By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PORT VILA, Vanuatu – A New Zealand judge, who recently reported on the violent nature of Vanuatu’s police force, and his family have received death threats.

The Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF), Vanuatu’s paramilitary force, has threatened the Justice Nevin Dawson, who came to the island in 2008 as part of New Zealand’s effort to provide assistance.

The judge and his family have left the island but according to spokesman Foreign Minister Murray McCully, it was for a vacation.

Although Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sato Kilman, told reporters several weeks ago that they did not think the judge was in danger, the government has attempted to increase the security as his residence.

As a result of the threats, a security-guard has been assigned to guard the judge’s home, throughout the day and including overnight protection.  Dawson and his family have changed their daily routines, stopped using public transportation, and even stopped dining out for fear that they would be poisoned.  This is a “favourite way of getting rid of problems” according to one observer.

Last year, a man was recaptured and beaten to death after escaping from prison, during an interrogation by the VMF.  Justice Dawson issued a report on his death, which revealed that members of Vanuatu’s police force were in serious violation of human rights and the rule of law.  The report caused many to question the role of the paramilitary force, which could also have a potentially damaging effect on Vanuatu’s political stability.

In addition, Dawson reported that the VMF had attempted to prevent him from revealing any further information through intimidation and death threats.  For instance, one VMF officer stalked Dawson at his home.

Dawson is nearing the end of his two year term on the island.  During the first threat to his safety, which occurred at the end of last year, he was offered the opportunity to leave the island, but chose to stay.

A representative from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that the threats to Judge Dawson’s life were taken with “utmost seriousness”.

“There have been threats made against him and his family and we have had concerns about their safety for some time.”

The Vanuatu government finally responded to the report that initiated these events earlier this week.  Mr. Kilman said that it had respected the rule of law and that the police force had a responsibility to recapture the prison escapee, who was causing fear in the community.  He did not, however, respond to Dawson’s allegations that the senior members of the VMF committed perjury during the inquiry.

That incident is still being discussed within the Vanuatu government.

In the meantime, officials will also discuss whether the current security for the judge and his family is adequate.

For more information please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Vanuatu coroner leaves country after threats – 06 April 2010

Stuff – NZ judge leaves Vanuatu amid death threats – 06 April 2010

Sunday Star Times – New death threats to NZ judge, family – 06 April 2010

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

APIA, Samoa – A Samoan Supreme Court judge, Vui Clarence Nelson, has called for the Samoan authorities to consider building a facility to shelter victims of sexual crimes.

Judge Nelson recently sentenced two men for raping an eight-year old girl. He made his statement to the Samoan authorities after deciding the case.

One of the men was sentenced to ten years in prison, while the other was sentenced to three years in prison. Both men pleaded guilty to raping the child.

Concern for victims of sexual crimes in the Pacific region has been raised even more after the recent event in Auckland, New Zealand. A serial rapist was convicted for brutally raping numerous women and young girls.

Justice John Priestley, who sentenced the New Zealand man to prison for 19 1/2 years, said that the “damage caused to the victims was aggravated by their cultural factors, which caused law self esteem, financial loss, lack of trust and safety, and depression.”

Many of the victims, who were young girls, attempted suicide.

The victims in this “cultural context” that Justice Priestley mentioned regard themselves as being “irretrievably damaged.” According to the statements made by the victims, the damage is enormous and in some cases permanent.

Because of the severe damage caused to women and young girls who have been victims of sexual crimes, many judges, such as Justice Priestley and Judge Nelson, and community development leaders, such as the Samoa Victim Support Group, have urged more shelters and facilities for victims of sexual crimes.

Judge Nelson stated that given the increasing number of sex crimes involving young girls, the “time has come for the appropriate authorities to consider setting up a refuge for the victims.”

The Samoa Victim Support Group reaches out to young victims and helps care for them in the aftermath of the sexual crimes. Judge Nelson commended the Samoa Victim Support Group for its efforts to care for the victims of sexual crimes.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Samoa judge calls for facility for sex crime victims – 05 April 2010

Voxy New Zealand – Rape Victims Brave to Come Forward, Says Judge – 24 March 2010

Yahoo News – Rape victims brave to come forward, says judge – 24 March 2010

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – The recent arrival of 138 asylum seekers to Christmas Island has caused the detention center to exceed its maximum capacity for the first time.

Afghan and Iranian asylum seekers who were on board the HMAS Melville brought the detention center’s capacity above 2040.  The center reached maximum capacity even though three charter flights were sent to Australia’s mainland in the last week.

Among the asylum seekers on board the HMAS Melville were two young Iranian girls.  The girls will be given new clothes and shoes.  They will all be subject to processing and health checks at Christmas Island.

Navy crews aboard the HMAS Larakia also intercepted another boat, thought to be carrying seventy-nine asylum seekers and four crew members.  These individuals were also brought to Christmas Island.

