In this bulletin:
1. SAMOA — Vaimauga 3 by-election set for Friday 1st May 2026
2. FIJI — Fiji braces for heavy rain as Cyclone Vaianu nears category 3
3. VAN — New RV5 system to identify deceased individuals still listed in official records
4. SOL — Solomon Islands Opposition Leader demands regional action following deadly violence in West Papua
5. FIJI — Fiji Government hits back at Fiji Labour Party over fuel claims
6. FIJI — ‘Let the people vote for President’ – former Attorney-General Graham Leung
7. PACNEWS BIZ — ‘Not comparable to the past’: Minister defends immigration changes after Pacific concerns
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Flights into Tokua suspended as impacts of tropical cyclone hit East New Britain
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fuel removal underway from grounded Fiji Princess – MSAF
10. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — OPINION: From Dawn Raids to today: Why Pacific immigration policy enforcement still fails
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — The Lithium Triangle – land rights and loss in Chile’s Atacama Desert
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — FAO Food Price Index rises in March as Near East conflict raises energy costs
SAMOA – BY-ELECTION: SAMOA GLOBAL NEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 06 Apr 2026
Vaimauga 3 By-Election Set for Friday 1st May 2026
APIA, 06 APRIL 2026 (SAMOA GLOBAL NEWS) — The Office of the Electoral Commissioner in Samoa has issued the writ for the upcoming Vaimauga 3 by-elections set for Friday, 01st May 2026.
Nomination of candidates will open for one day only – from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Friday 10th April 2026.
The last day for Withdrawal of Nominations is Thursday 16 April 2026 at 12:00 noon.
Pursuant to the Warrant for By-Election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly under section 148(2), and sections 149(1) and 149(3) of the Electoral Act 2019, the public notice is hereby issued for the Writ for election of a Member of Parliament for the Electoral Constitueney of Vaimauga 3, as follows:
i) Nomination of candidates – opens from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Friday, 10 April 2026.
ii) Last day for withdrawal of nominations – Thursday, 16 April 2026 at 12:00 noon.
iii) Pre-Polling Day is on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.
iv) Polling Day is on Friday, 01 May 2026.
v) Return of Writ for By-Election – Monday, 04 May 2026.
The Vaimauga 3 seat was won by the Human Rights Protection party at the August 2025 general elections.
The constituency returns to by elections after elected MP, Taioaliiseu Saunia Fiti Aimaasu, made known his intention to cross the floor and join the ruling Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party.
Taioaliiseu had won by 126 votes ahead of former Minister of Finance, Lautimuia Afoa Uelese Vaai.
It is understood the majority of HRPP supporters of the late Papalii Niko Lee Hang had backed Taioaliiseu’s campaign, and those loyalties will be hard to predict at the upcoming by-election.
It is understood that the former Finance Minister, Lautimuia Afoa Uelese Vaai, will again be contesting the Vaimauga 3 seat, with the support of his Magiagi village.
Lautimuia is a member of the Samoa Uniting Party (SUP) led by former Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.
This week, the Member of Parliament for Safata 2 district, Tuia Paepae Letoa, announced his constituency’s support of his switch from HRPP to the FAST party after a meeting of the district.
The current Legislative Assembly of Samoa
FAST (Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi): 32 seats
HRPP (Human Rights Protection Party): 12 seats (after Tuias resignation)
SUP (Samoa Uniting Party): 3 seats
Independents: 2 seats
Vacant: 2 seats (Vaimauga 3 and Safata 2) …. PACNEWS
FIJI – CYCLONE: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 06 Apr 2026
Fiji braces for heavy rain as Cyclone Vaianu nears category 3
SUVA, 06 APRIL 2026 (FBC NEWS) — Tropical Cyclone Vaianu is expected to get stronger and reach Category 3 by 6am tomorrow.
Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Vaianu was analysed at 530km west northwest of Yasawa at 10am today moving south southeast at about 9 km/hr.
