AIDS now a major killer in PNG killer

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta, in a World AIDS Day message Wednesday, said AIDS is now the leading cause of death in Port Moresby’s general hospital.

He said the figures will get worse in the next 12 months, calling the belated arrival of AIDS in PNG a “silent catastrophe.”

Health officials estimate that there are up to 20,000 HIV-positive individuals in the country of 4.5 million people.

President says he will not resign

PAPEETE, French Polynesia—Territorial President Gaston Flosse, who was found guilty of corruption by a Paris court, told reporters upon returning to the capital that he will not resign.

Last week, Flosse was given a two-year suspended jail term and fined $20,000 for approving a gambling establishment in the town of Pirae, where the president also is mayor, and, in return, accepting funds totaling $500,000 for his political party.

“I will not resign and I will lead my party to another victory in the 2001 territorial elections,” Flosse told reporters at Papeete’s Faa’a International Airport.

“I am more determined than ever to fight to the end,” Flosse said.

Flosse is appealing the Paris court ruling.

Opposition leads in Marshall Islands polls

MAJURO, Marshall Islands—A final tally of last month’s national election results shows that five of the most powerful members of President Imata Kabua’s Cabinet have been defeated and the opposition is in position to form a new government.

They include Minister of Finance Tony deBrum and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Philip Muller.

The only member of Kabua’s Cabinet to win a contested election was Minister of Health and the Environment Tom Kijiner.

The Nitijela (parliament) is scheduled to convene again on January 3, at which time a new president is expected to be elected by secret ballot.

Fiji’s concerned about regional security

SUVA, Fiji Islands—Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tupeni Baba, has told Parliament that a number of “hot spots” in the region could have a potentially serious effect on Pacific security.

West Papua militants on the island of New Guinea are demanding independence, the decade-long Bougainville crisis still requires peacekeepers and ethnic unrest continues in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

Baba said that the region is vulnerable to external pressures and therefore the matter of regional security must be given careful consideration.

Irian Jayans raise independent flag despite Indonesia warning

JAYAPURA, Indonesia—Despite warnings from the Indonesian military that it would crush separatism by West Papuans, tens of thousands of people took part in dawn independence flag-raising ceremonies Wednesday across Irian Jaya province. No serious incidents were reported.

Irian Jaya shares the island of New Guinea with independent Papua New Guinea.

The Morning Star flag of an independent West Papua first was raised 38 years ago, on December 1, 1961. At that time Irian Jaya was still under Dutch rule. Indonesia claimed Dutch New Guinea as its 26th province in 1963. The UN recognized Indonesia’s sovereignty in 1969.