Thailand's Prime Minister suspended amid political turmoil
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RNZ News
26 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Bamboo School - caring for orphans next to a conflict zone
Running an orphanage and an ambulance service is no easy feat, but when you're also right next to a civil war, there are a lot more complications. Catherine Riley-Bryan is a New Zealander and founder of Bamboo School , located in a village called Bong Ti in western Thailand, right next to the Myanmar border. Myanmar has had a troubled history of civil war in recent years, the latest conflict started just four years ago, when the army seized power from the civilian government. Since then, ethnic militias and anti-coup fighters have been trying to wrestle back power. But recently the conflict has become extremely fierce sparking fears of evacuating the school at any moment. Catherine speaks with Mihi about what it's like running an orphanage and ambulance service right next to a conflict zone. Catherine Riley-Bryan with some of the children at Bamboo School in Thailand. Photo: Supplied / Catherine Riley-Bryan
RNZ News
17 hours ago
- RNZ News
Prime Minister's office only given hour's notice before Winston Peters' speech dismissing 'trade war'
Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Prime Minister's office was only given an hour's notice of the contents of a speech by the Foreign Affairs minister, in which Winston Peters criticised the language used by politicians regarding a "trade war." While Peters did not name Christopher Luxon in his speech, it was seen as a veiled swing at a series of phone calls the Prime Minister made to other world leaders over US tariffs , and the lack of notice he had been given ahead of a Foreign Policy speech by the Prime Minister a few days earlier. Correspondence first obtained by Newsroom and also released to RNZ show the communications Peters' office had with officials ahead of the speech in Hawai'i, and the notice it gave the Prime Minister's office. On 10 April, the Prime Minister delivered a speech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in which he said free trade was "worth fighting for" and raised the idea of CPTPP and European Union nations working together to champion rules-based trade. He also announced his intention to speak to other world leaders about trade, amid the tariffs which had then-recently been announced by US President Donald Trump. The same afternoon, Peters told reporters at Parliament such remarks were "all very premature," and confirmed the Prime Minister had not discussed with him the idea of getting CPTPP and EU nations together. A day later, Peters was in Tonga, and during a press conference advised politicians to "tone down" and wait for the dust to settle. "Markets lose their nerve. Share market speculators lose their nerve. Politicians should not lose their nerve." He also said the Prime Minister should consult with him. "He didn't check it out when he made that speech and made those phone calls. And so I hope that he'll get my message and he'll call me next time." From there, Peters was off to Hawai'i, and delivered a speech in Honolulu. He told a gathering at the East-West Centre the "tendency to hype up a debate about how international trade works into a black-and-white, polarising issue has been unfortunate and misguided" and criticised "military language" like "trade war" and the "need to fight." Peters said such language "has at times come across as hysterical and short-sighted." WhatsApp messages show Peters' senior foreign affairs adviser Michael Appleton informed staff in the Prime Minister and Trade Minister's offices about the quote Peters had given reporters at Parliament about the Prime Minister's idea to get the CPTPP and EU together to talk trade being "premature", as well as the responses he gave reporters in Tonga about the tariff approach. On 12 April, he also gave the group a heads up that Peters would be giving a speech in Honolulu, and that they would get an advance copy once it was finalised. In a separate WhatsApp group with Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, Appleton informed them Peters had "decided" to "deliver brief (5-10 minute) remarks" about the US/NZ relationship in Hawai'i. Appleton said he would work on a draft on the six-hour flight to Honolulu, using the "existing briefing/comms pack" and Peters' instructions as a guide. "But warning you I'll want some reactions to a draft text later today once we have arrived in Honolulu," he said. The responses to Appleton's message were redacted. Via email, Appleton informed senior diplomats and officials of Peters' intention to deliver the speech on US/NZ relations, and sent them a draft. "It has been written to his instructions, and he has signed it off (subject to same [sic] final tweaking tonight). So the scope for further edits is limited." The recipients included the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Bede Corry, the US Ambassador Rosemary Banks, MFAT's deputy secretary for trade and economic Vangelis Vitalis, its deputy secretary for the Asias and America Grahame Morton, Americas divisional manager James Waite, and Pacific divisional manager Sarah Lee. Appleton told the group Peters' office would alert the Prime Minister, the Trade Minister, and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet "to the fact of this speech, and then provide an advance copy one MFA has finished his tweaking. "So no need for you to do any coordination on that front." The advance copy was sent to the offices via WhatsApp an hour before Peters delivered the speech. Following the speech, Luxon said coverage had been a "media beat-up" and insisted that he and Peters were actually on the same page. "We both agree that tariffs and trade wars are bad. We both think cool, calm and collected approaches are what is needed from ourselves and from our partners. We'll continue to build out our US relationship, and we're strengthening our bilateral ones," he told Morning Report . "So from our side, whether it's Winston and I, whether it's the five ministers dealing with it, and frankly, our whole cabinet, we're very aligned on our approach." Asked on Friday about the released of the communications and the notice his office was given, Luxon told reporters he had said all he wanted to say on the matter. "I've spoken about that ages ago, I've got nothing further to say about it. As you know, we're just making sure we're upholding the rules-based trading system." Peters' office did not wish to comment further. "We have nothing to add on this issue, which was well traversed at the time." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
