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The article reports the decision of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea which states that the country's government is not supposed to supply electric power, water or food to the migrants at the detention center on Manus Island, who have decided not to leave the center which is supposed to close.

HONG KONG -- Hampered by poor weather, rescue workers pressed their search on Friday for the more than 100 people still missing after a ferry sank on Thursday off the cost of Papua New Guinea, officials said. A second full day of searching for survivors from the ferry, the MV Rabaul Queen, was drawing to a close with no signs of passengers, said Capt. Nurur Rahman, rescue coordinator for Papua New Guinea's National Maritime Safety Authority. Captain Rahman said no bodies had been found, and the official number of survivors remained at 238, unchanged since late Thursday night. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looks at the efforts of Papua New Guinea's government to end the decadelong rebellion on Bougainville island, while making efforts to reopen Panguna, one of the world's biggest copper mines which was forced to close the 1989 when the fighting began. How much copper was produced by the mine annually before the closure; How the copper is traded on the Australian Stock Exchange; Information on efforts to reopen the mine by successive governments.

Reports that on March 20, 1997 the Government of Papua New Guinea suspended its contract for mercenary soldiers. Reason for the suspension of the contract; Persons injured during protests over the use of foreign forces to overcome a rebellion on an island; Detailed information on the contract.

Announces that John Giheno was selected as the caretaker prime minister by the government of Papua New Guinea to replace Julius Chan who resigned. Background information on Giheno; Reason for Chan's resignation.