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 »

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 »

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 »

PNG Defence Force soldiers in a training exercise. Image: Lowy Institute/PMW

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Gorethy Kenneth in Port Moresby

A 19-year-old man is receiving treatment for gunshot wounds after about five Papua New Guinea soldiers allegedly opened fire on him and two other West Papuans.

The Indonesian Consul to Papua New Guinea, Jahar Gultom, announced in a statement yesterday that the PNG Defence Force would investigate the shooting.

PNGDF soldiers apparently shot Eduard Aritahano in the leg during the early hours of Wednesday morning in Lido Village near Vanimo town in Sandaun Province. Read more »

West Papuan Benny Wenda and PNG student journalist Henry Yamo … “Pacific Scoop deserves praise for keeping an eye on Papua and other trouble spots in the Pacific.” Image: Del Abceded/PMC

“Journalism is in crisis in the Pacific region and this is reaching a new level of intensity,” says one editor. But independent Pacific Scoop challenges the status quo. Jane Jeffries reports for Asia-Pacific Journalism.

Pacific Scoop
Report – By Jane Jeffries

Pacific Scoop exposes New Zealand to Pacific issues and gives a fresh voice to people in the region on a wide range of topics including health, human rights, media and social justice, say journalists and media commentators.

This regional independent news website provides a strong platform for Pacific issues to be heard and debated. Mainstream media no longer report widely on Pacific issues so it plays a vital role, say the media analysts.

Pacific Scoop and its founding partner, Wellington-based Scoop Media Limited, last month announced a new $5000 internship to fund a postgraduate student journalist to report and edit for the service. Read more »

West Papuan journalist and peace negotiator Octovianus Mote and Pax Christi’s Kevin McBride at AUT’s WPFD address. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

More than 600 journalists have been killed globally in the last decade — 121 died last year alone. They had one thing in common. They were killed for doing their jobs. Greg Asciutto reports for Asia-Pacific Journalism.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Greg Asciutto

Across the Pacific, advocates of media freedom hosted many World Press Freedom Day celebrations this year.

Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Solomon Islands were among the countries to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO event on May 3, which focuses upon securing freedom of expression in all forms of media.

According to UNESCO, more than 600 journalists have been killed globally in the last decade — 121 died last year alone. Read more »

West Papuan leader Benny Wenda (left) … denied the right to speak at the NZ Parliament earlier this year. He is pictured with Papua New Guinean journalist Henry Yamo at the Pacific Media Centre office. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Michael Sengel and Finian Scott

New Zealand cannot call itself a Pacific nation and yet continue to ignore the Pacific’s deadliest conflict, a Papua New Guinean provincial governor says.

Oro province Governor Garry Juffa says there is a double standard between the extensive and sympathetic coverage of last week’s Boston bombings received in the New Zealand media, and the persistent media silence on casualties in West Papua.

“They can go and cry for three people that died in Boston, and say what a terrible tragedy it is, and in their own back door not look at the West Papua situation,” he told Pacific Scoop. Read more »

Vanuatu’s Ralph Regenvanu … self-confessed “notorious critic” of free trade and foreign ownership. Image: WikiCommons

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Michael Sergel and Finian Scott

The government minister behind major land reform in Vanuatu says the country’s indigenous peoples must retain title over their customary lands, and the displacement that has happened in Papua New Guinea cannot be allowed  in his own country.

Ralph Regenvanu, the newly-appointed Minister of Lands, Geology, Mines, Energy and Water, is a self-confessed “notorious critic” of free trade and foreign ownership – and has serious concerns about Vanuatu people being disenfranchised from the lands of their ancestors.

“One of my priorities is to reform land law to really enshrine customary tenure over land,” Regenvanu has told Pacific Scoop. Read more »

Papua New Guinean women and children protest over recent brutal gender attacks over allegations of sorcery. Image: One PNG

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Michael Sergel and Finian Scott

The United Nations and the international community have a “genuine and general concern” about the rights and representation of women in Pacific nations, says UN Women New Zealand spokesperson Sue Kedgley.

During the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum in Wellington, delegates from 18 countries overwhelmingly supported a motion to promote gender equality proposed by Samoan cabinet minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa.

But Papua New Guinea’s Oro Province governor Gary Juffa accused the UN of painting his countrymen as “thugs who beat their women” and Vanuatu cabinet minister Ralph Regenvanu said serious steps to increase the political representation of women “cannot come from the United Nations”. Read more »

Finance Minister Bill English … outvoted by “sustainable development” vision. Image: NZ Parliament

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Michael Sergel and Finian Scott

Pacific leaders have overwhelmingly rejected a push from the World Bank and New Zealand to free up trade and loosen regulations in the region.

About 60 delegates from 18 countries heard World Bank economist Tim Bulman and New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English argue for higher economic growth and smaller governments, during the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum in Wellington this weekend.

But a majority of the leaders – representing governments, oppositions and NGOs – have committed themselves to sustainable development over economic growth and to sound and balanced governance over more severe austerity measures. Read more »