- Last Friday in the PNG village of Hanuabada, two young men were shot and killed, allegedly by police. Police brutality is frequently an issue in PNG. Paul Barker, Executive Director of PNG's Institute of National Affairs, spoke about the extent of the problem on Pacific Beat.
- The incident was reportedly triggered when police attempted to stop the sale of betel nut at a roadside market. The widely-used mild stimulant has been banned in Port Moresby since 2013. Tim Sharp looks at the impact of the controversial ban.
- The angry Hanuabada community has responded with protests and blocked access to roads around the village, cutting Port Moresby off from fuel depots and the PNG LNG site. The fuel shortage is affecting many businesses in the capital, forcing some to stop work entirely.
- Liam Cochrane interviewed one of the first refugees to be released from the Manus Island detention centre. Reza Mollaghlipour said that he is happy to settle in PNG and wants to contribute to its society.
- The ADB has released early results from a report due out later this year on how the Pacific can capitalise on economic growth in Asia. Tourism is one sector which will benefit from the growing Asian middle class.
- The Solomon Islands Prime Minister has launched an ambitious agenda for the Government. On Devpolicy, Terrence Wood asks if last year's elections actually changed anything.
- On The Interpreter, Bruce Hill analysed the state of media freedom in post-elections Fiji.
- The West Papuan National Liberation Front is in Vanuatu preparing to submit another application for membership to the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Vanuatu has reconfirmed its support for decolonisation movements in West Papua and New Caledonia.
Pacific Island links: PNG police brutality, Manus refugees released, Solomon Islands and more
Published 28 Jan 2015
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