Pacific Report
pp. 5-6 · Read in the full issue
U.S. SENATE GIVES NOD TO ISLAND TREATIES After two years in which it could not make up its mind, the U.S.
Senate on June 21 finally ratified four treaties of friendship with Kiribati, Tuvalu, Cook Islands and Tokelau, which is adminis tered by New Zealand. Ratification means that the U.S. gives up century-old claims to 26 islands in the groups concerned. New Zealand also gives up a claim, on behalf of Tokelau, to Swain’s Island, administered by the U.S. as part of American Samoa since 1925. The treaties establish maritime boundaries and provide for consultation on fishing rights, and military use of islands in the Kiribati and Tuvalu groups. The Senate vote was 94-4, with two abstentions. Diehard opponents of the treaties used arguments such as that of Republican Steven Simms who said: “I do not believe in giving away territory for which American blood was spilled.”
Paris Talks On New Caledonia’S Future
Members of New Caledonia’s three main political groups left Noumea for Paris on July 6, to take part in round-table discussions with President Mitterrand’s government on the political future of the territory. The French Government invited 20 New Caledonian political leaders to Paris for the five-day round of talks on a statute of internal autonomy. Delegates are from the Independence Front, which favors early independence, the Republican Party, which is against independence, and the Centre Party, the F.N.S.C. A spokesman for the F.N.S.C. told newsmen at Noumea airport that his delegation was not going to Paris to talk about independence, but in a spirit of dialogue and consultation. A spokesman for the Republican Party delegation, Dick Ukeiwe, said the position of his party would be determined by what is proposed during the talks, but it would expect elections to be held before a statute of autonomy was applied.
Vanuaaku Party Congress Heals Wounds
The keenly awaited congress of Vanuatu’s ruling Vanuaaku Party held in June patched up the recent disputes within the party which led to a parliamentary motion of no confidence being moved against Prime Minister Walter Lini, in April. The move followed Father Lini’s dismissal of his deputy prime minister and the resignation in protest of two other ministers. The motion failed, but under party rules those who supported it were disqualified from the party. The Vanuaaku Party congress re elected Father Lini as party president, and unanimously accept ed the three former ministers back into the party. In November, Vanuatu will hold its first elections since independence in 1980 The Vanuaaku Party holds two-thirds of the 39 seats in the present parliament.
Australia’S New Move Against N-Tests?
Australia has appointed its first ambassador for disarmament.
The appointment is seen as a signal that the Labor Government plans to take the lead in trying to force an end to France’s nuclear testing program in the South Pacific. A strong strengthening of the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs is planned to deal with issues of nuclear disarmament and arms control. The initiatives were detailed by the Foreign Minister, Bill Hayden, in a major statement in Adelaide in early July. The new ambassador is Richard Butler, Australia’s deputy permanent representative at the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris. Mr Butler, has specialised in nuclear matters for several years. Mr Hayden announced efforts to wards a comprehensive treaty banning nuclear tests which he said would put heavy pressure on France to cease its Pacific testing program. The Foreign Minister added that such a treaty would have to be independently verified, and the Australian Government would be improving the country’s seismic monitor ing capacity to detect nuclear blasts.
U.S. Sponsors Tsunami Warning Project
The U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) is spon sonng a pilot study of methods used to warn coastal residents in South Pacific countries of impending seismic-triggered tidal waves (tsunamis). The study will be conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on a budget of about $U.5.250,000. A spokesman for the project said the new system
will provide warnings of tidal waves only 10 minutes after an undersea earthquake. It is estimated that more than 70,000 people have been killed by tidal waves in the Pacific Basin over the past century.
Png Still Eyes Asean
Papua New Guinea is planning higher levels of co-operation with the Association of South East Asian Nations, but has not decided whether it will join the association. PNG Foreign Minister Rabbie Namaliu said in June his country still regarded itself as a Pacific nation, and would not be hasty about joining ASEAN, with which at present PNG has observer status. Mr Namaliu said he had instructed his department to make an assessment of the advantages of PNG joining ASEAN, and to report by the end of the year. Mr Namaliu added that his country faced financial and staffing restraints in expanding its foreign relations. Members of ASEAN are Indonesia, Singapore, Thai land, Malaysia and the Philippines.
New Ocean Minerals Search Planned
The United States, Australia and New Zealand have agreed in principle to finance a second scientific cruise of the South Pacific, it will be a follow-up to 1982 studies carried out by two American research vessels searching for mineral resources in offshore areas. Six regional governments Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa are involved in the projected cruise, which is likely to begin in October. It is expected to cover two areas Kiribati and Cook Islands not studied last time.
