Pacific Report

‘Remember Pearl Harbor’ 40 Years On

December 7, 1981, was the 40th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the US fleet in Pearl Harbor which touched off the Pacific war. In Japan, a few days before the anniversary, the mass-circulation newspaper Yomiuri asked 3000 people what the date meant to them. Fewer than half remembered, with the recollection rate unsurprisingly highest among people over 50.

Only one teenager in five knew from reading of it in schoolbooks.

Two percent recalled it as the date of an aunt’s birthday, or of the year-end bonus at their place of work. The anniversary coincided with the discovery in a Tokyo secondhand bookshop of a secret wartime document showing wartime Japanese officials advocat ing Nazi-style racial policies for ruling conquered nations, and the reported finding in the Philippines of the $2.5 million ‘Yamashiti Treasure’. (General Yamashita, ‘the Tiger of Malaya’, is said to have buried gold before the Americans captured and hanged him as a war criminal.) But the Tokyo correspondent of The Australian, Alan Goodall, summed up: Times change. A war foe becomes a useful ally and top market for electronic goods. The present generation sees Pearl Harbor as a beautiful place for a honeymoon.’ On the American side, the anniversary revived the long-standing controversy as to how it could have happened that the US was taken so completely by surprise by the attack. In an article in the Sydney magazine The Bulletin of December 8, British historian David Irving claims that an intercepted Japanese message gave the US three clear days’ warning that war was imminent, but no action was taken on it. In view of the fact that the crucial message known as No. 7001 was later removed by persons unknown from US Navy records, Irving strongly suggests a cover-up at the highest levels designed, notably, to protect the reputation of President Roosevelt. At Pearl Harbor on December 5, 1981. just two days before the anniversary, at least 10 people died when a plane taking skydivers to jump at a football game crashed into the harbour near the USS Arizona memorial.

Mitterrand To Mara: Delay Trip Please’

The French Government early in December asKed Fiji’s Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to delay the visit to Paris of a delegation of three South Pacific leaders which was to be headed by him. The mission, authorised by the South Pacific Forum in August, was to discuss with President Mitterrand the future of France’s Pacific territories. It had planned to leave for Paris on December 13. Accompanying the French Government’s request were indications that a new bill it has under preparation contains ‘bold reforms’ for New Caledonia, which are expected to be made public in the course of January. According to press reports, the reforms will stop short of mentioning the word ‘independence’, but will allow the government immediately to buy out the 900 or so colons who own large areas of Melanesian lands on which they run mixed farms and cattle. The land will be returned to descendants of the original owners. The bill is also expected to freeze all transactions in land for 10 years, vote considerble sums for local government councils, initiate training programmes for Melanesians, and require European employers to employ, say, two Melanesians for every white.

W. Samoa Poll For February 27

Western Samoa will go to the polls in general elections on February 27.

France Appoints New Man In Noumea

The man with responsibility for implementing such reforms on the ground in New Caledonia will be Christian Nucci, 42, who was named by the French Government in December as France’s new high commissioner in New Caledonia, succeeding Claude Charbonniaud. Mr Nucci is a politically prominent member of the Socialist Party, and until his new appointment held the important post of vice-president of the French National Assembly (lower house of parliament). Mr Nucci was born in Algeria and lived there for 23 years. He has also served as a teacher in Morocco, under

the French Government’s co-operation agreements with that country. He is expected to arrive in New Caledonia in January

French N-Tests Stepped Up

France conducted nuclear tests at Moruroa Atoll, French Polynesia, on November 11, December 5, and December 8, according to New Zealand Government seismologist Dr Warwick Smith. French Defence Minister Charles Hernu confirmed the November 11 explosion in a statement released in Paris on November 25, but denied suggestions that it was a neutron bomb. Meanwhile, the Australian Government is seeking clarification of charges that the test site atoll has suffered structural damage as a result of the N-tests, and that as a result radioactive material is being released into the surrounding ocean.

The French Government has undertaken to give a written reply to the Australian inquiries. In another development, Mr Hernu confirmed in Paris on December 10 that a storm in March 1981 had scattered waste on the atoll, but, he said, the situation was ‘now perfectly under control’. (See Postmark Papeete, pp2o-21.) MATELOTS KEEP AN EYE ON THE VEGA The early days of December saw three French naval vessels shadowing the anti-nuclear protest ship Vega, as it sailed deep within the prohibited French N-testing zone off Moruroa Atoll. The captain of the vessel, David McTaggart of the Greenpeace organisation, said he and his four fellow crewmen had written to President Mitterrand putting their case and claimed they would not leave the area until France agrees to sign the nuclear test ban treaty. Among the tasks McTaggart and his friends are undertaking is checking on reports that a huge crack in the reef has caused the release of radioactive materials into the surrounding ocean. Among the crew is Brice Lalonde, who stood on an anti-nuclear energy platform in the May 1981 French presidential elections, and a young Australian, David Robertson.

