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Asia Pacific Report

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PNG capital’s Bomana jail full – refusing any new prisoners

September 1, 2023

PNG Post-Courier Bomana jail, the main prison near Papua New Guinea’s capital city of Port Moresby, is not accepting new prisoners due to overcrowding. The jail currently holds more than 800 inmates. It can no longer accept new prisoners. Last Friday, an unreported incident involved several remanded inmates taken to Bomana jail being sent back ... <a title="PNG capital’s Bomana jail full – refusing any new prisoners" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/01/png-capitals-bomana-jail-full-refusing-any-new-prisoners/" aria-label="Read more about PNG capital’s Bomana jail full – refusing any new prisoners">Read more</a>

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Hipkins warns NZ voters against ‘turning the clock back’ on reforms

September 1, 2023

By Russell Palmer, RNZ News digital political journalist Parliament has ended for another term, shutting down ahead of the Aotearoa New Zealand election campaign with a debate where many focused on attacking their political opponents. Labour Party leader and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins warned New Zealanders: “We can continue to move forward under Labour, or ... <a title="Hipkins warns NZ voters against ‘turning the clock back’ on reforms" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/01/hipkins-warns-nz-voters-against-turning-the-clock-back-on-reforms/" aria-label="Read more about Hipkins warns NZ voters against ‘turning the clock back’ on reforms">Read more</a>

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West Papuan supporters ‘let down’ by MSG leaders, says advocate

August 31, 2023

Asia Pacific Report An Australian advocacy group in support of West Papuan self-determination has criticised the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders for failing to grant West Papua full membership in the organisation at last week’s summit in Port Vila. While praising Vanuatu Minister for Climate Change Adaptation Ralph Regenvanu for his public stance in support of ... <a title="West Papuan supporters ‘let down’ by MSG leaders, says advocate" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/31/west-papuan-supporters-let-down-by-msg-leaders-says-advocate/" aria-label="Read more about West Papuan supporters ‘let down’ by MSG leaders, says advocate">Read more</a>

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MSG leaders back Kanak challenge to Macron over ‘not valid’ referendum

August 31, 2023

By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific lead digital and social media journalist The leaders of five Melanesian nations have agreed to write to French President Emmanuel Macron “expressing their strong opposition” to the results of the third New Caledonia referendum. In December 2021, more than 96 percent of people voted against full sovereignty, but the pro-independence ... <a title="MSG leaders back Kanak challenge to Macron over ‘not valid’ referendum" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/31/msg-leaders-back-kanak-challenge-to-macron-over-not-valid-referendum/" aria-label="Read more about MSG leaders back Kanak challenge to Macron over ‘not valid’ referendum">Read more</a>

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Sad Regenvanu condemns MSG for ‘failing’ people of West Papua

August 30, 2023

By Len Garae in Port Vila The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has failed West Papua, says a Vanuatu government champion of West Papuan self-determination. Minister for Climate Change Adaptation Ralph Regenvanu, a former foreign minister and who is also a pioneer spokesman for freedom for the Melanesian people of West Papua, said this when delivering ... <a title="Sad Regenvanu condemns MSG for ‘failing’ people of West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/30/sad-regenvanu-condemns-msg-for-failing-people-of-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Sad Regenvanu condemns MSG for ‘failing’ people of West Papua">Read more</a>

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Threat of another coup still ‘one of biggest dangers’ for Fiji, says Ratuva

August 30, 2023

By Anish Chand in Lautoka The biggest danger to Fiji’s security and stability remains the possibility of another coup “when the circumstances are right”, warns a leading Fiji academic. University of Canterbury’s Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies director Professor Steven Ratuva said this while speaking at the recent National Federation Party’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations ... <a title="Threat of another coup still ‘one of biggest dangers’ for Fiji, says Ratuva" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/30/threat-of-another-coup-still-one-of-biggest-dangers-for-fiji-says-ratuva/" aria-label="Read more about Threat of another coup still ‘one of biggest dangers’ for Fiji, says Ratuva">Read more</a>

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Obituary: Meraia Taufa Vakatale – Fiji anti-nuclear activist and feminist trailblazer

