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Opening Statement

The Prime Minister of Samoa Honourable Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Legal And Regulatory
Environment For The Corporate Sector In Samoa

Kitano Tusitala November 24-25, 1999

Honourable Ministers, Members of the Diplomatic Corp, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you who have accepted the invitation from Government to participate in this very important meeting to consider and recommend to government a programme in both of reforms in both public sector accountability and corporate sector governance.

To assist with the task, two independent reports have been commissioned by the Government with support by UNDP for your consideration. The first report reviews the status of Public Sector Governance in Samoa relative to the best "practice" public accountability principles endorsed in 1997 by the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting. The second report is on the current status of the legal and...

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya, Indonesia (December 3, 1999 – Radio Australia)---Hundreds of protesters demanding independence for Irian Jaya have staged another rally at a church in Timika.

Human rights activists says 56 people were injured Thursday when police opened fire to disperse about 2,000 demonstrators who were preventing them from lowering a rebel Morning Star flag flying in the church courtyard.

Police have acknowledged they fired shots into the air but say nobody was hit.

They say dozens of people were trampled when the crowd panicked and fled from the compound.

The official Antara news agency says several hundred people have gathered at the church to express their shock and anger.

A spokesman for the Institute for Human Rights and Advocacy in the provincial capital of Jayapura, John Rumbiak, puts the number at 3,000.

He says the protesters are refusing to leave until the Indonesian government acknowledges their claims to independence....

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya, Indonesia (December 3, 1999 – Jakarta Post/Kabar Irian)---Seven people, including two Germany-based journalists, were still being detained on Friday in Timika, following a violent incident on Thursday over the separatist West Papua Morning Star flag.

The seven people detained are Yosefa Alomang, Izak Ondoame, Hiskia Mariabun, Bruno Katagame, Marlon Tahrin and two Germans, identified only as Deck and Hosts.

Yosefa, who is often known as Mama Yosefa, was named a 1999 recipient of the Yap Thiam Hien award for her struggle for Irianese tribal rights.

All seven were arrested in Timika during Thursday's incident when officers from the Elite Police Mobile Brigade tried to disperse a crowd of 3,000 as they attempted to lower the separatist flag.

No fatalities were reported in the incident, but 55 people were injured.

Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas said he regretted the incident, adding that the shooting violated his...

SPEAKER TOLD

By Frank Senge Kolma

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (Dec. 3, 1999 – The National)---An attempt was made two weeks ago to question the validity of the election of Sir Mekere Morauta as prime minister last July.

Opposition Leader Bill Skate, in a letter to Speaker Bernard Narokobi dated November 23 and delivered on the same day, claimed that during the election of Sir Mekere "certain procedures and Parliamentary Standing Orders were not adhered to."

Mr. Skate said that if the speaker were of the same view, he would raise the matter in the current sitting of Parliament.

Speaker Mr. Narokobi replied three days later on November 26, saying that he did not concur with Mr. Skate's claims.

Mr. Skate's letter reads in part: "You (speaker) will no doubt agree with me that Parliament alone sets all Standing Orders and jurisdiction and guidance on this matter is vested with your office.

"I am particularly concerned that, when Hon....