West Papua rebels release most hostages<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
All the hostages are employees of a South Korean timber company operating in the region.<\/p>\n
Agreement on Bougainville referendum<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The agreement on the referendum came during negotiations at Kokopo, northeastern Papua New Guinea, over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Siddique remains US ambassador to South Pacific Isles<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Siddique, originally appointed under the Clinton administration, has been asked to continue by President George Bush.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Siddique earlier handed in his resignation, as is customary when there is a change of president, but it was not accepted.<\/p>\n
ADB: Short-term budgetary crisis in Marshalls<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The government’s cash crunch could prevent it from meeting employee payroll costs this year, the report said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Kiribati wildlife donation<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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