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FIJI RUGBY TEAM WINS EDINBURGH SEVENS

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:00

Defeats defending world champs South Africa

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, June 1, 2-009) – Fiji inched ahead of IRB 7s World Series Champion South Africa 20-19 to snatch the Edinburgh Sevens title and second spot in the overall standings.

Emosi Vucago grounded the game's first try but the South Africans responded with a converted score to lead 7-5.

Unrattled, the hardworking pair Pio Tuwai and Osea Kolinisau each broke the Boks' defence 15-7 just before the break.

In the second half, skipper Vereniki Goneva ran in for another to secure Fiji's lead 20-7.

To the credit of the South Africans, just as the game looked to have been sealed, they ran in two more tries (Gio Aplon, Renfred Dazel).

But Fiji hung on to achieve their goal of leapfrogging England (98) to secure the No.2 spot in the overall standings with 102 points.

In the other competitions, New Zealand slaughtered Australia for the Plate 34-12, England beat France 26-15 for the Bowl...

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Mon
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Jun
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MARSHALL ISLANDS JOINS FIGHT AGAINST PIRACY

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:00

RMI operates large ship registry

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, May 30, 2009) – A group of four countries, that register more than half the world's ships, have signed a declaration at the United Nations promising to combat piracy off Africa's coast.

They are, Panama, Liberia, Bahamas and the Marshall Islands.

Piracy off Somalia's coast has emerged as the biggest threat to global merchant shipping.

So far this year, pirates operating in and around the Gulf of Aden have attacked at least 81 ships and hijacked 29, despite patrols by warships of several navies.

Speaking on behalf of the UN's anti piracy contact group, Greg Delawie from the US State Department, praised the development.

He says, "The contact group today welcomed the New York Declaration by Panama, Liberia, the Bahamas and the Marshall Islands, which calls for all ships flying their flags to adopt and implement counter measures against piracy."

"Together, just these...

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Mon
01
Jun
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TRADITIONAL LEADERS GIVE AMERICAN SAMOA GOVERNOR ADVICE

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:00

Suggest territory ‘return to the basics’

By Tina Mata’afa

PAGO PAGO, America Samoa (Samoa News, May 30, 2009) – Several traditional leaders have written a letter to Gov. Togiola Tulafono, offering ideas on how American Samoa can deal with the looming closure of COS Samoa Packing, that they say will affect more than 2,000 local employees.

In the letter, dated May 29, 2009 and drafted in the Samoan language, the leaders — Secretary of the Office of Samoan Affairs Tufele F. Li’amatua, Western District Governors Satele Galu T., Eastern District Governor Gaoteote Tapatonu, Manu’a District Governor Misaalefua Hudson and Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs Nanai K.S. Afuola — make several suggestions.

They say one way to solve the problem is to have the government run a cannery, whether it be COS or StarKist.

Another way, according to the leaders, is to have the governor work with traditional leaders, Fono reps, village mayors in order to develop the...

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Mon
01
Jun
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STATUS OF WOMEN DETERIORATES ACROSS PACIFIC

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:00

Women’s organization releases report, hopes for action

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, May 31, 2009) – A women’s community organisation based in Fiji says its report on women, peace and human security shows a deterioration in the status of women across the Pacific.

The coordinator of Femlink Pacific says it’ll present the first quarter report for this year to a meeting of regional women’s community media networks today.

The meeting brings together peacewomen from Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Fiji.

Sharon Bhagwan Rolls says she hopes the report prompts Pacific countries to improve women’s security.

"When we’re correlating the human security framework if you look at the issue of personal security of women closely linked to that is the issue of violence to women and the threat to women. So rape is high on the agenda of just some of the very real threats that women are living under. You know in Fiji in January...

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Mon
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Jun
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CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER ASCENSION OF TAHITI ROYALTY

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:00

King Pomare celebration decried by relatives

PAPEÉTE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse, May 29, 2009) – Joinville Pomare, a self-proclaimed "Royal Family" descendant, now wants to be called King Pomare XI. A formal ceremony took place for this change of name Thursday in Tahiti.

Around 50 persons attended the event in the gardens of the "Royal Tahitian" hotel, on Tahiti's east coast.

"The entire Pacific is ruled by kings. Republics do no exist in the Pacific islands. This has been invented by Western Europeans", Joinville Pomare said.

Pomare plans a formal enthronement in Tahiti with Royal families from other Pacific islands September 9, 2009.

He says France should respect the treaties signed with his ancestors in 1880.

But not every Pomare family members agree with the idea of Joinville Pomare becoming King Pomare XI.

