Pacific Report

Giscard Lost France, Held Pacific Territories

While voters in metropolitan France on May 10 rejected him in favour of socialist presidential candidate Frangois Mitterand, former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing obviously retained the loyalty of a majority of voters in the French Pacific territories. In French Polynesia he received 37 440 votes (76.71%) to Mr Mitterand’s 11 377 (23.28%). There were 1060 ballot papers rendered informal by voters writing on them ‘Pour I’independance’ (‘For independence’), as called for by one of the pro-independence parties. Other pro-independence groups called for a complete abstention from voting, and their stand is believed to account in part for the relatively low voter turnout only 63.46% of those enrolled. Giscard’s vote was undoubtedly boosted by the decision of the ruling Autonomist Party to support his candidacy. Since political parties right across the spectrum in French Polynesia now favour a considerably greater degree of local autonomous power, their dealings with Mr Mitterand, who has expressed sympathy with such aspirations, should not prove too difficult. Observers expect little change, if any, in France’s nuclear testing activities at Moruroa as a result of Mr Mitterand’s election. In New Caledonia, Giscard secured 34 250 votes (65.50%) to Mitterand’s 18 039 (34.49%). At 72.13%, voter turnout in New Caledonia was higher than in French Polynesia. In the all-Melanesian constituency of the Loyalty Islands (Mare, Ouvea and Lifou), where the independence movement is relatively strong, Mitterand decisively turned the tables on Giscard by scoring 3468 votes (61.59%) to Giscard’s 2162 (38.40%). The scene was rather different in another, smaller, all- Melanesian constituency at the Isle of Pines where Giscard netted 244 votes (55.20%) to Mitterand’s 118 (44.79%). In highly conservative Wallis and Futuna, where church influences are particularly strong, voters gave 4776 votes to Giscard, an overwhelming 97.68%, and only 113 (2.31 %) to Mitterand. An Australian expert on New Caledonia, Dr Alan Ward, of Melbourne’s La Trobe University, said the territory’s politics would become ‘more mobile and fluid’ as a result of Mr Mitterand’s success.

Banabans’ Millions, But...

At a ceremony in London in April, the Rev Kaitangare Kaburoro, leader of the Banaban Islanders resident on Rabi Island, Fiji, accepted cheques totalling exactly SFI4 584 549.75 b as com pensation for the British Phosphate Commission’s 50-year operation on their home island of Banaba (Ocean Island) in the central Pacific. Minister for State at the British Foreign Office Peter Blaker handed over the cheques in return for guarantees from Mr Kaburoro indemnifying the British, Australian and New Zealand Governments, operators of the phosphate commission, from further legal action. In a brief speech at the ceremony, Mr Kaburoro conceded that the legal chapter was closed, but said he hoped that the three commission governments would ‘generously accept that the Banaban people still have a continuing moral claim on them for assistance’. In particular, he sought Britain’s help in the islanders’ campaign for self government they were included in independent Kiribati in 1979 against their will and in providing funds for the development cf Rabi, where most of them settled after the Japanese invasion n 1942 and where 2500 of them now live.

PUT PAST BEHIND US’ CALL IN VANUATU Fhe curtain was officially rung down on Vanuatu’s Santo secession drama with the release in April of a statement by the country’s Minister for Home Affairs Fred Timakata. Mr Timakata’s statement said: ‘lt is now almost 11 months since the Santo ebellion took place and almost eight months since it was brought o an er| d- During the process of bringing to justice those esponsible for the acts of violence, theft and brutality which were 3 feature of it, the government never lost sight of the desirability )f bringing at the earliest possible time the whole sad and shameful episode to a close. That time has now arrived and I take considerable pleasure in officially confirming it. Throughout the difficult matter of seeing to it that all suspected of having

committed acts of violence have appeared before the courts, and that there was as far as humanly possible a fair and equal application of justice, it has always been the wish and intention of the government to establish a time when no further prosecutions were brought against people for acts associated with the rebellion. I take the opportunity to say that as from today no further charges will be laid against people suspected of acts concerned with the rebellion, with the exception of those cases currently being investigated. That is to say, those people who were concerned with acts of rebellion will now be free of prosecution and deportation for unlawful acts from this day forward. However, in the event of criminal charges for acts perpetrated after today, then any individual who had been suspected of illegal acts during the rebellion would of course have such acts taken into account. I hope and pray that this will not arise and that the official closing of the Santo situation will be welcomed by the general population and be reciprocated with peaceful and lawful behaviour. Let us now put the past behind us.

Let us together join hands in the task of developing Vanuatu, and, in doing so, let all of us look to the future with hope and confidence.’

