Indonesia moves to isolate West Papua from MSG

Indonesia is confident the West Papua independence movement will never be granted full membership to the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Melanesian leaders debated the issue on Thursday in Honiara but delayed making a decision until September so that more clarity could be provided about membership criteria. Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai says he “gravely regretted”…

Mass termination imminent

SISA pledges to stand with students More than thirty government sponsored students studying at the University of South Pacific, (USP) Laucala Campus in Suva, Fiji are expected to be terminated and others receiving indefinite suspension to their scholarships. The 31 students are those who failed up to four courses during the first semester. A well…

West Papua let down by MSG: Vanuatu

(PASIFIK NEWS) – Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai says the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has failed the people of West Papua. The MSG on Thursday deferred a decision on awarding full membership to the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) until a new meeting can be held in September. The delay is meant to…

Bainimarama rests trust on Sogavare

Prime Minister (PM) of Fiji Frank Bainimarama has assured all member countries in the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) that PIDF will be fruitful under the leadership of the new Chairperson Manasseh Sogavare. “Honourable Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, we have every confidence that PIDF will continue to advance a Green Blue Economy for the Pacific…

Robbers guilty, face sentence

Two young men including a 16 year-old (juvenile) who pleaded guilty to robbing a shop at King George area, East Honiara will be sentenced on July 29. Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo told the accused yesterday that the defence counsels and prosecution had filed mitigation and sentencing submissions. Hudson Billy Roboniu, 21, and the juvenile…

UDP may establish ties with Communist Party

The United Democratic Party of Solomon Islands and the Chinese Communist Party will discuss the possibility of forming party to party relations. This is an understanding reached between Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, and visiting Counsellor of the PNG-based Chinse Embassy, WANG GENHUA in Honiara this week. Mr Sogavare is the Parliamentary Wing Leader of the…

Court gives cops 7 days to return exhibits

The Henderson Police has been given seven days as of Thursday to compensate a couple whose alcohol has gone missing while they were kept as exhibits at the station. Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga ordered that the Exhibit Section of the Henderson Police compensate the two defendants by full replacement of the missing amount of alcohols…