Pacific Report

Fiji To Join Sinai Force?

Fiji, already involved in Lebanon, is among countries to be asked by the United States to send troops to join the controversial peace-keeping force in Sinai in the Middle East. The information is contained in official US documents leaked to the Australian Labor Party in Canberra in June. The documents contain instructions to US embassies in Argentina, Ecuador, Fiji, Singapore, Mexico, Nepal and Uruguay, which are the Third World countries selected by Egypt, Israel and the US to be invited to send troops to the force. According to the documents, the embassies were told to offer such inducements as payment in part or in full for military expenses, a short tour of duty (three years is preferred), and an assurance that the troops would be used only to enforce the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

BRITISH BANK LOAN TO MARSHALLS CAUSES STORM A British bank loan of SUS 24 million to the Marshall Islands Government to finance a power plant brought angry questions from a Republican Senator at a June session in Washington of the Interior Sub-committee of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

According to a report in the Pacific Daily News, relayed by the Micronesian News Service, the loan was negotiated without US federal authorities being informed. Department of Interior officials who oversee the territories learned of the low-interest, long-term loan from the Midland Bank of the UK to the Marshall Islands Government from newspaper clippings and lawyers’ inquiries.

Presiding over the sub-committee, Senator James McClure (Rep Idaho) began grilling Ruth Van Cleve, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior, saying: ‘What recourse does the British bank have if the islands fail to pay? What do they do?. Go out and seize some coral?’ He went on: ‘How could the Marshalls get so involved without the federal authorities knowing about it?’ Ms Van Cleve replied: ‘Their interest in independence has increased greatly recently. Their communication with the High Com missioner for the Trust Territory has been very slight of late.’

Interior officials informed Senator McClure in the course of the hearing that the Reagan Administration will be cutting back federal grants to the many island groups in the Trust Territory from SUS3S million last fiscal year to about $3O million for 1982.

Most of the grants will be for sewer and water projects.

Australia To Lift Overseas Aid?

Australia is expected to announce a substantial increase in its aid to developing countries. Canberra sources estimated the rises could be about SA9O million more than the increases already planned. They would represent an attempt by the Australian Government to rejuvenate the North-South debate on aid to developing countries, and to place Australia in the vanguard of Western countries seeking to help them. Th.e increases were expected to be announced before October, in the lead-up period to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which is to be held in Melbourne in that month. Many countries likely to benefit from the increases will be represented at the meeting.

NO SEA LAW ACCORD BEFORE ’B2’ U.S.

The United States has suggested that the Law of the Sea (LOS) conference wait until early next year to take a final decision on the projected 350-article legal code. US delegate Bernard B. Oxman said his country would be prepared to take part in the three-week August session of the conference (PIM Jun p 59) on the understanding that it would consist only of an informal exchange of views, and that work on the draft treaty would not be concluded during the session. The US review of the draft treaty is part of an overall study of US foreign policy objectives undertaken by the Reagan administration after the new president took office in January.

Japan Reassuring On N-Waste Plans ...

Governor Carlos Camacho of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas and Guam’s Deputy Governor Joseph Aida have been told by officials of Japan’s Science and Technology Agency (STA) that Japan will not dump nuclear waste in the Pacific so long as other countries are against the idea. The Micronesian

leaders told Japanese officials that dumping nuclear waste would cause more damage than had been explained by the STA. They said the damage would affect not only Micronesians, but the Japanese people themselves. .. . AND NOW IT’S ASEAN’S TURN Solomon Islands officials are concerned that the United Nations may be sponsoring Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plans to dump nuclear waste in the Pacific. The country’s Secretary for foreign Affairs Francis Bugotu in May asked the director of the South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co operation (SPEC) to tell all South Pacific Forum countries of Solomon Islands concern, and seek views for a united approach against any such move. Mr Bugotu’s message to SPEC said the dumping plans were being developed ‘surprisingly, under some guise of an environmental programme’. A nuclear power station is reported to be under construction in the Philippines, an ASEAN member. A project listed under the UN Environmental Pro gramme is for the establishment of marine sites for ultimate dumping of hazardous wastes. It involves a draft action plan for an East Asian seas regional programme.

600 Athletes For Honiara Mini Games

Almost 600 contestants from 16 countries and territories were expected to take part in the July South Pacific Mini Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands. President of the South Pacific Games Council Commander Stan Brown, after a visit to Honiara to look over preparations, declared: Tm very satisfied. Solomom Islands has gone about it in exactly the right way they haven’t tried to build an empire around the Games, but they have made the very best use of what they have.’

2000 March Over Pay In Honiara

More than 2000 marchers converged in May on the Honiara office of Solomon Islands Prime Minister Peter Kelinorea to present a petition signed by leaders of seven of the country’s trade unions.

