Pacific Region News

Ex-Solomons PM dies

HONIARA, Solomon Islands—Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Solomon Mamaloni, 56, died Tuesday after being admitted to the hospital with a kidney ailment.

He entered Parliament in 1972 and served four terms as prime minister between 1983 and 1997.

He is expected to be buried later in the week at his family home in the village of Macedonia, Makira Island.

Taiwan optimistic on establishing diplomatic ties with Marshalls

MAJURO, Marshall Islands—Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzu-dan Wu, after a meeting with new Marshalls Foreign Minister Alvin Jacklick this week, said he has full confidence that cordial relations between the two countries will continue to grow.

There has been increasing uncertainty about the future of the 14-month old ties, following the election of a new government headed by President Kessai Note.

The AFP news agency reported that the new administration has raised concerns about where in excess of $15 million from Taiwan went over the past year.

China broke off ties after the Marshalls after Majuro recognized Taipei in
1998.

French army leaving 2 South Pacific atolls

PAPEETE, French Polynesia—The commander of French military forces in Polynesia, Admiral Jean Moulin, had announced that after 37 years the 5th Foreign Regiment will leave Moruroa and Fangataufa.

The two atolls were used for atmospheric and underground nuclear testing from 1963 until 1996. The bases, 780 miles southeast of Tahiti, later were closed and the testing facilities dismantled.

Only 20 soldiers remain on the atolls as environmental monitors.

Calls mount to name Kokoda Trail a nat’l park

SYDNEY, Australia—New South Wales Premier Bob Carr has added his support for Papua New Guinea’s Kokoda Trail, made famous during the World War II battle with Japan, to be turned into a national park.

Earlier MP Charlie Lynn, a Kokoda Trail tour leader for nine years, said the Australian government should provide aid to PNG for the proposed project.

Their recommendations follow a New Year’s Day attack on tourists by “raskols” armed with rifles, shotguns and machetes.

Air Niugini told to reinstate 96 engineers

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—The National Court has ordered Air Niugini to reinstate 96 dismissed engineers following a long legal battle between the engineers’ union and the national airline.

The airline’s acting managing director, Chris Mek, said the company will comply with the judge’s decision, and the engineers will be returned to the company payroll while the airline appeals.

The engineers were released by the airline last August after striking over pay matters. (Pacific Islands Reports)