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By Craig DeSilva

NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (January 4, 2000 – PIDP/CPIS/Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat)---Tongans are reacting with surprise to King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV’s appointment of his youngest son, Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, as the Kingdom’s new prime minister.

Prince ‘Ulukalala, 41, was chosen for the post instead of his politically more experienced older brother Crown Prince Tupouto‘a.

"Most Tongans are very surprised to this particular appointment," said Akilisi Pohiva, an MP and a leader of the democracy movement in Tonga. "Most people expected the Crown Prince to be the next prime minister."

Prince ‘Ulukalala, who opposes Tonga’s fledgling democratic movement, has only served in office for one year as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Pohiva said the King had requested that Crown Prince Tupouto‘a return to government service after leaving office to pursue personal business interests. But the King didn’t accept the Crown Prince’s proposal to...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (January 4, 2000 – Post-Courier)---Three Australian tourists were among a group of 11 people who were ambushed and robbed Saturday along the Kokoda Trail.

They lost more than K 2,000 (US$ 740) in cash and other valuable items.

The gang of more than seven men -- armed with homemade guns, a shotgun and bush knives -- attacked them at Owers Corner, northeast of Sogeri.

The group was ready to leave the area after being there for more than 20 minutes.

Two of the Australian tourists, Philip and Leonie Pinch, were checking the area as they were planning to return to Papua New Guinea with an Australian group to walk the trail.

They alleged the armed men ran out of nearby bushes, shouting as they approached the expatriate group.

"We were all in our cars, ready to take off, when the armed men ran out of the bushes," Philip Pinch said.

Before they could take off, the men attacked them, pulled them out of their...

EDITORIAL Fiji Times Suva, Fiji January 4, 2000

Fiji could and should have done a better job of welcoming the millennium.

With a few very notable exceptions, the celebrations were a pretty poor affair.

But parties are what people make of them.

And if people can't afford to or can't be bothered to turn out, there's little anybody can do about it.

There was a significant number of people who were prepared to welcome the new millennium with a major bash as witnessed at the FM96 street party, among others.

Now, however, the Government, the local authorities and just about anybody else whose job it isn't to organize entertainment is being blamed for the lack of a major celebration.

We blame the Government when it interferes in our lives.

And now many people want to blame it for not interfering.

Putting on a New Year bash is not the business of the Government.

If those who are whinnying today about the lack of...

TAIPEI, Taiwan (January 4, 2000 – Radio Australia)---Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Chen Chien-jen says Taipei will spare no effort to maintain and strengthen bilateral relations with the Marshall Islands.

Mr. Chen's comments follow the Nitijela’s (parliament’s) election of Kassai Note as the new President of the Marshall Islands Monday, after the Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) won the November general election.

It is believed Mr. Note favors links to the People’s Republic of China - Beijing, rather than Taipei.

Last week, a ruling UDP official, Senator Alvin Jacklick, said it was premature to speculate over whether the new administration would cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

The Majuro Chamber of Commerce has urged the continuation of relations with the Republic of China - Taiwan.

For additional reports from Radio Australia, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT News/Information Links: Radio/TV News/Radio Australia.