The petitioners claimed that the coalition government was ‘not competent to govern the affairs of the nation’. In particular, it condemned a recent rise in MPs’ salaries, which had been supported by the government, and demanded a minimum monthly wage for workers of SSI 100. At present it is $35. In a statement after the march, Mr Kenilorea called upon the unions to go through ‘proper channels’ for redress of their grievances.

He also congratulated the Public Service Association on its refusal to sign the petition.

Pacific Trade Unions Meet In Port-Vila

A conference of trade unions from Pacific countries held in Port- Vila, Vanuatu, in late May is expected to lead to heightened co operation between regional unions for a nuclear-free Pacific. The conference, which was officially opened by Vanuatu Prime Minister Fr Walter Lini, was attended by more than 100 delegates from 12 countries and territories. They were; Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Palau, Japan and Vanuatu. Solomon Islands delegates were reported unable to attend due to labour disputes at home. The conference was chaired by Jim Knox, president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour.

MITTERAND’S MAN IN NOUMEA EXPLAINS . ..

Guy Mennesson, nominated by President Mitterand to conduct his election campaign on the spot in New Caledonia, has described in an interview with the Noumea daily Les Nouvellesthe substance of a letter on the subject of Kanak independence written by the president to Independence Front leader Rock Pidjot. Mr Mennesson said the gist of the letter was: ‘lt’s not up to the President to grant or refuse the Territory’s independence.

Yet Francois Mitterand and the Socialist Party have always acknowleged the right of the Kanak people freely to decide their own future. They have undertaken to establish, through consultation, the framework in which this may be achieved, in particular by taking up proposals for a law requiring a minimum period of residence for those taking part in votes affecting the future of the Territory.’

Vanuatu Decrees Fees For French Schools

Students at Vanuatu’s French-language schools will henceforth pay fees, like their English-speaking counterparts. Education at French schools has traditionally been free, while English language pupils have always paid fees. Minister of Education Donald Kalpokas said the new system will make it ‘fair on both sides’. Discussing complaints from some parents that they find it difficult to cope financially, especially when they have more than

one child at school, Director of Primary Education George Calo said parents’ financial situation would be taken into account: fees could be reduced to as little as 20% of normal depending on a family’s resources. He said perhaps parents could even supply the school with so many bags of taro or vegetables instead of paying cash.

Hitch In Tongan Passport Plan

An ordinance published in a Tongan Government Gazette supplement on March 31 to amend the Passport Act and permit the sale of passports (for $lO 000) to ‘Tongan Protected Persons’ was invalidated by a brief notice in the gazette of April 31 on the grounds that it ‘was not approved by the Privy Council for publication as an ordinance, and is therefore invalid and not law’. Informed sources here did not believe however that the invalidation announcement would be the end of the affair. They expected that the aborted ordinance would re-emerge as a government bill soon after the House of Assembly reassembled in mid-June. With a strong pro-Establishment line-up in the new parliament following the May 1 general elections (PIM Jun p 6), the passport act amendments, if introduced, were likely to have a smooth passage. Penny Hodgkinson in Nukualofa.

Depressed Png Drops Budget Plan

Papua New Guinea’s economic woes continuing depression of commodity prices and of production at Bougainville Copper, together with clear indications of government over-spending have forced the dropping of a Cabinet decision to introduce a supplementary budget in July. Earlier, returning from a visit to Australia and the USA, Opposition Leader Michael Somare had warned that the International Monetary Fund was ‘seriously considering’ taking over control of the PNG economy due to a drastic decline in the country’s financial credibility.

Reagan’S Men In Micronesia

The Reagan Administration’s Micronesia policy review (PIM Jun p 57) is well under way, with representatives of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands holding talks in Washington and New York with the administration’s Micronesia Interdepartmental Group (IG), and IG representatives in turn visiting Micronesia. The IG party, headed by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Ginger Lew, visited Majuro, Kwajalein, Ponape and Palau.

THEY TRIED TO STOP A LEVERS BULLDOZER Police were flown in May to New Georgia, Solomon Islands, to prevent trouble between Levers Pacific Timbers and Christian Fellowship Church villagers from Jericho and Paradise. More than 200 villagers in 21 canoes gathered at Enogae Bay in an attempt to prevent Levers from landing a bulldozer at their campsite.

There was no violence and no arrests were made. Frank Jamakana, chairman of the North New Georgia Timber Corporation, which has concluded an agreement with Levers for logging in the area, said he believed the trouble had arisen because the CFC villagers has not properly understood procedures for nominating their representatives to the corpor ation’s board. He said the corporation was ‘very anxious’ to have CFC representatives on the board. Mr Jamakana later had talks with Job Dudley, son of the Holy Mama, leader of the CFC. Mr Jamakana said after the talks that Mr Dudley ‘now appeared to accept the position’.

