In Brief: ‘Police’ set Port Moresby homes on fire

Sixty families in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, have been left homeless after police allegedly torched their properties.

‘Police’ set Port Moresby homes on fire

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Sixty families in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, have been left homeless after police allegedly torched their properties. EMTV reports the people saying that men dressed in police uniforms drove into their property in three unmarked vehicles on Friday, and ordered them to leave before setting five houses alight. A community leader, Paul Kovei, says the policemen drove into the area behind Waigani market without warning or formal documents to evict them. EMTV says the families are now homeless and are calling on the local MP, Daniel Mona, and the capital’s governor, Powesr Parkop, to help them secure land to rebuild.

Ousted Nauru MPs seek legal ruling

NAURU – The Nauru MPs suspended from parliament last week say they are yet to hear from the speaker on their challenge to the validity of the expulsion. The Government had the MPs, Mathew Batsiua, Kieren Keke and Roland Kun removed on Tuesday, claiming they had brought disrepute on Nauru by speaking to the international media. The MPs reject the claims and the speaker, Ludwig Scotty, has agreed to their request that he seek a legal opinion. Batsiua says they aim to speak with Scotty this week and hope he goes outside of the Nauru Ministry of Justice. “Because you know it needs to be independent so that everybody can be satisfied.”

Nickel plant’s future uncertain

NEW CALEDONIA – There is continued uncertainty over when Vale’s nickel plant in New Caledonia will resume operations, leaving those employed there in limbo. Operations have been suspended at the Goro plant for almost two weeks after 100,000 litres of effluent, containing some acid, ended up in a creek. Chiefs of the tribes in the Southern Province are calling for the plant to be shut permanently, and have been blocking the plant’s entrance. But the business organisation MEDEF has expressed concerns that if the plant is shut down, there will be huge economic and social implications. It said 1350 jobs are at stake, and the plant’s suspension may have a snowball effect on other industries which subcontract and supply to Vale.

Anti-gay preachers targeting Pacific

THE PACIFIC – A human rights activist and lawyer says the Pacific is becoming a target for missionaries preaching against homosexuality. Dr Paula Gerber of the Kaleidoscope Human Rights Foundation says the region has a mixed record on tolerance of homosexual and transgender people with homosexuality still a crime in nine Pacific countries. She says many of the churches that have been in the region a long time are quite tolerant but there is a worrying trend taking place. “There’s signs that outside churches are starting to focus on the Pacific and to send missionaries or preachers there who are intolerant of homosexuality and are indicating to families that if they’ve got a transgender child or a homosexual son or daughter that they should reject them.”

NGOs want decree provision changed

FIJI – Non governmental organisations in Fiji are to meet the Electoral Commission to discuss how a controversial Electoral Decree provision will be enforced. Section 115 restricts any group receiving foreign funding from campaigning on election issues, which includes organising debates, meetings or publishing information. About six weeks ago, the NGOs requested that the provision be removed. The head of the Citizens Constitutional Forum, Reverend Akuila Yabaki, says he expects both the Elections Office and the Electoral Commission will say they are powerless to amend the provision. “The Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office must comply with the Electoral Decree. Apparently they are admitting they are powerless to do anything about that, and any submissions to change the legislation need to be directed to the minister of elections. That to us is a violation of the independence of the Electoral Commission.”