Radio New Zealand International Pacific News, 16 June 2011

Solomon Islands PM keen not to spoil relationship between Fiji and MSG

The Solomon Islands prime minister, Danny Philip, says he doesn’t want anything to spoil the relationship between Fiji and The Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Mr Philip, who was instrumental in helping the Fiji interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, obtain the MSG chairmanship this year, has declined to comment on the status of a former Fiji senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel, Tevita Uluilakeba Mara.

Mr Philip likened the controversy centring on Colonel Mara to a feud that is quite internal.
He says Fiji is important to Solomon Islands.

“We will maintain our all-embracing policy on Fiji, making sure that Fiji - the most important thing to Solomon Islands is to get Fiji back on track of the 2014 election, democratic elections in Fiji.”

The Solomon Islands prime minister, Danny Philip.

PNG police arrest son of acting PM

The police in Papua New Guinea have arrested the adopted son of the acting prime minister Sam Abal over the death of a woman found at his property.

Teo Abal, whose father is in charge while veteran leader Sir Michael Somare recovers from heart surgery, was arrested last night.

Police spokesman, Dominic Kakas, says Teo Abal is being questioned but he could not confirm whether charges had yet been laid against him.

On Tuesday, Sam Abal, had stressed that he would cooperate with the police on the case.
He also added that if any of his family members are involved, they will face the full brunt of the law and will not be treated differently as anyone else in similar situations.

Sam Abal has recently moved to a hotel and was not at the Konedobu address at the time of the incident.

Vanuatu prosecutor plans defamation action against a publisher

The public prosecutor of Vanuatu is considering defamation action against the publisher of a newspaper .
Daily Post publisher Marc-Neil Jones was the victim of an alleged assault in which the minister of Public Utilities, Harry Iauko, faces charges.

Public Prosecutor, Kayleen Tavoa, says Mr Jones approached the Minister of Justice to try and remove her office from trying the case, suggesting a conflict of interest, which he also outlined in a Daily Post article.

She says if anyone is putting pressure on her office it’s Mr Jones.

“We have received no pressure from the government nor from Mr Iauko’s electives or anybody within the political circles, we have received no pressure at all from them the only pressure we’ve received is from Mr Jones.”

Kayleen Tavoa says the case has been blown out of proportion and it’s a matter for the magistrates court.