August 29, 2023

By Asenaca Uluiviti and Sadhana Sen Fiji recently lost Dr Meraia Taufa Vakatale, a monumental woman leader who broke many glass ceilings with her numerous firsts. As an educationalist, diplomat and politician, she profoundly impacted on the lives of tens of thousands in Fiji and the Pacific region, particularly young women in politics and anti-nuclear ... <a title="Obituary: Meraia Taufa Vakatale – Fiji anti-nuclear activist and feminist trailblazer" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/29/obituary-meraia-taufa-vakatale-fiji-anti-nuclear-activist-and-feminist-trailblazer/" aria-label="Read more about Obituary: Meraia Taufa Vakatale – Fiji anti-nuclear activist and feminist trailblazer">Read more</a>

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Wenda welcomes MSG call for UN visit and fights on for full membership

August 29, 2023

Asia Pacific Report In spite of again being denied full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has welcomed the call from the MSG Leaders’ Summit in Port Vila last week for Indonesia to allow the long-awaited visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to West ... <a title="Wenda welcomes MSG call for UN visit and fights on for full membership" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/29/wenda-welcomes-msg-call-for-un-visit-and-fights-on-for-full-membership/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda welcomes MSG call for UN visit and fights on for full membership">Read more</a>

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Ian Powell: Context of the ‘New Washington Consensus’ and China ‘threat’ for New Zealand

August 29, 2023

POLITICAL BYTES: By Ian Powell There is a reported apparent rift within cabinet between Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Defence Minister Andrew Little over Aotearoa New Zealand’s position in the widening conflict between the United States and China. While at its core it is over relative economic power, the conflict is manifested by China’s increased ... <a title="Ian Powell: Context of the ‘New Washington Consensus’ and China ‘threat’ for New Zealand" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/29/ian-powell-context-of-the-new-washington-consensus-and-china-threat-for-new-zealand/" aria-label="Read more about Ian Powell: Context of the ‘New Washington Consensus’ and China ‘threat’ for New Zealand">Read more</a>

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Rabuka’s nuclear wastewater discharge stance splits Fiji coalition opinion

August 28, 2023

RNZ Pacific One of Fiji’s three deputy prime ministers, Viliame Gavoka, has appealed to the country’s prime minister to review his stance on Japan’s disposal of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka supports Japan’s compliance with safety protocols outlined by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency. However, Rabuka also spoke ... <a title="Rabuka’s nuclear wastewater discharge stance splits Fiji coalition opinion" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/28/rabukas-nuclear-wastewater-discharge-stance-splits-fiji-coalition-opinion/" aria-label="Read more about Rabuka’s nuclear wastewater discharge stance splits Fiji coalition opinion">Read more</a>

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Wenda calls on MSG for urgent action to back pledge over human rights

August 28, 2023

Asia Pacific Report The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has responded cautiously over the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s surprise denial of full membership at its leaders summit last week, welcoming the communique while calling for urgent action over Indonesia’s grave human rights violations. In a statement released today by President Benny Wenda after the second ... <a title="Wenda calls on MSG for urgent action to back pledge over human rights" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/28/wenda-calls-on-msg-for-urgent-action-to-back-pledge-over-human-rights/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda calls on MSG for urgent action to back pledge over human rights">Read more</a>

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OPM accuses Melanesian group of taking Jakarta’s ‘blood money’ at expense of West Papuan justice

August 27, 2023

Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan leader has condemned the Melanesian Spearhead Group for abandoning the West Papuan cause in favour of a “corrupt alliance” with Indonesia. Jeffrey P Bomanak, chairman of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM), declared last week’s MSG Leaders’ Summit ruling on West Papua a “betrayal” of the Papuan people and called ... <a title="OPM accuses Melanesian group of taking Jakarta’s ‘blood money’ at expense of West Papuan justice" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/27/opm-accuses-melanesian-group-of-taking-jakartas-blood-money-at-expense-of-west-papuan-justice/" aria-label="Read more about OPM accuses Melanesian group of taking Jakarta’s ‘blood money’ at expense of West Papuan justice">Read more</a>