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NFP leader Prasad warns against Fiji ‘catastrophe’ by stubborn government

June 14, 2021

Asia Pacific Report newsdesk The leader of Fiji’s opposition National Federation Party has condemned the government’s strategy for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic as having “failed” and warns it will lead to “catastrophic results”. “The government plan is complacent and short-sighted,” said Professor Biman Prasad in a statement tonight in response to the “ominous total” ... <a title="NFP leader Prasad warns against Fiji ‘catastrophe’ by stubborn government" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/14/nfp-leader-prasad-warns-against-fiji-catastrophe-by-stubborn-government/" aria-label="Read more about NFP leader Prasad warns against Fiji ‘catastrophe’ by stubborn government">Read more</a>

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Samoa’s caretaker PM Tuila’epa sued for contempt of court

June 10, 2021

Asia Pacific Report newsdesk In the latest twist in Samoa’s political rollercoaster, the FAST party has accused the rival HRPP leader of contempt of court, reports Pacific Media Network News. Tuila’epa Dr Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has been accused of ignoring a Supreme Court ruling to convene Parliament, when FAST should have been sworn in as government. ... <a title="Samoa’s caretaker PM Tuila’epa sued for contempt of court" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/10/samoas-caretaker-pm-tuilaepa-sued-for-contempt-of-court/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s caretaker PM Tuila’epa sued for contempt of court">Read more</a>

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AG raises Suva lawyers’ ‘little confidence’ social media posts

June 9, 2021

By Luke Nacei in Suva Social media posts by two outspoken Suva-based lawyers have been raised in Parliament over a critical culture “that has been created”. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told Parliament the lawyers, Jon Apted and Richard Naidu, were from a law firm that specialised in commercial law. “But talking about confidence, let me read ... <a title="AG raises Suva lawyers’ ‘little confidence’ social media posts" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/09/ag-raises-suva-lawyers-little-confidence-social-media-posts/" aria-label="Read more about AG raises Suva lawyers’ ‘little confidence’ social media posts">Read more</a>

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Samoa Observer: For Tuilaepa, the truth hurts

June 5, 2021

EDITORIAL: By the Samoa Observer editorial board Buoyed as he is by [Wednesday’s] court decision, Samoa’s caretaker Prime Minister has shown a character flaw weighing down upon our national politics: an inability to face up to hard truths. Despite Tuilaepa Dr Sa’ilele Malielegaoi having just alleged the judiciary was conspiring against him, the Appellate Court ... <a title="Samoa Observer: For Tuilaepa, the truth hurts" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/05/samoa-observer-for-tuilaepa-the-truth-hurts/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: For Tuilaepa, the truth hurts">Read more</a>

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Papuan resistance slams Indonesian internet gag amid leader crackdown

June 4, 2021

Asia Pacific Report newsdesk Indonesia has cut off the internet in West Papua to conceal its crackdown on the peaceful liberation movement, says a leading Papuan campaigner. Benny Wenda, interim president of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP), has condemned the internet gag while Indonesia’s leading English-language daily newspaper, The Jakarta Post, has ... <a title="Papuan resistance slams Indonesian internet gag amid leader crackdown" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/04/papuan-resistance-slams-indonesian-internet-gag-amid-leader-crackdown/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan resistance slams Indonesian internet gag amid leader crackdown">Read more</a>

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Fuimaono Dylan Asafo: Samoan ruling an unfortunate case of judicial overreach

June 3, 2021

ANALYSIS: By Fuimaono Dylan Asafo Samoa’s Court of Appeal (CA) ruled yesterday that Article 44(1A) of the Constitution requires that six women should sit in Parliament. With all due respect, I believe that the CA’s decision was incorrect. This is on the grounds that the CA has overreached its powers by encroaching on the law-making ... <a title="Fuimaono Dylan Asafo: Samoan ruling an unfortunate case of judicial overreach" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/03/fuimaono-dylan-asafo-samoan-ruling-an-unfortunate-case-of-judicial-overreach/" aria-label="Read more about Fuimaono Dylan Asafo: Samoan ruling an unfortunate case of judicial overreach">Read more</a>

