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Category: Pacific Voices

  • Slippery slope for Fiji’s media in politically charged climate

    COMMENTARY: By Shailendra Singh in Suva

    Do the Fiji news media represent a wide range of political perspectives?
    Fiji’s national media, like media elsewhere, would cover a wider berth collectively, rather than as individual media organisations, because individual media have obvious leanings and priorities.

    But do the media, even as whole, provide a wide enough perspective?
    Not always – media coverage is discriminatory by nature, even by necessity, some would argue.

    Besides media’s commercial priorities and political biases, there are resource and logistical constraints to consider, as well as professional capacity development challenges. Inevitably, certain individuals and groups fall through the cracks.

    Generally, the political elites, and to some extent the business lobby tend to receive proportionality greater coverage because they are deemed more important and more sellable than the less prominent, prosperous or powerful in society.

    Internationally, research indicates that women are among the disadvantaged groups consigned to the margins of political coverage, along with youth.

    Then there’s the question of political parties. Are they treated equal?
    Usually, the dominant party, and/or the governing party, which can marshal the most resources, gets the lion’s share of coverage, and follows in descending order.

    In Fiji, the governing party regularly accuses some media of being anti-government, especially The Fiji Times. Meanwhile, the opposition complain that they are ignored by the Fiji Sun and the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, whom they label pro-government media.

    Fiji media weaned on Anglo-American news tradition
    The Fiji media were weaned on the Anglo-American news reporting tradition, based on journalistic objectivity as an ethos. This calls for reporting the “facts” in a neutral, unattached manner.

    Because objectivity is neither possible nor ideal in every situation, the media can, and will take a stance on certain issues, political or otherwise. The compromise is that any such leanings are confined to the opinion sections. The news section must remain objective, unbiased and untainted by opinion.

    However, it is a slippery slope, and the lines between news and opinion have become blurred, both in Fiji and abroad. Nowadays, it is not unusual to see opinion masquerading as news.

    Different media commentators have different takes about the risks and benefits of this trend. At best it is a mixed bag, depending on the issue on hand.

    Media can support government policy out of conviction, but not out of pecuniary/financial interests. Even if they take a certain stance, media should still provide reasonably equal coverage to opposing views. Especially state media since it is tax-payer funded.

    Ideally, state media should give opposing views a fair hearing, but in the Pacific, the reality is different. State media, by policy, serve as government mouthpieces.

    The surest way to know if media represent wide a political perspective is through research. USP Journalism is examining Fiji’s 2018 election coverage data with Dialogue Fiji, and preliminary results indicate a clear bias on the part of all media – some far more than others.

    Complex variables for media bias
    While the Fiji media do have their favourites, analysing media bias can be complex because there are so many variables to consider. For one, media bias is not only intentional, but unintentional as well.

    For example, if a politician or political party refuses to talk to a certain media, then the bias is self-inflicted. The media can hardly be blamed for it.

    The bottom line is that the Fiji public know by now their media’s stances. While the media have an obligation to be fair and balanced, the public have the right to choose not to consume media that are deliberately biased.

    Do Fiji media exercise self-censorship?
    It’s obvious that media exercise a greater level of self-censorship since the 2006 coup and the punitive 2010 Fiji Media Industry Development Act. There are several reports attesting to this, including IDEA’s Global Media-Integrity indices.

    The indices show that the Fiji media have been bolder since 2013, yes, but they will not cross a certain line – the fines and jail terms in the Media Act are not worth the risk.

    While no one has been charged under the Act so far, it’s like having an axe on your neck because the lettering in the Act is quite broad. For instance, any news reports that are “against the national interest” is a breach of the Act, without clearly defining what constitutes “against national interest”.

    This means that there are any number of reports that could be deemed to be against the “national interest”.

    An ordeal in terms of stress
    Even if in the end the charges don’t stick, just going through the hearing process would be an ordeal in terms of the stress, both financial and emotional.

    In 2015, the fines and jail terms for journalists were removed from the Act. Was this impactful in reducing self-censorship? Not necessarily, because the editors’ and publishers’ penalties were retained.

    The editor, and to some extent the publisher, are the newsroom gatekeepers – they would put a leash on their journalists to protect themselves and their investment.

    So, media are trying to live with the Act and operate around its parameters. Rather than take big risks, they are taking calculated risks, such as a degree of self-censorship, so that they can live to fight another day.

    Is criticism of the government common?
    The answer is both yes and no — criticism is common with some media, not all media.

    There is not as much criticism as before the Act, but still a fair amount of criticism — under the circumstances. Private media such as The Fiji Times stand out for their critical reporting, as well as Fiji Village, more recently.

    The FBC and the Fiji Sun are on the record saying that they have pro-government policies, and this is reflected in their coverage.

    Blind eye to goverment faults
    Of course, being pro-government policy would not mean turning a blind eye to the government’s faults, or endlessly singing its praises.

    Some complain that Fiji media in general are not critical enough — such people do not fully understand the context that media work in, or appreciate the risks they take — on a daily basis.

    Government accusations usually come with the territory. But because of the Act, the government criticism is menacing. So given the context, I don’t buy fully into claims that the media are not critical enough.

    Besides its news reporting, The Fiji Times gives space to government critics in its letters columns, and hosts columnists ranging from opposition members, academics and civil society representatives.

    Could there be more criticism? Should there be more criticism?
    My answer to both is “yes”. But the criticism needs to be measured, as well as fair and balanced.

    In the last IDEA session, University of Hawai’i professor Tacisius Kabutaulaka stated that the quality of media reporting was part of media freedom. I agree — the two cannot be separated. Just as a fawning, biased media is bad for democracy, so is a negative, overly-critical media.

    Region’s toughest media law
    Fiji’s Media-Integrity graph has improved since 2013 but is still among the lowest in the region. Why so?

    Fiji has the lowest ranking in the region, simply because it has the toughest media law in the region. There was some improvement in the rankings because of the 2013 constitution and the 2014 elections. Compared to military rule, this signalled a return to a form of democratic order.

    But as long as the Act is in place, the media are government-regulated. In a fuller democracy, the media are self-regulated, as Fiji’s media used to be.

    Also, the two-day media coverage blackout on the 2018 elections would have affected Fiji’s ranking as well. The ban was seen to restrict political debate at a crucial time.

    The contempt of court charge against a government critic and The Fiji Times sedition trial all affected Fiji’s rankings.

    How can Fiji media improve?
    Addressing the issues concerning the Act could be a starting point. For one, the Act was imposed on the media; for another, it has not been reviewed in over 10 years.

    I suggest a roundtable of stakeholders to review and update the act. The government, the media and other interested parties can get together to find common ground and apply it in the Act to come up with a more acceptable arrangement.

    Shailendra B Singh is associate professor in Pacific journalism and coordinator of the University of the South Pacific Journalism Programme. This is extracted from Dr Singh’s recent presentation on International IDEA’s Democratic Development in Melanesia Webinar Series 2021.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Jason Brown: 9/11 and a mango dawn – and here’s to the end of being Pacific pawns

    COMMENTARY: By Jason Brown in Auckland

    Twenty years ago, I was on a plane from Rarotonga to Auckland. Lovely flight, with a path at the end I had never experienced before.

    Almost from the tip of the North Island, down to Tamaki Makaurau — the rising sun bathing the hills and coastline in rich, almost mango, orange. So rich and orange that for a second I wondered if I had mistakenly got on a flight to Aussie, not Aotearoa.

    It was the most stunningly beautiful sight.

    Half asleep from the then usual awake-all-night, early morning departure, dawn arrival, I floated through duty free and customs, not noticing anything really different — until our old Cook Islands Press photographer Dean Treml who was on the same flight came up looking alarmed.

    “There’s been an attack in New York – two planes have flown into the World Trade Towers,” or words to that effect. I was like, “..whaaat? No …Really??”

    He nodded, hurried off.

    I blinked a bit, shook off my disbelief, and forgot about it as we moved through the lines, looking forward to seeing my younger son, Mikaera.

    He was there in arrivals. Rushed to give my three-year-old a kneeling hug. Smiled up at his grandparents.

    ‘Stay calm’
    “Stay calm,” the grandfather told me, “and don’t get upset, but terrorists have attacked the Twin Towers in America,” or words to that effect. “It’s on the screen behind you.”

    In those days, news was still played on the big multiscreens over the arrival doors. I turned, looked, and caught sight of a jet slicing into one of the towers. Over the rest of the day, that scene, and its twin, were replayed over and again, as a stunned world witnessed an unthinkably cinematic display of destruction.

    And then, hours later, one by one, the towers dropped.

    Like billions of others, I watched, in my case in between playing with my young son, alone at his mum’s home, looking over his shoulder at the television.

    A few times it got too much. Made sure Mikaera was okay with toys and/or food, then stepped outside to the garage to cry, the replay sight of people jumping from the smoking towers to their deaths; hiding my tears and low moans of stunned despair.

    Big breaths, wipe away the tears, back inside to play with blocks and trucks, and … planes. One eye on the TV.

    Nearly 3000 people died that day. Almost all Americans, with a few hundred other nationalities.

    Since then?

    Tragedy of so-called ‘War on Terror’
    Millions of non-Americans have died in the Middle East, mostly from economic blockades resulting in deaths from starvation and treatable diseases. Hundreds of thousands dying in a so-called “War on Terror” that served to produce tens of thousands more “terrorists”, vowing to avenge the deaths of their children, siblings, parents, aunties, cousins and uncles.

    Western states have spent trillions of dollars, weapons dealers making obscenely fat profits on the back of jingoistic propaganda from news media which, to this day, counts Western deaths to the last man and woman, but barely mentions any civilian deaths from their bullets, bombs and drones.

    Profits that have been used to bribe officials at home and abroad, via a network of secrecy havens such as New Zealand and the Cook Islands, but mostly via American states like Delaware, or financial centres like London in the UK, flushing trillions more through millions of secret companies for the benefit of a few.

    9/11, they said, changed everything.

    Twenty years later, with the war on terror a complete and utter failure, everything certainly has changed.

    For the worse.

    Western financial hypocrisy
    Trillions continue to be hidden, including with our help, legally or otherwise. Legality being a very moveable feast. Western states pick on tiny offshore banking centres like the Niue, Samoa and the Cook Islands, while ignoring the gaping holes in their own banks and finance centres.

    Governments like New Zealand and Australia fund corruption studies in the Pacific, as one regional example, but not their own.

    And, like little children, we are still over-awed when famous people come to visit our homelands, happily posing and smiling in delight whenever big country people deign to visit our shores.

    Unlike when then Tahitian president Gaston Flosse came to Rarotonga in 1996, and Cook Islanders protested nuclear testing, for example, the Cook Islands happily welcomed then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2012.

    Even media people and supposed journalists lined up to grin, to grip the hand of a leader reported as once asking about using a drone to assassinate Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

    In fact, in 1996, I was one of those people, “meeting” Clinton on a rope line at the Atlanta Olympics when I was “Press Attache” for our Olympics team.

    “Greetings from the South Pacific!” I said cheerily when she offered her hand to me, among a hundred or so others who had suddenly gathered.

    “Outstanding!”, she replied, equally delighted.

    Of course, none of us knew then what was coming.

    But we know now.

    Cook Islands in lockstep
    And still the Cook Islands walks in lockstep with our powerful neighbours, a “dear friend” of Australia’s ruling party and its unbelievably corrupt mining, military and media networks.

    Two decades later, the Homeland seems yet to learn any lessons from 9/11, yet to admit any responsibility for its part in enabling #corruption, money laundering and terrorism which breeds extremism, hate, and death, on all sides.

    Instead, our government works against the interests of our own region, a Pacific pawn used and abused in age-old colonial tactics of divide et empera – divide and conquer – a phrase going back over two millennia.

    Today our peoples are further misled by a tsunami of fake news – misinformation and disinformation – from mysteriously well-resourced sources. Distracted from real responses to the #covid19 pandemic, which distracts further from even bigger threats from global warming — or “climate change” as it was known for so long, before leaders started only recently admitting we face a “climate crisis” — but still locked to “market mechanisms” as a supposed solution.

    So, what are the solutions?

    Fight fake news. Fight corruption. Fight the hateful, extremist, death cults hiding behind religion, especially within the largest, most powerful faith in the world — Christianity.

    Fight for a world where shorelines are bathed in mango dawns, and our children don’t grow up watching death replayed every single day of their lives.

    Jason Brown is founder of Journalism Agenda 2025 and writes about Pacific and world journalism and ethically globalised Fourth Estate issues. He is a former co-editor of Cook Islands Press. This article is republished with permission.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Nauru president Aingimea accuses Fiji of being ‘divisive’ over USP funding

    By Arieta Vakasukawaqa in Suva

    Nauru president Lionel Aingimea has accused Fiji of being “divisive” over its refusal to pay its share of funding for the 12-nation regional University of the South Pacific, saying the institution needs every member country to pay their contribution.

    Aingimea said all Pacific island country members of USP were present and voted overwhelmingly to support the offer of a new employment contract to vice-chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia.

    Professor Ahluwalia is now based at the USP campus in Samoa after Fiji unilaterally deported him and his wife Sandra in early February.

    Aingimea, delivering a ministerial statement in Nauru’s Parliament this week, said there was ongoing contention about Fiji withholding its grant agreement due to the USP council decision to renew Professor Ahluwalia’s contract in spite of opposition by Fiji.

    He said Fiji’s Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, had expressed disapproval of the decision of the council

    “This disapproval was voiced in the Fiji Parliament sitting of 19 August 2021.

    “Honourable Speaker, USP as a regional university does not belong to any one country.

    Responsibilities of members
    “Responsibilities of the institution are borne by its members.

    “Needless to say, there were a lot of statements that were issued by many bodies and people who went against what Fiji’s A-G stated in Parliament.

    “In summary of the USP’s council actions, I state that in a democratic environment, where respect and honour is paramount, the USP Council and employer of the vice-chancellor discussed and voted for his re-instatement.”

    President Aingimea, former chancellor of USP, said the re-appointment of Prof Ahluwalia was supported by officeholders, staff and student unions.

    In August’s Parliament sitting, reported in The Fiji Times, Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji did not accept Professor Ahluwalia as the vice-chancellor of USP and that it would not provide any funding or assistance to USP as long as he remained in this position.

    BDO report tabled in Nauru Parliament
    The Fiji Times reported on Saturday that Fijian academics in the former USP administration had been implicated in a 2019 report into mismanagement and corruption at the regional university that was tabled by President Aingimea in Nauru’s Parliament this week.

    Known as the BDO report, Aingimea said it showed serious breaches of university processes and procedures resulting in the loss of millions of dollars of member government and donor funding.

    Aingimea said the report showed clear violation of university rules, unethical conduct and gross financial mismanagement by the previous university administration.

    He said one particular academic was mentioned more than 100 times in the report.

    She was investigated after being awarded a five-year contract, three cash bonuses and one-step increment that was not aligned with the university’s recruitment standards.

    Aingimea said the report was then used to review the university’s procedures and implement reforms so mismanagement, corruption, fraud and financial irregularities were not repeated.

    Moving forward, Aingimea urged USP to develop strategies to ensure it remained financially sustainable.

    Most trying times at USP
    Aingimea said that during his year-long tenure as chancellor ending in June 2021, he was faced with the most trying times in the history of the regional university.

    “Our unity as a region was being severely tested.

    “My tenure was marked by having to deal with challenges including the covid-19 pandemic on USP, a severe funding crisis, and the deportation of the vice-chancellor and president (VCP).”

