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Nakba Day – 75 years of Palestinian statelessness, but also persistence

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Palestinian-Kiwi children at the Nakba Day rally in Auckland 2023
Palestinian-Kiwi children at the Nakba Day rally in Auckland's Aotea Square on Saturday . . . celebrating 75 years of resilience and steadfastness. Image: David Robie/Asia Pacific Report

NAKBA DAY ADDRESS: By Rand Hazou

Although Israelis celebrate 1948 as the birth of the Jewish nation, for Palestinians this date is referred to as the Nakba, or “catastrophe”.

As the Palestinian scholar Edward Said points out, the Nakba is when “two thirds of the population were driven out, our property taken, hundreds of villages destroyed, an entire society obliterated” (Said, 2000, p. 185).

In 1948, Israeli forces killed an estimated 13,000 Palestinians, 531 Palestinian villages were entirely depopulated and destroyed, and almost three-quarters of a million Palestinians were made refugees (Passia, 2004, p. 1). Palestinians have been living with the consequences of the Nakba for 75 years.

My father is a Palestinian refugee who was born in Jerusalem. My grandfather began work at 13, transporting passengers in a horse-drawn cart on the relatively short distance of nine km along the old road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

He eventually developed a taxi business and then a chauffeur service. He ended up working as a transport manager for the Near East Arab Broadcasting Station which was run by the British Foreign Office.

Nakba Day at Auckland's Aotea Square on 15 May 2023
Nakba Day at Auckland’s Aotea Square on Saturday . . . A 1948 UN resolution granted Palestinians the right to return to their homeland. Image: David Robie/Pacific Media Centre

In early May 1948, the station was moved to Cyprus, the “island of love” in the Mediterranean, where the British have a big army base. My grandfather was offered the opportunity to keep his job and relocate to Cyprus.

Eventually the family joined him there and they lived in Cyprus for about 10 years from 1948-1958. The family moved to Amman, Jordan — that’s where I was born.

On a good day you can stand on the hills overlooking the Jordan Valley, and you can see the Holy Land; on a clear evening you can just make out the lights of Jerusalem.

I grew up knowing that my homeland, this place called Palestine, was just over there — visible yet out of reach. It is a feeling common to many Palestinians. It is a feeling of displacement that Palestinians have been feeling for 75 years.

My family’s experience is like a lot of Palestinian refugee families that were forced to flee their homes because of the hostilities and ended up in nearby countries, waiting for the situation to be resolved so that we could go back to our homes, towns and villages.

We’ve been waiting for 75 years.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was established by the United Nations in 1949 to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees.

Green MP Golriz Ghahraman
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman . . . one of the speakers at the Nakba Day rally in Auckland’s Aotea Square on Saturday. Image: David Robie/Asia Pacific Report

According to UNRWA, some 5.9 million Palestine refugees are eligible for the agency’s services. Most of these refugees live in Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

They have been living there for 75 years.

The UN General Assembly set forth the legal framework for resolving the Palestinian refugee issue in UN Resolution 194 (III) in December 1948 which demands repatriation for those refugees wishing to return to their homes and live in peace with their neighbours, or compensation for those choosing not to return.

This has become commonly referred to as the “right of return” — and it is a right that Palestinians hold particularly dear. In our minds and in our hearts we’ve been holding onto the right of return for 75 years.

Most Palestinian refugee families that were forced to flee their homes in 1947 still hold deeds or keys to their homes. The key has become a symbol of this right to return. The key is passed down from one generation to the next.

They’ve been passing down keys to the family home for 75 years.

When we think about the Nakba we often think about 75 years of statelessness, 75 years dispossession, 75 years of rights denied. But the Nakba is also a story of 75 years of persistence.

Seventy five years of resilience. Seventy five years of steadfastness. It is 75 years of a commitment to rights and justice.

Dr Rand Hazou is a Palestinian-Kiwi theatre practitioner and scholar at Massey University. His research explores the intersections between the arts and social justice, and how creativity intersects with human rights, citizenship, justice and well-being. This speech was delivered to mark the 75th anniversary of Nakba Day at Aotea Square, Auckland, on 13 May 2023.

Republished from Asia Pacific Report.

Celebrating Nakba Day at Aotea Square, Auckland, on 13 May 2023
Celebrating Nakba Day at Aotea Square, Auckland, on Saturday . . . 75 years of a commitment to rights and justice. Image: David Robie/Asia Pacific Report

Historic Girmit Day apology accepted as Fiji enters new era of unity and reconciliation

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Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka with former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka with former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry . . . apology accepted during the Girmit Day Thanksgiving and National Reconciliation church service at the Vodafone Arena in Suva yesterday. Image: Jonacani Lalakobau/The Fiji Times

By Arieta Vakasukawaqa in Suva

History unfolded live at the Vodafone Arena at Laucala Bay in Suva yesterday when the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma and descendants of the Girmitya exchanged apologies and forgiveness in a solemn church service marking the fourth day of the inaugural Girmit Day celebrations.

An emotional Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, fought back tears as he sought forgiveness for the hurt and pain inflicted on Fijians of Indian origin during the colonial era and the political upheavals of 1987 and 2000.

“I am not making this confession as Prime Minister of Fiji, as I do not hold the government accountable for my actions of 1987,” he said.

