MIL-Evening Report: Indonesian influence in the Pacific grows, brushing aside West Papua
By Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific in Wellington Indonesia’s influence in the Pacific Islands is growing, but is shadowed by disquiet over its region of Papua, known widely as West Papua. The West Papuan independence movement has significant traction in the region, where it continues to push for its self-determination aspirations to be addressed by […]
Read More →MIL-Evening Report: Rapa Nui activist calls for rigorous curb on ‘flouting’ of migration rules
Ahu Akivi maois (statues) on the island of Rapa Nui. Image: RNZ Pacific/AFP By RNZ Pacific An indigenous activist on Chile’s Rapa Nui says new rules restricting internal migration to the island need to be rigorously enforced. Non-Rapa Nui Chileans now need to have Rapa Nui spouses or children to migrate to the island without […]
Read More →MIL-Evening Report: Tasered, beaten, handcuffed but Mike Treen says ‘I would do it all again’
Unite Union leader Mike Treen (second from right), Kia Ora Gaza spokesperson Roger Fowler and Palestinian human rights supporters Billy Hania and Heidi Jia at Auckland International Airport today. Image: Rahul Bhattarai/PMC By Rahul Bhattarai in Auckland Unite Union national director Mike Treen arrived in Auckland today and told of his brutal experience at the […]
Read More →MIL-Evening Report: Deported Freedom Flotilla activist Mike Treen on way back to NZ
Detained and deported unionist Mike Treen (right) with Kia Ora Gaza’s Roger Fowler in a file photo. Image: Kia Ora Gaza Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Unite union leader Mike Treen, seized and detained by Israeli security forces last weekend along with other human rights campaigners bound for Gaza on board the fishing boat Al Awda, […]
Read More →MIL-Evening Report: RSF condemns Nine-Fairfax merger as threat to media pluralism in Australia
There is concern about the editorial independence of The Age newspaper, one of the jewels of the Fairfax Media empire, now that it is to be run by Nine Entertainment. Image: William West /RSF/AFP Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is extremely concerned about pluralism and respect for editorial independence in the new […]
Read More →MIL-Evening Report: Nine-Fairfax merger warning for investigative media – and democracy
If you value the media’s watchdog role in democracy, then the opening words in the deal enabling Channel Nine to acquire Fairfax Media, the biggest single shake-up of the Australian media in more than three decades, ring alarm bells. The opening gambit is an appeal to advertisers, not readers. It promises to enhance “brand” and […]
Read More →MIL-Evening Report: Noumea visitors help Vanuatu celebrate 38 years of freedom
Families celebrating Vanuatu’s 38th Independence Day in the same named Port Vila park yesterday. Image: Vanuatu Daily Post By Len Garae in Port Vila An estimated more than 4000 strong crowd threatened to spill over into the parade grounds at Independence Park during the 38th Independence Anniversary Ceremony yesterday. Police had to be posted to […]
Read More →MIL-Evening Report: Plea for help from NZ protester on board ‘hijacked’ Gaza peace boat
Mike Treen’s message via YouTube. (Distorted audio – click on subtitles). Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk New Zealander Mike Treen, national director of the Unite Union and a veteran human rights defender, has made a dramatic plea for help from on board the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza flagship Al Awda (The Return). He pre-recorded this […]
Read More →MIL-Evening Report: Reconciling New Caledonia: A vote to clear the air on independence?
In the final instalment of a three-part series, Dr Lee Duffield in Noumea assesses some of the options and omens. It looks like a simple case of voting yes or no to clear the air on independence for this French-governed territory less than four months away. But, not so easy. What about the “day after”? […]
Read More →MIL-Evening Report: 2018 Freedom Flotilla: A predictable end to an unpredictable journey?
By Chris Graham on board the Al Awda If you’re an optimist, then I’m about 24 hours from Gaza. If you’re a pessimist, then I’m about 24 hours from witnessing a violent raid by the Israeli Defence Force on the Al Awda, the lead boat in the 2018 Freedom Flotilla which is aiming to break […]
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