New Fiji party a threat.... Lini repairs relations with Australia.... Warlord Keke behind bars....


New Fiji party a threat

Former Fiji army commander and former chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs Ratu Epeli Ganilau has launched a new multiracial party, the National Alliance (NAP), that could grow to threaten the security of the coalition government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase at a general election in 2006, or possibly earlier. Ganilau, son-in-law of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and son of a former president, Ratu Penaia Ganilau, is modelling the party partly on the lines of Mara's Alliance Party, which ruled Fiji from 1970 to 1987. He says Qarase's SDL party and its main coalition ally, the Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua (CAMV), are too exclusive and racially divisive. Qarase has attacked the NAP as a threat to Fijian unity which, if weakened, could lead to the return to power of the Indian-dominated Labour Party government. Labour Party was removed by a coup in 2000.


Lini repairs relations with Australia

Australia and the new Vanuatu government led by prime minister Ham Lini have repaired relations stressed by the former government of Serge Vohor because of what the Australians' claimed was Vohor's interference with vital government and economic reforms and interference with legal and quasi-legal institutions. Vanuatu will receive in excess of A$30 million a year during 2005-2010 for projects including reforms of the regulatory environment, improvements in the administration of the health and education departments, and the stimulation of the private sector and industry.


Warlord Keke behind bars

The most notorious of former warlords in the Solomon Islands has been sentenced to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of killing a former government minister. Harold Keke and his two other right-hand men Ronnie Cawa and Francis Lela, were sentenced to life in March by Judge Justice Frank Kabui of the Solomons High Court. In a voice breaking with emotion, Justice Kabui made a passionate plea for peace when sentencing the former militants found guilty of killing Fr Augustine Geve in 2002 on the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal. The three men showed no remorse when they were sentenced. The judge directed his powerful call for a peaceful resolution to outstanding political issues very directly at all Solomon Islanders. “Shortcuts, division and killing each other can't and will not work for us,” said Justice Kabui, who comes from Malaita, the province whose people were driven out of Honiara as a result of the ethnic tension. “Killing our politicians who are not producing the goods is clearly murder. It is the wrong way,” the judge said.


Tonga's pro-dem party splits

A former commoner member of Tonga's parliament, Teisina Fuko, has left the Human Rights Democracy Movement (HRDM) and is setting up the People's Democratic Party (PDP) because, he claims, the HRDM presses its case for more democracy too weakly and is just a vehicle for people who want a place in parliament. The PDP, which claims leading academic Professor Futa Helu, of the Atenisi Institute, and former cabinet minister Clive Edwards to be among its supporters, is expected to contest a by-election for two commoner seats vacated by two MPs appointed as cabinet ministers after a March general election.


More Chinese aid to PNG

China has agreed to a 14 million kina (US$4.7 million) grant for Papua New Guinea for the funding of wheat growing, dry-rice, mushroom, medical equipment and anti-HIV/AIDS projects. A Chinese statement said China had become Papua New Guinea's number one trading partner with two-way trade reaching 900 million Kina (US$303.4 million) in 2004.


Momis, Kabui battle for presidency

Veteran Papua New Guinea parliamentarian John Momis, currently governor of Papua New Guinea, will be a candidate against former North Solomons' premier Joseph Kabui in a May election for the presidency of the new Bougainville Autonomous Government, to be set up under an agreement with Papua New Guinea.
In March, the secessionist leader, Francis Ona, who occupies a 'no go' in the Bougainville copper mine region, made a surprise appearance in Arawa, the main town, at which he proclaimed Bougainville's independence.


Poor health keeps MP Patiale out

Tuvalu MP Sio Patiale has announced his intention to resign because of poor health that keeps him in New Zealand for most of the year for dialysis treatment while waiting for a kidney transplant. His absence from the 15-member legislature causes difficulties since he holds the balance of power, so blocking meetings being held without his presence. Parliament has been able to meet only once, to approve the budget, since he became ill.


'We want China', MPs say

After a jaunt to China members of the Solomon Islands opposition Labour and National parties say they favour the breaking of diplomatic relations with Taiwan because relations with China would be more beneficial to the country. The present and past governments have maintained close relations with Taiwan, one of the country's main aid fund donors.


Taiwan president's Pacific tour

President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan, who visited the Solomon Islands earlier this year, will visit Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands in May to strengthen Taiwan's relations with countries that have diplomatic ties with it rather than its enemy, China.


More Fiji soldiers to guard UN staff

Fiji will send another 90 troops to Iraq in June, lifting the number of soldiers guarding United Nations staff to more than 200. About a thousand other Fijians, many being former soldiers, are estimated to be also working in Iraq for foreign security companies.


IPPF urges Pacific countries

Pacific Islands countries have been urged by the International Planned Parenthood Federation, headquartered in New York, to oppose a United States policy that would block the supply of United States aid funds to foreign non-government organisations that fail to separate HIV-AIDS projects from contraception programmes. The federation's director-general, Steven Sinding, said Pacific countries would be unable to effectively attack the AIDS pandemic without accompanying family planning schemes.


Unlevel playing field

Australian aid and trade watchdog, AIDWATCH, believes Australia has not done enough within the aid programme to educate PNG companies how to fulfill the requirements of the complex tendering application process. In its report released recently, AIDWATCH said Australia decided in December 2004 to allow PNG companies to bid directly for Australian aid contracts. “While this was a positive move, problems still remained as there was no plans to provide technical assistance to such companies that have to compete on an un-level playing field against Australian businesses for decades.” PNG, Australia's largest aid recipient, has received over AUS$15 billion (US$11.7 billion) since it achieved independence in 1975.