PACIFIC BRIEFS

Fijians must unite, says Ratu Mara

SUVA, Fiji Islands — National reconciliation in the Fiji Islands can only be achieved if indigenous people in the 14 provinces first reconcile among themselves, said former President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

Mara made the statement while closing a meeting of the Lau Provincial Council. Mara is the paramount chief of Lau and council chairman.

The former president said he was concerned about the military installed interim administration’s reconciliation effort because the root cause of the May 19 coup, which cost him his position, had not been identified and solved yet, the Daily Post reported.

Mara said hatred for Indians was not the real reason for the coup.

“It was caused by bickering among the Fijian people,” he said.

Minister’s secret trip to China causes uproar in Solomons

GIZO, Solomon Islands — Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogavare said Foreign Affairs Minister Danny Philip faces possible termination for a trip he took last week to Beijing without government approval.

Sogavare said he never sanctioned the trip and only learned about it when Philip called him from Hong Kong to inform him about his travels.

Government sources said that Philip had flown to Beijing to secure a financial deal calling on the Solomons’ government to switch its allegiance from Taiwan to mainland China, the details of which have not been announced.

Sogavare told reporters that the Solomon Islands has nearly exhausted this year’s foreign aid from Taiwan

Samoa OKs tuna management plan

APIA, Samoa — The government has approved a management plan that will restrict the number of boats in Samoa’s tuna longline fishery zone.

The goal is to sustain the tuna fishery by maintaining economically viable catch rates, which declined over 50 percent between 1994 and 1999.

The Head of Fisheries, Ueta Fa’asili, said, “If the fishing effort continues to increase at the present rate. . .most fishing vessels (then) would not be able to operate profitably.”

Niue survey wants to keep ties with N. Zealand

ALOFI, Niue — Niueans want their current political status of self-government in free association with New Zealand to be retained.

Ninety percent of the qualified electors on the island participated in the government survey this month, details of which were announced Friday. Five hundred eighty favor the status quo, 195 want full integration with New Zealand and 57 would prefer full independence.

The tiny Pacific nation has fewer than 2,000 permanent residents, who hold both Niuean and New Zealand citizenship. More reside permanently in New Zealand than on Niue itself. (Pacific Islands Report)