“I do not claim to be making this confession on behalf of the vanua of Navatu, I am not Tui Navatu and I am just a member of the Yavusa Navatu of Cakaudrove.

“But I make this confession on behalf of all those that took part with me in the military coup of May 14, 1987.

“We confess our wrongdoings, we confess that we have hurt so many of our people in Fiji, particularly those of our Indo-Fijian communities at that time and among them were sons and daughters of those that were indentured as labourer from India between 1879 and 1960.”

“To those I did not reach, I hope [this is] coming through for us here, please forgive us.

“As you forgive, you release us and you are released. You are released from hatred and from your anger and we begin to feel the peace of God coming to our beings and our lives.”

In an emotional response, former prime minister and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry said it was a great day for the nation and worth celebrating.

It would go down well in history and everyone must build on it.

“I am deeply honoured by this gesture. Prime Minister Rabuka, I also accept your apology. In your personal capacity you apologised,” he said.

“I accept the apologies of the Turaga na Vunivalu na Tui Kaba, Marama Roko Tui Dreketi and the Tui Cakau. Thank you very much for your magnanimity.

“I think the spirit is there now, that we can all work together, may God bless Fiji.”

Dipshika Raj traditionally welcomes Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka
Dipshika Raj gives a traditional Hindu welcome to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during the Girmit Day celebration in Lautoka. Image: Baljeet Singh/The Fiji Times

‘One nation of different beliefs’
Fiji Times journalist Navnesh Reddy reports that on Saturday Prime Minister Rabuka spoke at the Western Girmit Day Remembrance Celebration held at Churchill Park in Lautoka.

“Today I am wearing the Hindu salusalu and have accepted the ‘tika’ on my forehead because we are now one nation of different beliefs.

“We are now one nation of different cultures and rather than offend the young student who put that on me, I accept it because my custom now is acceptance and to co-exist harmoniously.”

Rabuka said that as the nation moved forward, there was a need to create more awareness on how Fijians could overcome their differences.

“The underlying theme of the new Girmit Day holiday is about unity and I believe we all — the descendants of the Girmitya, the indigenous people and the chiefs — [must] live in harmony and we have to lay that foundation now.

“Our children need to know that we cannot build a new future by relying on our vision and beliefs from the past.”

He also acknowledged the organisers for putting together a programme that envisaged what the Coalition government believed in.

“This morning we came together and worshipped in three different religions and heard prayers from the Pundit, Reverend, and also the Imam.

“This is a very special time for Fiji because we are now coming together as a nation to observe the first public holiday to acknowledge and honour the Girmitya of India, who came to Fiji between 1879 to 1916.”

Arieta Vakasukawaqa is a Fiji Times journalist. Republished with permission from The Fiji Times and Asia Pacific Report.

Open letter plea for NZ to back West Papua peaceful hostage plan

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Nduga children living in refugee camps in Muliama District
Nduga children living in refugee camps in Muliama District, Jayawijaya, as a result of armed conflict in the central highlands of Papua. Image: Yuliana Lantipo/Jubi

Asia Pacific Report

A New Zealand advocacy group has appealed to the government to heed the call of West Papuan church leaders for Indonesia to withdraw security forces and impose a “humanitarian pause” while negotiating for the release of captive pilot Philip Merhtens.

Mehrtens, a 37-year-old New Zealander working for the Indonesian local airline Susi Air, has been held hostage since February 7 when West Papuan National Liberation Army (TPNPB) rebels captured him and set his aircraft ablaze.

West Papua Action Aotearoa (WPAA) wrote an open letter at the weekend to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta asking the government to support the churches’ appeal.

New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, flying for Susi Air, appears in new video 100323
New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, flying for Susi Air, has been held hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) since February 7. Image: Jubi TV screenshot APR

The group has also asked the government to call on Jakarta to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit West Papua given the gravity of the current crisis with mounting human rights violations.

They want an independent third party to be involved in the talks with the TPNPB to “achieve a peaceful solution to the impasse”.

The open letter, signed by WPAA’s Maire Leadbeater, Reverend Brian Turner and Catherine Delahunty, was endorsed by16 local organisations and community leaders, 10 international organisations and community leaders, and 14 individuals.

The text of the letter:

13 May 2023

Rt Hon Chris Hipkins
Prime Minister
c.hipkins@ministers.govt.nz

Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Foreign Affairs
n.mahuta@ministers.govt.nz

Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Kia Ora Prime Minister Hipkins and Foreign Minister Mahuta,

We know that you share our deep concern for the safety and wellbeing of pilot Philip Mehrtens who was abducted by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) on 7 February 2023. In the succeeding weeks fears for Philip’s safety and that of the local community have escalated as more and more military have poured into the Nduga area. Tragically there have been several killings on both sides. Villagers have been forced to flee their homes and food gardens, risking their health in a desperate effort to escape the conflict.

We are especially worried currently because the Indonesian authorities have announced proposal to implement a “combat alert operation” in the area. There have been reports, including from Philip Mehrtens himself, of bombing in the area. This military heavy approach will only extend the cycle of violence and instil more fear and resentment toward the government.

As you know, West Papuan resistance to Indonesian rule dates from 1963 when Indonesia first took administrative control of the region. The armed resistance movement, the Free Papua Movement, or OPM, was formed as early as 1965, and their struggle has been ongoing since that time. In more recent years, peaceful forms of resistance have increased. This is a very welcome development, but unfortunately Indonesia fails to tolerate even the most peaceful forms of dissent such as vigils and prayer meetings. In the last few days peaceful pro-Papuan rights demonstrations have been broken up by police in Bali, Makassar and in Jayapura.

