The Vanuatu Daily Post is deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Dan McGarry, our former media director. McGarry was a fearless investigative journalist, photographer, and software professional who made a lasting contribution to the development of the Daily Post.

He managed media content across the company’s publications, website, and social media platforms, while also shaping the wider media landscape in Vanuatu.

Before formally joining the organisation in 2015, he wrote regular columns under the pseudonym Graham Crumb.

• READ MORE: ‘He will never be replaced’ – tributes flow for ‘fearless’ Vanuatu journalist Dan McGarry
• OCCRP mourns the loss of Dan McGarry, pioneering Pacific editor and investigative journalist
• Dan McGarry’s articles on Asia Pacific Report

Prior to joining the Daily Post, McGarry was part of the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP), an independent, non-profit, regionally focused think tank based in Port Vila. He also worked with Computer Network Services (CNS) as technical manager during its early years.

Reports indicate that McGarry, 62, fell ill following a trip to Papua New Guinea earlier this month and was evacuated to Brisbane.

He faced complications during recovery and remained in critical care in recent weeks. At the time of his passing, McGarry was serving as Pacific editor for the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

McGarry was a leading voice in Pacific journalism, driven by a strong sense of justice and commitment to the public good.

He is survived by his wife and children. His passing leaves a profound gap in the media community.

The Vanuatu Daily Post extends its heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time and stands with them in mourning this loss.

Republished from the Vanuatu Daily Post.

Tributes are pouring in from across the region for “fearless” and “formidable” Vanuatu journalist Dan McGarry, who died on Wednesday.

McGarry, 62, fell ill after a trip to Papua New Guinea earlier this month, from where he had to be evacuated to Brisbane to undergo a heart bypass.

But he faced complications during his recovery and had remained in critical care for the past few weeks.

• READ MORE: Dan McGarry’s articles on Asia Pacific Report
• OCCRP mourns the loss of Dan McGarry, pioneering Pacific editor and investigative journalist

McGarry, who was a former editor of Vanuatu’s only national newspaper, the Vanuatu Daily Post, and Pacific editor of the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) at the time of his death, has left behind his wife and children.

“It’s with great heartbreak that I have to announce that the legendary Dan McGarry passed away earlier today,” Aubrey Belford, who was a co-editor with McGarry at OCCRP, said in a Facebook post.

“Dan was an absolutely dominating presence in Pacific journalism and in the region more generally.

“Dan was compassionate, sharing, and always motivated by a sense of justice and the common good. He was driven but also understood the importance of patience, friendship, and community.

‘A shell or more of kava’
“When home in Vanuatu he loved nothing more than finishing his day with a shell or more of kava, satisfied in the knowledge he had found his place in the world.”

Belford added McGarry’s loss was devastating not just for his family but for all journalists working in the region.

“He will be missed, and he will never be replaced.”

Another friend and colleague, Andrew Gray, said McGarry was “a good man”.

“After a hard life he finally found happiness in Vanuatu, and he did a lot more for the country than people appreciate. Last time I saw him he was planning his retirement at Lalwori.

“Condolences to Line McGarry Watsivi and their daughters.”

InsidePNG described McGarry as “more than just a colleague, a titan of regional journalism and a tireless advocate for the truth”.

‘Wealth of experience’
“As the former editor of the Vanuatu Daily Post, he brought a wealth of experience and a fearless spirit to every project he touched. Dan was absolutely instrumental in the birth of our investigative centre in Port Moresby.

“He didn’t just help set the foundation, he guided and mentored InsidePNG through our most critical work, building a lasting connection with our team that went far beyond professional duty,” the news outlet said in a social media post.

Kiribati journalist Rimon Rimon, who worked with McGarry, described him as “one of the brilliant minds I had the privilege of working closely with in our OCCRP investigations!”

The University of the South Pacific’s head of journalism associate professor Dr Shailendra Singh said McGarry’s passing is “profoundly felt across the Pacific media community, where his contributions as journalist, trainer and mentor have made a lasting impact”.

“He will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

RNZ Pacific manager Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor said McGarry’s presence would be missed.

“Dan McGarry was one of the best – a champion of the truth.”

Asia Pacific Report editor Dr David Robie said: “Vale Dan McGarry. A stunning loss to investigative journalism and media courage and integrity in Vanuatu and the Pacific. A friend and mentor to all.

“Farewell Dan and many thanks for your inspiration and mentoring. Deepest condolences to whānau. RIP.”

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

Vanuatu’s only daily newspaper, the Vanuatu Daily Post, is facing a ban on covering future football league matches after publishing an article with the headline: “Former women’s coach says lesbianism is a reason Vanuatu women’s squad keeps losing”.

The outlet ran a story on March 6 featuring an interview with a former women’s team coach, Emmanuel Vatu, that criticised in-team relationships as an occasional distraction.

While Vatu had not been quoted directly, the Vanuatu Daily Post ran the story with a social media caption that blamed “lesbianism” for poor results by the women’s national team, who lost all three group games in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Oceania Qualifiers held in Fiji.

• READ MORE: Other Pacific football reports

“Sexual relationships with teammates would lead to distraction during matches,” the newspaper reported.

“He witnessed his players at the time, more focused on their personal relationships off the field, rather than developing their skills on the field.”

In response, Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) released a statement, saying that the comments were “defamatory” and denigrating to female players.

“They have every right to pursue the necessary means to address these negative and harmful comments,” a statement read.

‘Committed to equality’
“We will not allow such rhetoric to diminish the achievements and contributions of our women’s team. We remain committed to promoting equality and ensuring football is a welcoming environment for all.”

On March 9, the Vanuatu Daily Post reported that VFF president Lambert Matlock, who is also the president of the Oceania Football Confederation, had threatened to ban their journalists from their games via email.

Lead reporter Mavuku Tokona told RNZ Pacific they are unapologetic.

“In his interview [Vatu] actually emphasised the fact on how many women that are involved [in] sexual relations on the field,” Tokona said.

“He said it’s explosive, or something along those lines.”

Tokoma said the term “lesbian” was used as a catch-all term because there is no word for it in Bislama.

“In order to encapsulate all of that, we had to phrase it that way.”

Ban effectively begun
He said the ban has effectively begun, with his reporters missing out on invites as of Wednesday last week.

Tokona said the “lesbian” comments were just an excuse for years of mistreatment by the VFF.

He believes the Vanuatu Daily Post has been given the cold shoulder by sports bodies because they ask tough questions, saying he often relied on his competitors to stay in the loop.

“There was a strategic launch of the National Women’s Team, and they decided not to invite us,” he said.

He said when a “small female” reporter from the newspaper headed along despite not receiving an invitation, she faced “verbal abuse”.

“They usually heckle her while she’s walking in, threaten her, intimidate her . . .  I usually force her to go anyway,” Tokona said.

The VFF has been approached for comment.

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

Vanuatu’s media community was in mourning today following the death on Monday of Marc Neil-Jones, founder of the Trading Post Vanuatu, which later became the Vanuatu Daily Post, and also radio 96BuzzFM. He was 67.

His fearless pursuit of press freedom and dedication to truth have left an indelible mark on the country’s media landscape.

Neil-Jones’s journey began in 1989 when he arrived in Vanuatu from the United Kingdom with just $8000, an early Macintosh computer, and an Apple laser printer.

• READ MORE: Vanuatu’s Daily Post founder Marc Neil-Jones swaps print for tourism – Tribute by David Robie
• Marc Neil-Jones, Vanuatu’s media pioneer, passes away
• Other Marc Neil-Jones reports

It was only four years after Cyclone Uma had ravaged the country, and he was determined to create something that would stand the test of time — a voice for independent journalism.

In 1993, Neil-Jones succeeded in convincing then Prime Minister Maxime Carlot Korman to grant permission to launch the Trading Post, the country’s first independent newspaper. Prior to this, the media was under tight government control, and there had been no platform for critical or independent reporting.

The Trading Post was a bold step toward change. Neil-Jones’s decision to start the newspaper, with its unapologetically independent voice, was driven by his desire to provide the people of Vanuatu with the truth, no matter how difficult or controversial.

This was a turning point for the country’s media, and his dedication to fairness and transparency quickly made his newspaper a staple in the community.

Blend of passion, wit and commitment
Marc Neil-Jones’s blend of passion, wit, and unyielding commitment to press freedom became the foundation upon which the Vanuatu Trading Post evolved. The paper grew, expanded, and ultimately rebranded as the Vanuatu Daily Post, but Marc’s vision remained constant — to provide a platform for honest journalism and to hold power to account.

His ability to navigate the challenges that came with being an independent voice in a country where media freedom was still in its infancy is a testament to his resilience and determination.

Neil-Jones faced numerous hurdles throughout his career — imprisonment, deportation, threats, and physical attacks — but he never wavered. His sense of fairness and his commitment to truth were unwavering, even when the challenges seemed insurmountable.

His personal integrity and passion for his work left a lasting impact on the development of independent journalism in Vanuatu, ensuring that the country’s media continued to evolve and grow despite the odds.

Marc Neil-Jones’ legacy is immeasurable. He not only created a platform for independent news in Vanuatu, but he also became a symbol of resilience and a staunch defender of press freedom.

Marc Neil-Jones explaining how he used his radio journalism as a “guide” in the Secret Garden in 2016. Video: David Robie

His work has influenced generations of journalists, and his fight for the truth has shaped the media landscape in the Pacific.

As we remember Marc Neil-Jones, we also remember the Trading Post — the paper that started it all and grew into an institution that continues to uphold the values of fairness, integrity, and transparency.

Marc Neil-Jones’s work has changed the course of Vanuatu’s media history, and his contributions will continue to inspire those who fight for the freedom of the press in the Pacific and beyond.

Rest in peace, Marc Neil-Jones. Your legacy will live on in every headline, every report, and every story told with truth and integrity.

Terence Malapa is publisher of Vanuatu Politics and Home News.

Photojournalist Ben Bohane’s tribute
Vale Marc Neil-Jones, media pioneer and kava enthusiast who passed away last night. He fought for and normalised media freedom in Vanuatu through his Daily Post newspaper with business partner Gene Wong and a great bunch of local journalists.

Reporting the Pacific can sometimes be a body contact sport and Marc had the lumps to prove it. It was Marc who brought me to Vanuatu to work as founding editor for the regional Pacific Weekly Review in 2002 and I never left.

The newspaper didn’t last but our friendship did.

He was a humane and eccentric character who loved journalism and the botanical garden he ran with long time partner Jenny.

Rest easy mate, there will be many shells of kava raised in your honour today.

For Doddy Morris, a journalist with the Vanuatu Daily Post, the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Vanuatu last month on December 17, 2024, was more than just a story — it was a personal tragedy.

Amid the chaos, Morris learned his brother, an Anglican priest, had died.

“My mom called me crying and asked, ‘Did your brother die?’. I wasn’t sure and told her I was heading to Vila Central Hospital right away,” he recalled.

• READ MORE: Vanuatu election 2025: Earthquake aftershocks expose high cost of democracy
• Other Vanuatu earthquake reports

Morris arrived at the hospital to confirm the worst. “My heart sank when I confirmed that my brother had indeed passed away. At that moment, I forgot about my job.”

Despite his grief, Morris joined his remaining brothers at the hospital mortuary that night, staying by their deceased sibling’s side and mourning together. “We were the only ones there. We spent the whole night drinking kava outside while he lay in the cool room,” he said.

The quake — which claimed 14 lives, injured more than 265 people, and displaced more than 1000 — left an indelible mark on Port Vila and its residents. Infrastructure damage was extensive, with schools, homes, and water reserves destroyed, and the Central Business District (CBD) heavily impacted.

In the days following the earthquake, Morris returned to his role as a reporter, capturing the unfolding crisis despite the emotional toll. “When the earthquake struck, I thought I was going to die myself,” he said. Yet, minutes after the tremor subsided, he grabbed his camera and rushed to the CBD.

At the heart of the destruction, he witnessed harrowing scenes. “I was shocked to see the collapsed Billabong building. A body lay covered with a blue tarpaulin, and Pro Rescue teams were trying to save others who were trapped inside,” Morris recounted.

The lack of a network connection frustrated his efforts to report live, but he pressed on, documenting the damage.

A month after the disaster, Morris continues to cover the aftermath as Vanuatu transitions from emergency response to recovery. “A month has passed since the earthquake, but the memories remain fresh. We don’t know when Port Vila will return to normal,” he said.

His photojournalism has been demonstrating the true impact of the earthquake as he continues to capture the mourning of a nation after such a tragic event.

The earthquake left deep scars, not only on the nation’s infrastructure but also on its people. “Unlike cyclones, which we can predict, prepare for, and survive, earthquakes strike without warning and show no mercy,” Morris said.

Through grief and uncertainty, Morris remains committed to his work, documenting the resilience of his community and the challenges they face as they rebuild. His reporting serves as a testament to the strength of both the people of Vanuatu and a journalist who continues to bear witness, even in the face of personal loss.

Reporting on his own community while grappling with personal loss is a reality for many Pacific Island journalists who cover disasters. For Doddy Morris, reporting on the traumatic events of the earthquake meant confronting his own grief while documenting the grief of others.

Dr Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson is a Pacific journalism trainer with the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma. She expresses her support for Morris and his colleagues in showing “extraordinary courage and resilience”. This article was first published by The New Atoll and is republished with permission.

The Australian Associated Press (AAP) news agency has provided a vital training opportunity for journalists at the Vanuatu Daily Post.

Last week, 12 reporters participated in a training session held at the Daily Post where AAP offered free access to its website and platforms, marking a significant step in enhancing global news reporting.

AAP’s international development lead Delia Obst outlined the importance of this initiative.

• READ MORE: Other Pacific journalism training reports

“AAP is Australia’s independent national newswire service that provides trusted reporting, images, and video to hundreds of media outlets in Australia and internationally,” she said.

“On this trip, we are also training newsrooms in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji. We are in Vanuatu to train reporters from the Vanuatu Daily Post and Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) on how to access and use AAP’s content, which we hope will support their work and be a great source of regional news.

“This is part of the AAP Pacific News Initiative, which is funded by the Australian government and implemented by AAP.

“We are excited to build a partnership with Vanuatu’s only daily newspaper.”

Wider global coverage
The new access to AAP’s platforms is expected to benefit Daily Post, enabling coverage of press releases and events they cannot attend, such as government official visits abroad and sports events.

AAP’s website features allow users to select their interest topics or stories, providing real-time updates via email notifications whenever relevant news is published, this ensures that Daily Post reporters can stay updated on important stories and coverage.

Filing a query on the platform usually results in a response within approximately 15 minutes, provided AAP is covering the event and time zone differences are considered.

This quick response time is especially valuable for Daily Post‘s newsroom, which places high importance on timely and accurate news delivery.

Sports reporter Vourie Molivakoro expressed her gratitude for joining the AAP platform.

