Fiji floods earlier this month ... target of air assistance by French military in New Caledonia. Photo: Rotary Fiji

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – By Graham Davis

The presence of a French military aircraft over western Fiji surveying the damage from the recent widespread flooding has again highlighted the close ties between France and the government of the Fijian dictator, Voreqe Bainimarama.

In stark contrast with Australia and New Zealand – which have shunned Fiji since Bainimarama’s coup in 2006 -  France has continued to engage with the regime and provide it with vital assistance.

The Fijian military especially values France’s willingness to give it an aerial reconnaissance and search and rescue capability it simply cannot afford. Read more »

Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka ... carried out the first military coup in Fiji in May 1987. Photo: Indian Weekender

Pacific Scoop:
Opinion – By Arvind Kumar

Almost 25 years after committing treason by carrying out a military coup against a democratically elected government, Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka recently apologised to the Fiji public.

He was sorry, he told the Fiji public- and the world – for the “wrongs” which began at the barrel of the gun at 10am on May 14, 1987, as Parliament met for the day. Then a lieutenant-colonel, Rabuka and his armed henchmen marched into Parliament and took the multiracial government of Dr Timoci Bavadra into captivity.

The event sent ripples around the South Pacific and the world. The moment marked the death of “democratic” rule in the island nation best known for its friendly people and its white, sandy beaches. Read more »

War heroes and heroines are East Timor's leaders. .. the former head of the armed struggle for independence, Xanana Gusmao, is prime minister. Photo: PMC archive

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – By Agus Wandi in Dili

While talking to fishermen on Areia Branca Beach, hanging out with taxi drivers, getting lost cycling in Dili with its new street names, catching up with friends working for the United Nations there, having dinner with a Nobel laureate and coffee with a presidential candidate, it was clear that there is one common feeling among East Timorese – despite the misery of the past, despite the persistent problems of unemployment and poverty, the country is looking forward to a better future.

The country, which will elect a new president next month, however, is struggling to attract investment. It is also working hard to make the most of its oil revenues, foreign aid and other revenue sources to rebuild the nation.

Chinese investment is noteworthy — the most visible contributions being the Presidential Palace, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and some other key buildings in the capital. But future investment needs to deal with human development and social capital, especially for East Timor’s youth. Read more »

Sir Michael Somare ... Will Papua New Guineans remember him as the man who helped them pull up their canoe? Photo: Pacific Scoop

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – By Ben Bohane in Port Vila

Papua New Guinea’s power struggle appears locked in political combat, with an old Sepik strongman trying to claw back power from a new generation Highlander who made a pre-emptive raid on parliamentary numbers to secure the riches of electoral incumbency.

In classic Melanesian fashion, both are upping the ante with payback moves that are starting to spiral dangerously. Politics in Papua New Guinea does not always follow the niceties of process and protocol. Power is rarely given – it is taken.

A circuit breaker is required but who can do it? PNG has no Council of Chiefs, or a President, or a high profile religious leader. Read more »

Children lining up for rations at an internal refugee camp in Timor-Leste. Photo: ABC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By a special correspondent in Dili

Julieta Soares, 26, a Timorese mother of six, says her family eat what they can grow or afford in the fishing village of Tibar, 5km outside the Timor-Leste capital of Dili.

“We never think about our food each day,” she says. “The important thing for us is to find something that can fill our stomachs, whether it is rice, cassava, corn, or bananas.”

Her family’s diet rarely contains meat, eggs or dairy products, because of the cost, but her priority is to avoid hunger: “Just as long as we do not starve.” Read more »

Rescuers on the Chinese ship Zhonghe pluck 29 survivors of the Rabaul Queen ferry disaster from the sea off Papua New Guinea. Photo: Mopays

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Starza Paul in Port Moresby

About 170 passengers have been rescued at Magarida, in Papua New Guinea’s Central Province, after bad weather forced a ferry to abandon its planned trip to Port Moresby following last week’s Rabaul Queen tragedy.

The ferry, Kimbe Queen,  also reported to be a sister ship of the Rabaul Queen that sank off Finschhafen last Thursday morning, was en route to Port Moresby from Alotau carrying mostly students when the skipper forced the ship to take refuge at Walai Island off Kupiano.

Captain Tommy Joseph was reported to have slowed the speed of the ship and avoided a “certain disaster” that would have seen two major shipping tragedies happening within a few hours of each other. Read more »

PNG prime Minister-elect Peter O’Neill pledges inquiry into the ferry tragedy. Video: Euronews

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Ellen  Tiamu in Port Moresby

Papua New Guinean officials have confirmed that 238 passengers have been rescued from waters off the coast of Finschhafen, Morobe, province, where the ferry Rabaul Queen sank early yesterday.

It is not known how many were missing from the 300-passenger coastal vessel which was Lae-bound from New Guinea Islands ports.

Search and rescue operations were abandoned when darkness fell last night but  resumed at first light today, Morobe acting provincial administrator Patillas Gamato said. Read more »

Rescuers have plucked more than 200 survivors from the sea off Papua New Guinea’s east coast after a ferry sank. Video: Sky News

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Lisa Pagelio in Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea’s National Maritime Safety Authority says scores of survivors of the sunken Rabaul Queen are being treated for fatigue after hours in rough seas.

They have been swimming or hanging onto life-rafts for hours before the first search and rescue team arrived after the ferry sank with more than 350 people on board yesterday.

Chief executive officer of the National Maritime Safety Authority, Captain Nurur Rahman says none of the survivors have suffered serious injuries. Read more »

West Papuan leader Forkorus Yoboisembut at the opening of the "treason" trial in Jayapura on Monday. Photo: SE Asia Times

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By a special correspondent in Jayapura

Five West Papuan leaders who campaigned for independence at a peaceful Papuan People’s Congress last October and have been charged with treason by Indonesian authorities have denied the accusations in a joint statement.

They have also rejected the legality of the treason trial or any similar proceedings.

The five include Forkorus Yaboisembut, who was declared “President of the Federal State of West Papua” at the rally on the outskirts of Jayapura on October 19, when Indonesian security forces opened fire on the crowd, killing up to six people.  Edison G. Waromi, named “Prime Minister” is also among the group. Read more »

The "president" of West Papua, Forkorus Yaboisembut, at Jayapura District Court yesterday. He and four other Papuan prio-independence activists have been charged with treason for raising an outlawed Papuan flag and declaring the region independent. Photo: Jakarta Globe / Antara

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By a special correspondent in Jayapura

An Indonesian court has indicted five Papuan activists for treason for raising an outlawed Papuan flag and declaring the region independent, reports Agence France-Presse.

The men, who led a peaceful pro-independence Papuan People’s Congress celebration attended by 5000 indigenous Papuans on October 19, face life in prison if found guilty.

“The defendants jointly tried to commit treason with the intention of allowing the country or part of the country to fall into the hands of the enemy,” Judge Jack L. Oktovianus at the Jayapura district court said. Read more »