Pacific Report
pp. 5-6 · Read in the full issue
Islands Graced By New Knights
Pacific Island countries have three new knights (KBEs) following announcement by Queen Elizabeth II of the 1981 New Year’s Honours. They are Premier Sir Thomas Davis of the Cook Islands; the Rt Rev Sir Zurewe Kamong Zurenuo, Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea; and Sir Charles Croft Marsack, resident-judge of the Fiji Court of Appeal. (Full lists p 43.)
Surprises In Nauru Poll
Nauru’s December 6 election (PIM Dec 1980 p 5) produced some surprises, with three prominent MPs losing their seats. They were the veteran politician Roy Degoregore, Leo Keke, minister of justice in the last government, and Lagumot Harris, who was president of the republic for a brief period in April-May 1978.
When the country’s sixth parliament convened on December 9, David Gadaroa was re-elected speaker, and James Bop was also re-elected as his deputy. When nominations for president were called, President Hammer Deßoburt was nominated and he accepted. Another member (unnamed in the report in the weekly The Nauru Post) was nominated and duly seconded but ‘had to decline’, in the Post’s phrase. President Deßoburt was thus re elected unopposed. The new ministry was announced on December 10. It is: President Hammer Deßoburt: Island Development and Industry, External Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Minister responsible for the Public Service: Buraro Detudamo: Works and Minister Assisting the President: Joseph Audo: Justice; Kenas Aroi: Finance: Lawrence Stephen: Health and Education.
Guam Agog Over Pope’S Visit
Buamanians were agog in January over the planned February risit of Pope John Paul II to their island. Many islanders were laying that the last time residents of the islands in the Western Pacific were excited over a Papal action was probably in the late 19th century, when a Pope in Rome arbitrated the division of hese islands between Spain and Germany. Guam’s daily, The Pacific Daily News, reported that three giant arches, 50 000 flags, md a string of lights long enough to go right round Guam’s Jishop Flores’ house are on the shopping list of a group of ‘very (racious people’ who are planning arrangements for the visit, half of Micronesia’s population is Catholic, and although nany would like to see the Pope in person, probably only a small umber would have that opportunity because of transport lifficulties between the islands. From the Micronesian News Service.
Lew Steps Forward For Belau
he new constitutional government of the Republic of Belau ormerly Palau) was installed on January 1. Haruo I. Remeliik and Jfonso R. Oiterong were sworn in as respectively first president nd vice-president of the new republic. The 34 members of the icameral legislature also took their oaths. Kaleb Udui was sleeted as president of the Senate and Carlos Salii was chosen s speaker of the House of Delegates. But the elections for the osts of vice-president and floor leader of the Senate presented lore difficulty: at last report (January 8) eight attempts to elect lese officers had resulted in a nine-each vote of the 18-member namber for all four candidates; Joshua Koshiba and George girarsaol (vice-presidential candidates), and John Tarkong and Dhnson Tonbiong (candidates for floor leader). Senate President aleb Udui was reported on January 8 to have imposed a round le-clock session of the senate in an effort to break the deadlock, he senators had only four days to choose their officers before ie national legislature convened in formal session on January 13. three-day inauguration ceremony for the new republic was meduled for the end of January. Thirty-five countries had been vited to send representatives to the celebrations
X-Minister Arrested
Jke Dini, who held the portfolio of transport in the Government National Unity which was in office before Vanuatu’s November
1979 elections, was arrested on Santo in December for alleged involvement in the Santo secession.
Two Big Drug Hauls In Noumea
A million dollars’ worth of hashish bound for New Zealand was intercepted in December by Customs officers in Noumea. It was their second major drug grab for the month. The second haul 19 kg was found hidden in the linings of four suitcases belonging to an in-transit passenger travelling from Kathmandu, Nepal, to New Zealand. It came just days after New Zealand motor racing star Ron Kendall was detained in Noumea when searchers allegedly found 6.2 kg of hashish, worth $3OO 000, in the linings of suitcases bearing his name.
Fiji’S Culture Grant From Japan
Fiji in December received an educational and cultural grant totalling Y 25 million (about SF9O 000) from the Japanese Government. It was the first grant of its kind between the two countries. The money will be used to buy educational equipment such as microscopes and materials for the Fijian Dictionary Project, and the Fijian Culture Project. Items to be purchased include cassette recorders, cameras and video equipment. The dictionary project involves Fijian into English, English into Fijian, definition of Fijian words in Fijian, and dialectal variations and interpretations.
