Pacific Report

Ree Association’ Compact Initialled

wo Pacific Island groups took a long step towards self- Dvernment in October when, as the culmination of 11 years of spoliations, they initialled a compact of free association with the nited States. Taking part in the ceremony at Kailua-Kona, awaii, were President Carter’s personal representative to the spoliations, Ambassador Peter R. Rosenblatt, and representa /es of the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and an from Palau. Palau was unable to take part in the itialling because the voters of that small island group in the estern Carolines were to elect their first national government on bvember 4. A Palau representative is expected to initial the impact some time after that date. A formal signing will not take ace until after further negotiations on several subsidiary and following approval of the accords in a plebiscite • be held in Micronesia early in 1981. According to US officials, e new agreements have no exact precedent in international w, or in previous US consititutional practice. The officials say e autonomy which the island states will exercise is greater than ,at of US territories. But, US defence authority in the freely jsociated states is comprehensive, and therefore of a different ature from the treaty relationships with even America’s closest lies. The initialling marks the virtual completion of a negotiating ocess that began in 1969, and advances the goal, announced / President Carter in 1977, of ending the trusteeship in 1981. nder the new compact, the three Micronesian entities will :quire full internal self-government and authority over all jpects of their relations other than those which the US jtermines to be defence and security-related. In defence and jcurity matters, the US will retain plenary authority. The 64age compact also describes conditions for financial and other pes of assistance which the US will provide over a 15-year shod. The aid and defence provisions may continue beyond 15 jars, depending on mutual agreement. After completion of the ■maining subsidiary agreements which cover such subjects > telecommunications, extradition and military land use the impact will be presented to the voters of Micronesia for Dproval by plebiscite, and to the US Congress as a joint •solution for enactment into law. If the compact is approved le US will present it to the United Nations to seek termination f the trusteeship agreement. Ambassador Rosenblatt, address g Micronesian representatives Andon Amaraich of the sderated States of Micronesia and Anton Debrum of the larshall Islands, said that ‘the most important feature of the new jlationship is that decisions will be yours’. The US, he said, has 3sumed significant and long-lasting defence and security bligations towards the islands. Mr Rosenblatt said it was gnificant that the decision on free association was made freely nd in consultation with the local people. Mr Amaraich said the ccasion marked ‘an important event in our history, taking us oser to the goals and objectives of the UN Trusteeship Council’.

Ir Debrum said the compact set the stage for a new relationship etween the US and the Marshall Islands, and for the latter’s iternational status as a freely associated state. When initialled, le compact with Palau will embody a balancing of the Palauan onstitution’s provisions on Law of the Sea matters and nuclear laterials with US positions. Palauan voters have adopted by jferendum a ‘nuclear-free’ constitution. Talks between the two ides were being held on Guam in October.

Lauru Poll On December 6

lecember 6 is the date set for the next general election of lauru’s Parliament. The Speaker, David Peter Gadaraoa, read ut to members in chamber on October 16 an instruction from 'resident Hammer Deßoburt to dissolve parliament seven days om that day.

‘Ago: Korean Fishermen End Strike

Korean fishermen based in Pago Pago, American Samoa, took trike action in protest at the killing of three of their compatriots »y a group of Samoan men early in October (PIM Nov p 6).

Despite their extreme reluctance, they were eventually per suaded to return to work by the Korean Consul and Fishing Officer Chul-sik Park. Mr Park said that the fishermen are ‘very simple and peaceful’ people, who have been beaten repeatedly in brawls and regularly cheated by taxi drivers. ‘Never in my time here have I received a report of a fisherman starting a fight against a local youngster,’ he said. At last report a fourth Korean was on the critical list and was not expected to live. A dozen others are also in hospital, with injuries ranging from broken bones and bruises to a near-blinding. There are 2500 Korean fishermen based in Pago who man 103 boats, and 1500 Taiwan ese manning 90 boats. Joseph Theroux in Pago Pago.

Png Supports’ Asean Policies

Papua New Guinea wants to co-operate with the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN), and supports its policies, the PNG Information Minister Clement Poye said in Jakarta in October. Winding up a 10-day visit, Mr Poye said that PNG kept in close touch with ASEAN and sent observers to many of its meetings. Mr Poye said he saw many opportunities for co operation with Indonesia, especially in the light of its experience in using television as a means of spreading information to remote areas and in forging national unity. ASEAN groups the governments of Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore.

Vanuatu: Boulekone Heads Opposition

A big step towards consolidation of the paliamentary set-up in Vanuatu was taken in October when Vincent Boulekone was named as Leader of the Opposition, a post vacant until that time.