From what we know New Zealand has approached this difficult situation in the spirit of trying to resolve the situation peacefully and through dialogue and negotiation. We strongly support this approach. We deeply regret that Indonesia’s hard-line approach has come at a time when the TPNPB were signalling a more flexible approach to negotiation.

We commend to your attention the statement of influential Church leaders in West Papua. Catholic Bishop Yanuarius You, who is himself Papuan, has joined with his fellow Protestant Church leaders to call for a withdrawal of troops and to chart a way forward to peace. Bishop You said on 26 April:

We do not want civilian casualties, therefore, with utmost respect, we ask the President of the Republic of Indonesia to strongly order the military commander to withdraw troops from Papua. And it is necessary to take a humanitarian approach, namely through negotiations.

The Church leaders have offered their services as trusted leaders in the Papuan Community and have called on all parties to observe a “humanitarian pause” to enable successful negotiation to proceed.

As the Church leaders pointed out the withdrawal of security forces should be seen as the application of a “very noble face”, because it would promote the dignity of every human being.

We believe that there is also a need for the involvement of a neutral international agency, such as the United Nations and/or other skilled and experienced international negotiating body.

We therefore appeal to you to:

  • take up the call of the Church leaders for the withdrawal of forces and a “humanitarian pause” in your ongoing negotiations with the Government of Indonesia and the TPNPB aimed at the release of New Zealand citizen Philip Mehrtens.
  • Call on Indonesia to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit West Papua urgently because of the gravity of the present situation.
  • Call on Indonesia to allow an external party to be involved in the talks with the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) in order to achieve a peaceful solution to the impasse.

Ngā mihi,
Maire Leadbeater
Rev. Brian Turner
Catherine Delahunty
West Papua Action Aotearoa

Copy to Her Excellency Fientje Maritje Suebu,
Embassy of Indonesia,
70 Glen Rd,
Wellington.

Endorsed by:
Mons. Gerard Burns, PP Te Ngākau Tapu parish for Māori, Wellington.
Dr Heather Came, STIR (Stop Institutional Racism)
Tigilau Ness, Polynesian Panthers Legacy Trust Representative.
Barbara Frame, West Papua Support Dunedin
Professor Steven Ratuva, Director of the MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies & Professor of Anthropology, University of Canterbury
Rev Hamish Galloway, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ
Rev Peter Taylor, President, Methodist Church of Aotearoa-NZ
Edwina Hughes, Coordinator, Peace Movement Aotearoa
Dr Treasa Dunworth, Associate Professor, University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
Robert Reid, President, First Union
Morgan Godfery, First Union, Aotearoa
Dr Heather Devere, Chair, Asia Pacific Media Network, Auckland
Dr David Robie, Editor, Asia Pacific Report, Tāmaki Makaurau, and deputy chair of the NGO Asia Pacific Media Network
Leilani Salesa, Oceania Interrupted
Aotearoa Section, Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom
Greenpeace Aotearoa.

International
Human Rights Monitor

Papuan Medical Community Without Border (Komunitas Medis Papua Tampa Batas)
Merdeka West Papua Support Network (Philippines)
Joe Collins, Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
Papua Partners (United Kingdom)
Samenwerkende Organisaties voor West Papua (SOWP) (Solidarity Organisations for West Papua), Netherlands.
International IPMSDL (International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self Determination and Liberation)
Dr Cammi Webb-Gannon, Coordinator, West Papua Project, University of Wollongong
Jim Elmslie, West Papua Project, University of Wollongong
Ronny Kareni, Individual Scholar, West Papua Project, University of Wollongong

Individuals
Dr Heather Devere
Dr David Robie
Megan Hutching
Dr Philip Temple ONZM
Dr Tony Fala
Rev Mua Strickson Pua
Che Strickson-Pua
Dr Tony Fala, Volunteer, Community Services Connect Trust, South Auckland.
Keith Locke (former Member New Zealand Parliament)
Sue Bradford (former Member New Zealand Parliament)
Leilani Salesa
TeRito Peyroux-Semu
Patricia Stickland-Morse
Mihaela Stickland-Kaiser
Sina Brown Davis

Republished from Asia Pacific Report.

Moetai Brotherson ushers in bold new era of Tavini governance for Mā’ohi Nui

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SPECIAL REPORT: By Ena Manuireva

Mā’ohi Nui and the Pacific region has witnessed a historical moment at the Territorial Assembly when Oscar Temaru, leader of the pro-independence party Tavini Huira’atira, sat briefly in the most important chair of the chamber.

He presided over the election of the new Speaker (president) of the House.

This honour was his as the eldest member of the Territorial Assembly at the age of 78.

In his return to the Assembly, he was put in the highest seat of the House from which he had been axed as a member of Parliament in 2018 by a French court which convicted him of a “conflict of interest” in the Radio Tefana affair.

A sweet revenge for the once persona non grata politician in front of the High Commissioner representative of the French administration, along with the two pro-French senators —  and the entire autonomist political platform.

Another no less significant moment that took place when the ballots for the electing the Speaker were counted, 41 were for the only pro-independence candidate, Antony Geros, against 16 who abstained.

