Kichawen Chakumai (left), deputy dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Divine Word University, and Dr Gawrie Galappaththy, World Health Organisation consultant from Sri Lanka. Photo: DWU

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Fabian Hakalits, Rachel Atua and Karen Abenisa in  Madang

Malaria is by far the most widespread health problem in Papua New Guinea, with more than 1.6 million cases reported annually and more than 600 deaths directly attributed to the disease, according to Mr Kichawen Chakumai, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Divine Word University, Madang, PNG.

In response to this situation, Papua New Guinea’s National Department of Health is launching a full scale assault on malaria to coincide with World Malaria Day April 25, 2010. Read more »

Moro Islamist militants in the Philippines ... the "Bangsmoro" struggle has renewed but it can be solved. Photo: Massa

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – By Damien Kingsbury

It is usual to look forward to a new year with a degree of hope and optimism but, so far as much of Australia and New Zealand’s region is concerned, there is little chance for that. Given the conflicts that continue at varying levels of intensity in the Asia-Pacific, 2010 will probably go down in the history books as a year of missed opportunities. Read more »

The Fiji lawcourts in Suva ... the old Parliament House, scene of the 1987 coups. Photo: PMC

Pacific.Scoop
By Pacific Media Centre news desk

After 100 years of existence, the Fiji Penal Code has been finally overhauled and replaced with a new Crimes Decree, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation News reports.

The Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said at a media conference the new Crimes Decree would bring about  some “ground breaking provisions” into the criminal justice system.
Read more »

Scott MacWilliam on a strategy rethink for Fiji. Photo: ANU

Pacific.Scoop
Opinion – By Scott MacWilliam in Canberra

The latest development in ANZ-Fiji relations shows clearly why the model of sanctions being imposed on the South Pacific nation-state encourages tit-for-tat, ill-conceived moves by all parties.

While one view is that ANZ governments have been deliberately egging on the Fiji military government to become ever more extreme, this seems a less likely explanation than another possibility.
Read more »

New Zealand Tamils protest over 'closed' camps. Photo: PMC/Christopher Adams

Pacific.Scoop
By Christopher Adams

Up to 300,000 Sri Lankan Tamil civilians are still being held in government-run “displaced persons camps” more than four months after the country’s 26-year civil war ended in May.
Read more »