The trough of low pressure associated with Vaianu lies over the Fiji group.
Associated clouds and rain are expected to affect the country for the next few days.
The Fiji Meteorological Service says the cyclone will bring heavy rain and strong winds as it moves in from the Western and Southern divisions between 12pm and 6pm today.
The eye of the cyclone will not pass over Fiji, but its outer bands will still cause bad weather across the islands.
Low-lying areas may flood, and authorities are asking everyone to stay alert.
People are advised to store clean water, secure their homes, and keep children safe during the cyclone…. PACNEWS
VAN – DATA: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 3: Mon 06 Apr 2026
New RV5 system to identify deceased individuals still listed in official records
PORT VILA, 06 APRIL 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — Vanuatu’s Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat says the newly launched RV5 system by the Civil Registry and Identity Management (CRIM) will play a key role in improving identity verification and addressing inconsistencies in national records, including the ability to identify individuals who may still appear in official records, including electoral rolls and civil registries, despite being deceased.
Minister Napuat said the system will strengthen the accuracy of national data and prevent irregularities, particularly during elections.
The Minister added that the system will also simplify the voting process, as citizens will now rely on their national ID cards to cast their votes. Reflecting on his experience during the 2016 general elections, he said the country previously depended on electoral cards, but the transition to a national ID-based system marks significant progress.
Minister Napuat described the development as a major step forward in strengthening the management of vital records, enhancing the security and reliability of identity data, and supporting more efficient service delivery.
He said the initiative aligns with the Government’s broader vision to modernise public services through digital transformation, ensuring that systems are accessible and effective for all citizens.
The Minister emphasised that the launch represents a forward-looking approach, with a clear goal of ensuring every person in Vanuatu is properly registered, every identity is secure, and all citizens can easily access government services.
He added that strengthening civil registration and identity management will continue to play a critical role in national development, supporting improved governance, stronger democracy, and more effective public service delivery.
The introduction of the RegisterViz5 (RV5) system marks a significant advancement in Vanuatu’s digital transformation efforts. The system replaces the older RegisterViz4 platform and is designed to improve security, processing speed, and accuracy for essential documents, including birth and marriage certificates, death records, and national ID cards.
It is also expected to enhance electoral integrity by reducing duplicate records and improving data validation.
The system was developed in collaboration with the Vanuatu Electoral Office, a local IT team, and with support from the United Nations Development Programme and the Government of New Zealand through the Vanuatu Electoral Environment Project (VEEP).
The soft launch was held at the CRIM headquarters in Port Vila, where the system was demonstrated with the printing of a national ID card, marking a turning point in how government services are delivered in Vanuatu…. PACNEWS
SOL – POLITICS: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS 3: Mon 06 Apr 2026
Solomon Islands Opposition Leader demands regional action following deadly violence in West Papua
HONIARA, 06 APRIL 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS) — Solomon Islands Opposition Leader Matthew Wale has expressed deep concern over the reported killing of civilians in West Papua, particularly in Dogiyai Regency, where Melanesian lives have once again been lost.
Wale said reports of the killing including a minor are deeply troubling and raise serious questions about the protection of indigenous Melanesian communities.
“The people of the Solomon Islands share strong historical, cultural, and ancestral ties with the people of West Papua, and such incidents resonate across our region,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said the safety, dignity, and human rights of all Melanesians must be upheld at all times.
“Fellow Melanesians must stand in solidarity with the people of West Papua, and I urge regional leaders especially Melanesian leaders to speak up and to ensure that justice is pursued and that lasting peace is prioritised,” Wale added.
On 31 March 2026, severe violence erupted in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua, resulting in the deaths of multiple indigenous Melanesian civilians and at least one police officer, marking a new crisis in the region. Reports indicate that security forces opened fire following the death of a police officer, causing several civilian casualties and leading residents to flee into surrounding areas.
Key details regarding the incident include:
– Casualties: Reports indicate at least five Papuan civilians, including a minor, were killed. Initial reports suggested a total of six deaths in the immediate aftermath, with multiple others injured.