Telecommunications On Forum Agenda
Proposals to develop reliable telecommunications among South Pacific Island nations are to be discussed at the meeting of the South Pacific Forum in Canberra in late August. The ministers have stated that without reliable communications it is difficult to plan effective development and to ensure the growth of trade. A 1981 report on the subject recommends a balance of satellite and land telecommunications on a country-by-country basis, but it calls for overall co-ordination.
Fiji: Mara Warns On ’B4
Fiji’s Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara said in June that 1984 is shaping up as the most difficult year the country has faced since independence in 1970. He said recent cyclones had caused considerable damage to a number of vital sectors of Fiji’s economy. In such circumstances this year’s agreement on national wage guidelines, giving workers an average pay rise of five per cent, was fair and reasonable. Ratu Mara was speaking in Suva at the formal signing of the agreement.
Fsm, Marshalls, Palau Latest
Voters in the Federated States of Micronesia have supported the proposed Compact of Free Association, with the U.S.
Meanwhile, progress has been made in negotiations between the U.S. and Marshall Islands and Palau. (See Floyd K.
Takeuchi’s column in “The Month”.) FRANCE S FOURTH MORUROA BLAST FOR ’B3 France’s fourth nuclear test at Moruroa this year, staged on July 5, came only days after Regis Debray, President Mitterrand’s special envoy, had completed visits to Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea. Mr Debray had invited all governments to send a scientific representative to Moruroa for a one-off inspection visit to Moruroa later in the year. In a statement in late June, French Defence Minister Charles Hernu confirmed that France had tested the neutron bomb at Moruroa, but had not yet made a decision to produce it. (See the critique by Marie-Therese and Bengt Danielsson of France’s official defence of its Moruroa testing program in this issue.)
“Neo-Colonialist” Australia Rapped
Vanuatu’s Opposition Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) has claimed the country is becoming increasingly controlled by Australia. In a statement issued in June which describes Australia’s influence in Vanuatu as “neo-colonialist”, the UMP claims the country is losing its freedom. Quoting Papua New Guinea as an example of a country which is suffering as a result
of its close relations with Australia, the group says it “cannot accept” Australian influence in the South Pacific, and does not want to see Australia supplying all the region’s financial and technical needs. Referring to New Caledonia, the UMP, which consists mainly of French-speaking Ni-Vanuatu, says it does not want Vanuatu to become a tool of Australia in getting France out of the Pacific. However, the statement supports independence for all Pacific countries, and calls on France to begin moving towards a peaceful independence in New Caledonia.
Solomons: Solomon The Survivor
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Solomon Mamaloni survived a no-confidence motion in parliament on June 23. After nine hours debate, the motion’s sponsor, Peter Salaka, MP for Shortland Islands, finally withdrew it, saying that while he considered himself the best alternative to Mr Mamaloni as prime minister, he had observed that other political parties were lining up their candidates for the post. “So why the hell should I move it if I couldn’t be prime minister?” he said. “I withdraw the motion.”
Earlier in June, Mr Mamolni had sacked his third minister in a month Paul Keyaumi, who had held the portfolio of police and justice. The victims of previous sackings had been (PIM Jul. p. 33) Peter Salaka (lands, energy and natural resources), and John Ngina (transport, communications and government utilities).
Lone Pacific Rower Makes It Just
Solo Pacific rower Peter Bird ended his 16,000-kilometre, 294day, journey in mid-June when he was taken on board an Australian navy patrol boat 33 nautical miles from the north Queensland coast. An Australian naval spokesman said Mr Bird’s 12-metre craft, Hele on Britannia, broke up shortly after it was taken in tow. He said the boat was being swept towards a reef by strong winds and heavy seas, and Mr Bird was forced to ask for help. Mr Bird began his voyage from San Francisco in August 1982.
Trachoma On Wane In Fiji
There has been a drop in the prevalence of the eye infection, trachoma, in Fiji. A survey by a World Health Organisation consultant has shown that trachoma occurred in about six per cent of Fijians, and that just under one per cent of the Indian community was affected. The figures were given by Minister of Health Dr Apenisa Kurisaqila, when he opened a conference of the Australian Optometrical Association held in Fiji in July. Dr Kurisaqila said the drop has been brought about by Fiji’s improved health and socio-economic standards.
New Australia-Noumea Flights Approved
Agreement has been reached between the Australian and French Governments on the introduction of new air services between Australia and New Caledonia. Australia’s Minister for Aviation Kim Beazley said in June that Qantas and the new regional airline Air Caledonie International would introduce services between Melbourne and Noumea before the end of the year. Mr Beazley said the services would make New Caledonia more accessible to travellers from Victoria and Australia’s other southern states. He said Air Caledonie International would introduce services between Brisbane and Noumea.