She is eager to use this platform to bring in-depth coverage and insightful reporting to her audience, highlighting the performances and stories of athletes on the global stage.

“With limited resources for obtaining news abroad, the Daily Post sports team can now obtain news and share it with its audiences across the country and region as a whole,” she said.

Clifton Kissel is a Vanuatu Daily Post reporter. Republished with permission.

French Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer to Vanuatu has hit back at criticism about French policy over Kanaky New Caledonia with an op-ed article published in the Vanuatu Daily Post.

His article addresses key concerns regarding New Caledonia’s indigenous recognition, the decolonisation process, discrimination, military operations, and calls for independence in response to a protest petition delivered by the president of the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs (MCC), Chief Paul Robert Ravun, earlier this month.

At least nine people, including two gendarmes, have died in the unrest and rioting that followed protests against French constitutional changes starting on May 13 that critics say will further marginalise the indigenous people of the territory.

• READ MORE: Fresh violence flares up in New Caledonia – 38 arrested
• Other reports on the Kanaky New Caledonia crisis

Damage from the rioting and arson is estimated to be 1 billion euros (about NZ$1.8 billion).

Eight arrested pro-independence leaders and charged over the riots were transferred to prisons in mainland France last weekend to await trial in a move heavily criticised across the Pacific.

Key points made by Ambassador Vilmer in his article in the Vanuatu Daily Post today were:

Recognition of indigenous people
Ambassador Vilmer reaffirmed France’s commitment to recognising the Kanak people as indigenous, emphasising their unique identity and cultural heritage, “the French government formally acknowledges the Kanaky people as indigenous, recognising their unique identity and cultural heritage”.

Highlighting the 1998 Nouméa Accord, Vilmer noted its acknowledgment of the dual legitimacy of both the Kanak people and other communities that have contributed to New Caledonia’s development, initiatives such as the inclusion of Kanak languages in the education system and the establishment of the Tjibaou Cultural Centre that underscores French support for promoting and defending Kanak culture.

Denouncing discrimination
Vilmer stressed France’s rejection of discrimination, saying “the French government denounces all forms of discrimination and is committed to promoting peace, justice, democracy, and respect for human rights”.

Measures aimed at improving access to employment, education, and public services for the Kanak population had been implemented, although Vilmer acknowledged that challenges remained and more work was needed to reduce inequalities and foster harmonious relations among all communities in New Caledonia.

Decolonisation of Kanaky
Regarding the decolonisation process, Vilmer highlighted France’s support for New Caledonia’s path towards self-determination, which began in 1988, “the process of decolonisation in New Caledonia has been ongoing since 1988, with the French government supporting a path towards self-determination”.

The Nouméa Accord of 1998, providing for substantial autonomy and the gradual transfer of powers to local authorities, had been praised by the United Nations Decolonisation Committee, despite three referendums in which a majority chose to remain part of France.

Vilmer underscored France’s commitment to ongoing dialogue and cooperation with regional partners to build a shared future.

Immediate cessation of military operations
Vilmer addressed concerns about military operations, clarifying that none were currently underway in New Caledonia, “there are no military operations currently taking place in New Caledonia”.

Law enforcement activities were being conducted by police and the gendarmerie to maintain public order and protect residents and infrastructure, adhering to the principle of proportionate use of force. The French government remained committed to ensuring safety and security while addressing unrest through dialogue and peaceful means.

Independent international investigations
On the issue of independent international investigations, Vilmer said there was “no necessity” for such measures as law enforcement actions were being supervised by independent courts following due legal process, “there is no need for independent international investigations”.

Reinforcements deployed by the French state were deemed necessary to prevent further violence and socioeconomic damage. Vilmer emphasised the government’s “transparency and openness” to dialogue concerning law enforcement operations.

Support for Kanaky independence
In response to calls for Kanak independence, Vilmer highlighted France’s engagement with regional partners and the structured process of self-determination provided by the Nouméa Accord, “the French government continues to engage with regional partners to support dialogue and cooperation”.

The Accord had facilitated multiple opportunities for the Kanak people and all New Caledonians to express their will.

Ambassador Vilmer reiterated France’s dedication to advancing an “inclusive and peaceful future” for New Caledonia through continued dialogue and partnership with regional partners.

Nicholas Mwai is a Vanuatu Daily Post reporter. This article is republished with permission.

Power has transitioned from Vanuatu’s government to the opposition in Parliament during the Fifth Extraordinary Session convened to debate a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Sato Kilman.

The opposition held 26 MPs against the government’s 24 with only two government MPs, — Esmon Saimon from the Vanua’aku Pati (VP) representing Malekula, and Wesley Rasu from Malo constituency — present during the extraordinary session on Monday.

The remaining 22 government MPs boycotted the session, denying a quorum.

• READ MORE: Other Vanuatu politics reports

Parliamentary Speaker Seoule Simeon suspended the session until this Friday for the no-confidence motion debate and the election of a new prime minister.

Kilman lost two ministers within a single week — Minister of Sports and National United Party (NUP) John Still Tari Qetu and Minister of Trade, Commerce Samson Samsen (MP for Santo).

Samsen’s presence with the opposition in Parliament confirmed previous allegations of his defection.

The two ministerial positions are now vacant due to the resignations, and an attempt to replace Qetu with Bruno Leingkone, president of NUP and MP of Ambrym constituency, lasted only two days before his seat was declared vacant by the Speaker due to three consecutive absences.

Challenged in court
Leingkone challenged this decision in court but the Supreme Court ruled against him.

The Supreme Court also dismissed Leingkone’s application to stay the Speaker’s announcement on the vacation of his seat. He indicated yesterday that he would appeal against the judgment of the Supreme Court.

With these defections and the vacation of Leingkone’s seat, Kilman lost support within a week, reducing government MPs to 23 compared to the previous 25, while the opposition increased from 25 to 26 MPs.

The opposition now holds an absolute majority of 26 out of 51 MPs. Additionally, a motion to suspend the current Deputy Speaker, Gracia Shadrack, is expected to further reduce Kilman’s support due to the threatening statement he made during a parliamentary session.

The leader of the opposition bloc, MP Charlot Salwai (a former prime minister), told a press conference that Shadrack had publicly threatened to burn down the Parliament House on 16 August 2023 during the Third Extraordinary Session when the Speaker refused to grant permission for Leingkone to vote virtually while he was hospitalised in South Korea.

The opposition said Shadrack’s action had put in question the safety of Parliament and its workers.

MP Salwai expressed confidence in the opposition’s 26 solid votes to remove Kilman as PM.

Kilman had been elected as Prime Minister on September 4, 2023, during a motion of no confidence against then PM Ishmael Kalsakau, just 10 months into his term.

Kalsakau’s removal was secured with an absolute majority of 26 votes out of 51 MPs present, a definition set by the Vanuatu High Court of Appeal upon the application of the current PM.

Kilman is now expected to face the same fate on Friday, as the opposition maintains its support of 26 votes.

Republished from the Vanuatu Daily Post with permission.

Vanuatu Daily Post civil society correspondents have written in unison condemning the failure of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to admit West Papua as full members of the organisation at last month’s leaders’ summit in Port Vila.

The Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) says that “it’s tragic that the MSG leaders did not respond” to the call of the Melanesian grassroots that took to the streets in support of West Papua memnbership.

“Many [West Papuans] were arrested, and beaten as they rallied peacefully,” wrote Joe Collins, spokesperson for AWPA, who was in Port Vila for the leaders’ summit.

• READ MORE:  Sad Regenvanu condemns MSG for ‘failing’ people of West Papua
• The silent war – Australia and Indonesia mum on Papuan human right abuses
• Wenda welcomes MSG call for UN visit and fights on for full membership
• OPM accuses Melanesian group of taking Jakarta’s ‘blood money’ at expense of West Papuan justice
• Wenda calls on MSG for urgent action to back pledge over human rights
• MSG throws away golden chance to reset peace and justice for West Papua
• MSG leaders defer Papua membership decision to Pacific Islands Forum
• Flashback: Fiji, PNG lead betrayal, but still West Papuans triumph (in 2015)
• Other MSG reports

“Free West Papua” criticised the “strategic move by Indonesia to sway opinion among Pacific island nations”.

“The fear is that this could be an attempt to showcase Indonesia in a positive light, downplaying the grave issues [of human rights violations] in West Papua.”

The letter also criticised a plan to open an Indonesian embassy in Vanuatu, cloaming such a move “could serve as a platform to exert influence and suppress the ongoing struggle for justice and freedom in West Papua”.

Some of the letters:

MSG has failed West Papua: Regenvanu
“It’s not just [Climate Change Minister Ralph] Regenvanu, who believes that the MSG failed West Papua at their summit. It’s every West Papuan and their supporters who also feel let down by the MSG leaders.

“Over the past few months in West Papua, the grassroots took to the streets showing support for the United Liberation Movement For West Papua (ULPWP’s) application and calling on the MSG to grant full membership to West Papua. Many were arrested, and beaten as they rallied peacefully.

“It’s tragic that the MSG Leaders did not respond to their call. Do the MSG leaders not read the reports of the ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua?

“If the MSG Leaders failed West Papua, the people of the Pacific and Vanuatu in particular do not. In the few days I spent in Port Vila, I saw support for West Papua everywhere.

“The West Papuan flag flying free and Free West Papuan stickers on walls. I was impressed with the support and kindness of the Vanuatu people and the Vanuatu Free West Papua Association who help keep the struggle alive.

“The West Papuan representatives, who had their own summit, showed a determined people committed to their freedom. Something the leaders of the region should note. The issue of West Papua is not going away.”

Joe Collins, Australia West Papua Association, Sydney, VDP, August 31, 2023

Indonesian funding

“The funding Indonesia is providing Vanuatu (VDP, August 24), is that a case of chequebook diplomacy to blunt Vanuatu’s solidarity with West Papua’s struggle against Indonesian colonial occupation and oppression?”

Indonesian ‘trail of violence’
“The chairman of the Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) delivered a poignant statement that resonates with the deep concerns shared by the people of Vanuatu.

“For over five decades, the Indonesian military’s actions in West Papua have left a trail of violence and human rights abuses. The chairman’s statement underscores the lasting impact of these killings and highlights the passionate support of Vanuatu for the people of West Papua.

“The Melanesian Arts Festival, a cultural celebration of the region’s diversity, became a stage for diplomatic tension as Indonesia’s uninvited presence raised eyebrows. The chairman’s remarks revealed a resolute belief that this unexpected appearance was not merely coincidental, but a strategic move by Indonesia to sway opinion among Pacific island nations.

“The fear is that this could be an attempt to showcase Indonesia in a positive light, downplaying the grave issues in West Papua.

“Moreover, Indonesia’s reported plans to open an embassy in Vanuatu raise further suspicions about their intentions.

“Concerns are mounting that such a move could serve as a platform to exert influence and suppress the ongoing struggle for justice and freedom in West Papua.

“The people of Vanuatu, however, remain steadfast in their support for their brothers and sisters in West Papua. Despite potential political and financial pressures, they refuse to turn a blind eye to the human rights violations that have plagued the region for far too long.

“The chairman’s statement reflects the sentiments of a nation determined to stand united against injustice.

“This unwavering support from Vanuatu is a testament to the power of solidarity among Pacific island nations. It sends a strong message to the international community that human rights and justice cannot be compromised for political gains or financial interests.

“The situation in West Papua demands attention, and the people of Vanuatu have vowed to be a voice for those who have been silenced.

“As the saga unfolds, the eyes of the world are on Vanuatu, watching how the nation navigates this delicate diplomatic dance. Their commitment to supporting West Papua’s quest for justice and freedom remains resolute, and they must navigate this situation with tact and conviction.

“In times of adversity, the bonds of brotherhood are tested, and Vanuatu has proven that their ties with West Papua go beyond borders. Their stance is a reminder that human rights violations should never be brushed aside or obscured by political maneuvers.

“It is a call for action, urging the global community to stand alongside Vanuatu and West Papua in their pursuit of justice.

“As we continue to witness the developments in this complex situation, the world awaits with bated breath to see how Vanuatu’s unwavering support for West Papua will unfold. Will their resolute determination inspire others to join their cause, or will political pressures prevail?

“Only time will tell, but one thing remains clear: the voices of Vanuatu and West Papua will not be silenced, and their pursuit of justice and freedom will persist until it is achieved.”

“Free West Papua”, VDP, July 29, 2023

The Vanuatu Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the opposition, which contested a ruling by the parliamentary Speaker regarding what constitutes an absolute majority in Parliament.

The court case followed a motion of no-confidence in the prime minister being defeated under a technicality of the rules as interpreted by the Speaker.

Former prime minister Sato Kilman, who is now in the opposition, said the judge had ruled an absolute majority in Parliament was 26, so the opposition won the case.

• READ MORE: Other Vanuatu no-confidence vote reports

But he said the judge had stayed the case until 3pm on Monday to allow any appeal.

“We are glad, because we believed that we were right from the start, and that is why we lodged the application to the court,” Kilman said.

Earlier this month the opposition, in seeking to remove Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, won 26 votes in the 52-member House, while the government got 23 votes.

There was one abstention — from the Speaker — one seat is vacant and one is empty due to that MP getting medical treatment overseas.

Vanuatu’s constitution states that an absolute majority is needed to oust a prime minister and this has been interpreted to mean 27 MPs in the 52-member Parliament.

Legal precedent
Kalsakau said there was legal precedent to support this position.

In the judgment released today, the judge said the court “concludes that the actual number of members of Parliament when this vote was taken is the relevant number on which an absolute majority should be based”.

“It is the view of this court that the applicants have shown that their Constitutional rights, as set out in the application filed on 17th August 2023, have been infringed by the 1st respondent,” the judgment said.

“They are entitled to relief sought.”

It also said an order would be issued about that relief, but the order would include a stay to allow an appeal before any further steps are taken to enforce the order.

Supreme Court has just ruled that the vote of 26 MP’s to oust the PM last week was valid and that the PM was voted out by an absolute majority of 26 in a Parliament with 51 members. So we are still only in Government due to a stay order granted to allow us time to appeal.

— Ralph Regenvanu (@RRegenvanu) August 25, 2023

Cathy Solomon, 64, who lives in Port Vila, said the majority of people in Vanuatu were suffering because of “unfair and sad” politicians who were only thinking of self preservation.

She said the country’s politicians had failed in their purpose as elected representatives of the people.

She said it was time for more women to get into Parliament so they could challenge and change Vanuatu’s precarious political situation.

Hendon Kalsakau, 65, a chief of the Coconut Tribe on Ifira island, said the situation was “affecting deeply” the ni-Vanuatu people.

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

Vanuatu’s Parliament is scheduled to meet tomorrow to debate a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau’s government.

A political stalemate persists, with both the government and the opposition having the support of 25 MPs each.

