4-1-2008

WARNING FOR STUDENTS STUDYING OVERSEAS

Manager of the Cook Islands Government Human Resources Department, Frances Topa has issued warning to local students to take care when they are overseas studying. She was talking to a group yesterday who will leave soon to study at overseas instutions. Topa told them that they must ensure contact with each other and to let each other know when they are going out on their own. She expressed her concern after a report of an alleged assault and rape of a young Cook Islands woman on the University of the South Pacific campus in Suva, Fiji last year. Topa reminded them that the political situation in Fiji is still a heated one and left students vulnerable to any changes in the city. Last year another Cook Islander who was privately funded at the USP was allegedly raped at a family home during a break-in of their house. While the on-campus case is understood to be still under investigation by Fiji Police, its also understood an arrest has been made in relation to the latter. Source: Govmedia