Political Reviews

The Region in Review: International Issues and Events, 2013 nic maclellan

Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 2013 david chappell, jon fraenkel, gordon leua nanau, howard van trease, muridan s widjojo

The Contemporary Pacic, Volume 26, Number 2, 459–552 © 2014 by University of Hawai‘i Press

459 The Region in Review: International Issues and Events, 2013

Throughout the year, there was signifi- agencies was analyzed during a review cant debate about Pacific regionalism of the 2005 Pacific Plan for Strength- and the future of agencies that make ening and Coop- up the Council of Regional Organiza- eration. Throughout 2013, former tions of the Pacific (crop). Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Min- A major review of the Pacific Plan ister Sir Mekere Morauta led a review outlined new priorities for the region, team that visited all Forum member while summits highlighted the grow- countries, together with associate ing influence of Melanesian nations members New Caledonia and French and the links between climate change, . Morauta’s team presented disasters, and development. Pacific an interim report in July, briefed governments began preparing regional Forum leaders on their findings at the policies on climate, oceans, fisher- annual summit in the Republic of the ies, and to Marshall Islands (RMI) in September, be carried onto the global stage in and then released their final report at coming months as the year’s end. (UN) declared 2014 as the Interna- Following the 2012 Winder review tional Year for Small Island States. of the Forum Secretariat (which was There was ongoing debate about critical of the priorities and capacities ’s role in regional structures, at a of the ), Morau- time of increasing South-South coop- ta’s team began looking at Pacific Plan eration and new aid donors challeng- priorities. The review soon broadened ing old paradigms in the region. With to a much wider debate about the eight Pacific nations scheduled to hold future of regionalism, highlighting national elections during 2014, the uncertainty about the role and man- September 2013 poll in Australia—the date of the Forum Secretariat and region’s largest aid, trade, and mili- other regional institutions. tary power—began a realignment of Addressing Forum leaders in regional relationships with the election Majuro, Morauta stated: “There is of a conservative government under a compelling argument for greater Prime Minister Tony Abbott. regional cooperation and integra- The Secre- tion across the Pacific. . . . However, tariat (pifs) and other crop member progress in regionalism has in our agencies are under pressure from opinion slowed down, and by too all directions: donor demands, bur- much.” Describing a region “at the geoning subregional organizations, crossroads,” Morauta was sharply civil society critiques, and concern critical of the 2005 Pacific Plan: “It from some member governments is very difficult to see how the Pacific that resources are not flowing to the Plan or the processes surrounding it national level. are—now—driving regional integra- The role and mandate of crop tion with the scope, pace and scale

460 political reviews • region in review 461 intended in its original framing. Con- every Melanesian capital and a major fidence in the Pacific Plan and some of summit in New Caledonia in June. the institutions around it has fallen to The summit debated new initiatives the point where some observers ques- on Melanesian trade, West Papua, tion their survival” (Morauta 2013, regional peacekeeping, and labor 3–4). mobility between the largest Island In the final report (Pacific Plan nations. The outgoing chair, Prime Review 2013), the review team pre- Minister Voreqe Bainimarama of Fiji, sented a range of options for coming said the msg was “taking bold steps years: to restructure the landscape of the Pacific” (Maclellan 2013c, 18). • the establishment of a high- msg leaders received the report level council of past and present of an Eminent Persons Group led by Forum chairs to restructure the former Fiji Foreign Minister Kaliopate Forum ­Secretariat; Tavola, looking at the successes and • devolving more power to minis- challenges of the past and mapping terial meetings and subregional priorities for the msg’s future. At the organizations, to avoid overload- summit, Melanesian leaders appointed ing the agenda of the annual Tavola as a roving msg representa- Forum leaders meeting; tive. This positions the Fijian states- • debate on the criteria for Forum man as a front-runner for the post of membership, given the grow- secretary-general of the Pacific Islands ing involvement of the US and Forum, when incumbent Tuiloma French territories, and whether Neroni Slade of Sāmoa retires at the “self-determination” should end of his second term in 2014. still be a defining factor for full There was also a change of leader- Forum membership; ship following the summit, with Fiji • further work to articulate the handing the msg chair to Victor Tutu- concept of sustainable develop- goro of the Front de Libération Natio- ment; nale Kanak et Socialiste (flnks) for • better coordination and man- 2013–2015. Ironically, the incoming agement of donor support for chair of the Polynesian Leaders Group regionalism. (plg) is ’s President Forum leaders agreed to send the Gaston Flosse, an outspoken opponent review findings to the Forum Officials of independence in the French Pacific Committee, while Papua New Guinea territories. will host a special leaders’ retreat in Another major transition was the April 2014 to discuss a new frame- retirement of Jimmie Rodgers, the work for regional integration. long-serving director-general of the The review also highlighted the Secretariat of the Pacific Community role of subregional organizations, (spc). After working as deputy direc- in a year the Melanesian Spearhead tor for many years at the spc’s Nabua Group (msg) celebrated its twenty- branch in Fiji, Dr Rodgers took over fifth anniversary. The msg Secretariat the top job at spc headquarters in in Port Vila organized celebrations in Noumea for eight years. He led a 462 the contemporary pacific • 26:2 (2014) massive restructuring of the regional The shifting landscape of interna- technical