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Papua National Parliament leader arrested, released

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 13, 2013) – A journalist in Indonesia’s Papua province says yesterday’s student rally was forcibly broken up by police who are currently searching for the organizer.

Police started dispersing the 50 rallying students at Cendrawasih University in Waena when they blocked the entrance.

The police also violently arrested the leader of the Papua National Parliament, Buchtar Tabuni.

Alex Perrottet reports.

"Aprila Wayar, a journalist for Tabloid Jubi, was present at the rally and says four to five police officers stopped a car and dragged Buchtar Tabuni out, hit him repeatedly and stomped on him. Supporters say he has bruises on his head and back from rifle butts. They then took him to the police station for questioning, asking whether he helped organize the demonstration. Students had raised the banned pro-independence Morning Star flag....

BeMobile also poised to offer services to Indonesian market

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, June 25, 2013) – Papua New Guinea's mobile phone company BeMobile will enter the Indonesian market as it plans to connect half of all Melanesian countries.

State Enterprises Minister Ben Micah said that after the signing of an US$88 million (K192 million) loan with ANZ Bank last week.

Micah said the loan would allow BeMobile to co-finance its share equity of 51% while the Fiji National Provident Fund would own 40% with the remaining shared between other parties.

He said with the new partnership, BeMobile would rollout its network in the coming months throughout PNG.

Micah added the partnership between Vodafone and BeMobile would see three Melanesian countries – Fiji, Solomon Islands and PNG – covered and connected.

He said the company had plans to enter the Indonesian market to connect about five of the 12 million Melanesians in West...

Ministry secretary: illegal, underage labor real in Fiji

By Reginald Chandar

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, June 13, 2013) – Fiji's government successfully withdrew 24 children from the clutches of child labor in the first five months of this year.

This was revealed today at the World Day Against Child Labor celebrations at the Civic Centre in Suva.

The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment has referred all these children to school with the assistance from the Ministry of Social Welfare and Ministry of Education.

Acting permanent secretary Samuela Namosimalua said the attention to the phenomenon of children working has probably never been greater than it is today.

"Children employed during school hours either in domestic work or any other duty deprive them of education and it infringes on their basic rights," Namosimalua said.

"Many people agree that some type of work done by children do not harm their lives and are...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

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Concerns raised by media over lack of response from police

By Jason Brown

APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, June 4, 2013) – Prime Minister Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has been reported as instructing Samoa police to be more willing to front up to the media.

This follows media complaints that police have not been adequately informing them.

Last month, he told police not to speak directly with the media but to use press releases.

This has led to the media gaining little or no information on events police are investigating.

Questions sent in from 15 May 2013 have yet to receive a response.

But Tuilaepa told Radio New Zealand International on the weekend that if the police cannot provide information the media need in their press releases, they should front up and answer...