Yearly Archives: 2021
SAFEnet concerned Jakarta’s virtual police unit may create ‘Orwellian state’
Asia Pacific Report
The Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) – an institution concerned with freedom of expression in the digital world – has...
Who is killing off top Pacific journalism – and why?
By Michael Field of The Pacific Newsroom
Without much in the way of a credible explanation about why, Aotearoa New Zealand education authorities are killing...
Frank Senge Kolma: Somare could lose his temper – trust me, I know
TRIBUTE: By Frank Senge Kolma in Port Moresby
Many will now try to recollect some experience, some exchange or brush with the Grand Chief Sir...
Port Moresby to get bronze statue of PNG founding father
By RNZ Pacific
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, has directed that a bronze statue be erected in honour of Sir Michael...
Veronica Koman challenges Jakarta’s different stands on Burma and Papua
Asia Pacific Report
Human rights lawyer Veronica Koman has challenged the contrasting positions taken by the Indonesian government in response to calls to resolve the...
RSF protests over 11 journalists held in Myanmar coup military crackdown
Asia Pacific Report
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is dismayed by the sudden intensification of the ruling junta’s crackdown on journalists during the past three days,...
Rioters, looters strike PNG cities as nation mourns death of Somare
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby
Rioters described by Papua New Guinea police as "opportunists" taking advantage of the death of Grand Chief Sir Michael...
NZ covid: Destiny Church leaders actions ‘completely irresponsible’
By RNZ News
New Zealand's Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the actions of the Destiny Church leaders in leaving Auckland on the eve of...
Papua New Guinea’s bilum – how the handcrafted bags reached Rangiora
Florence Jaukae works with a co-operative of women in Papua New Guinea to produce original works of bilum. Video: Pacific Trade Invest Australia
By Laurens...
Remembering Nelson Anjain: A champion for nuclear justice in the Pacific
SPECIAL REPORT: By Talei Luscia Mangioni
“I realise now that your entire career is based on our illness. We are far more valuable to you...
Myanmar’s Bloody Sunday – security forces ‘live tracking’ media, protesters
By Phil Thornton in Bangkok
The Myanmar army, police and militia’s use of violence against peaceful protestors reached another level on Sunday, February 28.
By 5pm, local...
Kanaky New Caledonia ministers again deadlocked over president election
By RNZ Pacific
New Caledonia's 11 newly elected ministers have again failed to elect a new president.
Like two weeks ago, none of the three...
Tongan missionaries ‘in hiding’ in PNG as angry looters target Asian shops
By Kalino Latu, editor of Kaniva Tonga
A group of Tongan missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Papua New...
NZ covid: ‘We should be TikToking information’, says Pacific advocate
By RNZ News
The New Zealand government is being told to roll out clearer and smarter communications around the latest covid-19 community outbreak, to make...
Parkop pledges no lockdown in Port Moresby due to ‘precarious’ economy
By Lulu Mark in Port Moresby
Governor Powes Parkop says there will be no lockdown in Papua New Guinea's National Capital District (NCD) despite a...
Graham Davis: Fat-cat leaders laughing in the face of Fiji’s suffering
COMMENTARY: By Graham Davis
Last month, I wrote on Facebook that the resumption of my blog Grubsheet for 2021 was being postponed out of consideration...
NZ covid: Ardern on latest 3 cases: ‘Everyone is angry… we have to fix...
By RNZ News
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she gets that everyone is angry over the latest New Zealand community covid-19 cases after it emerged...
NZ’s international student downturn costs 700 university jobs
By John Gerritsen, RNZ News reporter
Nearly 700 university staff are losing or leaving their jobs in New Zealand because of a financial hole left...
NZ covid: Not following rules ‘puts all of us at risk’, says Auckland mayor
By RNZ News
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff wants tougher measures against people ignoring New Zealand's covid-19 health guidance.
He said it was frustrating to learn one...
Covid-19: Auckland back to alert level three following new NZ cases
By RNZ News
Auckland will move to alert level 3 for a week at 6am tomorrow morning after two new covid-19 community cases in New...
Timor-Leste: Political leadership, patriarchal relationships, and the paedophile ex-priest
ANALYSIS: By Sara Niner
Xanana Gusmao’s recent contrived jovial participation in the birthday celebrations of "self-professed" paedophile and defrocked foreign priest Richard Daschbach has shocked many...
Michael Somare – the passing of a great man, Sana, the peacemaker
By Scott Waide in Lae, Papua New Guinea
Sir Michael was a man of many titles. He was father, grandfather and chief.
As a tribal leader,...