Tagata o te Moana is a weekly Pacific programme, broadcast on Radio New Zealand National (Saturdays at 5.30pm). It features news, interviews, and discussion of issues. Presented by Johnny Blades.
The programme for 19 May 2007 includes the following:
- Reports that Fiji’s military is still rounding people up and taking them to the barracks for questioning, and in one case a beating, came to light this week. This is despite the interim regime saying earlier this year that this had stopped after a public outcry, following the deaths of two people who had been in military detention. Linda Skates reports. There are comments from Fiji’s Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum; from businessman Ulai Taoi; and from the deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase.
- As four members of parliament withdraw their support from the Solomon Islands opposition, there are accusations of foul play. The opposition leader claims the government is trying to bribe MPs to cross the floor of the house. Janine Sudbury reports, and there are comments from Leader of the Opposition, Fred Fono.
- Tonga’s government has approved a further one-month extension of its emergency powers. The provisions first came into force after the riots in the capital, Nuku’alofa, on December 16th last year, and have now been extended for a sixth time. But this time, only Tongatapu is covered. Sara Vui-Talitu reports.
- The services of organisations able to help in resolving conflict, or diffusing potential areas of tension, are becoming increasingly sought after around the Pacific. One group that has been involved in this sort of work for some time is the Melanesian Peace Foundation, in Papua New Guinea. Don Wiseman visited their offices in the Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby. There are comments from Gary McPherson, Administration Manager of the Foundation, and from community participants “Robert” and “Michael”.
- Australia is continuing to call for Solomon Islands to extradite the fugitive Australian lawyer Julian Moti, to face a child sex charge dating back to his time in Vanuatu, in 1997. Mr Moti evaded extradition to Australia from Papua New Guinea seven months ago by taking a clandestine Papua New Guinea military flight to the Solomon Islands. The Papua New Guinea Defence Force enquiry report into the Moti escape is being kept under wraps. The Solomon Islands Prime Minister has nominated Mr Moti for the position of Attorney General, despite the Public Service Commission suspending the appointment. Sara Vui-Talitu reports, and there are comments from Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer.
- The lying-in-state and funeral of Samoa’s former head of state has been a time of reflection on the life of a man who many Samoans see as a father figure for the nation. His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II died aged 94 last week [11 May 2007]. He had a guiding hand in Samoa’s progress towards, and since, independence in 1962.
- Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea are set to receive assistance in their fight against malaria. Australia has committed an extra 21 million US dollars to combat malaria, which is one of the most serious problems in the Pacific. The four-year Pacific Malaria Initiative will fund support for health systems and research into malaria prevention and control. Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor reports, and there are comments from the Chair of the Malaria Reference Group, Sir Richard Feachem.
- Tuvalu and Kiribati workers are still struggling to find work almost a year after being repatriated from Nauru. Hundreds of Tuvaluan and thousands of I-Kiribati workers and families employed by Nauru's Phosphate Corporation were left stranded on Nauru for years, waiting for millions in outstanding wages and sponsorship to pay for their return home. Leilani Momoisea reports.