New Zealand demonstrated an empathetic concern for its small Pacific Island neigbours by imposing self-isolation restrictions on travel to and from the region, but almost immediately cases of infection rapidly began. Oceania has become locked down and the pandemic has dislodged climate change as the region’s number one priority.
As New Zealand draws deeper into uncharted waters over the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, spare a thought for our neighbours across the Pacific as infections and lockdowns spread rapidly across the region. My colleague Sri Krishnamurthi on the AUT Pacific Media Centre’s Pacific Media Watch project files this roundup.
“If confirmed on appeal, this federal court ruling will set a disturbing legal precedent by turning investigative reporters and whistleblowers into criminals.” – Daniel Bastard, RSF Asia-Pacific
“At the beginning of his first term in 2015, President Jokowi released five West Papuan political prisoners … a new hope for West Papua. But now, at the beginning of his second term, there are 57 people awaiting trial for treason, facing life imprisonment. This route will only fuel further conflict,” says human rights lawyer Veronica Koman.
As well as attacks on Rappler, President Duterte has also recently targeted the country’s main local TV station, ABS-CBN, and the Philippine Daily Inquirer with threats and punitive red tape in response to criticism of his autocratic leadership style.
For decades, the feared Ampatuan clan held sway in the impoverished province of Maguindanao in Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Through a ruthless private army and a reported “propensity for beheadings”, the clan cultivated a culture of impunity. Now, however, reports David Robie from Manila, a courageous judge has challenged the horror by jailing the masterminds of the 2009 Ampatuan massacre for life.
Iran attracts an onslaught of negative media in New Zealand and Western media. But is it fair or deserved? David Robie has spent several weeks travelling in the country on sabbatical and finds the media negativity far from the reality of the “most friendly” country he has ever visited in the first of a three-part series.
The groundswell of regional support continues to grow in the Pacific – and also globally – for West Papuan self-determination. The latest repression only adds to this momentum.
Peter Willcox: I’m sure Steve Sawyer was the one who convinced Greenpeace to put sails on the first Rainbow Warrior. I am not sure how he did it. But we built the masts, got the sails, cut the bridge wings off, made a bowsprit, did a lot of work in the engine room all for around $US120,000. This was in the days when we did 90 percent of the work ourselves …
Sri Krishnamurthi: “The catalyst for Pacific Media Watch was the jailing of the “Tongan Three” – founding editor of Taimi ‘o Tonga Kalafi Moala, his deputy Filokalafi Akau’ola, and pro-democracy MP ‘Akilisi Pohiva, now Prime Minister of Tonga – for contempt of Parliament in 1996.”