    Questions on Aingimea’s comments sent to Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had received no response.

    Contacted on Friday, Professor Pal Ahluwalia said he was in a meeting and that he would respond.

    USP Staff Association president Dr Elizabeth Fong said the association had called for action to be taken on the report’s findings.

    Arieta Vakasukawaqa is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Top global accolades for USP, the ‘captain’ and Pacific regionalism

    OPEN LETTER: By Elizabeth Reade Fong

    A ranking of an institution of higher education by Times Higher Education (THE) is the ultimate recognition of excellence that an institution can aim for.

    The University of the South Pacific (USP) has achieved two accolades by being ranked for 2022 and secondly being the only institution of higher education in the Pacific to gain this recognition.

    All USP graduates of the 12 member country states can look back and appreciate the wisdom of the decision to establish the USP with the main campus at Laucala.

    Fiji as the host of the main campus continues to be the largest beneficiary in terms of graduates and financial income and has much to be grateful for.

    I am an alumni and a grateful Fijian!

    This kind of recognition takes a team and every team has a captain.

    Vice-chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia is the captain that took the university across “the finishing line” that won us “gold”.

    In this journey he has acknowledged the contribution of the many who played a part in this achievement that is about all of us Pasefikans.

    Congratulatory messages have been received from alumni, current and former staff members, stakeholders and generous donors inclusive of messages from the member governments of Nauru, Samoa and Tuvalu to date.

    The silence from the leadership of the country hosting the largest campus that also leads the Pacific Islands Forum is deafening to say the least!

    Should we live in hope?

    Nevertheless this will not detract from USP’s status as the most successful example of regionalism in the Blue Pacific as it continues to “Shape Pacific Futures”.

    Long live USP!

    Dr Elizabeth Reade Fong is chief librarian at the University of the South Pacific. This letter was first published in The Fiji Times on 10 September 2021.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • ‘I wouldn’t wish this on anyone’: Life inside Jet Park with six kids and the delta variant

    LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTING: By Justin Latif, Local Democracy Reporter

    One of the positive cases from New Zealand’s Assemblies of God Church of Samoa cluster has shared his experience of recuperating from covid-19 while in quarantine with his family of eight.

    As news spread that a person with the novel coronavirus had attended his church, John, who does not wish to use his real name, made sure he got tested as soon as possible.

    He had been at the Assemblies of God Church of Samoa in South Auckland on August 15 for an all-day event involving the church’s 27 congregations from across the country. The event included bible studies, performances and competitions.

    Local Democracy Reporting
    LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTING

    It was the first time all the Assemblies of God Church of Samoa congregations in New Zealand had gathered in more than two years.

    “This was the first one in a long time and everyone was happy but no one knew what was going on,” John said, speaking from his quarantine hotel room.

    Within a day of his test, John found out his family of eight would be moving to Jet Park in Māngere to quarantine.

    “Trying to get all of our stuff together was a mad rush, especially getting stuff for our baby like nappies and baby food.”

    Positive test a mistake?
    He initially thought the positive test was a mistake, given how healthy he felt, but within three or four days that all changed.

    “I have a good diet and I exercise and train as much as I can, but when it came to this [delta] variant, it came on so fast, I was thinking, ‘holy shit, what’s happening?’.”

    He experienced a loss of taste, hot and cold flashes, body aches, joint pain and “migraines that wouldn’t go away, which felt like they would blow up my brain”.

    Then the virus hit his wife and kids, as they all tested positive. Thankfully his youngest, an 11-month-old, did not experience the same intensity of symptoms.

    With both parents sick in quarantine, John and his wife faced a new challenge.

    “We knew we just had to hang in there because we knew if we went to hospital, there would be no one to look after the kids,” he said.

    “I’ve never seen my family in this much pain before and I would never wish this on anyone.”

    19 days in MIQ
    A standard stay in MIQ is 14 days, but with their positive and symptomatic cases, John’s family had already stayed at Jet Park for 19 days by Friday.

    He said they had been told once the family have been symptom-free for over 72 hours they would be allowed out — something he felt was not too far away.

    As his family recuperated in their room in Jet Park, seeing the news about attacks against his congregation only amplified the pain John and his family were feeling.

    “I saw the remarks. People can’t treat us like that but it shows that racism is still alive in this country,” he said.

    And he was doubly disappointed when Pacific people were highlighted as being the majority of cases in the current outbreak.

    “I don’t see how saying which ethnicity has the most cases is needed. We just need to know there’s this many people infected – that’s it. But to put it out there that we had the most cases… that really puts us down as Pacific Islanders.”

    His frustration extended to the government’s rollout of the vaccine given how the virus has ripped through his church community.

    It could have been prevented
    “All this could have been prevented,” he said. “They knew South Auckland was the most affected in the last two outbreaks, so why wasn’t South Auckland the first to get the vaccine?

    “Why now when there’s a cluster over 500 people are they holding all these pop-up clinics and you can go in without lining up? These things should have been put in place before.”

    A church in Māngere has received a flurry of racially abusive messages after it was named as a location of interest.
    John’s church, the Assembly of God church in Māngere. Image: Justin Latif/LDR

    Despite the tortuous last few weeks, John said his family have been well looked after by the team at Jet Park, as well as by the staff from the social service agency, The Fono.

    “The staff, the nurses, the people who cook the food and do our linen, we’re so thankful for them. We don’t even see their faces, they just drop it off and go. So we feel a little bit lucky to be in Jet Park given how we’re being treated.”

    Along with three meals a day, The Fono’s staff bring extra snacks and games for John’s children, and the family is allowed out of their room every two to three days for a walk around the hotel’s car park.

    “Those snacks can put a smile on their faces to help them feel a bit of normality. And going outside is something we really look forward to — getting a bit of fresh air. It’s just a car park but it’s better than nothing.”

    Don’t gamble on no covid
    And for any of those feeling hesitant about getting the vaccine, John’s message is clear; don’t gamble on not catching covid.

    “There are a lot of conspiracy theories out there but for myself, I wouldn’t want to experience this again and I would never want my kids to feel the full effects of it. This is going to be the new normal… so my advice to people is go take it.”

    Battling a deadly virus in a hotel room with six kids has given John much to think about and much to be thankful for.

    “Seeing ambulances coming in and out of this place, knowing that’s our people, is hard. Having our faith has helped us stay strong but being hit by this has made me understand how important our lives are and not to take things for granted.”

    Local Democracy Reporting is a public interest news service supported by RNZ, the News Publishers’ Association and NZ On Air. Asia Pacific Report supports this project.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • ‘I wouldn’t wish this on anyone’: Life inside Jet Park with six kids and the delta variant

    LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTING: By Justin Latif, Local Democracy Reporter

    One of the positive cases from New Zealand’s Assemblies of God Church of Samoa cluster has shared his experience of recuperating from covid-19 while in quarantine with his family of eight.

    As news spread that a person with the novel coronavirus had attended his church, John, who does not wish to use his real name, made sure he got tested as soon as possible.

    He had been at the Assemblies of God Church of Samoa in South Auckland on August 15 for an all-day event involving the church’s 27 congregations from across the country. The event included bible studies, performances and competitions.

    Local Democracy Reporting
    LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTING

    It was the first time all the Assemblies of God Church of Samoa congregations in New Zealand had gathered in more than two years.

    “This was the first one in a long time and everyone was happy but no one knew what was going on,” John said, speaking from his quarantine hotel room.

    Within a day of his test, John found out his family of eight would be moving to Jet Park in Māngere to quarantine.

    “Trying to get all of our stuff together was a mad rush, especially getting stuff for our baby like nappies and baby food.”

    Positive test a mistake?
    He initially thought the positive test was a mistake, given how healthy he felt, but within three or four days that all changed.

    “I have a good diet and I exercise and train as much as I can, but when it came to this [delta] variant, it came on so fast, I was thinking, ‘holy shit, what’s happening?’.”

    He experienced a loss of taste, hot and cold flashes, body aches, joint pain and “migraines that wouldn’t go away, which felt like they would blow up my brain”.

    Then the virus hit his wife and kids, as they all tested positive. Thankfully his youngest, an 11-month-old, did not experience the same intensity of symptoms.

    With both parents sick in quarantine, John and his wife faced a new challenge.

    “We knew we just had to hang in there because we knew if we went to hospital, there would be no one to look after the kids,” he said.

    “I’ve never seen my family in this much pain before and I would never wish this on anyone.”

    19 days in MIQ
    A standard stay in MIQ is 14 days, but with their positive and symptomatic cases, John’s family had already stayed at Jet Park for 19 days by Friday.

    He said they had been told once the family have been symptom-free for over 72 hours they would be allowed out — something he felt was not too far away.

    As his family recuperated in their room in Jet Park, seeing the news about attacks against his congregation only amplified the pain John and his family were feeling.

    “I saw the remarks. People can’t treat us like that but it shows that racism is still alive in this country,” he said.

    And he was doubly disappointed when Pacific people were highlighted as being the majority of cases in the current outbreak.

    “I don’t see how saying which ethnicity has the most cases is needed. We just need to know there’s this many people infected – that’s it. But to put it out there that we had the most cases… that really puts us down as Pacific Islanders.”

    His frustration extended to the government’s rollout of the vaccine given how the virus has ripped through his church community.

    It could have been prevented
    “All this could have been prevented,” he said. “They knew South Auckland was the most affected in the last two outbreaks, so why wasn’t South Auckland the first to get the vaccine?

    “Why now when there’s a cluster over 500 people are they holding all these pop-up clinics and you can go in without lining up? These things should have been put in place before.”

    A church in Māngere has received a flurry of racially abusive messages after it was named as a location of interest.
    John’s church, the Assembly of God church in Māngere. Image: Justin Latif/LDR

    Despite the tortuous last few weeks, John said his family have been well looked after by the team at Jet Park, as well as by the staff from the social service agency, The Fono.

    “The staff, the nurses, the people who cook the food and do our linen, we’re so thankful for them. We don’t even see their faces, they just drop it off and go. So we feel a little bit lucky to be in Jet Park given how we’re being treated.”

    Along with three meals a day, The Fono’s staff bring extra snacks and games for John’s children, and the family is allowed out of their room every two to three days for a walk around the hotel’s car park.

    “Those snacks can put a smile on their faces to help them feel a bit of normality. And going outside is something we really look forward to — getting a bit of fresh air. It’s just a car park but it’s better than nothing.”

    Don’t gamble on no covid
    And for any of those feeling hesitant about getting the vaccine, John’s message is clear; don’t gamble on not catching covid.

    “There are a lot of conspiracy theories out there but for myself, I wouldn’t want to experience this again and I would never want my kids to feel the full effects of it. This is going to be the new normal… so my advice to people is go take it.”

    Battling a deadly virus in a hotel room with six kids has given John much to think about and much to be thankful for.

    “Seeing ambulances coming in and out of this place, knowing that’s our people, is hard. Having our faith has helped us stay strong but being hit by this has made me understand how important our lives are and not to take things for granted.”

    Local Democracy Reporting is a public interest news service supported by RNZ, the News Publishers’ Association and NZ On Air. Asia Pacific Report supports this project.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Nauru president praises USP for its global top 10% university ranking

    Asia Pacific Report newsdesk

    President Lionel Aingimea of Nauru has praised the University of the South Pacific for becoming ranked among the world’s top 10 percent of universities by The Times Higher Education rankings (THE).

    This is the first time that the university has achieved this recognition in its 53-year history.

    President Aingimea, who is outgoing chancellor and a law graduate and former teacher at the regional university, said it was a “remarkable achievement” and a “resounding endorsement of regionalism” in the Pacific.

    The ranking comes at a critical time for vice-chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia who has faced bitter opposition by the Fiji government for more than two years in what commentators regard as a “political vendetta”.

    Professor Ahluwalia was deported by Fiji in February but had his contract renewed by the USP Council with him being based at a USP campus in Apia, Samoa, instead of Suva.

    The THE ranking is seen as a vindication of his efforts to strengthen the university.

    President Aingimea said in a statement today Nauru had “been a proud founding member” of the university.

    ‘Longstanding commitment’
    “At the time of USP’s establishment in 1968, Nauru stood tall recognising the importance and value of a regional university,” he said.

    “Since that time, many Nauruans have, and continue to attend USP. Today, that long-standing commitment as one of the owners of USP has been rewarded in an unprecedented manner.

    Nauru President Lionel Aingimea
    Nauru President Lionel Aingimea … “USP has been rewarded in an unprecedented manner.” Image: Nauru government

    “USP has for the first time in its 53-year history been ranked by one the most prestigious ranking organisations of the world, The Times Higher Education Rankings (THE).

    “USP has entered global rankings to now be part of an elite group that sees it ranked among the top 10 percent of universities in the world. This is truly a remarkable achievement when we take into account our developing regional context.

    “Today is a day when the 12 member countries that own the USP can rejoice and see the resources and efforts that they have invested in this great Pacific institution being justly rewarded.

    Professor Pal Ahluwalia
    Professor Pal Ahluwalia … vindication for his efforts to strengthen USP. Image: Fijivillage News/University of Portsmouth

    “This ranking is a resounding endorsement of regionalism.

    “I have a deep personal association with USP, as a student witnessing first-hand the power of forging life-long relationships with colleagues from across the Pacific.

    ‘Part of the team’
    “I have been a member of staff at USP, as a lecturer in law, and have been part of the team dedicated to delivering a quality education to our students.

    “Finally, as president it was a privilege to serve as chancellor of USP. My term as chancellor was marked by the work we had to do to provide USP with the good governance it well and truly deserves.

    “As an alumnus of USP, I stand tall with all the staff, students and alumni who have contributed to the success of USP through this ranking.

    “It gives me enormous pleasure to congratulate Professor Pal Ahluwalia who has championed USP’s entry into the THE rankings along with his senior management team.

    “This ranking speaks volumes about the high calibre of research and academic output that USP has produced. I express my deep gratitude to everyone for their commitment to achieve this recognition.

    “Over the last two years, our staff and students have sacrificed a lot, and to each and every one of you, on this wonderful occasion, I once again offer my heartiest congratulations.”

    In a USP profile, Professor Ahluwalia said the university had achieved recognition in two particular categories with the THE rankings — “international outlook” (top 400) and “industry income” (top 500).

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Pacific lawyer tells of call to respect humanitarian law in Afghanistan

    By Christine Rovoi, RNZ Pacific journalist

    An International Criminal Court official in the Pacific is calling on all parties in the Afghanistan conflict to respect humanitarian law.

    Thousands of foreign nationals, including Afghanis who worked for international agencies, are fleeing the conflict as Taliban forces seized control of the country.

    Suicide bombers struck the crowded gates of Kabul airport with at least two explosions on Thursday, causing a bloodbath among civilians, shutting down the Western airlift of Afghans desperate to flee the Taliban regime.

    The death toll from the attack is at least 175, including 13 US soldiers, according to media reports.

    The attacks came amid ongoing chaos around the airport amid the American withdrawal after 20 years in the region.

    Fijian lawyer Ana Tuiketei-Bolabiu has reiterated the Hague Court’s call for all parties to the hostilities to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by ensuring the protection of civilians.

    She said the ICC may exercise jurisdiction over any genocide, crime against humanity or war crime committed in Afghanistan since the country joined the court in 2003.

    First woman counsel
    Tuiketei-Bolabiu became the first woman counsel appointed to the Hague Court in April last year. In September, she was elected to the Defence and Membership Committee of the ICC’s Bar Association.

