Pacific Region News

Irian students occupy governor’s office

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya, Indonesia—Hundreds of students have occupied the governor’s office since Thursday, demanding an end to military and police violence against the indigenous people of the province bordering independent Papua New Guinea.

Police have tightened security and sent additional forces to guard the capital area building.

Governor Freddy Numberi has promised full autonomy for the Melanesian province, but demands for full independence have continue to increase following the pro-independence East Timor vote.

Separatists say the province’s natural wealth has been plundered by Jakarta and U.S. majority owned Freeport McMoran Cooper & Gold Mine, Inc.

Two Samoas eye summit

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa—The governments of the two Samoas – independent Samoa and the U.S. territory of American Samoa – have announced plans for a December 27 summit meeting between the leaders of the two jurisdictions.

Governor Tauese Sunia said he hopes the meeting with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi will result in a new Memorandum of Understanding on a range of issues, including travel documents, three-day visitor permits, fishing rights, marketing of agricultural products and fish, and joint tourism promotions.

French Polynesia, South Korea sign fishing agreement

PAPEETE, French Polynesia—South Korean and French Polynesian government officials have signed a new agreement confirming year 2000 fishing rules in the French territory’s exclusive economic zone.

After three days of negotiations last week, South Korea was granted permission to land 3,300 tons of fish next year using a fleet of 78 boats.

Funds received by French Polynesia under the accord will be used to further develop the local tuna industry.

The authorized quota for Korea is just under half of the total territorial catch.

Australian bank wants to buy Amerika Samoa bank

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa—The board of directors of Amerika Samoa Bank has agreed to sell the company to the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ).

The price offered by ANZ has not been disclosed, but the book value of the 20-year-old bank would require payment of approximately $10 million, an analyst said.

In 1998, Amerika Samoa Bank closed its branch in Kalihi, Hawaii after disappointing results.

ANZ said it expects to complete acquisition of the Pago Pago-based bank in May 2000.

Hundreds wait for free food

KIUNGA, Papua New Guinea—Hundreds of people waited for Kiunga’s main supermarket to open after rumors spread that the store was going to hand out free food.

Police dispersed the crowd without further incident after the supermarket’s manager dispelled the rumors.

Residents from as far away as Rumginae, 18 miles north of Kiunga, traveled to the store overnight to take advantage of the opportunity for free food.

Marshall Islands population growth slows dramatically

MAJURO, Marshall Islands—National population growth has slowed dramatically in the last decade, largely because of migration to the United States and its territories under the U.S.-Marshall Islands Compact of Free Association.

Government planner Jefferson Butuna said initial results of the 1999 census were so far below population projections of 60,000 that census officials at first thought they had seriously underestimated the population.

According to the census, 50,865 people now live in the Marshall Islands, an increase of just 7,485 from the 1988 census.

Kiribati prepares for millennium

TARAWA, Kiribati— President Teburoro Tito is heading a government delegation to the Southern Line Islands Group to prepare for official millennium celebrations.

Tito and his entourage will spend Christmas on Christmas Island, while the New Year holiday celebrations will be held on Millennium Island, the country’s easternmost point.

Unpopulated Millennium Island, formerly Caroline Island, arguably will be the first land area in the Pacific Islands region to greet the dawn of the new millennium. Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand also claim the honor.

New PNG deputy PM

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—The government’s new deputy prime minister is Mao Zeming, who also is deputy leader of the ruling People’s Democratic Movement Party.

He was appointed to the position Thursday by Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta.

Zeming replaces John Pundari, who was sacked last week by Morauta, in a cabinet reshuffle to remove “a few government ministers for disloyalty,” according to the prime minister.