Two dead in attack

There’s been more deadly violence in Indonesia’s Papua province. The body of a 45-year old woman from Maluku province was discovered outside a power plant in Waena, near Jayapura, early on Saturday morning. As police moved the next day to make arrests in connection with the alleged murder, a mob of around two hundred Moluccans gathered in Waena to avenge the woman’s death. The mob stirred unrest, with Tabloid Jubi reporting that two Highlands men were stabbed, one died and the other was seriously injured.

Venture ends

Virgin Australia was reviewing its options after the Samoa Government’s decision to end their decade long joint venture.

In a statement, Virgin Australia confirmed the Virgin Samoa joint venture would not continue after November 12 this year.

Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said in his radio address that an extension of the joint venture licence would give Virgin Blue enough time to prepare to leave.

Campus opens

The University of the South Pacific will open its new campus in the Marshall Islands today.

The $2 million campus is situated in a renovated section of the Long Island Hotel in Majuro which had previously been acquired by the Marshall Islands Government. The government contributed $500,000 to the renovations, while USP provided the balance. USP vice-chancellor Rajesh Chandra is in Marshall Islands for the opening. Mr Chandra said the Long Island campus was the main centre for the USP in the northern Pacific and it could cater for 1000 students, although there are only 500 enrolled at the moment.

PNG stands firm

Papua New Guinea corrections authorities were standing by their decision to shoot 17 prisoners during a mass escape from a Papua New Guinea prison. Lack of money was holding up an investigation into the killing of the fleeing inmates, who were among 77 escapees.

In a statement, acting Commissioner Dennis Piandi said firing on the escapees was necessary to restore order to the prison and prevent more inmates from trying to escape.

Gun amnesty

The Solomon Islands Government has launched a two week gun amnesty today. The special co-ordinator of the Regional Assistance Mission, Quinton Devlin, said an amnesty was one of the most powerful and meaningful things a government could do to make the country safer. He said he was urging the same message as the government and the church. Mr Devlin said there was no legitimate reason for a member of the community to have a gun. The Regional Assistance Mission, RAMSI, was set to end its 14 years in Solomon Islands at the end of June.