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

Protest Australia’s removal of limited autonomy

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, April 30, 2016) – The occupation of Norfolk Island's former legislative assembly by protesters has entered its fourth day.

A former Norfolk Island chief minister, Andre Nobbs, said residents had turned out to protest the Australian government's decision to remove the island's limited autonomy.

He said about 10 percent of the island's population had turned out to protest the move, and a few dozen of them had set up camp in the grounds of the former assembly.

Mr Nobbs said they were angry at an alleged lack of consulation by Canberra.

"Out of an electoral roll of about 965 people we have over 350 people gathered in the compound just to really join together to voice their concern over what is being imposed on...

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

Delayed medical treatment after injuries from protest

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, April 30, 2016) – Refugee advocates say it was criminal delaying treatment and care needed for an Iranian refugee who died from injuries sustained from setting himself ablaze on Nauru.

The man, Omid, was flown to Australia on Thursday, 24 hours after he set himself alight in apparent protest in front of visiting United Nations officials.

But he died in a Brisbane hospital Friday afternoon.

The Refugee Action Coalition's Ian Rintoul said a lack of medical supplies and attention at the Nauru hospital, and the delay in arranging for the man to be transported to Australia cost him his life.

He said those responsible must be held to account.

Mr Rintoul called for the Australian government to bring...

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

Currently no female MPs

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, May 2, 2016) – Tonga's government is exploring ways it can increase the number of women participating in politics.

There are currently no female MPs and there have only been a handful of women in both local body and national politics.

In the lead-up to June's town and district officer elections, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been holding workshops to encourage women to particpate.

The Ministry's Chief Executive Mary Bing-Fonua said the government was looking at various options and examples across the region.

"We will definitely look at how Samoa uses temporary special measures and quotas and other examples as well. We are hoping that at the local elections, thereafter we would be able to look into who could help us, give us...

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

Great Council of Chiefs dissolved four years ago

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, May 2, 2016) – An academic who's been banned from Fiji says the Great Council of Chiefs may no longer be relevant, but the way it was dissolved leaves a sense of unfinished business.

The chiefly body was abolished by Frank Bainimarama's military regime four years ago.

Last week, Fiji's parliament voted out a petition seeking to reinstate the council, but the opposition says it could be re-established without government support.

The former Fiji-based academic Brij Lal said there was a time when indigenous Fijians were in the minority and concerned their interests might be threatened.

Now iTaukei account for about 60 percent of the population.

But Brij Lal said indigenous Fijians should have had the...