Up Front
pp. 4-5 · Read in the full issue
with the Editor
INDONESIAN Foreign Minister, Dr Adam Malik, is pushing for the establishment of a South Pacific sub regional organisation which would in clude Australia, NZ, Indonesia and
Png.
He discussed the plan on his November visit to Australia, NZ and PNG, but it has not got to the stage of detailed development. If all the governments are agreed on one thing it is that more details are required.
Mr Malik’s idea embraces the poss ibility also of including other inde pendent South Pacific countries, and in this respect it could cut across the South Pacific Forum (comprising Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Nauru, Australia, NZ and soon PNG). Indonesia regards itself as both an Asian and a Pacific country and a bridgehead between Asia and the South Pacific. 1 think it probably is, and although that view might immediately be acceptable to PNG, I think it is too early for it to find acceptance among the Island members of the Forum, who are still attempting to work out a permanent satisfactory relationship with Aust ralia and NZ.
The possibility of having to listen to Messrs Suharto and Whitlam ex panding on the state of the Pacific would be just too much for some of the Forum leaders, who don’t have quite the same regard for Mr Whit lam as a statesman as he has for him self. To be blunt, his sincerity is in question with them. They wonder if he really has the Islanders' interest at heart, or is paying lip service.
Personally I think Mr Whitlam is a refreshing Australian Prime Minister but his personal relations with Island leaders are certainly not what they might be.
THE Republic of Nauru goes to the polls in mid-December for its second general election since inde pendence in 1968. Under the consti
tution the position of president comes up for grabs. President Deßoburt is the architect of Nauruan indepen dence, and still head and shoulders above any rivals for leadership. He feels he’s only now getting to grips with the problems that have faced the young republic, and there’s not the remotest chance of him not being re appointed. But from what I hear, the same may not be said about some of the “old guard” in the Nauruan cabinet, who will face opposition both at the ballot box and for cabinet re-selection. Younger Nauruans feel it’s time for change, and this time they might be influential. \|/’EST SAMOAN poet and author n Albert Wendt told a Sydney Opera House audience that the $lOO million spent on erecting that vast new building could have provided Western Samoa with its entire income for the next 10 years.
And Papuan poet John Kasaipwa lova, from the Trobriands, told the same audience that most Australians who went to Papua New Guinea to work were a pain in the neck, who gave nothing in return for what they took from the country. Each then pro ceeded to give a reading of his poetry to a stimulated hall.
Meanwhile, out in Sydney sub urbia, Fijian actors Manoa Rasigatale and Stanley Nagatalevu, two of the leads in the Fiji play “Pritchard”, were getting fascinated Australian playgoers to realise that Fijians might actually have a long history of in telligence, humanity and insight.
The 300 Islanders who brought the South Pacific to Australia in Octo ber-Nevember to mark the official opening of the Sydney Opera House left an impact that was considerably more impressive than you’d get from a mere song and dance act. There was plenty of song and dance, of course. But all of it was more vital than the “Hawaiian love song” stuff
that passes for Island music outside of the Islands.
Sydney saw and heard chants and legends, epic myths, colourful mekes, drum dances, bamboo bands. The spectacular 12 ft high feathered head dresses of Papua’s Mekeo dancers brought gasps at the crowded main Opera House concert that I attended.
Sydney’s streets were filled with joy and clash of rhythms; bank managers, to their surprise, got caught up in the dancing in Hyde Park.
The Family of Man Service—the open air ecumenical gathering at the end of the main festivities—was an extraordinary Sunday afternoon which gave us such variety as the Royal Fiji Police Band, Sione Aleki and his Tongan trio in a Tongan hymn, Fijian Manoa Rasigatale with Victor Rounds accompanying, singing Kalou Vu, a beautiful song he composed for the occasion, farewelling the old Fiji gods, and traditional singing by the Cook Islands National Arts Theatre.
Gifts from all over the Islands were presented to the Opera House in a spectacular symbolic offering—Maori carvings, fine hats, mats and baskets from the Cooks, a New Guinea dance mask from the Sepik, a full dance costume from the Banabans (with a miniature map of their old home.
Ocean Islands, carved from phosphate rock), a magnificent carved drum from the Solomons, a kava bowl and fly whisk from Western Samoa, a lali and masi from Fiji, more tapa from Tonga.
That husband and wife team of impressarios with souls, Victor Carell and Beth Dean, must be pleased with themselves over the success of it all.
Stuart Inder