Unifil cash crisis Going beyond news gathering

THE United Nations has room to be grateful that it is not paying, directly, for the operations in the Gulf. In his report to the Security Council on January 30, United Nations Secretary General Perez de Guellar reported that UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon which involves Fiji soldiers, is $281.7 million in arrears because of late payment by member nations. That would have been $44 million more but for a recent payment of arrears by “a major contributor”. This was the US which still owes $127 million, while the Soviet Union owes another $llO million for UNIFIL.

The Security Council extended the force’s mandate for a further six months until July 31, expressing the often stated hope that the Lebanese government will secure control of its own territory. In the meantime over 6000 personnel are in volved in UNIFIL, including 700 from Fiji. □ Marshalls break through THE Marshall Islands is the 12th member of the University of the South Pacific, enabling it to become a member of the university council. The university’s

vice-chancellor, Geoffrey Gaston, said

the membership was granted after two years of negotiations and the payment of $30,000 required from new members. □ Gulf role floated It is possible for Fiji to participate in a post Gulf War peacekeeping force under

the United Nations flag. Fiji Military

Forces Commander, Major-General Siti

veni Rabuka, said Fiji’s possible partici

pation has been floated in “corridor discussions” in New York. He said an official Fiji government response will be made only after an official request has been received by the Fiji mission in New York.

Fiji has troops with the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (Unifil) and the Multinational Forces and Observers in Sinai. □ Tohlan set free FORMER Papua New Guinea police chief Paul Tohian has been set free by the High Court in Port Moresby after the state failed to provide enough proof of sedition. Tohian was charged with trying to take over the government of Rabie Namaliu in July last year. But the court ruled the prosecution did not have enough evidence for a case and ordered that all the charges against Tohian and two other former police officers be

dropped. The presiding judge, Justice

Brown, ordered that bail money ranging from US$lOOO to US$2OOO be refunded to the three men. □

THE Pacific Islands News Associ ation (PINA), the region’s news organisation plans to mount a South Pacific Week m Auckland during its annual conference and workshop.

Trade and cultural events are planned to bring the people of the Pacific together to promote growth and development.

Said PINA president, Patteson Mae, of the Solomon Islands; “Our association wants to do something tangible to help our countries and the region in the struggle for economic and social develop ment. We also want to promote intra regional trade and development and, at the same time, ask the larger Pacific Rim nations of the North Pacific to focus on

us and look at the possibilities of both social and economic development.”

PINA executive director Tavake Fusimalohi, of Tonga, said the plan is to mount a trade fair, live cultural events and a Pacific Market at Auckland’s Alexandra Park during South Pacific Week. “This is a self-help operation where all countries and territories in the region and companies are invited to participate ,” he said. The churches will be encouraged to use the Pacific Market facilities to raise money.

PINA treasurer, William Parkinson, of Suva, said the members of the associ ation, which include all the major radio stations, newspapers and publications in

the region, will pro mote the events.

“Our colleagues in Australia, New Zea land, Hawaii and North America have offered strong sup port ... the region will definitely be the focus of attention for at least one week in the year,” he said.D

Pina

Alexandra Park, Auckland: venue for Pacific Week