations for “our slide into disaster”. He added that, “the industrialised world needs to reorganise its economies and its priorities to stop pumping excessive carbon emissions that are warming the planet. To let us sink beneath the waves is totally immoral. The world must not betray us.” Another recent Pacific leaders’ meeting in the Papua New Guinean capital, Port Moresby, ended in a stalemate after Australia and New Zealand blocked a bid from low-lying island nations for a tougher global target. This stance has led to increased polarisation, with one commentator stating that the “lacklustre response by Australia and New Zealand to the plight of Pacific nations has finally reached boiling point”. ‘Tragedy of the commons’ Mar describes the Pacific’s global warming predicament as the “tragedy of the commons”, which in this case refers to the actions of some nations having an adverse impact on those nations that did not contribute to the situation. On his part, USP academic Dr Prakash sees Australia and New Zealand’s intransigency over global warming as perhaps the most recent example of the many ways in which the greater powers have treated the Pacific with “carelessness, if not contempt”. Prakash feels that such treatment lead to scepticism in the region about what inevitably comes to be seen as “fancy notions of globalisation, often emanating from well-to-do nations”. He adds that “the most visible and tangible effects of globalisation is the crass TV, mobile phones and social media that inundate our Pacific societies”. However, as Mar points out, the Pacific has partially benefited from globalisation. Furthermore, globalisation and Global Citizenry are two distinct ideas. In fact, Global Citizen principles aim to address situations such as “tragedy of the commons”, a by-product of globalisation, although it is easy to see how the two terms could be confused. The reality is that despite their smallness and isolation, the Pacific region’s destiny is tied with the rest of the world, something which Hau’ofa was keenly aware of. Surely Hau’ofa was thinking along Global Citizen lines when he wrote that “we cannot confront the issues of the Pacific Century as individual, tiny countries created by colonial powers and acting alone. We could indeed ‘fall off the map’ or disappear into the black hole of a gigantic Pan-Pacific doughnut”. This article was first published by Indepth News and has been updated by the author for Asia Pacific Report. –]]>

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