Le Pen expected in New Caledonia

Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Front — Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Front Photo: AFP

The deputy leader of France’s National Front Louis Aliot is expected in New Caledonia this weekend as part of the party’s presidential election campaign.

Mr Aliot is reportedly due to prepare the visit of the party leader Marine Le Pen who is expected in Noumea early next year as part of her campaign to win the French presidency.

Ms Le Pen visited New Caledonia three years ago when she called for an independence referendum to be held as soon as possible.

The National Front is opposed to independence of France’s Pacific territories which are both on the UN decolonisation list

At the weekend primaries were held of The Republicans and in New Caledonia, a former president Nicolas Sarkozy won most support but came only third in France.

However France-wide, the two top contenders were two former prime ministers Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe who will have a run-off this weekend for the nomination.

Mr Juppe, who campaigned in the French Pacific in July, won most votes in the primaries in French Polynesia.

November 22, 2016 0

New opposition grouping planned for Fiji

Two former stalwarts of Fiji’s main opposition party are in the throes of setting up a new party to fight the next election.

Youth activist Peter Waqavonovono and a former opposition leader Mick Beddoes say they’re planning a new political entity which will be youth driven.
Mick Beddoes.

In a statement they said a draft constitution had been completed and talks with various groups were taking place.

They say its purpose is to help form a grand opposition coalition before the 2018 polls.

The men resigned in June from Sodelpa following the appointment of the former coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka as party leader.

Electoral rules require parties to have signed up at least 5,000 members across Fiji and impose hefty fines and imprisonment on those holding themselves out as a political party without first being registered.

November 22, 2016 0

American Samoans appeal for US military clean-up

The American Samoa Power Authority is calling for public support to get US military funding to clean up fuel that has seeped into the ground and run off into the sea at Aua.

Authority Chief Engineer Jason Jaskoviak is urging residents to reach out to politicians and military leaders to not let the US Navy walk away from the contamination that it left behind

In the era of naval administration, a fuel tank farm was located in Aua with underground pipes from the tank depot to the canneries.

Mr Jaskoviak said there had been efforts over the years to clean up and mitigate against contamination but the situation had driven up costs of infrastructure projects in Aua and villages in the eastern district.

Pago Pago Harbour, American Samoa Photo: AFP / Michael Runkel / Robert Harding Premium

The US military said there was no human risk so it was not providing any further assistance.

But Mr Jaskoviak said it was not good enough.

“I can’t put a pipe in the ground and then throw dirty, contaminated soil on top of that pipe. It reacts with that pipe, it could break down the pipe over time, so I have to buy more expensive pipes. I have to handle that contaminated soil, haul it away, treat it. Water that comes into this hole, now I have to treat that, because it has got oil in it. Everybody that works here is going to get hit. The taxpayers are essentially going to end up footing the bill,” he said.

November 22, 2016 0

Solomon Islands Signs Melanesian Free Trade Agreement

Prime Minister Sogavare signing the new MSG Free Trade Agreement. Looking on are the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon Milner Tozaka, Deputy Director-General of the MSG Secretariat, Mr Kilpak and an Administrative Officer from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ms Joy Tealiklava.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare became the first Melanesian leader to sign the MSG Melanesian Free Trade Agreement, pledging his government’s full support for ratification of the Trade Agreement, as formalities are set down.

The MSG Free Trade Agreement is an expansion of the former agreements and includes trade in services, investment and labour mobility.

Prime Minister Sogavare who is also the MSG Chair, was elated at the new development in the sub-regional trade deal saying the agreement signals a new area for trade within the Melanesian region.

“Solomon Islands is happy to sign. Strategically, it is the right thing to do now”, he said when signing the new Melanesian Free Trade Agreement last Friday in Honiara.

He hailed the new trade agreement as ‘one of the answers’ to aid the economies of the Melanesian bloc, praising the contributions of the MSG Secretariat, as he thanked the MSG delegation. “Melanesia countries have more to gain out of this opportunity and I am excited as MSG Chair,” he said.

He said the signing of the new free trade agreement will harness the strengths and tap the opportunities of the Melanesian economies as they move to implement a free and integrated trade zone.

“It is just appropriate that we conclude this signing process,” he said, “As the Pacific island countries are moving towards completing the regional PACER- PLUS with Australia and New Zealand”.

The Melanesia Free Trade Agreement will come into force as long as two MSG Members ratify the Agreement.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon Milner Tozaka said the Cabinet of Solomon Islands agreed to ratify the Trade Agreement once ratification processes are put in place.

