PACIFIC BRIEFS

Fiji prison like a hotel

SUVA, Fiji – A recently released member of rebel leader George Speight’s group on Nukulau said the prison facility is like a hotel with good meals and recreational activities.

Eroni Lewaqai, who was released from the island prison, made the revelations in an interview with local daily Fiji Times.

He said prisoners spend their days eating, swimming, playing volleyball and taking naps.

Speight and members of his group are awaiting trial for charges of treason following the May 19 coup.

Indonesian leader issues warning

JAKARTA, Irian Jaya – Indonesia will not tolerate secession or violence in West Papua, said Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Wahid, who is visiting the troubled province, said he will not interfere in the imprisonment of five pro-independence activists who were arrested on subversion charges.

The president said although West Papuans should exercise their right to free speech, he will not tolerate acts of secession or violence in West Papua, formerly Irian Jaya.

Calls to break away from Indonesian rule have grown in West Papua in recent months.

More Japanese travel to Guam

HAGATNA, Guam – The number of Japanese travelers to the U.S. territories of Guam and Saipan combined this holiday season is expected to soar to 58,000 by the end of the year, according to a survey by the Japan Travel Bureau.

This is up from the 34,000 visitors during the same period last year.

Observers say the year-end jump in overseas travelers is attributed to Japan’s improved business climate and higher winter bonuses for Japanese employees for the first time in years.

This is the first time in four years that numbers and expenditure from Japanese travelers have increased in the territories, the report said.

RMI malnutrition worsening

MAJURO, Marshall Islands – The malnutrition situation is not improving in the Marshall Islands, government health workers told the Marshall Islands Journal.

A 1998 study found that more than half of Majuro’s public elementary school students were undernourished.

Ministry of Health’s nutrition unit coordinator Julia Alfred said she doesn’t think levels have improved since the study was done.

One government official said the nutrition levels are actually getting worse.

Solomons to allow fish exports

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – The government plans to lift the moratorium on the export of live reef fish, Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister George Luialamo told Parliament.

He said the ban will be lifted for a year and will be closely monitored and supervised by the ministry.

The move allows the country’s reef owners to export live reef fish to the lucrative Asian markets. (Pacific Islands Report)