agency, with the creation tional aid was evident at the 2011 of three overarching divisions for summit on aid effectiveness in Busan, economic, human, and sustainable Korea. This meeting highlighted new development. The spc has expanded trends in global aid governance, with to more than six hundred staff, with the Development Assistance Commit- sub-offices in a number of countries. tee of the Organization for Economic Rodgers was replaced by Dr Colin Co-operation and Development Tukuitonga, a Niuean who previously () increasingly sidelined by the worked as chief executive officer of involvement of nontraditional donors the Ministry for Pacific and civil society organizations. The Island Affairs and as head of the spc post-Busan paradigm views aid along- Division. side other available resources for pov- The incoming spc director-general erty reduction (such as investment and will lead a review of the agency’s remittance flows), with an increased governance structures and promote focus on transparency and an empha- new partnerships for the agency, sis on South-South cooperation rather including the proposed creation of than traditional North-South donor- new categories for associate members recipient arrangements. and observers and a bid to obtain Western donors in the Pacific have permanent observer status at the UN been stressing the importance of the General Assembly (a status already Cairns Compact on Strengthening obtained by the Pacific Islands Forum Development Coordination. After the Secretariat). 2009 leaders meeting in Cairns, the Renewed debate about regionalism Forum initiated a series of thirteen comes at a time of shifting trends in peer reviews of aid management in trade, labor mobility, and aid delivery, the Islands, which were completed in but also when regional organizations 2013 with reviews of Solomon Islands are still struggling with the dilemma of (September), (October), Fiji’s role in the region. and Sāmoa (November). Most Pacific countries are reliant A range of new aid donors are on Official Development Assistance, operating in the Pacific, including but the provision of aid is being , south Korea, Indonesia, Israel, transformed in a number of ways. and United Arab Emirates, which Aid flows are affected by the rise of complicates the scene for traditional new donors, especially from Asia; donors. Even Papua New Guinea has the expansion of remittances and begun to allocate small but strate- direct investment as sources of rev- gic amounts of aid to other Island enue; debates over aid effectiveness nations, including climate adaptation and the quality as well as quantity funding to Kiribati, Marshall Islands, of development assistance; the link and , and 50 million PNG kina between development aid and climate (approximately us$20.5 million) to financing; and the restructuring of aid assist Fiji in preparations for its 2014 delivery by donors like Australia, New elections. At the 2013 Forum lead- Zealand, and Canada. ers meeting in Majuro, PNG Prime political reviews • region in review 463

Minister Peter O’Neill stated that his sion of the Australian aid program government would introduce a special over the next four years, abandon- budget allocation in 2014 to fund a ing Australia’s bipartisan pledge regional development assistance pro- to increase Official Development gram (Maclellan 2013d). Assistance to 0.5 percent of gross A September resolution in the national income (one Australian dollar UN General Assembly, cosponsored is approximately us$.90). In Janu- by forty-seven nations, highlighted ary 2014, Foreign Minister Bishop improved cooperation between the announced a$650 million in cuts United Nations and Pacific regional to the existing 2013–14 aid budget, organizations, following the 2011 visit affecting bilateral, regional, and global to the Pacific Islands Forum by UN programs. The Pacific lost at least Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. a$64 million in direct aid, as well as Australia remains the largest aid, funding channeled through regional trade, and military power in the South and international bodies (Maclellan Pacific, but the country’s September 2014a). 2013 national elections opened a new The aid cuts came as Australia fol- era for engagement with the region. lowed Canada and New Zealand in Despite bipartisan continuity on trade closing down its independent statutory and security issues, the incoming con- aid agency. The Australian Agency for servative Coalition government under International Development (AusAID) Tony Abbott is abandoning key poli- was abolished, merging its operations cies adopted by Kevin Rudd and Julia into the Department of Foreign Affairs Gillard of the Australian Labor Party and Trade (dfat). Nongovernmental between 2007 and 2013. organizations expressed concern that Foreign Minister Julie Bishop the merger means disruption of aid detailed new policies for the region, delivery and the loss of many experi- including normalization of relations enced staff as dfat takes over respon- with the Bainimarama regime in Fiji, a sibility for Australia’s a$5 billion aid major restructuring and reduction of program. Australia’s aid program, the expansion At the November 2013 Common- of asylum seeker detention centers in wealth Heads of Government Meet- Nauru and on PNG’s Manus Island, ing, Small Island and Least Developed and cuts to money pledged for climate Country governments were shocked adaptation funding. At the same time, by announcements from Canada and she pledged new engagement with Australia that they would not contrib- Papua New Guinea, with renewed ute funding to the new Green Climate support for security sector reform and Fund, an important global mechanism significant Australian investment in to assist with climate adaptation and the country’s liquefied natural gas and mitigation (Maclellan 2013e). Aus- oil industry. tralia had been cochair of the Green A week before the September elec- Climate Fund board until October, tions, incoming Australian Treasurer but the incoming Abbott government Joe Hockey announced that a$4.5 bil- has moved to cut funding for interna- lion will be cut from planned expan- tional climate activities as well as to 464 the contemporary pacific • 26:2 (2014) eliminate Australia’s domestic carbon