– Incident Trigger: The violence began on 31 March in Moanemani village, where a Papuan police officer, Juventus Edowai, was found killed near a church.
– Police Reaction: In response to the officer’s death, security personnel reportedly fired on the public market and into houses in Ikebo village.
– Ongoing Instability: The situation has remained tense, with community members reporting a blockade of the area and heavy patrolling by police forces.
This incident follows a pattern of high-intensity conflict in the Dogiyai and wider Central Papua region, which has seen repeated violence throughout 2025 and early 2026 involving armed conflicts, territorial disputes, and allegations of rights violations by security forces…. PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Mon 06 Apr 2026
Fiji Government hits back at Fiji Labour Party over fuel claims
SUVA, 06 APRIL 2026 (FIJI SUN) — The Government has criticised the Fiji Labour Party’s stance on the global fuel crisis, accusing it of offering “no workable plan” and spreading misinformation.
In a statement, the Government said Labour’s latest comments reflected “loud criticism, weak substance, and no workable plan.”
It defended its approach, saying value added tax (VAT) had already been removed from basic goods.
“For Mahendra Chaudhary to present this as a ‘solution’ shows either a lack of understanding or a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation.”
On fuel pricing, the Government said figures referenced in its national address were accurate and based on Fiji dollar conversions.
“The figures referenced in the national address are accurate. They were expressed in Fijian dollars, not U.S dollars.”
“Global oil prices are traded in USD, and when converted to FJD, the range reflects exactly what was stated. Does Mahendra Chaudhary not understand something as basic as exchange rates? This is simple economics. Another deliberate attempt to spread misinformation.”
It also rejected calls to remove fuel tax without a clear funding alternative.
“Removing fuel tax without a plan is reckless.”
“Mahendra Chaudhary calls for immediate removal of fuel tax yet offers no explanation on how Government would replace the lost revenue that funds hospitals, schools, and social services.”
“You cannot claim to stand for the people while proposing measures that undermine the very services they rely on.”
The Government questioned Labour’s overall proposal, saying it lacked detail and accountability.
“Beyond criticism, there is no credible strategy, no pathway, no numbers, no responsibility.”
It maintained that its focus remained on stability and managing the impact of global pressures.
“Leadership is not about stunts, it is about stability.”
“While Chaudhary focuses on optics and attacks, Government is doing the real work, and that is coordinating supply, engaging industry, and putting together targeted measures to cushion the impact.”
“At a time of global uncertainty, Fiji does not need noise. It needs steady leadership, sound economics, and real solutions,” the statement said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Mon 06 Apr 2026
‘Let the People vote for President’ – former Attorney-General Graham Leung
SUVA, 06 APRIL 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Who should choose Fiji’s President, politicians or the people?
That question took centre stage during a recent constitutional reform discussion at Fiji National University’s Nasinu Campus, as former Attorney-General Graham Leung called for a major shift on how the country selects its Head of State.
Leung said it was time to take the power out of Parliament’s hands and be given back to ordinary Fijians.
“I think a better way of choosing the President is by popular vote of the people,” Leung said on Friday.
Under the current system, the President is elected by Parliament.
Leung argues that it risks pulling the role into politics, something he believes should never happen.
“The President is the symbol of national unity. He or she must be above politics,” he said.
Leung said a directly elected President would better reflect the will of the people and strengthen public trust in the country’s highest office.
He acknowledged Fiji’s demographics mean an iTaukei candidate would likely win most national votes; he said that should not be feared.
Beyond elections, Leung also raised concerns about how presidential powers are handled when the office is vacant.
He questioned the current arrangement where the Chief Justice steps in as Acting President, warning that it blurs the line between the judiciary and the executive.
“That really mixes two arms of Government, and that is not healthy in a democracy,” he said.
Leung stressed that any reform must protect the independence of key institutions while ensuring leaders remain accountable.