Deputy Director General of MSG Secretariat Molean Kilepak said the next countries to sign will be Fiji and Papua New Guinea followed by Vanuatu.

Mr Kilepak thanked Prime Minister Sogavare on behalf of the Director General Amena Yauvoli, for taking the lead as the first country to ink the milestone achievement.

“It is a milestone for the MSG Secretariat and a great achievement for Melanesia”, said Mr Kilepak.

The signing was witnessed by Minister Tozaka, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Joseph Ma’ahanua, Special Secretary to MSG Chair, Mr Rence Sore and MSG Secretariat Programme Manager, Trade and Investment, Mr John Licht.

November 22, 2016 0

Banned Papua flag raised near Indonesian ship in NZ

A group demonstrating in front of an Indonesian naval ship in Auckland raised the Morning Star flag in support of West Papuans.

Indonesia’s KRI Banda Aceh is one of numerous warships from other countries currently in New Zealand participating in the New Zealand Navy’s 75th birthday celebration.

Demonstrators in Auckland hold up Morning Star flag to Indonesian sailors Photo: supplied

The demonstration against Indonesian military involvement in West Papua was held by the solidarity groups Oceania Interrupted and West Papua Action Auckland.

Oceania Interrupted spokesperson Leilani Salesa says the demonstrators made sure their presence was felt.

She says they stood next to the naval ship holding the Papuan Morning Star flag which is banned in Indonesia.

“And to do an act that we know brothers and sister in West Papua would be punished for was a really powerful for us and it sends a very powerful message that the world is watching and we stand in opposition to the atrocities that they continue to commit.”

Raising the West Papuan flag is a crime in Indonesia punishable with years in prison.

Activists in Auckland concerned about Indonesian military Photo: supplied

November 22, 2016 0

Keanggotaan Kaledonia Baru dan Polinesia Prancis dalam PIF Dipertanyakan

Suva – Untuk pertama kalinya, rencana keanggotaan penuh Kaledonia Baru dan Polinesia-Prancis dalam Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) dipertanyakan. Sekretaris Jenderal PIF, Dame Meg Taylor menyatakan bahwa rekomendasi keanggotaan kedua teritori tersebut belum disahkan dalam sebuah piagam (charter).

Dame menyampaikan hal itu ketika memberikan pidato kunci dalam konferensi organisasi nonpemerintah di Pasifik (PIANGO) yang ke-8 di Suva, pekan lalu. “Dari sekretariat, kami terus mengklarifikasi dampak praktis dan dampak legal dari keputusan yang direkomendasikan oleh forum pemimpin Pasifik ini,” ujar Dame Meg.

Ia menambahkan, pihaknya banyak menerima pertanyaan tentang kriteria menjadi anggota PIF yang mewajibkan negara telah merdeka dengan kedaulatan penuh. Sementara, Kaledonia Baru dan Polinesia-Prancis masih berada di bawah kedaulatan Prancis.

Ia juga mengatakan bahwa banyak pihak berkepentingan dengan adanya hak penentuan nasib sendiri yang diperjuangkan di Kaledonia Baru dan Polinesia-Prancis. Yang pasti, kedua negara tersebut masih termasuk dalam daftar negara-negara yang harus didekolonisasi di Perserikatan Bangsa-bangsa (PBB).

Seperti diberitakan, dalam pertemuan forum pemimpin Pasifik yang berlangsung di Pohnpei pada September 2016, para pemimpin sepakat merekomendasikan agar PIF memberi keanggotaan penuh kepada Kaledonia Baru dan Polinesia-Prancis dalam organisasi yang kini berusia 45 tahun itu.

Selain kedua negara itu, PIF juga menerima pengajuan agar Papua Barat yang kini menjadi bagian dari Indonesia menjadi anggota penuh PIF. Selain itu, PIF juga menerima permohonan dukungan agar Papua Barat merdeka dari Indonesia.

Atas permohonan itu, Dame Meg mengatakan bahwa hal itu bisa saja asal berdasarkan aspirasi mayoritas penduduk dan tidak dilakukan dalam suasana penuh konflik sosial.

Baru-baru ini, enam negara anggota PIF, yaitu Kepulauan Solomon, Vanuatu, Nauru, Kepulauan Marshall, Tuvalu dan Tonga memanfaatkan kesempatan berbicara di Sidang Umum PBB untuk menyuarakan hak orang-orang Papua.

