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Pacific island links: Exxon Mobil in PNG, asylum seekers, UNDP, Mahendra Chaudhry and more

Pacific island links: Exxon Mobil in PNG, asylum seekers, UNDP, Mahendra Chaudhry and more
Published 8 May 2014   Follow @CainTess

Each Thursday the Lowy Institute's Myer Foundation Melanesia program brings you a selection of reading from and about the Pacific island region.

  • Attempts to generate revenue via immigration and citizenship  are causing controversy in Vanuatu and Samoa.
  • Former Fiji PM Mahendra Chaudhry will appeal against both his conviction and sentence for fraud-related offences. If the appeal against conviction fails he will be ineligible to contest in the forthcoming elections.
  • The foreign minister of Marshall Islands argues that Australia's approach to climate change puts a strain on relations with Pacific island states. Meanwhile, Giff Johnson provides a local perspective on Marshall Islands' diplomatic and legal activities.
  • The UNDP has released an analysis of the 2010 Household Income & Expenditure Survey of Vanuatu.
  • Indonesia has been accused of using 'cheque book diplomacy' to keep West Papua off the UN's Decolonization List ahead of a special regional conference of the Special Decolonization Committee, to be held in Fiji later this month.
  • A recent policy brief from the Alfred Deakin Research Institute & Sustineo assesses the impact of donor countries on Pacific development. Spoiler alert: it's not all about aid and New Zealand comes out on top.
  • For many in the Hela province of PNG, Exxon Mobil's success in getting LNG flowing is not a cause for celebration.
  • Also in PNG, the Governor of the National Capital District, Powes Parkop, has hit out strongly at the use of detention for asylum seekers in his country:

I am under no illusions that this is a delicate and sensitive matter but I believe we can and should adopt a more human and morally superior approach than adopting Australian policy and culture or be blinded by our people's fears and prejudice.



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