You are here

Home › 2000 › August 2000 ›

Articles Search

Search results

Thu
31
Aug
admin's picture

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BACKS MARSHALL ISLANDS ECONOMIC STUDY

Submitted by admin on Thu, 08/31/2000 - 00:00

By Giff Johnson

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (August 30, 2000 - Marianas Variety/PINA Nius Online)---A national economic assessment of the Marshal Islands that could play a pivotal role in negotiations for future aid from the United States is nearing completion, following a seminar for island business and government leaders.

Supported by the Asia Development Bank, the study is slated to outline short and long-term economic development priorities for the Marshall Islands. A team of ADB Consultants has been meeting for the past several weeks with government, private sector and non-governmental organization leaders to develop recommendations that reflect priority needs in the islands, according to study leader Tony Hughes, who is based in the Solomon Islands.

The Marshall and the U.S. are in the midst of talks to negotiate new aid provisions to replace Compact of Free Association economic provisions which expire at the end of 2001. With the Marshalls facing...

+ continue reading
Thu
31
Aug
admin's picture

SIR MEKERE: NO TROOP BUILDUP ON BOUGAINVILLE

Submitted by admin on Thu, 08/31/2000 - 00:00

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (August 30, 2000 – Post-Courier)---The Prime Minister, Sir Mekere Morauta, said comments by the Acting Opposition Leader, Peter Peipul, that there was a buildup of troops on Bougainville were false and irresponsible.

"Mr. Peipul's inflammatory comments in Parliament today put at risk the peace process that his own parliamentary leader started," Sir Mekere said.

"There is no troop build-up. The government has no intention of increasing the presence of troops or police on Bougainville. In fact, we hope to do exactly the opposite as far as troops are concerned.

"The government's only intention as far as Bougainville is concerned is to maintain the three-year peace there and to complete political settlements granting the highest possible autonomy as soon as possible.

"We intend to help them to continue to rebuild their lives and to continue to restore the provision of essential and basic services

For additional reports...

+ continue reading
Thu
31
Aug
admin's picture

TELIKOM DENIES PNG HARDWOOD SALES LINK WITH CHINA

Submitted by admin on Thu, 08/31/2000 - 00:00

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (August 29, 2000 - Post-Courier/PINA Nius Online)---Telikom has denied that it is involved in a deal to sell Papua New Guinea hardwoods to China to pay for its share in a multi-million kina fiber-optic cable project to connect Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The Australian Financial Review reported last week that Telikom was involved in exploratory talks with Cable & Wireless Optus and cable layer Alcatel for the AUS$ 75 million (K 114.4 million/US$ 43 million) fiber-optic cable project linking the two countries.

The report said Telikom, which would pay half of the cost, was broke and that the PNG Government would sell the country's hardwood logs to the People's Republic of China to pay for Telikom's participation in the project.

"Telikom currently has an undersea cable which is jointly owned by Telikom and Telstra of Australia," said Telikom's acting managing director Sunil Andradi. "This cable is reaching its economical life...

+ continue reading
Thu
31
Aug

FIJI CHIEFS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE INDIANS ON CONSTITUTION COMMISSION

Submitted by piradmin on Thu, 08/31/2000 - 00:00

SUVA, Fiji Islands (August 31, 2000 - Fiji's Daily Post/ The Fiji Times/PINA Nius Online)---The Great Council of Chiefs is expected to name today four Indo-Fijians as part of their 12-member Constitution Commission.

The Daily Post understands that the Commission will also include the Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, six members of Council and a general elector.

The Commission will have as its main task a new Constitution, which will safeguard indigenous Fijian interests and at the same time provide the country with a platform for a harmonious multi cultural and multi racial existence.

The interim government yesterday presented its Terms of Reference for the design process of the new Constitution.

The composition of the Constitution Commission was the other issue Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase presented to the chiefs.

The 1997 Constitution was abrogated during the crisis following the May 19 takeover of Parliament by armed rebels, and the...

+ continue reading
Thu
31
Aug

SOLOMON ISLANDS PEACE TALKS DELAYED AGAIN

Submitted by piradmin on Thu, 08/31/2000 - 00:00

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (August 31, 2000 - Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation/PINA Nius Online)---The Solomon Islands peace talks planned for today have been rescheduled for next Tuesday.

The initial talks originally were scheduled for Monday of this week.

The Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace said the meeting has been delayed to allow further consultations among the parties to the conflict on Guadalcanal.

Peace talks were planned to start on board the New Zealand frigate Te Kaha, where Deputy Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza has been meeting with Guadalcanal Provincial Government representatives and commanders of the Isatabu Freedom Movement.

(Background: A cease-fire in the Solomon Islands follows ethnic conflict which engulfed Guadalcanal. The capital, Honiara, has been under the control of a joint operation of the Malaita Eagle Force and elements of the paramilitary police field force.

The Guadalcanal countryside is...

+ continue reading
Thu
31
Aug

PAPUAN SEPARATIST REBELS BLAMED FOR POLICE KILLING THREE CIVILIANS

Submitted by piradmin on Thu, 08/31/2000 - 00:00

JAKARTA, Indonesia (August 31, 2000 - Indonesian Observer/Kabar-Irian)---A pro-Jakarta supporter in West Papua (Irian Jaya) says separatists are responsible for a recent bloody incident in which police shot dead three natives.

Decky Asmuruf says Papua Council Presidium is solely to blame for the killings, because it had encouraged local residents of Sorong to believe their region was independent.

Separatists and locals early on August 22 hoisted West Papua’s Morning Star flag outside the Imanuel Boswezen Church in Kampung Baru, East Sorong sub district.

Police arrived a couple of hours later and demanded the flag be taken down.

A clash broke out, with locals hurling arrows and spears, while police started shooting.

Police shot dead three people and injured 17 others. Three policemen were stabbed. Some 26 rioters were arrested.

Decky, a former Sorong community official now living in the West Papua capital, Jayapura, blasted the separatist...

+ continue reading

Pages

Filter by date created:

Filter by article category: