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By Haidee V. Eugenio

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, July 6) – Some 20 foreigners have indicated their intention to seek "refugee protection" in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, even after two federal agencies recently urged the Attorney General’s Office to revise its proposed regulations on the treatment of asylum seekers in the islands.

Assistant AG Eric O’Malley, in an interview, said most of those who want to seek asylum are Chinese, while one or two are from Myanmar.

Refugee protection applies only to those who are facing deportation as ordered by the CNMI Superior Court or those denied entry at a Commonwealth port of entry.

It also applies to anyone who, "prior to removal from the Commonwealth, the individual expresses fear of persecution or torture in the designated country of removal."

But the AGO has yet to adopt proposed regulations on the protection of refugees from abuses in their home countries.

Government sources...

By Agnes M. Abrau

KOROR (Palau Horizon, July 6) — A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Elechui-Ngchemiangel in Aimeliik State, Palau, to commence the $641,000 road construction project.

Speaking on behalf of President Tommy Remengesau, Minister of Resources and Development Fritz Koshiba said in his remarks that the project is part of the Aimeliik economic stimulus package introduced by the Remengesau administration.

The road project is a 1,500-foot long road which would connect the old Elechui dirt road to the Nekken-Ngchemiangel main road. The project was funded through a grant from Taiwan.

Construction started July 1 and scheduled completion date is April 30, 2005, Koshiba said.

"The economic stimulus package is created to work closely with state governments’ leadership to identify priorities especially in the area of capitol improvement project programs," Koshiba told Horizon.

The ceremony was also attended by Taiwan ambassador Clark...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, July 6) - The Indonesian community in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands went to the polls with more than 150 million other Indonesians yesterday in the first presidential election where the people directly elect their president and vice-president.

The Indonesian community of Port Moresby, numbering 108, with the exception of the military attaches (neutral), cast their votes at their embassy at Waigani from 9am to 3pm yesterday. At the same time, another 328 ballot papers have been mailed to others residing in the other provinces and another 56 to the Solomon Islands.

Expressing elation after casting his vote, the ambassador to PNG and the Solomon Islands Ambassador Djopari casting his vote at the Indonesian Embassy yesterday.

Johannes Djopari said the people of Indonesia have triumphed after waiting so long.

"The people are now voting directly for a president and vice-president," he said, adding it is...

Editorial

FIJI’S SUGAR INDUSTRY MUST IMPROVE OR DIE

FijiSUN

SUVA, Fiji (July 6) - The performance of the nation’s sugar mills during the crushing season has long been a point of contention between the Fiji Sugar Corporation and the growers and harvesters of cane.

And, like everything else in this blighted industry, the issue has become political.

But matters are not helped when the management of the largest mill assures growers and other stakeholders that all is well and the mill is raring to go only for it to break down on the first day of crushing.

Other breakdowns followed, though as of yesterday the mill was operating at full capacity.

The whole industry will hope it stays that way.

Now the farmers in the Rakiraki district say they want to monitor the performance of their local mill before bringing in hired seasonal labor from other parts of Viti Levu.

This is because, they say, they do not want to incur the expense...