UN agency to help Pacific on sea level rise
RAROTONGA, Cook Islands—A representative from the United Nations Development Program office in Samoa, Fiu Mataese Elisara Laulu, has promised UN support for Pacific island nations dealing with climate change and sea level rise problems.
He told representatives from 22 regional nations and territories meeting in the Cook Islands capital that the frequency and intensity of cyclones, combined with sea level rise, threaten the very existence of many of the low-lying atoll countries of the Pacific.
The adverse impact of climate change, Fiu said, is among the most serious threat to the Pacific area.
Child sex major problem in Solomon Islands
HONIARA, Solomon Islands—A just-released government report says the sexual exploitation of children has become a major national problem.
A Social Welfare Division spokesperson said of 1,062 cases of child abuse studied, most involved sexual matters.
The survey also found that commercial exploitation of children for sex also has been increasing, particularly in the capital and other urban centers.
Fijian group planning to topple government
SUVA, Fiji Islands—An indigenous extremist group, the Taukei Movement, has announced renewed efforts to topple the government of Indo-Fijian Mahendra Chaudhry by building pressure against it.
The movement, defunct for several years, was revived this week in Lautoka, Fiji’s second largest city.
Former cabinet minister Apisai Tora, who was elected group leader, said demonstrations and a campaign of civil disturbances are planned to show objection to land use and governance matters.
88 Irian Jayans repatriated
KIUNGA, Papua New Guinea—Eighty-eight men, women and children from the Iowre Refugee Camp in East Awin have been airlifted to the Irian Jayan outpost of Mindiptana.
The repatriation, involving five separate flights, was a joint project of the Papua New Guinea and Indonesian governments with assistance from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
Most of Irianese involved fled to Papua New Guinea between 1984 and 1988 following armed clashes between pro-independence rebels and Indonesian security forces in the border region.
Over 3,000 additional refugees remain at the East Awin camp. (Pacific Islands Report)