The mover of the motion, opposition leader and a former prime minister Bob Loughman, requires the backing of at least 27 members to unseat Kalsakau.

• LISTEN TO RNZ PACIFIC WAVES: Political stalemate in Vanuatu as no-confidence vote looms

However, Kalsakau also needs a majority in the House if he is to be able to pass legislation going forward.

Last Thursday, the government side boycotted a special sitting of Parliament to avoid the no-confidence motion.

Kalsakau told local media on Monday that the opposition’s attempts to unseat him was “irresponsible” and “a big waste of resources at a time when we are trying to rebuild our nation”.

Another former PM and head of the Reunification Movement for Change, Charlot Salwai, urged politicians to “unite and come out of this political crisis”.

Time for MPs to ‘find a solution’
“Vanuatu has experienced consequences of no-confidence motions over the past years and it is time for the MPs to come together and find a solution.

“The country and people are suffering because of our attitudes,” Salwai said.

There are 52 seats in the Vanuatu Parliament. One is vacant and one empty.

Both sides are claiming a National United Party MP, Bruno Leingkone, who is receiving medical attention abroad, is on their side.

According to the Vanuatu Daily Post, Loughman said Leingkone was expected to vote for the motion of no trust in PM Kalsakau virtually.

The first-ever law to regulate political parties has been tabled in the 2nd Extraordinary Session summoned 2 weeks ago to start next week. Then last week a motion of no confidence was tabled to be debated before those Bills can be tabled. Vanuatu’s perpetual political “Catch-22” https://t.co/UMzQoO0zxN

— Ralph Regenvanu (@RRegenvanu) August 11, 2023

RNZ Pacific’s Vanuatu correspondent Hilaire Bule said “the situation will be [clearer] when the Parliament is in session on Wednesday”.

“But the target of the government at the moment is to make sure that the opposition must not have 27 [MPs],” he told RNZ Pacific Waves.

“If the opposition reach 27 in the Parliament, the opposition will pass its motion against Prime Minister Kalsakau.”

Bule said the Parliament could not be dissolved as was the case last year, which resulted in a snap election.

“We have ended up in the political crisis because the Council of Ministers cannot request the President of the Republic to dissolve the Parliament because our constitution says that Parliament must have one year before a majority of members of Parliament or Council of Ministers can apply for dissolution of the Parliament,” he said.

“That one year of Parliament will be only on December this year.”

Bule said people had become accustomed to facing political crisis in the country and it was “part of their life”.

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

The interim President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) provisional government, Benny Wenda, has condemned Indonesia for the arrest and torture of eight students, and appeals to Melanesian countries to support their plea.

The eight West Papuan students were arrested by Indonesian police for peacefully demonstrating with banners and hand-painted Morning Star flags in Jayapura, capital of the Indonesian-ruled province of Papua, on 1 December 2021.

They have been charged with treason, and may face 25 years in prison.

• READ MORE: Papuan students charged with treason for raising Papuan flag
• Interim president: Immediately release eight peaceful student demonstrators
• 60,000 flee as West Papua conflict deepens, poses questions for region
• Other West Papua reports

In an interview with 96.3 Buzz FM, Wenda said that this happened when West Papua celebrated its 60th year anniversary, which is significant for all West Papuans.

“The event is celebrated globally. Official celebrations took place in Netherlands, in United Kingdom, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu,” he said.

“The university students peacefully raised their flags, marched and chanted withdrawal of the military and demanded self-determination.

“Just last month, I asked the Indonesian government to allow my people to express themselves because we always respect their independence on August 17 annually,” Wenda said.

‘Call for respect and release’
“We have called for respect and are not happy with this arrest.

“We are also asking the international community to monitor the situation.”

Amnesty Indonesia has already called for the immediate release of the students. These students have been fed up with the military operations, internal displacements, murders and bombings.

Wenda also said that recently an elderly woman, Paulina Imbumar, who leads prayers, was arrested, and a request had been sent to the police station to release her.

The chair of the Vanuatu West Papua Association, Job Dalesa, said it was very sad to hear such actions taken.

He added that it was an independent human rights flag and the students were portraying their stand.

Dalesa called on the people of Vanuatu to unite in prayer for the people of West Papua.

“We will appeal to Indonesia to stop such actions,” he said.

The Vanuatu Daily Post contacted the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) headquarters in Port Vila for comments on the situation. However, there was no immediate response.

Kizzy Kalsakau and Jason Abel are Vanuatu Daily Post reporters. Republished with permission.

Four people convicted of assaulting the director of Vanuatu’s highly acclaimed Wan Smolbag Theatre Company have been sentenced for what the judge has called “truly barbaric treatment of innocent, unsuspecting members of the community”.

Peter Walker and two close friends were assaulted outside his Port Vila property nearly a year ago.

Justice Andre Wiltens said the behaviour had permanent consequences for the victims.

He said to categorise the offending as serious was inadequate, saying it was an act of unprovoked gratuitous violence.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reports that Samuel Molsir, 23, was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison on each charge of sexual intercourse without consent, robbery and intentional assault, as well as a further year for criminal trespass and theft.

Andrew Irmaneng, 21, received 10 years and four months for each crime.

David Assial, 18, got 22 months suspended sentence on each charge and ordered to undergo supervised anger management.

The youngest culprit, John Bule, who is 14, received a suspended three year sentence and ordered to undergo similar anger management.

This article is republished by the Pacific Media Centre under a partnership agreement with RNZ.

Vanuatu’s media advocacy group Media Association blong Vanuatu (MAV) has condemned what it calls intimidation of a local journalist by airport security and local police.

This was following action taken by security at Port Vila’s Bauerfield Airport who ordered Vanuatu Daily Post journalist Kizzy Kalsakau to delete her photos.

Kalsakau had taken photos of the arrival of a New Zealand plane transporting relief supplies for Cyclone Harold victims and the repatriation of 58 ni-Vanuatu caught in the covid-19 pandemic last Wednesday.

READ MORE: Vanuatu airport security force journalist to delete NZ repatriation photos

The journalist was asked by airport security and police not to take photos and told to leave the premises.

The president of MAV, Stevenson Liu, described the action of security as “inadmissible” in a country with free media.

He said people wanted to know about their families returning.

Vanuatu has no reported cases of covid-19 coronavirus.

• This article is republished by the Pacific Media Centre under a partnership agreement with RNZ.
• If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP – don’t show up at a medical centre.
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The former president of the National United Party (NUP) and one time former Prime Minister, Ham Lini Vanuaroroa, succeeded his brother, the late Father Walter H. Lini, in the year 2000.

Father Walter Lini, Vanuatu’s first Prime Minister died in 1999 after his reign as the country’s first Prime Minister for two consecutive terms.

Ham Lini remained as a Member of Parliament for Pentecost for 20 years, and served as Prime Minister and State Minister. He ran for Parliament again on 19 March 2020, but did not make it.

READ MORE: Vanuatu Parliament sits today to form coalition government

In a humble message to the people of his constituency, Ham Lini Vanuaroroa recalled his and his brother’s footsteps in a political journey added up to 40 years in total between him and his brother.

He spoke to the Vanuatu Daily Post and recounted the four decades of political leadership shared with his brother through challenging and difficult times.

Ham Lini also suggested that instead of forming a coalition government in Parliament today, the MPs should consider forming a government of national unity “where they can really unite for a purpos” and “build people’s confidence” in the wake of last week’s Cyclone Harold devastation and the crisis for tourism caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thank you message
“As outgoing Member of Parliament I would like to thank the chiefs of North Pentecost and all the voters for continuing to have confidence in my leadership and voting for me since 1999.

“Because of you, I had the opportunity to be in Parliament and in government for the past 20 years. I wish to state that I accept the results of the 2020 general elections and have no regrets for missing out this time.

“May I also take this opportunity to congratulate the incoming members of Parliament for Pentecost — the current Prime Minister Charlot Salwai, Mark Muelsul, Silas Bule and Ephraim Boe.

“I succeeded my brother, the late Father Walter Lini in Parliament in 1999 when he passed away. In 2000, I also succeeded him as president of the National United Party (NUP), a party that he led. I told everyone with emotion at that time not to expect me to be the same as my brother because I am a different person with a different personality and I will never be the same as Father Walter Lini.

“However, I respected his seat and continued to represent his people on North Pentecost with care and pride as MP and in government. In total, we occupied the seat for 44 years.

“What is unique about this seat is the historical significance it holds to the original occupant, the late Father Walter Lini. He was first elected to the legislature in 1975 when universal suffrage was first introduced to the New Hebrides.

“He continued to represent Pentecost in Parliament after independence as mandated by the chiefs for a total of 24 years. My hope is that those of us who occupy this historical seat continue to treat it with respect, humility and responsibility at all times as Father Walter Lini graciously did.

Indigenous leadership
“Leadership in Melanesian indigenous system is a responsibility for life. We both attained the highest chiefly title known as Vuhunana and very much respected our relationships with the chiefly system, the system that nurtures, guides and shapes us as leaders.

“I have been very fortunate for getting endorsement and regular guidance from chiefs on traditional Melanesian values and development issues. Chiefs have been there for me at all times. On two occasions when I indicated stepping down, they did not agree. In 2019, they gave me another mandate to contest the 2020 elections.

“My leadership began after I graduated from Honiara Technical Institute in Solomon Islands with Diploma in Architecture and Building. I started my career in 1974 as an architect, builder and carpenter mainly in the northern islands. With limited number of graduates in the community my leadership was quickly noticed.

“I became a community leader in various programmes, such as leading the famous Huarere String Band, managing the Arato Football Club and leading the young people with technical support for independence.

“In 1984, I was elected councilor in Pentecost Island Council and became president of the Council in 1987. In 1993, I became first president of PENAMA Provincial Council, a position I occupied until 1999 when I was elected to Parliament.

“Historically the National United Party or NUP formed the first coalition government with the Union of Moderate Parties in 1991. Since then NUP has been a partner in almost all coalition governments.

“In 2004, NUP won 10 seats in general elections and commanded the largest party in parliament. I became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Internal Affairs. A few months later I became Prime Minister after ousting my predecessor Serge Vohor for unilaterally declaring the establishment of diplomatic relations with Taiwan without the Council of Ministers’ decision.

One China policy
“Vanuatu Government later normalised full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in respect to their one China policy.

“During my leadership as Prime Minister I completed the implementation of the Melanesian way of peace making between the Vanuatu government and chiefs in all the islands of Vanuatu, as initially discussed between Father Walter Lini (late) and Jimmy Moli Stevens (late) at the Maliudu Nakamal in 1990, for events relating to the 1980 Santo Rebellion.

“I also made peace with the family and the chiefs of Alexis Ioulu (late) on Tanna and led peace ceremony relating to the death of a Solomon Islands USP student. This led to the Melanesian system of adopting the MSG members states by the six provinces of Vanuatu. As PM I also launched the Year of Traditional Economy and Currency and continued as advocate and practitioner of cultural values which uphold the principles of peace.

“I used the Melanesian way to dialogue with Fiji Interim Government to bring Fiji into the MSG and I officiated the opening of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat.

“In addition, I signed on behalf of Vanuatu as the only Pacific recipient of the United States Millennium Challenge Fund, the Regional Seasonal Employment scheme, and with President Jacques Chirac the official establishment of Vanuatu Relationship with La Francophonie. The biggest challenge in my leadership was surviving a number of motions of no confidence.

“In 2009 – 2012 I was Minister for Transport and Public Utilities and later became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and Social Welfare. In 2012 – 2014 I became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for Trade, Commerce, Industries and Tourism.

“I led the final phase of Vanuatu accession to full membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and its implementation. I also launched the Vanuatu Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) office and the Vanuatu Tourism Brand.

First climate change minister
“In 2016, I was appointed first Vanuatu Minister of Climate Change, Meteorological Services and Management of Natural Disasters, a position I held until August of 2019. In the latter part of 2019 I was appointed Special Envoy for Natural Disasters.

“In commemorating Lini Day on 21 February 2020, I as Vuhunan Vanuaroroa in Raga chiefly society launched three major projects — Laone Tahigoro or marine conservation and restoration of natural habitat in partnership with the Vanuatu Government; Dr Father Walter Hadye Lini (late) Memorial Museum in partnership with PENAMA Province and the Second Cycle of Doctor Father Walter Hadye Lini (late) Memorial College in partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Vanuatu.

“At the end of March 2020, I launched the implementation of Tohurihuri, a concept initiated by Father Walter Lini (late) immediately after independence. The concept is founded on traditional Melanesian values and systems for self-reliance and independence.

“During my leadership in government, I led a policy direction which included self-discipline, good governance, transparency, anti-corruption and political stability. I believe I had contributed as much as I could to Vanuatu, especially in maintaining Government stability in coalition governments.

“I respected all MPs and built good relationship with them all. As leaders, I believe we have the freedom of choice and we are familiar with our custom law, the Ten Commandments, the Constitution, the Leadership Code and all laws of the land. I felt I had no right to impose disciplinary actions when leaders break the laws or decide to move away from NUP to other political parties.

“I am grateful to all Heads of State for awarding me with Medals of Honour in recognition of my contribution and sacrifice in leadership. I would also like to thank the government of Papua New Guinea for awarding me with ‘Star of Melanesia’ and to Father Moon for awarding me ‘World Peace Award’.

“Finally, I wish to see the People of Vanuatu continue to be self-reliant, confident and enjoy the natural wellbeing.

Another option
“I hope that political parties recognise that coalition government is only one option when no political party secures majority seats in general elections.

“I believe all big and small political groups should consider forming a government of national unity where they can really unite for a purpose. They can find solutions to development needs, build people’s confidence and restore dignity and stability for community wellbeing.

“My message to the Electoral Office is to ensure that the Area Council Administrators oversee the electoral process starting from the registration of voters until counting of the votes. I had observed at the polling stations a big number of people sadly turned away from participating in democratic process because they were not properly registered and had no one available to consult on issues of invalid electoral cards.

“Finally, I would like to wish all members of the 12th Legislature of Vanuatu all the best during their term in office”.

Vanuatu Daily Post articles are republished with permission.

Earlier this week staff and students of the University of the South Pacific received a summary of an independent investigation report written by BDO Auckland. The audit was commissioned in response to damning allegations raised by the Vice Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia, who joined the University in late 2018.

The report was shared with the Vanuatu Daily Post by concerned stakeholders.

Ahluwalia’s allegations became public after they were leaked to Islands Business magazine. This led to a rancorous tit for tat in the media between the Vice Chancellor and Council chair Winston Thompson. The magazine recently reported that Thompson had tried to have the new Vice Chancellor sacked.

READ MORE: USP to enforce report on mismanagement and abuse of office

The BDO report appears to validate many of the allegations raised. But it adds a caution: The company attempted to trace all 26 allegations using university records, but “due to the level and/or quality of documentation retained by the USP, this wasn’t always possible. As a result, BDO was not able to substantiate a number of the allegations.”

