Banabans

start a civil war!

From a Suva correspondent Coveting the remarkable suc cess of Nauru in achieving inde pendence, the Banabans—the Nauruans’ one time neighbours —now want their independence.

Although they now live on Rabi Island, Fiji (see p. 37) they are willing to return to Ocean Island.

In May they asked the Committee of 24 to help support their case be fore the UN for an independent Ocean Island. The Banabans still own Ocean Island, which is being worked for phosphate.

The Banabans’ naive request is hardly likely to be accepted. In the meantime they have won for them selves the violent opposition of their friends in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, of which Ocean Island is a part.

The GEIC people have never been noted for an interest in politics but the Banaban request has really got their political backs up. In a cable to UN Secretary-General U. Thant, the Chief Elected Member in the GEIC House of Representatives, Reuben Uatoia, said the GEIC did not recognise the right of anyone, “including absentee landlords” to claim independence for Ocean Island or any other part of the GEIC. The GEIC people would oppose any application by the Banabans, who wanted “to secure undue wealth to the detriment of the rest of the terri tory”.

Path to independence

Uatoia’s cable said the GEIC was “on the certain path to independence” and did not wish to be thwarted by being deprived, through fragmenta tion, of the economic resources of any part of the colony.

The Banabans’ request to the UN was prepared by Mr. A. D. Patel, former leader of the Opposition in the Fiji Legislative Council until he and his colleagues boycotted the council last year. By-elections for their seats are yet to be held.