    She told RNZ Pacific she is concerned about reports of revenge killings and persecution of women and girls in Afghanistan.

    “It’s just an evolving and deteriorating situation in Afghanistan,” she said.

    “The UN Security met in New York to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and what was interesting to hear from the Afghani UN ambassador Ghulam Isaczai confirming his concerns on human rights violations for girls, women and human rights defenders, and journalists, including the internally displaced people.

    “He also elaborated on the fear of the Kabul residents from the house-to-house search carried out by the Taliban, registering of names and the hunt for people.

    “The UN meeting also discussed safety, security, dignity and peace but also trying to protect the lives and the movement of women and children, the international community, displaced people and even the food and all the other humanitarian care that is supposed to be given to the people there.

    “We’re hoping that the international human rights laws will actually be observed.”

    UN chief Antonio Guterres has also called for an end to the fighting in Afghanistan.

    Challenges for prosecutor
    Tuiketei-Bolabiu said challenges lay ahead for the Hague Court’s new prosecutor, Karim Khan, who replaced Fatou Bensouda in June this year.

    Khan inherits the long-running investigation by his predecessor into possible crimes committed in Afghanistan since 2003.

    Those included alleged killings of civilians by the Taliban, as well as the alleged torture of prisoners by Afghan authorities, and by American forces and the CIA in 2003-2004.

    Tuiketei-Bolabiu said the ICC only approved a formal investigation in March 2020, which prompted then US President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Bensouda.

    “In May, Afghanistan pleaded with Bensouda for a deferral of the ICC prosecution investigation, arguing that the government was already conducting its own inquiries, mostly focusing on alleged Taliban crimes,” she said.

    “Under ICC rules, the court only has power to prosecute crimes committed on the territory of member states when they are unwilling or unable to do so themselves.”

    It is not yet clear how the ICC will proceed with the current investigation.

    Evacuees from Afghanistan
    People disembark from an Australian Air Force plane after being evacuated from Afghanistan Image: Jacqueline Forrester/Australian Defence Force

    Interests of justice
    But Tuiketei-Bolabiu is adamant justice will prevail.

    “In March last year, the ICC appeals chamber judges found that in the interest of justice investigations should proceed by the prosecution on war crimes since 2003 including armed conflicts and other serious crimes that fall within the jurisdiction of the courts and that includes the Taliban, Afghan national police, other security forces and the CIA,” she said.

    “What’s interesting now is the ICC does not have a police force so it solely relies on member states for arrests and investigations. Now the political landscape in Afghanistan has extremely changed.

    “The cooperation with the ICC prosecutions office to support the court’s independence will become a bigger challenge in the future.”

    UN Human Rights Council meets
    The UN Human Rights Council held a special session this week to address the serious human rights concerns and the situatiation in Afghanistan.

    The meeting was called by the council’s Afghanistan and Pakistan members.

    Discussions were centred on the appointment of a committee to investigate crimes against humanity.

    Tuiketei-Bolabiu said any evidence from the human rights council would help the court’s investigations.

    But Amnesty International said the UN council has failed the people of Afghanistan.

    In a statement, Amnesty said the meeting neglected to establish an independent mechanism to monitor ongoing crimes under international law and human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan.

    “Such a mechanism would allow for monitoring and reporting on human rights violations and abuses, including grave crimes under international law, and to assist in holding those suspected of criminal responsibility to justice in fair trials.”

    However, the calls were ignored by UNHRC member states, who adopted by consensus a weak resolution which merely requests further reports and an update by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in March 2022, which adds little to the oversight process already in place.

    “The UN Human Rights Council special session has failed to deliver a credible response to the escalating human rights crisis in Afghanistan. Member states have ignored clear and consistent calls by civil society and UN actors for a robust monitoring mechanism,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary-general.

    “Many people in Afghanistan are already at grave risk of reprisal attacks. The international community must not betray them, and must urgently increase efforts to ensure the safe evacuation of those wishing to leave,” she said.

    Amnesty International said member states must now move beyond handwringing, and take meaningful action to protect those feeling the conflict in Afghanistan.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Governor Parkop takes back Moresby park for ‘benefit of our people’

    Asia Pacific Report newsdesk

    National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has vowed that NCDC has the municipal mandate to protect public interest and manage the best interests of the Papua New Guinea capital Port Moresby, reports PNG Post-Courier.

    He made these remarks in a statement while he was present with onlookers at the city’s controversial Jack Pidik Park armed with an excavator to tear down a fence erected by the developer company TST adding a new twist in this land row.

    “Today we have taken back Jack Pidik Park,” declared Parkop.

    “It is public recreational land as far as we are concerned and shall remain that way until the commission decides otherwise.”

    He said that TST had not received approval or power to “unilaterally” develop the land.

    “Even if it is commercial land, it can’t be developed without our approval,” Parkop said.

    “It has not complied with the orders it got from the National Court.

    Developer ‘acted illegally’
    “It has acted illegally and this cannot be allowed to continue.”

    He said: “We assert NCDC power as the municipal government for our capital city to plan and manage our city for the benefit of all our people – individuals, corporations, churches and NGOs.

    “Under the NCDC Act and vested with powers delegated to us by the Physical Planning Act and exercised through the NCD Physical Planning Board, we alone decide the type of development in the city,” he said.

    Powes Parkop
    NCD Governor Powes Parkop … “Those who seek to do [lands development] by default or deceit will not succeed.” Image: The National
    Parkop said the NCDC had been fair in discharging its duty to protect public and private interests.

    “We have defended public interest in public recreational areas like Ela Beach, Unagi Oval, Gerehu Sports Oval, Apex Park, Nature Park and other smaller parks in the city,” he said.

    He cited other land that had been developed in the city, saying: “We have sold most of Sea Park land, for example, to raise money to complete the historic Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.

    Responsible, ethical actions
    “We have signed a memorandum of agreement with Kumul Training Institute to lease a park at Tokarara to operate its training center while continuing to serve the public,” he said.

    “We will continue to maintain this approach as it is the most responsible, ethical and legal thing to do.

    “Those private residents in the city or our country, be they individuals or corporate, who wish to access public land must respect this policy, importantly to see our cooperation and support to develop such land or facilities. So it is a win-win outcome.

    “Those who seek to do it by default or deceit will not succeed.”

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Samoa Observer: A feminist plot? No, just refusal to accept the truth

    EDITORIAL: By the Samoa Observer editorial board

    It would be an understatement to say that we are stunned to see that the Human Rights Protection Party leader Tuila’epa Dr Sa’ilele Malielegaoi now alleges the New Zealand Prime Minister plotted his removal from office.

    This is beginning to sound really weird coming from a former prime minister, especially one who has spent over two decades in the top seat of Samoa’s government, and is supposed to be cognisant with how democratic governments function or are supposed to function before and after a general election.

    However, we’ve grown accustomed in recent weeks to how Tuila’epa has been reacting to his party’s defeat in April’s general election, and his caretaker administration’s removal from office by the Court of Appeal last month.

    Samoa ObserverAnd his finger pointing has been spectacular to say the least: starting with the judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal to the Chief Justice, His Honour Satiu Sativa Perese; to the former Attorney-General Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu and her husband and lawyer George Latu; and the former Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi.

    But the latest one, with Tuila’epa accusing the head of a foreign government of plotting his government’s downfall based on a feminist agenda to install Fiame Naomi Mata’afa as Samoa’s first female prime minister, takes the cake.

    Appearing in a TV1 programme on Sunday night, the former prime minister said he always had suspicions about the involvement of New Zealand, and its leader Jacinda Ardern, in Samoa’s election.

    “The government [of New Zealand] has been heavily involved,” he said during the televised programme.

    “It got me thinking about a lot of the things that have happened recently.

    “It looks like the New Zealand Prime Minister wanted Samoa to have a female prime minister.

    “Which has blinded her [Jacinda Ardern] from seeing if it’s something that is in line with our constitution.”

    Tuilaepa’s evidence? Ardern’s congratulatory message to Fiame immediately after the Court of Appeal ruling last month, which happened too fast for the 76-year-old veteran politician’s liking.

    “The proof is, as soon as the decision was handed down, the Prime Minister of New Zealand immediately sent her congratulatory message.

    “The way I see the whole scenario, it looks like a concert they have worked on for a long time.

    “The fact that she quickly sent Fiame her well wishes makes me think that they had planned all of this.”

    So did the New Zealand Prime Minister have to wait a day, a week or a month before sending Fiame her congratulatory message?

    In fact, with Samoa in recent months engulfed in a constitutional crisis — a result of Tuilaepa’s illegal actions supported by various state actors — the timing of Ardern’s congratulatory message was perfect.

    At that time esteemed members of the judiciary were under attack, and the former Prime Minister and his cronies were on the verge of usurping the powers of the courts, and thus creating a case for the international community to intervene.

    Therefore, the recognition of Fiame and the Court of Appeal’s ruling that installed her Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) government was critical, in order to assure Samoan citizens and the world that the rule of law would prevail despite the months-long trepidations.

    And Ardern’s congratulatory message did just that: it restored confidence in the judiciary and the rule of law in Samoa.

    So did Tuilaepa conveniently forget that his party doomed themselves at April’s polls by bulldozing through draconian laws that restructured the judiciary last year despite public opposition; opted to endorse multiple candidates under the party banner; chose to overlook the significance of social media-focused campaigning; and downplayed the campaign strategy of the FAST party?

    Hence there is much more to the congratulatory messages from the New Zealand Prime Minister and other world leaders and international organisations, following the court’s installation of the FAST government.

    It is an acknowledgement by the international community of the evolution of Samoa’s democracy, noting that while there could be bumps along the way, but with functioning institutions of governance such as a robust justice system we have the ability to pick ourselves up and continue the journey.

    Accordingly, the claim by the former Prime Minister of a plot against him by a group of feminist leaders, can be added to the growing list of conspiracy theories Tuila’epa himself has concocted since his exit from power.

    But the problem with conspiracy theories is they continue to be spread and if repeated become validated.

    The fact that the senior membership of the HRPP has stood by and watched, without lifting a finger to question Tuila’epa’s misinformation, says a lot about the current state of the party.

    In fact the 42-year-old party’s failure to censure its leader makes them equally responsible and complicit for the spreading of misinformation, relating to April’s general election and the crisis that followed.

    And lest we forget the caution against misinformation by the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw: “Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”

    Samoa Observer editorial on 26 August 2021. Republished with permission.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Sāmoa’s defeated Tuila’epa launches attack on NZ’s Jacinda Ardern

    By Michael Field of The Pacific Newsroom

    Sāmoa’s defeated prime minister Tuila’epa Sailele has fired a verbal blast at Aotearoa New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying she had been blinded by an obsession to ensure a female prime minister led the Pacific nation.

    He also attacked Aotearoa Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and the governing New Zealand Labour Party, saying they had interferred in the political affairs of independent Sāmoa.

    In a lengthy and strange statement Tuila’epa also suggested The Pacific Newsroom had been part of what he terms a “bloodless coup” by Prime Minister Faimē Naomi Mata’afa and her Faʻatuatua i le Atua Sāmoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party.

    The Human Rights Protection Party-issued statement said Tuila’epa was deeply disappointed over the New Zealand government role.

    “This blind obsession with the advent of a woman PM for the first time in Samoa’s political history has blinded Prime Minister Ardern’s judgment in the exercise of caution when it comes to Samoan politics, which is always fraught with a deep and complex culture — that much more lies beneath the surface,” the statement said.

    “In brief, the change of government on 23 July 2021 completed a bloodless coup, with the judiciary taking the lead.”

    Tuila’epa described as “mind boggling” how Mahuta carried out “numerous verbal negative attacks” on him in the media. Her comments amounted to interfering with the government’s policies and he had taken that up with New Zealand High Commissioner Trevor Matheson.

    ‘Unprecedented haste’
    Tuila’epa said he also discussed the New Zealand government’s “unprecedented haste to congratulate the FAST government leadership despite the alarms we had raised”.

    He claimed there had been an “unprecedented and immediate grant of aid funding in excess of NZ$14 million, (publicly broadcast by government) almost immediately after the appointment of the FAST government by our Court of Appeal — albeit the first grant of its kind since the last 40 years of HRPP’s government.”

    It was unbelievable and reflected New Zealand’s “bad judgment”.

    Tuila’epa found evidence of conspiracy in The Pacific Newsroom’s July 13 interview with FAST lawyer Taulapapa Brenda Heather.

    He called her “the de facto FAST Head of State”. In that interview, the September 20 summoning of Parliament was mentioned, and Tuila’epa saw this as significant: “Was this also an indirect notice through to Wellington?”

    He said members of Parliament had yet to receive notices on the date.

    The new government this month appointed five New Zealand judges to hear cases, and Tuila’epa said this was unavoidable but raised the question of who was to pay.

    ‘Unhealthy developments’
    “With all these unhealthy developments, we believe the Labour government was fully aware of the nature of Samoa’s political impasse through the constant flow of reports from the NZ High Commission office in Apia,” Tuila’epa said.

    “Given the years of experience of the complexity of Samoan politics, through our association of over 107 years and a Treaty of Friendship, what can NZ do to help a former Trust Territory rather than openly supporting a government that is so tainted by numerous irregularities?”

    Tuila’epa said he was issuing a call to the United Nations, the Commonwealth and all friendly governments “for any legal remedies to sort out the legal mess we are in, before this country of peace loving Samoan citizens degenerates to anarchy”.

    Michael Field is an author and co-publisher of The Pacific Newsroom. He is also a specialist on Sāmoa. This article is republished with permission. Asia Pacific Report collaborates with The Pacific Newsroom.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Tahiti’s ‘wedding of the year’ turns into a political row over covid hypocrisy

    SPECIAL REPORT: By Ena Manuireva

    Two days after President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Mā’ohi Nui last month, where the French leader urged the local population to get vaccinated against the danger of the new  delta variant of the covid pandemic already on the islands, High Commissioner Domique Sorain and territorial President Édouard Fritch announced a new set of orders aimed at prohibiting unlawful gatherings.

    Here is the wording of High Commissioner Sorain on local television on July 30:

    “All festive events such as weddings, birthdays and baby showers, along with concerts in cafes, hotels and restaurants are prohibited” – Tahiti Infos

    Sorain added a caveat that would allow restaurants and other food courts to operate if the number of guests was less than 500, with six people a table, with no dancing and performances allowed — and with respecting all protective measures already in place.

    Any breach would result in a fine of up to NZ$235.

    Five days after these announcements — and in the middle of the restrictions imposed to combat the spread of the new delta variant — Vice-President Teari’i Te Moana Alpha celebrated his wedding.

    His guest list included nearly all the members of the local government (the ministers of Health and of Culture were not present) for a total number of around 300 guests at Tahiti’s Paul Gauguin Restaurant.

    Wedding shown on Facebook
    This event was shown on the Facebook social media platform, thanks to the work of well-known local journalist Vaite Urarii Pambrun and was viewed by thousands of internet users.

    This triggered a torrent of critical comment — and at times insults — hurled at the members of the government for their blatant hypocrisy.

    Journalist Pambrun also became the target of violent diatribes on social media and she was called a “snitch” by the local government’s supporters for reporting what was happening in broad daylight.

    It did not help that President Fritch gave another one of his awful speeches at the wedding where he told the audience to simply throw Pambrun in the water if they ever saw her.