As Fiji moves towards constitution reform discussions, the debate over who chooses the President is shaping up to be one of the most important questions on the table. “Constitution must evolve with the people it serves,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – IMMIGRATION: PMN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 06 Apr 2026
‘Not comparable to the past’: Minister defends immigration changes after Pacific concerns
WELLINGTON, 06 APRIL 2026 (PMN) — Immigration Minister Erica Stanford has defended the Government’s latest immigration measures, saying they are tightly controlled and not comparable to the heavy-handed practices of the past.
Her response comes after concerns raised in an op-ed by Dr Melani Anae, chair of the Polynesian Panther Party Legacy Trust, about whether the current policy risks repeating harmful enforcement patterns.
The opinion piece was published by PMN News on Monday.
In a statement, Stanford said changes introduced since coming into Government were designed to address those very concerns, particularly around how and when immigration officers operate.
“After coming into Government, we introduced legislative change that significantly limits out-of-hours immigration activity.
“This can now only be carried out with a judicial warrant and is used as a last resort.
“This followed concerns raised by Pacific communities that led to the recommendations in the Heron report from May 2023 that we have now enacted in totality.”
She pushed back on comparisons to the Dawn Raids era, arguing the context and scale of today’s measures are very different.
“The issues raised in the article are predominantly historic,” the minister said.
“As the op-ed states, the Government’s law changes are not comparable – the current immigration bill going through Parliament does not make major changes to immigration officer powers and aims to address a very narrow and specific compliance gap.”
A key concern raised by critics has been the potential for expanded powers during compliance checks. Stanford said safeguards remain in place and officers cannot act without cause.
“Immigration officers do not have general stopping powers to stop someone in the street or come into their home.
“To request identification, an officer needs to have good cause to suspect someone may be liable for deportation or subject to turnaround.
“The proposed change means an officer could request identity in cases where, for example, they are at an address for a compliance visit and witness someone hiding or attempting to run away.”
The Minister said the proposed changes are focused and proportionate, aimed at closing specific gaps rather than expanding broad enforcement powers.
“The proposed amendments in the bill are intended to be proportionate and justified, and are reviewable,” she said.
The response highlights a clear divide in how current immigration policy is viewed, with the Government maintaining it has strengthened safeguards, while critics continue to question whether the underlying approach has truly shifted…. PACNEWS
PNG – AIRLINE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 06 Apr 2026
Flights into Tokua suspended as impacts of tropical cyclone hit East New Britain
PORT MORESBY, 06 APRIL 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Flights into Tokua Airport in East New Britain have been suspended following excessive rainfall since Saturday which flooded the runway.
National Airports Corporation (NAC) acting managing director and chief executive Dominic Kaumu said all flights into Tokua were suspended until further notice.
Floodwaters caused by sustained rainfall covered critical airside infrastructure, including the runway and taxiway.
The National Weather Service meteorologist Benjamin Malai warned on Friday that heavy rains were expected to last for a week, due to impacts of a tropical cyclone hitting the Solomon Islands.
Malai said certain parts of New Guinea Islands and Southern regions would experience heavy rainfall and urged people to take precautionary measures.
Kaumu said safety remained NAC’s top priority as crews assess when it was safe to resume operations.
“The NAC team in Tokua is actively monitoring the situation and will provide updates as soon as the airport is deemed safe for normal operations,” he said.
“We regret any inconvenience caused and appreciate the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, and the general public during this time as we work to ensure safe operations at Tokua Airport.”
Malai said people in Bougainville, East New Britain, West New Britain, Manus, Milne Bay, National Capital District and parts of Highlands region would experience impacts of the tropical cyclone…. PACNEWS
FIJI – VESSEL: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 06 Apr 2026
Fuel removal underway from grounded Fiji Princess – MSAF
SUVA, 06 APRIL 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Efforts are now focused on removing fuel and oil from the grounded passenger vessel MV Fiji Princess to minimise the risk of marine pollution, the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji says.
