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New commission plans to hold government accountable

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Feb. 5, 2013) – The non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations comprising the Vanuatu Association Of Non-Governmental Organizations (VANGO) have united to form a Task Force of committed organizations and individuals determined to eliminate political and public service corruption.

According to a Task Force spokesperson the name of this new anti-corruption force is the Vanuatu Corruption Commission (VCC).

The VCC spokesperson stated – "Vanuatu Political Authorities continue to ignore civil society’s calls for better governance of the public sector. Political and administrative corruption is as widespread as ever. Nepotism, cronyism, embezzlement of public funds, bribery and vote buying persist."

It is the citizen who pays the price, as demonstrated by the recent multiplicity of scandals reported in the media. For example, consider the mega...

Controversial article’s claims denied by Sato Kilman

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Feb. 5, 2013) – The Vanuatu police have been asked to investigate information published in an article which alleges that the prime minister Sato Kilman received US$200,000 for his election campaign from the owner of a luxury yacht.

The Independent published a story over the weekend about Vanuatu diplomatic passport holder, Pascal Anh Quan Saken, whose yacht has been detained in the country since July last year due to false documentation.

It alleges that Mr. Saken, who left the island before he could be questioned in relation to the yacht, transferred the large sum under the name ’Kilman campaign’ before last October’s general election.

The prime minister has denied the claims and his advisor Richard Kaltongga says they’ve asked the police to establish if there is a case for defamation action against the author.

"We’ve registered a...

Editor says government will have to get used to opposing views

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Feb. 5, 2013) – The editor of a Kiribati newspaper shut down last year by the government says he is not going to change the sort of stories he publishes.

The Kiribati Independent closed last June to allow police to investigate complaints that it had breached the Newspaper Registration Act.

Taberannang Korauaba says although he has not heard anything from the government since it ordered the paper’s closure, his lawyers have assured him that it is safe to resume operations.

He says it is his view that the government considers the paper to be against it - but that is not the case.

"We are media and we are small, you know we are a small island nation and the government as we know has been, is very new to a form of operation that we’re going to publish stories against the...

PM called to form commission to investigate ‘Ok Tedi saga’

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Feb. 5, 2013) – More than 100,000 people from 165 villages along the Fly River impacted by Ok Tedi mine have thrown their support behind Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on the issue of mine extension.

The landowners, who are members of Ok Tedi Mine Impacted Area Association (OTMIAA), made their position know in a press statement signed and released by their president Nick Bunn.

"OTMIIA fully agrees and supports the stand by the Prime Minister not to be pushed by either BHP or PNG Sustainable Development Program into extending the mine life for Ok Tedi Mine to 2025 until all the issues affecting the people and Community Mine Continuation Agreements (CMCA) are sorted out," Mr. Bunn said.

He said 16 association leaders have pledged to work together with the government to ensure that all outstanding issues relating to environmental...