    The wedding of the vice president: Fritch minimises and says sorry, Sorain remaining firm (Tahiti Infos)

    It must be remembered that many people who transgressed against the measures imposed since March last year were fined by the High Commissioner.

    Tahiti wedding headline
    “L’incompréhension” … says the banner headline on Tahiti-Infos on a story about the celebrity wedding at the Paul Gauguin Restaurant in Tahiti. Image: Tahiti-Infos screenshot

    Equal penalty?
    One might have expected an equal penalty for all those who took part in the wedding of the year.

    In a typical administrative and French fashion, the High Commissioner promised on August 8 that an investigation had been launched into the fiasco.

    Somehow the comments flooding social media platforms talked about a cover-up since at least one important representative of the French state was present at the wedding, and the gendarmes (French National Police) who were sent to the restaurant came out without putting an end to the wedding like they had done on other occasions.

    It also emerged that some months before, the High Commissioner was asked for  authorisation to allow the wedding to go ahead, but he did not grant it.

    It is ironic that the High Commissioner, who did know about the presence of one of his colleagues and the gendarmes at the wedding, did not make the decision to stop it.

    To reassert his authority, the High Commissioner was quickly back on television this week  to remind Tahitians once more about the importance of sticking to the preventive measures in place.

    But he also called upon the political personalities who were at the wedding to provide an explanation.

    Tahitian media responses to celebrity wedding
    Responses over the celebrity wedding of the vice-president controversy … President Fritch (left): “excuses” but “sorry”; High Commissioner Sorain: “steadfast”. Image: Tahiti-Infos screenshot

    High Commissioner doubles down
    He doubled down by saying that he sent the gendarmes to make a statement and that those found guilty of the breach would be fined and dealt with.

    Many viewed this intervention as a stark warning to the members of government and other very important political personalities who were involved.

    It signalled the beginning of a break in communication between President Fritch and High Commissioner Sorain.

    President Fritch also went on television this week to respond, when asked why he waited four days to speak out, that he had wanted to see clearly what the situation was.  He did not want to intervene straight after the wedding.

    Clearly he was afraid to add oil to the fire straight after pictures of the wedding were posted on social media.

    In his interview, he admitted that the issue was not the number of guests or the preventive measures that, according to him, were followed (although pictures and videos seemed to contradict him). Howdever, it was the live music and the performances that ensued which should never have happened.

    Fritch acknowledged that the behaviour of wedding guests was not exemplary and for that he was extremely sorry.

    Wedding guests not above law
    He also admitted that wedding guests were not above the law, and he understood the public’s disappointment.

    Fritch and his government extended an unreserved apology to the public concerning the wedding party’s “lack of judgment”. He said that the investigation was still running and he and his government would take responsibility.

    It is difficult to see any kind of sincerity in President Fritch’s comments on television when we know that he lied about the danger of nuclear testing and that he was found guilty and fined for abuse of public funds.

    The question remains that neither of the two government leaders have given any reasons for breaking the law — why did the police not put an end to the wedding like they had done for other festive events?

    Reaction from deputies Moetai Brotherson and Nicole Sanquer
    Deputy Moetai Brotherson of the opposition pro-independence party Tavini Huiraatira also found himself in hot water when people saw that he attended the wedding.

    He said that he decided to leave the wedding and talk to Vaite Pambrun when unjust attacks were made against the local journalist by President Fritch.

    Moetai has tried to justify his presence at the wedding by saying that he came to see the man and not Vice-President Teari’i Alpha and that he had already accepted the invitation well before the restrictions were in place.

    However, in hindsight he admitted that it was wrong to have gone to the wedding and he was ready to pay the fine.

    He was the first to apologise for his lack of judgement. He was however perplexed about the gendarmes who were at the wedding and did not stop it.

    He assumed that the High Commissioner had given authorisation for the event.

    Non-aligned Deputy Nicole Sanquer has been more scathing towards the members of the local government which she was once a member of.

    ‘Law and sanctions are for others’
    Using her own quote: “Law and sanctions are for others”, Sanquer shamed President Fritch who liked to remind the population that it was their duty to behave in an exemplary fashion during this pandemic.

    On August 5, people witnessed a real scandal.

    At a wedding that gathered hundreds of people with nearly all the members of the government and elected members of the parliament, and in the middle of a concert orchestrated by Fritch and Pape’ete Mayor Michel Buillard, Sanquer said:

    “I could not find the words to describe such irresponsibility and lack of common sense. What credibility do they have now?”.

    The High Commissioner reminded Tahitians of the rules to follow but what was seen on Facebook showed a lack of respect for the rules.

    Why didn’t the High Commissioner put an end to the party like they usually do in the city centre? Are some people exempt from the law and sanctions?

    Deputy Sanquer expressed special support for fairground workers, restaurant owners, artists, frontline doctors, nurses, and the whole Ma’ohi Nui population.

    ‘Carry on fighting the pandemic’
    She added: “Let’s carry on fighting against this pandemic by protecting ourselves and above all not rely on the example of those who govern us.”

    Tahiti covid health statistics Aug 10 2021
    Tahitian renewed covid-19 crisis health statistics at at August 10. Image: Tahitian Health Ministry

    From a political stance, the question that should be in people’s mind is the following: are Fritch and Sorain the right people to govern Ma’ohi Nui when one considers himself above the law and the other seems reluctant to apply the law.

    Alarming figures about the number of fatalities by covid-19.

    The latest figures at the time of writing show 176 deaths (including 10 in 24 hours with 2 at home), 185 people in hospital (26 patients in ICU), and 1075 new cases, making it a total of more than 24,977 cases. There are 3,869 cases still active.

    The number of people vaccinated with at least one dose is 103,033 since January 18, 2021.

    Editor’s note: Since this article was written a further five people have died in Tahiti.

    Ena Manuireva, born in Mangareva (Gambier islands) in Ma’ohi Nui (French Polynesia), is a language revitalisation researcher at Auckland University of Technology and is currently completing his doctorate on the Mangarevan language. He is also a campaigner for nuclear reparations justice from France over the 193 tests staged in Polynesia over three decades.


    This content originally appeared on Asia Pacific Report and was authored by APR editor.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Narrow window to halt climate change catastrophe, says Pacific Forum chief

    RNZ Pacific

    The world is on the brink of a climate catastrophe, with just a narrow window for action to reverse global processes predicted to cause devastating effects in the Pacific and world-wide, says the leader of the 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum.

    Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna said a major UN scientific report released on Monday backed what the Blue Pacific continent already knew — that the planet was in the throes of a human-induced climate crisis.

    The report from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) described a “code red” warning for humanity.

    Puna said a major concern was sea level change; the report said a rise of 2 metres by the end of this century, and a disastrous rise of 5 metres rise by 2150 could not be ruled out.

    The report also found that extreme sea level events that previously occurred once in 100 years could happen every year by the end of this century.

    To put this into perspective, these outcomes were predicted to result in the loss of millions of lives, homes and livelihoods across the Pacific and the world.

    The IPCC said extreme heatwaves, droughts, flooding and other environmental instability were also likely to increase in frequency and severity.

    Governments cannot ignore voices
    Puna said governments, big business and the major emitters of the world could no longer ignore the voices of those already enduring the unfolding existential crisis.

    “They can no longer choose rhetoric over action. There are simply no more excuses to be had. Our actions today will have consequences now and into the future for all of us to bear.”

    The 2019 Pacific Islands Forum Kainaki Lua Declaration remained a clarion call for urgent climate action, he said.

    The call urged the UN to do more to persuade industrial powers to cut their carbon emissions to reduce contributing to climate change.

    However, Puna said the factors affecting climate change could be turned around if people acted now.

    “The 6th IPCC Assessment Report shows us that the science is clear. We know the scale of the climate crisis we are facing. We also have the solutions to avoid the worst of climate change impacts.

    “What we need now is political leadership and momentum to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.”

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Ardern’s apology to Pacific peoples just the beginning – we will fight on

    COMMENT: By Melani Anae

    When the Polynesian Panthers (PPP) activist group began calling for an apology for the Dawn Raids two years ago, we went into the process with eyes wide open. Government lobbyists seldom get everything they ask for, but our intent was honest and real and fuelled by our Panther legacy and love for the people.

    We believe that the apology was, and is, a necessary step towards the healing and restoration of trust and relationships between the Pacific peoples and families who were adversely affected by government actions during the dawn raids and the Aotearoa New Zealand government.

    The prime minister’s emotional ritual entry into Auckland’s Great Hall and her address to Pacific people and communities assembled there last Sunday drastically relived the shameful and unjust treatment of Pacific peoples by successive governments during the Dawn Raids era of the 1970s, when police, hunting for immigrant overstayers and armed with dogs and batons, would burst into the homes of Pasifika families in the early morning hours.

    These experiences and the subsequent deportations have created layers of intergenerational shame and trauma for Pacific victims and families in New Zealand and in the homelands. Studies have since shown that Pacific people made up only 30 percent of the overstayers, and yet almost 90 percent of the deportations.

    The bulk of the migrants who overstayed their visas were from the US and UK. Since the apology was announced there has been a flood of victims’ stories –- stories no longer silenced by the guilt, shame and trauma of the raids and random checks.

    What was missing from Sunday’s apology was a list of concrete actions the government will take in addressing the injustices. Instead, what was delivered were four “gestures”: some national and Pacific scholarships, and two other educational “gestures” that were really already in place — a publication about experiences of the Dawn Raids and the provision of resources to those schools already teaching about them.

    Why has the government remained silent about setting up a legacy fund to allow education about the Dawn Raids — as requested in the petition signed by more than 7000 people and presented to Parliament by Josiah Tualamali’i and Benji Timu — to prevent future generations of New Zealanders from carrying out the same or similar racist actions?

    Educate to Liberate
    The only programme currently addressing this is an unfunded one run by the PPP for 50 years and more specifically for the past 10 years with their Educate to Liberate programmes in schools.

    This was a far cry to what the Panthers were calling for.

    In its submission for healing and restoration to the government in May, the Panthers were clear about what they wanted: an apology as well as 100 annual scholarships, and the overhaul of the current educational curriculum to include the compulsory teaching of racism, race relations, the Dawn Raids and Pacific Studies and the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi as the cornerstone of harmonious race relations in Aotearoa New Zealand, across all sectors, and assessed as “achieved standards” across appropriate non-history subjects.

    If what we Panthers called for was granted and acted on, it would provide a clear message to all Pacific peoples and communities and to all New Zealanders that the government was ready for a truly liberating education and a world-leading pathway to the best race relations — Kiwi-style — in the world.

    Alas, what the apology delivered was a watered-down version of what the Panthers called for. By perpetuating a myopic view of our long-term educational needs, the short term gestures outlined in the apology will not be enough to grow a truly liberated and informed youthful leadership for the future.

    This oversight suggests a rocky future for the New Zealand government and the va (the social and sacred spaces of relationships) with Pacific peoples. The Polynesian Panther demands to annihilate racism in New Zealand might seem too revolutionary and drastic, and will probably fuel anti-Pacific sentiments, but is this really the absolute maximum that the government can do?

    What we were given in this apology did little to dismantle systemic racism. Much more work needs to be done to decolonise and re-indigenise our education system. Why is the teaching of the Dawn Raids only optional and not compulsory? The Panthers platform of peaceful resistance against racism, the celebration of mana Pasifika and a liberating education is as relevant now as it was in the era of the Dawn Raids.

    If the changes the Panthers have fought for over the last 50 years don’t materialise, then we have no alternative but to — as Māori scholar and activist Ranginui Walker puts it — “ka whawhai tonu matou [we will continue the fight]”.

    Dr Melani Anae is a foundation member of the Polynesian Panthers and an associate professor and director of research at the Centre for Pacific Studies, Te Wananga o Waipapa, University of Auckland. Her books include The Platform: The Radical Legacy of the Polynesian Panthers (2020), Polynesian Panthers: Pacific Protest and Affirmative Action in Aotearoa NZ 1971–1981 (2015), and Polynesian Panthers (2006). This article first appeared in The Guardian and has been republished here with the author’s permission.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Outrage over Indonesian officers for stomping on disabled Papuan teen’s head

    SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya

    Shocking video footage showing brutal and inhumane treatment of a deaf Papuan teenager named Steven has emerged from the Merauke region of Papua and sparked outrage.

    This assault occurred on Monday, July 26, 2021, around Jalan Raya Mandala, Merauke (Jubi, July 27).

    The video shows an altercation between the 18-year-old and a food stall owner. Two security men from the Air Force Military Police (Polisi Militer Angkatan Udara, or POMAU) intervened in the argument.

    One of the officers grabbed the teenager and pulled him from the food stall. The victim was slammed to the pavement and then stomped on by the Air Force officers.

    The two men, Serda Dimas and Prada Vian, trampled on Steven’s head and twisted his arms after knocking him to the ground. The young man was seen screaming in pain, but the two men continued to step on his head and body while the officers casually spoke on the phone.

    In response to this assault, the commander of POMAU in Merauke, Colonel Pnb Herdy Arief Budiyanto, apologised for the actions of the two military policemen.

    Assaukt of deaf Papuan teenager 26 July 2021
    Two Indonesian Air Force military policemen stomping on the head of a deaf Papuan teenager in the Merauke region on 26 July 2021. Image: Screenshot from video

    In a press statement released on Tuesday, July 27, Colonel Herd stated that his men had overreacted and acted as vigilantes. The victim (Steven) and his adoptive mother, along with Merauke Police Chief, Untung Sangaji, and Vice-chairman of the regional People’s representative, Marotus Solokah, attended Tuesday’s press briefing (Jubi, July 27).

    Military policemen detained
    Kadispenau from the Air Force stated that the two men had now been detained under Commander J.A. Merauke’s supervision while POMAU Merauke investigates the incident.

    Kadispenau said: “The Air Force army does not hesitate to punish according to the level of the wrongdoings.”

    Papuan human rights defender Theo Hesegem said the two Air Force officers’ actions were unprofessional and should immediately be dealt with in accordance with the law applicable in the military judiciary in Papua, not outside Papua.

    “They should be dismissed and fired,” Hesegem said.

    Tabloid Jubi report of 'knee' assault
    How Tabloid Jubi reported the assault in an article three days later on 29 July 2021. Image: Tabloid Jubi

    Natalius Pigai, Indonesia’s former human rights commissioner, slammed the incident as “racist”.

    Pigai said on his Twitter account: “Not only members of the security forces, but Indonesia’s high officials who are racist should also be punished.”

    “Unless,” Pigai added, “Indonesia’s president Jokowi nurtures the racism committed by his tribe.” (Warta Mataram, July 27).

    Suitable place for the ‘lazy’
    Recently, Tri Rismaharini, Social Affairs Minister of Jokowi’s government, said that “lazy people” in the state civil service would be moved to Papua. Inferring that Papua was a suitable place for lazy, useless, and low-IQ humans.

    The racism issue will not be solved if people like Tri Rismaharini are not punished for their offensive remarks to Papuans.

    Pigai remarked as such because of countless denigrating comments and statements from Indonesia’s highest office, in which he himself is often the target of racism.

    But still, the country’s justice system fails to deliver justice for Papuan victims and hold the perpetrators accountable.

    These incidents are not isolated incidents – they are just the tip of the iceberg of what Papuans have been facing for 60 years under Indonesian rule. Tragic footage like the one in Merauke attracts public attention only because someone captured it and shared it.

    Most inhumane treatment in Papua’s remote villages rarely get recorded and shared in this way.