University Of Technology For Noumea

After 14 years of talking, the first sod was turned in mid-May for the building of a French university campus in Noumea, New Caledonia. Estimated to cost the equivalent of SAIS million, the completed University of Technology will be capable of taking in and accommodating 1500 students. After the expected com pletion of the first stage in March 1983, there will be facilities for 400 students in mechanical engineering. The completed institution will also provide for foreign students in a course on modern French civilisation. The campus, ironically, is at Nouville, site of the prison built under Emperor Napoleon 111 for the detention of convicts transported from France. Daniel Tardieu.

Churches Urge End To N.C. Immigration

Meeting in Nukualofa, Tonga, in May, the Pacific Council of Churches called on the French Government to put an immediate end to migration of non-Melanesians into New Caledonia.

Outgoing PCC secretary Mrs Lorine Tevi told the more than 200 church representatives present that the votes of non-Melanesian French citizens from Tahiti, Wallis or France were overwhelming a clear Kanak vote for independence in polls

conducted in the territory. She also urged Pacitic church leaders to help in reinstating New Caledonia on the agenda of the United Nations Committee of 24, a sub-committee dealing with problems of decolonisation.

Indonesia’S Irian Java Policy Under Fire

Indonesian Government policies in Irian Jaya were spotlighted at a ‘South Pacific Human Rights Seminar’ held at the University of Papua New Guinea in June. From former residents of Irian Jaya now living in permissive residence in PNG, the tribunal heard evidence of executions, routine beatings, prison starvation, electric torture and brainwashing by Indonesian authorities in their attempt to crush the Free Papua Movement (OPM). Tribunal organisers said they intended to send their findings to the United Nations ‘for further action’.

Loser Wins In Honiara By-Election

Gordon Billy Gatu, the Nadepa candidate, had an easy win in the May by-election for the West Honiara seat in Solomon Islands’ parliament. He polled 681 votes in a three-cornered contest, with Francis Saemala (United Party) getting 290, and Mrs Lily Poznanski (Independent) 245. The by-election became necess ary when the winning candidate in the August election Ben Gale was disqualified following a petition to the High Court organised by Mr Gatu, who had been runner-up in the election.

NO ENTRY’ SIGN UP FOR BRYCH IN COOKS Controversial cancer therapist Milan Brych ‘will not be allowed to set foot in this country again,’ Cook Islands Premier Sir Thomas Davis said in May. ‘I don’t want any part of him,’ the premier added. Sir Thomas had been asked whether Brych would be allowed to return to Rarotonga from the US to collect evidence for his defence against United States charges of treating patients by unauthorised methods. Brych, however, needs to raise S3OO 000 bail, and to have his passport returned by the US Government, before he can travel overseas. William Gasson.

SANTO-BASED COMPANY TO FISH IN S.l. WATERS An agreement granting the Vanuatu-based company South Pacific Fisheries Ltd rights to fish within the Solomon Islands exclusive economic zone was signed in May. The company, based at Palekula, Santo, will pay the SI Government SIOO 000 for rights of access, and a SIOO registration licence fee for each catcher boat. The SI Government had already received applications for registration of 33 of the company’s boats.

Tornado Slams Nukualofa’S Seafront

A tornado ravaged the seafront area of Nukualofa, Tonga, in a wild five-minute rampage in May. Hardest hit were the Friendly Islander motel and neighbouring houses in the Maufanga area.

Three motor cars were flung as far as 30 m by the tearing winds.

Trees and power poles were flattened, cutting power supplies to the area. No serious injuries to persons were reported. Unofficial estimates put total damage at more than SIOO 000.

Roving Ambassador Is True To Title

Roving ambassador of the Republic of Vanuatu, Barak Sope (PIM May p 6), was roving in earnest in May-June. He presented his credentials to Australian Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen on May 27, before heading off to Europe. He was due to present his credentials as ambassador in London on June 2, Paris June 11, Bonn June 18, and Madrid June 25. He was also to hold discussions with officials of the European Economic Community and the Lome Convention in Brussels, and with United Nations Secretary-General Dr Kurt Waldheim in New York. A spokesman for the Vanuatu prime minister’s office said an important part of the ambassador’s mission was to present Vanuatu’s foreign policy to other countries, and to seek new areas in which they could give aid and technical assistance. Mr Sope, who was accompanied on his trip by Joseph Laloyer of the Foreign Affairs Department, was due back in Port-Vila on July 5.

Anne Gash Is At It Again

Well-known Australian singlehander yachtswoman Anne Gash, 58, reached California in May via Tahiti and Hawaii. She left Los Angeles for home on June 12 in her 7.9 m timber yacht stocked with three months supply of food, flute, 60 books and six bottles of rum. ‘I have a tot of rum with lemon and honey at the end of each day as the sun sets and I’m cooking my dinner,’ she told US reporters. Mrs Gash, mother of six and grandmother of seven, sailed to the US this time ‘mainly to sail under the Golden Gate.

I wanted that so much. It was fantastic . . .’ She expects to reach Sydney in October or November.