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Pacific Region News
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Posted on Mar 02 2000
Teacher shortage in Irian Jaya
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya—At least 12,000 elementary school teachers are urgently needed to fill a teacher shortage brought on by political unrest in the region.
The unstable political situation and growing calls for independence has prompted many teachers to flee.
In addition to the vacant positions, about 600 teachers already working in the province have requested to be transferred.
“In some cases, students chased away their teachers and threw stones at them when they gave lectures about Indonesian history,” said J.P. Letsoin, the head of the provincial teaching and education office.
PNG to distribute condom
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea —The Friends Foundation, a volunteer organization that cares for AIDS patients, sponsored a walkathon through the capital city passing out condoms to people.
While some accepted the condoms, others started arguing with the suppliers, accusing them of encouraging the spread of the disease.
The organization’s director, Tessie Soi, said the 100 percent condom use policy proposed by the National AIDS Council may not be widely accepted since many Papua New Guineans still regard the subject of sex as taboo and refuse to openly discuss it.
Autopsy report on cannibalism withheld
MADANG, Papua New Guinea—Police said the autopsy reports of two men believed to be involved in acts of cannibalism in a remote village in the province are not being released and that reports of cannibalism could not be established.
Police Superintendent Ben Simanjon said the autopsies were conducted by an investigation team that flew into the area when the report of a cannibalism act surfaced last month.
According to initial reports, two men were alleged to have attacked each other during a heated argument, with one man eating body parts of the victim.
