Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (31 July 2014) -- Solomon Islands, Fiji, West Papua, PNG, Tonga

-
[Facilitator's note: Thank you to Tony Prescott, Annika Wythes, Isikeli Valemei, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Singh of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project, for sending these updates.]

SOLOMON ISLANDS:
Concerns over vote buying in Solomon Islands
Transparency Solomon Islands wants the Electoral Commission and government to help stamp out vote buying ahead of this year's elections. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/concerns-over-vote-buying-in-solomon-islands/1348331
Tubi log case returns to court
The case involving a Taiwanese national will return to court on August 13. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/3083-tubi-log-case-returns-to-court
Solomons police boss under scrutiny
The Solomon Islands police force has come under criticism for the appointment of a man accused of manufacturing a riot at an Australian offshore detention centre. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/250775/solomons-police-boss-under-scrutiny

FIJI:
Declare currency
THE total value of currency declared by travellers in the Boarder Currency Reports (BCR) last year was $22.1million compared with $14.6m in 2012. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=275610
Fiji Election Office releases provisional list of voters, 570,000 plus registered for election 
The Fijian Elections Office has released the provisional list of voters for the 2014 General Elections. http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/fiji/5885/fiji-election-office-releases-provisional-list-of-/

WEST PAPUA:
Forum leaders urged to speak on West Papua
The Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Palau have been urged to discuss human rights violations in West Papua. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/250863/forum-leaders-urged-to-speak-on-west-papua

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:
PNG Finance Minister seeks injunction against arrest
Papua New Guinea's Finance Minister James Marape has filed a Supreme Court application seeking a temporary injunction against any arrest move on him. http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/papua-new-guinea/5887/png-finance-minister-seeks-injunction-against-arre/

PNG court keeps Taskforce Sweep

Papua New Guinea's national court has permanently stayed an attempt by the National Executive Council to disband the anti-corruption unit Taskforce Sweep. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/250823/png-court-keeps-taskforce-sweep

TONGA:
Prospective Tongan women MPs trained
Thirty women who are potential candidates for Tonga's November election have met in Nuku'alofa for a one-week training workshop on campaigning and leadership. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/250554/prospective-tongan-women-mps-trained

Popular posts from this blog

The Pacific - Nepal - Eastern Europe & Central Asia

-
[Blog] How are perceptions of corruption in seven small Pacific countries? Larger Pacific Island neighbors are often garnering the lion's share of attention both from researchers and policy makers. How are the experiences of corruption in countries like Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), The Cook Islands, Palau, and Nauru? DevPolicy Blog: https://devpolicy.org/perceptions-of-corruption-in-seven-small-pacific-island-countries-20230223/   [Opinion] Two decades of new anti-corruption law in Nepal: Why it missed its mark. According to a Nepalese journalist, the Anti-Corruption law and Prevention of Corruption act of 2002 laid the foundation for numerous investigations, scandals, and court cases. To a large extent, they did however fail to enable significant conviction and return of assets. Online Khabar: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/anti-corruption-law-missing-target.html   [Blog] Growing security risks and authoritarian
Read more

Middle East & North Africa - Ukraine - Sri Lanka

-
Corruption fuels ongoing conflict. The Middle East and North Africa has been in a decline on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for years. The region is also ranked as the "least peaceful region" according to the Global Peace Index. Transparency International (TI) argues that corruption, conflict, and security are profoundly intertwined. TI: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2022-middle-east-north-africa-corruption-fuels-ongoing-conflict   [Opinion] Ukraine's corruption purge is setting the stage for private investment-driven recovery. Corruption is regarded as a key threat to the Ukrainian economy, depriving public budgets and discouraging foreign direct investments (FDI). The current administration has taken strong anti-corruption action, and the country has witnessed a significant increase in FDI in recent years, says author. DevDiscourse: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/business/2353089-ukraines-corruption-purge-setting-stage-
Read more

Global - Sub-Saharan Africa - Turkey & Syria

-
Invisible Trillions review: Global capitalism operates beyond the rule of law and threatens democracy. Raymond W. Baker's new book "Invisible Trillions" argues that "secrecy has become as important for corporations as transparent and taxable profits used to be". "Only radical improvements across the globe in financial transparency and accountability, and in regulatory capacity and integrity, can break this cycle of political decay and despair". The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/invisible-trillions-review-global-capitalism-operates-beyond-the-rule-of-law-and-threatens-democracy-199311   [Blog] The dynamics of violent extremism in sub-Saharan Africa. There is no better environment for the expansion of violent extremist groups than a vacuum in state authority. These groups begin to compete with the state and may even be initially attractive to communities weary of years of lawlessness, corruption, and chaos according to autho
Read more