The vessel ran aground at Monuriki Island in the Malolo Group, prompting an immediate response from Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, which deployed officers to the site on Saturday.
All 30 passengers and 17 crew members were safely transferred to Port Denarau, while a small number of crew initially remained onboard to assist with response operations.
Authorities confirmed the vessel sustained significant damage to its rear left side, including the steering area, with additional damage reported underneath the hull. The vessel also experienced engine failure and was taking in water following the incident.
While approximately 20,000 litres of diesel are onboard, initial inspections found no evidence of fuel tank damage.
However, MSAF said the current priority is to remove as much fuel and oil as possible as a precautionary measure.
“This work is now underway with support from a salvage specialist from Australia,” the authority said.
Oil spill response equipment has been positioned at the site and handed over to the crew for immediate use if required.
Due to rough sea conditions, underwater inspections have been delayed, with further recovery efforts to begin once weather conditions improve.
For safety reasons, no personnel are staying onboard the damaged vessel overnight, with crew being accommodated on a sister ship.
MSAF said its primary focus remains on safeguarding personnel and protecting Fiji’s marine environment as response operations continue…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
OPINION: From Dawn Raids to today: Why Pacific immigration policy enforcement still fails
By Dr Melina Anae, Polynesian Panther Party Legacy Trust
WELLINGTON, 06 APRIL 2026 (PMN) — The history of immigration enforcement in Aotearoa New Zealand is often framed as a story of progress: from the excesses of the 1970’s Dawn Raids to a more humane and measured system.
Yet a closer reading suggests a more complex continuity. When the rhetoric and practices of Robert Muldoon are considered alongside the findings of the Heron Report and recent policy signals under Erica Stanford, what emerges is not a clean break from the past, but the persistence of an enforcement logic that may remain fundamentally unjust and not fit for purpose.
In the 1970s, Pacific immigration enforcement operated within a climate of moral panic. The myth of the ‘Pacific overstayer’ was born. Pacific peoples were constructed as overstayers who threatened jobs, housing, and social stability, despite evidence even then that they were not the majority of those unlawfully in the country. Pacific overstayers made up only 30 per cent of overstayers – the majority were from South Africa, Britain, Europe and USA – but 86 per cent of the prosecutions were reported to involve Pacific people.
Under Muldoon, this narrative became politically powerful. The Dawn Raids, early morning police operations targeting Pacific intergenerational households, were not merely administrative exercises; they have been described by critics as staged acts of racist state power and authority. Through their visibility and intensity, they communicated who was a New Zealander and who was not. Enforcement thus became racialised, not only in its targets but in its symbolic function.
While widely acknowledged today as unjust, the significance of the Dawn Raids lies in the logic they reveal. At their core was an assumption that migration non-compliance constituted a significant social threat requiring visible, deterrence-based intervention. This transformed what was largely administrative non-compliance into a moral crisis, legitimising extraordinary enforcement measures.
The Heron Report 2023 provides a significant empirical challenge to this framework. Crucially, the report questions the effectiveness of enforcement practices. Traditional compliance methods, particularly broad, visible operations, are shown to be inefficient and poorly targeted. They do not consistently locate intended individuals and can produce unintended harm for Pacific families and communities. The report emphasises that trust is central to effective compliance and warns that heavy-handed enforcement can undermine that trust. It instead advocates for intelligence-led, risk-based approaches focused on serious harm, such as exploitation.
Taken together, these findings suggest there may be limited justification for deterrence-based enforcement. The report suggests there may be limited evidence of a widespread threat requiring aggressive intervention and raises questions about the targeting of Pacific communities and the operational basis for broad compliance approaches. Such approaches appear not only unjust but potentially obsolete.
