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SUVA, Fiji Islands (January 5, 2000 – Fiji’s Daily Post)---A newly formed nationalist group has threatened further destabilization in the country if the Fiji Court of Appeal rules in favor of Justice Anthony Gates' High Court decision.

Justice Gates had ruled that the abrogation of the 1997 Constitution was illegal and had called for the reconvening of the pre-May 19 Parliament. The Interim Administration, however, has challenged the decision in the Court of Appeal, which will hear the case next month.

The New Fijian Nationalist Party has written to the President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, outlining the possible events that could eventuate if the decision of the Court of Appeal is in favor of Justice Gates' decision.

They have warned of a repeat of the May 19 events if the People's Coalition returns. The military yesterday confirmed that they were aware of the letter by the group.

Military spokesperson Lieutenant Ilaisa Tagitupou said they were mindful of the...

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (January 5, 2000 - PIDP/CPIS)--Governor Tauese Sunia and his wife, Fagaoali’i, hosted a birthday tribute Thursday evening for Samoa’s Head of State, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II.

Accompanied by Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Malietoa and his entourage arrived from Apia, Samoa late Tuesday afternoon.

Malietoa and Tuilaepa were guests of honor during the swearing in ceremony of Governor Tauese Sunia and Lt. Governor Togiola Tulafono for their second term in office.

Samoa celebrated Malietoa’s 88th birthday on Tuesday and the festivities were broadcast live on Radio 2AP. His actual birthday is January 4th. According to Radio 2AP personalities, Samoa celebrated Malietoa’s birthday early as he was to be in the territory for the inauguration on the 4th.

Held at the Maota o Tooa in downtown Apia, Samoa the one-hour celebration program started with the Samoa national anthem,...

By Winis Map

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (January 5, 2000 - The Independent/PINA Nius Online)---Papua New Guinea intelligence officers based near the border are alleged to have passed on information about West Papuans to the Indonesians. These concerns are raised in a confidential document obtained by The Independent newspaper.

The document dated December 28, 2000, was issued by the Sandaun Provincial Disaster Committee to the National Security Advisory Committee. It contained an updated report on the situation of the conflict in neighboring Irian Jaya (West Papua) and the corresponding spillover effects faced by Papua New Guinea people in border areas.

There is growing conflict in the Indonesian-ruled half of the island of New Guinea, known as Irian Jaya or West Papua, as the Melanesian West Papuans press for independence.

The Sandaun report states that "there appears to be a high level of leakage of confidential information to Indonesian authorities...

SUVA, Fiji Islands (January 5, 2001 – Fiji’s Daily Post)---The High Court in Suva has thrown out an application by the State to stop Chief Magistrate Salesi Temo from presiding over the committal hearing involving George Speight and his group.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had sought to postpone the committal proceedings against the Speight group while they prepared an appeal. However, High Court Judge Nazhat Shameem dismissed the application saying there was no such appeal in law. Justice Shameem said no notice of appeal was given, neither were any grounds of appeal filed.

"A stay application pending appeal is normally only considered after the petition of appeal is filed," she said.

She said the application was made out to be what is not.

"The application is in reality an application to order the postponement of the preliminary inquiry on the ground that an appeal would be filed, on the ground that the State was not ready to proceed and on the...