change into a single overarching tax and Climate Change Authority. (In policy framework. For many years, 2012–13, Australia spent a$74 million government and donor priorities on on global environment programs; by disaster response have been guided by the end of the 2013–14 budget cuts, two separate frameworks: the Pacific this amount had been reduced to Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster zero.) Management Framework for Action, These changes will worry Pacific and the Pacific Islands Framework governments, which stress the link for Action on Climate Change. The between climate funding, energy, and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional development. These themes were Environment Programme (sprep) and highlighted in March at the Pacific supporting donors are developing a Energy Summit in Auckland and the new combined strategy, to be called May Pacific Climate Change Financ- the Strategy for Climate and Resilient ing Workshop in Nadi. The workshop Development in the Pacific (srdp), to considered a new Pacific Climate replace the existing regional policies Change Finance Assessment Frame- when they expire in 2015 (Hay and work and a case study on Nauru, Pratt 2013). to showcase the best mechanisms Climate policy was also a central to access and utilize climate finance feature of the annual Forum lead- (Pasisi and others 2013a, 2013b). ers meeting, hosted by the Marshall Reduction of climate finance will Islands. RMI President Christopher severely impact small island states Loeak and Minister in Assistance Tony already affected by extreme weather de Brum mobilized support for the events. In January 2013, governments Majuro Declaration on Climate Lead- launched the Pacific Catastrophe ership, seeking commitments to reduce Risk Insurance fund, a pilot program greenhouse-gas emissions. Unlike his designed to guarantee post-disaster predecessor Hillary Clinton (who reconstruction funding for smaller attended the 2012 summit in Cook states. A year later, after Category 5 Islands), US Secretary of State John Cyclone Ian devastated the Ha‘apai Kerry did not attend the 2013 Majuro Islands, Tonga became the first coun- summit. try in the region to access us$1.27 Small island states expressed their million from the insurance fund. Cook frustration at the failure of oecd Islands joined five other countries countries to meet their pledges on (Marshall Islands, Sāmoa, Solomon climate finance and emissions reduc- Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu) in the tion. Prime Minister Enele second season of the pilot, which runs Sopoaga said: “Too much talking has between November 2013 and October been done on this issue; there is urgent 2014 (pifs 2013b; gfdrr 2013). need for real action on the ground” Following a regional climate (sis 2013). In November, the Asian summit in Nadi in July, the Pacific Development Bank (adb) released a is leading the way as the first region report that estimates that the total in the world to fully integrate disas- climate-change cost in the Pacific will ter risk management and climate range from 2.9 percent to 12.7 percent political reviews • region in review 465 of annual gross domestic product by expressed frustration over limits 2100 (adb 2013). placed by Australia and New Zealand Throughout the year, governments on agricultural imports, with PNG met to develop “island friendly” Trade Minister Richard Maru stat- policies in the lead up to the Third ing: “My country is not interested Conference on Small Island Develop- in pacer-Plus, our focus is the msg ing States, to be hosted in Sāmoa in Trade Agreement. Our feeling at the September 2014. These policies will moment is that pacer-Plus would be also be used at the UN secretary- one sided in favour of Australia and general’s 2014 climate summit, the New ­Zealand. We are frustrated with 2015 UN Framework Convention them. We can’t export our taro there, on Climate Change negotiations in they won’t accept our greens. There’s Paris for a global climate treaty, and a nothing to be gained from a trade summit the same year to develop new agreement at the moment. We cannot “Sustainable Development Goals” to justify the huge amount of resources replace the 2000–2015 Millennium we expend on such negotiations. They Development Goals. are a complete waste of time” (Pareti As part of the new sustainable 2013). development goals, governments like After ten years of negotiations and Solomon Islands, Palau, and Nauru four missed deadlines, talks continued are lobbying for a new global goal over the proposed Economic Partner- to protect the oceans. In February, ship Agreement (epa) between the Tokelauan politician Foua Toloa (EU) and Pacific was appointed to the Global Oceans members of the African, Caribbean, Commission, a new body created to and Pacific Group of States (pacp). address serious challenges facing the The drawn-out epa negotiations high seas. are souring relations with the Euro- Trade policy continued to dominate pean Union, with Island governments the regional agenda. Forum Island critical of the inequality in the Pacific- governments participated in free-trade EU partnership, the bureaucracy and negotiations with Australia and New complexity of EU aid delivery, and Zealand through the expanded Pacific EU fisheries policies that attempt to Agreement on Closer Economic Rela- subvert the sustainability principles tions, known as pacer-Plus. They advocated by the Forum Fisheries also strengthened their role under the Agency (ffa) and the Parties to the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agree- Nauru Agreement. The European ment (picta), with more countries Centre for Development Policy and commencing trade under this Islands- Management (ecdpm) acknowledged only accord. In October, Nauru that “the perception exists that the ratified the picta Trade in Services EU has tried to use a trade agree- Protocol, becoming only the second ment on goods and services (epa) to of ten countries to ratify the services put pressure on Pacific countries and agreement since it was opened for the Western Central Pacific Fisheries signature in August 2012. Commission to obtain advantageous Some Pacific governments measures that can further European 466 the contemporary pacific • 26:2 (2014) commercial interests” (Laporte and epas because of their sugar and fish Puig 2013, 9). exports to Europe. There was a war In June, the European Commis- of words after Fiji angrily condemned sion published a “Draft Report for a this maneuvering by the European Comprehensive EU Fishery Strategy Union and the Forum Secretariat in the Pacific Region,” which raised (Vuibau 2013; pifs 2013a). concern that access to fish remains the Fiji will be affected by the new EU primary EU interest in the region. The agricultural policy announced in June draft document recommended that no to abolish sugar quotas in 2017, three derogation of rules of origin for fisher- years earlier than expected. Develop- ies products be granted to any pacp ing countries are worried that an early country under the current epa negotia- abolition of quotas will cause the tions, unless the EU fishing industry is failure of many acp sugar industries. given increased access to island Exclu- The European Union will also limit sive Economic Zones. EU officials also trade with nondemocratic regimes, opposed ffa policy on the Vessel Day which places pressure on the military- Scheme, which has been accepted by backed government in Suva. Fiji must Asian deepwater fishing nations. (The decide before 1 October 2014 whether Vessel Day Scheme allocates fishing to ratify its signature of an Interim epa days between ffa members and has with the European Union, as Papua led to increased fishing license rev- New Guinea has done, or lose key enues for Kiribati, Marshall Islands, trade advantages. Nauru, and Tuvalu.) EU Climate Commissioner Con- EU negotiators are attempting to nie Hedegaard of Denmark visited divide and rule, in spite of the stated Majuro in August for the Forum lead- commitment under the 2000 Coto- ers meeting, but her attempts to build nou agreement between the European an EU-Pacific alliance for the 2013 Union and the African, Caribbean, UN Framework Convention on Cli- and Pacific group (acp) to promote mate Change negotiations in Warsaw regional integration. In July, the were undercut by these EU machina- European Union suspended epa nego- tions over fisheries and trade. tiations after a request to introduce As payback, Forum leaders deferred significant changes in pacp national the application by to become laws dealing with the management of a Post-Forum Dialogue Partner, even fisheries resources. There was a further as Cuba was granted the status. Some impasse in negotiations in in Forum governments were angry over October, with the European Union aggressive EU fishing operations, such refusing to address Pacific agendas. as a Spanish fishing vessel being fined In December, the EU trade commis- us$1 million for illegally fishing in sioner organized a hastily convened Nauruan waters. (In contrast, Cuba meeting of pacp Trade and Fisheries has been training dozens of Islands Ministers in Solomon Islands, but medical personnel in Havana and without representation from Papua works cooperatively with fellow mem- New Guinea and Fiji, the only two bers of the Alliance of Small Island countries that have signed interim States [aosis] on climate policy.) political reviews • region in review 467

Pacific diplomats are also working and aid (though not always acting in to strengthen the acp. Fiji’s former the interests of their smaller island Foreign Minister Kaliopate Tavola neighbors). Other countries followed and Sāmoa’s former Finance Secretary suit: In April, Solomon Islands offi- Kolone Vaai were members of an acp cially opened a new diplomatic mis- Eminent Persons Group discussing the sion in Havana, to support more than future of the acp Group and its rela- 100 medical students studying in the tions with the European Union. After Cuban capital. In August, Solomon a visit by the group to the region in Islands’ first resident ambassador in March, a further meeting was held in Malaysia presented his credentials. Sāmoa in October, preceding consulta- The following month, the Solomon tions in the Caribbean and Africa. Islands deputy prime minister told the The strengthening of the pacp, UN General Assembly, “We intend to with a new regional secretariat in Port strengthen our ties with the wider Asia Moresby, reflected additional indepen- and Pacific region, including dent diplomatic activity outside of the [the Association of South East Asian Pacific Islands Forum. Nations] and India” (Maelanga 2013). Island perspectives on the new While facing criticism for its eco- regionalism were best summarized by nomic policies, constitutional vandal- Roch Wamytan, the New Caledonian ism, and restraint of domestic political member of the 2013 msg Eminent debate, the Bainimarama regime has Persons Group. When interviewed been active on the regional and inter- in Majuro in September, the Kanak national stage. leader told me that the major pow- Over five years, Fiji has increased ers must respect the growing sense the number of overseas embassies of autonomy in Island nations: “You from eleven to seventeen and is seek- see this across the region, especially ing to expand the Pacific region’s links with the Melanesians but also with to emerging powers in the developing the Polynesians and Micronesians. All world. This diplomatic dynamism has of us want a certain autonomy and reinforced growing debate about the to cease constantly being under the Forum’s preeminence and the indepen- influence of the colonial powers—or dent role of subregional institutions, even the larger nations like Australia including the Melanesian Spearhead and New Zealand. We want to have Group (msg), the Micronesian Chief a space where we can talk amongst Executives meeting, and the Polyne- ourselves without each time having sian Leaders Group (plg). to refer to the big countries, each of plg criticism of the military regime which have their own interests and in Fiji has been undercut by the desire agendas.” of the Australian and New Zealand The two largest Melanesian governments to rebuild relations with nations, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, Suva, where they perceive grow- expanded their regional and interna- ing political influence from China tional roles, campaigning for South- and other Asian powers. The Pacific South engagement and advancing their