In brief: Coastal residents camping in hills

The premiere of Makira province in Solomon Islands says people are preparing for more aftershocks and the potential threat of a tsunami.

Coastal residents camping in hills

SOLOMON ISLANDS – The premiere of Makira province in Solomon Islands says people are preparing for more aftershocks and the potential threat of a tsunami. Makira is the province closest to the epicentre of a 7.4-magnitude quake which struck on Sunday night, hours after a 7.6-magnitude tremor. Thomas Weape says the community has been advised that aftershocks will continue for some time. He says many people are feeling anxious, so have set up plastic tents in the hills. “Some old people, and some people who are not able to walk up, run fast, some of them are determined to stay up there until the warning is completely out. But most people are just living down here in their homes and when the situation is worrying, like there is an earthquake, they have to move, fast, up the hill to their tents.”

Investigation into border incidents

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Papua New Guinea and Indonesia have agreed to jointly investigate recent clashes at the border involving suspected separatist militants and Indonesian soldiers. PNG’s Defence Minister Fabian Pok says the investigations will be led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and involve other government departments. He says PNG officials will work closely with Jakarta to try and resolve the issues. Pok says the PNG government has also flown in additional Defence Force troops to try and eliminate suspected OPM rebel camps on their side of the border. He says they have been told to free the PNG side of any rebel activities and ensure the security of Papua New Guinea citizens living in the border areas. The Minister has also confirmed that PNG soldiers attacked a suspected OPM camp and burnt down garden shelters used by PNG villagers.

Temporary bridge on way to Honaria

SOLOMON ISLANDS – The New Zealand government says it will provide a temporary bridge to maintain the link between the airport and Honiara’s centre following recent flash floods in the Solomon Islands. A old Bailey bridge over the Mataniko River was destroyed in the flooding nearly two weeks ago and only other over the river was damaged. The New Zealand Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, says a new Bailey bridge will ensure transport links are maintained while the second bridge is repaired. He says the bridge components are expected to be shipped in the coming weeks. McCully says New Zealand will also deploy two teams of emergency management doctors and nurses, logisticians and support staff to assist local authorities.

Media body needs to prove neutrality

FIJI– A media NGO in Fiji says the public needs more reasons to be able to trust the processes in place with regime decrees. The regime’s Media Industry Development Authority issued a public warning against Fiji TV for airing a speech by Tailevu chief Ratu Timoci Vesikula, saying it was ‘hate speech’. The chairman of the authority, Ashwin Raj, has been criticised for judging the actions of the media organisation before the tribunal considers the matter. The Executive Director of Fiji Media Watch, Agatha Ferei, says there needs to be more clarity on the role of the authority, as opposed to the media tribunal, and the public need to be able to trust a robust process.

Online contempt to be examined

FIJI – The Fiji government says it is looking to pursue defamation and contempt of court proceedings against a self-exiled lawyer for comments on social media sites. Rajendra Chaudhry, the son of the leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry, criticised the recent decision of the High Court in finding his father guilty of breaching the Exchange Controls Act. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation that he is starting to look at how the courts can pursue those who publish allegedly defamatory and contemptuous comments on online social media websites and blogs. Rajendra Chaudhry left Fiji after being suspended for professional misconduct in 2012.