Pacific Region News

No immediate plans to sever Taiwan ties

MAJURO, Marshall Islands – Senator Alvin Jacklick has dispelled as “premature” speculation that the new ruling United Democratic Party plans to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan next month.
Since November’s national election, rumors have been rampant throughout the capital that the new government would restore recognition of the People’s Republic of China when parliament reconvenes January 3.
Earlier this year, the defeated Imata Kabua government severed ties with Beijing in favor of Taipei in order to obtain millions of dollars in foreign aid.
Taiwan currently is funding the rebuilding of Majuro’s international airport, government buildings and a variety of other projects.
Jacklick said, “If and when the issue (of Taiwan) arises, the public can rest assured that such discussions will be open and any decision, one way or the other, will be made after careful review and evaluation of all relevant factors.”

PNG groups press for Irian Jaya independence

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Churches and non-governmental organizations have begun preparations for a nationwide campaign in support of Irian Jaya self-determination and independence.
Irian Jaya, Indonesia’s easternmost Indonesian province, shares the island of New Guinea with independent Papua New Guinea. The population in both jurisdictions is predominately Melanesian.
Activist lawyer Powes Parkop said during a press conference Monday that the majority of Papua New Guineans support the move. “Even the government is sympathetic to us,” he said.
Parkop said the campaign is being stepped up now because the new president of Indonesia, Abdulramman Wahid, plans a visit to Port Moresby early in the new year.

Pago Pago airport ready for Y2K

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa – Hawaiian Airlines has rejected local media reports that it rescheduled its December 31 Honolulu – Pago Pago flight to December 30 because of concerns over Y2K computer compliance at the territory’s international airport.
Hawaiian Airlines’ spokesperson Keoni Wagner said the Friday flight was moved forward a day “to allow travelers to be with families on New Year’s Eve.”
Samoa Air, Polynesian Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines officials all have confirmed that they are confident Pago Pago International Airport is Y2K compliant.

NZ dumps millennium sunrise show

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Plans for an international live telecast of the first rays of sun to hit Mount Hapeka on Pitt Island January 1 have been canceled because of technical problems.
The islanders claim their home will be the first regularly inhabited spot on earth to greet the new millennium.
The first live telecast now will come from Rangaika, on nearby Chatham Island, where the first light of year 2000 arrives 90 seconds later.
Images from Pitt Island will be videotaped for later broadcast.

Greenpeace tracking Japanese South Pacific whaling fleet

SUVA, Fiji Islands – Greenpeace spokesperson John Bowler has confirmed that one of the environmental group’s vessels is continuing to chase a Japanese whaling fleet across the South Pacific.
Bowler, aboard the Arctic Sunrise, said the Nisshin Maru processing ship and several accompanying vessels are hunting 400 minke whales illegally in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
Last week, Greenpeace launched rubber boats in a bid to halt the whaling and at one point the Nisshin Maru and Arctic Sunrise collided.

Bougainville summit scheduled

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—Top national government officials have agreed to meet on the island of Bougainville next month to find solutions to issues remaining after ten years of secessionist conflict.
Bougainville governor John Momis said the meeting, to be called the Bougainville Development Summit, will devote particular attention to assessing health, education and infrastructure needs.
The findings will form the basis of a major development plan for the mineral-rich but war-torn island.

Dollar ban will hurt Vanuatu’s economy

PORT VILA, Vanuatu—A ban on U.S. dollar trading with Vanuatu will have an adverse impact on the country’s economy, according to the Bankers’ Association of Vanuatu.

Earlier this week, Deutsche Bank and Bankers Trust announced that they and their 300 correspondent banks would reject payments in U.S. dollars from Nauru, Palau and Vanuatu because of the Pacific Island nations’ alleged involvement in international money laundering.

A recent report by the U.S. Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs called Vanuatu an “extremely active financial center with offshore companies, trusts and banks.” It said its attractiveness was due to “its strict bank secrecy.”

The Vanuatu government has denied any wrongdoing.

PNG receives $8-M

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—Australian economic assistance funding totaling $80 million was released Friday for use in stabilizing the Papua New Guinea economy.

Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta, calling the funding ?a Christmas present,? said it provides needed economic stability for the country by boosting foreign reserves to $210 million.

The funding was promised by the Australian Prime Minister John Howard when he visited Port Moresby last October.

New NZ gov’t sympathetic to islanders

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—The new labor government of Helen Clark will be more sympathetic to Pacific Island and Maroi issues that the previous government, according to retired Auckland University professor Ranginui Walker.

He said the Labor Party is particularly committed to improving the living standards of Pacific Islanders in Auckland, which has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world.