Talair Takes On Govt. On Fares
Papua New Guinea’s biggest third-level airline Talair is mount ing a legal challenge to a bid by the government to make it reduce its fares. Earlier, the PNG Government had ordered the national airline Air Niugini to reduce fares on its domestic services by 10 per cent by June 1. The instruction was then extended to other, privately operated, carriers. Talair is chal lenging the legality of the government’s action.
Solomons: Baddeley, Easily
Governor-General Sir Baddeley Devesi of Solomon Islands was easily re-elected in June for another five-year term. Parliament voted 22 to 12 in his favor over a former public servant and politician, Sir Gideon Zoloveke. Interest in the election waned when Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister Sir Peter Kenilorea withdrew his nomination the day before the vote.
Png Government Doctors, Lawyers Strike
Government doctors and lawyers in Papua New Guinea took separate strike actions in June in support of a demand for pay and conditions equal to those enjoyed by expatriates practising their respective professions in the country. PNG’s Cabinet
undertook to speed up examination of a proposal for a one wage professional wage structure.
ADB STUDIES ITS ROLE IN ISLANDS AID The Asian Development Bank plans an in-depth study of its role in meeting the needs of its South Pacific developing member countries (SPDMCs) in the 1980 s. The bank’s future operations in the islands will be guided by the recommendations of the members of the study team in close consultation with the SPDMC governments and donor agencies. Over the last 16 years to the end of 1982, the bank made loans to its eight SPDMCs, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and Western Samoa, total ling SUS 244 million and technical assistance valued at $8.6 million.
Png Renames Radio Networks
Papua New Guinea’s national radio has renamed its three networks. The changes were announced on July 7 by the chairman of Papua New Guinea’s National Broadcasting Com mission, Austin Sapias. Radio One, the national medium wave service, will be named the Karai service. Karai is the Motu name for “cockatoo”, one of the few birds in PNG that can be taught to speak. This capacity for learning represents the educational services provided on the first national network. Radio Two, the FM service broadcasting in the major cities and towns, is to be known as the Kalang service. Kalang is a Pidgin word, originally from Tolai, meaning the gold-lipped pearlshell or an earring, or the long feather of a bird. These are all highly prized objects, and Kalang reflects the commercial nature of the second national network. The former Radio Three service, comprising 19 provincial stations and broadcasting mostly on short wave, becomes the Kundu service. Kundu is the Pidgin word for a type of ceremonial drum, and so emphasises the NBC’s link with the rural populations through its third network.
Scientific Commission Reports On Moruroa
The report of a scientific commission appointed by the French Government concluded in early July that radio-active contami nation from underground nuclear tests at Moruroa Atoll in the Pacific has been practically zero. The commission was headed by Haroun Tazieff, one of the world’s leading experts on volcanoes. The French press agency AFP said Mr Tazieff wrote that the main danger from the blasts was that the shocks could cause tidal waves, but added that the danger was very local.
The agency said the report does not exclude the possibility that radio-activity might partially escape from the cavity caused by an underground nuclear explosion. It also concedes that the tests have caused earth slips and sedimentation which could have resulted in changes in the geological make-up of the atoll, such as the opening and closing of cracks in the earth. The commission suggests various ways of improving the quality of radio-activity controls and more routine analysis of seawater at different depths in the lagoon and around the atoll. The report, handed on July 5 to Defence Minister Charles Hernu, adds that official announcements of each test, and the publication of unimpeachable scientific findings on their effects, are both desirable
Stinson Resigns From Fiji Ministry
Fiji’s Minister for Energy Peter Stinson resigned in early July and was replaced by a Minister of State Without Portfolio, Jone Naisara. Mr Stinson’s resignation was announced by Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. The prime minister said Mr Stinson had resigned to concentrate on his business activities.
His family business, Stinson Pearce, is among the biggest in Fiji.
However, political observers in Suva said Mr Stinson had been having differences with other cabinet ministers.
Western Samoa’S Vital’ Legislation
The Legislative Assembly in Western Samoa met in June to consider a number of bills described as “vital for the social and cultural well-being” of the country by Prime Minister Tofilau Etii.
The Western Samoan leader said a bill to increase the authority of the village chiefs is particularly important as it will directly involve them in basic administrative decision-making at the village and district level. Other bills considered include mea sures to speed up the hearing of cases in Land and Titles Court, allowing bingo games on Saturday afternoons, and fortnightly pay for parliamentarians.