Lini On Santo-Noumea Rebel Links
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Father Walter Lini on December 9 wrote to French Ambassador in Port-Vila Yves Rodrigues asking him to arrange the deportation of 31 French nationals working in Santo on the grounds that they were promoting rebellion. The prime minister’s letter indicated his government’s belief that the 31, mainly mixed-race French-speaking settlers, were in contact with the 700 former colons who fled to Noumea in the wake of the collapse last August of the Santo secession. It suggested that France was aware of this and was giving tacit support to the contact. One hundred and ten of the 700 have been declared prohibited immigrants and can never return to Vanuatu. The letter said that the colons in Noumea had formed an ‘association’, which was ‘no less than a government in exile’. It added: ‘We urge you to advise those in authority in Noumea to take immediate steps to control the activities of the Vemarana (Santo) rebels (now in New Caledonia), and, ideally, to remove them fron} the Pacific altogether, as their continued presence represents a real threat to the authority of the Vanuatu Government. I (also) ask that you use your best endeavours to control the machinations within Vanuatu of the people named above as my government is rapidly losing patience with these people, and only the firmest undertakings for their future good behaviour will avoid their removal from the republic.’
Dick Ukeiwe At The U.N.
Back from a visit to the United Nations in New York, Dick Ukeiwe, vice-president of New Caledonia’s government council, said he believed that he had succeeded in improving the understanding of the people he met, many of whom knew little about New Caledonia and had previously spoken on the subject only with representatives of France. He told the Nouvelles CalSdoniennes : ‘I tried to present the reality of the economic, social and political situation in New Caledonia. In this way I think I was able to clear up some of the misunderstandings created by spokesmen for the Independence Front.’
U.S. Peace Corps For Png
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan late last year announced his government’s intention to establish a United States Peace Corps Volunteers programme in his country. The Peace Corps is to be involved in food production, nutrition, water supply and rural health projects. It is expected that 10 or 20 people would be involved in the programme each year. Their term of employment would be two years. PNG’s National Executive Council had asked Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Noel Levi to sign an agreement on the subject with US Ambassador to PNG Harvey Feldman.
Micronesians For Reagan Inauguration
Ten dignitaries from Micronesia were invited to attend the inauguration ceremonies of US President Ronald Reagan in Washington in January. They were Trust Territory High Com missioner and Mrs Adrian P. Winkel, Belau President and Mrs Haruo I. Remeliik, a Belau legislature leader not yet identified, Marshalls President Amata Kabua and his wife, Yap State Governor John Mangefel and his wife, Truk State Governor Erhart Aten and his wife, Ponape State Governor and Mrs Leo A.
Falcam, Kosrae State Governor Jacob Nena and his wife and Federated States of Micronesia President and Mrs Tosiwo Nakayama.
Oz Went Quiet On N-Test
The latest testing of a nuclear device at Moruroa Atoll took place on December 9, according to reports. Asked in January if Australia had registered a protest with the French Government, a spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Department said it had not adding: ‘Our policy is well-known. We don’t actually go to the wall each time.’ A few days before, the Australian Government had announced the signing in Paris of a nuclear transfers agreement with France.
‘Britain Not Folding Its Tents’ Envoy
Britain will continue its interest in the Pacific region, according to British High Commissioner to Fiji Viscount Dunrossil. ‘We have absolutely no intention of folding our tents and quietly stealing away now that we have achieved our objective of bringing the countries of the region to fruitful independence,’ he told a graduation ceremony at Nasinu Teachers’ College in December British aid to the Pacific region in 1979 totalled SFSS million of which $l2 million went to Fiji.
Spia Spreads Its Wings
The Pago-based company South Pacific Island Airways is due to open a Honolulu-Pago-Tahiti service on February 27. A Boeing 707 aircraft will fly the route. The US airline Pan Am will provide administrative and technical personnel, the 707 will come from American Airlines, and ground services at Tahiti are expected to be provided by UTA and Air Polynesie.
Indians Cleared Of Murder Charge
Six men of Indian extraction were acquitted by a Sydney Australia, magistrate late last year of the murder in Sydney of a Fijian man, Esoa Tupou, 26. in February 1980. Tupou died in a clash which occurred after he and three other people had gone to a house in which a Hindu religious ceremony was being held
Papua New Guinea’S 3 000 799
Early processing of figures from the recent national census in Papua New Guinea has given a total population of just over three million. The detailed figure was 3 000 799, which was slightly lower than expected. The census was the first to be held in PNG since Australia ceased to be the administering country there
Club Med Noumea Race, ’Bl
A representative of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has returned from Noumea and reported highly satisfactory progress in preparations by the Cercle Nautique Caledonien for the Club Med Noumea Yacht Race ’Bl. A new feature in this year’s race, to take place in May, will be a dual start the main fleet leaving from Sydney Harbour on May 23. and the Brisbane division, expected to number about 20 yachts, from Sandgate Pier on May 25. Both fleets should arrive at the same time, and the event will be treated as one race, except that trophies will be handled separately.
Dedicating New Bislama Bible
More than 1000 people from various churches in Vanuatu took part in a dedication service late last year of the New Testament Bislama Bible. The translation took nine years to complete.