This might have come as a surprise to the autonomist alliance of édouard Fritch-Gaston Flosse to see the three non-aligned autonomist members of the assembly give their votes instead of abstaining.

Working with new administration
However, those non-aligned autonomist members have publicly announced that they would work with the new administration.

The other point about the three non-aligned members is the hope of being offered a ministerial position for one of their group, an answer will come when the newly elected President of the territory presents his cabinet in five days.

Veteran pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru
Veteran pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru . . . congratulating the new Territorial Assembly Speaker (president) Antony Geros. Image: Polynésie 1ère TV

In his opening speech, Speaker Geros reminded the House about historical facts over the many political battles and strife that Tavini had had to endure — mostly instigated by the French state.

He also said that the past 10 years had been a “journey in the desert” for the new local government.

When asked whether he was worried that his speech against the French administration could send the “wrong signal” to Paris, he said the young new Tavini members of the Assembly needed to know how they got to where they were and the sacrifices that were made by the forefathers of the independence party.

They needed to know the past of their party to understand the future of the country.

It has also been a happy reunion for Roch Wamytan, president of New Caledonia’s Congress and pro-independence leader, who came in person to congratulate and support his old friend Temaru for what he has achieved.

Brotherson’s new administration
Moetai Brotherson was elected president of Mā’ohi Nui with 38 votes ahead of the outgoing president Édouard Fritch (16 votes), and Nicole Sanquer from the non-aligned party — and the first woman to seek the presidency — (three votes) and Benoit Kautai from Flosse’s party, who quickly withdrew his name.

The majority premium won by the Tavini settled the outcome as already predicted.

Any member of the Assembly can stand as a presidential candidate and present their programme. Undoubtedly the autonomist candidates will reiterate their allegiance to the French Republic.

Moetai Brotherson will make his speech and continue to form his cabinet. He has already given the names of some of the members of his cabinet and the following names could be added to his new cabinet.

He promised gender parity in his government with a hint of more women which he can still achieve. He is adding another woman, Manarii Galenon, who is likely to be Minister for Solidarity, Housing and Urban Development.

The Budget and Finance minister would be Tevaiti Pomare which is an interesting choice as he is known to be an A here ia Porinetia supporter.

Some negotiations must have been held between Tavini and the A here ia Porinetia.
The last name that we are hearing of is Cedric Mercadal as Health Minister.

Most of the new ministers are of high calibre in terms of academic achievement but might be rather light on their political engagement and experience.

President Brotherson will need to find two more women to reach gender parity and stay under the number of 10 ministers that he had announced previously.

Although he has five days to form his government, the ministers should be known by Monday.

French High Commissioner Eric Spitz (in middle)
French High Commissioner Eric Spitz (in middle) . . . faced with a pro-independence administration that has gained sweeping popularity and France will need to think twice about trying to “shut the taps”. Image: Tahiti Infos

Priorities for new government
The biggest challenge for this government and Tavini Huira’atira party as a whole will be to work with the French administration whose financial help to the country is around 200 billion Pacific francs (NZ$3 billion) a year.

Despite the long and historically skewed relationship between the independence party and the French state, open discussions with other potential investors, especially China, should not put any strain between the new local and the French administrations.

It has becoming increasingly necessary for this new government to be close to all the mayors of Mā’ohi Nui which is what the French administration had already put in place around 30 years ago.

This relationship between municipalities and the French state has allowed the latter to have a direct communication with the representatives of the populations, be their only intermediary, and to set up agreements of inter-dependence between the parties involved.

The new government will try to seek this close relationship, particularly with the mayors of the Marquesas archipelago since it is planning to use those islands as an essential lever to boost tourism.

The Marquesas archipelago is only a three-hour flight to Hawai’i which welcomes 8 million tourists a year and the new government believes that by offering the Marquesas as a new tourist destination, it will boost both the local and the whole of Mā’ohi Nui’s economies.

Managing to bring in 3 percent of this new market in search of authenticity would be a substantial financial addition and would more than double the number of tourists visiting the territory yearly to around 300,000.

Infrastructure objective
In anticipation of this, building the necessary infrastructure — such as airport, wharves, parks, hotels — to welcome this potential tourist mass could only be achieved by working with the mayors.

On the other hand, the more pressing matter for this government will be to visit and help the town of Te’ahupo’o located on the west coast of the main island of Tahiti that was hit by torrential rain and flooding 10 days ago.

It left about 60 households desperate to find somewhere to live.

Te’ahupo’o is also the town where the 2024 Paris Olympic Games surfing competition will take place.

Tackling urban delinquency and homelessness around the capital Pape’ete is also part of the new administration’s programme which ties up with the warm welcome that Ma’ohi Nui wants to offer visiting tourists.

The last word is for Oscar Temaru about concerns that the independence party might face a repeat of 2004 and the “politics of intimidation”.

He says the French administration is witnessing an increase in popularity of Tavini Huira’atira and will think twice about trying to “shut the taps”.

Paris is also aware that all the political institutions in Ma’ohi Nui — the Assembly and the government — and in France (the three deputies seated in France’s National Assembly) have independence members to represent the people.

It is Temaru’s wish to also win the senatorial elections in order to strengthen his claim to self-determination.

His only worry is whether Paris might change the constitution during their governance. But at the moment, Ma’ohi Nui is allowing “the young people to govern this country”.

