Lini’s denial

FOR Prime Minister Walter Lini, talk of resettling Vietnamese re fugees on his home island of Pentecost touched a raw nerve. Even though it was described as beautiful with dear waters, the idea of turning over 10,000 acres of forest to foreigners was quite unacceptable. Lini was spending his New Year holidays in Pentecost when the story broke. The man in the centre of it was former Secretary to the Presi dent Selwyn Leodoro who was dismissed last October for “misconduct”.

Lini immediately denied the story on his arrival at the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila. He said the government has not agreed in principle to allow Vietnamese refugees into the country. And he pointed out that Leodoro did not have a government job and was no longer with the President’s Office.

He said that while his government rec ognised the plight of Vietnamese re fugees, it did not have a resettlement policy for such people. The process of resettlement of refugees was lengthy be cause it would involve consultations be tween government, the chiefs, the cus tom landowners, the Council of Minis ters and the ruling Vanuaaku Party.

Lini said the government welcomed genuine foreign investors into the coun try. But he warned he would not accept business overtures made under false pre tences as in this case where the name of the President was used.

Masel Manua/ Port Vila.

Lini: denial.