In a statement after his appointment, Mr Boulekone said a nation cannot be built with violence and in a spirit of revenge. He called for all Vanuatuans, custom leaders, church leaders, the government and all members of the opposition to work actively for the unity of the country. Mr Boulekone affirmed his recognition and support of the government led by Prime Minister Lini as the legal government of the country. He called for an independent commission of inquiry to be set up to investigate charges of police brutality against prisoners in custody, and condemned deportations, which had created social conflicts in islands and villages. At an extraordinary session of the parliament attended for the first time by Tanna MP Charlie Nakau, an opposition member Mr Boulekone charged that in Santo prison, a building designed to hold 200 prisoners, 400 were now being held. They were forced to sleep in soft mud when it rained, he said. Replying, Prime Minister Lini said an independent commission was being set up to examine such charges, and charges of police brutality in general. He said the constitution provided for police officers to be tried if found guilty of brutal treatment of prisoners of anyone else. In a related development, Vanuatu Government spokesman John Beasant said the ‘black list’ of 110 French nationals declared prohibited immigrants affected ‘too many people,’ but that a list had to be made.

French Ambassador to Vanuatu, Yves Rodrigues, had said that the ‘government should give a kind of pardon for both French and Melanesians, and there should be no French being held in prison’.

The issue of the release of such prisoners is being closely tied by the French Government to the as yet unresolved problem of future French aid to the country. Meanwhile, a Noumea paper has hinted at a possible amnesty to be proclaimed on November 29, first anniversary of the election which put the Vanuaaku Party in power in the Representative Assembly with 26 seats, a majority of 13 in the 39-member house.

Kenilorea Warns Trade Unions

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Peter Kenilorea has warned that his government will not tolerate trade union activity directed at the pursuit of political power rather than reasonable conditions for workers. He said such activity would be ‘one of the worst forms of exploitation of our people’.

Irian Java: Welcome Comment, But ...

In a statement made after a recent tour of Irian Jaya, Indonesian Vice-President Adam Malik said that civil servants there were facing difficulties because of low wages, and that there were problems in creating jobs for the Irianese and giving them greater opportunities to take part in the development process. Reporting this Sydney Morning Herald Jakarta correspondent Peter Rodgers quoted an MP from the province as welcoming Mr Malik’s remarks. Steef Nafuni said that comments such as these by Irianese themselves would lead to them being interrogated on suspicion of involvement with the rebel Free Papua Movement

(OPM) which seeks an end to Indonesian rule in the province.

Rodgers quoted Mr Nafuni as saying that fear of being stamped OPM in Irian Jaya was the same as the fear of being stamped as a member of the outlawed Communist Party in Java. The OPM was a ‘death card,’ he said.

Post-Copenhagen Meeting In Suva

A sub-regional Pacific meeting as a follow-up to the World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women held in Copenhagen in July (PIM Oct p2l) was held in Suva from October 30-November 5.

Vanuatu Recruits Off To Png

New recruits to Vanuatu’s Mobile Force flew out to Papua New Guinea in two groups late in October. Twenty members of the existing Police Mobile Units have also gone to PNG for training together with new PNG Defence Force recruits. The Port-Vila weekly Voice of Vanuatu reported: ‘lt was with great excitement that our boys, soon to be in camouflage, waited to be off and into their new uniforms. “Can’t wait!” they told Voice of Vanuatu. But they are under no illusions about how hard the training will be.

“It’ll be tough,” they said.’ The 100 had been selected for the three-months training course from 1000 applicants. The Vanuatu Government has announced that the men will not form a defence force as such, but will be used as reinforcements for the existing Police Mobile Units. Earlier, there had been talks between the Vanuatu Government and military representatives from Australia and New Zealand. Pointing out that Australia and New Zealand were present under quite separate arrangements, a New Zealand spokesman said that talks had nevertheless taken place between the two countries and the Vanuatu Government on mutual co operation in police and defence force policies.

Kanak Independence For Xmas ’B3?

A spokesman for New Caledonia’s Kanak Independence Front told a Port Moresby seminar in November that on December 25, 1983, the Kanak flag will be hoisted throughout New Caledonia, the French flag lowered, and Kanak independence declared’

Jean-Marie Tjibaou, speaking at the 1980 Waigani Seminar, said that the Kanaks expected opposition not only from the official French riot police, but also from the so-called MOP ( Mouvement pour I’Ordre et la Paix), which has many similarities to the terrorist OAS ( Organisation de I’ArmSe Secrete), which was established by French settlers in Algeria to fight independence there. Mr. Tjibaou said of the MOP: ‘They are saying, “In Vanuatu the French Government did not defend us” and so they are building up their own defences.’

Enewetak People Face Decision

All Enewetak people living at Ujelang Atoll have returned to their home atoll as part of an experimental three-month ‘homecoming’ designed to allow the Dri-Enewetak to decide for themselves which families will permanently settle on the home atoll. Because trees planted as part of the extensive planting programme at Enewetak will not bear fruit for several years, individual families will use this opportunity to determine whether (a) to live in the 116 homes constructed on the islands of Medren, Enewetak and Japtan at Enewetak Atoll and subsist on imported food obtained through the Trust Territory, or (b) return to Ujelang Atoll until a later time.