Ena Manuireva is an Aotearoa New Zealand-based Tahitian doctoral candidate at Auckland University of Technology and a commentator on French politics in Ma’ohi Nui and the Pacific. He contributes to Asia Pacific Report.


Interview with Tahiti’s new President Moetai Brotherson. Video: Polynésie 1ère

RSF condemns Israel’s ‘scandalous impunity’ over killing of Shireen Abu Akleh

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Palestinian-US journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
Palestinian-US journalist Shireen Abu Akleh . . . since her killing a year ago the Israeli security forces have continued to target reporters covering Israeli operations in the occupied Palestinian territories. Image: RSF

Reporters Without Borders

One year after Al Jazeera’s well known Palestine correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was fatally shot while reporting in the West Bank on 11 May 2022, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the lack of progress in the official investigations into her death and the failure to bring anyone to justice.

Several events are being held to pay tribute to Shireen Abu Akleh on the first anniversary of her death while covering an Israeli army raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.

But justice has yet to be rendered even though many expert reports pointed to direct Israeli Defence Forces responsibility and the IDF even acknowledged that the fatal shot was “very probably” fired by one of their soldiers.

“When there is a will there is a way. Although all the investigations clearly show that Israeli forces were responsible for Shireen Abu Akleh’s death, the absence of political will still prevents justice from being rendered.

The systematic Israeli impunity is outrageous and cannot continue. RSF will remain mobiliSed on all fronts until those responsible have been identified and brought to justice.”

— Jonathan Dagher, head of RSF’s Middle East desk

After then Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said on 6 December 2022 that “no one will interrogate IDF soldiers,” all eyes turned to the United States, as Abu Akleh was a US citizen as well as a Palestinian one.

But there has been little progress despite pressure from US legislators and Abu Akleh’s family.

According to the US publication Axios, the US security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority submitted a new report on Abu Akleh’s death to the US State Department on May 2.

The report has not been published but, at a press briefing the next day, a State Department spokesperson said he understood that the report’s conclusion was unchanged, namely that, although “IDF gunfire was likely the reason,” her death was “unintentional.”

‘Repeated targeting of Shireen’
This conclusion is refuted by the independent investigation carried out in September 2022 by Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights organisation, and by Forensic Architecture Investigation Unit, which blamed “the deliberate and repeated targeting of Shireen and her colleagues by the [Israeli occupying forces].”

Meanwhile, the findings of the criminal investigation that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation launched on 5 November 2022 have yet to be published.

On the basis of the conclusions of Al Haq’s FAI Unit, Abu Akleh’s niece, Lina Abu Akleh, filed a complaint on behalf of the family with the International Criminal Court on 20 September 2022, accusing the IDF of killing the Al Jazeera reporter intentionally and calling for an ICC investigation.

With RSF’s support, the Qatari broadcaster submitted additional evidence to the ICC two and a half months later.

Since Abu Akleh’s death, the Israeli security forces have continued to target reporters covering Israeli operations in the occupied Palestinian territories.

An RSF investigation found that at least 17 journalists were directly targeted by Israeli security forces in the space of a week last April in the West Bank or Jerusalem.

Republished from Reporters Without Borders and Asia Pacific Report.

  • A rally will be held in Auckland, New Zealand, at 2pm today marking the 75th anniversary of the Nakba — “the catastrophe” — in protest against the ethnic cleansing of more than 700,000 Palestinians from their land and homes by Israeli militias in 1948.

PNG’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko steps aside over video row

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ABC PACIFIC BEAT: By Marian Faa, Prianka Srinivasan and Belinda Kora

Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister has stepped aside after a widespread backlash to comments he made in defence of a video his daughter posted on TikTok.

Justin Tkatchenko called critics of the video “primitive animals” during an interview with the ABC on Wednesday.

The comments have been labelled racist and insulting, and sparked protests in PNG throughout the day, as well as calls for him to resign.

In a press conference yesterday afternoon, Tkatchenko said the decision to step aside was not easy.

“I’m stepping aside as foreign minister so that our country can move forward and that I can also clear my name and also clear the doubt and the misinformation that is out there, that is causing great grief to everyone concerned,” Tkatchenko said.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape will take over as foreign minister as the nation prepares for a historic visit by US President Joe Biden and other Pacific leaders on May 22.

Tkatchenko has been closely involved in negotiating major defence and security agreements between PNG and the United States.

‘Clear the air’
He said he wanted to “clear the air” ahead of the visits.

Under fire PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko
Under fire PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko . . . “I’m stepping aside as foreign minister so that our country can move forward and that I can also clear my name.” Image: ABC Pacific Beat

“I do not want to disturb this event. We have done all the hard work already. Now, it’s the finalisation of the leaders arriving in the next coming days,” he said.

“For me to step aside is the right thing to do. So that we can clear the air and make sure that all these issues that arose from misinformation, finally sorted out once and for all.”

Marape thanked Tkatchenko for his decision.

“I want to commend the minister for putting the interest of the country ahead of his own,” he said.

“I will take charge of the foreign affairs ministry and ensure that all the preparations for the upcoming historical visits remain on track in the next few days.”

Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko and his daughter, Savannah Tkatchenko (both rear)
Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko (rear left) made the comments while defending his daughter, Savannah Tkatchenko (rear right). ABC Pacific Beat/FB

Opposition wants to deport Tkatchenko
Justin Tkatchenko was born in Australia but has lived in Papua New Guinea for 30 years and is a citizen.

“The last thing is that I’m going to destroy my beautiful home and ruin my reputation at the same time,” he said.

“I have six beautiful children, and a wife who are all Papua New Guinean and the last thing that I would call Papua New Guineans is primitive animals.”

He said the comments were directed at “cyber trolls” who attacked his daughter over a TikTok video she posted while accompanying him on a trip to the coronation of King Charles III.

The video, which was tagged #aussiesinlondon, flaunted cocktails and lavish meals at first-class airport lounges on the 4.3 million kina (NZ$2 million) taxpayer-funded trip.

“The people I made the comments to — individually — were those that were attacking my daughter on social media, putting up disgusting posts against her for doing absolutely nothing wrong,” he said.

‘Frustrated and angry’
“As a father, I was so frustrated and angry with the comments, sexual comments, violent comments, all sorts of comments that you would never want your daughter or any other woman or girl to be treated like to go through.

“To the people of Papua New Guinea, I sincerely apologise if you think that I meant bad to you … It was not intentioned at all for Papua New Guineans.”

In a statement last night, Marape said he was offended by Tkatchenko’s comments but called for forgiveness.

Tkatchenko said he was not the subject of any investigations.

PNG opposition leader Jospeh Lelang welcomed Tkatchenko’s decision to step aside.

“However, [he] will still be referred to the Citizenship Board to determine his citizenship status and be deported. We will have nothing less than that,” he told ABC.

While popular in his electorate of Moresby-South, Tkatchenko attracted controversy as the minister in charge of purchasing 40 custom-made Maserati luxury cars when PNG hosted the APEC summit in 2018, costing taxpayers 20 million kina (NZ$9.2 million).

Michael Kabuni, a former politics lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea, said online media had played an unprecedented role in placing pressure on him to resign.

“Social media is beginning to shape the politics in ways we’ve never seen in past years,” he said.

Republished from ABC Pacific Beat with permission.

‘We’re not primitives’ says UPNG student protest over foreign minister’s ‘disrespect’

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UPNG students . . . marching to Parliament today in protest over offensive comments
UPNG students . . . marching to Parliament today in protest over offensive comments. Image: Scott Waide/RNZ Pacific

By Scott Waide

Students at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) marched to Parliament House in in the capital Port Moresby today in protest over offensive comments made by Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko.

Tkatchenko was responding to a public backlash over a TikTok video — depicting luxury travel and high end shopping — posted by his daughter, Savannah, during a taxpayer-funded trip to King Charles III’s coronation in London.

In an interview with ABC Pacific Beat, he called the critics “useless” and “primitive animals”.

His comments have been condemned by PNG’s opposition leaders, but Prime Minister James Marape said Tkatchenko had apologised for his comments. Marape has asked people to forgive the minister.

University students began gathering today around a banner hoisted outside the campus and began marching to Parliament.

“It is not just about the offensive comments,” UPNG student Michael Pais said.

“The primary reason is the manner in which money has been spent on this trip and the extravagance displayed while our people lack the most basic services,” he said.

‘Blatant disrespect’
“The minister’s response shows a blatant disrespect for PNG.”

The Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress (PNGTUC) held a news conference this afternoon and issued a strong statement calling for Tktchenko’s removal as foreign minister.

“We will not accept the apology given to the Prime Minister [Marape],” Police Union president Lowa Tambua said.

“It is not a matter for the Prime Minister to decide if we should forgive [and] forget. It is a matter for the 10 million people of this country to decide,” he added.

Earlier, the PNG Post-Courier’s Miriam Zarriga today reported that former metropolitan police commander Andy Bawa had confirmed he was putting together necessary documents in response to opposition spokesperson Belden Namah’s call for Tkatchenko’s resignation and the stripping of his PNG nationality.

Bawa said he would make a formal complaint.

“The media will be advised,” he added.

Scott Waide is RNZ Pacific’s PNG correspondent. This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

UPNG students protest over offensive comments.
UPNG students are not happy with Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko calling Papua New Guineans “primitive animals”. Image: Scott Waide/RNZ Pacific

Resign call to PNG’s foreign minister over his ‘primitive animals’ slur

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"Sack him!" call over PNG's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko. Image: PNG Post-Courier screenshot APR

By Caleb Fotheringham

Papua New Guinea’s opposition has called on Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko to resign after calling critics of his trip to London for King Charles’ coronation “primitive animals”.

Minister Tkatchenko made the comment on ABC when addressing critics of his daughter’s TikTok video about attending the coronation in London last week.

The Prime Minister has waded into the controversy by saying he was offended by the comments, but has asked people to forgive his minister.

Tkatchenko has now reportedly apologised through the PM, James Marape.

The video — tagged #aussiesinengland — showed Savannah Tkatchenko enjoying expensive meals and going to first class airport lounges.

“We did some shopping around Singapore Airport at Hermes and Louis Vuitton, those of you who know, Singapore Airport shopping is honestly so lit,” she said in the video which she has since taken down.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Belden Namah said he was “calling on the Foreign Affairs Minister to confirm or deny that he uttered those descriptions of citizens of Papua New Guinea which has been kind enough to offer him naturalised citizenship”.