Nauru An O.T.E.C. World First?

Nauru now has what is claimed to be the world’s first land-based Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant. The $4-million, 100-kilowatt plant, is the test version for a 1500-kilowatt project planned for Nauru. It was funded by the Tokyo Electric Power Service Corporation. Jay Lether, Guam Energy Office director, said in an interview published in The Honolulu Star-Bulletin that the Nauru project will have ‘particular significance to other Pacific islands, which now depend on expensive imported oil for electricity’. ‘Right now, a lot of people are doubtful OTEC will work. But this will establish it as a viable energy source,’ he said.

Mr Lether said the success of the Nauru project, which is already providing electricity to part of the Nauru community, will provide a boost for OTEC, which had taken a back seat in the Reagan administration’s budget plans. Nauru’s OTEC project had been a well-kept secret by the two Japanese companies involved, who had built it in just three months.

Fijians Must Rule’ Mara

Fiji’s Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, in a spirited address to the convention of his ruling Alliance Party, has claimed that only continuing leadership by native Fijians would keep the multi racial country peaceful and prosperous. He accused other political parties of being ‘wholly racial’, and of having limited appeal. The opposition National Federation Party depended for support on the Indians, who form half of Fiji’s population, while small Fijian political groups ‘are wholly racial in outlook and of limited appeal, both geographically and in terms of their policies’, he said. The Alliance, which has ruled Fiji since 1970, is formed by three parties the Fijian Association, CMA. the Indian Alliance, which is supported by a small part of the Indian community, and the General Electors’ Association, which is backed by most people who are not Fijians or Indians. Ratu Mara told the convention that the Alliance was still ‘the only party whose composition truly reflects the diverse social and economic backgrounds of Fiji’. The campaign leading up to the July elections is likely to be a long and bitter affair, with simmering racial differences as the paramount talking point. The Alliance at present has 36 seats in the 52-seat House of Representatives, and is expected to have its numbers cut back to a narrow working majority. Robert Keith-Reid in Suva.

Chan Backs Off In Police Row

Faced with a threatened revolt by sections of the Papua New Guinea police force, PNG Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan appeared in December to back off from an earlier call he had made for the resignation of the country’s Police Commissioner Philip Bouraga. Deputy Prime Minister lambakey Okuk had warned the PM of ‘disastrous consequences’ if he insisted on the

commissioner’s resignation. In his later statement, Sir Julius said he had asked the Public Service Commissioner to consider laying disciplinary charges against Mr Bouraga. He added that if the PSC decided to lay charges, Mr Bouraga should automatically resign. Mr Bouraga in the course of the row has repeatedly stated that he would not resign, and that ‘they’ll have to sack me’.

Background to the trouble is the sharp increase in the crime rate in Port Moresby following cuts in police funds ordered by the government in May-June, 1981. Also in play is a clash of personalities between Mr Bouraga and Police Minister Warren Dutton. Mr Dutton is a member of Sir Julius’s Peoples Progress Party, whereas Mr Bouraga has a record of close association with the previous government of Michael Somare, in which his Pangu Party was the dominant force. The Chan government has tended to show marked dislike for senior public servants who were close to the Somare government.

OIL STORAGE PLAN FOR PAGO IN TROUBLE A proposal by the US-based Marlex Corporation to set up a floating oil refinery and storage facility in Pago Pago harbour is running into trouble with businessmen, students, and environmentalists. Among objections to the plan was the claim that the project could not compete with the larger bulk oil storage facility planned for Tonga, with Kuwaiti aid (PIM Dec ‘Bl p 6).

Sir Tore In Vanuatu

The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Tore Lokoloko and Lady Lokoloko paid an official visit to Vanuatu in late November. The three-day visit included a day spent on the island of Santo, where PNG troops in August 1980 quelled the Vemarana secession.

Club Med For Madang?

The giant French-based tourist organisation, Club Mediterranee, is looking at a site near Madang, Papua New Guinea, with a view to setting up a Club Med operation there.

Oz Diplomats Shuffled

Australia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in December changes in diplomatic postings to Solomon Islands, Western Samoa and Nauru. T. H. B. Sofield is Australia’s new high commissioner to Solomon Islands, replacing R. G. Irwin, K. R.

Fraser replaces A. J. Deacon as high commissioner to Western Samoa, and R. B. Hodgson takes over from O. J. Cordell in the same post on Nauru.

New Caledonian Journalists In Vanuatu

A delegation of journalists from New Caledonia has been received in Port-Vila by Vanuatu President Ati George Sokomanu. The visit, made at the invitation of the Vanuatu Government, was a first step towards dispelling some of the mistrust and misunder standing which arose between the two sides at the time of the Santo revolt of May-August 1980. It is expected to lead to an increase in the numbers of New Caledonian tourists visiting Vanuatu.

