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Regenvanu reportedly illegally moves lease records

By Jonas Cullwick

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, June 3, 2013) – The Minister of Lands, Ralph Regenvanu, has reportedly ordered the removal of all registered files within the Land Records Office in Port Vila of all lease titles purportedly granted by the previous Lands Minister, Steven Kalsakau, in 2012, and that these files were now stored in the Minister’s Office in the Ministry of Lands.

However, the First Political Advisor of the Ministry of Lands, John Salong, on behalf of the minister who is on overseas travel, has strongly denied any files were removed from the Land Records Office.

The Daily Post received reports that on Tuesday morning, May 28, Minister Regenvanu instructed the Acting Director of Lands, Paul Gambetta to carry out the order.

But Gambetta said it was not an instruction but a "request" from the Minister.

He would not comment further but referred the Daily Post...

Defence White Paper says Pacific ‘theatre….of confrontation with Beijing’

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, June 3, 2013) – Australia’s Socialist Equality Party condemns the Labor government’s plans to step up the militarisation of the South Pacific, as revealed in its Defence White Paper this month, and warns workers and young people in Australia and the region that a new round of predatory interventions is being prepared.

The White Paper, the policy document that outlines Canberra’s current strategic and military agenda, underscores the extent to which Australian imperialism is committed to Washington’s so-called "pivot" to East Asia and the Pacific. The Obama administration is provocatively encircling and preparing for war against China in a bid to maintain Washington’s strategic domination over the entire region.

One little noted aspect of the new White Paper is its focus on...

Locals question who gave authority for foreigners to come to mine site

By Romulus Masiu

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, June 3, 2013) – Central Bougainville police and ex-combatants will move into Panguna today to pick up 16 Chinese nationals in the mine area.

They will be brought to Arawa Police Station for questioning and screening of their work documents.

Central Bougainville Police Commander Inspector Herman Birengka gave this undertaking yesterday when the Post-Courier asked him how the Chinese ended up in the blocked off, controversial mining area.

Police and ex-combatants will make the move as tension is brewing now from locals who are questioning those in authority how foreigners can just walk into Panguna under the eyes of authorities on the ground, including the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and the Bougainville Police Service.

Locals, especially ex-combatants, took a swipe at Immigration officials in...

USS Pearl Harbor arrives on humanitarian outreach voyage

APIA, Samoa (Talamua, June 1, 2013) – The U.S. Navy ship Pearl Harbor arrived in Apia, Samoa today in support of Pacific Partnership in a planned and coordinated effort with the Government of Samoa, partner nations and NGO relief organizations in the region.

Samoa is the first Pacific Partnership 2013 stop for USS Pearl Harbor and its crew.

"I am proud to be leading a mission where military and civilian professionals will be working side-by-side to make a real difference for the people of our Pacific Island host nations," said U.S. Navy Capt. Wallace Lovely, Commander, Pacific Partnership.

Pacific Partnership participants, including U.S. Navy Sailors stationed aboard Pearl Harbor, will visit select locations around the island of Upolu and Savai’i. This mission underscores the commitment of the United States and Samoa to work together to assist the people of Samoa with this humanitarian outreach....