His brother, Wilfred Pomare, said this ceremony was a "masquerade" and that Joinville Pomare is an adopted child. Princess...

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Mon
01
Jun
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TWO SUSPECTS DETAINED IN SAMOA TAXI MURDER

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:00

Another suspect being questioned, not charged

By Marieta Heidi Ilalio

APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, March 31, 2009) — Two more suspects have been detained in the body-in-the-boot killing, Assistant Police Commissioner, Papali’i Li’o Ta’eu Masipa’u confirmed yesterday.

Papali’i said a 25-year-old from the village of Tuvao, Satapuala and a 26-year-old from Le’auva’a were in custody, charged with murder.

They will appear in the Supreme Court on June 8.

A third suspect is still being investigated but Papali’i said they don’t have enough evidence to charge this person.

The Assistant Commissioner said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the body found in t

he boot of a taxi last Saturday.

"We are in the process of completing the investigation," he said.

The deceased, 54 or 55, of Leulumoega-tuai and Moamoa was killed last Saturday while at work driving a taxi.

It is known he went home and talked to...

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Mon
01
Jun
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SOLOMONS’ PRIME MINISTER CALLS ASIA TRIP ‘SUCCESS’

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:00

SOLOMONS’ PRIME MINISTER CALLS ASIA TRIP ‘SUCCESS’ Sikua defends necessity of 25-day tour

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Times, June 1, 2009) -Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua said his 25-day tour of three Asian countries was a success.

"It has certainly been a long trip but it was a successful one. It was cost effective and beneficial to Solomon Islands," Prime Minister Sikua told a media conference just after his arrival last week in Honiara.

"It is important that we remain engaged with our friends and partners in the region and globally. The challenged we face today such as financial crisis, climate change and environmental degradation, to name just a few, are issues that individual countries cannot address on their own. It requires the collective effort and commitment of all countries concerned," he said.

Prime Minister Sikua said the Solomon Islands Government commitment to its international relations such as the ROC-Pacific Allies Summit is...

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Mon
01
Jun
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CONGRESSMAN SAYS THE U.S. CAN HELP FIJI

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:00

Critical of Australia, New Zealand heavy-handedness

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Sun, June 1, 2009) – An influential American congressman has again warned about "inept policies and heavy-handed actions" of the New Zealand and Australian governments in dealing with Fiji.

American Samoa’s Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin is quoted by New Zealand’s biggest newspaper, the New Zealand Herald, as saying they are putting American interests in the Pacific at risk.

"Fortunately, the Obama Administration is gaining a better understanding of ... how our friends in Canberra and Wellington have dropped the ball," he said.

The USA, he said, should offer Fiji the necessary resources to reform its electoral process, redraft its constitution and to hold successful elections.

Washington should also offer to help strengthen Fiji’s economy -- and longterm stability -- through the promotion of bilateral trade and investment, particularly in tourism.

Faleomavaega is a ranking member...

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Mon
01
Jun
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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS CONCERNS IN MELANESIA

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:00

PNG, Fiji, Solomons singled out for problems

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, May 29, 2009) – Amnesty International has highlighted a climate of fear in Fiji, high levels of violence and impunity in Papua New Guinea and a growing health crisis from spreading slums in Solomon Islands.

In its 2009 annual report, the human rights group condemns Fiji's suspension of the constitution and legal processes and says its contributing to growing violence, impunity for police and soldiers, and a declining economy.

'Rampant violent crime in PNG' says Amnesty

The report is scathing about rampant violent crime in Papua New Guinea, including attacks on and murders of suspected sorcerers, particularly in the Eastern Highlands, and the use of excessive force by police.

And it says those responsible were not brought to justice.

Rapes reported to PNG police between January and October numbered 654, up from 526 reported the previous year, with few...

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Mon
01
Jun
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INTOLERANCE IN PNG ATTACKED BY BUSINESS GROUP

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:00

Harassment of street sellers, sex workers, Asians criticized

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, May 29, 2009) – The Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS (BAHA) on Wednesday issued a scathing attack against Papua New Guinea’s prevailing intolerant attitude.

At the BAHA’s second anniversary celebrations held at the Melanesian Hotel in Lae, its chief executive officer Rod Mitchell cited recent examples such as the harassment of street sellers by the ‘yellow shirts’ in Port Moresby.

"No society or leader should tolerate the beatings, destruction or confiscation or theft of property by legalised street gangs against impoverished peoples trying to eke out a living," he said.

"Street sellers are budding; self reliant entrepreneurs and they should not have to face the indignity or their loss of economic freedom because it does not fit into another person’s frame of what constitutes proper business practice," Mr. Mitchell, who is also the CEO of...

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