Vanuatu’S Ties With Two Koreas

Vanuatu has established relations with both South (Republic of) Korea and North (People’s Democratic Republic of) Korea.

Cooks-Tahiti Trade Opens Up

Cook Islands Prime Minister Sir Thomas Davis, and Agriculture Minister Tangata Simiona, lent a hand in November loading copra on the Tahitian ship, Tuhaa Pae 11. The occasion was the beginning of a new trading relationship between the Cook Islands and Tahiti. Also present, having flown from Papeete for the occasion, were Alexandre Ata, member of French Polynesia’s government council responsible for economic development and tourism, oil plant director Julien Siu, and the export manager for Hinano beer, Tony Magnier.

Direct Dialling From Oz

Most metropolitan telephone subscribers in Australia are now able to dial direct to 10 South Pacific countries. From December 6 international subsciber dialling came into effect for calls to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, Nauru, Tonga, American Samoa and Solomon Islands.

Racial Strains In Hawaii Noted

‘The ties that hold together Hawaii’s multi-racial society are being tested again by tensions arising from demands by the Hawaiian Polynesian minority for a bigger share of the state’s wealth and greater political power,’ writes Wallace Turner in a recent article reproduced in the Cook Islands News. Turner adds: ‘While only 19.9% of the state’s 950 000 residents are Hawaiian or part- Hawaiian, a disproportionately large number of theifi are on welfare rolls, in gaol and are school dropouts. Militant Hawaiians

blame the island’s Japanese and mainland Caucasians whom they call “haoles” for these problems.’

Scientists Aim At Immunity From Malaria

Scientists in Papua New Guinea and Australia are working on the production of a vaccine to provide immunity against malaria, still a major cause of death and chronic debility in tropical countries.

They describe the results so far as ‘encouraging’ but believe at least 10 years of further work will be needed before full-scale field testing can begin. If the project is successful it will represent a major development in medical science. The main weapons against malaria so far have been the suppression of its effects and the prevention of its transmission, rather than creation of immunity. The centre of the new project is at the PNG Institute of Medical Research where a team of doctors and scientists is working under the leadership of the institute’s director, Dr Michael Alpers. Associated work is being undertaken in Australia at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane and the Newcastle University in Newcastle.

First Pacific Schools Games For Brisbane

More than 2000 primary and secondary students are expected to attend the first Pacific Schools Games in Brisbane next August.

They are being staged as a curtain-raiser for the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Students aged from nine to 19 from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Australia and New Zealand will be among the participants. The students will stay in Brisbane homes during the six-day event, and compete in athletics and swimming events organised by the Queensland State Schools Council. The games are being sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive.

Anchored Supertanker For Png?

The French company Ultra-Marine Pty Ltd is talking with Papua New Guinea’s National Investment and Development Authority about a plan for the permanent anchoring of a chartered supertanker in PNG waters off southern New Ireland. It would serve as an oil bunker vessel for international shipping. PNG would get a royalty on oil supplied, which would be brought to the tanker from Indonesia.

Undp Helps Train Hotel Staffs

The United Nations Development Programme is sponsoring a South Pacific regional programme to train hotel staffs in the smaller countries. It will sponsor training courses at the Fiji Hotel Catering School.

Fiji Eyes Imports Of U.S. Fruit

An outbreak of Mediterranean fruit fly in southern California has led to the banning in Fiji of all casual imports of fruit from the USA.

Regular importers of American produce must now obtain import permits.

Old Apia Hotel Reopens

The Apian Way Inn, one of Western Samoa’s oldest hotels, reopened in October after renovations carried out by its new owners, the Nauru Investment Corporation. The corporation belongs to the government of Nauru.

Big Upgrade For Norfolk’S Airport

The first contract was let in November for a $A6.2 million upgrading of Norfolk Island’s airport. It was a $2.3 million contract to Island Industries Ltd of Norfolk Island to supply crushed rock for use in constructing a new runway. An Australian Government spokesman said sufficient work would be done by the end of 1982 to accommodate medium jet aicraft such as the F-28 Fokker Fellowship. The F-28s are faster and larger than the prop-jet Fokker Friendships now in use on the Norfolk service

Massive Ore Deposit Near Galapagos

American scientists have discovered a massive undersea ore deposit worth at least SUS2OOO million near the Galapagos Islands in the eastern Pacific. The deposit, totalling 25 000 tonnes of ore in water 2500 metres deep, contains copper worth an estimated $2OOO million, and quantities of silver, lead, cadmium, vanadium, tin and zinc.

Samoan Rugby Men Under Cloud

Western Samoa rugby clubs could face an international ban following a violent incident in Hawaii recently, when a Samoan player representing the Vaiala Club struck the referee, New Zealander Trevor McLachlan. Several other players joined the attack, in which Mr McLachlan is reported to have been seriously hurt.

Spain, Tonga Have Diplomatic Ties

The two kingdoms of Spain and Tonga established diplomatic relations in October.