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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, April 4) – A human rights group says the Indonesian military’s decision to increase the number of troops in Papua province could undermine efforts to find peace in the province.

The UK-based Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, or TAPOL, has written to British Foreign Minister Douglas Alexander, urging him to put pressure on Indonesia to halt ongoing military operations and end the build-up of troops in Papua.

Last month, the Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces announced a major enlargement of the country’s military forces with the establishment of 22 new territorial commands.

In her letter to Mr Alexander, Tapol founder Carmel Budiardjo says the military build-up flies in the face of expectations that the TNI would cut back the number of territorial commands.

Mrs Budiardjo says the deployments will double the number of troops in Papua, to a total of 50,000 men.

She urges the...

By Ulysses Torres Sabuco

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, April 5) – The number of displaced garment workers who are seeking the governor’s help continues to increase as yesterday over 50 former La Mode employees gathered outside the administration building on Capitol Hill.

Senate President Joaquin G. Adriano, R-Tinian, said a task force should be formed to "directly talk" to the jobless, and possibly homeless, garment workers who, he added, "are tainting the image of our government."

"Nobody is talking to them or telling them that help is on its way. I pity these individuals who are loitering around and do not know what to do. Let them know that we are helping them," Adriano told Variety yesterday. "We see them sitting, standing anywhere. We should communicate with them rather than allow them to loiter."

The former La Mode garment workers said they are still waiting for the release of their unpaid salaries.

Another group made up of former Sako...

Editorial

The National

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (April 4) – We freely admit it — The National despairs of trying to get a least a modicum of accountability out of the RPNG Constabulary.

And if we, with all our resources, and with a team of experienced reporters many of whom are well known professionally to the police, have reached a brick wall — what chance does the downtrodden public stand?

There have been endless cases involving allegations of police brutality during the past five years.

Worse, it has to be said that the far-reaching investigation instigated by Internal Affairs Minister Kimisopa, not the least as a result of our constant demands for one, appears to have had little or no effect upon the behaviour of members of the Force.

Indeed there are those who believe that the RPNG Constabulary is, at this point, at its lowest ebb when it comes to transparency and any acknowledgement of responsibility for the actions of its...

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, Apr. 5) - A calm and collected David Gilmour took the stand today in Fiji's Supreme Court, in a trial that could cost the American millionaire $70 million, should he lose.

Januz Kubs, a former Fiji Water shareholder and managing director is suing Gilmour, alleging that he misinformed him and his wife Mama'o of the company's performance and pressured them to sell their shares.

His lawyer Robert Fardell questioned Gilmour on the export of bottled Fiji Water during the company's beginnings in the mid nineties.

Gilmour was also asked why the United States had been chosen as the primary export market to which he replied, "We looked to the U.S. of the size of the market".

He said export was initially focused towards California and later to others states such as New York.

Kubs was a noticeable absentee at today's trail but his wife Mama'o was present and seemed upbeat about the proceedings.

Last week on the witness stand,...