Pacific Islands report

Samoa’s Malietoa visits ex-ministers in prison

APIA, Samoa—Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II has paid a surprise visit to the country’s prison and met briefly with two ex-ministers charged with the murder of former public works minister Luagalau Levaula Kamu.

Toi Aukuso and Leafa Vitale were found guilty last month of causing the murder although Leafa’s youngest son, Alatise, actually killed Luagalau during a political function on July 16, 1999. Alatise is serving life in prison.

Malietoa is the only one who can commute Toi’s and Leafa’s death sentences to life in prison, but there has been no official word from the government on any planned change. Sources said a decision would be announced within the next two weeks.

Decolinization committed to meet in Marshalls

MAJURO, Marshall Islands—The United Nations Decolonization Committee will hold a Pacific regional seminar in the Marshall Islands later this month.

Twelve U.N. ambassadors, representatives of administering powers, independence movements and non-government organizations will participate in the meeting.

Only five non-self governing Pacific territories, or colonies, remain on the U.N. list. They are Guam, American Samoa, New Caledonia, Tokelau and Pitcairn.

The Indonesian province of West Papua (Irian Jaya), on the island of New Guinea, and French Polynesia are not on the list, and therefore will not be discussed during the seminar.

Cook Is. tourism in upswing

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands—Government tourism director Chris Wong has announced that visitor arrivals for the first quarter of 2000 increased 27 percent over the same time last year.

March figures alone are 37 percent ahead of the same month last year, with particularly heavy traffic from Australia.

He said the first signs of strain are already starting to show with hotel occupancy hitting 100 percent and over-bookings.

93 new animal species found in W. Papua

JAYAPURA, West Papua—Conservation researcher Yance de Fretes has announced the finding of 93 new animal species in the Indonesian province that shares the island of New Guinea with independent Papua New Guinea.

De Fretes said the new species include reptiles, fish, ants, frogs and dragonflies.

His research was conducted under the auspices of the non-governmental organization, People’s Awareness of Environmental Information. (Pacific Islands Report)