Controversial Png Jet In New Trouble

The SAB million VIP jet bought recently by the Papua New Guinea government in the face of political controversy over the money involved was damaged during a landing incident in Australia in mid-April. A service hydraulic system failed to operate when the jet, a Grumman Gulfstream 2, was landing at Brisbane Airport. A back-up braking system had to be used after touchdown, but the force of the braking burst four tyres and damaged the landing gear. The landing was completed safely but the aircraft was grounded for five days for repairs. The jet was carrying seven passengers, including a former deputy prime minister Sir Maori Kiki. The PNG Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan, who has been criticised for allegedly wasting taxpayers’ money over the purchase, had planned to use the jet the following day to fly to Australia. He travelled instead in a Fokker Fellowship airliner chartered from the PNG national airline Air Niugini.

Changes In Cooks’ Constitution

While planning to retain the Cook Islands’ status as an internally self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, the government of Sir Thomas Davis is seeking a substantial strengthening of the country’s autonomy. That is the aim of its controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was due for its third and final reading on May 13. Under the bill: the Legislative Assembly becomes the Parliament of the Cook Islands; the Premier becomes Prime Minister; the life of elected governments is extended from four to five years; the judicial system is changed to provide for only one set of courts, the High Court, with its own three divisions: Criminal, Civil and Land; some electoral constituencies are divided, and a new one is created the Overseas Constituency which, as well as raising the number of MPs from 22 to 23, has the effect of permitting Cook Islanders living in New Zealand to vote in that country, thus doing away with the ‘fly-in’ voters’ scheme, abuse of which helped bring down the previous Henry government. The legislation has been hotly contested by the Cook Islands Party opposition. An 18-page newspaper, The Petitioner, was produced in May by opponents of the bill.

Png Warns On Springbok Tour

Papua New Guinea has warned that relations between Commonwealth countries could be disrupted if the proposed South African (Springbok) Rugby tour of New Zealand goes ahead later this year. It claimed the tour could undermine relations between some Commonwealth countries, as well as the role of the Commonwealth. The government said it was also worried by the timing of the tour, which clashes with the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Melbourne from September 30-October 7.

Public Servants’ Strike In W. Samoa

At press time there seemed no end in sight to the public servants’ strike in Western Samoa, which has halted operation of many services, and reduced others to skeleton, emergency pro portions. The strike over pay demands involved a reported 3000 government workers, and appeared to be the country’s biggest industrial upheaval to date. At last report the government on May 7 had issued an ultimatum that if the strikers had not returned to work by 4 pm, May 11, they would lose the offer of the Public Service Commission to regard the roughly five weeks

of the strike as ‘special leave’, not affecting their status as public servants. But if they had not returned by that time, according to the ultimatum, they would lose public-servant status and have to re-apply for employment. Observers were seeing increasingly strong political overtones in the strike, with the opposition’s backing of the union, the Public Service Association, posing a threat to the one-vote parliamentary majority enjoyed by Prime Minister Tuouola Efi.

China In New Bougainville Deal

China is to negotiate a new export deal with Bougainville Copper Ltd. Talks on the subject between Chinese and BCL officials were planned for late May. In talks with PNG’s Deputy Prime Minister lambakey Okuk, who visited China in May, Chinese Foreign Minister and Vice-Premier Huang Hua said China was also interested in timber importsTrom PNG.

Petrol Rise Helps Fiji Workers?

Fiji’s trade unionists will get workers’ compensation and other benefits from a levy of 1b to be imposed on the price of a litre of petrol, and automotive distillate, and the payment into a fund by employers of 1 % of their total payroll. The other benefits will include funeral and medical assistance. The predictions were made in the report of the May annual general meeting of the Fiji Trades Union Congress. The report said that a bill to establish the scheme was to go to the Fiji Parliament in July. It said the scheme would be run by a statutory board, with levies being collected by the Fiji National Provident Fund.

Tasman S Not What It Was

The ‘no-passport required’ arrangement for Australian and New Zealand citizens visiting each others’ countries fades into history on July 1 at the insistence of the Australian Government. Reasons advanced are prevention of entry of possible drug traffickers, criminals and political terrorists. The Australian Government has made the point that even now. half the criminal deportees from Australia are New Zealanders. The new rule could hit Islanders who have been gaining permanent access to Australia with false claims that they are New Zealand Maoris, or have residency status in New Zealand.

Pago’S Looking For Trade

A 15-strong American Samoa trade mission was due in Suva and Tarawa in May. It was also to visit New Zealand, Nauru and Western Samoa. According to American Samoa Governor Peter Tali Coleman, the mission’s aim was to ‘explore development opportunities of mutual benefit to Pacific Island economies’.

Mission leader is Pete Galeasi, director of economic development and planning of the American Samoa Government.

TWO DIE: FIRST LOSS OF PNG PILOTS A military aircraft crash in Papua New Guinea claimed two lives on May 4 when a Nomad patrol aircraft of the PNG Defence Force ploughed into a mountainside about 50 km south of Vanimo near the northern end of the border with the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya. It was the first loss of life for any PNG nationals trained as civil or military pilots. The dead men were Major John Tasi, 28, one of the PNGDF’s most experienced pilots, and Lieutenant Emmanuel Skoli, 22. Visibility was poor at the scene of the crash.

The Nomad was one of three given by Australia under defence aid arrangements.