Nonetheless, the report summary cites “serious concerns that require attention and action.”

It mentions inducements offered during contract renewal negotiations in breach of policy. It disclosed that many inducements were offered as a percentage of overall salary, rather than the traditional modest one-off sign-on bonus amounts.

Acting allowances also appeared to have been used without proper control or consideration. “BDO found that these allowances have been paid to some staff extensively, with very little policy guidance,” the summary read.

The summary report suggests that USP’s behaviour was not consistent with other universities.

The same appears to have happened with bonuses. “BDO found that bonuses and, in some cases, multiple bonuses have been paid extensively to staff which is in breach of the USP policies.”

The summary continued, “It appears that a culture of entitlement to bonuses has developed rather than being a mechanism to reward exceptional effort and performance.”

The summary suggested that consulting contracts may also have been abused. “The policy intends to ensure that the USP recovers all costs associated with delivery of the services, however, this was not observed across the agreements that BDO reviewed.”

In short, they could not prove that people had actually done the work they were paid to do.

A large part of the report outlined the gulf of leadership in human resources, stating: “USP’s HR function has been without consistent leadership for many years.”

The summary dodged the most difficult questions. Rather than outright state that Thompson acted outside his authority, as alleged in the Ahluwalia report, the report resorted to stating the negative. “BDO’s view is that a majority of the decisions investigated were made within the boundaries of the VCP’s Ordinance.”

This implies that some of the decisions did fall outside the boundaries.

Even then, BDO Auckland added that even though many of Thompson’s actions weren’t outright breaches, “when critically analysed, the rationale for many of the decisions taken is unclear.”

Most troubling, the summary reminded the University that many of the problems highlighted in the report were known to USP.

“These HR and payroll concerns were reported in accordance with USP’s standard internal audit reporting process across three reports. The conclusions within these reports point clearly to a need for greater oversight, control and management of the HR and payroll functions at the USP. The outcomes of the BDO investigation suggest that the recommendations raised have only been partially implemented, or in some cases, not at all.”

The summary concluded: “While the allegations highlighted in the paper have arisen in an unfortunate manner, they have raised serious concerns that require attention and action.”

• Dan McGarry is the media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post group.
• This article was originally published in the Vanuatu Daily Post. The Pacific Media Centre republishes VDP articles with permission

In the wake of a Vanuatu Daily Post investigation into what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to spread fake news targeted at the government of Vanuatu and other supporters of West Papuan independence movement, a BBC investigative journalist has found clear evidence of a concerted campaign to pollute discussions relating to West Papua.

The in-depth report was published on the Bellingcat website. Bellingcat is a ground-breaking investigative website that uses digital sleuthing tools to uncover major stories.

It helped identify the killers in the assassination of Russian dissident Sergei Skripal, and provided definitive evidence that Russia was supplying a mercenary army to prop up the Syrian government war effort.

It also provided critical data suggesting that Russian-backed forces were responsible for downing Malaysian Airlines flight 17, which was hit by an anti-aircraft missile while flying over Ukrainian airspace.

Now, the website has turned its attention to the West Papua conflict and some of the many ways Indonesia is trying to drown out dissent and confuse people sympathetic to the cause of West Papuan freedom.

READ MORE: West Papua internet restored after Wenda, Koman accused of ‘provocation’

Using open source investigative tools, BBC journalist Benjamin Strick has uncovered clear evidence pointing to a bot network operating on Twitter, and joined to Instagram and Facebook accounts providing pro-government propaganda.

The logo for one of these accounts bears a striking resemblance to one used on other pages identified in an earlier Daily Post investigation into fake news pages that had been using plagiarised and faked content to undermine the government of Vanuatu.

Facebook quietly took the original pages down after concerns were raised by the Daily Post and others. Within days, however, the same content had reappeared in other pages, one of which featured an almost identical logo.

By using Facebook’s “boost” option, which spreads a message in exchange for payment, the fake news posts were able to reach engagement levels rivalling some of this newspaper’s top stories.

The Bellingcat investigation uncovered a web of interconnected “bot” accounts, which were used to promote pro-government information in online discussions of the ongoing political struggle.

“While there has been targeted internet disruption in Papua and Indonesia,” Strick wrote, “and the banning of counter narrative YouTube content, something that has not been exposed, until now, is an active bot network disseminating pro-government content through major social media platforms.

“The campaign, fuelled by a network of bot accounts on Twitter, expands to Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. The content is spread in Tweets using specific hashtags such as #FreeWestPapua, #WestPapuaGenocide, #WestPapua and #fwpc.”

He goes on to outline how he used open source intelligence gathering software to analyse the content of tweets using these hashtags, and determined that the behaviour of dozens of accounts was consistent with the kind of propaganda operation made famous in the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The findings are consistent with behaviour observed by the Daily Post and others. If it is in fact determined that state actors are behind these accounts, it would raise important questions concerning our national sovereignty and what appears to be an effort to quash the demand for independence within West Papua and online as well.

• Dan McGarry is the media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post group.
• This article was originally published in the Vanuatu Daily Post. The Pacific Media Centre republishes VDP articles with permission

Two Vanuatu Daily Post journalists were literally given a pat-down by the police criminal investigation unit yesterday over a story they had written about the vehicle of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Martin Mahe, being detained.

The story ran in yesterday’s edition of the Daily Post.

The heavy-handed tactic against journalists took place amid confirmation by police that a complaint has been lodged against the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation by Mahe.

READ MORE: Vanuatu PSC Chair’s vehicle detained

The Daily Post journalists were initially told in a phone call that they needed to be questioned over the word “detained” used in the story as it is believed the vehicle was “not detained”.

But both journalists say police traffic officers had verbally informed them that they had confiscated the key to the vehicle and it was effectively under their custody even though the car was not physically taken to the Central Police Station due to a flat tyre.

In other words, police had detained the vehicle.

The VBTC Chief Executive Officer could not be reached for comment yesterday on this issue but the Media Association of Vanuatu President, Stevenson Liu, told the Daily Post that no written formal complaint had been received by the association.

Public interest
Meanwhile, the Daily Post media director, Dan McGarry, said the reporting was made in the public interest.

”Frankly, I think Martin Mahe is behaving childishly,” he said.

”If he believes a news report is grounds for a criminal complaint, then we have to ask if he understands either the media or the law.

”The police took his keys from him for a reason, and the public deserves to know why.

”This is clearly in the public interest.

”The chairman oversees the conduct of all public servants.

”He has been quoted numerous times in our newspaper about vehicle misuse.

”Mr Mahe has a professional duty to hold himself up to the same standards he enforces.

”It’s the media’s job to point this out,” McGarry said.

After the questioning of Daily Post journalists yesterday, police said no complaint was lodged against the newspaper.

After nearly two weeks of silence, Vanuatu’s Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat has answered some—but not all—of the important questions arising from his decision to deport six Chinese, four of whom were Vanuatu citizens.

To his credit, Napuat fronted up to New Zealand and Australian media as well as to our own journalists. It can’t have been an easy day for him.

His responses raise serious concerns.

READ MORE: Secrecy veil over deportation of six Chinese nationals raises key questions

He admitted that Vanuatu does not know what crimes the six people he deported were accused of. He admitted he didn’t know what agency the 11 Chinese law enforcement officials were from.

He said he didn’t want them to wear uniforms. He admitted he didn’t consider that at least some of the deportees were Vanuatu citizens.

He appears to have issued orders without fully considering his responsibility to follow the law himself. He appears to have instructed police to act as they did.

Every one of those statements is cause for deep concern. Because whatever the minister may think, we are not subject to Chinese law. And we don’t do things the Chinese way.

Right to know
Everyone has a right to know why they’re being arrested.

Police are required to identify themselves, and to say why they are arresting you.

People may not be detained without charge, except under strictly limited circumstances.

Everyone has a right to legal counsel.

A citizen may not be deported. They may be extradited if they broke the law elsewhere, but that’s not what happened here.

Anyone having their citizenship stripped from them has the right to appeal that decision.

These are not finicky details. They are fundamental to justice. They may not be ignored.

Important precedent
Joe Natuman set an important precedent when he accepted that he had done wrong by issuing unlawful orders to police. It cost him his political career, but he did the right thing.

Napuat should submit himself to the same scrutiny.

If he has done nothing wrong, then his actions will be vindicated, and people in Vanuatu will know where they stand. If he has done wrong, then he needs to take responsibility for his actions. They’re that serious.

If we had a functioning Ombudsman’s office, we could settle the matter there. But our politicians have made it clear they don’t want a watchdog.

The Prime Minister must tell the public whether he supports his minister or not. If he does not support him, then he should consider establishing a commission of inquiry to investigate whether the minister acted lawfully.

Parliament should state clearly whether they support the government’s actions, or not.

Party Leader Ralph Regenvanu should stop hiding and tell the public whether this is what GJP stands for, or not. As Foreign Minister, it’s astonishing that he’s had so little to say so far.

Public Prosecutor should investigate
The Public Prosecutor should investigate whether these actions represent a perversion of the course of justice, by using police powers in an arbitrary and unlawful way.

Our development partners—who claim to stand for an international rules based order—should remind Vanuatu what those rules are. They claim to care about these things. They should act like they do.

Most importantly, the public should make its feelings known. If they support these actions, so be it. Then we are more like China than many would like to admit.

But if, like the millions of Hong Kong residents who have relentlessly demonstrated against arbitrary extradition, we stand for rule of law and human rights, we should defend them.

Maybe these six people did wrong. If they did, they should stand trial. But looking at what’s happened, how do we know?

How do we know the next one bundled onto the plane won’t be an activist fleeing the security state? How do we know it won’t be a Christian fleeing religious persecution? Or just an average person, wrongly accused?

Vanuatu is not China. But today, it’s looking more like it than ever before.

• This was today’s Vanuatu Daily Post editorial. The Pacific Media Centre’s Asia Pacific Report has a content sharing arrangement with the Daily Post.
• More Vanuatu stories

One of Vanuatu’s leading journalists has said the right to information law has contributed to an air of openness in the country.

The Right to Information Act was passed two years ago and will be extended to cover all government departments from August.

Over the coming months all departments and agencies will have to give information they hold, if requested.

READ MORE: Remote Vanuatu journo goes above and beyond to tell stories

Media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post group Dan McGarry said government bodies have been more forthcoming with information since the law came in.

“If we’re having a conversation and we find somebody was not necessarily being forthcoming, it’s useful for us to say “so is your department under the RTI already or is it coming?” or “when is it coming?”, just to bring that awareness back into the conversation that information is meant to be available to the public unless there’s a good reason to withhold it.”

“So for that we’re really quite happy and I think the government is to be commended for having enacted this.”

A recent article on the travel expenses of a ministry head would not have been possible without the improved air of openness, he said.

“We’ve actually got people within the administrative bodies in government coming forward with this kind of information rather than waiting until we dig it out.”

McGarry said the Vanuatu Daily Post also plans to test out the law with formal requests.

“The problem is it is extremely time consuming, it almost necessarily will involve expense and we’re a very limited media organisation.”

The law will be extended to cover not only government departments but also statutory bodies like the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs, the National Council of Women and the Ombudsman’s Office.

This article is published under the Pacific Media Centre’s content partnership with Radio New Zealand.

To pardon those convicted of betraying the public trust does a disservice to Vanuatu.

It is disrespectful to the rule of law. It ignores the will of the people. It undermines the republic.

These men are convicted criminals. Yes, they are also fathers, family members, even high-ranking members of their community. But they did wrong. They undermined Parliament and government. They acted against the interests of their own people.

They broke the law.

READ MORE: Vanuatu president still ‘consulting’ over pardons

Make no mistake: If these men are pardoned, they will contest in 2020. Some may well be elected. If they are, there is every likelihood they will go back to their old ways.

They will win. And the country will lose.

President Baldwin Lonsdale wisely stated that no one is above the law. While he was alive, he ruled out any possibility of a pardon. If he were still in office today, there would be no discussion.

Other ways for mercy
There are other ways to show mercy. Those who are still in prison can have their sentences commuted. They can be forgiven under kastom. They can perform a sorry ceremony to the nation, with the President presiding.

The only reason to pardon these men is to let them get back into politics again. That would be a huge step back for the nation.

The President wants to show mercy, but his role, according to the Constitution, is to “symbolise the unity of the nation”. To pardon these people would create disunity. It would justify criminal behaviour.

It would undermine the authority of Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek and the rest of the judiciary.

A pardon doesn’t heal. It creates division. It divides the powerful from the weak.

A pardon says there are two kinds of justice: One for us, and one for them.

Forward, or backward?
The President would be wrong to pardon these men. And the Justice Minister is wrong to ask him to.

The only reason Don Ken isn’t seeking a pardon for himself is because he got immunity from the Public Prosecutor in exchange for his testimony against the others.

The President needs to think about how future generations will remember him. Will he be the man who shared Baldwin Lonsdale’s unwavering will to protect the nation?

Or will he be the man who bent to the will of others?

Will he take the country forward, or backward?

Dan McGarry is the media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post group. This editorial was published in the Post yesterday. The Pacific Media Centre republishes VDP articles with permission.

The government of Vanuatu has convened three major tourism and travel stakeholders this week to announce a major shakeup in the sector.

Dubbed Shared Vision 2030, the plan commits Air Vanuatu, the Vanuatu Tourism Office, and Airports Vanuatu Ltd to an ambitious expansion strategy.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reported yesterday that Air Vanuatu intends to build an actual international fleet of up to eight jet aircraft. Airports Vanuatu Ltd has almost completed the essential Bauerfield runway upgrade. It is also lining up support for an ambitious new facility plan that can accommodate and service Air Vanuatu’s fleet.

READ MORE: Vanuatu and New Caledonia hold historic talks on tourism

For its part, the Tourism Office is being asked to transform itself into a more dynamic organisation, in touch with modern travellers and modern tech.

The government is being asked to stump up no less than VT500 million (NZ$6.6 million) in new money every year for the next five years to back this play.

The plan unveiled on Monday raises countless questions.

Where will Air Vanuatu find the pilots? How will it finance the planes? A new Airbus A320 lists for US$101 million, and a Boeing 737-800 costs about a million dollars more.

Leasing isn’t cheap
Leasing even one isn’t cheap. How will Air Vanuatu afford 6 of them?

A new terminal isn’t just a building. It’s the air traffic control centre, hangars, fuel depot, service bays, fire-fighting and emergency response facilities, food preparation, administration… the list is long and exacting.

All things considered, a price tag of more than  VT10 billion (NZ$130 million) won’t be hard to reach.

The argument in support of the plan is simple. We can either grow now, or run the risk of our economy withering away.

Vanuatu’s economy suffered badly in 2018. Few businesses thrived, and many struggled. VAT revenues are one of the most reliable measures of overall commercial activity. They don’t look good.

