PACIFIC BRIEFS
West Papua rebels release most hostages
JAYAPURA, Indonesia (PIR) — Separatist West Papua rebels have released all except three of a group of 16 hostages captured two weeks ago, police spokesman Major Zulkifli said.
But guerrilla leader Willem Onde is still holding two Koreans and an Indonesian hostage to back his demands for a meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid.
The kidnappers, who belong to a faction of the separatist Free Papua Movement, originally demanded $1 million in compensation for logging operations in the area, a halt to the logging and removal of Indonesian security forces.
All the hostages are employees of a South Korean timber company operating in the region.
Agreement on Bougainville referendum
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PIR) — An agreement on an independence referendum for Bougainville marks a significant step forward after a decade of conflict and three years of negotiations, said Alexander Downer, Australia’s foreign affairs minister.
Downer’s suggestions on the terms for a referendum, to be held within 15 years, and a process for the disposal of weapons used during the insurrection helped the PNG government and Bougainville rebels reach a mutually agreeable decision.
The agreement on the referendum came during negotiations at Kokopo, northeastern Papua New Guinea, over the weekend.
Siddique remains US ambassador to South Pacific Isles
SUVA, Fiji Islands (PIR) — Osman Siddique will remain the U.S. ambassador to Fiji, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu, the U.S. embassy in Suva announced.
Siddique, originally appointed under the Clinton administration, has been asked to continue by President George Bush.
Ambassador Siddique earlier handed in his resignation, as is customary when there is a change of president, but it was not accepted.
ADB: Short-term budgetary crisis in Marshalls
MAJURO, Marshall Islands — The Marshall Islands government of new President Kessai Note is facing an economic crisis caused largely by factors beyond the present government’s control, the Asian Development Bank reported.
The government’s cash crunch could prevent it from meeting employee payroll costs this year, the report said.
The Marshall Islands Journal reported that the current budgetary crunch results from fiscal measures taken by the previous administration and such factors as a worldwide increase in the cost of fuel.
Kiribati wildlife donation
TARAWA, Kiribati (PIR) — The government has received a donation from the rocket company Sea Launch that will be used to help preserve wildlife on Christmas Island, Kiribati’s main tourist attraction.
Sea Launch operates a floating launch platform at the equator and near the island. The next launching of a rocket and satellite by Sea Launch is scheduled for February 28.
