‘I was coerced into the 1987 coup,’ admits Sitiveni Rabuka
By Sri Krishnamurthi of Asia-Pacific Report A repentant Sitiveni Rabuka, the Fiji military strongman who sparked off the country’s “coup culture” in 1987, admits he was “coerced” by the defeated Alliance party into carrying out the first coup. Three decades after I watched Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka walking Parliamentarians out of the back door of Parliament […]
Read More →Ralph Regenvanu: Pacific regionalism, climate finance and women in politics
Tess Newton Cain talks to Ralph Regenvanu During a recent trip to Port Vila, Tess Newton Cain caught up with Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade in the Vanuatu government. Regenvanu describes himself as a Port Vila citizen. He has lived for most of his life in the capital of […]
Read More →Juffa accuses O’Neill government of ‘shutting down’ free speech in PNG
Oro Govenor Gary Juffa … not just about Facebook, a matter of democracy. Image: PNG Parliament Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Oro Governor Garry Juffa says the people of PNG find it “frightening” and “alarming” that the Papua New Guinea government is making a move towards shutting down their opportunity to have access to information and […]
Read More →Keith Jackson: Did dumb just get dumber and Sam Basil dig a hole?
A near confrontation on the floor of Parliament on Friday, with the Papua New Guinea Opposition walking out in protest over the referral of Madang MP Bryan Kramer, to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee following a Facebook posting. Video: EMTV News OPINION: By Keith Jackson in Noosa Samuel H Basil, the man who might ban Papua […]
Read More →Tongan PM seeks royal audience after lawyer’s constitutional advice on law
Tonga’s King Tupou VI and Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva … vetoed laws issue. Image: Kaniva News By Kalino Latu, editor of Kaniva News The government of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has planned an audience with the King of Tonga after a New Zealand legal expert advised that the king had no right to judge the […]
Read More →Timor-Leste’s opposition alliance set for win after fractious election
Xanana Gusmao of the AMP (Allianca Mudanca ba Progresu) coalition delivering his speech during a last day campaign in Dili before the weekend’s election. Image: Valentino Dariell de Sousa/SBS-AFP Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk With more than 99 percent of votes counted in the poll, Timor-Leste’s opposition Alliance of Change for Progress (AMP) was leading at […]
Read More →Timorese vote in fresh general election after tense campaign
By Michael Leach in Dili After a tense month-long campaign and two rest days, East Timorese cast their votes today in the Timor-Leste’s latest parliamentary elections. With the campaign characterised by considerable bitterness between the major parties, much is at stake. Despite narrowly prevailing at the election just nine months ago, the Fretilin-led minority government […]
Read More →Former Speaker sentenced to 15 years in prison in Indonesia’s e-ID graft case
Former Speaker Setya Novanto (left) attending a hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court. Image: Dhoni Setiawan/Jakarta Post By Kharishar Kahfi in Jakarta The Jakarta Corruption Court judges today sentenced former House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of graft. Reading out the court’s verdict, presiding judge Yanto […]
Read More →Protests sweep Indonesia over new law criminalising ‘criticism’ of MPs
MIL OSI – Source: Evening Report Arts and Media Headline: Protests sweep Indonesia over new law criminalising ‘criticism’ of MPs Members of the Indonesia Catholic Students Association (PMKRI) place a freedom of speech coffin in front of the Parliament building during a protest in Manila last week. Image: Gun Halilintar/PMKRI By Ryan Dagur in Jakarta […]
Read More →Tongan police charge Lord Tu’ivakanō with bribery in passport saga probe
MIL OSI – Source: Evening Report Arts and Media Headline: Tongan police charge Lord Tu’ivakanō with bribery in passport saga probe By Kalino Latu, editor of Kaniva News The king’s noble and former Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakanō has been charged with passport offences, money laundering and bribery. Police arrested the former Speaker of Parliament yesterday. […]
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