Pacific Briefs

Fiji military rebels charged with mutiny; face death

SUVA, Fiji Islands – The military has charged 39 rebel soldiers with mutiny over a failed uprising last month at the main Queen Elizabeth II barracks in the capital, Suva.

The rebels stormed an armory and took over the barracks compound, but lost control of it six hours later after a gun battle with troops loyal to Fiji’s military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

The rebels, all from an elite unit, face a court martial in February, and could be sentenced to death.

15 women killed in PNG for witchcraft

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Fifteen women have been hacked to death with machetes for practicing witchcraft in the country’s Highlands region.

MP Yauwe Riyong told Parliament the women were killed in his constituency in recent months after being charged with being witches.

Violence against alleged sorcerers by superstitious clansmen is not confined to the Highlands provinces, he said, noting that another women was killed recently in the Port Moresby suburb of Six-Mile for the same reason.

Riyong asked Police Minister Gabia Gagarimabu to investigate the killings.

Dengue epidemic in Palau

KOROR, Palau – The Bureau of Public Health has declared a dengue fever epidemic, following reports of 28 confirmed cases and 40 suspected cases since July.

Health director Caleb Otto said that based on the sudden increase in the incidence of the disease, the bureau determined that an official epidemic declaration was necessary.

Meantime, the bureau has implemented new measures to eliminate dengue-causing mosquito breeding areas.

Solomons bans toy guns

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – The government is taking steps in Parliament to legislate a ban on the use of toy guns.

The move was prompted by several recent robberies of individuals and businesses by criminals using toy pistols.

Police and National Securities Minister William Home said the proposed bill bans the “possession, manufacturing and importation” of imitation firearms.

5th Papua independence leader arrested

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Police arrested a fifth leader of the West Papua independence movement Tuesday. Rev. Herman Awom was formally detained at police headquarters in the Irian Jaya provincial capital, Jayapura, following more than five hours of questioning.

Awom is sharing a cell with four other colleagues from the Papua Presidium, a separatist organization, who were arrested last week.

Police have charged the five men with subversion for alleged separatist activities.

Irian Jaya is home to a native Melanesian population of 1.8 million people, plus another 700,000 settlers from other parts of Indonesia. Irian Jaya shares the island of New Guinea with independent Papua New Guinea. (Pacific Islands Report)