Page 6 - IB Dec 2020

Whispers

West Papua scrutiny laws and social distancing advice. rial Hospital. “They think we’re just the
The United Nation has finally made During the visit, the PM also opened bomb,” Leon Guerrero says. “Really.
a statement on escalating violence in community centres and weaving houses. The secretary of defense – I don’t know
Papua and West Papua. “We are dis- Protestors also reportedly took the how many letters he wrote me thank-
turbed by escalating violence over the opportunity to air other grievances ing me. The secretary of the Navy, he’s
past weeks and months in the Indone- including new seat belt laws and plans going to give us excess land because
sian provinces of Papua and West Papua to control kava sales and exports. of that. So we’re milking that. We’re
and the increased risk of renewed ten- milking that very hard.” She also spoke
sion and violence,” Ravina Shamdasani, Niue’s women take the lead about how scared she was when she
spokesperson for the Office of the In a year where backyard farming, contracted COVID-19 herself.
High Commissioner for Human Rights and back-to-the plantation efforts have
(OHCHR) said in a recent statement. It been widespread, Niuean women have Mining for the Mariana Trench?
follows the fatal shooting of a 17 year shown the way. Women farmers took A historic mission has seen China live
old in November by unidentified gun- all three top places at Niue’s show day, stream footage from the bottom of the
men, and injury to another teenager in with Fine Alec of Alofi north taking out Mariana Trench. The submersible ‘Fen-
a second shooting. The UN says at least the title of Farmer of the Year for the douzhe’ is observing ocean-floor dwell-
eight people were killed in September second year in a row. ing species and more controversially, re-
and October, including two members searching deep-sea mining capabilities.
of the security forces and activists and Policing the police Three researchers were aboard, joining
church workers. The statement follows Instances of police violence are caus- just a handful who have ever visited the
a web forum on West Papua convened ing widespread concern in PNG and Fiji. bottom of the trench. China recently
by the Pacific Islands Forum Secre- In Alotau in PNG’s Milne Bay province, set up a training and research centre
tariat which heard Secretary General two policemen have been charged with with the International Seabed Authority.
Dame Meg Taylor tell the newly-arrived raping a woman inside police station.
Suva-based OHCH Rrepresentative, “I The alleged victim had been detained Operation Christmas Drop
hope the UN will be responsive and the on adultery charges. Adultery is still a FSM has opted out of this year’s
Indonesian government to also be re- crime under PNG law. The trial of the Operation Christmas Drop due to coro-
sponsive, so this matter moves forward policemen has been delayed by CO- navirus concerns. The annual Air Force
and [we are] not continually having a VID-19 related backlogs. mission brings food, clothing and other
conversation about it.” Meanwhile in Fiji, figures released by donated supplies to thousands of people
the Office of the Director of Public Pros- on Guam, Palau and usually, FSM. This
Forum hopeful’s PR offensive ecutions reveal that between 2015 and year Japanese airmen will join their
While Pacific island leaders are appar- April of this year, 110 police and mili- U.S. counterparts in the operation.
ently still looking to lock down a date tary officers were involved in various Christmas Drop supply bundles have
for their virtual meeting in January, cases of assault and 290 were involved been assembled on Guam, where they
another candidate for the Secretary in other serious crimes. Outrage over will be disinfected and left in a hangar
General’s role has taken his campaign their behaviour has been fuelled by the for 72 hours before they’re dropped.
online. Fiji’s Ratu Inoke Kubuabola death of nurse Batai Ilaisa. An alleged Meanwhile, a recently released Netflix
has launched a Facebook page bearing assault against him had been investi- movie also called Operation Christmas
testimonials from Nauru’s former Presi- gated and referred to police by the Fiji Drop, has been criticised by some Guam
dent, Baron Waqa and former Australian Human Rights Commission. Batai died locals for its depiction of Guam, its
foreign minister, Julie Bishop. Ratu In- at Suva’s main hospital last month, and Indigenous Chamoru inhabitants, and its
oke’s public campaign has also included while no post-mortem was conducted, ‘white saviour’ narrative.
glowing profiles in Fijian and regional many Fijians have connected his death
media. He follows Tonga’s candidate for to the earlier assault. Retirement a long time coming
the role, Amelia Kinahoi Siamomua into More than 2000 public servants are
online campaigning. Siamomua was an Quid pro quo in Guam still working beyond the mandated 65
earlier adopter, establishing a webpage It has emerged that in exchange for year retirement age report Papua New
and social media channels at the start hosting thousands of COVID-infected Guinea media. The public service says
of her bid to succeed Dame Meg Taylor. sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt the main barrier to retiring teachers
in March, Guam’s Governor was able was funding constraints exacerbated by
Tongans take to protest to negotiate the handover of excess COVID-19.
Tongans in Vava’u have protested land. The sailors quarantined in Guam
against a visit by Prime Minister Pohiva hotels for up to two months. In return, Parliament blessing
Tu’i’onetoa and his entourage, saying Governor Lou Leon Guerrero says she A Turou - ‘Ava blessing has been held
the tour has breached official curfew secured land for the new Guam Memo- at New Zealand’s parliament in honour

6 Islands Business, December 2020