Lake Kutubu's toxic pollution in the Southern Highlands stirs urgent questions for Papua New Guinea. Photo: Reportage-Enviro

Pacific.Scoop
By Calliste Weitenberg

An international body for the protection of wetlands is investigating acute toxic pollution and a Papua New Guinea government approved plan for a $15.6 billion mining project at Lake Kutubu – a world listed site.

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The Santa Cruz massacre in Dili changed global perceptions of East Timor. Photo: Innareis

Pacific.Scoop
Opinion – By Clinton Fernandes

The struggle for justice is not a contest between Indonesians and non-Indonesians. Rather, it is a contest between those around the world who want to justice to prevail and those who want to see impunity prevail.

In 1975, Indonesia illegally invaded East Timor. This triggered an international armed conflict to which the 1949 Geneva Conventions applied.

During the 24-year occupation, there were numerous reports of killings, famine, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The minimum conflict-related death toll was 102,800.
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Jamie Maxtone-Graham ... chairman of the controversial parliamentary probe into the anti-Asian riots in May. Photo: PMC

Pacific.Scoop
By Pacific Media Watch

Papua New Guinea’s parliamentary bipartisan committee investigating the anti-Asian rioting in May will be disbanded, a senior government source has revealed.

“It has lost its credibility,” the source, who did not wish to be identified, told The National on Saturday, referring to the controversial bipartisan committee chaired by MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham.

The panel is seeking to establish what triggered the May protests and looting of shops owned and operated by Chinese in the Highlands and Port Moresby.
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Tia Barrett ... NZ's late High Commissioner to the Cook Islands. Photo: PMC

Pacific.Scoop
Tribute – By Thakur Ranjit Singh

The passing away of a gentleman and career diplomat, Tia Barrett, has come as a shock to those who knew him.

As somebody who was fortunate to have met him in Fiji between 1998 and 2001, when he was heading the High Commission in Suva, I always had a desire to reestablish that contact New Zealand, but that dream will now remain unfulfilled by his sudden departure.

He was in Suva during very troubled times with two significant events.
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The controversial Post-Courier story. Image: PMC

Pacific.Scoop
Pacific Media Centre news desk

A Pacific regional media lobby group has called on Papua New Guinea’s Post-Courier daily newspaper to seek an independent review of a story which it describes as a “journalistic nightmare”.
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Katharine Hepburn ... lessons for the Samoan media. Photo: Legacy

Pacific.Scoop
Opinion – By Tupuola Terry Tavita in Apia

Screen legend and Hollywood socialite Katharine Hepburn was once asked by a reporter if she felt she was more famous for her acting abilities than her, well, eccentric personality.

She replied: “Show me an actress who isn’t a personality and you’ll show me a woman who isn’t a star.”

In a quirky way, it’s one of the main problems facing media coverage in Samoa today – and possibly everywhere else.
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The front page story that angered Papua New Guinea's Pinoy migrant community. Image: PMC

Pacific.Scoop
By Pacific Media Watch

A senior journalist on the Malaysian-owned National newspaper has accused the rival Rupert Murdoch daily Post-Courier of  “fabricating” a front page lead story claiming 16,000 alien Filipinos are living in Papua New Guinea.

The story was splashed by the Post-Courier on November 10 under the banner headline:  “16,000 ‘aliens’” plus a subheading declaring “More than 80 per cent of Filipinos living illegally” in Papua New Guinea.
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Pacific.Scoop
By Oceania Flash in Paris

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has signalled a new approach from Paris towards its overseas departments, countries and territories – including those in the Pacific.
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Buka airport ... the Mosquito urban camp is nearby. Photo: PMC

Pacific.Scoop
By Gorethey Kenneth in Buka

Today we bring you a report from the back of the Buka airport and – to be precise – the Mosquito urban camp where a lot of people regarded as “illegal squatters” live.

But this piece will also detail how they are influential and contribute to the development and human resource of Bougainville.
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Flashback: The Greenpeace ship Esperanza on her Queensland campaign against the Mackay coal facility expansion. Photo: PMC

Pacific.Scoop
Opinion – By Fenton Lutunatabua in Suva

The welcome to Vanuatu was in the form of kava – much stronger than the Fijian version but not surprisingly the law students from Fiji in Port Vila already had their tongues tamed.
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