Islands Forum Ministerial Contact own agenda on trade, , Group visited Fiji in April, meeting 468 the contemporary pacific • 26:2 (2014)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke bati, and Federated States of Micro­ Kubuabola and Attorney General nesia. (Australia and New Zealand Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. sent observers, but the Samoan gov- Suspended from Forum meetings ernment, long critical of the Bainima- since 2009, Fiji has attempted to rama regime, declined to attend.) create new fora for Pacific nations to One practical outcome of the pidf hold discussions on an Island-centered was an agreement between Baini- agenda. This foreign policy was marama and Gusmao for members ­highlighted at the Melanesian Spear- of the Fiji Volunteer Service to work head Group summit in New Cale­do­nia in Timor-Leste in education and in June and at the inaugural meeting other sectors, with a memorandum of the Pacific Islands Development of ­understanding being signed in Forum (pidf), held in Fiji in August. ­November. This latter initiative by the Bainima- Critics of the military regime have rama regime, which received funding suggested that the pidf may not support from China, Kuwait, and survive beyond Fiji’s reintegration into the United Arab Emirates, serves two the Forum, after scheduled elections purposes: as a mechanism for debate in September 2014. However, Prime about sustainable development in Minister Bainimarama has stated that the Islands, but also as an alternative there will be no reduction of support meeting place to the Forum, perceived for the pidf: “This is a new initia- as dominated by Australia and New tive by Fiji to bolster relationships Zealand. According to University of between the island countries and allow the South Pacific academic Sandra us to try to work out our problems Tarte: “The pidf reflects a new dyna- without external interference. Fiji’s mism that has characterized Pacific problem with the Pacific Forum is regionalism over the past few years that it’s dominated by Australia and and that has challenged the estab- New Zealand and they largely set lished donor-dominated crop system. the agenda. They’ve got a couple of Within this more fluid environment Polynesian countries in their back Pacific states have sought to take con- pockets and managed to get Fiji sus- trol of regional processes and agendas pended. Fine. We’re not interested in (whether fisheries, trade, or secu- coming back. We want a new regional rity) through promoting alternative structure without the Aussies and regional frameworks and alliances” Kiwis that more reflects the concerns (Tarte 2013, 6). of Pacific Island nations. So this new A unique feature of the pidf is that body allows us to try to find solutions it included governments, business, to our own problems, not solutions and civil society organizations on an prescribed by our larger neighbours” equal footing. The inaugural meeting (Bainimarama 2013a). discussed regional definitions of sus- The Fiji government created a tainability and development, providing new pidf Secretariat and in October a platform for Timor-Leste President granted diplomatic status to the head- Xanana Gusmao, alongside leaders quarters as an international organiza- from Solomon Islands, Nauru, Kiri- tion under the Diplomatic Privileges political reviews • region in review 469 and Immunities Act of 1971. This in the international agenda” (Chaud- gives the pidf rights similar to those hary 2013). of other UN and crop agencies hosted In spite of these diplomatic ini- in the country. It also reinforced­ a tiatives, it is not all smooth sailing. sense of competition with the Suva- There are tensions within and between based Forum Secretariat, which was members of the Forum, the msg, and the only major regional agency not the plg over controversial topics like represented at the founding pidf Fiji’s democracy, West Papua, trade, meeting. and decolonization. Throughout the year, Fiji served msg unity was challenged in 2013 as chair of the (g77) by a complex debate over West Papua plus China—the first time a Pacific and relations with Indonesia. Trade Island nation has led this 132-member and aid links are growing between bloc of developing nations within the Port Moresby, Suva, and Jakarta, but United Nations. Taking up the chair- there is also significant Melanesian manship in January, Bainimarama solidarity in favor of self-determina- stated: “Today, South-South coopera- tion for the West Papuan people, who tion remains our primary focus. The face ongoing human rights abuses by exchange of resources, technology the Indonesian police and military. (At and knowledge between developing year’s end, more than seventy political nations has increased in importance prisoners were in jail in West Papua, and scope, and we believe strongly in with more than 530 arrests of pro- South-South cooperation as a comple- independence activists during 2013.) ment to North-South cooperation” The West Papua National Council (Bainimarama 2013b). for Liberation (wpncl), which has In May, the Fiji government hosted an information office in Port Vila, the “g77 plus China Panel of Emi- formally applied for membership at nent Personalities of the South” at the msg leaders summit in June (in Natadola, to update the Development line with the precedent of the flnks Platform for the South (Khor 2013). independence movement being a full msg prime ministers and a range of msg member in place of the Govern- ambassadors and ment of New Caledonia). wpncl lead- experts were joined by President Evo ers were formally invited to attend and Morales of Bolivia, who takes over as address the msg summit in Noumea, g77 chair in 2014. to the annoyance of Indonesia, which Following the meeting, Bainima- already has observer status. In spite of rama stated: “In the interests of global lobbying by West Papuan representa- harmony, equity and development, tives, the msg leaders agreed to defer we must strengthen the development the wpncl application until a delega- commitments of North-South, South- tion of Melanesian foreign ministers South and triangular co-operation. . . . could visit Jakarta and Jayapura. We have also agreed on the need to The summit revealed that Vanuatu reinforce the