Pacific Report

Michael Somare’S Png Government Falls

Sir Julius Chan KBE, aged 40, was sworn in March 11 as Papua New Guinea’s second prime minister, following the collapse of prime minister Michael Somare’s coalition in a no-confidence motion, 57 votes to 49. Sir Julius, born on 1 Tanga Island, New Ireland province, and receiving secondary and tertiary education in Queensland, was elected to the PNG parliament ip 1968. Since 1970 he has been parliamentary leader of the Peoples Progress Party, which was in coalition with Michael Somare’s Pangu Party until November 1978, when Chan withdrew his support. He is a former deputy prime minister and finance minister under Somare.

He comes to power as leader of a new coalition consisting of the PPP, the National Party, the Papua Besena, part of the United Party, and the Melanesian Alliance. PNG policy under Sir Julius is unlikely to differ to any great extent from Somare’s policies and Sir Julius said overseas investors had ‘no need for alarm’. Only two days earlier the PNG govern ment gave approval for a consortium to develop at a cost of $720 million, the rich copper and gold deposits at Ok-Tedi in the Star Mountains which are expected to produce more than 15 tonnes of gold a year for the first five years.

Png Favoured For Pacific Basin’ Plan

According to Hong Kong sources, South-east Asian nations are ‘anxious that Papua New Guinea should be a founder member (of the Pacific Basin community), if only as a symbol of the event ual role the community could play in encompassing the island states of the South Pacific’. The idea of the community has been launched by Japan’s Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira,

New Hebrides To Be ‘Vanuatu’

A February session of the New Hebrides Representative As sembly decided that on its accession to independence the country’s name will be changed to ‘Vanuatu’. Like the name of the majority Vanuaaku Party, the name means ‘Our Land’ (Vanua land, atu our). Mr D. S. Walsh, a specialist in linguistics at the University of Sydney, told PIM it was possible to change the name in this way because of the wide range of forms mean ing ‘our’ in the 100-plus languages of the island group. No defi nite date for independence had been fixed as PIM went to press.

Following continued tensions on Santo and Tanna in February, there was some relaxation as a delegation of 10 members of the ‘moderate’ opposition to the Vanuaaku Party prepared to leave on February 24 for discussions with French officials in Paris, which were due to begin on February 28.

Pinochet Fiji Call - Church Protest

General Augusto Pinochet, President of Chile, was due to make a two-day visit to Fiji in March. He was to make the stopover on his way to the Philippines. The Pacific Council of Churches announced it would boycott the visit in protest against human rights violations in Chile.

Back To Enewetak At Last?

Enewetak Atoll, a radioactive wasteland following the US nuclear test programme of the 19505, was declared habitable again in March. After a three-year, SUSIOO million reclamation project, its original inhabitants are expected to return in April from their long exile.

PNG TO TAKE FIJI’S SEAT ON UN BODY Fiji has agreed to let Papua New Guinea take over its mem bership of the United Nations Committee on Decolonisation, according to a February statement by PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare. Mr Somare was speaking in Suva after talks with Fiji’s PM, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. Ratu Mara told Mr Somare that Fiji wanted to find out more about what France was doing for New Caledonia and other dependent states in the

South Pacific. Mr Somare said PNG’s position on decolonisation for New Caledonia and other French territories remained un changed. The two leaders also discussed the establishment of dialogue between the South Pacific Forum countries and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

New Nauru Election

Following complaints that some voters in the Menen district for the important Nauru Local Government Council elections on December 29 had been disenfranchised, the Nauru Court of Disputed Elections in late February ruled that the Menen election was void and ordered a new election. The court found however that there had been no impropriety. James Bop was the elected candidate in December.

U.S. Says Samoa Boarding ‘No Violation’

The US State Department has claimed that the boarding of a Western Samoan vessel by US coastguards on January 18 (PIM Mar p 6) took place in American territorial waters, and that no violation of Western Samoa’s sovereignty had taken place. The statement, which took note of the close relationship between America and Western Samoa, was in reply to a protest against the boarding from Western Samoa. A Western Samoan citizen was arrested in the action by coastguard personnel in connec tion with a bank robbery in Pago Pago. He was later re leased.

Islands Aid Up In Afghan Spin-Off

Australia has announced a three-year forward civil aid commit ment of SAI2O million to South Pacific Island states, represent ing an increase of more than 40% on the previous commitment of $B4 million. Announcing the increase in the course of a parliamentary statement on February 19 on developments in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Fraser acknowledged that some measures taken by his government in relation to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan ’will involve some costs’ on the part of Islands governments. Among steps taken by the Australian Government in retaliation for the invasion has been cancellation of Australian port rights for Soviet cruise ships from the end of the cruise season on May 31. The ships usually call at many Island ports, bringing in valued revenue

French N-Test Biggest Yet?

France conducted an underground nuclear test ‘of great power’ at Moruroa Atoll on February 22, according to the Papeete news paper Depeche de Tahiti. The newspaper recalled that Gaston Flosse, a member of French Polynesia’s Territorial Assembly, recently reported rumours of preparations for a series of ‘the most powerful tests ever held’.

Australia Upgrades Noumea Post

Australia has upgraded its representation in Noumea from con sulate to consulate-general. The consul-general, Dr Malcolm Leader, will continue to have responsibility for Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia as well as New Caledonia.

Jefferson Fellows Awards For 1980

Applications have been called for by the East-West Communi cation Institute for the 1980 Jefferson Fellows Program Awards.

Applicants must be professional journalists, who have been employed as journalists for at least five years, and who have a demonstrable professional interest in Pacific Island issues. The 1980 programme runs from September 2-December 20. Appli cation forms may be had from Jefferson Fellow Selection Com mittee, East-West Communications Institute, 1777 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96848 USA. Closing date for appli cations is May 15.

Png’S Un Man Raps Russians

Papua New Guinea’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Paulias Matane, has accused the Soviet Union of failing to live up to its responsibilities as a super-power and a permanent member of the Security Council with its occupation of Afghanistan. He told the special general assembly session on the Afghanistan question that PNG believed that the Soviet Union must immedi ately withdraw her forces from Afghanistan if her credibility was to be salvaged.