U.S. TO SEEK OVERFLY RIGHTS IN PNG The United States would always seek the permission of the Papua New Guinea Government before its aircraft overflew PNG territory, according to a spokesman for the US Embassy in Port Moresby. PNG Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan had earlier expressed concern over the arrangement reached between Australia and the US for US 852 bombers to stage at Darwin on flights from Guam. Sir Julius reportedly told Australian PM Malcolm Fraser that he thought PNG should have been consulted.

Fiji Talks On Jobless Youth

About 14 200 persons, 6.9% of Fiji’s active labour population of 205 000, are unemployed, according to a report to a recent seminar on employment at Lautoka. Most of the unemployed were under 25 and were unable to get jobs because they were unskilled, inexperienced and lacked any formal vocational training, the report said.

‘Racist’ Charge Sends Manager Home

The Australian general manager of a guesthouse in Lae, Papua New Guinea, has been asked to leave the country voluntarily. The action against Ralph Stocker, 47, was taken following numerous complaints from Papua New Guineans about what they called Mr

Stocker’s ‘racist attitudes’ in the running of the establishment, Lae Lodge. Strict segregation of accommodation as between Papua New Guineans and others was one of the main charges.

Recently, PNG’s Decentralisation Minister Fr John Momis was refused accommodation at Lae Lodge unless he identified his nationality.

Tanna: Case Of Charlie Nako, Mr

Vanuatu’s Supreme Court, sitting in Tanna in April, handed out an 11-months gaol term and fines totalling VT3O 000 (approxi mately SA3OO) to Charlie Nako, member for a Tanna constitu ency in the country’s Representative Assembly. But Mr Nako, 32, will not go to gaol. Immediately after pronouncing sentence, Mr Justice Cooke announced that the gaol term would be suspended for three years. The judge said that the suspension was due to the fact that peace had returned to Vanuatu, and that Mr Nako had taken his seat in parliament. He said: ‘We hope that you will do everything in your power to keep peace in Tanna. You are the only MP representing Tanna for the Opposition and a lot of responsibility is on your shoulders. The people of Tanna are relying on you.’ Nako had pleaded guilty to three charges unlawful assembly, riot and incitement to riot. The charges related to pre-independence disturbances on the southern island.

He was sentenced to 11 months gaol on each charge, the sentences to be served concurrently. If Mr Nako commits any crime during the three years, he will have to serve the sentences.

He thanked the court for what he considered the fair manner in which he had been treated, and said he would do his best to keep out of trouble and help the people of Tanna.

Uni, Okuk, Cable Mitterand

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Walter Lini, in a congratulatory telegram to new French President Frangois Mitterand, has expressed the hope that his election ‘will herald a new era of close co-operation and understanding between our two peoples’, lambakey Okuk acting prime minister of Papua New Guinea, said in his message: ‘We hope your election will bring about a positive change in the attitude of the French Government towards the future of its Pacific territories, and the desire of Pacific nations for an end to nuclear testing in the region.’

Cook Islands Into Ships Act?

Following Vanuatu’s decision to establish a shipping registry (PIM Mar p7l, May p7l), the Cook Islands is reported to be preparing legislation for a similar venture. According to press reports, both moves are believed related to a planned South Pacific visit by a New York shipping consultant said to have Lebanese finance.

Marianas Volcano Erupts

Mount Pagan, a long dormant 625 m-high volcano on Pagan Island, northernmost inhabited island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, erupted in mid-May. Smoke and ash were flung 10 000 m into the air. US pilots sent over the island from Guam said smoke was billowing 260 km out over the sea, making it quite impossible to land on the island’s airstrip. All 53 inhabitants, including 32 children, were later reported to be heading safely for Saipan aboard a rescue boat.

Election Upsets In Tonga

Tonga’s general elections on May 1 produced a record turnout of voters, a record amount of lively electioneering in the run-up period, and a surprise result, as four out of the seven sitting People’s Representatives lost their seats and two others lost the No 1 divisional placings they had held for many years. In the Tongatapu division, Tomiteau Finau (third generation member of a well-known political family) and Mrs Papiloa Foliaki (who romped in in ’7B as the Kingdom’s first ever woman commoner to gain office) were replaced by Central Nukualofa Town Officer Sitili Tupouniua and Nukualofa publican Joe Tu’ilatai Mataele. In Haapai veteran former MP Pousima Afeaki ousted prominent businessman ‘Uliti Uata and in Vavau Ula Afuha’amango defeated Palavilala Tapueluelu. The new lineup selected by the voters appears to be strongly traditionalist and pro- Establishment. Informed opinion here expects it to give the government three years of smooth sailing through legislative waters, without the regular ripples, periodic waves and occasional tsunami which shook the ship-of-state during Mrs Foliaki’s brief but spectacular term in office. Papiloa’s many disappointed supporters attribute her downfall mainly to a fallacious but highly successful whispering campaign which painted her as solely responsible for the substantial and unpopular rises in bus fares last year, on all suburban and country routes. Penny Hodgkinson in Nukualofa.