In Brief: Rural health clinics not functional

The head of the World Health Organisation in Solomon Islands says damage to health clinics in rural areas means many people affected by last week’s flooding are without medical help.

Rural health clinics not functional

SOLOMON ISLANDS – The head of the World Health Organisation in Solomon Islands says damage to health clinics in rural areas means many people affected by last week’s flooding are without medical help. Dr Audrey Awmua says hospital admissions are increasing, with a number of people suffering physical trauma and broken bones. She says the hospital in Honiaraa is functional and people are coming into the city, seeking medical care. “Where we are challenged is with primary health care facilities out in the provinces that have been damaged and of course have closed down. So populations are finding it hard to access good primary care at this stage. So there’s a movement towards the city.” Dr Awmua says vector-borne diseases such malaria and dengue are a threat with agencies monitoring these closely.

Cyber crime policy causes concern

PAPA NEW GUINEA – A PNG blogger says a proposed cyber crime policy could go too far in policing activity on social media, and could be a move by the government to control social media. Martyn Namorong, the author of the prominent blog, The Namorong Report, says that while he supports the introduction of measures to control cyber crime like spam, hacking, and fraud, the reach into social media is concerning. Namorong says there is no mention of what kind of activity is unacceptable and suspects there could be a more sinister motive behind the policy. The PNG government says there is no intention to bar people from expressing their opinions, and if someone’s activity were to be monitored or gathered, the authorities would have to present a thorough case to internet providers.

No funds to investigate complaints

FIJI – Fiji’s acting police commissioner says the force has no funds available to investigate complaints against police officers. More than 200 complaints were recorded against officers in the first quarter of the year which the acting commissioner, Ravi Narayan, says is a concern. FBC News reports the acting commissioner as saying the government does not allow a single penny to be spent on investigating officers because they are regarded as professionals and urged them to take their roles and responsibilities seriously. It is unclear whether this means that complaints against police officers are being ignored.

Police manslaughter trial begins

TONGA – The trial is underway of five policemen in Tonga charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of a New Zealand police officer. Constable Kali Fungavaka died in August 2012 from substantial injuries he suffered while in police custody. Inspector Kelepi Hala’ufia and Constables Salesi Maile, Tevita Vakalahi, Manu Tu’ivai and Fatai Faletau have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter with an alternative charge of grievous bodily harm. A civilian Semisi Kalisitiane Manu will also be charged with the same offence in a separate jury trial. The Crown Prosecutor ‘Aminiasi Kefu said it was their case that all five officers acted in joint enterprise causing significant injuries which led to the death of Fungavaka.

‘I’m not campaigning yet, but ...’

FIJI – Fiji’s prime minister Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama has warned Fiji villagers lies are being spread about the protection of indigenous land. He was speaking at the opening of a nursing station in Ba. He told the gathering he could not start campaigning for the forthcoming election until his Fiji First party was officially registered. But he said speaking as prime minister people should not believe others who told them their land was threatened as they were only trying to stir up trouble for their own political ends. He said his government had closed loopholes in the law and land rights were guaranteed in the constitution. The speech comes as the prime minister has been touring Fiji to collect the 5,000 signatures needed in order to register his party.

New Zealand’s McCully in Fiji for talks

FIJI – New Zealand’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully, is in Suva for talks. He will meet his Fiji counterpart, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, as well as the attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and others. The officials will discuss plans for the elections later this year, for which New Zealand is providing support. The visit is the first since New Zealand and Australia lifted all sanctions against Fiji at the end of March.