    Growing up in a highland village, I witnessed these barbaric behaviours by members of Indonesia’s armed force. They were walking around in uniforms with guns; they did many horrible things to Papuans — just as they wished, without consequence.

    Submerged in dirty fishpond
    One elder from my village was forced to stay underwater in a dirty fishpond. They military tied a heavy log to his legs so that his body remained underwater all day.

    I also remember that my cousin, a young girl aged 13 -14 with whom I went to school, often provided sexual services to a nearby Indonesian military post.

    Many soldiers would have their way with her. Not just her, but many young female children face the same fate throughout the villages.

    The video of the inhumane treatment of deaf Papuan youth Steven a few days ago in Merauke by Indonesia’s Air Force officers reminded me of many horrible things I had witnessed in the highlands of Papua.

    Unfortunately, these crimes hardly get resolved, and perpetrators walk free while victims get punished.

    George Floyd street art
    The killing of 46-year-old black man George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA, on 25 May 2020 triggered massive street protests worldwide – and also street art. Image: Soundcloud

    This inhumane treatment brings to mind the tragic killing of George Floyd after a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes as he lay face down in the street on 25 May 2020.

    However, in this case, the four officers involved were dismissed from their jobs and prosecuted. Derek Chauvin was sentenced to more than 20 years for the killing on June 25, 2021.

    Rarely face justice
    Tragically, in Papua, the perpetrators of these sorts of crimes rarely face justice and may even get promoted despite their atrocious acts.

    Although Jakarta has already apologised for the Merauke atrocity, Jakarta elites are delusional, thinking that empty apologies alone will solve Papua’s protracted conflicts.

    If anything, this cheap word “sorry” does more damage and rubs even more salt in the Papuans’ wounds.

    Jakarta’s favourite word, “sorry”, has its own value when used appropriately in a specific place and time, like when you accidentally tip over your friend’s coffee cup.

    Papuans and Indonesians protracted wars are not fought over spilling a cup of coffee; these wars are fought are over serious gross human rights violations committed by Indonesia’s state-sponsored security forces, supported by Western powers.

    Hence, neither Papuans’ wounds nor their dignity can be healed or restored with a cheap apology. Papuans need and demand justice.

    Yamin Kogoya is a West Papuan academic who has a Master of Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development from the Australian National University and who contributes to Asia Pacific Report. From the Lani tribe in the Papuan Highlands, he is currently living in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

     

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Fiji Olympic Gold … never to be missed even for Fiji’s youngest sevens fans

    COMMENT: By Shailendra Singh in Suva

    This poignant photo by Max Vosailagi captures Fiji’s fixation with rugby sevens, with winning a second Olympic Gold last night by beating New Zealand 27-12 in the men’s final.

    Two young boys, glued to what is apparently a TV screen through a neighbourhood front door during the Tokyo Olympic qualifiers, oblivious to their surroundings.

    Covid restrictions could have prevented the boys from getting closer to the action.

    Some quick Fiji reflections:

    • The sevens addiction starts young;
    • It’s inescapable — during game time every house with a TV will be tuned in;
    • If your house doesn’t have a TV, not a problem — the neighbour’s house probably has one;
    • Sevens is escapism from the country’s myriad problems, from politics to poverty.
    • It is more than escapism — it’s a career and income for players, not to mention the strongest uniting force in a country beset by ethnic tensions; and
    • Every young Fijian dreams of donning the national white team jersey one day.

    Fiji is also playing in the women’s rugby sevens Olympic competition which begins today and ends with the gold medal match on Saturday.

    Dr Shailendra Singh is senior lecturer and coordinator of the journalism programme at the University of the South Pacific. This comment is from Dr Singh’s social media posts and is republished by Asia Pacific Report with permission.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Fiji student son tells of his pregnant nurse mum’s losing struggle with covid

    By Josefa Babitu in Suva

    The dream of putting a smile on his mother’s face on his graduation day from university has become one that will never happen for Gabriel Gade, after his mother succumbed to the coronavirus that has killed dozens of people in Fiji.

    “My ultimate dream was to make her proud of all her sacrifices, battles in life and the love she gave me over the last 21 years of my life,” he shared with Asia Pacific Report.

    “My mother had to work all the time to pay off the mortgage, and I could tell that she was exhausted most of the time, but I think it was her love for her children that kept her going every day.

    His mother, Suliana Bulavakarua, worked as a registered nurse at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH), the largest healthcare facility in the country, where his family believes she contracted the virus while pregnant.

    After she tested positive for covid-19 on July 16, she was transported to the Covid-care facility in Suva, leaving behind Gade and his sister at home as their father was working outside of the mainland.

    Her children also tested positive for the virus but have recovered. Gade was vaccinated with the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine while his mother was awaiting the Moderna vaccine that was to be administered to pregnant women.

    Her daughter was not eligible for the vaccine as she was under the age of 18.

    Her condition worsened
    Her condition got worse on July 18 and was advised by attending physicians to deliver her baby by caesarean section.

    The 44-year-old gave life to a baby girl but the battle with covid-19 was so intense that it soon ended her life.

    “It was late at night on Wednesday [July 21] when my phone rang and I did not answer because it was a new number and it was late as well. However, little did I know the hospital was calling me to inform us of our mother’s passing,” says Gade.

    Suliana Bulavakarua and family
    Gabriel Gade with his mother, Suliana Bulavakarua, and sister at the time of his 21st birthday last year. Image: Wansolwara

    “A team from the hospital knocked on our doors on Thursday morning and relayed the news that broke my sister and I into tears. The world suddenly stopped as I lost the one person I owe everything to.

    “My mind ran wild but hours later I had to compose myself for my family, especially my sisters who will now grow up without a mother.

    The Lau native said the teachings of his mother was something he would hold dear to his heart and would use in the upbringing of his sisters.

    “My mother taught me to be generous, loving and to care for people that needed my help.

    “I remember a night where I would do my assignments on my study table in our living room and during her days off she would sit on the couch and then she would try and make small talk.

    “My mom and I had this relationship where she would always be pressed to do things like for me to graduate. My mom was always supportive of my endeavours.

    “I love you so much mom.”

    The “fallen hero” is survived by her husband and three children.

    Healthcare workers remember fallen hero
    The loss of Bulavakarua was not only for the family but for healthcare workers around the country as they took to social media to express their feelings.

    A nurse posted on Facebook that Bulavakarua was the talk of the operation room at the hospital she worked in as they all reminisced her dedication to saving lives in the country.

    Health Secretary Dr James Fong, in a televised address, announced the passing of the healthcare worker and said she was one of the many who risked their lives to save people from the deadly delta variant of the virus.

    “This current crisis is demonstrating the essential, tireless, innovative and too-often undervalued role of health workers and our frontline colleagues in ensuring strong, resilient health systems for everyone, everywhere,” he said.

    “They work long hours, sacrifice time with their families, and endure the stresses that this pandemic places upon them as individuals, professionals, and upon the entire health system.

    “Delivering health services in an environment of constraint resources will often mean providing access to life saving care at the expense of comfort.

    Meanwhile, healthcare workers are currently looking after 17,937 people living with the deadly virus in the nation where 195 people have died.

    Fiji’s covid-19 case count stands at 24,424 since March 2020 with 6191 recoveries.

    Josefa Babitu is a final-year student journalist at the University of the South Pacific (USP). He is also the current student editor for Wansolwara, USP Journalism’s student training newspaper and online publication. He is a contributor to Asia Pacific Report.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Michael Field: On Sāmoa’s change of government

    COMMENT: By Michael Field of The Pacific Newsroom

    It has been more than three months since elections in Sāmoa produced an election result that would change a government, and, eventually, bring to office Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afu.

    What is remarkable about this is not so much the change, but the forbearance and patience of the Sāmoan people; there has been no violence of any kind.

    It would be challenging to think of other countries in such situations where people waited quietly, peacefully.

    But it would be of no surprise to any student of Sāmoan history – and a particular quote.

    The first is in 1887 when the Imperial Germans were trying to capture Malietoa Laupepa.

    German ships were bombarding villages in a bid to catch him. He was in the jungle of ‘Upolu. A letter was sent by the Germans Malietoa telling him that if he did not surrender, great sorrows must befall his country.

    He surrendered, fearing the bombardment of villages.

    ‘Do not let us weep’
    Malietoa’s tulāfale Lauaki Namulau’ulu Mamoe, said there was no shame in surrender: “Do not let us weep. We have no cause for shame. We do not yield to Tamasese, but to the invincible strangers.”

    Malietoa responded with a ringing farewell: “To all Sāmoa: On account of my great love to my country and my great affection to all Sāmoa, this is the reason that I deliver up my body to the German government.

    “That government may do as they wish to me. The reason for this is, because I do not desire that the blood of Sāmoa shall be spilled for me again. But I do not know what is my offence which has caused their anger to me and to my country.’”

    He named his provinces: “Tuamasaga, farewell! Manono and family, farewell! So, also, Salafai, Tutuila, Aana, and Atua, farewell! If we do not again see one another in this world, pray that we may be again together above.”

    Malietoa was taken by German gunboat to Sydney and onto the German colony in Cameroon in Africa.

    The other event, of course, where revenge and counter-attack was expected was 1929s Aso Pogisa in which the Mau had been attacked by New Zealand police on Beach Road, killing a number, including Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III.

    Mortally wounded
    He was mortally wounded. He was taken to hospital for surgery.

    After surgery, he spoke with those gathered around him: “Sāmoa filemu pea, ma si o’u toto ne’i ta’uvalea, a ia aoga lo’u ola mo lenei mea” (‘My blood has been split for Sāmoa. I am proud to give it. Do not dream of avenging it, as it was spilt in maintaining peace. If I die, peace must be maintained at any price.’)

    He died soon after.

    Resisting violence, keeping peace, plainly is Sāmoa’s heritage and this year we have seen a variation on it play out.

    Michael Field is a co-publisher of The Pacific Newsroom. This article is republished with permission.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Nine takeaways from the Mā’ohi Nui Lives Matter solidarity rally in NZ

    By Ena Manuireva and Tony Fala

    About 35 people joined an Auckland rally last Sunday in solidarity with a Mā’ohi Nui Lives Matter demonstration by thousands of Tahitians happening in Pape’ete, the capital.

    In solidarity and in sync with the Pape’ete event, the Mai te Paura Atōmī i te ti’amara’a: From Bomb Contamination to Self-determination rally was organised by Les Tahitiens de Nouvelle-Zélande (Tahitians of New Zealand) and hosted at Auckland University of Technology.

    Ena Manuireva and colleague Tony Fala were the main organisers at AUT.

    With the live feed from Tahiti in the background, the message was clear to those who attended:

    • French nuclear tests were wrong, killed people, and destroyed the environment; and
    • France must now pay reparations.

    The organisers wanted to remind the audience about the important date of July 17, 1974, as the largest radioactive nuclear test named Centaur — a test that contaminated more than 100,00 people which was nearly the entire population of Mā’ohi Nui at the time.

    Nine takeaways from the event

    1. This rally is the start of more solidarity action for Mā’ohi Nui people. We hope to engage more members of the Mā’ohi Nui community living in Aotearoa in this work.
    2. It is reassuring to have the support of rally speakers in Auckland who represent different peoples of Oceania.
    3. The nuclear issue in Mā’ohi Nui is being commemorated in other ways in Aotearoa. The Auckland Museum launched an exhibition on Remembering Moruroa and the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū is celebrating the artistic vision of one of Aotearoa’s most significant artists, the late Ralph Hotere. His collection includes the Moruroa watercolours — which has a fitting title, Ātete! (to resist).
    4. The organisers plan to have further meaningful discussions with the Green MPs concerning the Mā’ohi Nui issues. They hope to work with Green MPs to develop concrete proposals so that the issue of nuclear waste in Mā’ohi Nui can be tabled in Parliament.
    5. The organisers intend to reach out to the Department of Disarmament and Arms Control. They plan to talk to Nuclear Disarmament Minister Phil Twyford about this issue.
    6. In the same vein, the organisers will approach the Ministry of Education to propose changes to the new school curriculum emerging in 2022 — changes that would include the teaching of the history of the anti-nuclear stand that New Zealand took in Oceania.
    7. Rally organisers Ena, David, James, Mua, and Tony acknowledge the support of Greenpeace, former members of NFIP, and Peace Movement Aotearoa.
    8. The organisers thank Mahealani Coxhead, Tasha Dalton, Ma’ara Maeva, Sally Manuireva, and Jos Wheeler for their invaluable contributions to the rally.
    9. The organisers thank the Auckland rally audience and express solidarity to Oscar Temaru over the continuing struggle in Mā’ohi Nui.

    The MC and speakers

    Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua. Image: Jos Wheeler
    Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua. Image: Jos Wheeler

    Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua is an activist, educator, and poet. He was the master of ceremonies for the rally and event co-organiser. He introduced all the speakers.

    Ena Manuireva. Image: Jos Wheeler
    Ena Manuireva. Image: Jos Wheeler

    Ena Manuireva is a Mangarevan-Tahitian, Mā’ohi Nui activist whose story started back on his native island of Mangareva. Mangarevans were the first people in French-occupied Polynesia to be used as guinea pigs and contaminated during the first so-called “clean” French nuclear tests on July 2, 1966. Ena narrated the personal story of how his mother became sick and vomited as her lips bled after she unknowingly ate contaminated fish; of how his older sister had weak bones as a baby, and how she developed a vulnerable body that forced his family to flee to Tahiti to save her life and find refuge. Manuireva challenged France to restore truth and justice through reparations and to return independence to Mā’ohi Nui.

    The generation that paved the path for activism in Aotearoa and around the Moana-Nui-a-Hiva:

    Hilda Halkyard-Harawira. Image: Jos Wheeler
    Hilda Halkyard-Harawira. Image: Jos Wheeler

    Hilda Halkyard-Harawira is a distinguished Māori activist, community worker, educator, and founder of the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Movement (NFIP). She shared some rich impressions regarding her work as a Māori activist working in the NFIP movement from 1980. Hilda told the moving story of travelling with Māori activists to Mā’ohi Nui in 1995; of witnessing the vibrant anti-nuclear struggle in Tahiti, and of meeting Mā’ohi anti-nuclear protest leaders Charlie Ching and Oscar Temaru. She read extracts from an important address she presented at a 1995 anti-nuclear activist gathering in Tahiti. Moreover, Hilda spoke of her great friendship with Oscar Temaru while expressing her abiding support for Mā’ohi Nui’s struggle for nuclear justice and for independence from France today. Hilda Halkyard-Harawira’s rich address reminded the audience of the profound whakapapa interlinking Māori activists with Mā’ohi Nui, the wider Pacific, and the NFIP Movement.

    Maire Leadbeater. Image: Jos Wheeler
    Maire Leadbeater. Image: Jos Wheeler

    Maire Leadbeater is of Pākehā heritage. She is an activist, former Auckland city councillor, historian, and writer. Maire is a member of West Papua Action Auckland. Maire expressed solidarity with Mā’ohi Nui in her oration. She explained why West Papua is not on the United Nations list of territories to be decolonised. Maire provided an important update on the contemporary West Papua struggle. Maire Leadbeater’s speech allowed the rally audience space to consider the significance of the West Papua struggle alongside that of the noble Mā’ohi Nui resistance in wider Oceania.