Yet, despite this evidential shift, elements of deterrence-based thinking persist. Recent policy signals under Erica Stanford point to a renewed emphasis on the visible enforcement of ‘compliance checks’, stronger compliance measures, including ‘suspicious overstaying behaviour’ and clearer consequences for overstaying. While these measures stop short of replication of Dawn-Raid-style operations, they have been interpreted by some critics as reflecting an underlying logic that compliance is a means of signalling control and reassuring the public, and is best achieved when enforcement is seen, felt, and feared.
The Government has stated that compliance and enforcement measures are necessary to maintain border integrity and public confidence in the immigration system.
The issue, therefore, is not whether the Dawn Raids are repeated, but whether their logic should endure. What the Polynesian Panther Party Legacy Trust (PPPLT) has called for, since the Dawn Raids of the 1970’s and Jacinda Ardern’s apology for the racism of the Dawn Raids in 2021, is legislative, policy, and INZ culture changes to stop terrorising Pacific peoples and to stop any future dawn raids for good.
How about these for compelling arguments:
• During the three-day period of 21-24 October 1976, Auckland police dawn raided 200 homes and ‘randomly checked’ 856 Pacific and ‘look-alikes’ on the street demanding passports…for only 23 arrests. Do the math – thousands of Pacific people in intergenerational families terrorised for only 23 arrests.
• The 2023 Heron report provides statistical evidence that only 20 out of 654 deportations over an eight-year period resulted from “out-of-hours” raids.
• Of 11,715 deportations during 1 July 2015 to May 2023, only 101- a mere 0.9 per cent – were the result of out-of-hours compliance checks.
The stigma of “Pacific overstayer” continues to carry symbolic weight disproportionate to its statistical significance. As in the 1970s, it can be mobilised to express broader anxieties about control, borders, and national identity. Enforcement becomes a way of addressing these anxieties, even when the underlying issue is limited in scope. This dynamic reflects the enduring influence of moral panic, in which perceived threats are amplified and responses become disproportionate.
This is where the argument that immigration enforcement is “not fit for purpose” becomes most compelling. The issue is not simply that current practices may cause harm, but that they are misaligned with the nature of the problem they seek to address. When overstaying is small in scale, low-risk, and demographically diverse, broad enforcement becomes a blunt instrument – inefficient, imprecise, and prone to reproducing harm.
The consequences of this misalignment are also relational. The Dawn Raids damaged trust between Pacific communities and the state, shaping intergenerational experiences of belonging. The Heron Report recognises that trust is essential to effective compliance, yet enforcement approaches that emphasise visibility and deterrence risk undermining this foundation. The question, therefore, is not only whether enforcement works, but what it does to the relationships that sustain social cohesion.
If the Dawn Raids that the Polynesian Panthers fought against were born of moral panic, their afterlife may be seen by some as reflected in ongoing policy settings, including concerns about how enforcement impacts vulnerable ethnic minority groups and the persistence of enforcement logics that endure not because they work, but because they remain politically useful.
Ultimately, the comparison between Muldoon, the Heron Report, and Stanford reveals a system caught between past and present. While the evidence points toward a more targeted and proportionate model, elements of older enforcement logics persist. It is this tension, between what is known and what is done, that renders contemporary Pacific immigration legislation, policies and enforcement in Aotearoa New Zealand not fit for purpose…. PACNEWS
Dr Melani Anae is Chair of the Polynesian Panther Party Legacy Trust and a Senior Lecturer in Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland. She is a co-author of Polynesian Panthers: Pacific Protest and Affirmative Action in Aotearoa NZ 1971-1981.
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The Lithium Triangle – land rights and loss in Chile’s Atacama Desert
By Elizabeth Daley
CANBERRA, 06 APRIL 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) — As I write, my eyes keep straying to the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Andes out of the aeroplane window to my left. I am heading south, away from the Lithium Triangle, where I have spent a month exploring the world’s highest and driest desert. The Chilean Atacama is the home of the indigenous Lickanantay peoples, who have thrived in this hostile landscape since well before the Incas and then the Spanish came to dominate Chile. Nowadays, the biggest threat to the Lickanantay culture and way of life comes from the global mining corporations that dig up the Salar de Atacama, seeking lithium — white gold — to power the world’s electric vehicles (EVs) and solar batteries.
