A European warning to Taiwan for failing to manage its fleet’s fishing activities in the Pacific and other oceans and curb illegal fishing is a welcome step forward in the protection of fish stocks plundered by distant water fishing fleet, including Taiwanese fishing vessels, Greenpeace says. A precursor to an import ban, the ‘yellow card’…
Islands States from the Pacific and Caribbean took to the podium of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday, to call for urgent action on climate change, with one leader warning that their people and culture face “potential genocide” from rising seas. “I speak as an islander who has walked the shores of many atoll islands,…
The Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) condemns the shooting of two high school students in Timika on Monday the 28 September by the Indonesian security forces. The incident occurred around 19.30hrs. Caleb Bagau, aged 18, died while his friend Efrando Sabarofek, aged 17, was wounded in the chest and legs. He is receiving treatment at…
Māori Television’s Native Affairs story on West Papua was the first New Zealand television crew allowed into the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region in 50 years. Given Indonesia’s strict policy on allowing access to foreign journalists, reporter Adrian Stevanon said their trip was a sign of change. “I think the achievement is that we are able to…
The European Commission has confirmed its zero tolerance policy against illegal fishing worldwide by warning the Comoros and Taiwan that they risk being identified as uncooperative countriesin the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. At the same time, the Commission is lifting the yellow cards from Ghana and Papua New Guinea, which have…
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has called on the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council to do more in investigating and monitoring allegations of human rights abuse and violations in the Papua and West Papua regions of Indonesia. Sogavare made the call in New York Thursday in his address at the 70th Session of the United…
A MAGISTRATE on Friday hit out at a permanent secretary, describing her behaviour as “wayward” and acting as “someone who is above the law”. Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Kouhota delivered the hard-hitting indictment when imposing a four month suspended sentence on the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Selina Boso. Boso was earlier found…
THE country’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Patteson Oti, yesterday briefed two officers from the Fiji Police force who will be posted here under RAMSI. The briefing, which focussed on “About Solomon Islands”, took place at the High Commission office in Suva in the presence of the Senior Superintendent of Fiji Police and the Director for…
CLIMATE change is a particular threat to island nations thus effective adaptation is vital. Melanesia Director for Wildlife Conservation Society Stacy Jupiter said a new analysis examines current adaptation measures in tropical Oceania had identifies guidelines for implementing resilient, ecosystem-based adaptation. Among its recommendations she said local communities should be fully involved in planning adaptation…
POLICE Commissioner Frank Prendergast has disclosed the policing priority areas for the remaining months of this year. These include keeping a close eye on family-based violence and gender based violence. These two, Mr Prendergast said, take place daily and has affected families in the country. The commissioner also highlight that policing alcohol and anti social…