Airports put on terrorist alert

terrorist alert

Headlines

SECURITY at airports throughout the Pacific has been stepped up in fear of terrorist attacks by Iraqi sym pathisers. Fiji’s Nadi International air port was placed on red alert on January 18 because of a bomb scare aboard a Canadian Airline flight out of Australia.

The aircraft landed safely and, after a thorough check of passengers and bag gage, departed for Honolulu one hour behind schedule.

Help sought for drug war NEW Zealand has sought the help of Pacific island countries to end drug

trafficking in the region.

This follows an international report, based on a United Nations survey, which claimed that New Zealand is a drugs

transhipment point. According to a New

Zealand newspaper, Dominion , the gov ernment plans to have a drug liaison officer based in Bangkok. Project Cook, a system to trace the movement of small boats between Australia, America, New Zealand and other Pacific countries also will be upgraded.

Government officials said the key was to force Pacific Rim neighbours to co operate in sharing intelligence.

Freedom survey A SURVEY by Freedom House, an

international human rights organisation

based in the United States, has revealed that the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu are the two most free independent island states in the South Pacific. The survey also rates Kiribati, Nauru, Western Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Vanu atu as free. It says civil rights in Papua New Guinea is declining, while Tonga has recorded an improvement in its

political rights.

Freedom House says of the nine independent island nations in the South Pacific, Fiji is the least free with almost no political freedom.

Fiji gears for election THE tempo of political activity in Fiji is gathering momentum in anticipation of proposed elections later this year.

The Government has appointed a high-powered committee, made up of six government ministers, to set up the

machiner)" for a Fijian political party.

The committee includes Minister for Fijian Affairs, Lt Col. Navuisarai, Filipe Bole (Education), Berenado Vunibobo

(Trade and Commerce), Ratu William Toganivalu (Land and Minerals),

Apeisa Kurisagila (Health) and Major-

General Sitiveni Rabuka. The Nadi branch of the Ruling Alliance Party also formed a new party in January which it said aimed at fostering the interests of all ethnic groups in Fiji.

Kanaks oppose immigration ANTI-INDEPENDENCE leader in New Caledonia, Jacques Lafleur, has called for more immigration from Eur ope and France to boost the French Territory’s economy.

Mr Lafleur said the move was needed to achieve economic growth, however Kanak leaders opposed the idea. They believe France should discourage more outsiders moving in, because New Cale donia is back on the UN decolonisation list.

Solomons sends athletes The Solomon Islands has sent five of its top young athletes to a “Youth of the World” sports tournament in Paris, France. They are sprinter Joseph Onika, marathon runner Philip Aitai, weight lifter Leslie Ata, lawn tennis player Lency Tenai, and heavy weight boxer John Tebauba. The sports tournament, which runs until February 10, is organ ised by the French Olympic Committee as a prelude to the Albertville Winter Olympics in 1992.

Johnston permit extended THE US Army received government approval to continue to destroy weapons containing nerve gas and mustard gas agents at Johnston Atoll. A temporary permit, which expired in December, has been extended for another 180 days.

Meanwhile, the US Army awaits Environmental Protection Agency action on its request to make permanent modifications to the Johnson Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System facility,

incorporating design and operational

improvements.

A group of seven Soviet military and civilian chemical weapons experts also visited the JACADS last month, to be familiarised with US chemical weapons.

Refinery for Tonga?

NEGOTIATIONS are under way for an oil to be set up in Tonga by the end of 1992. The multi-million dollar project has interests from Saudi Arabia and American businessmen. Radio Tonga said the project was still in the initial stages of negotiations and would

be financed by Tonga. The idea is to refine oil in the kingdom and sell it to neighbouring Pacific countries.

PNG farmers fight fishermen FOREIGN fishermen operating in coastal waters of Papua New Guinea have been warned to stay clear of traditional fishing grounds. The warning was sounded by the Secretary of the Department of Gulf province in Papua, following the sighting of a number of

foreign fishing trawlers just off Kukipi

near Kerema. Coastal villagers have attempted to board a number of trawlers, and have threatened to take the law into their own hands if necessary.

Malaysia to help PNG army ARMY officers from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force will receive mili tary training in Malaysia. The Malay sian Government gave the undertaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on defence co-operation between the two countries. The Malay sian Defence ministry said its experience, particularly in counter-insurgency, will help PNG solve some of its insurgency

problems.

Matai titles held up FULL registration of two-thousand new Matai titles in Western Samoa is being held back by the Lands and Titles Court to allow the court to investigate the new titles. The decision means they are not fully recognised by the court and by

village councils.

Tuvalu cuts spending TUVALU’S Government has signalled it is making efforts to cut spending, but members of Parliament have been criti cal of what they see as inadequate cost controls. The recent budget debate ended with the House approving the Government’s plan to borrow ASI mil lion (U 55770,000) from the National Bank of Tuvalu to help cover its revenue shortfall, which it had proposed to avoid imposing higher taxes and duties.

Among the belt-tightening measures is an agreement whereby Airlines of the Marshall Islands will meet wages costs of local airport staff who handle its aircraft, passengers and freight when the airlines call at Funafuti. Foreign shipping com panies will also be required to meet the costs of Tuvaluan seamen travelling to join their vessels at foreign ports. □