Pacific Islands Report

Fiji soldier, police officer killed

SUVA, Fiji Islands — Tension has escalated in Fiji following the deaths of a soldier and a police officer Tuesday, in what the military called an ambush by indigenous rebels.
Three other soldiers were wounded in the attack.

The military in Fiji is generally well regarded. However, there has been considerable criticism of soldiers for individual acts of brutality against people involved in the May 19 coup.

A search is under way outside of the capital for the gunman or gunmen who fired on the military patrol, Radio Australia reported.

Chaudhry chides Pacific nations

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Fiji’s deposed prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, has criticized South Pacific island nations for their lack of action over the May 19 coup that removed him from power.

He said he would send officials of the former Fiji government to talk with neighboring island countries about the issue.

Chaudhry made the comments to reporters after meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. He said he was satisfied with New Zealand’s response to the coup, and was hopeful the regional South Pacific Forum, which will meet in Kiribati in October, would issue a statement supporting democracy in Fiji.

New Fiji election likely in 2001

SUVA, Fiji Islands — Information Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, in a Radio Fiji address, said a new national election will probably be held next year, sometime between July and December.

He said the interim government hopes to have a new constitution in place by then that will assure dominance in government by indigenous Fijians.

The government will call an emergency meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs next month to appoint a Constitutional Review Commission, Kubuabola said.

Compensation sought for
PNG man killed in Honiara

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — Relatives of Peter Irai Magurai, a Papua New Guinean beheaded during ethnic fighting in the neighboring Solomon Islands, are demanding $150,000 from the Solomon Islands government as compensation.

“We have sent our petition to the Foreign Affairs Minister and will await a response,” said spokesman Levi Kurakipa.

Magurai was killed near Honiara at the height of the ethnic conflict between the Guadalcanal Isatabu Freedom Movement and the Malaita Eagle Force. He was reportedly beheaded. His body was buried prior to consultation with family members.

Portland student crowned
Ms. American Samoa

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — A 19-year-old freshman at the University of Portland, Afatasi Burke, was crowned the new Miss American Samoa Saturday night.
Burke succeeds last year’s Miss American Samoa, Vaisaasaa Galeai.

A Leone High School graduate, she did not formally enter the competition until last week Tuesday, but she won over four other contestants. Her ambition is to become a lawyer and criminal prosecutor.

Pohnpei shows drop in cholera cases

PALIKIR, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia — Patients treated for suspected cholera have dropped significantly in the past week, totaling only 10 to 15 daily, according to Dr. Jefferson Benjamin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Social Affairs

“This is a very positive sign,” he said.
The total number of people receiving treatment for cholera symptoms at Pohnpei State Hospital since April 17 exceeds 2,500.