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By Michael J. Field

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (November 27, 1997 - Agence France-Presse)--- Tonga's Government was Thursday declining comment on a revelation that Prime Minister Baron Vaea had signed a contact with a Korean Christian cult to build a nuclear waste facility in the Kingdom.

Government spokeswoman Eseta Fusitu'a would only say that signed copies of contracts given to AFP by the Koreans were "draft copies only."

No further comment has been made on the content of the documents.

The deal raises questions over whether a so-called "Sea Water Gas Production Pilot Plant" personally endorsed by King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV was a cover for the nuclear facility.

Korea and Taiwan have been major players in a proposal to use an atoll in the Marshall Islands for low-level nuclear waste storage.

Last week, Vaea admitted his government had been the victim of a South Korean affair which saw their aging king given a "world peace prize" and the setting...

TARAWA, Kiribati (November 30, 1997 - PACNEWS)---Australia has pledged funding to improve the educational capabilities of the University of the South Pacific Centre at Teaoraereke, South Tarawa.

One project involves constructing a new library and converting the educational institution's existing library to a new science laboratory.

The second project calls for an upgrading of the USP, Kiribati telecommunications network, including connecting it to a satellite that links all regional USP centers involved in distance learning activities.

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (November 30, 1997 - PACNEWS)---An American Samoan man has been convicted of production and possession of marijuana and sentenced to 35 years in jail without parole.

Abe Samana, charged several times before in connection with producing marijuana but never convicted, was given 30 years for marijuana production and five years for possession, to be served concurrently.

He will be credited for the six months he has already spent in jail.

Samana's home in Sogi village was the scene of an armed stand off between police and the family in April, when police attempted to execute a search warrant.

Samana was arrested a few days later.

Last month a jury found him guilty of the marijuana charges but found him not guilty of firing a gun at a policeman.

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (November 28, 1997 - PACNEWS)----A nine-seat Islander plane belonging to Vanuatu's domestic airline, Vanair, crashed on takeoff on the island of Emae Thursday, critically injuring the pilot and one of two passengers on board.

The pilot, Amy Taurakoto, was only recently promoted to captain's rank.

She and the passenger were flown to Noumea, New Caledonia, Thursday evening on an emergency evacuation flight for medical treatment. The second passenger is being treated at the Central Hospital in Port Vila.

Vanair management says the plane split in two on crashing after an unsuccessful takeoff and is now a write-off.

Manager Willie Wilson says an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.