Although monthly revenues have surged a few times over the same period in 2017, 2018 revenues overall were only about 10.2 percent higher than last year.

That’s a problem, because revenues should have risen at least 15 percent overall, given the 20 percent rise in the tax rate (2.5 is 20 percent of 12.5, so the rate rise is 2.5 percent, but revenues should increase by 20 percent). The trendline is pointing downward, when it should be sharply upward.

Tourism slump
Much of the commercial slowdown comes from slumping tourism revenues among traditional players. Larger resorts and hotels are struggling, to put it politely. The lucky ones are seeing 50 percent occupancy rates. The unlucky ones are far worse off.

Reduced tourism activity has effects throughout the economy, dragging industry, services and agriculture down with it.

Tourism officials are quick to crow about ‘record’ air arrival numbers. The numbers are real, but they hide a number of problems. First, these numbers have only just managed to rebound from 2014 levels, before the twin catastrophes of cyclone Pam and the Bauerfield runway debacle decimated air arrival numbers.

Second, everyone’s strategic plan expected continuous growth through that period. But we’re barely ahead of where we were in 2014. That puts us almost five years behind schedule.

Lastly, travellers are planning differently. They’re not following the beaten path as much. The advent of social media changed the way people decide where to go, how they book their reservations, and what they do when they’re away.

Referrals matter more than ever. More people ask for input about possible destinations on social media than ever before, and a large number of people decide where to go based on what they hear.

AirBnB is affecting traditional booking patterns enough to make it hurt, especially for larger resorts. Unless arrival numbers rise significantly, it will be impossible to convince new investors to come, and some existing investors could well begin planning an exit.

No middle ground
The plan’s proponents argue that Vanuatu can either rise in popularity, or expect to be ignored by the next generation of travellers.

And based on which path we choose our economy will either grow, or shrink. There’s no middle ground, they say.

But we have to walk before we run. Tourism and travel industry experts tell the Daily Post that the first priority is getting maximum value from existing markets. Expect to see service to Melbourne announced soon, and increased flights to all existing destinations.

One insider told the Daily Post that there is a shortage of aircraft worldwide. Forbes reports that in the USA, for example, “More than three-quarters of the fleet for sale is more than a decade old, [with a] decreasing quantity and quality of less-than-decade-old aircraft.”

Vanuatu will have to acquire ‘new iron’ for its own routes, rather than trying to seduce outside airlines to come here.

One major challenge that has yet to be addressed is the 140 new pilots who will be needed to fly the fleet.

The greatest shortage in the aviation industry right now is pilots. This means more competitive salaries and better working conditions will be needed to convince commercial plots to come, and our own pilots to stay.

Air Vanuatu is holding a press conference today to discuss these and other issues. The Daily Post will be following the story as it develops.

Dan McGarry is media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post group.

• Vanuatu airport crisis

Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk

The Vanuatu Daily Post, only daily newspaper in Vanuatu, and a leading champion of a free press in the South Pacific, has posted a video of its printing press in action in Port Vila.

It is a rare insight into small press publishing in the region. The video of the Seattle-manufactured Web Leader has been posted on the newspaper’s social media to inform readers.

Launched in 1993 as The Trading Post, the newspaper quickly established itself as a pioneer of freedom of press in Vanuatu and has broken practically every major news story first since its launch by English-born publisher Marc Neil-Jones.

The publisher faced enormous difficulties in the early years and was subject to deportation, jailing and assaults.

However, those days have passed on, the newspaper reports on its website and has had local Ni-Vanuatu editors since 2003.

Currently the editor is award-winning Jane Joshua, backed up by the group media director Dan McGarry.

“As Vanuatu’s largest privately owned media company, employing nearly 50 people, Trading Post Ltd has successfully moved in publishing the official tourism newspaper of the Vanuatu Tourism office called What To Do In Vanuatu and has launched a popular radio station called 96 BUZZ FM,” the paper says.

“Vanuatu Daily Post is a successful and profitable newspaper and is consistently been the first choice for all advertising in Vanuatu.”

• Dan McGarry: Fighting for media freedom and truth in the Pacific
• Vanuatu’s Daily Post founder Marc Neil-Jones swaps print for tourism

An Air Vanuatu ATR-72 made an emergency landing in Port Vila today. The aircraft, which had 39 passengers and 4 crew aboard, landed in a gentle tail wind.

According to a statement issued by Air Vanuatu Ltd, the aircraft “was involved in a runway excursion. The incident occurred at the end of the runway on landing”.

Neither the pilots nor the passengers on board suffered any injuries. The Civil Aviation Authority Vanuatu is investigating the incident.

The aircraft was inbound to Port Vila from Tanna. It apparently suffered loss of power to one engine as it overflew the island of Erromango, about 20 minutes away from Bauerfield airport in Port Vila.

Multiple sources told the Vanuatu Daily Post that there was smoke in the cabin when the aircraft landed.

Passenger Janis Steele added some details on a Daily Post social media discussion board:

“The cabin was filled with smoke from a fire below and they cut off the starboard engine mid flight. No oxygen masks dropped and visibility in the cabin was only a couple of meters and breathing was difficult.

“The plane went off the runway during the emergency landing and cut through the front half of a [Unity Airlines] plane before we stopped. We then (elderly included) had to jump down from the cabin with about a meter and a half drop.

“So relieved that everyone appears to be physically OK.”

Medical assessment
All passengers were given an emergency medical assessment by first responders. ProMedical staff report no injuries, but confirmed that 13 people reported discomfort due to the smoke, and requested further medical assessment.

The plane landed at 11am and after it had run a significant distance, it veered to the left, into an area in which several small charter aircraft were parked.

One plane belonging to Unity Airlines was a “write off” according to its owner. The nose section of the plane was obliterated, and there is a visible dent in one engine enclosure.

Another aircraft, operated by Air Taxi, suffered significant damage to its tail section. The owner of the aircraft told the Daily Post that she had not been allowed to approach her aircraft to assess damage.

In an update received by the Daily Post shortly after 1pm today, Air Vanuatu offered additional detail:

“Air Vanuatu has advised all domestic and international services are continuing after the re-opening of Bauerfield airport.

“Passengers booked to travel on domestic services are advised to reconfirm their flights with Air Vanuatu by calling 22000.

“Air Vanuatu management is working closely with authorities to investigate the runway excursion of one of their ATR-72 aircraft.

“Chief Executive Officer Derek Nice has spoken with passengers and the operating crew of the flight and praised the crew for their professionalism and skill which contributed to no injuries from the incident.”

No comment
The Daily Post visited the emergency operations centre established by Airports Vanuatu Ltd, which operates Bauerfield airport.

Staff refused to comment, except to confirm that an incident had occurred. They declined to confirm the number of aircraft involved or, curiously, whether airport operations were resuming.

They referred the newspaper to Air Vanuatu for this last piece of information.

Air Vanuatu Ltd later confirmed that the airport had reopened, and they confirmed that one flight, from Port Vila to Nadi, was cancelled. All other flights were going ahead according to schedule, they said.

First responders spoke glowingly of the professionalism of the AVL fire crew. One person with professional firefighting experience told the Daily Post that the ground personnel acted with professionalism and at the highest standard.

The identity of the pilots on board the aircraft has not yet been released.

Dan McGarry is media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post group. This article is republished with permission.

The Nauru government’s refusal to allow the ABC from entering the country to cover the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum is disgraceful.

It is against the fundamentals of a free press.

It cannot be condoned.

READ MORE: Nauru government bans ABC from Pacific Forum

To allow a government to dictate which media outlets covers a story is tantamount to censorship and as journalists and as members of a healthy democracy, we cannot accept it.

ABC is our competitor, and a tough one at that, but there is something bigger at stake here than beating a rival.

Even in the Nauru government’s attempt to explain the move, the hypocrisy was blatant.

While the government claimed it only placed restrictions “on a number of people from all sectors” due to “very limited accommodation” and there was “no restrictions placed on media attendance for any reason other than this indisputable fact of accommodation and facility available”, it also said the ABC was not welcome because the government does not like what it reports.

The statement said the ABC would not be granted access “under any circumstances due to this organisation’s blatant interference in Nauru’s domestic politics prior to the 2016 election, harassment of and lack of respect towards our president in Australia, false and defamatory allegations against members of our government, and continued biased and false reporting about our country.

“It is our right, as it is the right of every nation, to choose who is allowed to enter.”

Many Australian media outlets are standing in solidarity with the ABC – as the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery president David Crowe said: “If the ban is not reversed, the media pool will be disbanded. If one cannot go, none will go.”

And it’s not just Aussie media dismayed by this move by the Nauru government.

Vanuatu’s Daily Post has withdrawn its reporter from the Vanuatu media delegation allotted to covering the event.

“This isn’t a self-righteous, moralising action. It’s a survival tactic. If we allow ourselves to get into a situation where our ability to report is predicted on how positive our coverage is, then we can’t do our job,” Daily Post media director Dan McGarry explained.

Of course, not all are of that view – the ABC’s natural enemy News Corp will still be attending.

Red Ink is Australia’s Nine Network “ears and eyes behind the big decisions, the gossip and spin” in the media world. Nauru is due to host the 49th Pacific Islands Forum and related meetings from September 3-6, 2018.

• Nauru’s ban on ABC splits commercial media
• Vanuatu Daily Post editorial on the issue
• IFJ calls on Nauru president to revoke ban on ABC journalists
• Outrageous Nauru ban on ABC journalists
• World public broadcasters group says ban is unacceptable

The average Australian’s conception of Pacific island nations is so limited it makes some of us wonder if they even want to understand. Our voices—and our reality—have been pointedly and repeatedly ignored in the media, and in the corridors of power.

An Australian news service breathlessly proclaims Chinese plans to build a military base only a short flight away from Brisbane, and the Canberra commentariat has kittens.

Vanuatu insiders say “it was never on the cards”.

“Yes, but it was discussed!” insist defence analysts.

“A base was never discussed and it would never happen,” says Vanuatu’s Foreign Minister.

“Yes, but a Chinese military presence is in the works!” insist the same analysts.

“Vanuatu would never agree to this and anyone who says otherwise is indulging in malicious speculation,” says Vanuatu’s Prime Minister.

“Cold warriors”
“Here’s the wharf where it’s going to happen!” announce Australian media, and a chorus of “cold warriors” claim that Australia is forsaking its God-given leadership role in the Pacific.

“We, uh, have our own leaders,” say Pacific islanders.

“Yes, but they’re drowning your countries in debt!” cry the politicos.

“Well, we’re not perfect, but there’s no crisis,” say our analysts. “Our debt to GDP ratio is less than half of Australia’s.”

“China is slyly using debt/equity swaps to take over your infrastructure!” Canberra cries.

“No, actually. Our loans don’t contain language that would allow that,” reply the islanders, who by this time are wondering why they even bother saying anything.

The Chinese Bases folderol is just the latest chorus in a litany of Australian indifference to Pacific voices. Every time some tendentious prat opens their mouth and starts telling the Pacific that what’s good for Australia is obviously good for us, the entire region sighs.

Collective eye roll
That jolt you just felt was a collective eye roll that nearly tipped the island.

Can we get something clear? If you want us to listen to you, you’ve got to listen to us.

It may have escaped your attention, but there was an earthquake in Papua New Guinea recently.

It affected over half a million people, killing 150 outright and leaving 270,000 in need of humanitarian assistance. The situation remains desperate, and the breakdown of law and order in some areas has made it impossible for aid organisations to work.

You can be forgiven for not knowing this. There were no Chinese warships involved.

As you read this, massive ash falls from an active volcano are forcing 11,000 Ni-Vanuatu to relocate for the second time in six months. Thousands may never return home. No Chinese warships were involved, so again, you might not have heard.

Make no mistake: When the Pacific is in need, Australia helps. It helps more than any other nation. But the overwhelming majority of Australians don’t seem to know or care that it does.

They don’t know
If they knew, they’d probably care. But they don’t know, so they have no reason to care.

This is the fault of the media. Specifically, it’s an editorial failure. Reporters are champing at the bit to share our stories, but producers and editors constantly baulk at the time and expense of reporting from and about the Pacific islands.

On the morning Vanuatu announced the evacuation of 11,000 people from the volcanic island of Ambae, the journos who broke the Chinese base story were still in Vanuatu. When told the news, they doubted that Fairfax would pay for them to go to Ambae to report on the exodus.

This is the same company that gladly paid a team to spend a week reporting on a defence analyst’s fever dreams, someone whom the team members themselves admitted might be paranoid.

The main difference between Beijing and Canberra is that Beijing listens. For better or for worse, Chinese diplomats listen to what Pacific leaders want. Often enough, they give it to them.

And more often than not, Australian pollies wait patiently for Pacific Islanders to finish speaking, then tell them what they need. There is a pervasive and deeply pernicious perception in the foreign policy establishment that Pacific voices don’t count.

Political cartoon
A recent political cartoon in the Sydney Morning Herald distils the attitude prettily.

An island with nothing but a grass shack and a few benighted dark people is deserted by its erstwhile benefactors, and left to the tender mercies of a shipload of Asian hucksters.

Without Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull and the gang, we’re left helplessly clutching our cowrie shells.

The image is so absurdly parochial it borders on outright racism.

Who benefits from these Chinese wharves? We do! The people of Vanuatu. You might have heard of us. We live here.

Beginning this week, that wharf will be the landing point for thousands of people displaced by natural disaster. Australian relief ships will no doubt be welcomed, too.

Let’s see how many headlines our devastated lives derive.

My guess is zero—unless we invite the Chinese navy to help.

Dan McGarry is media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post group. This article is republished with permission.

• Baseless rumours: why talk of Chinese military base in Vanuatu misses point
• More Vanuatu stories

The Supreme Court in Vanuatu has sentenced Philip Jimmy, a man found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Alice Karis last year, to 26 years in prison.

Jimmy, who was convicted last month of the premeditated murder of the late Karis on June 16, 2017, was sentenced yesterday.

In his judgment, Supreme Court Judge David Chetwynd emphasised on the seriousness of the offence.

It is believed to be the harshest sentence ever handed out by a court in Vanuatu for a spouse-killer. Domestic violence has become a growing issue in Vanuatu in recent years.

Judge David Chetwynd said taking another person’s life was the most serious offence in criminal law and a sentence should reflect that.

“There is a need to adequately punish the defendant for what he has done,” said the Supreme Court Judge.

“There is also the need to deter other men from using violence against women and to reinforce the need to respect the equal and human rights of women, particularly in the context of a domestic relationship.”

Maximum penalty life
Intentional premeditated homicide carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The accused received a starting sentence of 28 years taking into account the aggravating factors.

There are a number of aggravating factors apparent in the offending. This was undoubtedly domestic violence against a partner who was not smaller but also affected by alcohol, said the judge.