“If he has indeed uttered those despicable words then I am calling on Justin Tkatchenko to immediately resign as Foreign Affairs Minister and as Member of Parliament and further renounce his citizenship,” Namah said in a written statement.

“The ‘useless people’ and ‘primitive animals’ of this country have ensured he grew his business, gave him a wife, offered him citizenship, elected him into public office, made him a minister and sent him and his daughter to London.”

Tkatchenko is originally from Melbourne and was naturalised as a Papua New Guinean citizen in 2006.

Namah was also critical of the TikTok video and said it revealed the “disregard for Papua New Guineans” that the minister must have “inculcated in his family”.

“The name of the video says it all: #aussiesinengland. Send them to Australia if that is who they are.”

‘Very offensive to many people’
RNZ Pacific’s correspondent Scott Waide said the words “primitive” and “animals” were offensive slurs in PNG.

How the PNG Post-Courier reported the furore today. Image: PNG Post-Courier screenshot APR
“Sack him!” call over PNG’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko . . . how the PNG Post-Courier reported the furore today. Image: PNG Post-Courier screenshot APR

“They [the public] were annoyed with the TikTok video by his daughter and now the fact that the foreign minister has gone on the media and responded in that manner has been very offensive to many people.”

Waide said there was talk of a protest and pressure was mounting by the hour against Tkatchenko.

He said the video showed Savannah was out of touch with the realities of Papua New Guinea.

“The fact that the foreign minister’s daughter was allowed on an official trip and she was able to flaunt the expenses that were made on that trip has triggered quite a few people.”

The Commonwealth Students Association’s Pacific regional representative, Dr Bradley Yombon, said the comments were “disgusting”.

“He should hang his head in shame, apologise and not only apologise, but hand in his resignation as the Foreign Affairs Minister,” he said.

“He’s just thrown a blanket over all of Papua New Guinea and he’s not a native of Papua New Guinea which makes the situation a lot worse . . .  we’ve obviously got him into office, he should be grateful, and represent us to the best of his capacity.”

Minister ‘apologised to PM’
In a written statement Prime Minister Marape said Tkatchenko had apologised to himself and the country.

The Prime Minister said he was also offended by Tkatchenko’s comments but pleaded with the public to forgive him.

“We should not be labelling our citizens as ‘primitive animals’ even if they have wronged us,” he said.

“We are a unique blend of ethnic diversities, and as Christians, we can forgive each other.”

According to Human Rights Watch almost 40 percent of the country lives in poverty.

“Nobody’s come out and said anything about the exact number of people or how much they’ve actually spent,” said Waide.

According to the the Post-Courier, in 2021 the government sent a 62-member delegation to Glasgow to attend the COP26 Climate Change conference at a cost of K5.8 million (NZ$2.6 million).

Caleb Fotheringham is a RNZ Pacific journalist. This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Why Israel’s violent Gaza strategy to divide Palestinian resistance will fail

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ANALYSIS: By Mohsen Abu Ramadan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest assault on Gaza is a well-worn strategy among Israeli politicians to manufacture unity during times of internal strife.

In the early morning hours on Tuesday, May 9, Israeli occupation forces launched a brutal military attack on the Gaza Strip, killing 15 people including three leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement (PIJ), four children, and four women.

Israeli forces reported that a total of 40 warplanes participated in the targeted assassination campaign that lasted about two hours.

Israeli media outlets also indicated that the military operation may continue for a few days, with Prime Minister Netanyahu promising on Wednesday a “broader campaign” and “severe blows against Gaza”.

It is clear that Israel’s latest attack, which Ha’aretz reports was “meticulously planned in advance”, targets everyone in Gaza. The kill list, including “the distinct possibility of civilians being killed alongside them”, was “vetted and approved by legal advisers”.

Despair and anger in Gaza
Feelings of despair and anger persist in Gaza, as the population continues to live under the constant threat of bombs. According to Palestinian health officials, the death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 24 — including five women and five children, with 64 more injured, due to Israel’s recent aggression.

Netanyahu believes he can end the judicial crisis by rallying Zionist unity against an external threat.

The attacks on Gaza came despite an Egypt-brokered ceasefire agreement last August between Israel and Islamic Jihad, with support from UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process Tor Wennesland.

Since Tuesday, there have been some popular demands for response and revenge, while others fear yet another horrific war on the besieged Strip, where civilians remain in the eye of the storm.

Israel’s assault on Gaza indicates that Israel does not respect agreements and flouts international law. It appears that Israeli leaders are moving forward with their right-wing and racist agenda which seeks to “resolve” the conflict by force.

By reviving Israel’s brutal targeted assassinations policy, Netanyahu seeks to restore the image of deterrence that was cracked due to the resurgence of popular resistance movements in Gaza and the West Bank.

Netanyahu aims to preserve the ruling right-wing coalition, especially after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir continued to threaten his party’s boycott of weekly Israeli cabinet meetings “until he is given ‘significant influence’ over national security policy”.

Protests inside Israel
Knowing this could lead to the government’s fracture, including a failure to approve the annual budget and therefore push early elections that could lead to his toppling, Netanyahu, whose popularity has declined significantly in favour of Benny Gantz and his National Unity party, has chosen to shift the focus to Gaza.

