Briefs
Government
American Samoa
The territory’s High Court tossed out a suit filed by Rep. Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo against House Speaker Matagi Mailo McMoore and his wife, Sese Peko, claiming that they misappropriated $56,000 in government funds for vehicle accessories and two off-island trips. The McMoores asked the court to dismiss the case saying one of the main purposes of the suit was to embarrass them. They asserted that Tautolo did not show any personal damages suffered in order to have standing to bring the suit. The court agreed with the McMoores. Tautolo, who says he’s prepared to take the matter to the U.S. federal level, has filed a motion for reconsideration.
—FS
Samoa
Religious and political leaders are opposing use of the death penalty in the wake of demands by many that the man accused of killing and raping a five-year-old girl in the village of Ulutogia in February should be put to death. Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni joined the chairman of the National Council of Churches, Rev. Ofa Fauola in opposing use of the death penalty. The death penalty has not been used since the 1950s, prior to Samoa’s independence, and without exception, every convict sentenced to death since that time has had their sentence commuted.
—FS
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Guam
In response to the tensions on the Korean peninsula, Guam has seen an increase in U.S. military activity. On February 25, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived in Guam escorted by the destroyer USS Lassen and fast combat support ship USS Sacramento. The three ships have a total of 8,500 crew members. The ships were en route from San Diego to the western Pacific following the deployment of the Japan-based carrier USS Kitty Hawk to the Persian Gulf.
—FW
Palau
Special Prosecutor Everett Walton continues to replenish Palau’s coffers with his ongoing pursuit of current and former legislators for their misuse of government funds in connection with travel expenses. To date, Walton has made arrangements with 20 people who have agreed to repay slightly over $225,000 as an alternative to facing prosecution.
—NC
Nauru
Only 55 of the 454 remaining asylum seekers housed on Nauru under its agreement with the Australian government have been classed as genuine refugees. Their detention, for up to 18 months in the case of some, was part of Australia’s “Pacific Solution” to the problem of illegal immigrants.
—ND
Papua New Guinea
Politics in PNG is as volatile as ever under the new government of Sir Michael Somare. Five members of the national Parliament have been suspended, pending hearings on charges of misconduct in office. Four of the charges concern the misuse of money; a fifth member has been charged with leading a riot and disrupting proceedings during a by election in 1999.
—ND
Tonga
The Tongan government has banned the import into the kingdom of the twice-weekly newspaper Times of Tonga (Taimi O Tonga) claiming that the publication is a foreign enterprise with a political agenda. The newspaper is published in New Zealand by Kalafi Moala, a long-standing critic of the government, who is a Tongan and a citizen of the U.S.
—ND
Contributors: Fili Sagapolutele, Frank Whitman, Nancy Chism, Norman Douglas.
