Pacific Report

□ W Samoan Women’S Vote Plea

WESTERN SAMOA’S National Council of Women has called for the abolition of the country’s present electoral system, whereby only chiefs can vote. The council wants the introduction of a wider fran chise system that would give women and all people over the age of 21 the vote.

□ King Tupou Celebrations

FIVE DAYS of feasting, parades, dancing, sporting events and church services will mark the 70th birthday this year of Ton ga’s King Taufa’ahau Tupou. The celebra tions will last from June 30 to July 4.

□ Tuvalu Census In ’B9

TUVALU’S FIRST population census for 10 years will be conducted in June 1989.

The 1979 census showed that Tuvalu had a population of 7348: a survey in 1985 in dicated the figure had risen to 8300.

□ Fiji Stays Aloof

FIJI’S PRIME Minister, Ratu Sir Kam isese Mara, has indicated Fiji will not be come a member of either the new Melanesian or Polynesian groupings in the South Pacific.

□ Png Immigration Upgrade

PNG’S IMMIGRATION services are being upgraded to bring them in line with international practice. The move is a di rect result of the findings of an inquiry into complaints of long delays experienced in dealing with the Immigration Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

□ Png Crocodile Attack

MADANG police recovered the remains of a 47-year-old man who was taken by a crocodile. The man’s wife had watched helplessly while the crocodile attacked and dragged him into the Gogol River, where he’d gone for a drink.

□ Rongelap Fallout Fear

A SENATOR from the Marshall Islands has claimed that United States officials deliberately covered up a medical study that showed plutonium infection among the inhabitants of Rongelap exposed to hydrogen bomb tests in 1954. The island was later evacuated, but the islanders re turned to the remote atoll three years later after US officials declared it safe.

□ Australia’S Fiji Promise

AUSTRALIA’S new Ambassador to Fiji, Mr Robert Cotton, promised that his country would work with Fiji “with sym pathy and understanding” of the complex issues facing it. The ambassador said Aus tralia had a firm commitment to a sound and positive relationship with Fiji and he would do his best to strengthen it.

□ Gandhi’S Ultimatum

THE EXTREMIST Fijian Nationalist Party sent a message to the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Gandhi, asking his country to repatriate Fiji’s Indians. It was signed by the party president, Mr Sakeasi Butad roka, and claimed that Fiji’s political sta bility had been shattered by the Indian presence.

□ Enga Clans Clash

A FIGHT involving about 2000 clansmen in Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province re sulted in the burning of 30 houses and the destruction of other property. The clash between Lakoi and Okongk clansmen oc curred after Okongk clansmen attacked and seriously injured a Lakoi clansman early in May.

□ Judge Slams Aid Lack

THE MOST senior judge in Fiji, Chief Justice Sir Timoci Tuivaga, has expressed regret at a shortage of judges in his coun try because of a lack of financial aid from Australia, New Zealand and Britain.

□ Fijians Oversee Soviet Pullout

FIJI’S FOUR-MAN contribution to the United Nations observer unit in Afghan istan has left for Kabul. The two majors and two captains will be part of a 50member UN military team overseeing the initial withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan this month.

□ Gg’S Pig Clubbing Outcry

THE GOVERNOR General of New Zea land, Sir Paul Reeves, caused an outcry in his country by clubbing two pigs to death during ceremonies in Vanuatu. The kill ings took place as part of a Melanesian rit ual in honour of visitors of high status.

□ Micronesia Probe

THE UNITED Nations Trusteeship Council began hearings on progress to ward self-Government and the economic and social progress of Micronesia the last remaining territory under interna tional trusteeship. In its three-week ses sion, the Council considered a United States report on the region, also known as the Trust Territory of the Pacific islands.

□ Fiji Sunday Rules Eased

AN EASING of Fiji’s strict Sunday ob servance rules has been announced. This will permit work in the sugar and rice in dustries, limited public transport and family picnics. But bans will remain on organised sport and retail trading. They followed recommendations by a Cabinet committee chaired by the sabbath decree’s author, the army commander, Brigadier- General Sitiveni Rabuka, after taking submissions from a wide section of the community. □