The Lithium Triangle of South America binds together the indigenous Lickanantay, Quechua, Colla/Kolla, Uru Chipaya and Aymara communities of the Atacama in northern Chile, the Salar de Uyuni in southern Bolivia, and the salt lakes of north-western Argentina. For the Lickanantay, longstanding traditions of respect for the spirits of the desert, and of all sentient beings who seek to survive in this place with little water, are challenged by bigger forces of demand and supply. The move to renewables, to support the transition to a global post-fossil fuel economy, is not a win-win option for everyone. EVs require batteries, which require lithium, an alkali metal of which 50 percent of the world’s known reserves lie in the Lithium Triangle. The growth of lithium mining here has occurred exponentially, as global demand for lithium has multiplied; 70 percent of Chile’s lithium goes to China, where as much as 87 percent of the world’s lithium battery production takes place.
The catch is that the Atacama Desert is not empty, nor devoid of life. There have been people in this part of Chile for thousands of years, living on and with the land in small communities (ayllu), farming and herding llamas and alpacas. Within these communities, most of which are formed around natural oases, resources are carefully and cooperatively managed. Human-built channels run between land parcels, and water is shared according to need, on a rotating cycle that follows the moon.
In Chile, lithium exploration dates back more than 40 years, but production has only really taken off since 2015. The dominant player is SQM, a multinational company that was initially a state-owned company, now privatised with different shareholders, including a Chinese corporation (Tianqi Lithium). Recently, it formed a partnership with Codelco, a Chilean copper company, to establish Nova Andino Litio, which plans to extract lithium in the Atacama salt flats until 2060. Another firm operating in the area is Albemarle, an American company which acquired Rockwood Lithium operations in Chile. In 2016, Albemarle negotiated a 30-year Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) with Lickanantay communities to obtain their support for its ongoing operations. Similar agreements with the same communities have been entered into by SQM in recent years. The local indigenous communities are divided about them. Some of the affected Lickanantay people are totally opposed to mining, worrying about the environmental impacts, while others seek to engage constructively and increase the share of the benefits that come their way. However, principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) have broken down within the IBA negotiations. Money put on the table by the mining companies at the start of the consultation process — their opening bid, if you like — inevitably manipulates communities’ will, questioning the “free” nature of the FPIC.
The Observatorio Ciudadano (translated as Citizen’s Watch), a Chilean NGO with offices in Temuco and Santiago, works in partnership with indigenous communities and local NGOs in all three countries of the Lithium Triangle, with the support of the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), to research mining impacts in the region and help affected communities to strategise for a more effective and united approach. While in San Pedro de Atacama, the heart of the region on the Chilean side, I was privileged to meet the Coordinator of the Observatorio’s Globalisation and Human Rights Programme, Jose Aylwin, a human rights, indigenous rights and land rights specialist, who also serves as a Vice President on the Board of FIDH. Jose has led the Observatorio’s major research, Lithium and Human Rights in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, with a recent report published in Spanish and reported on in English by Mongabay. Our paths crossed while Jose was in San Pedro to launch this report locally at a workshop of the Consejo de Pueblos Atacameños, to which I was kindly invited as an observer by Oriana Mora Rodríguez of the Consejo. It was eye-opening to hear some of the questions asked about how they could hope to benefit from something that was so clearly of benefit to the rest of the world, but which required their land to be destroyed for mining, often without any hope of eventual land rehabilitation and restoration, and limited practical means of implementing IBAs.
I was struck by how similar the implications were to those from mining in the arid rangelands of Mongolia and Tanzania, where I have previously worked on land governance and landscape management with indigenous communities, through the Women’s Land Tenure Security Project (WOLTS). Later, I asked Jose how much his organisation and the indigenous communities in Chile had engaged with CSOs and NGOs in other parts of the world affected by mining? Indeed, they have, but it is still early days in the Lithium Triangle, and the picture is complicated by global climate change debates. This makes lithium mining seem less “bad” than extraction of fossil fuels, with corresponding pressure on those affected to act for the greater global good.
