A patient is released from chains in North Bali by Professor Luh Ketut Suryani, founder of the Suryani Institute for Mental Health. Photo: Suryani Institute for Mental Health

For an estimated 20 million Indonesians who suffer a mental health illness, the chained or shackled conditions seen in this photo are an everyday threat. This practice, known as pasung, has been banned in Indonesia since 1977 but Holly Ryan reports for Asia-Pacific Journalism that it is still a problem.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Holly Ryan

The practice of “treating” mental health patients through electro-convulsive therapy or lobotomies and locking them up or shackling them to the floor, is widely regarded as a primitive treatment of the past.

However, for many of the 20 million people in Indonesia who suffer a mental illness, these practices – known as pasung – are still a reality.

But a new national programme is now trying to eliminate pasung once and for all, with the Indonesian government saying that it plans to make the training of mental health professionals a priority, and increase the accessibility of mental health services. Read more »

Tahiti’s Oscar Temaru … soundly defeated in elections, but delighted with the UN decolonisation vote. Image: France 24

As French Polynesia embarks on a controversial “decolonisation” track with the United Nations, New Caledonia faces a referendum for independence due next year. Jane Jeffries reports on the Francophone Pacific for Asia-Pacific Journalism.

Pacific Scoop
Report – By Jane Jeffries

Long time conservative politician and leader of the anti-independence Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party Gaston Flosse is finally back in the presidency in French Polynesia following a landslide victory earlier this month.

As soon as he was elected, one of Flosse’s first tasks was to try to stop the decolonisation bid at the United Nations lodged by the outgoing government of rival pro-independence champion Oscar Temaru.

Across the Pacific in New Caledonia, 20 years of reforms leading to the transfer of powers from France to the local government in Noumea has been unfolding. But the hard question will come next year when a referendum on independence is due to take place after the 2014 elections. Read more »

This man reportedly tried to stop reporters from the Samoa Observer taking pictures of a traffic incident. Image: Samoa Observer

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Pacific Media Watch and the Samoa Observer

Three female reporters from the Samoa Observer were threatened and one was assaulted in the presence of three police officers when covering a traffic incident this week, the newspaper reports.

The reporters are Sarai Ripine, Nicola Hazelman-Siona and Lanuaola Tupufia.

A truck with a tanker on its back tipped over on Wednesday in the village of Vailima, about 4km south of the capital Apia. Read more »

Flags of the Melanesian Spearhead group countries … Papua New Guinea (clockwise from top left), Kanaky (host territory), Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. Is West Papua’s Morning Star flag about to join them? Image: MSG Kantri

Decisions at next month’s Melanesian Spearhead Group 25th jubilee and leaders’ summit in Noumea will shape the future of the Pacific region. Topics are expected to include West Papua, the environment and the future of MSG relations with the Pacific Islands Forum. Jamie Small reports for Asia-Pacific Journalism.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Jamie Small

West Papua may become a crucial issue for the Pacific if the Melanesian Spearhead Group next month decides to offer observer status to the Indonesian-ruled region at its leaders’ summit next month.

The MSG leaders will be gathering in Noumea, New Caledonia, for the organisation’s 25th jubilee and many serious matters will be on the table.

Peter Forau, Director-General of the MSG, says the major focus of the summit will be on West Papua’s proposed addition to the group as an observer state. Read more »

Workers who were rescued after a tunnel collapsed in the Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. mine area receive treatment in a hospital in Tembagapura of Papua. Image: Tempo

Pacific Scoop:
Report – Special correspondent in Tikika, Papua

The Papua police have established an investigation into the cause of the collapsed tunnel at the Big Gossan underground training facility at the PT Freeport Indonesia mine, an official has announced.

Papua police chief Inspector-General Tito Karnavian said it was crucial to know whether negligence played a part in the May 14 accident that killed 28 workers and injured 10 others.

He said the investigation team would cooperate with related institutions, including the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s mining inspectorate and geologists. Read more »

PNG’s Opposition Leader Belden Namah … strife with his former political leader, Peter O’Neill. Image: Garamut/Jason South

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Daniel Drageset

Papua New Guinea’s Opposition Leader Belden Namah has reaffirmed the importance of an independent media in the Pacific’s largest nation.

At a news conference, Namah called on all media outlets to report issues of national interest without fear or favour, according to EMTV.

The background of Namah calling for more media freedom in the Melanesian country has to do with his longstanding battle with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. Read more »

An Oxfam video marking the “Risk and resilence” report.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By the PMC news desk

Oxfam New Zealand has called for radical  changes to the way the country engages with the Pacific and to tackle the region’s vulnerability.

“Dealing with risk and strengthening resilience requires a rethink in government policies towards the Pacific,” says executive director Barry Coates.

“We need greater coherence in our policies and interventions including more capacity development as part of responding to disasters, building resilience to risk into the core of our aid programming, addressing inequalities and a lack of social protection, and recognising the Pacific’s vulnerability in our government policies on climate change, security and trade negotiations.” Read more »

Esso Highlands Limited, operator of the PNG LNG Project, has opened the door to greater infrastructure development in Papua New Guinea. Image: LNGWorldNews.com

Poor infrastructure, poverty and taxation laws present significant challenges to New Zealand investors in Papua New Guinea. But a trade mission is this week looking at positive new opportunities, reports Greg Asciutto.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Greg Asciutto

New Zealand is poised to join Papua New Guinea’s development surge with a batch of new infrastructure projects, if a new trade delegation takes advantage of new opportunities.

A group of 30 New Zealand representatives with public and private-sector interests yesterday began a week-long mission to Papua New Guinea.

For the fifth time in the past two years, the NZ  Papua New Guinea Business Council has organised a mission that reflects the growing economic relationship between the Pacific nations. Read more »

Doreen Kupar, a champion of Solomon Islands women rights, speaking at the launch in Honiara. Image: BC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Ingrid Leary in Honiara

For years, female survivors of domestic violence in the Solomon Islands have been afraid of saying anything in public, unable to find a way to stand up to the oppressive abuse they experience on a regular basis at home.

Now, however, all that could change, thanks to a striking display of physical theatre which is giving women the courage to come forward.

The Stage of Change theatre workshop was launched in Honiara at the weekend. Read more »

Backgrounder on the debate over self-determination in French Polynesia. Report by Caroline Lafargue. Video by Radio Australia.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Rochelle Ferguson

The UN General Assembly has voted to add French Polynesia to its list of territories that should be decolonised, affirming the right of the islanders to “self-determination and independence”.

French Polynesia joins 16 other territories on the decolonisation list, including the British-ruled Falkland Islands and the US Virgin Islands.

Though the measure is largely symbolic, it calls on the French government to “facilitate rapid progress” towards self-determination. It was passed by consensus in the 193-member UN assembly. Read more »