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PACIFIC BRIEFS
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Posted on Feb 01 2001
Opposition leader wants parliament convened
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PIR) — Opposition leader Bill Skate said the country’s parliament should be convened immediately to deal with the Bougainville issue.
His call follows the announcement that PNG and Bougainville leaders have agreed on holding a referendum on the political future of the troubled island.
Skate says parliament should be recalled to amend the provisions in the national constitution, which relates to holding of a referendum.
The national government must now speed up the process by getting parliament to approve the deal, he said.
More Tongan corruption allegations
NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (PIR) — A former New Zealand policeman is alleging that high-level officials within the kingdom are involved in widespread corruption of money laundering, abuse of government funds, and drug smuggling.
Josh Liava’a’s claims are being published in a book entitled “The Pumpkin Patch Kingdom.”
Liava’a, who now owns a nightclub in Sydney, said some Tongan officials in the kingdom tried to have him assassinated in Australia a few years ago.
He said major figures within the Tongan government were involved in a plan to smuggle large quantities of drugs from Tonga to Australia in preparation for the 2000 Olympics.
Fiji soldiers catch malaria
SUVA, Fiji (PIR) — The nation’s army may be in danger of being weakened by an outbreak of the malaria virus, according to Fiji Military Forces chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
The military reports that there are more than 60 cases of the malaria disease, which originated from soldiers returning from a peacekeeping mission in East Timor.
Soldiers are being ordered to take anti-malaria medication before going in and out of the country.
A military spokesman said the outbreak of the mosquito-born sickness has been contained.
Fiji soldiers are serving with United Nations forces in the jungles near the border with Indonesian West Timor.
