Logging by Tumara Forest Industries, a subsidiary of Rimbunan Hijau. Photo: Greenpeace/Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert

Pacific.Scoop
By Isaac Nicholas in Port Moresby

Malaysian conglomerate Rimbunan Hijau has strongly denied allegations of human smuggling, drug running, arms trafficking and other claims levelled against the company by groups it claimed were trying to sabotage its operations in Papua New Guinea.

Senior RH executives who appeared last Friday before the parliamentary bipartisan committee’s inquiry into the anti-Asian riots in May, said that unsubstantiated allegations and claims had been made by international non-governmental organisations in their attempts to stop the company’s logging operations.

RH representatives who appeared before the committee  included RH executive director Nathaniel Ho, RH Hypermart general manager Ang Cheng Chooi and manager corporate policy Axel Wilhelm.
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Pacific Press Release – Pacific Islands Political Studies Association, 23 November 2009

University of Auckland hosts Pacific Islands Political Studies conference

Pacific scholars, policy makers and analysts from around the world will convene at the University of Auckland for the 11th Pacific Islands Political Studies Association (PIPSA) conference.
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Press Release – Tamarillo Films

Kiwi Malaysian Producer Alex Lee’s short film “Love & Luksaah” has been confirmed as a finalist in the Best Short Film category of the 5th Asian Festival of First Films (AFFF) to be held in Singapore 2-4 December. Read more »

Press Release – Lumino

Oamaru mum, Joanne Prouting, has won five nights in Fiji with return airfares for two, staying at the Sofitel Resort and Spa. Joanne, a long standing patient at Lumino The Dentists (Shearer Dental) in Oamaru took part in the company’s initiative to … Read more »

Press Release – New Zealand Defence Force

Six cadets from Nelson’s TS Talisman will have the opportunity of a lifetime in July next year, as part of an offshore sailing voyage from New Zealand to New Caledonia. Read more »

Press Release – UNIFEM

UNIFEM, Honiara – The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM Pacific Regional Office) will start a week-long workshop on Gender and Elections in Honiara, Solomon Islands today. Read more »

Pacific Press Release – Pacific Media Watch, 23 November 2009

CHANGES TO BROADCASTING RULES IN FIJI DRAW MIXED RESPONSE

SUVA (Radio New Zealand/Pacific Media Watch): One of Fiji’s main commercial broadcasters says changes made by the interim government to broadcasting rules don’t present a threat to freedom of expression in Fiji.
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Press Release – Free West Papua Campaign

December 1 is remembered by West Papuans as the day they should have been granted independence over 40 years ago. This year thousands of people across West Papua will be risking their lives by publicly calling for independence from Indonesia. In solidarity … Read more »

Papuan Presidium chief Theys Eluay ... violence continues since his assassination in 2001. Photo: West Papua.nl

Pacific. Scoop
By Nurfika Osman in Jakarta

Despite the raft of killings, abductions and other violence carried out by unidentified groups in Papua, Indonesia’s eyes remain elsewhere, says a Papuan student leader.

“Thousands of Papuans have become victims over the years, but we continue to seek a dialogue with the central government and we will never stop demanding it,” said Markus Haluk, secretary general of the Papua Central Highland Student Association.
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Pacific Press Release – Pacific Media Watch, 22 November 2009

FIJI DENIES FURTHER CLAMPDOWN ON MEDIA

SUVA (Radio New Zealand/Pacific Media Watch): The military-led regime in Fiji is rejecting claims it has revoked broadcasting licences to clamp down further on the media.
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