“Ms Karis was vulnerable and to all intents and purposes defenseless,” he said.

“The defendant’s reasoning seems to have been she [and her children] were a drain on his finances and she has disagreed with him. He was a man who was used to imposing his will through violence.

“There was a history of violence in the relationship and on occasion the violence was directed at others.”

The judge considered the mitigating factors, accepting that the accused had no previous convictions and taking into account his remorse, and that left Jimmy with a sentence of 26 years.

Vicious attack
Medical evidence revealed that Karis had died following a vicious, prolonged and deliberate attack on her body on June 16, 2017.

“Those injuries could only have been caused by the brutal attack carried out by the defendant,” Judge Chetwynd said in his judgement.

Jimmy had initially pleaded not guilty to the offence.

From February 26 to March 9, 20 prosecution witnesses took the witness stand and testified against Jimmy, following events that led up to the last moments of Alice’s life and he was convicted.

The penalty for premeditated homicide is laid out in section 106 (1) and subsection (b)of the Penal Code Act [CAP 135], as follows:

“Intentional homicide (1) ‘No person shall by any unlawful act or omission intentionally cause the death of another person. (b) if the homicide is premeditated, imprisonment for life.”

• Boyfriend found guilty
• More Vanuatu stories

Vanuatu Daily Post editor Jane Joshua, a journalist who has set new standards for social justice and human rights reporting in her country, has been awarded the Hanson Mataskelekele Award for leadership among women.

“We are immensely proud to congratulate Jane,” said the Daily Post media group director Dan McGarry in a social media message to colleagues.

Joshua became chief editor of the Daily Post in February after working for the newspaper for many years.

READ MORE: Jane Joshua and Jenny Nierre win 2018 International Woman’s Day awards

Two awards
Each year, to celebrate International Women’s Day in Vanuatu, the Australian government presents the Andy Lynch Award and the Hanson Mataskelekele Award to two ni-Vanuatu women in recognition of their contributions to the community in the fields of leadership and excellence in the community sector.

High Commissioner Jenny Da Rin presented the leadership award to Jane Joshua, from Malekula, and the community excellence award to Jenny Nierre of Tanna for her “passion, determination and commitment” to teaching despite having no formal  training.

Nierre is committed to providing the children of Lamnatou community in Tanna an education.

“From the beginning, Jane Joshua demonstrated her top-flight journalistic skills. Her reporting has provided an essential addition to the public dialogue,” said McGarry in a recent Daily Post article about her editorial appointment.

“Her reporting of human rights abuses among the country’s prison population contributed to fundamental changes in how our incarcerated population are treated.”

Joshua broke a story detailing the contents of the Commission of Inquiry into the fatal sinking of the local vessel MGY, in which charges of manslaughter were laid against the owner, captain and a crew member of the ship.

Outcry led to reforms
An outcry following this commission of inquiry report led to the creation of a Maritime Regulator and the current wholesale reform of the maritime sector.

Her work as associate editor had recently contributed significantly to the Daily Post company’s expanded radio news and current affairs programming, and its burgeoning presence on social media.

The Daily Post news group is widely regarded as the most reputable source of information and news about Vanuatu in social media today.

“Our social media news coverage has reached as many as 120,000 people in a single day,” said McGarry.

Jane Joshua has written nearly 270 front page stories in the last four years alone.

Her elevation to the rank of editor made her one of few women in the top rank of the news media establishment in the Pacific islands. She is the first woman to occupy the role of editor at the Daily Post.

• More Vanuatu stories

Australian-born lawyer Dane Thornburgh, who has offices in Vanuatu and Australia, employed bullying tactics yesterday morning in a tense confrontation with local journalists.

Thornburgh accused a veteran Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) journalist outside the Magistrates Court of trespassing on his property.

Thornburgh was seen speaking hands on hips with Richard Nanua, who later told the Vanuatu Daily Post that Thornburgh claimed to have seen him trespassing on his property yesterday morning.

This was flatly denied by Nanua. The VBTC journalist confirmed that this was not the first time he had been confronted by the lawyer.

In December 2017, when Nanua was employed at the Daily Post, Thornburgh wrote to a lawyer acting for the newspaper, alleging that “both Ms Jackson and I have been followed around lately by a mysterious person.”

It transpired that Nanua was being accused of stalking behaviour for his presence at the Magistrates Court and other work-related places.

Thornburgh threatened to file for a restraining order at that time, but failed to do so.

Prior to the argument with the VBTC staff, Thornburgh was seen in an intense discussion with the Public Prosecutor outside the Magistrates Courtroom, opposite the Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF).

Close range photos
When Daily Post media director Dan McGarry arrived at the court compound with his camera, an unhappy Thornburgh and Jackson approached him and captured photos of him at a very close range.

The Australian lawyer who is practising law in Vanuatu was reported by the Daily Post to be allegedly implicated in the act of extortion contrary to section 138 of the Penal Code Act [CAP 135] which carries up to 14 years imprisonment as its maximum penalty.

Jackson is facing one count of complicity to extortion, contrary to section 3 and 138 of the Penal Code Act [CAP 135].

Yesterday morning, Thornburgh sought request from Senior Magistrate Moses Peter for non-publication on March 22, 2018, with reasons to exclude media coverage, particularly from the Daily Post. The application was approved by Senior Magistrate Peter.

The preliminary inquiry into this case has been adjourned to April 3, 2018.

• More Vanuatu stories

Vanuatu’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade is proud to have two women appointed to the top positions of First Political Adviser and Second Political Adviser – Anthea Arukole and Jeanette Yiu-Hing Faerua respectively.

These two are the only women to occupy these leading political adviser positions in the current government.

It is also believed to be the first time in Vanuatu’s history that women have occupied both first and second PA positions in a single government ministry.

There have been many efforts and initiatives to advance women in political participation and decision making in Vanuatu and when the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ralph Regenvanu, took office in December last year and appointed women into the two key positions in the cabinet, it gave comfort to the gender advocates that there are male champions who are committed to advancing women.

This is very positive news for Vanuatu on International Women’s Day.

Both women have been key figures in the Graon mo Jastis Pati (GJP) since it was established

Arukole is an active member of the national executive of GJP and is not new to the First Political Adviser position.

Foreign Affairs move
She was previously the First PA at the Ministry of Internal Affairs prior to moving to Foreign Affairs.

Before taking up the First PA role in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in February 2017, GJP Minister Alfred Maoh had another woman as his First PA, Emily Tumukon.

“Having been part of the national executive of a political party for has helped to grounded me for my role as a political advisor and i am no stranger to leadership and management roles,” Arukole said.

“While being first political adviser is challenging, I have a lot of support within the party as well as from senior officials of government whom I encounter.

“It helps also that the current Acting Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also a woman, Roline Tekon.”

Minister Ralph Regenvanu said he was very satisfied with the performance of his two key political advisers to date.

Vanuatu Daily Post media director Dan McGarry was full of praise for his editor, Jane Joshua, author of this news story, on International Women’s Day. In the last four years alone, he said on Twitter, Joshua had written nearly 270 front page stories for the Vanuatu Daily Post.

Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Trade, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business Joe Natuman has pleaded guilty to two counts of obstructing or interfering with the execution of a criminal process, contrary to section 79 (c) of the Penal Code [CAP 135].

Natuman was joined by the other defendant in the Criminal Case 188 of 2016, former Acting Police Commissioner, Aru Maralau, who also pleaded guilty to one count of complicity to obstruct or interfere with the execution of a criminal process contrary to sections 30 and 79 (c) of the Penal Code.

Natuman and Maralau entered guilty pleas yesterday morning ahead of the initial trial date which was set for March 15-16. The sentencing is scheduled for March 16.

In 2016, their case was committed to the Supreme Court by the Chief Magistrate, Felix Stevens after a Preliminary Inquiry confirmed they have a case to answer.

The charges were brought against the Deputy Prime Minister in 2014 when he was Prime Minister.

On September 19, 2014, Natuman, in his capacity as the Prime Minister and the Minister responsible for Vanuatu Police Force instructed the then Acting Commissioner of Police, Maralau, to stop a police investigation team from carrying out an investigation into a mutiny case involving senior police officers.

Following the mutiny saga, Maralau assisted in suspending the investigations.

Moana Carcasses, who was Opposition Leader in Parliament at the time, filed a complaint against Natuman and Maralau.

‘No case’ submission
During a “no case” submission in relation to this criminal case last December, the court heard that the initial motive behind the then Prime Minister’s actions and decision was made for the best interest of the Vanuatu Police Force, to unite the Force.

DPM Natuman is not the first Member of Parliament to plead guilty while occupying a ministerial portfolio. In 2015, then Finance Minister Willie Jimmy became the first Vanuatu MP since independence to plead guilty on two counts, one under the Leadership Code.

The Deputy Prime Minister will continue to hold the position of DPM and the portfolio of Tourism, Trade, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business, following an agreement with the Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, after he pleaded guilty to the charges in court yesterday morning.

Natuman told the Daily Post yesterday afternoon that he would hold the offices until his sentencing on March 16.

“Depending on how heavy or light the sentence will be, it will then be up to the Prime Minister or even myself,” he said on his future.

The DPM added that he pleaded guilty in court on advice from his lawyers to a charge over an incident in which he acted in good faith, but did not realise it was against the law.

Section 3 (1) of the country’s Members of Parliament (Vacation of Seats) Act, which can be viewed on the PacLII website states: “If a member of Parliament is convicted of an offence and is sentenced by a court to imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years, he shall forthwith cease to perform his functions as a member of Parliament and his seat shall become vacant at the expiration of 30 days thereafter: Provided that the Speaker, or in his absence, the Deputy Speaker, may at the request of the member from time to time extend that period for further periods of 30 days to enable the member to pursue any appeal in respect of his conviction, or sentence, so however that extensions of time exceeding in the aggregate 150 days shall not be granted without the approval of Parliament signified by resolution”.

Subsection (2) asserts: “If at any time before the member vacates his seat his conviction is set aside or a punishment other than imprisonment is substituted, his seat in Parliament shall not become vacant as provided by subsection (1), and he may again perform his functions as a member of Parliament”, followed by (3): “For the purpose of subsection (1) no account shall be taken of a sentence of imprisonment imposed as an alternative to or in default of the payment of a fine”.

Glenda Willie and Jonas Cullwick are journalists with the Vanuatu Daily Post.

It’s becoming far too common: Journalists and whistle blowers are being singled out and silenced as governments throughout the region allow the Pacific to slide down the slippery slope of repression.

Either we act now to stop it, or we accept that in ten years, the region’s media may look a lot more like the People’s Daily than The Sydney Morning Herald.

READ MORE: The Vanuatu Daily Post editorial

Australia is no exception. Even now, the Coalition government is considering draconian new laws that would outlaw activity that is necessary to the proper functioning of a democracy.

In every country of the world, social media is eroding people’s sense of the truth, and undermining its importance in their daily existence.

In the Pacific Islands, the threat is real. Last week, three veteran journalists in Fiji, all of them with spotless reputations, were detained by police on suspicion of “inciting unrest”.

They had published the news that a magistrate who ruled against the government’s interest in a labour case had been sacked. They were held for hours, and their phones and laptops were seized.

As this editorial is being finalised, Samisoni Pareti, Netani Rika and Nanise Volau are facing the possibility of charges of incitement to sedition.

Inexcusable police action
This action by police, presumably with the blessing of the FijiFirst government, is inexcusable. There is no possible justification for it. It is a direct assault on free speech and the freedom of the media to question the actions of public officials.

The clearly opportunistic prosecution of the publisher and editor of The Fiji Times is a similar travesty. The government is seeking a punishment that is wildly out of proportion with the crime these people are accused of.

Clearly, the government wants The Fiji Times shut down because it tells the truth.

We have to ask: Are the days of dictatorship in Fiji truly past?

In Kiribati too, as details emerged about the tragic—and possibly preventable—sinking of a passenger ferry, we heard that a New Zealand television news crew had their gear confiscated. This is just not on.

Yes, the news media are often the bearers of bad tidings. Yes, sometimes they are the ones who dig these stories up. Yes, sometimes they make mistakes.

None of this justifies punishing people for speaking their mind.

Constant threats
The danger is greater than it has been in a decade.

Media freedom pioneer Marc Neil-Jones suffered assaults, imprisonment, deportation and constant threats as he fought to build and preserve media freedom in Vanuatu. He did not do it alone. Every time he suffered another affront, an uproar spread across the region, making it clear to the government of Vanuatu that there would be consequences for their ill-advised actions.

Now, government and civil society leaders gather in Nauru, and not a peep is heard about their government’s serial abuses of freedom of speech and human rights.

Fiji subverts the entire media establishment, and nothing is said. Kiribati outright says “stop reporting on this story”, and aside from a few angry squawks, nothing happens.

The very governments who claim to defend democracy and Western values don’t seem as married to them as they once were.

We need to realise something: Either we speak up now and draw a clear line under freedom of speech, or we write it off in the Pacific region.

The right to express oneself is not granted by governments. Constitutions don’t give these rights either. They recognise them.

How high a price?
These rights existed before we were born, and they will continue to exist whether we admit it or not. The only question, really, is how high a price do we have to pay to exercise them? Detention? Imprisonment? Deportation? Assault?

This is not an abstract discussion. The truth matters more than ever, and media professionals across the Pacific need to understand that time is not on our side.

Across the globe, people are beginning to see the damage caused by Facebook’s pernicious influence on people’s perception of what’s true. It’s felt in small communities more intensely than anywhere else. A few unprincipled and unrestrained people are playing fast and loose with the truth, and ruining people’s lives in the process.

If our professional media associations were doing their job, they would set an example for others to follow. Instead, they cower, just as they’ve done in the face of government repression.

And now, the worst excesses of social media are being used as justification for even more suppression from these same governments.

In Vanuatu, Basil Leodoro, a highly respected doctor, was suspended from his job by the Public Service Commission for months because he spoke his mind. Both his manager and the Director-General of Health confirmed to the Daily Post that the reason for his suspension was his open letter to the Prime Minister questioning millions of dollars of spending during the Ambae island evacuation effort.

Only after it became clear that the pressure was not going to let up did the PSC grudgingly reinstate him. And even as they did, they salted the wound with unsubstantiated accusations that he had stolen money, and that letters supporting him were obtained by coercion.

A press release issued by a Public Service Commission official accused Vanuatu media of “biased and excessive” reporting on the suspension.

Clearly the government of Vanuatu needs to learn—again—that free speech is fundamental to democracy. There is nothing more important than the right to speak, free of coercion. We stand with Dr Leodoro, and with everyone who speaks their mind honestly and fairly.

Speak up for the truth
If we don’t reaffirm this now, if we don’t repeat this chorus loud and long, we will lose our democracy.