    David Robie. Image: Jos Wheeler
    David Robie. Image: Jos Wheeler

    Dr David Robie is a Pākehā environmental activist, editor of Asia Pacific Report, and retired founding director of the AUT Pacific Media Centre. He sees events during his career around the Pacific, including French-occupied Polynesia, as a “game changer”. Those events include the publication of the book Moruroa Mon Amour in the 1970s by Bengt and Marie-Therese Danielsson, Tahiti-based activists, describing their outrage regarding the use of Moruroa as the testing site, leading up to the recent publication of the book Toxic and its damning revelations about France’s persistent lies over the nuclear tests. (He also mentioned his Blood On Their Banner on Pacific independence struggles, first published in Swedish in spite of censorship thanks to the Danielssons’ contacts, and his inspiration from meeting Oscar Temaru which contributed to his commitment to the Mā’ohi Nui cause.) David demands compensation for the harm done by the nuclear tests, a formal apology to the Mā’ohi Nui people, and a return of their independence.

    Political support to the cause shown by the Greens:

    Teanau Tuiono. Image: Jos Wheeler
    Teanau Tuiono. Image: Jos Wheeler

    Teanau Tuiono is of Māori and Atiu heritage. He is a member of parliament for the Green Party and a long time indigenous environmental activist. Teanau articulated the story of the abiding relationships interconnecting the peoples of Atiu and Mā’ohi Nui. He spoke powerfully about the visits of Atiu men to Mā’ohi Nui to work in the phosphate industry in years gone by. Teanau affirmed Oceanian solidarity towards the peoples of Mā’ohi Nui in his korero. Further, he acknowledged that Oceania’s peoples are bound together by the twin whakapapa of both genealogy and shared struggle. Teanau narrated the story of how he marched in support of the Mā’ohi Nui people as a student activist in 1995. Moreover, he spoke of being part of the group who hosted Oscar Temaru at Waipapa Marae at the University of Auckland after the march. Tuiono’s oration provided the audience opportunity to understand the solidarity Māori and Pacific Island peoples have extended to Mā’ohi Nui in Aotearoa since the 1990s.

    Golriz Ghahraman. Image: Jos Wheeler
    Golriz Ghahraman. Image: Jos Wheeler

    Golriz Ghahraman is of Iranian descent. She is a member of parliament for the Green Party, a lawyer, and a community advocate for migrants and refugees. Speaking as a former refugee to Aotearoa, Golriz extended her solidarity to Oscar and the Mā’ohi Nui people in her speech. She illuminated the connections between Mā’ohi Nui; struggles in the wider Pacific; refugees, and migrants. Golriz spoke of the importance of the Palestinian struggle in her labours. She provided the rally audience with the ability to reflect upon the interconnections between the Mā’ohi Nui struggle — and that of the Palestinian, refugee, and migrant communities within and beyond Oceania.

    The emergence of the young generation of activists:

    James Hita. Image: Jos Wheeler
    James Hita. Image: Jos Wheeler

    James Hita is a Māori Greenpeace activist and coordinator for Greenpeace Deep Sea Mining. His message was unequivocal: nuclear tests are not isolated threats; they are part of the many perils that are directly impacting our Ocean. Climate change, nuclear tests, and deep-sea mining all negatively impact upon our most important natural food supply, Te Moana-Nui-a-Hiva. His message was a constant call to awareness for all of us that we must stand united and fight together against the many wrongdoings inflicted upon our Moana-Nui-a-Hiva.

    Anevili. Image: Jos Wheeler
    Anevili. Image: Jos Wheeler

    Anevili TS is a Samoan activist and media worker who represents Indigenous Pacific Uprising (IPU) and Te Ara Whatu activist organisations. A link for her oral presentation at the conference can be found here. Anevili critiqued French colonialism in Mā’ohi Nui. Further, she reminded her audience that the climate change and nuclear issues cannot be separated in Mā’ohi Nui or in wider Oceania. Anevili extended solidarity to Oscar and the Mā’ohi Nui people and invited the French to get out of the Pacific. Anevili’s powerful address articulated the message that younger people in the Moana in Aotearoa stand in solidarity with Mā’ohi Nui today.

    India Logan-Riley. Image: Jos Wheeler
    India Logan-Riley. Image: Jos Wheeler

    India Logan-Riley is a Māori climate change activist, an Indigenous rights campaigner, and a member of Te Ara Whatu. She talked about the whakapapa (genealogy) that the Mā’ohi Nui people have with their land and how France is trying to steal and destroy the land. She highlighted the difficult position New Zealand occupies at the UN- New Zealand is in alliance with other colonial powers such as France. However, she commended the resilience of the Mā’ohi Nui population after more than a quarter of a century since the last nuclear tests were done. She reiterated her support for justice and reparations for the Mā’ohi Nui people. India’s talk reminded the audience of the immensely strong relationships between indigenous Pacific peoples and their lands.

    The panel of speakers included young activists as the organisers wanted to acknowledge the increasingly vital role that young people will play in the future by standing up to all kinds of challenges — while acknowledging the vital role of our activist elders who have come before us.

    Emerging young activists will be the ones to hold the New Zealand government to account for their lack of action on environmental issues.

    Younger activists will also have to stand up and reprimand other countries when other nations’ actions threaten the people and the planet.

    Acknowledgements
    The Auckland rally was only one expression of solidarity for the Mā’ohi Nui people beyond Tahiti: Messages of solidarity from Fiji (Claire Slatter), Micronesia, and the wider ‘Sea of Islands’ were presented to the people of Mā’ohi Nui via video message and social media.

    On behalf of all the organisers, Reverend Mua Strickson Pua:

    • Acknowledged the kinship linkages connecting all of the peoples of Oceania.
    • Affirmed the continuing struggles of the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, Australia, Hawai’i, Kanaky, Mā’ohi Nui, Micronesia, Rapa Nui, West Papua, and others.
    • Upheld the work of tangata whenua protectors and supporters in Aotearoa in the struggles at Aotea Island, Ihumātao, Pūtiki, and Shelly Bay.
    • Affirmed the interconnections between climate change, nuclear issues, and deep-sea mining as oceanic issues requiring collective responses from all peoples of the “Sea of Islands” together.
    Ma'ohi Nui Lives Matter solidarity rally in Auckland
    Most of the participants at the Auckland solidarity rally for Mā’ohi Nui Lives Matter. Image: Jos Wheeler


    This content originally appeared on Asia Pacific Report and was authored by APR editor.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • ‘Pacific Islander’ an insulting umbrella term, researcher tells Royal Commission

    By Andrew McRae, RNZ News reporter

    The umbrella term Pacific Islander or Polynesian has been criticised as degrading and insensitive.

    Researcher Dr Seini Taufa, who is a New Zealand-born Tongan, said the names were not indigenous terms and were insulting.

    Dr Taufa is research lead for Moana Research and Senior Pacific Advisor for the Growing up in New Zealand Longitudinal Study.

    She has given evidence to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care’s Pacific inquiry being held in South Auckland.

    Dr Taufa quoted author Albert Wendt:

    ”I am called a Pacific Islander when I arrive at Auckland Airport. Elsewhere I am Samoan.”

    Dr Taufa said lumping everyone together robbed people of their true identity.

    ‘Constructed by palagi’
    ”We did not name ourselves Pacific Islanders, we did not name ourselves Polynesian. These are terms that were constructed by palagi within a colonial context.”

    She said preconceived ideas around being called a Pacific Islander or Polynesian influenced the way Pacific people self identify.

    ”While the umbrella term Pacific is useful when making global comparisons, it’s futile when applied to actual people and groups of people who consider themselves not Pacific or Polynesian, but Samoan, Tongans, Fijians, Cook Islanders and so on.”

    Dr Seini Taufa
    Researcher Dr Seini Taufa … preconceived ideas around being called a Pacific Islander or Polynesian. Image: UOA

    Dr Taufa said that in a New Zealand context Pacific people had been marked for as long as they had settled in Aotearoa whereby the Pacific embodiment was interpreted differently from context to context.

    ”On the rugby field and among the All Blacks, Pacific male bodies are celebrated. In a crime and punishment context, Pacific male bodies are associated with racist discourses of violence, rape, gangs, fear and danger,” she said.

    ”Pacific people thus construct their identities and live their lives at the intersection of positive histories, language and culture and negative and stereotypical ideas and beliefs produced by the dominant group.”

    Dr Taufa said many abuse survivors experienced racism and discrimination first hand.

    Told he wasn’t Samoan
    “One young man asked about his ethnic background responded with Samoan, but was told by someone in authority that he wasn’t, as he was born in New Zealand.

    ”As a young boy who relates being Samoan to Christianity, to family and to his mother, he is forced to adopt an identity that doesn’t belong to him — a New Zealander — and, with it, the trauma of what he was exposed to in state care as a New Zealander.”

    She said it spoke to the power held by a dominant group.

    ”To label another with little consideration of the detrimental nature of such actions.”

    Dr Taufa said the importance of ones ethnicity should never be doubted.

    ”I hope that it raises questions amongst those in the system to be more cautious of how they record, how they document and the fact that it can and has, through our survivor voices, had an impact on their well being.”

    Dr Taufa said there were inadequacies of ethnic classification and data collection in New Zealand, both past and present.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Fiji’s covid horror is too late to fix, yet still our leaders stay silent

    COMMENT: By Professor Biman Prasad

    Pictures and videos emerging about the shocking and deplorable conditions for covid-isolated patients in Fiji hospitals are no surprise. Nor should they be.

    They are a direct consequence of the Bainimarama government’s failure to lead, failure to plan – and worst of all, failure to care.

    Two months ago Ministry of Health officials publicly warned us about the dangers of our health system breaking down under the weight of covid numbers.

    The government refused to listen to advice. It arrogantly refused to lock down.

    And now this disaster is upon us.

    There is a video circulating about a dead patient being left in a temporary hospital ward for hours. Everyone knows a story about ambulances being called which never turn up.

    We hear about a case where a person’s body stayed in a car for five hours in the hospital car park because no one had time or resources to help.

    We were warned – by our own officials
    Tragically, people affected by non-covid conditions are now dying because they cannot get into hospitals for care.

    These were all things we were warned about, by our own health officials.

    Up to now the bulk of our cases has been in the Central Division, which is serviced by the best hospitals. As the disease spreads around Viti Levu, the situation will get much worse.

    This damage is now too late to fix. These desperate stories will continue.

    We all know that deaths from this outbreak will be measured in the hundreds, and the horror of this is just beginning.

    And yet, our leaders are silent. They offer no support, no information. They do not want to talk about this crisis because they have difficult questions to answer about their utter failure to lead.

    Do your best to protect yourselves
    Where were they when their own officials were warning them?

    And where are they now?

    We plead with people to do their best to protect themselves.

    Wear masks, follow the physical distancing rules. Please get vaccinated, if not for yourself for the health and safety of your nearest and dearest around you.

    We have a government that cannot lead and which is too ashamed and cowardly to lead.

    It is now up to each of us to look after and care for each other until we rid ourselves of this failed leadership in the next elections.

    Professor Biman Prasad is the leader of Fiji’s National Federation Party.

    • RNZ Pacific reports that Fiji has recorded 1054 new cases of covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8am yesterday. That compares to 784 cases and 15 deaths in the previous 24-hour period.
    • The government also confirmed 12 more deaths between 13 and 19 July, taking the death toll to 125 with 123 of these from the latest outbreak that began in April.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Dan McGarry: The truth is our republic

    ANALYSIS: By Dan McGarry, The Village Explainer

    I wasn’t invited to the inaugural Vanuatu media awards a couple of weeks ago. Nor was I asked to participate.

    Instead, I spent the weekend preparing the final draft of the Media Association of Vanuatu’s Code of Ethics and Practice. I am proud to say it was adopted by the MAV executive last Friday.

    If I had been there, and if I had been asked to say something, this is what I would have said (seriously: when did I ever wait for someone to ask me for my opinion?): Journalism isn’t just a profession; it’s a public service. It consists of sharing, broadcasting or publishing information in the public interest.

    That’s the first paragraph in the new preamble of an updated Media Code of Ethics and Practice.

    This code is integral to our work. It guides us from day to day. It tells us what we must do, what we should do, and what we should aspire to. It will help us serve the community better.

    By describing how we should report the news, it helps us to decide what is news, and what’s not.

    I agreed to help with this final draft because I know how important it is to think carefully about these things. Agonising over each word of this code has been an invaluable process for me. It’s taught me new things. It’s reinforced others. And it’s led me to do the one thing required of every reporter:

    Challenge assumptions
    Challenge every single assumption.

    Reporting starts with asking questions. Who? What? When? Where? Why?

    Socrates, one of humanity’s most famous inquiring minds, reportedly said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

    The professional journey of every reporter begins with that phrase.


    The Media Association of Vanuatu awards 2021. Image: MAV

    In that spirit of examination, I want to take a moment to consider where we are as a media community, where we’ve come from, and where we need to go.

    Vanuatu’s media can congratulate themselves for a number of things:

    Our populace has a more nuanced and subtle understanding of the law and governance than many others. We joke about bush lawyers, but our interest in the law — and respect for it — is a product of how we in the media portray it.

    We are bound to defend and protect the truth. The truth is the seed we sow. And from that seed, we reap a better democracY.

    — Dan McGarry

    Understanding politics
    The same is true of our understanding of politics and Parliamentary procedure. Vanuatu follows Parliament the way some nations follow football. Our society is more engaged with the process of government than a great many others. The media plays a role in that, and we should be proud of it.

    The status of women has advanced by leaps and bounds, both in media industry, and in society at large. Of course, the lioness’ share of the work has been done by two generations of fearless women who have campaigned tirelessly, selflessly to improve their lot.

    But we have been there to mark their progress, to celebrate their wins, and to shine a light on the countless obstacles that still impede their progress.

    The number of prosecutions and convictions for spousal abuse, sexual violence and other gender-based crimes is rising. These crimes are still happening far too often, but we can fairly say that the new, tougher sentences being handed out are a result of an awareness that we helped raise.

    Our nation’s environmental awareness has been assisted greatly by the media. Again, we aren’t the ones saving the planet, but we are celebrating the people who do.

    By giving space to the wisdom of kastom and the knowledge of science, we can exercise our right and our duty to protect this land.

    The list of our achievements is long. I’m grateful that we finally found time to recognise and celebrate them. We have much to be proud of, and we should take this moment to applaud ourselves for a job well done.

    About our failures
    Now… let’s talk about our failures.

    The Code of Ethics requires that we be frank, honest and fair. It also instructs us not to leave out any uncomfortable facts just because they don’t fit the narrative. But we cannot ignore the fact that we could do much, much more, and we could do far, far better.

    Fear still dominates and diminishes us. Don’t pretend it’s not there. And don’t you dare tell me it hasn’t made you back off a story. Every single press conferences reeks of faltering confidence.

    We’re all guilty of it. Every single one of us. Back in 2015, I made sure my ABC colleague Liam Fox was in the room when Marcellino Pipite announced that he had exercised his power as Acting Head of State and pardoned himself and his cronies.

    I made sure he was there because I knew he would ask the one question that mattered: “Aren’t you just trying to save your own skin?”

    I’m grateful to Liam for stepping up. But now I wish I’d been the one who had the courage to ask.

    We have to find a way past our fear, and we can only do that together. If we all enter the room ready to ask hard questions, it’s easier for each one of us to quit wishing we could and just do it.

    Stand up for each other
    We have to learn to stand up for each other. Ten years ago, media pioneer Marc Neil-Jones was savagely assaulted by a minister of state.

