Press Release – New Zealand Defence Force

Wellington locals will have an opportunity to see how military hydrography is carried out when HMNZS RESOLUTION lowers her gangway to the public this Saturday (18 February) from 1pm – 3pm. The ship will be berthed alongside Queens Wharf in Wellington Harbour … Read more »

Press Release – New Zealand Defence Force

Wellington locals will have an opportunity to see how military hydrography is carried out when HMNZS RESOLUTION lowers her gangway to the public this Saturday (18 February) from 1pm – 3pm. The ship will be berthed alongside Queens Wharf in Wellington Harbour … Read more »

Press Release – New Zealand Defence Force

Wellington locals will have an opportunity to see how military hydrography is carried out when HMNZS RESOLUTION lowers her gangway to the public this Saturday (18 February) from 1pm – 3pm. Read more »

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 »

Press Release – French Embassy in New Zealand

Ambassade de France en Nouvelle-Zélande Media Release New Zealand’s neighbours in the South Pacific pay a visit to Auckland Wednesday 8 February 2012 La Moqueuse , a French patrol boat based in Noumea, New Caledonia, will stop over in Auckland … Read more »

Press Release – Australian Defence Force

His Excellency Mr Michael Bryce AM AE accepts patronage for RAAF’s 75 Squadron Association 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 »

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 »

Papua New Guinea stand-off: Prime Minister Peter O'Neill (left) - defiantly snubbing a court order; and "reinstated" Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare ... fighting for the rule of law. Photo: ABC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Malum Nalu in Port Moresby

Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, who maintains he is the legitimate prime minister of Papua New Guinea, says he will continue to uphold the Constitution, The National reports.

Sir Michael, whose claim to lead the government is backed by a Supreme Court ruling delivered last December, said in a statement at the weekend: “If this is to be my last and biggest battle, I will fight for the Constitution, the underlying law that holds the very fabric of our democracy and democratic institutions together.

“Yes, I could call it quits and allow elected leaders that continuously sidestep our laws to take us to the brink of our democracy. Read more »