co-ordination of develop- and New Caledonia’s flnks are more ing countries in our policy and joint supportive of wpncl membership, negotiating positions on major issues while Papua New Guinea and Fiji 470 the contemporary pacific • 26:2 (2014) have much closer ties to Indonesia donia’s flnks provides a crucial (with the Bainimarama regime build- platform for the Kanak independence ing economic and political links with movement as the French dependency the Asian power through the Non- moves to May 2014 congressional Aligned Movement and g77). Solomon elections. (By a three-fifths majority, Islands has swung closer to Indonesia the incoming Congress can decide as well, with Prime Minister Gor- to proceed to a referendum on self- don Darcy Lilo traveling to Jakarta determination before 2018.) In its in August on a trade mission, which role as msg chair, the flnks has the Vanuatu government perceived an important platform for gaining as an effort to undercut the foreign international support. A month after ministers’ delegation. Vanuatu later the msg summit, Forum Chair Sir boycotted the mission to West Papua of the Cook Islands led a after Indonesia transformed the trip long-delayed Forum mission to New into a trade mission and refused access Caledonia to review the progress of to pro-independence church and civil the 1998 Noumea Accord—the first society representatives during a brief official Forum visit in eight years. The visit to Jayapura. United Nations sent a formal mission Greater solidarity was shown with in March 2014 to investigate disputes the Maohi self-determination move- over the electoral roll for the crucial ment in French Polynesia, led by May elections. Oscar Manutahi Temaru. In a major Following the postcoup collapse breakthrough after years of lobby- of the Fiji Human Rights Commis- ing, a consensus resolution of the UN sion (the only one of its type in the General Assembly in May reinscribed Islands), the Asia-Pacific Forum for French Polynesia on the UN list of National Human Rights Institutions non-self-governing territories, even as has been investigating the establish- Temaru lost the election for the local ment of national human rights insti- assembly in Tahiti. tutions in other Forum Island coun- The UN resolution, fiercely tries. After the Parliament of opposed by the French government passed the Ombudsman (Komesina O and incoming French Polynesian Sulufaiga) Act of 2013, the National President Gaston Flosse, was initi- Human Rights Institution of Samoa ated by Solomon Islands, Nauru, and was officially launched on Interna- Tuvalu, with active support from other tional Human Rights Day, 10 Decem- Island nations (Maclellan 2013b). It ber. The Forum Secretariat has also opens the way for greater interna- been promoting national consultations tional scrutiny of ’s policies in on human rights, with meetings held French Polynesia: in December, the in Vanuatu, Palau, and during UN General Assembly decided to the year. send a mission to French Polynesia to A focus on human rights in Austra- investigate the economic, social, and lia was the campaign by the Australian environmental impacts of thirty years South Sea Islander (assi) community of French nuclear testing. to mark the 150th anniversary of the msg solidarity with New Cale- 1863 arrival of the schooner Don political reviews • region in review 471

Juan. The vessel’s landfall in Aus- issues of security, joining other civil tralia, carrying sixty-seven Islanders society organizations in May for a to work on the Queensland cotton regional dialogue on conflict, peace, plantations, was the start of the and security at the Forum Secretariat. blackbirding era. By the end of the More than two hundred delegates nineteenth century, nearly sixty thou- attended the 12th Triennial Confer- sand Melanesians had been coerced, ence of Pacific Women in Rarotonga kidnapped, or indentured to work in October, debating representation in in cotton fields and sugarcane farms parliament, sexual and reproductive across Queensland and northern New rights, and violence in the home and South Wales. community. The Australian-born descendants In July, the Regional Assistance of those Melanesian workers orga- Mission to Solomon Islands (ramsi) nized in 2013 to remember the Pacific celebrated its tenth anniversary in labor trade and to assert contem- Honiara, with Forum Secretary-Gen- porary demands. Between June and eral Slade noting that “ramsi stands August, there were exhibitions and out as an example of regional coop- talks across Queensland, together with eration and partnership at its best” ceremonies in Port Vila in July. The (pifs 2013c). anniversary year ended in November ramsi is winding down, with with a conference to elect a National the removal of military forces from assi Secretariat, which will lobby for Solomon Islands and, beginning 1 July greater recognition. 2013, the transition from ramsi’s The Pacific ecumenical movement development assistance programs to has also continued to advocate for bilateral agreements with Australia, human rights, self-determination, New Zealand, and other donors. trade, and environmental issues. This The only truly regional component social justice agenda was mandated of ramsi, with staff from all six- by the 10th General Assembly of teen Forum member countries, is the the Pacific Conference of Churches Participating Police Force, which will (pcc), held in Honiara in March. pcc continue until 2017. General Secretary Reverend François Post-ramsi, Papua New Guinea is Pihaatae of French Polynesia has working with Fiji on regional peace­ called for action on nuclear issues: keeping. Military leaders from Suva “We must speak out, for if we remain and Port Moresby have agreed to silent the larger countries will be pool together their forces under a under the misconception that their new defense cooperation agreement testing, development and construction incorporating the Republic of Fiji of nuclear weapons are acceptable. . . . Military Forces (rfmf) and the Papua That is why we will continue to call New Guinea Defence Force. The for a global ban on nuclear weapons. Melanesian Spearhead Group began These weapons are no good for the looking at an msg Police Formed Unit Pacific and no good for the world” in 2011, to send police officers on (ican 2014, 5). international peacekeeping missions. Women’s groups were active on At their June 2013 summit in New 472 the contemporary pacific • 26:2 (2014)

