PACIFIC BRIEFS

Port Moresby black market fish warning

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—Health officials have warned that cans of mackerel being sold on in the capital are potentially lethal.

The canned fish, stolen from a government warehouse, is at least six years old and no longer safe to eat.

The mackerel was purchased from Thailand in 1994 for victims of volcanic eruptions in Rabaul but never delivered. Now, hundreds of the dated cans have found their way into the market.

Dignitaries to honor American Samoa inauguration

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa—Samoa’s Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II, and Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, King of Tonga, lead the list of dignitaries confirmed to attend the inauguration of American Samoa’s Gov. Tauese Sunia and Lt. Gov. Togiola Tulafono.

The swearing in ceremony will take place Wednesday. Following the inauguration, Tauese will host a state dinner to honor Malietoa’s 88th birthday.

West Papuan freedom fighters warn of new attack

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—Free Papua Movement commander Mathias Wenda has warned that a full-scale military attack will be launched against Indonesia this year in the continued struggle for independence.

Wenda said his men were instructed to refrain from fighting during the Christmas and New Year period. But they will now launch new offensives.

“My people want full independence and as the commander of my people, I want full independence too,” he said.

West Papua, the easternmost Indonesian province, encompasses the western half of New Guinea Island.

Pacific leaders set to meet at Hawai’i’s East-West Center

HONOLULU —The 6th Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders meeting will convene at the East-West Center in Honolulu at the end of the month, January 30-31.

Discussions will focus on globalization and governance, managing tensions between global and cultural values, fostering development and taking advantage of information technologies.

The conference meets once every three years, bringing together 22 heads of government from the Pacific Islands region.

Fiji’s former president, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, is expected to open the session, before a new conference chairman is elected.

Former Cook Islands Prime Minister Robati Knighted

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands—Veteran Member of Parliament and former Cook Islands Prime Minister Dr. Pupuke Robati has received a knighthood “for services to the public and community” from the United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth II.

Dr. Robati is the Cook Islands’ longest-serving MP, having been first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1965. He has also been a cabinet minister, deputy prime minister and, from 1987 to 1989, prime minister.