In New Zealand and Australia, in Fiji, in Kiribati, in Nauru—across the entire region—media professionals need to stand up and speak in defence of the truth. We need to set an example for others, show them how responsible, principled, fair and fearless reporting comes about.

Across the Pacific, our national media associations have to find the courage to speak again. The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), absent all these years, needs to stop being a hollow excuse for biannual junkets, and do its job.

PINA used to be at the forefront of press freedom in the region. Now as a result of a dominating broadcast sector they have lost the plot when it comes to issuing statements critical of government attacks on press freedom.

Nobody is going to do this for us. If we don’t act, our governments will. And that won’t end well for any of us.

Dan McGarry, Media Director
Marc Neil-Jones, Publisher
Vanuatu Daily Post
Port Vila, Vanuatu

• Fiji police again question Islands Business chief editor, ex-publisher in probe

• Sign the petition to defend journalism, whistleblowers and democracy.

The clock is ticking for the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation, operator of Radio Vanuatu and TV Blong Vanuatu.

An interim board of directors met for the first time last week in the conference room of the Prime Minister’s office. The mandate: Fix what ails the VBTC within 6 months or less.

Its first order of business was to receive a recently completed independent Strategic Assessment.

The independent assessment was contracted to the Pacific Group Ltd in an open bidding process.

PGL is a consulting firm owned by former Government Chief Information Officer Fred Samuel. He hired Fiji media veteran Francis Herman and Wilma Vocor, a former executive at ANZ Vanuatu, to provide expert assistance with the study.

Samuel addressed the board members shortly before the meeting began, with the media present. He reminded the attendees that the decision to review and reform the VBTC arose from the government’s so-called 100 Day Plan. It was one of twenty objectives assigned to the Prime Minister’s Office, and one of about 130 overall.

The assessment, he stated, was mandated to review the VBTC’s board and objectives. In the course of its work, though, his team discovered additional issues, including staffing irregularities and “out of control expenditures”, which were also taken on board.

Content not discussed
The board was not willing to discuss the content of the assessment until they had had a chance to review it. Once that review is complete, said board chairman Johnson Naviti, the document would be submitted to the Council of Ministers and only then can public release be contemplated.

The new board was instated by order of the Prime Minister last Monday, and is composed entirely of public servants. They include chairman Johnson Naviti, Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO); Letlet August, Director-General of Finance; Gerard Metsan, Government Chief Information Officer; John Jack, also from the OGCIO; and Government Public Relations Officer Hilaire Bule.

The assessment was originally contracted in April, but administrative delays slowed progress, with formal hand-over taking place on Friday.

The team consulted broadly, dealing with the corporation’s creditors, its technical infrastructure, its audience and content, future technological trends and their financial viability.

The assessment itself is comprehensive, looking at the corporation’s business case, its social mandate and its role as a government mouthpiece.

“We’re running against time,” said Samuel, citing a number of factors that made immediate action necessary.

Asked if he was confident that the six months allotted to the current board members was sufficient, the chair said, “Yes”.

PM’s support
He cited the support that they had received from the Prime Minister himself, and added that a task force was also being assembled to action the assessment’s recommendations, which among others would contain one or more Parliamentary Secretaries.

“If they continue to provide the mandate and give us their support, we’ll be able to get everything done,” he said.

Asked if there would be additional budget funding next year, he asked “That’s something we’ll have to take up right away”.

One veteran journalist reacted to the news that the reform process was under way by saying that the company needed to be clear about whether it was a state broadcaster, a public broadcaster or a commercial broadcaster.

Asked about how this new board saw the corporation, chairman Johnson Naviti replied half-jokingly, “Definitely all three”.

“The government has limited resources. While the VBTC provides a service to the public, at the same time it has to meet its own costs.”

Dan McGarry is media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post group. His articles are republished by Asia Pacific Report with permission.

• Bob Makin’s assessment in Vanuatu Digest

“I was fighting in the mountains and I heard your voice from across the ocean coming to support my people, to cherish the same freedom that you have struggled for and achieved for your people”.

Former Prime Minister Barak Sope says the former FRETILIN guerrilla fighter-turned President of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak, spoke with words to that effect when he awarded him with the Order of Timor-Leste last month.

It is the highest medal in the Asia-Pacific country to be awarded to a person.

Barak Sope was accompanied by his wife, Mildred Sope, on the invitation of the President where he received the award at the Presidential Palace in Dili on May 17 just three days before the presidential term ended.

Former President Taur Matan Ruak said the solidarity of so many activists like Barak Sope who believed in justice was decisive for the Timorese people realising their freedom and independence.

Ruak said supporters from all over the world, including Vanuatu, helped to expose the crimes of the occupation in Timor-Leste, especially by the Indonesian armed forces, the Vanuatu Daily Post was told.

After Portugal abandoned Timor-Leste in 1975, Indonesia invaded the country in December that year and occupied it illegally for 24 years. During the occupation more than 200,000 Timorese were killed by the Indonesian armed forces.

Indonesian crimes exposed
The exposure of the crimes of the Indonesian occupation on Timor-Leste was made during Barak Sope’s speech at the United Nations Millennium Summit in New York in September 2000.

Sope also exposed the killings of Timorese at the meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Havana, Cuba, in May 2000.

In 1985, as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Roving Ambassador of Vanuatu, Barak Sope travelled to Africa to meet President Santos of Angola and all the foreign ministers of former Portuguese colonies to speak on behalf of the East Timorese people.

To the people of Timor-Leste today, Barak Sope, is their hero because when he was secretary-general for Vanua’aku Pati from 1974 to 1987, he worked closely with FRETILIN, the independence movement of Timor-Leste.

During that time, some FRETILIN members came to live with the Sope Family on Ifira Island and Sumalapa for three to five years.

When he was Prime Minister, Barak Sope signed the Agreement with the then Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Anan, for Vanuatu to take part in the UN Peacekeeping Force in May 2000.

In 2001, the prime minister did not only send the 50 ni-Vanuatu Police Peacekeeping Force to East Timor on their first overseas UN Mission, but he personally travelled with them to Australia where he saw them off to East Timor.

Vanuatu voted for independence
Since 1980, Vanuatu had always voted for Timor-Leste to gain independence at UN General Assembly and other international forums.

During the award ceremony, the citation of the Order of Timor-Leste was read to say that this medal was awarded to Barak T. Sope Mautamate for his “contribution towards the struggle for freedom, independence, peace and humanity for the Timorese people”.

“For your contribution, the 1.06 million Timorese people reiterate their heartfelt appreciation for all those who helped to give birth to Timor-Leste, from Vanuatu and other countries in the world,” President Ruak reportedly said.

Former President Ruak has been succeeded in office this month by FRETILIN leader President Francisco Guterres.

• Order of Vanuatu medal

In a late-night teleconference with senior government officials, World Bank representatives finally acquiesced to Vanuatu’s choice of bidder for the long-awaited Bauerfield runway upgrade.

Confronted with a determined government, the World Bank ended what one participant called a months-long “standoff” by indicating it had no objection to the decision to use China Civil Engineering and Construction Company, or CCECC, as the contractor for the projects.

CCECC’s bid for the Bauerfield component of the contract came in at just over US$47 million—approximately VT5.16 billion—according to members of the bid review committee. The repairs and upgrades on Tanna’s White Grass and Santo’s Pekoa airports will cost slightly more than US$11.3 million, or approximately VT1.24 billion.

A decision had been expected late January this year. But after a series of delays, the resolution arrived only hours before a senior cabinet briefing designed to bring the issue to a head.

In a late-night discussion with World Bank representatives on Thursday, senior government officials made it clear they were prepared to end the impasse by making their choice public, even if that preference was not shared by the funding body.

Journalists invited to the Friday morning event at the Holiday Inn had been briefed to expect a statement to that effect from the Prime Minister. Some were surprised when Charlot Salwai instead announced that the logjam had at last been broken.

The government clearly intends not to waste another moment. Contacted for comment, both the World Bank and CCECC were playing catch-up to the Friday morning announcement. Shortly after the press statement was issued, a spokesperson for CCECC indicated that the company had yet to receive formal notification of their selection, but promised a response as soon as the word arrived.

‘Critical importance’
For its part, a World Bank spokesperson replied by email, stating, “We fully appreciate the sense of frustration felt by many regarding delays in finalising the tender evaluation, however due to the critical importance of this runway to Vanuatu, getting things right through following proper procurement processes and due diligence was essential.”

They expressed relief at the positive result and were eager to move on: “The good news now is that all bidders have been formally notified of the completion of the evaluation process, with contract negotiations to be scheduled by the government in the coming days.”

Details are sparse concerning the cause of the delays. Speaking on background, all parties have admitted to differences of opinion concerning bid price, and confidence in the ability of some bidders to complete the required works within the proposed budget.

But no one was willing to discuss the process on the record, for fear of prejudicing the process.

An evaluation committee member told the Daily Post that their recommendation was returned three times with requests from the World Bank for additional information. These requests for information had to be forwarded to all bidders, and responses compiled and circulated.

Each of these took weeks to complete, giving rise to concerns among onlookers that the process was in danger of getting stuck in a loop.

Asked if this series of interactions affected the outcome, one person close to the process said: “It did affect the outcome. I can’t say any more than that.”

Fair contest
Numerous commentators and participants expressed understanding and respect for the integrity of the World Bank process, and understood the need to ensure a thorough and above all fair contest. Weeks ago, after a meeting with the World Bank’s vice-president for Asia Pacific, MIPU Minister Jotham Napat underlined the need to ensure that the process wouldn’t be subject to appeal or litigation following the award.

“That’s the last thing we need,” he said at the time.

The economic consequences of delay have been a source of deep concern people on the ground here in Vanuatu.

There has long been a widespread sense that undue delays to the Bauerfield project would only prolong the country’s economic struggles. In the wake of cyclone Pam, which ravaged half the country, tourism has struggled.

The shock announcement at the beginning of 2016 that Air New Zealand was suspending commercial service to Port Vila due to runway conditions was followed in quick succession by the suspension of a codeshare between Qantas and Air Vanuatu.

The resulting drop in tourists arriving by air put intense pressure on local tourism operators, who rely on air arrivals for the bulk of their revenues. Overall revenues from tourists arriving by air are just now returning to 2014 levels, but occupancy rates are lower.

This is primarily because tourists have been staying in Vanuatu marginally longer in recent months.

‘Round the clock’
When bids were unsealed in late December last year, a procurement specialist contracted by the World Bank assured bidders that committee members would work through Christmas and the New Year and do their best to get a result “within a month”.

A bid review committee member confirmed to the Daily Post that they had worked “round the clock” to assess the bids and make their selection.

According to one technical specialist, the upgrade to Bauerfield airport’s runway will consist of milling out the top 10mm of the runway surface, then re-mixing it and adding new bitumen. Then another 10mm of new runway surface will be added, effectively doubling the depth of the surface.

The contractor will work during airport downtime, mostly at night. The work will proceed in small slices, as it were, and a temporary ramp section will be added every morning to allow a smooth transition between new surface and old.

Asked about the state of the foundational materials that underlie the tarmac itself, the specialist replied that it was found to be in perfectly good condition.

Perhaps the primary concern for tourism business owners is the status of the codeshare between Qantas and Air Vanuatu.

The code share was cancelled shortly after Air New Zealand’s January 2016 announcement that they were suspending scheduled commercial service due to concerns about the condition of the runway.

The Daily Post asked Jotham Napat if he was going to contact Air New Zealand now, but he indicated he didn’t want to politicise the situation.

“This is purely a commercial deal. We’re doing our part. The airport has been certified. It’s just a matter for them to come.”

“The ball is in their court now,” he concluded.

Dan McGarry is media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post group and has written extensively on the Port Vila airport issue.

The stars of Tanna have brought their unique fashion style – penis sheaths (nambas), bare bottoms and painted faces – to the Oscars, reports SBS.

Lingai Kawia, Seline Kawia and their interpreter JJ Nako from the volcanic southern island of Tanna in Vanuatu braved 13C temperatures on the red carpet for the 89th Academy Awards on Sunday.

They rubbed shoulders with Hollywood’s biggest stars but did not know who the global icons were because they have lived lives largely shut off from the rest of the world.

Australian filmmakers Bentley Dean and Martin Butler were able to film a scripted drama with members of the village, despite no electricity and many of the villagers never having watching a movie or TV show before.

The actors speak in their native Navhal and Nafe languages and managed to score one of the five foreign language Oscar nominations, a first for an Australian – or a Pacific – production.

Tweeting from Port Vila’s National Convention Centre today where the Vanuatu government staged a livestreaming encore, Vanuatu Daily Post media director Dan McGarry said, “The Oscars moment of truth has arrived … ” But he added: “You’re a winner already, Tanna. We love you”, meaning both the film and the island’s people.

Vanuatu Tourism plans to capitalise on the film’s nomination and the ongoing media coverage it has been attracting by running a campaign to profile Tanna and Vanuatu.

It has introduced travel packages that follow in the footsteps of the film.

“As we all know, film is a powerful medium and has the ability to really put a destination on travellers’ radars. Just look at what the Lord of the Rings franchise has done for New Zealand,” said South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) chief executive Chris Cocker, reports The Vanuatu Independent.

• Oscars 2017: Stars of Tanna turn red carpet into dance party
• Vanuatu awaits the Oscars with high hopes
• The Oscar winners
• From Tanna to Hollywood: Film success for Vanuatu love story
• Vanuatu’s Romeo and Juliet epic

Marc Neil-Jones’ newspaper Vanuatu Daily Post celebrates an historic milestone today. We need to remember how it came about.

“I have been lucky,” said Marc Neil-Jones in his valedictory speech when he retired at the end of 2015. “I came to Vanuatu only four years after cyclone Uma had destroyed the place. I came here in 1989 with $8000 and one of those small early Macintosh computers and the first Apple laser printer.”

Out of that Mac came an institution that has effectively defined Vanuatu’s region-leading reputation for media freedom.

Since he arrived in Vanuatu from Papua New Guinea 26 years ago, Marc’s swashbuckling approach to life and his fearless dedication to the truth—to say nothing of his apparently immortal mullet—have created a legend almost bigger than a man can be.

We celebrate his life and his achievements today.

If you run a Google search for “Marc Neil-Jones” the very first image to appear is of a rather punch-drunk man with a bloody nose and a split lip. Marc has gone—literally and metaphorically—toe-to-toe with countless powerful figures in his time. And although his health has suffered of late, he has emerged the victor in every confrontation.

He has been deported, imprisoned, beaten… and threatened with lawsuits so often that he reacts to each new lawyer’s letter with nothing more than a quiet smile, like someone hearing news of an old friend.

Some claim that he has drunk kava with more prime ministers than any other man. In his time away from the office his raillery and joie-de-vivre left many young women breathless and, often enough, scandalised.