Dalam usianya yang ke-45, PIF telah seringkali digunakan oleh negara-negara anggota untuk mengadvokasi negara-negara tetangganya yang tidak memiliki status internasional. Landasannya jelas, yaitu prinsip fundamental berupa hak menentukan nasib sendiri sesuai dengan pasal 1 Piagam PBB. (*)

Sumber: http://www.tabloid-wani.com/2016/11/keanggotaan-kaledonia-baru-dan-polinesia-prancis-dalam-pif-dipertanyakan.html

November 21, 2016 0

Move to kick Solomons PM out of party invalid: AG

radionz – The Solomon Islands attorney general says a decision to revoke the party membership of the prime minister is invalid.

Manasseh Sogavare Photo: RNZI Koroi Hawkins

Pacnews reported James Apaniai saying that, in his opinion, the United Democratic Party president Sir Thomas Chan did not comply with the regulations of the Political Parties Integrity Act or his party’s own constitution when he terminated prime minister Manasseh Sogavare’s party membership earlier this month.

Mr Apaniai said according to the UDP’s constitution only a disciplinary committee can terminate an individual’s party membership.

He said there were also no charges laid against Mr Sogavare which is required by both the Political Party Integrity Act regulations as well as the UDP party’s constitution.

The attorney general said the original decision was reached after discussions between the executives of the three government coalition parties which he said was also wrong as party membership is an internal matter.

Mr Apaniai also clarified that the status of Mr Sogavare’s party membership had no bearing on his position as prime minister.

November 21, 2016 0

Pressure builds on PNG government over LNG Project

radionz, 21 November 2016

Papua New Guinea’s government is again under pressure from landowners with interests in the major LNG gas project.

LNG Project facility, Central Province, Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

A Beneficiary Group, comprised of landowners and provincial governments, has petitioned the government to ensure maximisation of the value of equity interest in the project.

The petitioners are from Hela, Southern Highlands, Western, Gulf and Central provinces across which the ExxonMobil-led Liquefied Natural Gas project spans.

They claim that new changes to a 4.27 percent equity interest in the project being introduced by state-owned Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd erode the value of their equity.

ExxonMobil’s LNG Project cuts a swathe of development through Hela province in PNG’s Highlands. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

This, the Beneficiary Group says, breaches the terms of the Umbrella Benefit Sharing Agreement signed with over 60,000 landowners at the inception of the project in 2009.

Among 14 demands, the petition calls for the government to rescind a move to pursue vendor financing for the 4.27 percent equity.

The government of prime minister Peter O’Neill has been given until this week to respond.

Project equity in the name of affected landowners and provincial governments is managed by the state in a complex structure.

Photo: RNZI/Johnny Blades

However, in the petition, the beneficiaries complain of a “prolonged lack of disbursement of benefits emanating from the PNG LNG project”.

Shiploads of the project’s gas product are being successfully exported each week to Asian markets.

However landowners says the state has not paid royalties and other entitlements; nor has the project released development levies to provincial governments.

Earlier this year, landowners in Hela blockaded a key conditioning plant at the project’s hub over their demand for long outstanding commitments from government.

Hides landowners met several times with the government to discuss outstanding LNG Project payments. Photo: Supplied

Representatives of government re-confirmed that the commitments would be honoured, saying a process of verification of genuine landowners was holding up the payments.

The blockade was lifted but this new petition warns of a serious risk of disruptions to the project’s operations at any time by dissatisfied landowners.

The five provinces had entered into the project having secured a government commitment to helping them directly participate in commercialisation of their abundant LNG resources.

ExxonMobil’s LNG Project cuts a swathe of development through Hela province in PNG’s Highlands. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

However angst is growing over the perception that the that has not honoured the social contract that it tied down with indigenous and tribal people in affected areas

The long term security of the project is unclear.

November 21, 2016 0

Custom Land Act Under the Gun

Dailypost.vu, By Dan McGarry

Lands Minister Ralph Regenvanu confirmed earlier this week that he has written to Speaker, Esmon Sae, asking him to rule the private member’s bill to repeal the Custom Land Management Act out of order.

In a letter dated 11 October 2016, Mr Regenvanu reminded the Speaker that recent changes to the Constitution require that the Malvatumauri be consulted prior to any changes to land law being enacted in Parliament.

The bill to repeal the Custom Land Management Act was lodged by Opposition Leader Ishmael Kalsakau.

The explanatory note at the head of the Bill states that “the Land Management Act No. 33 of 2013 fails to enhance the application of this constitutional rule to enable the customary institutions throughout the Republic of Vanuatu to dispose of disputes over land owned in accordance with the customary law of each particular place”.

Mr Kalsakau was not available for comment due to personal travel overseas, but Opposition spokesman John Shing admitted that “I met with the Land management section of Malvatumauri and gave them a copy of the bill and explained what we intended to do.

