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PORT VILA, Vanuatu (The Independent, June 6) – The Chinese Ambassador in Vanuatu has strongly condemned the murder last week of Chinese national Mr Fang Xiao Wen and the critical wounding of his sister Mrs Fang Xiao Lan.

Killed was Chinese trader Mr Fang Xiao Wen of Wen Shopping Center. His body today remained at Vila Central Hospital mortuary, awaiting the arrival of his wife, Mrs Yuan Liang, who is currently in China.

Wen's sister, Fang Xiao Lan was flown to a Brisbane hospital in Australia on Thursday afternoon and is under the care of Chinese diplomats there.

The killing was the second in two weeks. The principal of the Tebakor Junior Secondary School was murdered Friday 20 May near the school compound.

"We were shocked, as this is the second time," said Ambassador Bao Shusheng. "A Chinese couple were murdered May last year, and since then we haven't heard anything about the police investigations. We request the Vanuatu government to investigate and...

By Haidee V. Eugenio

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, June 7) – A major factor in the decision to terminate American Samoa Territorial Auditor George S. Webster in May were the findings of a three-member "peer review" team of Pacific auditors, officials say.

The team included Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public Auditor Mike Sablan, Yap State Public Auditor Gertrude Gootinan and technical consultant Charles W. Hester.

The review was part of the Association of Pacific Island Public Auditors’ quality control review of its members at least every three years, Sablan said.

He said that the peer review is conducted to test compliance with government auditing standards that government audit organizations are required to follow.

"The credibility of public auditors’ work hinges on compliance with standards. These standards are designed to ensure that auditors conduct their work objectively, professionally and diligently," said Sablan.

...

ALOFI, Niue (Niue News, June 2) – An electoral petition challenging the drawing of names from a hat in tied votes after a general election has been heard in the Niue High Court.

The petitioner, Dion Taufitu, was a village Member of Parliament in Toi who lost his seat after a tied vote in the April general election. He contends that the country’s constitution states members of the Assembly must be "elected."

He said the drawing of names from a hat a tied vote is unconstitutional, undemocratic and therefore invalid.

The Electoral Officer Togia Sioneholo said the law was clear about procedures for a tied vote and had been carried out after the last election.

Judge Heta Hingston requested that both parties to make written submissions and said he would deliver his finding within three months.

June 7, 2005

Niue News: http://www.niuenews.nu/

Editorial

Yokwe

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (June 5) – Once again, the Republic of the Marshall Islands government has shown its hand.

The recent attack on a Taiwanese volunteer by a 20-year old Marshallese has brought "unusually prompt filing" of criminal charges, of attempted first-degree murder, reports the Marshall Islands Journal.

Now, for the first time, RMI Ministry officials have repeatedly hit the airwaves and print media with condemnation of attacks on volunteers in Majuro, the nation's capital.

Although, for some time, crime has been on the increase, local gangs have been causing havoc in neighborhoods, and assaults, rapes, break-ins have occurred more frequently, the RMI government has not taken a proactive stance.

Only when the Taiwan Ambassador challenges the safety of the Marshalls and demands protection of residents does the current RMI Administration get embarrassed, and speak out against violence, before "losing face" and "...