PACIFIC BRIEFS

Four killings stun Port Moresby

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – A man was killed and several women and children suffered injuries when an allegedly drunken man hurled a hand grenade into a suburban Port Moresby house

Three other men then were chopped to death in what police suspect to have been retaliatory action Saturday morning at Morata. One man’s charred remains were found in the ashes of a house that was also burned in the payback attack.

Acting Commissioner of Police Joseph Kupo said such barbaric killings must be condemned in the strongest way. He said the Morata killings are the latest in a string of murders reported around the country.

Speight fund sought of Sydney Fjians

SYDNEY, Australia – Members of the indigenous Fijian community living in Australia are being urged to contribute to a fund to help pay the legal expenses of May 19 coup leader George Speight.

The appeal for funds is being broadcast over a Sydney community radio station, FM-2000.

Speight is being held on the prison island of Nukulau, just off Suva, while the government prepares its case against him on charges of treason and other offences.

Agreement on nuclear clean-up

MAJURO, Marshall Islands – Scientists participating in Nuclear Claims Tribunal hearings have reached agreement on the cost of a nuclear cleanup and rehabilitation of Rongelap, Rongerik and Ailingnae, affected by tests following World War II.

They said about $212 million will be required, the Marshall Islands Journal reported.

The cleanup is to be accomplished by using potassium fertilizer together with removal and replacement of soil in some atoll areas.

High hopes for Solomons peace talks

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Malaita Eagle Force spokesman Andrew Nori said peace talks among national and provincial governments and warring Solomon Islands’ militias in neutral Townsville, Australia this week have a good chance of success.

He claimed the mood on the island of Guadalcanal, following two years of ethnic unrest over land rights and jobs, is now “right behind peace.”
“We are here to talk about peace and to return. . .the Solomon Islands to normalcy and ethnic co-existence,” he said.

Samoa economy picks up

APIA, Samoa – The Central Bank’s latest economic indicators show that Samoa’s economy picked up strongly in July, after a mixed performance in June.

Exports continued to grow and tourism earnings rose significantly, mainly as a spillover effect of the political crises in Fiji and the Solomon Islands.

Tourist arrivals jumped 34 percent in July compared to the previous month.

Exports jumped mainly as a result of increased earnings from fish and copra.