In This Issue

• SOUTH PACIFIC TOURISM. lan Kennedy, g South Pacific regional director of the Pacific Area Travel Association, minces no words in an interview on the future of tourism in the region: plan, he says, move a bit up-market, and above all stay “different” from tourism destinations in metropolitan countries. For their part, PIM correspondents report on how the industry is faring in the areas of their concern. Begins on page • COVER STORY. Britain has joined Australia and *| 3 New Zealand in building a rapid deployment force for use if and when needed to prevent political hi-jackings of governments in vulnerable small countries

• RABAUL WAITS FOR THE BIG BLOW. Rabaul, 21 crouched in the grip of five volcanoes forming Simpson and Matupi Harbors in Papua New Guinea’s East New Britain Province, was on Stage Two alert in February meaning an eruption was expected within months to weeks • MEGATONNES OF MUD MIRE OK TEDI’S 29 FUTURE. A massive landslide on the east bank of Papua New Guinea’s Ok Ma River in January caused an urgent re-thinking of plans for the disposal of mine tailings from the vast gold-copper project • BEHIND FIJI’S CABINET RESHUFFLE. Vijend- 40 ra Kumar, editor of The Fiji Times, brings his intimate 0 knowledge of Fiji politics to bear on the long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara late in January