19 hours ago
- RNZ News
How the events of 1984 affected Indian Sikhs
Visitors at Golden Temple in Punjab, India, in 1984. Photo: Fire Fire RNZ unveiled a new documentary series titled 1984 on Monday that takes a closer look at the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India. The series comprises a one-hour main featurette and six individual episodes, tracing the journey of six members of the Indian Sikh community who immigrated to New Zealand to rebuild their lives after facing enormous tragedy. The series is made by Fire Fire, a film production company based in Whangamata, with support from NZ On Air. Tensions between the Indian government and the Sikh community existed before 1984, with the Sikhs demanding promised rights for the state of Punjab. After a 21-month state of emergency was lifted in India in 1977, unrest in Punjab continued due to political rivalries, religious violence and ongoing demands for the rights of Sikhs and the state. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, 14th leader of orthodox Sikh religious institution Damdami Taksal, rose to become a powerful, polarising figure in the state during this time. On one hand, Bhindranwale became an inspiration for those who wanted greater rights for Punjab. But others, including the Indian government, considered Bhindranwale to be a militant Sikh separatist. A man bathes near the Golden Temple in India. Photo: Fire Fire In June 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi devised a plan to flush out Bhindranwale and his supporters from the Golden Temple, where they had been living inside its compound for some time. Under the codename Operation Blue Star, the Indian Army stormed the holiest site of the Sikh religion. There was no separation between visitors at the temple and Bhindranwale's supporters. No one was permitted to leave. Many were killed. The temple suffered extensive damage as well. In October the same year, Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards. The aftermath became what was known as the 1984 Sikh massacre, also called the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Government records show nearly 3000 Sikhs were killed in Delhi and beyond within days. Non-government sources put the figure closer to 4000. Tens of thousands more were displaced and housed in temporary shelters. After the 1984 incidents, Punjab witnessed a militant insurgency that saw a whole generation impacted for nearly a decade. Seeking a safe and peaceful life, many Sikhs have migrated to New Zealand at various points over the last 40 years. The documentary series details six such stories. Each episode engages with individuals who were directly affected, offering a first-hand portrayal of their experiences and discussing the repercussions the event has had on the Sikh community in India. After the 1984 incidents, many Sikhs have migrated to New Zealand at various points in the last 40 years. Photo: Supplied Megan Whelan, chief content officer of RNZ, said 1984 was the latest history series to be added to the state broadcaster's new video hub, following Farewell Guangdong that was released earlier this year . "1984 collects deeply personal stories from Sikh migrants who came to Aotearoa following the disturbing events in India that completely changed their lives," she said. Alex Bradshaw of production company Fire Fire said initial footage for the series was shot in Auckland in the second half of 2021, with the crew travelling to India the following year. "The principal photography was done in India - mainly in Delhi and Ludhiana in Punjab during April 2022. Then post-production went for almost three years before we were able to release the series on 30 June," said Bradshaw, producer of the series. "My interactions with New Zealand Sikhs started when we were making the series Giants , where we featured the community in one of the episodes. That's when I got to know about what happened in 1984 and its aftermath. "I am grateful the community opened up to us. Some of the stories individuals shared - they hadn't even with their families after so many years. "Like one [individual] decided to cut his hair to escape a mob . I remember [him] telling us he had started wearing his turban again and reclaiming his Sikh identity only recently." Growing hair and wearing a turban are among various articles of faith for male members of the Sikh religion. Karpal Singh, director of 1984 Photo: Supplied Karpal Singh, director of the series, highlights the story of an infant girl who was left in a bus station with her young brother . "The person who killed the elders in the family didn't have the heart to kill two children," Singh said. "He left them there at the mercy of our gurus. How she survived and made her life is a miracle." Acknowledging the events surrounding Operation Blue Star in 1984 and its aftermath are "super-sensitive", Singh said the production team made sure to cover every perspective. "This is the basic requirement of honest filmmaking," he said. "It was important for us to build a rapport with the victims and go deep down in the reasons for their views. "I am proud to say we have managed to navigate well such a complex and polarising issue." Singh, who is now based in Melbourne, said the series might be the last major project on the events of 1984 and its aftermath anywhere. "These events are an obvious black mark in Indian history, which needed documentation," he said. "But the series is also about hope: How people - even after suffering such tragedy - can still rebuild their lives." Bradshaw was pleased to have achieved the main goal of the project. "[At Fire Fire] we aim to bring minority voices in New Zealand to the mainstream," he said. "I think we were able to achieve that goal with RNZ's help." Singh was looking forward to the reaction from the community and the New Zealand public in general. "My only hope is for people who have suffered so much pain and suffering find some closure and peace in life - if that's even possible," Singh said. "It was a privilege and immense responsibility on us when the victims showed us their scars, metaphorically speaking. I hope these heal over time."