FRANCIS SANFORD GUNG HO’ ON AIR LINK French Polynesia’s Vice-President of the Government Council, Francis Sanford, has welcomed the establishment of an independent air link between his country and Hawaii. A statement approved by Mr Sanford said in part: ‘We have here an opportunity to show that we are able to act successfully on our own without recourse to government subsidies or private capital bent on making a profit. If some people consider this a revolutionary way of going about things, let them think so.’ (Full report, Postmark Papeete, p 55.) HOW MUCH IS THAT IN VA TU7 Vatu will be the name of the new currency of Vanuatu. Vatu was chosen from two names Vatu and Franc submitted by the government to the Representative Assembly in October.

Caledonia To Cut Nickel Output

The managing director of New Caledonia’s giant nickel company, Societe le Nickel, Yves Rambaud, has said that production must be reduced next year from the present annual level of 45 000 48 000 tonnes to 43 000 45 000. He said the reduction was necessary because of the ‘very gloomy’ situation on the world nickel market. Mr Rambaud said it was too early to estimate the effect of the production cuts on employment in the company.

A New Member For Cplf

Vanuatu has been admitted as a full member of the Conference des Parlementaires de Langue Frangaise, French counterpart of the English-speaking world’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The grant of membership followed a visit to a meeting of the organisation in Ottawa in September by the!

Speaker of the Representative Assembly Maxime Carlot and the now Leader of the Opposition Vincent Boulekone.

NEW PAPERS BURST OUT ALL OVER (2) Following our report of a plethora of new newspaper ventures in Island countries (PIM Nov p 6). Western Samoa has joined the act with a vengence. The Apia weekly The Observer reported on October 30: The Apia Star and the Samoa Post will be making their debuts in the near future, making things harder for the choosy readers not only in choosing what to buy or read but in making out which is which.’ The paper suggests that Western Samoa must be close to a world record for the number of newspapers per head of population (Any comment from Islands statisticians?) The Observer article, written by columnist Lemi,i added: ‘With the anticipated emergence of two more news-i papers onto the aready over-newspapered market, Apia will soon be running out not only of paper boys but also of selling space in front of the Post Office, not to mention running out of rpaHprc ’

Fiji’S Toth’ Feted Abroad

Fiji’s diplomatic missions in London, New York, Brussels, Canberra and Wellington held receptions to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the country’s independence on October 10.

Niue Marks Gospel Anniversary

October 27 was a public holiday on Niue to mark the bringing of the gospel to the island by Peniamina in 1846. Peniamina was a Niuean who became a servant to Dr Turner, a missionary in Samoa, who taught him to read and write. He had first returned to Niue in 1842, but was turned away as ‘a foreigner’. Four years later he returned again, armed with a large quantity of goods such as the Niueans had not seen before. He was thus able to buy a large number of friends at the cost of his belongings.

Finally, he was allowed to land and start preaching.

Fatal Quest For Hidden Kina

An elderly woman died and about 130 people were left homeless after fire virtually destroyed a village in Papua New Guinea’s Central Province in October. The blaze, at Bukuku village, near Kupiano, burned down 23 houses and a trade store made of bush material. It started in a house and was fanned by strong winds.

Most of Bukuku’s 300 villagers were either in their gardens, hunting or visiting nearby villages when the fire started. Only elderly men and women and children were left behind. The dead woman, aged about 80, tried to retrieve Kl3OO in cash hidden inside a sewing machine in her daughter’s house, when she was trapped by the flames.

Cancelled Passports Make Display

‘Raising public awareness of the Pacific region’ was one of the purposes of an exhibition of cancelled diplomatic, official and regular passports staged in Melbourne in late November and early December, according to organiser J. Newton-Browne. The exhibition included cancelled passports from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Australia, the Philippines and Japan. The exhibition received assistance from United Nations headquarters in New York and a number of governments, including the Australian Government.

Art Show Promotes Lord Howe

The annual Lord Howe Island Art Exhibition and Competition was held in Sydney, October 20-29. Bill Lambourne of Pacific Maps, joint sponsors of the event with the Lord Howe Island Tourist Promotional Committee, reports that 80 % of the paintings of the island in the exhibition (by artist Erwin Weber) were sold. The competition was won by Albert King, a Lord Howe resident, for his painting of the Lord Howe supply ship Barrenjoey.

King Withdraws Son’S Right To Throne

Tonga’s King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV on November 7 formally; withdrew from his second son and any of his offspring rights ever to succeed to the throne. The king’s action follows his September proclamation annulling the marriage in Hawaii of Prince Fatafehi ’Alaivahamama’o Tuku’aho to commoner Heimataura Salmon Anderson (PIM Nov pl 5). An earlier plan for the couple to go to Tonga in October in an attempt to effect a reconciliation fell through at the last minute. The young couple remain in Hawaii, i