Passion and intensity
But he brought that same passion and intensity to his work. Without his unique mix of affability and panache, it’s doubtful that the media in Vanuatu would have evolved as it has.

Marc’s legacy runs deeper than many people appreciate.

Back in 1993, Marc Neil-Jones persuaded then-Prime Minister Maxime Carlot Korman to allow him to open a proper newspaper, the first of its kind in Vanuatu. Until then, only a government rag existed, and its coverage of politics and current events was… staid, to say the least.

It was Marc’s taste for scandal and imbroglio that led him into the newspaper business, but it was his deeply-held sense of decency and desire for fairness that created the newspaper you’re reading today.

In over two decades of partnership with local businessman Gene Wong, Marc’s brainchild has moved from strength to strength. Even in the wake of cyclone Pam’s devastation and the subsequent economic downturn, the Daily Post and Buzz FM remain profitable.

It is impossible to measure the social wealth that this man has helped create. Without a newspaper of record, one could argue that Vanuatu’s path over the years would have been a different one.

At the height of tension during the 2015 criminal bribery trials, a Solomon Islands policeman turned to a ni-Vanuatu colleague and said: “Mate, if this were Honiara, half the town would be on fire by now.”

But this is Port Vila, not Honiara; and not to put too fine a point on it, if people here have learned to love ethics, fairness and the rule of law, they learned most of it in the pages of the Daily Post.

Marc Neil-Jones has faced increasing health challenges in recent years, and at the end of 2015, he formally announced his retirement. He is a pioneer, a champion of media freedom and a member of a truly elite—and far too small—club of fearless defenders of the truth in the Pacific islands.

This article was first published in the Vanuatu Daily Post and has been republished by Asia Pacific Report with permission.

• The souvenir 5000th edition of the Vanuatu Daily Post
• The Vanuatu Daily Post website
• The future of media freedom – Dan McGarry

A congratulatory message from the Pacific Media Centre’s Professor David Robie broadcast on 96BuzzFM today.

Media freedom is everyone’s freedom. We can’t take it for granted.

My education in the challenges of reporting the news began in a hurry. I got my first threatening lawyer’s letter less than half an hour after sitting down at my desk. The next day, I found myself at the receiving end of an angry harangue from someone whose name had just appeared on our front page. He accused me of sensationalising the news just to sell papers.

It’s a common insult, and one that many journalists learn to wear like a badge of honour. You simply can’t report the news responsibly without upsetting people. If you’re going to speak truth to power, if you’re going to confront society’s challenges, if you’re simply going to tell it as it is… you’ve got to be willing to make people uncomfortable.

Back in May last year, I gave a talk on Media Freedom Day. I described a news reporter as “the honest friend who tells you ‘yeah, your butt does look big in that.’ He’s the friend who stands between you and that bully and says, ‘You don’t have the right to speak to her like that!’ And then turns to you and says, ‘And neither do you.’

“The reporter is the friend that tells you what your other friends are saying about you. Whether you want to hear it or not.

“The reporter is the friend who tells you what you did was wrong, and who still visits you in jail. They don’t hate you when you don’t agree; they don’t like you just because you do.”

Headline shock, good news or bad
I ended with a realisation:

“It never struck me until I started working at a newspaper just how it felt for people to see their name in the headline. Good news or bad, it’s a shock.”

Good news or bad. It’s not easy being the centre of attention. The lesson really landed when friends and colleagues of mine were faced with misfortune, and I found our relationship tested by my duty to put my personal feelings aside and respect the public’s right to know.

If it hadn’t been for the example set by the Vanuatu Daily Post over the years, I would have fewer friends today than when I started. Happily, the opposite is true. Thanks to the trailblazing work of Marc Neil-Jones and the dozens of fearless journalists whose blood, sweat and tears have graced these pages, every fair-minded, reasonable person in this country accepts that the news should challenge us.

As long as it’s fair, that is. This is the challenge that keeps us awake at night, the thing that drives us to re-litigate—again and again—the means by which we prepared our stories, how we sourced them, who we talked to, what we can fairly say.

We don’t always get it right. That’s a statistical impossibility. And reporting in Vanuatu, a notoriously information-starved environment, the challenges are often immense.

At the end of March last year, I wrote: “Access to information is critical to a healthy society, and when it works, its benefits are crystal-clear.”

And later in the same piece: “Vanuatu has never lacked for communication, in every kitchen, in every bar and nakamal, in the cess of social media, in the press and on the airwaves. Some say there’s too much of it. I don’t; I just think it’s often ill-informed.

“Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if we could finally talk about what we actually know?”

Getting the facts straight
Getting the facts straight is a challenge for everyone here in Vanuatu. It makes decision-making difficult, and our understanding is often driven as much by instinct and bitter experience than actual data.

The challenge is even greater in the media. If we are to maintain the trust of our reading audience, especially in the face of a cynical global campaign to discredit the news and its purveyors, we have to work harder than anyone else. We have to scrupulously cleave to the Media Code of Conduct. We have to bend over backwards to ensure that our stories are fair, that they are as complete as they can reasonably be, and—most importantly of all—we have to be guided by the facts.

The current tidal wave of cynical detachment from events is being driven by unprincipled people in positions of power—and in the media itself. It’s a matter of great shame to me that some of my colleagues would be willing to allow pettiness and partisan affiliation to define their portrayal of the facts.

Shortly after starting work at the Daily Post, I tried to draw a distinction between scepticism, the stock in trade of any self-respecting journalist, and cynicism: “A cynic thinks he knows all the answers already, and often has to be dragged kicking and screaming toward the truth.

“A sceptic, on the other hand, doesn’t quite trust anything to be true. Not even her own knowledge. A sceptical approach to social media is nothing less than a survival tool. Above all, it’s the only way to be fair about things.

“A sceptic doesn’t speak beyond her own knowledge. A famous novel by Robert Heinlein has a character whose job it is to be a Fair Witness. Asked what colour the house in front of her was, she replied, ‘It’s white on this side.’

“That is the kind of healthy scepticism that we should be applying to every information source. We should question, and we should not take the answers on faith. We should fairly evaluate both good and bad.

“It’s neither useful nor healthy always to assume the worst, or to trust anything based only on someone’s say-so. Evidence matters, no matter where it points.”

Sense of human decency
It gives me comfort, therefore, to note how the Vanuatu public’s engagement with facts, and its abiding sense of human decency is successfully holding back the tide of cynicism, character assassination and lying innuendo that has washed over more ‘developed’ countries.

At the end of last year, I noted that “We are by nature a gossipy, jealous, petty and spiteful species. It’s just how our herd mentality expresses itself. We are also empathic and quick to unite in the face of a threat.

“Media organisations know this. Some governments and politicians know this. And whether motivated by greed or lust for power, they are willing to leverage that knowledge to the fullest extent.

“In the right hands, sensational fictionalising gives us The Grapes of Wrath and It’s A Wonderful Life. It gives us Game of Thrones as an allegory of a society breaking down into anarchy. In the wrong hands, it gives us American cable news, the Fiji Sun, PNG’s Post-Courier and an actual descent into anarchy.

“Vanuatu, on the other (other) hand, has somehow managed to maintain a balance between emotion and respect for human dignity. In spite of numerous loud complaints—and a few vividly noticeable exceptions—we manage to maintain a relatively decent sense of decorum in our discussion groups. And we do it in the face of concerted efforts to rile people up.

“The Daily Post—and I personally—have been defamed in social media. The good name of our newspaper has been tarnished by people ranging from former Prime Ministers to basement dwelling nobodies. That just comes with the territory. We deserve to be held to a higher standard, and when—not if—we get something wrong, it has to be noted loudly and visibly. It’s a basic responsibility for those who report the news.

“And we’re happy to see that Vanuatu’s online community is showing the same reputability. While scurrilous accusations and petty, ill-informed comments are still rife, what matters is how they’re received. Nearly every time an accusation is made, the poster is challenged either to provide proof or to remove their post. Fake news is outed almost as quickly as it appears.”

State of Vanuatu media healthy
The state of the media in Vanuatu is healthy. And its health can be directly attributed to the particular amalgam of fearless confrontation and respect for human dignity that has been the hallmark of the Daily Post since its first print run.

We have a great deal still do to. Media freedom and healthy public discourse are organic things. They are landscape, not architecture. They need to be tended, respected and protected from erosion over time.

It gives me immense pleasure and pride to say: So far, so good.

With a generous application of blood, toil, sweat and tears, the next 5000 issues will support and sustain a reputable, respectful and fearless media just as well as the first 5000 have.

It’s an honour to be part of this team.

Dan McGarry is media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post; Royson Willie is the editor.

• Vanuatu Daily Post marks 5000 issues

When officiating the oath of a new Supreme Court judge this week, President Baldwin Lonsdale took the opportunity to thank Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek for services rendered to the nation in the 2015 judicial year.

“2015 was a challenging year for Vanuatu [and] we have witnessed that justice system is alive and is strong,” said the Head of State.

“We continue to encourage that justice always prevails in our nation, the Republic of Vanuatu.”

President Lonsdale was referring to last year’s history-making bribery case which landed 14 MPs in jail.

Four of the leaders jailed were State ministers.

Chief justice’s pledge
The case gained national, regional and international attention for Vanuatu’s judiciary.

With the appointment of another judge, Lonsdale said he looks forward to the continuous support and cooperation in upholding the nation’s justice system.

In response, Chief Justice Lunabek thanked the President on behalf of the judiciary for the kind and encouraging words to the judges and also to the system of justice.

“I stand before you today on behalf of the judiciary to let you know that we can do what we can do, and whatever we can do we’ll try our best to do it better,” Lunabek assured the President.

Thompson Marango is a reporter with the Vanuatu Daily Post.

By Thompson Marango in Port Vila

Vanuatu’s Commissioner of Police, John Taleo, has filed a constitutional case against the Police Service Commission over his suspension last year.

Taleo was suspended by the Prime Minister following a recommendation from the Police Service Commission last March after he was involved in a road accident with him crashing an official police car on the sidewalk.

The suspension, which Taleo is now challenging, was for an indefinite period to allow the commission to conduct an investigation.

The investigation did not only probe the recent accident but also an earlier accident that Taleo was reportedly involved in.

The first accident also involved an official police vehicle, which was reportedly towed into a garage, and costs were met by Taleo.

Taleo’s case is still in conference stages and it is yet to see how far it will get since he has already been reinstated as Police Commissioner.

He was reinstated, and later appointed Commissioner of Police, by President Baldwin Lonsdale while he was awaiting the outcome of the charges laid against him in relation to the accident.

The Police Commissioner was later convicted and sentenced for the charges relating to the accident for which he was suspended.

Earlier this year, Taleo was sentenced by the Magistrates Court to pay a total fine of 35,000 vatu (NZ$465) or face eight months imprisonment.

—

THE PRICE OF POLITICS … CONTINUED

By Dan McGarry

The [Vanuatu] Prime Minister’s Office has wrongly accused the Daily Post of calling Sato Kilman’s name into disrepute, and of partisan bias. These allegations cannot go unanswered.

We thank Prime Minister Sato Kilman and his team for their contribution to this nationally important dialogue. We regret that it took the publication of our editorial to get a response, but any kind of talk—no matter how heated—is preferable to the silence that preceded it.

The PM’s response adds useful context to the conversation. We spent over a thousand words detailing the most recent chapter in what he rightly notes is a series of failures that has spanned a decade.

But the PM helped to pull the timeline further back, and to show how even the World Bank plan—which we described as having “warts”—was flawed in important ways. This is useful context, and we are better off for it.

But the accusation that we have somehow politicised the issue is simply false. The entire piece is an argument against politicising this topic.

Yes, Mr Kilman’s government is hardly the only one guilty of playing political football with the lives of our travellers. We agree on that point. The key point in the editorial was:

“Three different governments, three different plans. That’s no way to run a country.”

Back to 2008
We can extend the blame all the way back to 2008, when a runway resurfacing plan should have been started.

Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones asks, “why didn’t Mr Kilman demand that something be done during his term as Prime Minister when it was well known that the situation was getting critical? At the end of the day, the decision to stop flights landing at Bauerfield has come directly under Mr Kilman’s watch as Prime Minister.

“In politics someone else is always at fault and we accept that in the case of Bauerfield runway, there have clearly been errors made by successive governments that have culminated in the current situation which will be catastrophic for the economy in Vanuatu.

“We hope that the arguments over who is responsible do not detract from the real questions demanding urgent answers. When is the runway going to be fixed? When will Air New Zealand and Virgin flights resume? When will Qantas resume its code share?”

The World Bank confirmed [on Friday] it had just received a letter from the government of Vanuatu, asking them to continue their work on this critical task. The government has clearly come to the same conclusion that we advocated in the first place:

“Why the World Bank plan? Because it’s the one we have. It’s got warts, sure, but it’s the one plan that has the shortest time to completion, and the only one that’s survived a proper and public due diligence. This isn’t about partisanship; it’s about pragmatism.”

Bias accusation rejected
Finally, concerning the accusation that the Daily Post is guilty of political bias: We reject that accusation.

Marc Neil-Jones: “We can assure you that Daily Post has never sided and will never side with any political party to try and get them into government.

“We know that it is a sensitive time after elections but do not accept the comment that ‘Daily Post is using a very serious issue to clearly attempt to bring disrepute to the current caretaker Prime Minister’. We would simply say that the 14 MPs, including ministers in this government, who were jailed on bribery and corruption charges, have already brought your government into disrepute well before news of the cancellation of flights to Bauerfield.”

That said, my door is always open. Email me at dan@dailypost.vu. Call me at 55 44 602. Drop by our office.

Note: Some have said that the Daily Post has traditionally leaned away from the Moderate and toward the Nationalist political agenda. I suspect that this perception is the colonial legacy of French and English rivalry rearing its ugly head. I can only respond that, having grown up in Québec, I sympathise deeply. I firmly believe we should cast off this last vestige of colonialism and quit fighting Europe’s cultural wars.

Venez me voir. Je vous écouterai, et j’espère qu’on s’entendra.

Caretaker PM slams Vanuatu Daily Post

Full Office of PM letter

‘The price of politics’ editorial

Asia Pacific Report Gallery – Pictures and video clip by David Robie

“It has been my decision alone to retire as my health has deteriorated rapidly in the last three years.

“I have been lucky. I came to Vanuatu only 4 years after cyclone Uma had destroyed the place. I came here in 1989 with $8000 and one of those small early Macintosh computers and the first Apple laser printer. Nowadays I would not have been allowed in with only Vt800,000!

“I screwed up when I first arrived by putting girls in mini dresses wrapped around tamtams on a wall calendar and was fined by paramount chief Willie Bongmatur, but I was lucky and my little business started growing.

“Our PM around 1993 was Maxime Carlot Korman, and it was he who gave me the approval to launch a newspaper when I was a foreigner.”

– From the Vanuatu Daily Post last month.