Places like San Pedro de Atacama face further environmental pressures from a growing tourist industry that was virtually non-existent 20 or so years ago. Tourists tramp through the desert, use up precious water resources in their long showers, and too many leave their rubbish behind, polluting the previously pristine landscape. Conversely, they create jobs.
It’s a complex place and a complex situation, which is why organisations like the Observatorio Ciudadano play such a vital role in helping local communities navigate these challenges, so that they can determine their own path and protect their heritage, culture and sacred sites. It’s also why organisations such as the Land Portal Foundation and the International Land Coalition (ILC), of which Observatorio Ciudadano is a member, play such vital roles in connecting people, sharing knowledge and facilitating debate on land governance issues like these across the globe.
As I leave this land of dust, clay, salt and sand, I take with me a newfound appreciation of the value of water, and of the ability of indigenous peoples to sustainably manage their environments in a manner that is not even within the comprehension of many people in the Minority World. I leave also with new friendships, and with the warmth of the Lickanantay welcome still glowing in my heart…. PACNEWS
Dr Elizabeth Daley is a Brisbane-based land governance and gender/social inclusion specialist. She serves as the Chair of the Board of the Land Portal Foundation and a freelance Principal Consultant of Mokoro Ltd.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
FAO Food Price Index rises in March as Near East conflict raises energy costs
Pressure on fertiliser supplies and elevated energy prices add uncertainty to markets, despite a broadly comfortable global cereal supply situation
ROME, 06 APRIL 2026 (FAO) — World food commodity prices rose in March for the second month in a row, due largely to higher energy prices linked to the conflict escalation in the Near East, according to the latest benchmark measure released Friday by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4 percent from February and 1.0 percent above its level a year ago.
The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices, which rose 4.3 percent due to drought-related deterioration of crop prospects in the United States of America and expectations of reduced plantings in Australia due to higher fertiliser costs. Global maize quotations edged up slightly, as ample global availability offset concerns over fertiliser affordability and indirect support from greater ethanol demand prospects linked to the rising energy prices. The FAO All-Rice Price Index declined by 3.0 percent in March, driven by harvest timing, weaker import demand, and currency depreciations against the United States dollar.
“Price rises since the conflict began have been modest, driven mainly by higher oil prices and cushioned by ample global cereal supplies,” said FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero (video interview). “But if the conflict stretches beyond 40 days with high input costs with current low margins, farmers will have to choose: farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertiliser crops. Those choices will hit future yields and shape our food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and all of the next.”
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index increased by 5.1 percent from February to stand 13.2 percent higher than its year-earlier level. International quotations for palm, soy, sunflower and rapeseed oil all rose, reflecting spillover effects from the sharp increases in crude oil prices, which catalysed expectations of stronger demand for biofuels.
The FAO Meat Price Index increased by 1.0 percent from the previous month, driven by a surge in pig meat prices in the European Union ahead of strengthening seasonal demand, along with higher world bovine meat prices, particularly in Brazil, where exportable supplies were curtailed by tightening cattle availability. Ovine and poultry meat prices declined, partly due to logistical constraints limiting access to markets in the Near East.
The FAO Dairy Price Index increased by 1.2 percent, driven primarily by higher quotations for milk powders amid a seasonal decline in supplies in Oceania. International cheese prices declined further in the European Union driven by higher production and weak export demand, while rising in Oceania for the opposite reasons.
The FAO Sugar Price Index increased by 7.2 percent in March. Rising expectations that Brazil, the main sugar exporter, would use more sugarcane to produce ethanol to counter higher international crude oil prices overweighed a generally favourable global supply outlook for the current season, supported by good harvest progress in India and Thailand…. PACNEWS