    That bullying act of injustice upset me deeply. It’s also what inspired me to take Marc’s place when his health forced him to step aside.

    But what upset me even more was the failure of the media community to say one thing, and say it clearly: Violence against the media is never OK.

    Never.

    The only way we can be sure that those days of violent intimidation are past is if we hold that line, and condemn any act of coercion or violence loudly and in one voice.

    To this day, I’m ashamed that we didn’t do at least that much for Marc.

    Where is Marc’s lifetime achievement award? How much longer are we going to ignore his bravery, his leadership? Is his courage and determination going to be forgotten?

    Not by me, it won’t.

    Standing up to threats
    I know how hard it is to stand up to disapproval, verbal abuse, threats of violence, abusive language, rumours, lies and prejudice. I know how hard it is to stand up to my own peers, to take it on the chin when I find out I’m wrong, and to refuse to bend when I know I’m right.

    I’ve learned this lesson: They can take your job. They can take your livelihood. They can stab you in the back. They can grind you down. They can attack your dignity, they can shake your confidence.

    But they can’t change the truth. Because it’s not my truth, or yours, or theirs.

    You can find another place to work. You can find other ways to ply your trade. You can bear up under pressure, even when nobody else believes you can. You can learn to carry on.

    You can do all of that, if you’re faithful to the truth. The truth is what we serve, not the director, the producer, the editor.

    The truth is our republic. We have a duty to defend it. All of it. Not just the bits that please us. All of it. All the time. Even when it costs us. Especially when it costs us.

    We are bound to defend and protect the truth. The truth is the seed we sow. And from that seed, we reap a better democracy.

    Holding power to account
    Democracy unchallenged isn’t democracy. The people can’t rule if they can’t ask questions.
    This principle underpins the media’s role in keeping democracy healthy, and rebuilding it when it’s under threat. The role of the media is to hold power to account.

    In Vanuatu, this basic idea needs to be better understood by the government and the governed alike. We can do this by helping journalists better understand their role, and helping them get what they need to fulfil that role more effectively.

    The revised Media Code of Ethics and Practice is a milestone on that road. But it’s meaningless if we don’t stand by it.

    To my media colleagues, I say: Forget your jealousies, your rivalries. Reject pride, collusion and corruption wherever you see it, even in yourself. Especially in yourself.

    Stand with MAV. Uphold this code, and we will stand together with the truth. Because the truth is our republic.

    Dan McGarry is former media director (pending an appeal) of the Vanuatu Daily Post / Buzz FM and independent journalist and he held that position since 2015 until the government blocked his work permit in 2019. His Village Explainer is a semi-regular newsletter containing analysis and insight focusing on under-reported aspects of Pacific societies, politics and economics.


    This content originally appeared on Asia Pacific Report and was authored by APR editor.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • 714,000 Papuans, 112 organisations oppose ‘failed’ special autonomy law

    Asia Pacific Report newsdesk

    As many as 714,066 Papuans and 112 organisations which are part of the Papuan People’s Petition (PRP) have rejected last week’s enactment into law of revisions to Law Number 21/2001 on Papua Special Autonomy (Otsus), reports CNN Indonesia.

    They believe that special autonomy is not the answer to resolving the problems in the land of Papua.

    “There’s no such thing as Otsus in the Papuan people’s dictionary. The Papuan people are asking for the right to self-determination,” said Rawarap from the group West Papua Youth and Student National Solidarity (Sonamapa) during a PRP event broadcast on the Suara Papua TV YouTube channel on Friday, July 16.

    Rawarap believes that special autonomy is a product conceived out of an illicit affair between the political elite in Papua and Jakarta. According to Rawarap, the policy has not accommodated the Papuan people at all.

    “Otsus is like an illegitimate child conceived during a sex party between the Papua elite and the Jakarta elite. We explicitly reject Otsus because Otsus is an illicit product. It’s the result of an illicit affair,” he added.

    Rawarap said that the decision by the House of Representatives (DPR) to ratify the revisions into law would not in any way make Papuans feel proud.

    More than 20 years of the implementation of special autonomy has failed to bring prosperity to the Papuan people.

    ‘Still many mama-mama‘
    “The fact also is that many have already explained that over the 20 years Otsus has been in force in the land of Papua, there are still many mama-mama [traditional Papuan women traders] who sell on the side of the road,” he said.

    “Still using cardboard, sacks as mats, sitting on the road selling areca.

    “The fact also is that there are still many Papuan children who drop out of school and cannot continue their studies at tertiary institutions because education is expensive, yet there is money from Otsus.

    “But, the fact is that many Papuan children drop out of study or do not continue school, and the unemployment rate is high — what is there to be proud of with Otsus?,” he asked.

    Rawarap then touched on the findings of the National Statistics Agency (BPS) which says that the Human Development Index for Papua and West Papua provinces are the lowest in the country despite Otsus being in place for two decades.

    “Sonamapa — along with the 112 organisations involved in the Papua People’s Petition reject Otsus — explicitly states that we reject Otsus Chapter II resulting out of secret revisions [to the Otsus Law] by the [DPR’s] special committee,” he said.

    PRP spokesperson Sam Awom said that group rejected all forms of compromise with any deliberations on special autonomy which failecd to involve ordinary Papuan people.

    ‘Return mandate to the people’
    “He also asked policy makers to return a mandate to the Papuan people to determine their own future,” he said.

    “We demand the immediate return to the Papuan people [of the right] to choose and determine their own future on whether they accept Otsus or independence as a country”, said Awom, reading out a statement.

    Awom declared that they would hold a national strike if the demands of the Papuan people were not followed up.

    “If the petition [against Otsus] is not followed up, then we will hold a national, peaceful civil strike throughout the territory of West Papua,” he said.

    Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD has stated that the government will prioritise dialogue with “separatists” seeking self-determination and independence in Papua and use law enforcement against alleged armed criminal groups (KKB).

    “On the Papua issue the government will use an approach prioritising prosperity which is comprehensive and covers all aspects,” he said.

    “In confronting separatism, the government will prioritise dialogue.”

    Translated by James Balowski for IndoLeft News. The original title of the article was “714 Ribu Orang dan 112 Organisasi Diklaim Tolak Otsus Papua”.


    This content originally appeared on Asia Pacific Report and was authored by APR editor.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Major NZ media networks collaborate to develop talented Pacific journalists

    Pacific Media Network News

    The number and quality of Pacific journalists are expected to rise in a never before seen collaboration between four major New Zealand media organisations.

    NZ on Air has approved $2.4 million to fund 25 fully-paid journalism cadetships, with a minimum of five Pacific trainees and 10 Māori.

    The Te Rito Journalism Project is fronted by Pacific Media Network (PMN), Māori Television, NZME and Newshub.

    TE RITO
    TE RITO

    PMN chief executive Don Mann said this collaboration aligned with his organisation’s mandate to help train a pipeline of excellent Pacific broadcasters and multimedia journalists.

    “Te Rito provides sustainability to PMN in provision of best-practice Pasifika multilingual journalism but, more importantly, it allows the network to play our part in rectifying the significant under-representation and imbalance within the journalism sector on behalf of the Pasifika community.”​

    Māori Television head of news and current affairs Wena Harawira shares the same sentiment, hoping the partnership will address the critical shortage of reo Māori speaking journalists.

    “It’s incredibly important that New Zealand’s journalism landscape is rich with Māori stories created by Māori, in te reo Māori, for everyone,” she said.

    ‘Ability to tell stories’
    “The ability to tell stories and share perspectives is fundamentally shaped by language.”​

    Emphasising how critical it is for journalists to bring their culture into newsrooms is the view of NZME head of cultural partnerships Lois Turei, who says: “Weaving aspects of their culture into their work will result in stories that are rich and multi-layered – that’s a powerful gift to newsrooms.”

    The cadets will work across all four newsrooms for one year developing their skills in digital, audio, radio, video, television and print journalism. However, ​10 cadets will be based with Māori Television, and 15 with NZME.​

    Newshub director of news Sarah Bristow said: “This will break down some of the barriers that are preventing young, diverse voices from being part of our media landscape.”

    Te Rito will soon begin advertising for a kaihautū (programme manager) to begin the development phase of the project.

    Four other trainers and an administrator will also be recruited and applications for cadets will open later this year with the training programme to run for one year from February 2022.​

    NZ On Air head of journalism Raewyn Rasch (Ngāi Tahu/Kai Tahu) said: “Training is a vital part of the media landscape that has suffered through increasing financial pressures and by injecting resources back into this area, the Public Interest Journalism Fund will have a positive and long-lasting impact.”

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • NZ nuclear-free activists, campaigners join Tahiti’s Mā’ohi Lives Matter rally

    Over the past 50 years, France has continued to deny the tragedies of nuclear testing in French Occupied Polynesia by propagating the theory of “clean nuclear tests”. Image: Youngsolwara Pacific

    Asia Pacific Report newsdesk

    Moana activists, campaigners, scholars, researchers and Green MPs gathered today in a show of solidarity for Tahiti’s Ma’ohi Lives Matter rally at Auckland University of Technology and vowed to work towards independence for the French-occupied Pacific territory.

    A live feed from the Tahitian capital of Pape’ete was screened and simultaneous events happened across the Pacific, such as in Fiji.

    Many of the Auckland participants were stalwarts from the early days of the Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) movement from the 1970s and 1980s and declared their support for pro-independence Tahitian leader Oscar Temaru.

    Moruroa e Tatou leader Hiro Tefaarere
    Moruroa e Tatou leader Hiro Tefaarere speaking from Pape’ete on a live feed alongside Auckland rally organiser Ena Manuireva, a research scholar from Tahiti. Image: David Robie/APR

    Many speakers protested that Tahitians were still awaiting compensation for the legacy of health problems and the devastation of Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls during 30 years of testing and 193 nuclear blasts, both atmospheric and underground.

    The speakers said it was appalling that serious attempts for compensation and a state apology had not happened in the two decades since the tests ended in 1996.

    However, reports from Paris at the weekend hinted that the French Polynesian President had indicated that France had for the first time conceded it should compensate Tahiti’s social security agency CPS for the medical costs caused by the tests.

    The agency had repeatedly said that since 1995 it had paid out US$800 million to treat a total of 10,000 people suffering from cancer as the result of radiation from the tests.


    Dancers at the Mā’ohi Lives Matter rally in Pape’ete, Tahiti, today. Video: David Robie/APR

    French PM’s letter
    Tahiti’s territorial President Édouard Fritch said he received a letter from French Prime Minister Jean Castex, in which he admitted that the demand for a re-imbursement of the outlays was legitimate.

    Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, a former leader of the NFIP movement, asked the forum what could be done by people from Aotearoa New Zealand to give support for Ma’ohi Nui (Tahiti) now.

    Ena Manuireva, one of the rally organisers and a doctoral researcher into the nuclear tests at AUT, gave an explanation of the current situation and made suggestions for action.

    He said it was important to demonstrate solidarity around the Pacific region and to show Paris that there were wider reactions.

    Another organiser, Tony Fala, also gave suggestions of how to support the kaupapa of Temaru and the Tahitian activists.

    Participants honoured the passing of two great Moana wāhine leaders who had died recently recently passed away — Polynesian Panther Miriama Rauhihi-Ness and Hawai’ian academic Dr Haunani-Kay Trask, both fellow NFIP activists of Halkyard-Harawira.

    “We wish to acknowledge all tangata whenua and Kānaka Maoli who are present here today,” said Fala.

    Oscar Temaru
    Tahitian pro-independence leader and former territorial President Oscar Temaru at the Mā’ohi Lives Matter rally in Pape’ete today. Image: David Robie/APR

    Deep-sea mining
    Greenpeace campaigner James Hita, coordinator of the project against deep-sea mining, also spoke of the environmental challenge facing the region after a recent move by the Nauru government to activate “fast-tracking”.

    Environmental journalist, author and academic Dr David Robie denounced the “decades of lies, bluster and cover-ups” by French authorities, saying recent allegations published by the book Toxique and investigative website The Moruroa Files were a “game changer” forcing action from Paris.

    Green MPs Teanu Tuiono and Golriz Ghahraman were also among the speakers, and the rally’s MC was Samoan minister and community activist Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua.

    The rally participants acknowledged the connection between indigenous struggles in Mā’ohi Nui, Aotearoa, Australia, Hawai’i, Kanaky New Caledonia, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Rapa Nui, Solomons, Vanuatu, West Papua, and the rest of Moana.

    They also spoke out in support of the Māori struggles on Aotea Island, Ihumatāo (Auckland), Putiki (Waiheke Island), and Shelly Bay (Wellington).

    Green MP Teanau Tuiono
    Green MP Teanau Tuiono (left) with organiser Ena Manuireva at the Mā’ohi Lives Matter solidarity rally at AUT today. Image: David Robie/APR


    This content originally appeared on Asia Pacific Report and was authored by APR editor.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Case #017 RNZ podcast – The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior

    Pacific Media Watch newsdesk

    On 10 July 1985 the Greenpeace flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, was sunk at an Auckland wharf.

    Two French secret agents planted two limpet mines on the ship while it was berthed at Marsden wharf. The second explosion killed Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira when he got trapped on board while retrieving his cameras.

    Author and academic David Robie, a recently retired journalism professor at AUT University, spent more than 10 weeks on board the ship as a journalist shortly before it was attacked, and wrote about his experience in the 1986 book Eyes of Fire.

    In the Crimes NZ series of RNZ podcasts, the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior is described as the first act of state terrorism against New Zealand.

    RNZ’s Jesse Mulligan talks to Dr Robie about the Rainbow Warrior, the humanitarian voyage to Rongelap to help islanders suffering from the legacy of US nuclear tests and his 1986 book Eyes of Fire (Little Island Press Ltd).

    The interview was in 2020 to mark the 10 July 1985 date and has just been re-released by RNZ as a podcast.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Asia Pacific Report freshened with new student roles, independent journalism

    JEANZ News

    Professor David Robie, founding director of the AUT Pacific Media Centre, has relaunched Asia Pacific Report as an independent Pacific affairs and analysis portal with many students or recent graduates around the region among the contributors.

    Partnering with Selwyn Manning, publisher of Evening Report.nz, he is nurturing young Pacific journalists following the tradition that they started as an industry partnership with Pacific Scoop in 2009.

    Asia Pacific Report has a growing audience in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and also in other Pacific nations.

    “There is a continuing need for an independent portal of this kind given the dearth of Pacific outlets in the mainstream New Zealand media,” Dr Robie said.

    “Apart from RNZ Pacific, Tagata Pasifika, and the Pacific Media Network, which do a fine job, there is little else.”

    Asia Pacific Report has community partnerships with the Asia Media Centre, RNZ, In-Depth News, Earth Journalism Network, University of the South Pacific, The Pacific Newsroom, Wansolwara and others.

    Dr Robie retired from AUT in December after 18 years at the university – 13 of them as director of the PMC. He was the first journalism PhD (2004) at AUT and also the first associate professor and then professor in journalism (2012), specialising in Asia-Pacific and development media studies.

    Previously he had been head of journalism at both the University of Papua New Guinea and the University of the South Pacific for a decade.

    He was awarded the AUT Vice-Chancellor’s teaching award in 2011 and the AMIC Asian Communications award in Dubai in 2015 and has authored or edited 10 books.

