Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (23 November 2019): PNG, Marshall Islands, Nauru

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Beyond Hong Kong: China censors freedom of expression in the Pacific. The military threat of the Chinese Communist Party’s People’s Liberation Army Navy in the South China Sea is well-known. Less obvious is the subversion of Pacific island Countries by exploiting corruption in their local governments

https://noqreport.com/2019/11/18/beyond-hong-kong-china-censors-freedom-expression-pacific/

 

PNG:

Paraka seeks to stop indictment presentation. A motion seeking to stop the Public Prosecutor from performing his function, in presenting an ex-officio indictment in court to proceed a criminal trial against the principal of Paraka lawyers, will be heard in the National court next month.

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/paraka-seeks-stop-indictment-presentation-88413

 

MARSHALL ISLANDS:

Exclusion of postal votes protects integrity - Marshalls' President. The Marshall Islands President says a court decision ruling out postal voting by overseas citizens will protect the integrity of the voting system.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/403444/exclusion-of-postal-votes-protects-integrity-marshalls-president

 

NAURU:

Trial begins over 2015 anti-government protest on Nauru. The long-delayed trial of a group of activists and former politicians involved in an anti-government corruption protest on Nauru in 2015 began in the country’s High Court on November 14. The so-called ‘Nauru 19’—now reduced to 15 people—face charges including rioting and disrupting the legislature.

 

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:

Annika Wythes, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, annika.wythes@un.org

Marine Destrez, Anti-Corruption Specialist – Pacific a.i., UNDP, marine.destrez@undp.org

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

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