The in-coming chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Mickael Forrest, opening the pre-summit Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) at Poindimie, New Caledonia, last week before the main conference today and tomorrow. Image: MSG

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Nic Maclellan in Lifou, New Caledonia

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) will send a mission to Jakarta and Jayapura later this year, to discuss the issue of West Papua with the government of Indonesia.

The recommendation to MSG leaders came at a meeting of Melanesian foreign ministers, held on Lifou in the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia, as part of the 19th MSG Summit.

Outgoing chair of the MSG Foreign Ministers Meeting, Fiji foreign minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said: “We have all agreed that a mission will go to Jakarta at the invitation of the government of Indonesia and then on to West Papua. It will be this year, depending on the dates agreed with the government of Indonesia.” 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 »

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 »

Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare (right) at the MSG conference at the University of the South Pacific. Image: Atu Rasea/The Fiji Times

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Salaseini Tawake in Suva

Fiji should not be pressured into creating a constitution simply to please development partners or suppress criticisms from big foreign countries, says Papua New Guinea’s founding prime minister Sir Michael Somare.

The grand chief said this during the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Melanesian Spearhead Group yesterday.

The three-day event began on Monday at the University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, in Suva, Fiji. Read more »

Solomon Islands school children flee to higher ground after the tsunami warning. Image: Twitter @ bencmcnair

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By the PMC news desk and agencies

At least nine people are dead and three others injured following an earthquake and tsunami that struck yesterday afternoon, say police. But there are fears the death toll could rise.

Radio NZ International reported the 8.0 magnitude undersea earthquake had sparked a tsunami warning for several Pacific island nations but appeared to have had the biggest impact around the Santa Cruz region in Solomon Islands.

The acting Permanent Secretary Responsible for National Disaster, Channel Iroi, confirmed the deaths were from Nela, Luova, Bimbir,Venga and Malo villages on Santa Cruz. Read more »

Fiji peacekeeper troops in UN colours … but the military have staged three coups and had a hand in another in their homeland. Image: UN Multimedia

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Pacific Media Watch

A Fijian academic at the University of Auckland, Dr Steven Ratuva, a political sociologist who is on the editorial board of Pacific Journalism Review, has been awarded a Marsden Fund grant worth NZ$600,000 (FJ$850,000) to lead a major research project on Pacific regional security.

Dr Ratuva, of UOA’s Centre for Pacific Studies, was the only Pacific Islands scholar to win a 2012 Marsden award.

The Marsden Fund is New Zealand’s major research award provided by the New Zealand government and the Royal Society of New Zealand to New Zealand’s top scholars to pursue high level research to advance the knowledge and innovation of the country internationally in the areas of science, technology, medicine, arts and social science. Read more »

The Pacific Plan … under review, criticised. Image: PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By the PMC news desk

An independent review team of leading experts has been named to consider the Pacific Plan during this year.

Pacific Islands Forum leaders nominated a former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Mekere Morauta, to lead the review at the Forum meeting in the Cook Islands last September.

Following a competitive selection process, the rest of his team has been named. Read more »

French Polynesian leader Oscar Temaru … slow but growing support for decolonisation. Image: Cook Islands News

Australia has remarkably strong ties with France in the Pacific – and they are stifling the drive toward independence of countries like New Caledonia. The second report of a special two-part series.

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – By Nic Maclellan

As Australia prepares to take up a seat on the UN Security Council in 2013, the UN decolonisation agenda will affect Australia’s relations with neighbouring Pacific countries.

However, recent actions by the Gillard Labor government suggest that Canberra has chosen sides with France and the United States on this often-ignored agenda at the United Nations.

From 1946, the United Nations has maintained a list of non-self-governing territories seeking political independence. Just 16 territories remain on the list, including five Pacific islands, though others are seeking to be relisted. Read more »

Former Fiji coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka speaks at the Democracy in the Pacific conference at the University of Canterbury on Friday. Pictured right is session chair Luamanuvao Winnie Laban. Image: PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By the Pacific Media Centre newsroom

Militarism has always been part of Fijian society and the country needs to find a “corporate” bridge between its civil and military based sectors, believes the man who sparked off the modern day coup culture more than 25 years ago.

Sitiveni Rabuka, then a lieutenant-colonel and third-ranked military commander in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), led the first two of four coups in 1987. The other coups followed in 2000 and 2006.

Rabuka, later an elected prime minister, was giving his views on “democracy” as a keynote speaker in a Pacific-wide conference hosted by Canterbury University’s Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies. Read more »

Professor David Robie presents his inaugural professorial address at AUT University last night. Image: Alex Perrottet/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Alex Perrottet of Pacific Media Watch

Restoring public trust, engaging in critical journalism, and opening the media’s eyes to common blind spots were all on the agenda for the inaugural address of the first professor in journalism studies in New Zealand and the Pacific.

Professor David Robie spoke to a crowded conference room of almost 200 people at AUT University tonight after receiving his professorship last year.

Beginning with the current so-called Hackgate media crisis and visiting plenty of other “hot spots” throughout the presentation, Professor Robie charted the course of his life’s journey through New Zealand, Africa, Europe and back to Oceania. Read more »