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Samoa Observer: Democracy tested as Samoa celebrates independence

June 3, 2021

EDITORIAL: By the editorial board of the Samoa Observer Samoa’s 59th Independence Day has come and gone, without the usual fanfare and intense patriotism we have grown accustomed to from previous years. What we’ve seen for the last few weeks and indeed months has tested the strength of our democracy at the highest of levels ... <a title="Samoa Observer: Democracy tested as Samoa celebrates independence" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/03/samoa-observer-democracy-tested-as-samoa-celebrates-independence/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: Democracy tested as Samoa celebrates independence">Read more</a>

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Days of Fiji ‘banana republic’ protests remembered in Bavadra reunion

May 29, 2021

By David Robie in Auckland Bananas, balaclavas and banners … these were stock-in-trade for human rights activists of the New Zealand-based Coalition for Democracy in Fiji who campaigned against then Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka’s original two coups in 1987 and the “banana republic” coup culture that emerged. Many of the activists, politicians, trade unionists, civil society ... <a title="Days of Fiji ‘banana republic’ protests remembered in Bavadra reunion" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/29/days-of-fiji-banana-republic-protests-remembered-in-bavadra-reunion/" aria-label="Read more about Days of Fiji ‘banana republic’ protests remembered in Bavadra reunion">Read more</a>

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The Fiji Times: A warning – funerals are the common exposure factor

May 29, 2021

COMMENT: By Fred Wesley, editor-in-chief, The Fiji Times Bula. The big announcement last night must be a very firm reminder for us all in Fiji about what we are dealing with. Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong confirmed 46 new cases. That must inch out some concern if it hasn’t already ... <a title="The Fiji Times: A warning – funerals are the common exposure factor" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/29/the-fiji-times-a-warning-funerals-are-the-common-exposure-factor/" aria-label="Read more about The Fiji Times: A warning – funerals are the common exposure factor">Read more</a>

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Samoa Observer: Where is the Head of State?

May 27, 2021

EDITORIAL: By the Editorial Board As the focus of Samoa’s political crisis shifts to the courtrooms of our Supreme and District Courts, and with Monday, 24 May 2021, going down in the history books as a tale of alternate realities, we are left wondering if there is something missing. Wherever you stand and whoever you ... <a title="Samoa Observer: Where is the Head of State?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/27/samoa-observer-where-is-the-head-of-state/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: Where is the Head of State?">Read more</a>

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Next question is role of police and ‘social licence’ in Samoan crisis, says academic

May 25, 2021

RNZ Pacific The next step in the Samoan crisis is to see where the police land and to get a sense of who is going to line up on which side and who will get “the social licence” to be the legitimate government, says a leading New Zealand academic. Associate professor of Pacific studies at ... <a title="Next question is role of police and ‘social licence’ in Samoan crisis, says academic" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/25/next-question-is-role-of-police-and-social-licence-in-samoan-crisis-says-academic/" aria-label="Read more about Next question is role of police and ‘social licence’ in Samoan crisis, says academic">Read more</a>

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Scott Waide: We must invest in our journalism schools to help shape our future

May 20, 2021

COMMENT: By Scott Waide in Lae Papua New Guinea’s Communications Minister, Timothy Masiu, recently told a news conference to mark World Press Freedom Day that the state of journalism and broadcasting in the country has seen a general decline. He was critical of the quality and the content of the media in general.  The former ... <a title="Scott Waide: We must invest in our journalism schools to help shape our future" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/20/scott-waide-we-must-invest-in-our-journalism-schools-to-help-shape-our-future/" aria-label="Read more about Scott Waide: We must invest in our journalism schools to help shape our future">Read more</a>