PACIFIC BRIEFS

Police crackdown continues in W. Papua

JAYAPURA, Indonesia – Police in West Papua have stepped up their crackdown on the pro-independence movement by arresting 47 more activists and raiding their headquarters.

More than 200 armed anti-riot police took over the Irian Jaya Arts and Cultural Center building in the capital, Jayapura, in an early morning raid Monday.

The seizure of the building came almost 24 hours after a deadline to vacate the building expired.

Sunday seven people were killed in Merauke, 360 miles south of Jayapura, when separatists replaced national flags with the pro-independence “Morning Star” banner.

Pacific museums warn of artifact loss

SUVA, Fiji – The Pacific Islands Museum Association has issued a warning over the large number of priceless artifacts being smuggled out of the region.

An association memo calls on all Pacific museum directors to enforce stringent preservation measures to prevent culturally significant artifacts from being sold illegally and smuggled out of island countries.

The association has also raised concern over entrepreneurs in Tonga and the Cook Islands, selling precious artifacts to tourists on the streets.

Niue MP escorted out of assembly

ALOFI, Niue – The chief of police and two sergeants escorted opposition MP Terry Coe from the Niue Assembly after Speaker Tama Posimani blocked a move to introduce of vote of no confidence in Premier Sani Lakatani.

Coe and opposition colleague O’Love Jacobsen questioned the speaker’s decision to block the vote and after a fiery altercation Jacobsen walked out of the Chamber. She told the Speaker he was a disgrace and that she no longer had any confidence in any of his decisions.

Coe seconded her motion and then was ordered by Posimani to leave.

The speaker said Coe and Jacobsen should find a pigsty and go and hold a meeting there.

Coe refused to obey the speaker’s ruling to leave the Assembly, prompting police to provide him with a personal escort from the chambers.

Samoa gov’t to begin working over lunch hour

APIA, Samoa – In an effort to improve government services, some employees now will be required to work during normal lunch hours, rather than the entire government shutting down.

Prime Minister Tuila’epa Sailele Malielegao said the new policy is part of a plan to ensure the effective delivery of services to the public.

Students looking for part- time work are expected to assist with implementation of the administrative changeover.

Turtle count underway in Solomons

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – The Department of Environment and Conservation has begun to survey and monitor endangered leather back turtles in Isabel province.

The project involves collecting and recording data on the turtles’ sizes, the number of female turtles, and the number of eggs laid during their nesting period, November to January.

Destruction of the turtles, feared close to extinction, is against the law. (Pacific Islands Report)