Caledonia, this concept was expanded policies to coordinate police, customs, as msg leaders endorsed the establish- immigration, and defense forces. ment of a Department of Peacekeeping At the spdmm, defense minis- ­Operations. ters agreed on new regional war Fiji is looking beyond traditional games to be called Exercise Povai allies for military training and equip- Endeavour. The Australian govern- ment. In May, Prime Minister Baini- ment announced the extension of its marama traveled to China to meet Pacific Patrol Boat Program, which Premier Li Keqiang and President has provided vessels and naval advi- Xi Jinping. He also announced talks sors to Island governments since the with Russian President Vladimir Putin 1980s. Under a new Pacific Maritime while in Moscow for the Rugby ­Sevens Security Program, aging patrol boats World Cup in June. A Fiji military will be replaced after 2018. Western ­delegation visited China in Novem- powers will increase maritime surveil- ber, led by Minister for Defence and lance programs in Island exclusive National Security Joketani Cokanasiga economic zones through the Quadri- and the rfmf chief of staff, Brigadier lateral Defence Coordination Group. General Mohammed Aziz. The delega- After a series of meetings to pre- tion met China’s Minister of National pare the ground, the United States Defense General Chang Wanquan to and New Zealand announced the discuss cooperation and exchanges formal resumption of bilateral military between the rfmf and the People’s cooperation. Regional tours in 2010 Liberation Army. and 2012 by former US Secretary of Perceiving that China and other State Hillary Clinton and US Secretary developing powers are expanding of Defense Leon Panetta announced a their political influence in the Islands revised policy on ship visits, but this region, the Australia–New Zealand– was formally confirmed in Octo- United States Security Treaty () ber 2013 by Obama administration allies have been seeking to improve Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and their own strategic dialogue. NZ Minister of Defence Jonathan In May, the inaugural South Pacific Coleman. Defence Ministers Meeting (spdmm) The decision comes nearly thirty was held in Nuku‘alofa. Ministers, years after the US government ambassadors, and military officers imposed a military embargo on New from Australia, New Zealand, Papua Zealand, after Wellington banned all New Guinea, Tonga, France, and nuclear armed and powered vessels (but not Fiji) met with observers­ from entering NZ waters. US and from the United States and the United NZ agencies secretly resumed intel- Kingdom in the first of a series of ligence sharing in 2009, but the latest annual summits (Maclellan 2013a). announcement opens the way for joint The same month, the Forum Secre- exercises and naval exchanges. A New tariat and the United Nations Devel- Zealand warship will visit Pearl Har- opment Program convened a meeting bor, Hawai‘i, as part of the rimpac in Fiji on “Security Sector Governance 2014 naval exercises, the first such in the Pacific,” to propose national visit in more than three decades. political reviews • region in review 473

Australia and Papua New Guinea against Brazilian and French energy held their inaugural bilateral Defence and oil corporations (Coppola 2013). Ministers Meeting on 10 December, Revelations over Australian intel- and Port Moresby will host the next ligence operations against Indonesia regional spdmm in 2014, a reflec- and Timor-Leste have sparked concern tion of broader security coordination in Pacific countries, with PNG Prime between Canberra, Wellington, and Minister Peter O’Neill stating: “We Port Moresby (Maclellan 2014b, 25). know this might be happening, but it Just before Christmas, PNG Prime would certainly be a breach of trust. Minister O’Neill launched the coun- Among friends, this is not necessary. try’s first ever National Security Policy If there are issues to be discussed, all and an updated Defence White Paper, they have to do is pick up the phone after increasing defense spending to and give us a call, as they do on many 188 million kina (a$94 million) in the other matters. Under our laws, it is 2013 PNG budget. illegal to tap phones, a serious crimi- Regional security issues also came nal matter” (Callick 2013, 22). to the fore with the release of docu- American and allied agencies have ments by US whistle-blower Edward also bugged trade and climate sum- Snowden, which revealed signals mits, including UN meetings and the ­intelligence operations by the US . US agencies intercepted com- National Security Agency (nsa) and munications before and during the affiliated agencies from the United 2009 Copenhagen climate negotia- Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, tions, monitoring EU, g77, and aosis and Canada (the so-called five eyes positions, with leaked nsa documents alliance). ­stating: “Signals intelligence will Documents released by Snowden undoubtedly play a significant role show that the nsa and its partners in keeping our negotiators as well have monitored the phones of the informed as possible throughout the leaders of Germany, France, Brazil, two-week event” (Gjerding and others and Indonesia. The Australian Signals 2014). Directorate (asd) was revealed to be Former Central Intelligence Agency monitoring the personal phones of Director Michael Hayden has stated Indonesian President Susilo Bambang that, unlike the Chinese government, Yudhoyono, his wife, and key officials. the United States does not use its The government of Timor-Leste surveillance capacity for economic has also raised concern over reports purposes: “We steal these secrets to that the Australian Secret Intelligence keep our citizens free and safe. We Service (asis) had bugged government don’t steal secrets to make our citizens offices in Dili during 2004 discus- rich” (Potter 2014, 21). However, sions on the Timor Gap Treaty, which documents from the Snowden cache governs maritime boundaries and oil directly contradict this assertion. The reserves in the waters between Aus- New York Times revealed that Austra- tralia and Timor-Leste. Newspapers lia’s asd had gathered information on reported that US intelligence agencies Indonesian trade negotiations with the have engaged in commercial espionage United States and had offered to share 474 the contemporary pacific • 26:2 (2014) this information with the US govern- Chaudhary, Felix. 