Regional Wrap Up

A motion to seek an Advisory Opinion (AO) from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the human rights implications of climate change was passed unanimously at the United Nations the previous week.

The campaign to take this issue to the world’s court began with the activism of a group of law students at the University of the South Pacific. The government of Vanuatu took the cause to the region and the world, securing co-sponsorship of their motion from 120 countries.

Whilst an Advisory Opinion from the ICJ does not have any binding authority, it will provide a benchmark global statement for future legislation and indeed litigation. Vanuatu’s climate change minister, Hon Ralph Regenvanu, has previously raised this as a possibility for his country.

Suidani dismissed from provincial office

The former premier of Malaita province, in Solomon Islands, has been dismissed from office by the Sogavare government.

Mr. Suidani, who is currently in the United States, was informed of his dismissal in a letter from the Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Rosen Seleso.

The reasons for the dismissal included Suidani’s refusal to recognise the One China Policy and an allegation that he was colluding with Taiwan to undermine the relationship between Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China.

Suidani has been very outspoken in his opposition to Solomon Islands switching its diplomatic alignment from Taiwan to China. He was removed from the office of Premier after a motion of no confidence earlier this year.

Suidani has advised that he intends to challenge the dismissal in the High Court. Meanwhile the Sogavare government has instructed the Speaker of the Malaita Provincial Assembly to declare Suidani’s seat vacant.

Other Pacific News:

In Papua New Guinea, an earthquake measuring 7.0 has struck the East Sepik region. All areas of the province have been affected. Many remote communities remain cut off and communications are very patchy. So far, eight deaths have been reported

The Parliament of Fiji has repealed the draconian Media Industry Development Act, which has acted as a substantial brake on media freedom in the country for 16 years.

The move has been warmly welcomed by journalists across the region.

The Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Prime Minister Mark Brown of Cook Islands, has said that he has received assurances from his US counterparts that the AUKUS agreement will not undermine the Treaty of Rarotonga (to which the US is not a signatory).

Final preparations are underway for the upcoming elections in French Polynesia. The French territory will elect a 57-seat Assembly that will serve a term of five years. The incumbent party, Tapura Huiraatira, and the pro-independence Tavuni Huiraatira are front runners.

The justice system in Kiribati remains in crisis. There is currently only one judge hearing cases in the High Court, Justice Tetiro Semilota, who was the former Attorney-General. The number of outstanding court cases is rising while the government has yet to address the issue.

Tess Newton Cain is a Senior Research Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute and is Project Lead for the Griffith Pacific Hub