Administrator to head Cocos Islands

Darwin, Australia - The Rudd government will appoint an administrator to help smooth tensions on the tiny Indian Ocean outpost of Cocos (Keeling) Islands after a breakdown in relations between the majority Cocos Malay population and senior public servants from the mainland.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O`Connor was on the islands yesterday for a series of crisis meetings after The Australian last month revealed widespread anger over native language bans and the alleged underpayment of Cocos Malay workers.

Mr O`Connor told locals an administrator - the most senior government appointee on an external territory - would be announced for the islands soon, ending more than 18 months without one.

While the shire and the local co-operative have since agreed they both owe their workers back pay, the shire is sticking to a workplace ban on the speaking of Cocos Malay.

Shire chief executive Michael Simms has previously said he felt it was discourteous of the shire`s 23 Cocos Malay staff to speak their language in front of him and the other two non-Cocos Malay staff of the shire.

In a letter to the workers` union representative on August 14, Mr Simms wrote: “In the past, the staff have spoken Cocos Malay when they have intended to insult the person being spoken about. Staff have confirmed this, and it is not an environment to be encouraged as the outcome is divisiveness and not in the interest of all staff.”

Tensions peaked between Muslim and non-Muslim residents when a sign of support for the Cocos Malays new advocacy group POPK was vandalised to read: “We Support PORK.”

Canberra`s commitment to the Cocos Islands is underpinned by a UN-sanctioned vote in 1984, when the Cocos Malays voted for full integration with Australia.

In return, Australia promised to respect the Cocos Malays culture and to increase the islanders` standards of living and wages to the mainland equivalents.

However, an economic report commissioned by the Attorney-General`s Department indicates unemployment among the island`s population of 557 people could be as high as 65 per cent.

But the island`s four planned projects, including a resort for Muslim visitors from Southeast Asia, had the potential to create just 79 jobs. Paige Taylor

Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au
Photo: http://uncommonlives.naa.gov.au

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