Pacific Region News

More controversy over Fiji’s 1987 coup

HONOLULU, Hawaii—Fiji President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara has admitted that he played golf with former Fiji Prime Minister and 1987 coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka, just days before the military coup that deposed the elected government took place.

In a controversial new biography, Rabuka said he briefed Ratu Mara four days before the coup on what was going to happen.

Ratu Mara has strongly denied this, but while in Hawaii this week said he and other people did play golf with Rabuka just before the coup was carried out.

Last week, the Fiji president sought a court injunction to stop the publication and sale of Rabuka’s book and claimed unspecified damages for libel.

Tuvalu cargo ship released

FUNAFUTI, Tuvalu—Striking shipyard union workers in Fiji have released a Tuvalu cargo ship, the Nivaga II, following an appeal by Tuvalu’s ambassador in Suva, Saufatu Sopoaga.

The vessel, essential for the transport of food supplies from Tuvalu’s capital island to outlying areas, was undergoing repairs at the Shipbuilding Fiji dry dock when the strike began, preventing release of the ship.

It now has been returned to the sea and is scheduled to sail for Funafuti early next week following additional repairs. In the meantime, a Fiji ship has been chartered and is about to arrive in Tuvalu’s outer islands area with emergency supplies of food and water.

Ambassador Sopoata said, “We are very touched by that gesture of goodwill on the part of the union members.”

Coast Guard sinks two boats off American Samoa

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa—The U.S. Coast Guard has removed two Korean-flagged longline vessels that had been stranded on Pago Pago Harbor reefs for nine years.

The two ships, which were towed out to sea and scuttled, were the last of nine fishing boats destroyed by the reefs during Hurricane Val in 1991. Seven other vessels were removed earlier.

Assisting the Coast Guard in the project were the Hawaii-based Pacific Environmental Corporation and Crowley Marine Services.

Solomon Islands confirms arrival of military hardware

HONIARA, Solomon Islands—Police in the Solomon Islands have reported the arrival of two military helicopters, a fixed wing aircraft and boxes of associated supplies despite earlier government assurances that no military hardware would be accepted.

A police spokesman said there were no arms or ammunition in the shipment.

The New Zealand ambassador in the capital said the goods are not part of the arms consignment being stored in his country, which was allegedly purchased for security purposes during the height of the civil war in neighboring Bougainville.

From where the helicopters and Cessna aircraft come cannot be established at this stage.

A year of ethnic unrest between islanders from Guadalcanal and neighboring Malaita continues.

Former PNG defense chief barred from office

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—The government’s Leadership Tribunal has imposed the maximum penalty on the country’s former Defense Force chief, General Jerry Singirok, after finding him guilty of accepting illegal payments from a British weapons manufacturer, J and S Franklins.

Singirok has been barred from holding public office for three years for taking kickbacks between November 1995 and November 1996. The funds were deposited in his bank account while he was overseeing army operations on then secessionist island of Bougainville. (Pacific Islands Report)