Netanyahu’s latest assault on Gaza is a well-worn strategy among Israeli politicians to manufacture unity during times of internal strife. After months of mass protests against the ruling coalition’s plans to overthrow the judiciary, Netanyahu believes he can end the judicial crisis — now in its 18th week — or at least halt the protests by rallying Zionist unity against an external threat.

The joint operations room for the resistance movements in Gaza announced that the groups are united and ready to respond to Israel’s attacks. This indicates a failure to undermine Palestinian resistance, which Israel attempted to fracture by targeting only Islamic Jihad commanders.

Israeli forces threatened to carry out targeted assassinations against Hamas leaders if they were to participate in any military response to Israeli aggression.

The occupation state is anxious about Palestinian unity and has built its policy on mechanisms of fragmentation and division. It has managed to do so geographically by separating the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and dividing the latter into enclaves and “Bantustans”.

It is now trying to separate the resistance forces from each other.

The resistance groups understand that the conflict with Israel and its settler-colonial project is historical and existential and that all Palestinian political factions are within Israel’s target circle.

Israel under an illusion
Therefore, I believe that the policy of division and fragmentation will fail.

It should be noted here that the escalation by the government of the neo fascists — Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich — is not limited to the Gaza Strip but extends to the West Bank, Jerusalem, 1948 Palestinians, and our political prisoners.

The occupation government is under the illusion that its policy will break the will and steadfastness of our people and their determination to resist and struggle.

If the fascist right-wing government poses a threat to our people, it is important to turn this threat into an opportunity by working towards achieving a unified struggle in the field.

Examples include pursuing action against Israeli war criminals in international courts, promoting popular resistance and diplomacy, exposing the fascist and racist nature of the occupying state, and revealing the deep connection between Zionism, fascism, and racism.

Palestinians across the occupied territories continue to emphasise national unity on the basis of resistance and struggle

Palestinians are waiting to see what will happen in the coming hours, though the situation seems to be moving towards escalation.

Despite the fear of another war on Gaza, Palestinians across the occupied territories continue to emphasise national unity on the basis of resistance and struggle, including the importance of practising all forms of legitimate struggle to defend the freedom and dignity of our people.

That Israel would engage in yet another brutal campaign against Gaza on the 75th anniversary of the Nakba only confirms the nature of the Zionist colonial project as an aggressive and racist system built on violence and ethnic cleansing.

Mohsen Abu Ramadan is the former director of the Palestinian Non-governmental Organisation Network (PNGO). This article is republished from Middle East Eye.

Al Jazeera's Youmna El Sayed reporting live from Gaza
Al Jazeera’s Youmna El Sayed reporting live from Gaza. Image: AL screenshot CP

New Zealand Nakba rallies
Saturday, May 13, is the international day of action marking the 75th anniversary of the Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic) which marks the ethnic cleansing of more than 700,000 Palestinians from their land and homes by Israeli militias in 1948.

The Nakba continues today with ethnic cleansing, house demolitions and land theft across Palestine.

Marches and demonstrations will be held across the world and in Aotearoa New Zealand, because the country is close to the international dateline, we will be the first nation to be taking action.

Nakba Day is actually on the Monday but to give more people the chance to take part it is being remembered around the world on Saturday, May 13)

Amnesty International calls on Jakarta to free West Papuan activist Victor Yeimo

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West Papua National Committee international spokesperson Victor Yeimo
West Papua National Committee international spokesperson Victor Yeimo addressing a 2016 rally in Jayapura . . . sentenced to eight years in jail. Image: Tabloid Jubi/RNZ Pacific

RNZ Pacific

Amnesty International is calling on Indonesia to release West Papua National Committee (KNPB) international spokesperson Victor Yeimo.

Yeimo was sentenced on Friday to eight months in prison for his involvement in an anti-racism protest in Papua in August 2019.

In a statement, Amnesty International is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Yeimo and all Papuans imprisoned for peacefully expressing their political opinions.

Amnesty Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said the arbitrary arrest and detention of Victor Yeimo and many other Papuans was discriminatory and constituted a failure of the Indonesian state to uphold and protect the democractic and human rights of its citizens.

“The fact that he and many Papuans have been arrested and detained for peacefully expressing their political opinion represents the state’s neglect on human rights protection,” he said.

Hamid said data collected between 2019 and 2022 indicates an alarming escalation in efforts to silence and intimidate Papuan activists in Indonesia with at least 78 people facing criminal charges and prosecution for allegedly violating treason articles under the Penal Code.

Carolyn Nash, Asia advocacy director at Amnesty USA, said human rights were under attack in the autonomous region.

‘Escalating efforts to silence Papuans’
“These escalating efforts to silence and intimidate Papuan activists should alarm the US government, which has repeatedly looked to Indonesia as a regional example of democratic norms commitment to human rights principles,” she said.

“But the reality is clear: these human rights principles are under attack.

“The treatment of Papuan activists is the measure by which the US can assess the Indonesian government’s commitment to protect free expression — and the Indonesian government is demonstrating how weak that commitment truly is.”

Previously, West Papua Action Aotearoa spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said Yeimo’s only crime had been to stand up against the abuse of West Papuan students in Indonesia.

In March, a West Papuan advocacy group claimed 20 Papuans who were fundraising for the victims of tropical cyclones in Vanuatu were arrested by Indonesian police in the provincial capital Jayapura.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ and Asia Pacific Report.