Pastor Bill Camden, driving force of the project, was guest speaker at the service held at Luganville, Santo. A copy of the new translation of the Bible was presented to the Northern District Commissioner, Job Dalesa. A service was also held in Port-Vila, where the Bible was dedicated by Pastor Mahion Vatoko of the Presbyterian Church. Copies were presented to President Ati George Sokomanu and Prime Minister Father Walter Lini
Apia Backs Pfl Appointment
The government of Western Samoa is reported to have come out in support of the appointment of an Auckland businessman, H. L.
Julian, as New Zealand director of the Pacific Forum Line. The term of the present incumbent, R. P. Shead, was cut short because of his commitments as deputy general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Corporation. According to a report in The New Zealand Herald, the opposition members of parliament in New Zealand claimed Mr Julian was appointed because of his friendship with Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. Mr Muldoon responded by quoting a Radio Samoa news report in which a government spokesman in Apia said that Mr Julian ‘brought to his task a great deal of experience in shipping, and shipping-related activities’. More broadly, the spokesman said, Mr Julian had gained a reputation as a most energetic and successful businessman in New Zealand.
Tahitian Accused May Write In Tahitian
Tahitians being held in France awaiting trial for the murder of s French businessman in Tahiti have won the right, denied them, to write home to their families in the Tahitian language.
New Poll Ordered In Honiara
Solomon Islands’ Electoral Commission ruled late last year thai a new election must be held in the constituency of West Honiars before March 1981. The election follows the disqualification oi the successful candidate Ben Gale, who was found by the High Court to have committed election offences.
Stevens’ Counsel Raps French
The New Caledonia-based French lawyer who defended Jimmv Stevens at his trial over the Santo secession crisis in Vanuatu (RIM Jan p 21) has sheeted home to France ‘complete responsi bility for what happened. Me Leder told a Noumea newspaper on his return from Vanuatu: ‘I found that France, even though it bore the entire responsibility for what had taken place (there are serious, precise, and consistent grounds confirming this) was completely disinterested in the Santo people and had simply dumped them.’ (He was referring to the failure of France to provide any assistance with interpretation at Stevens’ trial ) Of the role of former French Inspector-General Jean-Jacques Robert, he said: ‘. . . one gets the impression that he went mad and that when he spoke to the Santo people and the people at Fanafo he was in a state of dementia. But he was not the only one . . .’ Of the role of legal adviser Arnaud Lizop, Me Leder said’ ‘When he went with the Arribaud-Donald mission he was a legal adviser to the government on an official mission. At Stevens’ trial, the minutes of a meeting between Lizop, Stevens and Maliu were produced. They show there was talk of a constitution and of the organisation necessary for a secessionist state. This explains the ban on Arnaud Lizop returning to Vanuatu. Taking all these elements into account, it is difficult indeed to deny that the French Government was the promoter of the Santo rebellion.’ The French lawyer said in conclusion: ‘I prefer to believe that (the French officials then serving in the Hebrides) they were incompetent, because if they had really had a clear idea of what they were doing they’d be eligible for trial before a court of common law ’
Oz Businessmen Back Brych
A group of businessmen in Melbourne, Australia, raised most of the SUSIOO 000 bail money for the controversial cancer specialist Milan Brych, who was arraigned in Los Angeles in December on six counts relating to illegal medical practice. The businessmen are part of an Australia-wide group calling itself ‘Friends of Rarotonga’, a reference to the fact that before he went to the USA Brych practised at Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The president of the Victorian branch of ‘Friends’ said: ‘We’re not wealthy but we believe in Brych’s cancer therapy treatment and we’re very angry at the ridiculously high amount of bail set for what are misdemeanours.’
NEW PAPERS BURST OUT ALL OVER (4) New Caledonia saw the launching of a new daily newspaper, Noumea-Journal, in December. A frontpage article signed ‘Eridan’, sought to set the tone of the new paper when it promised ‘a serious and reflective attitude to facts, events and to comments which come our way’. It went on: ‘I propose to stand back and look at things and not to be in the position of not seeing the wood for the trees . . . Believe me, I’m pushing nobody’s barrow.’
Vanuatu-South Korea Link
Vanuatu has established diplomatic relations with the Republic of (South) Korea.
Radio Reporters Hold Workshop
Radio reporters from neighbouring countries gathered in Western Samoa in December to study the preparation and presentation of news with emphasis on development stories. The sub-region'-' workshop on development journalism was sponsored by the Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD). The workshop was directed by a senior news editor from New Zealand.
Stuart Inder Mbe
Stuart Inder of Sydney, former chief executive of Pacific Publications (Aust) Pty Ltd, and for many years publisher and editor of PIM, was awarded an MBE in the 1981 New Year’s Honours conferred by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11. The citation accompanying Mr Inder’s award said it had been made for services to journalism.