Pacific Islands Report
Cease-fire signed in Solomon Islands
HONIARA, Solomon Islands — A 90-day cease-fire has been signed between rival Guadalcanal and Malaita militia groups and is expected to take effect within 48 hours.
After multiple delays, leaders of the Isatabu Freedom Movement and the Malaita Eagle Force, who have been involved in ethnic warfare on Guadalcanal over jobs and land rights for almost two years, signed the agreement. Their meeting took place aboard the Australian navy ship Tobruk, anchored offshore from the capital, Honiara.
Both sides agreed to lay down their arms within two days and begin formal peace talks in a week.
The agreement provides for law and order control to be handed back to the Solomon Islands police.
Exodus of Fiji doctors
SUVA, Fiji — The Fiji Medical Association has warned that the on-going political crisis will lead to a massive exodus of more than 200 doctors from the country.
The association’s president, Dr. Sunchess Mudahlia, said Fiji’s doctors and nurses are experiencing harassment from indigenous Fijians due to a lack of security at hospitals and clinics.
He said the out migration of private and government doctors will be a huge loss for Fiji’s medical community, which experiences a shortage of medical personnel on an ongoing basis.
During the post-1987 Fiji coup, about 130 medical professionals left the country, he said.
Fiji unions pleased with peaceful protests
SUVA, Fiji Islands — Trades Union Congress national secretary Felix Anthony said he is pleased with Wednesday’s response to the national day of protest in support of a return to democracy.
Anthony said the congress was impressed by the courage shown by people who defied threats by the government’s public services commission and business employers by staying home from work.
Anthony also reported having been threatened by four members of the indigenous Taukei movement, who he said invaded his office in Lautoka and threatened to kill him. Police in Fiji’s Western province say they cannot confirm the incident.
Vanuatu backs West Papua independence
PORT VILA, Vanuatu — Prime Minister Barak Sope has told reporters he supports West Papua’s bid for independence.
He said he will lobby the United Nations later this year to have the Melanesian region on the western half of New Guinea Island released from what he called “its 40-year occupation by Indonesia.”
Sope also will seek the support of Papua New Guinea, the Solomons and Fiji — other members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group of nations — when he visits those countries next month.
Pedophilia crackdown urged in Samoa
APIA, Samoa — A public awareness campaign has been established by the Samoa Visitors Bureau to alert villagers about possible child pornography, pedophilia and prostitution rings being established in the Pacific region.
Pacific Island countries have been warned that pedophiles may turn to the Pacific following the introduction of tougher sex crime laws in Asian countries.
There also have been reports that Korean, Filipino and Taiwanese immigrants are using their restaurant and bar establishments in the Pacific to engage teenage prostitutes.
