FLNKS representative Jimmy Naouma and MSG Corporate Development Officer Rose Wete. Image: Jane Mahoney/QUT Journalism

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Harriet Harvey in Noumea

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) wants joint action within the Pacific region on three key issues - independence for New Caledonia, reviving the denuclearisation debate, and pressing for international action on climate change.

It is a so-called “mini United Nations”, taking in four governments – Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu – together with the Kanak liberation movement from New Caledonia, the FLNKS. The MSG credo is that each country needs the others, especially to have any kind of voice in world forums, where major powers dominate.

The body got into dispute with the French government ruling New Caledonia, by deciding as early as 1988 that the FLNKS, not France, would be admitted to membership. Read more »

The “president” of Papua, Forkorus Yaboisembut, at Jayapura District Court in 2012. Photo: Jakarta Globe / Antara

Pacific Scoop: Report – By Katharina R. Lestari in Jakarta

Five West Papuan political prisoners have been released after serving three-year sentences in a Jayapura prison.

The activists were arrested in October 2011 for reading out a “declaration of independence” from Indonesia. They were released yesterday.

“Those released included prominent tribal leader Forkorus Yaboisembut, who was declared “president of the Federal Republic of West Papua” during the 2011 declaration of independence event; Edison Waromi, who was declared prime minister; as well as Agustinus Sanany Kraar, Selpius Bobii and Dominikus Sorbet. Read more »

A still from the documentary Cap Bocage. Image: Jim Marbrook

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Pacific Media Watch

A groundbreaking documentary about a coastal Kanak community and the pollution of their traditional fishing grounds in New Caledonia will be premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival next month.

Cap Bocage, named after the tribal location in the north-east of Grand Terre island, is directed by New Zealand filmmaker and television lecturer at AUT University Jim Marbrook, and climaxes a project that began in 2007 and has involved many trips to New Caledonia.

The 74-minute documentary in both English and French languages is a close-up exploration of the forces that came into play when environmental issues and indigenous rights became intertwined in New Caledonia. Read more »

Inside the televised media debate in the Timor-Leste capital of Dili. Image: Shannon Gillies/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Special Report – By Shannon Gillies in Dili

Confusion reigns over a controversial media law adopted by Parliament but yet to be promulgated in the fledgling Asia-Pacific democracy of Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste parliamentarians have adopted a new media law that does not differentiate between journalists and social media users, will impose licensing for journalists and a narrow definition of a “journalist” and potentially bars foreign journalists.

Journalists are expected to fall into line with the government’s media definitions and foreign reporters could be blocked at the country’s borders. Read more »

West Papua’s giant Freeport mine … uncertain future. Image: Free West Papua

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Sita W. Dewi and Hasyim Widhiarto in Jakarta and Tasikmalaya

Presidential candidates Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto have dodged politically sensitive questions over the need to extend the contract of PT Freeport Indonesia in the West Papua region to mine the world’s largest gold deposit in Papua.

When asked on the campaign trail in Tasikmalaya, West Java, about his take on Freeport, Jokowi merely said that Freeport’s extension demand was not an issue that needed to be immediately resolved.

“Do you know what year it is now? I will have all the time in the world to take a stance on that,” said Jokowi. Read more »

Indonesian presidential election hopeful Prabowo Subianto … two of the most senior members of his entourage now appear to be at loggerheads. Image: New Mandala

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – By Patrick Tibke in Jakarta

An intriguing 10 days of presidential campaigning in Indonesia has culminated in mild disarray for Prabowo Subianto’s “red-and-white” coalition as tensions emerged among senior members of the old general’s Gerindra party with just four weeks left until election day on July 9.

The contention in question is the coalition’s nascent alliance with a grouping of violent thug organisations, particularly the Front Pembela Islam (Islamic Defenders Front, of FPI), which is well-known for attacks on Indonesia’s religious minorities and so-called tempat maksiat (places of vice or iniquity).

Prabowo and his running mate Hatta-Rajasa’s willingness to get into bed with some of Indonesia’s most notorious radical Islamists has called into question the duo’s commitment to religious tolerance and human rights. Prabowo has been accused of tacitly condoning violent bigotry and turning a blind eye to religiously-motivated attacks on Indonesian citizens. Read more »

Maurice Tuareka with some of the Cook Island Māori resources being produced for early childhood centres. Image: Mikaela Collins/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Mikaela Collins

A Manurewa group is creating resources in Cook Island Māori for Cook Island preschools.

Toku Reo Tupuna Trust is a group aiming to improve the quality of education for Cook Islands people in New Zealand.

Project co-ordinator for the trust Maurice Tuareka started the group, part of the early childhood centre Te Tuareka O Manurewa Punanga Reo, after he saw a need for resources in Cook Island Māori. Read more »

John Pilger’s latest film, Utopia, recently aired on SBS television. New Matilda owner/editor Chris Graham worked as an associate producer on the film. In this special feature, he provides an inside look at the making of Utopia.

Pacific Scoop:
Special Report – By Chris Graham of New Matilda

Sometimes in life, you can feel pretty helpless. That said, I’m a privileged white guy in a privileged white society. So for me at least, it doesn’t happen very often.

It happened last year.

At the time, I was the managing editor of Tracker magazine. The NSW Aboriginal Land Council, owner of Tracker, was generous enough to give me time to fulfill a childhood dream. Read more »

Preschoolers at play in Mataliki Tokelau Akoga Kamata in Mangere, Auckland. Image: Mataliki Tokelau

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Mikaela Collins

A Tokelau language preschool in New Zealand that started out as a playgroup in a Mangere garage in Auckland plans to expand.

Mataliki Tokelau Akoga Kamata has been granted permission by Auckland Council to extend the one existing building.

The preschool was started by Foai Foai and Feagai Foai in 1987 and has been operating at its Aorere Park location since 1998. Read more »