“They advised that the Vanuatu council of chiefs would only be meeting in January or February of 2017.”

He argued that a consultation is not required because strictly speaking, the requirement arises only in the case of an amendment.

“We are not making an amendment as we intend to repeal the Act,” he wrote in a letter to the Daily Post.

He concluded: “The only slight amendments would be to the Land leases Act and these amendments are only adjusted so as cancel any reference to the Custom Land Management Act which we intend to repeal.”

Mr Regenvanu’s letter to the Speaker makes specific reference to Article 30 (2) of the Constitution, which states, “The [Malvatumauri] Council must be consulted on any question, particularly any question relating to land, tradition and custom, in connection with any bill before Parliament.”

The Daily Post contacted the Speaker’s office, and was told that the determination whether the bill was in order or not is a matter for parliamentarians to decide. It was suggested that Parliament could decide to forward the bill to a committee, which could conduct any required consultation.

The Clerk of Parliament said it was his duty to process all bills submitted to him, but added that a finalised bill had yet to be submitted by the Opposition.

The Custom Land Management Act has the subject of controversy since it was first passed in 2013. Real estate developers, investors, chiefs and academics have all complained at various times that the processes outlined in the Act are ungainly and impracticable. The Opposition argues that no single legislative solution can comprise the widely diverse kastom practices concerning land in Vanuatu.

November 19, 2016 0

KTT MSG Dijadwalkan Bahas Keanggotaan ULMWP 20 Desember

Menteri Luar Negeri RI, Retno Marsudi dan Menteri Luar Negeri Papua Nugini, Rimbink Pato, sedang berbincang-bincang. Papua Nugini diketahui sebagai salah satu negara yang mendukung sikap Indonesia di MSG (Foto: radionz.co.nz)

PORT VILA, SATUHARAPAN.COM – Direktur Jenderal sekretariat Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), Amena Yauvoli, mengatakan pihaknya telah mengusulkan tanggal pertemuan para pemimpin MSG yang sudah beberapa kali tertunda.

Yauvoli mengatakan sekretariat MSG mengusulkan pertemuan dilangsungkan pada 20 Desember di Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Sekretariat MSG masih menunggu konsensus dari para anggota MSG atas usulan tersebut.

Lima anggota MSG adalah Papua Nugini, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands dan FLKNS Kaledonia Baru.

Pertemuan tersebut telah ditunda untuk kedua kalinya pada awal Oktober lalu dan sejak itu gagal menyepakati pertemuan selanjutnya.

Dalam pertemuan yang dijadwalkan 20 Desember itu, MSG akan membahas permohonan keanggotaan penuh United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) yang selama ini ditentang oleh Indonesia. ULMWP saat ini berstatus sebagai peninjau, sedangkan Indonesia berstatus sebagai associate member.

Keanggotaan ULMWP merupakan masalah sensitif, terutama karena penolakan dari Indonesia yang menganggapnya sebagai gerakan separatis.

Isu keanggotaan ULMWP telah menjadi agenda prioritas MSG beberapa tahun terakhir yang sulit mendapat konsensus dari anggota.

Juli lalu, pertemuan para pemimpin MSG diadakan di Honiara, Solomon Islands, setelah beberapa kali perubahan tempat dan tanggal.

Di Honiara, para pemimpin menangguhkan keputusan terhadap permohonan keanggotaan penuh ULMWP dengan alasan perlunya dirumuskan kriteria keanggotaan.

Perdana Menteri Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai, kemudian menjelaskan bahwa sejak tahun lalu kriteria keanggotaan MSG telah dikembangkan dengan tidak mencerminkan prinsip-prinsip pendiri kelompok.

Vanuatu, Kepulauan Solomon dan FLNKS diketahui merupakan anggota MSG yang mendukung ULMWP menjadi anggota penuh. Sedangkan Papua Nugini dan Fiji condong mendukung pendirian Indonesia.

Di tengah frustrasi akan sulitnya menghadirkan seluruh anggota, muncul laporan yang mengatakan bahwa MSG bisa membuat keputusan tentang keanggotaan Papua jika setidaknya tiga dari lima anggota penuh hadir.

Yauvoli mengatakan selain membahas keanggotaan ULMWP, pemimpin MSG perlu untuk bertemu Desember nanti untuk menyetui anggaran sekretariat MSG untuk tahun 2017.

Sekretariat MSG pada tahun-tahun belakangan menghadapi masalah anggaran karena beberapa angggota penuh tidak membayar secara penuh iuran yang menjadi komitmennya. (radionz.co.nz)

November 19, 2016 0