Young protesters march for Burma's freedom in Wellington. (Photo: scoop.co.nz)

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By PMC News Desk.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has urged Burma’s military junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and 2000 other prisoners of conscience.

The move followed the International Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) corresponding with the United Nations human rights council asking its members to endorse the findings of a UN-commissioned special rapporteur who found institutionalised and widespread violations against Burma’s peoples. Read more »

Press Release – KPMG

Even at 12.5% New Zealand’s GST rate is significantly higher than the Asia Pacific (ASPAC) average, according to the latest KPMG Asia Pacific indirect tax country guide, which provides an overview of taxes in the ASPAC region. Read more »

Press Release – United Nations

Given the common goal of the United Nations and parliaments worldwide to strive for a better future, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for strong cooperation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in achieving the Millennium Development … Read more »

Press Release:
The Kingdom Of Tonga.

The Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele, today announced that the Governments of Tonga, New Zealand, and Australia have finalised the charter agreement for an interim ferry service in Tonga which will commence in April 2010, once the charter vessel, the Ajang Subuh, has arrived in Nuku’alofa from Malaysia. Read more »

New Zealand human rights commissioner, Jeremy Pope.

Pacific Scoop:
Opinion – By Thakur Ranjit Singh.

The Minister of Maori Affairs and the Co-Leader of the Maori Party marked the Race Relations Day last week at a Marae with some sadness. He expressed his concerns at the way New Zealanders treated their migrant communities, especially Asians who were not made to feel at home or welcomed here.

As Race Relations Conciliator, Jeremy Pope, said at the Trusts Stadium during Holi festival:, “people are not born with the ideas of discrimination – they are taught this at home or by their community.” Read more »

Diversity awards winner John Pulu; John's mother, Meliame Piuela Pulu, Spasifik deputy editor Qiane Corfield-Matata; and PMC director Dr David Robie at the awards night. Photo: Del Abcede/PMC.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Tupouseini Taumoepeau

With a “real passion to share the rich history” of his Pacific culture, John Pulu has been awarded the Spasifik Prize and Storyboard Award for diversity journalism.

At the annual School of Communication awards evening at AUT University, Pulu was presented with the prize by the deputy editor for Spasifik magazine, Qiane Corfield-Matata. Read more »

Press Release – Waikato University

University of Waikato student Amrita Sahay is set for an experience of a lifetime. Read more »

Press Release – Scoop Coverage of West Papua

Investigative reporter Allan Nairn recently broke a story of assassinations by the Indonesian military: “According to senior Indonesian officials and police and details from government files, the U.S.-backed Indonesian armed forces (TNI), now due for … Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

ALOFI, NIUE, 12-18 MARCH 2010: Niue hosted the Special Pacific Islands Parties Internal Meeting on 13-18 March and the Annual Consultation with the U.S. regarding the implementation of the Multilateral Treaty on Fisheries Between Certain Governments of the Pacific … Read more »

Press Release – New Zealand Government

An interim ferry service in Tonga, secured by the Governments of New Zealand, Australia, and Tonga, will commence next month once the charter vessel, the Ajang Subuh, has arrived from Malaysia, Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced today. Read more »