Officials on the Island attempted to provide space for the detainees, many of whom slept in rooms that are typically used for teaching English or conducting interviews with immigration officers.

Despite exceeding capacity, an official from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship stated that there was room for the new detainees.

Opposition leaders continue to protest Prime Minister Rudd’s policies and believe that the government must be tougher on the handling of border security.  The Opposition believes that Rudd was extremely compassionate back in 2008 which caused an influx of boats.

Tony Abbott, a Leader in the Opposition Party, stated that under the current administration, Australia is “getting three boats a week, and all records are likely to be broken this year when it comes to unauthorised arrivals”.

The Opposition Party believes that stronger measures must be implemented but  the government should not go as far as to reintroduce the Pacific Solution, under which poor Pacific Islands were used as refugee processing centers.

Furthermore, Mr. Abbott stated that these individuals “are people who have no … lawful reason to come to Australia and they should be put on the plane as quickly as possible. And in the meantime, they should be treated humanely.”

Many individuals are expected to be transferred to the Australian mainland.  These individuals will include both those who will be granted permanent visas as well as those who will be deported.

For more information please see:
Herald Sun – Christmas Island detention centre reaches asylum seeker limit – 03 April 2010

Herald Sun – Two refugee girls will be placed in Christmas Island detention centre – 03 April 2010

Sydney Morning Herald – Detention centres pushed to overflow – 02 April 2010

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The European Union extended its sanctions against Fiji for six more months as a result of the post-coup government’s failure to respect human rights.

The EU implemented these sanctions in 2007 after Fiji failed to follow up on its commitments on human rights, the constitution, and the postponement of parliamentary elections.

The sanctions were extended to pressure the Fiji government to restore democracy and respect human rights.

According to the advisor to the delegation of the EU in New Zealand, the European Development Fund will withhold funds as long as Fiji refuses to honor human rights and the rule of law.

A large number of the measures aimed at stopping EU development funding for the Fijian government.   The sanctions also impacted Fiji’s sugar industry.

Economists and academics alike say that the sugar sector will suffer immensely as a result of the sanctions.

Between 2006 and the present year Fiji would have received 86 million dollars of aid. However, all of the funding has expired, with the exception of 38 million US dollars available for the upcoming year.

A professor at the University of the South Pacific noted that “[b]efore the 2006 coup the European Union fund was going to be a major injection into the industry which would have supported not only the efficiency within the industry but would have rehabilitated and supported production and efficiency at the farm level.”

The foreign aid would have made the sugar industry more competitive.

The 27 countries comprising the EU were not the only ones to impose sanctions on Fiji after the December 2006 military coup.  The international community at large condemned the coup, and Australia, the United States, and New Zealand also sanctioned Fiji.

The EU claims that humanitarian aid and other support to the general public can continue.

For now, the sanctions will be in effect until at least October 1.

For more information please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Continued EU sanctions against Fiji a blow to sugar industry, says academic – 02 April 2010

Australia Network News – Europe extends Fiji sanctions – 30 March 2010

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji loses millions in EU aid with extension of sanctions against Suva – 30 March 2010

Business Day – EU extends sanctions against post-coup Fiji – 29 March 2010

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – The Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister, Derek Sikua, says that long-serving politicians have nothing new to offer the country and it is time to make way for the young politicians to take over the running of the country.

Sikua says that he hopes the upcoming elections will bring “a new style of politics that will help shape the Solomons’ future.”

In a report to Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat Programme, he believes that a younger generation of politicians is the answer to the long battle for democracy and peace within the country.

He stated: “Being in politics for the last four years, what I have learnt is that it’s time for change…It’s time for young people and I will be encouraging young people to come in and be in politics here.”

Sikua believes that the politicians who have served the country for a long time now have nothing new to offer the country. In fact, according to Sikua, long-standing politicians have only added to the corruption and furthered the struggle for democracy.

“Stamping out corruption is shaping up to be one of the most important election issues. Recent foreign aid has allegedly disappeared, and there are concerns that a lot of aid has been used by politicians to buy votes, rather than to improve services to the provinces.”

Sikua would like to see new guidelines put in place to ensure better accountability. He emphasizes that there needs to be more “transparency” in what is happening with foreign aid.

Sikua hopes for a better future for the Solomon Islands. Since he took office as Prime Minister, Sikua has been determined to bring change to the Solomon Islands. He stated: “I want to see a new Solomon Islands that is united, strong and God-fearing – a Solomon Islands that is secure and prosperous…[this] can only be realized though good leadership…political leadership that is honest, visionary, inclusive and consultative.”

For more information, please see:
Islands Business – Solomon Islands’ call to young politicians – 30 March 2010

Australia Network News – Solomon Islands’ call to young politicians – 29 March 2010

Islands Business – Solomon Islands: Sikua’s Vision