Archive _{- April 2000}

By Imo Ueteri-Taasi

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (April 27, 2000 - Solomon Star/PINA Nius Online)---A project worth more than SI $3 million (US$ 599,401) will soon get off the ground to assist displaced families on Guadalcanal and Malaita.

It is the Guadalcanal and Malaita Provinces Rehabilitation Program, to be implemented by World Vision and funded by the European Union.

But it will assist only 2,000 families, or a total of about 8,000 people who have been displaced as a result of the social unrest on Guadalcanal. Recent reports have estimated that at least 30,000 people have been displaced because of the tension.

Representatives of World Vision explained the project to the Minister of Development Planning, Fred Fono, and his top officers, as well as representatives of the European Union and the deputy premier of Malaita province, Benjamin Harohau.

No representatives from the Guadalcanal Province attended the briefing, although they had also been...

CONGRESSMAN ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA From American Samoa U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C.

NEWS RELEASE April 26, 2000

U.S. DEPT OF ENERGY GRANT

Congressman Eni Faleomavaega announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy has informed him of an $112,672 (US$) grant American Samoa will receive under the DOE's Million Solar Roof program.

The goal of the Million Solar Roof Initiative is to install one million solar energy systems on U.S. buildings by 2010. The Initiative focuses on two types of solar energy technology: photovoltaics that produce electricity from sunlight and solar thermal systems that produce heat for domestic hot water.

"I want to commend the Territorial Energy Office for their efforts in obtaining this grant," said Faleomavaega. "And I whole-heartedly support federal efforts to assist us with the promotion of commercially viable solar energy products."

In providing American Samoa with $49,239 in Federal funds...

VANIMO, Irian Jaya (April 26, 2000 – The National/Kabar Irian)---The peaceful border town of Vanimo is reeling from yet another serious crime within a week - this time the cold-blooded murder of a pro-independence West Papuan activist yesterday morning.

Hans Bomai, the self-styled leader of the separatist OPM rebels’ western command, was attacked with knives and hammers at a settlement near the town and died instantly from injuries to his head.

His brother, Lego Bomai, was also attacked but survived and was in serious but stable condition at the Vanimo General Hospital last night.

Police have detained eight suspects in relation to the killing.

Official sources said last night that the Bomais had traveled to Vanimo from their jungle hideout near Skotsio on the PNG-Indonesia border to make arrangements to travel to Jakarta for talks on self-rule for West Papua, formerly Irian Jaya.

The sources said the killing might be the result of an ongoing...

FIJI’S RATU MARA SNUBS RABUKA AT MEETING

SUVA, Fiji Islands (April 27, 2000 – Fiji’s Daily Post)---President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara snubbed Great Council of Chiefs chairman Sitiveni Rabuka at the Raffles Tradewinds Convention Center in Lami yesterday.

Ratu Sir Kamisese refused to acknowledge Mr. Rabuka when he arrived at the venue of the Great Council of Chiefs meeting. Those at the scene described the encounter as "icy."

"In the past, the two usually shook hands before Mr. Rabuka escorted the president to his seat, briefing him along the way," one observer said.

Their encounter was the first since the publication of Mr. Rabuka's biography, Rabuka of Fiji, in which he claimed that Ratu Sir Kamisese had prior knowledge of the first military coup on May 14, 1987.

Ratu Sir Kamisese has denied the claim, instituting legal action against Mr. Rabuka, the book's author and its publishers.

After entering the convention center, the two took...