    AMIC Communications Awards
    Dr David Robie on the AMIC 50th anniversary Communication Award honours board. Image: AMIC

    He founded Pacific Journalism Review (PJR) research journal at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1994 and the publication is continuing independently with the current editorial team. However, Dr Robie has swapped editorial roles with former associate editor Dr Philip Cass who has become editor.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • PNG Council of Churches declares support for covid vaccine rollout

    RNZ Pacific

    The Papua New Guinea Council of Churches (PNGCC) has declared its support for the covid-19 vaccination rollout, following a conference in Port Moresby.

    Papua New Guinea recorded 72 new covid-19 cases on Thursday, increasing the total number of cases to 16,933 with 173 known deaths.

    In a statement, the PNG Council of Churches said: “We pledge our complete support to assist the government of Papua New Guinea and local communities to address community concerns, to work with all partners to ensure that all people are reached and vaccinated consistently.

    “We define ourselves as churches, living and working together for the common good of people and society, therefore we affirm our support for the covid-19 vaccination and declare our trust in the safety and efficacy of covid-19 vaccination as a lifesaving tool which protects human from severe sickness and death due to covid-19,” said the PNG Council of Churches in its statement issued on Friday.

    “Our affirmation is guided by the theology of ‘Love for Neighbour’ to reach out to others and the ‘theology of liberation’ to reduce the suffering of our neighbours inflicted by the covid-19 pandemic.”

    The PNG Council of Churches also said that most of PNG’s health workers, frontline workers, essential workers, people with underlying illnesses and the aged population were not turning up en-masse for vaccination despite being more at risk of dying from the virus.

    The churches also noted that much misinformation was being circulated through the social media that was leading to public hesitancy over the vaccine, thereby endangering the lives of millions of people in PNG.

    The churches also recognised the negative social and economic impact that covid-19 had caused in PNG, resulting in the loss of lives and livelihood of Papua New Guineans.

    Group photograph of the participants of the PNGCC conference
    A group photograph of the participants of the conference, themed “Am I my brother’s keeper?”, organised by the PNG Council of Churches which comprises seven mainline churches. Image: PNGCC

    The church leaders also said that the PNGCC had thoroughly examined the covid-19 vaccination rollout from the Christian theological, cultural, social, academic, medical and political perspectives, and had specifically analysed the doubts and suspicions that were raised.

    Solidarity, duty, safety, access and communication
    Based on this knowledge as well as from the information provided by trusted medical experts, the PNGCC has decided to adopt the five principles of the covid-19 vaccination which are – Solidarity, Duty, Safety, Access and Communication:

    Solidarity: The PNGCC strongly affirm global and national call and support for protecting humankind and protecting the people from serious illness and deaths from Covid-19 infection and that these protective measures fully confirm with Christian principles.

    Duty: The PNGCC accepts that this is the duty of all persons who are eligible for immunization to join our nationwide ‘Sleeves Up Campaign’ to help stop Covid-19 in PNG to protect themselves and their loved ones from severe sickness and death. It is the duty of the government to provide critical health and social support to uphold the welfare of its citizens.

    Safety: The PNGCC acknowledge, based on advice from credible, recognized and reputable medical experts, the safety and effectiveness of all covid-19 vaccines, and that countries with high immunisation rates are beginning to see a decline to almost zero of serious cases and deaths due to covid-19 infection; and that common side effects are not severe and normal.

    Access: The PNGCC acknowledges that deadly diseases like Covid-19 can only be controlled and stopped by vaccinating most of the population, especially high-risk groups. It therefore appeals to all responsible departments, agencies and organizations to ensure that full access to covid-19 vaccine is provided to all Papua New Guineans especially the high-risk group in all provinces. The PNGCC calls on local communities and their leaders to work with respected Christian organisations to ensure adequate awareness, access and uptake of covid-19 vaccinations.

    Communication: The PNGCC appeals to the media, communities, and key leaders to seek the correct information, and not to spread misinformation and rumours that can cause confusion among our communities and ultimately endanger the lives of millions of people. The PNGCC calls on the media to fully engage the national and international religious leaders and medical experts and institutions to address community concerns about covid-19 vaccinations.

    The PNGCC is a Christian ecumenical council in Papua New Guinea, and its members comprise the Anglican Church of PNG, the Gutnius Lutheran Church (affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod), the Union Baptist, the Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG, the United Church in PNG and the Solomon Islands and the Salvation Army.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Indigenous Papuan graduates praise Aotearoa – and their governors

    By Laurens Ikinia in Auckland

    Four fresh indigenous Papuan students have graduated with degrees from Aotearoa New Zealand universities in the past few weeks to fulfil the dreams of Papuan provincial government leaders Lukas Enembe and Dominggus Mandacan.

    The two governors of both Indonesian-Melanesian provinces, Enembe (Papua) province and Mandacan (West Papua) made a bold and enterprising decision to send Papuan students to pursue their higher education overseas, especially to English-speaking countries.

    The four Papuan students, recipients of scholarships from the provincial governments, have graduated with masters and bachelor degrees in a variety of disciplines.

    This article uses the term Papuans to refer to the indigenous people of both provinces which are generally collectively known in Australia and New Zealand as West Papua. Indigenous Papuans are of Melanesian ethnic background and non-Papuans are of other ethnic backgrounds who are living in the Melanesian land of Papua.

    Nathan Sonyap (a scholarship recipient of Papua province) has graduated with a Master of International Tourism Management Studies from Waikato University and Yan Wenda (also  Papua) has gained a Bachelor of Commerce in Management degree from Otago University.

    Gebriella Thenau (a West Papua provincial scholarship recipient) has graduated with a Bachelor of Environmental Management from Lincoln University and Yuliktus Korain (also West Papua) with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing at Canterbury University.

    All four told Asia Pacific Report they were grateful to study and graduate from universities in New Zealand. They dedicated their achievement to their families and the indigenous people of Papua.

    Facing cultural barriers
    Coming from the Melanesian and Pacific region, they said Papuans sometimes faced a lot of cultural barriers and even racial attacks. This put Papuan students under considerable pressure while studying.

    However, in New Zealand they found that the “kindness and generosity of Kiwis” at the universities or in the social environment made them feel “safer and peaceful”. They expressed gratitude towards everyone who had helped them on their life and study journey.

    The four graduates said that some of the challenges that they encountered included  language — as English was a second or even third language for them — weather, the academic system, and culture, and other things.

    Gebriella Thenau — “Gebi” as she is known — said that having an opportunity to study in New Zealand had not been even in her dreams, given that it was very expensive. She was so grateful to the government of West Papua province for awarding her the scholarship.

    She said her parents always reminded her to study seriously because the government used Papuan people’s money, which her parents called “Blood Money”. She said when she received inquiries from them about when she was going to finish study, she always felt under pressure.

    “My parents always reminded me to study seriously. My dad always says remember that you are using indigenous Papuan’s money,” she said.

    “Despite having pressure from my family and study, I always believe that having a qualification from one of the top universities in NZ will pay off … And finally, I made it and my parents and family are proud of that,” said Thenau.

    Crying for better education
    Thenau, who completed her elementary to high school studies in Sorong, one of the cities that predominantly hosts non-Papuans from other parts of Indonesia, said that having supportive parents on her journey was very important.

    “This is a great opportunity as our parents didn’t have an opportunity like us to study overseas — our mothers are sweating and crying on the street for their kids to get a better education, and women don’t have many opportunities in the public space,” said Thenau.

    “So, I hope our success stories will wipe away their tears and sweat.”

    Nathan Sonyap
    Nathan Sonyap … first student from his tribe and church. Image: Asia Pacific Report

    Nathan Sonyap, the first student from his tribe and church, said he was extremely grateful to Governor Enembe and the late Vice-Governor Klemen Tinal for the opportunity to study in New Zealand.

    “It is truly an honour and privilege for me to study here,” he said.

    Sonyap, who did his elementary to high school in Papua and bachelor’s degree in the city of Makasar-Indonesia, said he had learned so many things during his stay in New Zealand.

    “Honestly, it wasn’t that easy,” he said.

    Many challenges
    Yuliktus Korain — “Yulko” as he is known — is an exceptional student. He was orphaned but plans to “bring light to his people”. Korain told Asia Pacific Report that in order for him to reach the level where he was now, he had gone through many challenges.

    Yuliktis Korain 160621
    Yuliktis Korain … “I had completely lost hope.” Image: Asia Pacific Report

    One of the challenges was because he and his younger brother lost their parents when they were still at a very young age.

    “Man…it was extremely hard for me and my younger brother to face the reality when my mom passed away in 2003, just when I started my elementary school and later in 2008 my dad passed away when I was in grade 4.

    “I completely lost hope. I decided to stop going to school because of financial difficulties and losing my parents. For one year, I just stayed at home and played with other kids in the village,” he said.

    Korain said that he was lucky as his uncle — “an angel of the Lord” as he describes him — offered him study. He stayed with his uncle while completing his grade 4, and during grade 5 and 6, he stayed with an aunt.

    Korain continued his middle school to high school while staying in a seminary. He said his groceries, stationery and other needs were looked after by the seminary.

    Never celebrated birthdays
    Yan Piterson Wenda, who is also the president of Papuan Student Association in Oceania, said that celebration of his graduation was something that he would always remember because he had never even celebrated his birthday previously.

    Yan Wenda 160621
    Yan Wenda … “my parents and family couldn’t watch the live graduation … because the internet is still blocked in Papua.” Image: Asia Pacific Report

    “I pay my tribute firstly to my mom because I was raised by a single mother. She is a great person in my life.

    “I wish my mom could have witnessed personally the results of her prayers and hard work of selling cassava, peanuts, and other garden products. But unfortunately, it wasn’t the reality.

    “My parents and family couldn’t watch the live graduation on Facebook … because the internet is still blocked in Papua,” said Wenda.

    While paying tribute to the Papua provincial government, Wenda said his presence in New Zealand was the result of an enlightened “crazy programme” based on social justice to give underprivileged students a chance to study.

    “I am academically not so good, but as you can see, I am granted this opportunity because the government of Papua province wants to give us an equal chance for those who come from underprivileged families and affluent families,” said Wenda.

    Wenda who is now preparing himself to continue his Masters in International Business at Otago University said he followed three guiding principles — believing in God, having a firm motivation for being in NZ, and having supportive people around him.

    All four Papuan graduates said they hoped the programme would continue as it would help raise the dignity of indigenous Papuans who have struggled through painful moments.

    Laurens Ikinia is a Papuan Masters in Communication Studies student at Auckland University of Technology who has been studying journalism. He contributes to Asia Pacific Report.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • 50 years of the Polynesian Panthers: ‘It was a time of revolution’

    RNZ Pacific

    Today marks 50 years to the day that six Pacific Islanders grouped together in central Auckland to form the Polynesian Panther Party.

    The party was founded on 16 June 1971 by members Will ‘Ilolahia, Fred Schmidt, Nooroa Teavae, Paul Dapp, Eddie Williams and Vaughan Sanft. They were later joined by Tigilau Ness, Lupematasila Misatauveve Melani Anae and Alec Toleafoa.

    They took inspiration from the United States civil rights movement Black Panthers during a period of police brutality against the African American population.

    Similar scenes of racial unrest occurred in Aotearoa, and long before the infamous Dawn Raids too. In the early 1870s, an Evening Post article said: “Bad as the Chinese are, the South Sea savages are worse, and any extensive importation of them would have a most pernicious effect.”

    Polynesian Panthers
    Polynesian Panthers … inspired by the US civil rights movement Black Panthers during a period of police brutality against the African American population. Image: RNZ/Facebook

    New Zealand faced major economic troubles almost a century on from that report, and Pasifika immigrants brought under the allure of jobs in industrial labour were resorted to as the scapegoat.

    “It was a time of revolution,” Associate Professor Lupematasila Misatauveve Dr Melani Anae told RNZ’s Untold Pacific History.

    Dr Melani Anae
    Dr Melani Anae talks about the Dawn Raids period in NZ’s history. Image: RNZ/Tikilounge Productions

    “To heck with authority, to heck with conservatism, to heck with the Vietnam War, that was the kind of climate we were growing up in,” she said.

    “We delivered the West End newspaper around Ponsonby and Herne Bay to get money to pay for the office. The work we did as the Polynesian Panthers was conscientising, it was making people aware of who we were.”

    Musician Tigilau Ness recalls that they were criticised for “hating white people”.

    Tigilau Ness
    Tigilau Ness discusses his involvement during the Dawn Raids protests in New Zealand. Image: RNZ/Tikilounge Productions

    “We had to put up with that kind of stigma as well, not only from the Europeans, the white people, but from our own people. ‘Why you do this to the Palagi? Why you go fight the police?’,” he said.

    The Panthers insisted on peaceful strike and protest action, as opposed to their US counterparts.

    They drove in supporters’ vehicles and “dawn raided” the homes of politicians by shining torches and yelling through loudspeakers, to prove why their work was necessary.

    Legal rights pamphlets were distributed, homework centres were held in church halls and food co-ops were run. They also provided free transportation for the families of prison inmates who wanted to visit them, and on release free accommodation would be offered.

    Fifty years on, the Panthers have concluded a tour of schools and Pasifika communities in Wellington, intending to share the story of the ‘Claw’ to the next generation.

     

    The Polynesian Panther Party will hold a three-day fonotaga commemoration event this weekend at the University of Auckland’s Fale Pasifika.

    Whakaako kia Whakaora - Educate to Liberate
    Whakaako kia Whakaora – Educate to Liberate. Image: RNZ/Polynesian Panthers

    Dawn Raid apology
    The Panthers’ golden jubilee couldn’t be more forthcoming, given an announcement made this week of a formal government apology for the 1970s Dawn Raids.

    Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the time had come for an apology for a Labour Party immigration policy that targeted Pasifika people who had overstayed their visas by mere fact of their ethnicity.

    Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
    Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern … “To this day Pacific communities face prejudices and stereotypes … an apology can never reduce what happened.” Image: Dom Thomas/RNZ

    “To this day Pacific communities face prejudices and stereotypes… an apology can never reduce what happened, or undo the decades of disadvantage experienced as a result, but it can contribute to healing for Pacific peoples,” she said.

    Ardern was joined at the theatrette lecturn by Pacific Peoples Minister ‘Aupito Toeolesulusulu Tofae Su’a William Sio, who wiped away tears while sharing his own personal story of being raided as a teenager.

    “I’m quite emotional… I’m trying to control my emotions today,” he said.

    His parents had only just bought a home, taken as an achievement for the family, when a year or two later they’d been woken up to a police officer flashing a torch in their eyes.

    “To have somebody knocking at the door in the early hours of the morning with a flashlight in your face, disrespecting the owner of the home, with an Alsatian dog frothing at the mouth,” ‘Aupito recounted.

    'Aupito William Sio
    ‘Aupito William Sio … “I don’t think there is any Pacific family who was not impacted on by the events of the Dawn Raids.” Image: Dom Thomas/RNZ

    “The memories are etched in my memory of my father being helpless.

    “I don’t think there is any Pacific family who was not impacted on by the events of the Dawn Raids, and there is a strong moral imperative to acknowledge those past actions were wrong. Through an apology, they recognise those actions were unacceptable under the universal declaration of human rights, and are absolutely intolerable within today’s human rights protections.

    “Come for the ceremony,” ‘Aupito said, welcoming the Panthers to the government apology.

    Ardern added “[the Panthers] will probably remind us to ‘educate to liberate’.”

    The Prime Minister will make her formal government apology for the Dawn Raids on June 26 at the Auckland Town Hall, 50 years on from the start of the revolution against racial injustices against Pasifika in Aotearoa.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.