Jo Nata’s journey from the dark
'We let the genie out of the bottle' Emerging out of 24 years in prison, Josefa Nata is now convinced that the George Speight-led takeover of Fiji’s Parliament in 2000 was not justified and that all it did was let the
Latest Magazine Articles
Opening Fiji’s can of worms
Josefa Nata knows he’s expected to tell all, having featured prominently in the George Speight-led takeover of Fiji’s Parliament in 2000. In the long history of Fiji’s coups since 1987, this was not only the
Prison ‘dark culture’
Josefa Nata claims Fiji’s prison system is perpetuating what he describes as a “dark culture” of cover ups of the abuse of prisoners’ rights, including uninvestigated deaths, and has met with Prime Minister
Reversing the tide of colonial anthropology
Doctor Tarisi Vunidilo has emerged as a leading voice in the growing movement across the Pacific in recent years to repatriate Pacific treasures, as well as human remains from museums across Europe and other parts of
Dealing with dengue: Pacific looks to new tools
Climate change and increased urbanisation are driving an increase in dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases and the Pacific is responding with a suite of new interventions and tactics. The World Health Organization
Pacific obesity rates continue to concern
Pacific Island nations have the highest rates of obesity in the world, a new study has revealed. The study from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a worldwide network of over 1500 researchers and
Whispers
Quiet diplomacy While all the China watchers and US/Australian/NZ journos were focused on the Solomon Islands elections in mid-April, PRC Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a quick visit to Papua New Guinea. Despite renewed
Protecting tourism’s biggest drawcard
Pacific Island nations have joined a landmark collaboration aimed at ensuring marine-based tourism adds to, rather than undermines, conservation efforts. The initiative to develop Pacific Marine Tourism Guidelines and
West Papuans still inspired by the heritage of Arnold Ap
In 1969, Indonesia annexed the western half of the island of New Guinea, through the so-called Act of Free Choice. As Indonesian authorities began to expand legal systems and education in Bahasa Indonesia, a generation
Opinion: What’s wrong with Vanuatu’s proposed party laws?
Vanuatu is holding its first ever referendum on 29th May on two constitutional amendments designed to lessen instability on the floor of parliament. The first amendment (17A) intends to tie members of parliament (MPs)
Vaka carries the torch for Tonga’s soccer aspirations
Except for 1991, when they didn’t qualify, the tiny Pacific Island nation of Tonga has participated at every Rugby World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1987. Rugby is Tonga’s most popular sport, with
Briefs
American Samoa Concerns have been raised over conditions at Tafuna Prison. Samoa News reports that a hearing of the Senate Public Safety/Homeland Security Committee heard that the buildings are unfit for human
Movers and Shakers
Appointments Sri Lankan-born Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena is the first President of the Nauru Court of Appeal since its establishment in 2018. Samoa’s Cabinet has appointed Tuaopepe Dr Cam Wendt as the new Consul for
Where is USP heading amid a gathering storm?
In February 2021, the University of the South Pacific (USP) was plunged into crisis when Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia was unceremoniously thrown out of Fiji following a middle-of-the-night raid on his campus
International blunder or domestic strategy?
Fiji's position on Israel could hint at paradigm shift South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been described as involving two competing narratives: one, about a displaced
Is the Pacific moving fast enough on Kava protection?
Pacific Island nations are considering implementing Geographical Indication (GI) protections for kava to safeguard its reputation and uniqueness. This move aims to capitalise on the growing global demand for kava and
Pacific Islands eye medicinal cannabis cultivation
But social concerns remain Pacific governments are grappling with balancing the potential economic benefits of legalising medicinal cannabis cultivation with social concerns, as they eye the potentially lucrative new
Whispers
Nauru-Fiji-TuvaluWhen Nauru did the flip on Taiwan in February, it sent the temperature soaring in Canberra as all eyes turned towards the upcoming election in Tuvalu, to see whether a pro- or anti-Taiwan candidate
“When are we going back?” – Nuclear Displacement in the Marshall Islands
Gina Langinbelik Anuntak is a student at the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI). She is President of the CMI Nuclear Club, a student association that unites Marshallese students to understand the legacies of the 20th
Drua drive sports tourism upsurge in Fiji
Two years after the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika joined Australian and New Zealand teams in the Super Rugby Pacific, the Drua’s fortunes on the field are driving a noticeable impact on the Fijian economy, adding to
Human Rights Defenders build regional protection strategy
Pacific human rights defenders are building a regional protection strategy in the face of challenges ranging from inadequate judicial systems to colonial-era laws and heavy-handed law enforcement. Office of the United
Briefs
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas A special committee has been formed to look into the unpaid utility bills of the government of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, which has now ballooned to a whopping