2013. Bainimarama ment (Risen and Poitras 2014). Calls on UN for Progress of South. In December 2013, Australian Fiji Times, 9 May. Attorney General George Brandis Coppola, Gabrielle. 2013. Snowden approved raids by the Australian Documents Show U.S. Spied on Petrobras, Security Intelligence Organisation Globo tv Reports. Bloomberg.com, (asio) on the lawyer who is mounting 9 September. Timor-Leste’s arbitration case against gfdrr, Global Facility for Disaster Australia before the International ­Reduction and Recovery. 2013. Cook Court of Justice on disputed maritime Islands Joins Pilot Program to Insure boundaries and oil revenues. The asio against Natural Disasters. Undated post raided the home of the senior asis on gfdrr website: ­https://www.gfdrr.org/ intelligence officer who was report- node/27853 [accessed 13 March 2014] edly involved in the bugging of Timor Gjerding, Sebastian, Anton Geist, Henrik government offices in , when 2004 Moltke, and Laura Poitras. 2014. For the former Foreign Minister Alexander nsa, Espionage Was a Means to Strengthen Downer was in government. (Today, the US Position in Climate Negotiation. Downer’s consulting company has a Information (Denmark), 30 January. contract with Woodside Petroleum, http://www.information.dk/486360 the transnational corporation involved [accessed 12 March 2014] in Timor Sea oil exploration.) Hay, John, and Cristelle Pratt. 2013. The potential revelation of similar Roadmap towards a Strategy for Disas- activities in the Pacific Islands may ter and Climate Resilient Development complicate relations at a crucial time in the Pacific (srdp) by 2015. September. for Pacific regionalism. Noumea: Secretariat of the Pacific Com- nic maclellan munity. ican, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. 2014. Banning Nuclear References Weapons: A Pacific Islands Perspective. ican report presented to the Second adb, . 2013. Eco- ­Conference on the Humanitarian Impact nomics of Climate Change in the Pacific. of Nuclear Weapons, Nayarit, Mexico, adb report 26, November. Manila: adb. 12–14 February. Bainimarama, Voreqe. 2013a. Radio interview with Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Khor, Martin. 2013. South Leaders Brain- Bainimarama. Radio Tarana, 26 July. storm South-South Cooperation, in a Pacific Setting. Southnews 30, 3 June. ———. 2013b. Statement by His Excel- lency Mr. J. V. Bainimarama, Prime Laporte, Geert, and Gemma Piñol Puig. Min­ister of the Republic of Fiji, on the 2013. Reinventing Pacific-EU Relations: Occasion of Fiji’s Assumption of the With or Without the acp? ecdpm Briefing Chairmanship of the Group of 77. note 56, October. New York, January. 15 Maclellan, Nic. 2013a. Canberra Plan Callick, Rowan. 2013. O’Neill Govt’s Tightens Defence Ties, But What Does It New Development Template. Islands Busi- Mean to Islands Countries? Islands Busi- ness, December. ness, June. political reviews • region in review 475

———. 2013b. “Hijacking Decolonisa- Pasisi, Coral, Scott Hook, Ryan Medrana, tion”: French Polynesia at the United Kevin Petrini, and Exsley Taloburi. 2013a. Nations. Inside Story, 31 May. http:// Pacific Climate Change Finance Assess- inside.org.au/highjacking-decolonisation ment Framework. Final report, May. Suva: -french-polynesia-at-the-united-nations/ pifs. http://www.forumsec.org/resources/ [accessed 12 March 2014] uploads/embeds/file/PCCFAF_Final _Report.pdf [accessed 12 March 2014] ———. 2013c. msg Aims “to Restructure the Pacific Landscape”: Summit Supports ———. 2013b. Pacific Climate Change Kanak and West Papuan Self-Determina- Finance Assessment Framework: Nauru tion. Islands Business, July. Case Study. Final report, May. Suva: pifs. http://www.forumsec.org/ ———. 2013d. PNG Rolls Out Aid resources/uploads/embeds/file/PCCFAF Program for Pacific. Islands Business _NauruCaseStudy_Final%20Report.pdf (web), September. http://www 6 [accessed 12 March 2014] .islandsbusiness.com/news/44th-pacific -islands-forum/2779/png-rolls-out-aid pifs, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. -program-for-pacific/ [accessed 12 March 2013a. Clarifications on the Article Pub- 2014] lished by the Fiji Times. Statement by the pifs, 12 December. ———. 2013e. Stopping the Cheques. Inside Story, 22 November. http://inside ———. 2013b. Climate Change Funds .org.au/stopping-the-cheques/ [accessed Critical for Pacific Islands. pifs press state- 12 March 2014] ment 46/13, no date. ———. 2014a. Bishop Announces oda ———. 2013c. Pacific Islands Forum Cuts and Reviews. Islands Business, Meeting to Discuss the Regional Assistance March. Mission to Solomon Islands (ramsi). pifs press statement 23/13, 17 May. ———. 2014b. PNG Launches First National Security Policy. Islands Business, Potter, Ben. 2014. I Spy with My Big Eye. February. Australian Financial Review, 2 January. Maelanga, Manasseh. 2013. Statement Risen, James, and Laura Poitras. 2014. by Deputy Prime Minister of the Solomon Spying by N.S.A. Ally Entangled U.S. Law Islands Manasseh Maelanga, 68th session, Firm. New York Times, 15 February. UN General Assembly, New York, 28 September. sis, Smaller Islands States. 2013. Smaller Island States Leaders Frustrated over Morauta, Mereke. 2013. Presentation on Climate Change Inaction. Smaller Islands the Pacific Plan Review, by the Rt. Hon. States Leaders meeting statement, Majuro, Sir Mekere Morauta, Review Chair. Pacific Marshall Islands, 3 September. Island Forum Leaders meeting, Majuro, Tarte, Sandra. . A New Regional 4 September. 2013 Pacific Voice? An Observer’s Perspective Pacific Plan Review. 2013. Pacific Plan on the Pacific Islands Development Forum Review: Report to Pacific Leaders. (pidf), Inaugural Summit, Denarau, Fiji, Volume 1. Suva: pifs. 5–7 August 2013. Pacific Islands Brief 4, 28 August. Honolulu: East-West Center. Pareti, Samisoni. 2013. Pacific Trade Talks “Waste of Time”: PNG. Islands Vuibau, Tevita. 2013. Fiji Pulls Out. Business (web), 20 May. Fiji Times, 11 December.