PACIFIC BRIEFS

A. Samoa governor re-elected

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa-Governor Tauese Sunia was narrowly re-elected to another four year term Tuesday but Congressman Eni Faleomavaega has been forced into a run-off election.

Tauese and running mate Lt. Gov. Togiola Tulafono needed 6,029 votes to gain the simple majority necessary to win outright and avoid a run-off. They polled 6,110 votes (50.7 percent), giving them 80 votes to spare.

However, Washington delegate Faleomavaega will face Gus Hannemann in a special election in two weeks, since no Congressional candidate received the required 50 percent-plus-one votes.

Faleomavaega received 45.7 percent of the 11,800 votes cast. Hannemann received 30.3 percent.

Fiji army says no more coup

SUVA, Fiji Islands – Fiji army head Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has assured the nation that there will be no more coups in the country.

“The army has never been as united as now, after the mutiny last week” that resulted in eight soldiers being shot to death, Bainimarama said in a public address.

“We now know who are with us and those who are not. Those who are not will have to go.”

Commodore Bainimarama said the military has complete information on all involved in the November 2 mutiny. He also appealed to all rebel soldiers still on the run to surrender.

Int’l group to review PNG defense force

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – The government has announced the appointment of an international eminent persons group to conduct a review of the country’s Defense Force.

The four-member group includes Papua New Guinea economist Charles Lepani, Australian Defense Force Major General Philip Jeffery, former New Zealand Defense Secretary Gerald Hensley and Jamaican judge Hugh Small.

The review results from several recent incidents involving the Defense Force, including a riot by soldiers in Port Moresby.

New French Polynesia dev’t contract

PAPE’ETE, French Polynesia – The government has signed a new funding contract with France emphasizing economic development.

Minister of Economy Georges Puchon, representing French Polynesia, and General Secretary Christian Massinon, representing France, signed the 2000-2003 development document worth over $293 million.

Special emphasis will be given to providing more professional training, development of natural resources and better health care.

Palau’s population hits 19,129

KOROR, Palau – Palau’s population has jumped 11 percent in five years to a total of 19,129, according to the just released year 2000 government census.

Koror remains the Micronesian country’s most heavily populated area, with 13,303 persons. (Pacific Islands Report)