Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1997 13:16:04 -0500
Subject: M-G: Re: Bougainville Update - 28/2/97


>To: Sasha Baer <sashab-AT-magna.com.au>
>From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
>Subject: Re: Bougainville Update - 28/2/97
>
>>Title -- 476 BOUGAINVILLE: Opposition chiefs leap to govt aid
>>Date -- 27 February 1997
>>Byline -- Peter Niesi
>>Origin -- Niuswire
>>Source -- Post-Courier (PNG), 27/2/97
>>Copyright -- Post-Courier
>>Status -- Unabridged
>>-------------------
>>
>>OPPOSITION CHIEFS LEAP TO GOVT AID
>>
>>By Peter Niesi
>>
>>TWO Opposition leaders yesterday leaped to the defence of the Papua New
>>Guinean government against Australian "interference" over the alleged
>>mercenary issue.
>>
>>Opposition Leader Roy Yaki led the assault followed by Wewak MP Bernard
>>Narokobi who described as "totally unacceptable" Australia's continued
>>treatment of PNG "like its colony".
>>
>>Mr Yaki said that "the Australian government has gone too far in its
>>criticisms of a decision made by a government  of an independent state".
>>
>>"I am amazed and taken aback to learn that politicians from both sides of
>>the Australian Parliament have jointly lashed out at the PNG government for
>>the engagement of the Sandline International forces," he said.
>>
>>Mr Yaki said he might not agree with the way the "private government army"
>>had been hired by the government, but the Australian politicians - in
>>particular the Howard government - had no right to exert pressure or make
>>threatening overtures to PNG. 
>>
>>They were referring to media reports that the Australian Labor and National
>>parties are talking about a bipartisan parliamentary condemnation of PNG's
>>engagement of military trainers.
>>
>>It is alleged about 40 American and British advisers had been hired to wipe
>>out rebel leadership and rescue five hostages.
>>
>>PNG leaders say Sandline is a reputable outfit imported to train to train
>>and equip PNG soldiers and build up the force's capacity.
>>
>>Mr Yaki said the Australian attitude that they could pressure PNG because of
>>the aid money was interference and encroachment on PNG's sovereign rights.
>>
>>Mr Narokobi said Australia's reactions sounded like they were supporting the
>>BRA rebels.
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>Title -- 478 BOUGAINVILLE: Haiveta in defence of military help deal
>>Date -- 27 February 1997
>>Byline -- Peter Niesi
>>Origin -- Niuswire
>>Source -- Post-Courier (PNG), 27/2/97
>>Copyright -- Post-Courier
>>Status -- Abridged
>>-----------------
>>
>>HAIVETA IN DEFENCE OF MILITARY HELP DEAL
>>
>>By Peter Niesi
>>
>>DEPUTY Prime Minister Chris Haiveta last night said that Sandline
>>International was funded from 1997 Budget appropriations, from the Defence
>>amd Finance departments.
>>
>>But Mr Haiveta, who spoke from his home, was unable to give the break-down
>>or clarify effectively whether there had been any changes since the January
>>23 letter which the Post-Courier quoted from on Tuesday.
>>
>>The letter [reproduced in full by the Post-Courier with Haiveta's signature]
>>spoke of K33.6 million from the state's share of proceeds from Orogen
>>Minerals Ltd being used to fund the "Bougainville Initiative".
>>
>>He said the Post-Courier had a copy of an internal document "on which no
>>action had ever resulted".
>>
>>But he would not directly answer the questions as to whether he wrote the
>>letter or whether the letter or whether there had been superceding
>>instructions. he described all this as an "internal matter" and irrelevant.
>>
>>"The Post-Courier story completely lacks credence and was apparently based
>>on some leaked internal papers which had no standing or authority and on
>>which no action had ever resulted," Mr Haiveta said in a statement. 
>>
>>He was adamant that "the funding is coming out of the Budget" but not using
>>monbies from either the Orogen float proceeds, or from aid grants.
>>
>>He said that this was part of the K100 million committed to build the
>>Defence Force capacity that NEC endorsed in the "highly publicised" Vanimo
>>meeting last year.
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>SEPARATIST GUERILLAS IN P.N.G. LAY DOWN CHALLENGE TO MERCENARIES
>>===============================================================>>
>>Radio Australia, Thursday 27 February, 1997 (10:31pm AEDT)
>>----------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>The separatist Bougainville Revolutionary Army has challenged the Papua New
>>Guinea government to deploy mercenaries on the secessionist province.
>>
>>P-N-G's National Broadcasting Corporation says the rebel leadership issued
>>the challenge while preparing to counter any possible attacks involving the
>>foreign advisors or troops trained by them.
>>
>>Meanwhile, the company at the centre of the mercenary controversy, Sandline
>>International, has begun advising Port Moresby on the type of helicopter
>>gunships required for Bougainville operations.
>>
>>
>>Defence Minister, Mathias Ijape told Sean Dorney, the company had been hired
>>to help equip the defence force, but he was reluctant to go into details.
>>
>>"Sean, this is a top military secret and I'm not in a position, it's
>>national security, and I'm not in a position to tell you what we are
>>acquiring but suffice to say that they're involved in training and equipping
>>of our capabilities." "But I could assume that will involve
>>helicopters."That is a requirement that the Defence Force has been longing
>>for for a long, long time."
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>Australia asked to treat wounded PNG mercenaries 
>>===============================================>>
>>Sydney Monring Herald, Friday, February 28, 1997
>>------------------------------------------------
>>
>>By GREG ROBERTS
>>
>>Sandline International, the mercenaries company hired by the PNG Government,
>>has written to hospitals in Australia asking for details on the treatment of
>>"critically ill" patients.
>>
>>The letters are seen as a clear indication that foreign soldiers of fortune
>>might soon be on the frontline against the secessionist rebels on the island.
>>
>>Sandline wrote to hospitals in Cairns and Townsville last week asking for
>>details of procedures and costs for treating evacuees "as soon as possible".
>>
>>The Federal Government refused yesterday to give an assurance that injured
>>mercenaries would be allowed into Australia for treatment.
>>
>>The letter, by Dr P. van Rooyen, a Sandline medical officer, says the
>>company is preparing an "evacuation plan to neighbouring Australia in the
>>event where a critically ill patient cannot receive further medical
>>attention in PNG".
>>
>>It asks for the hospitals' 24-hour emergency services numbers and
>>information on procedures "in the event of a critically injured patient
>>being transferred to your hospital at any time of the day or night".
>>
>>The London-based Sandline is a subsidiary of Executive Outcomes, which
>>claims it provides only advice and training to governments. However, its
>>mercenaries have been on the frontline in Angola and Sierre Leone.
>>
>>The PNG Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan, has admitted that Sandline
>>employees will be operating on Bougainville, but insists they will not be
>>involved in fighting and will play only a "backroom" role.
>>
>>However, Dr van Rooyen's letter suggests the company anticipates casualties
>>among its employees.
>>
>>The Queensland Minister for Health, Mr Mike Horan, said the two hospitals
>>had written to Sandline saying that any evacuees would have to get
>>immigration clearance from the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby.
>>
>>If this were given, the hospitals would treat the wounded in an emergency
>>and charge the company or the PNG Government.
>>
>>Mr Horan said he had directed the hospitals to refer future correspondence
>>from Sandline to the Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Mr David Irvine.
>>
>>Mr Irvine said any application for a temporary medical visa would be treated
>>on its merits, but advice could be sought from Canberra in cases of "extreme
>>sensitivity".
>>
>>Australia has approved such visas in the past for injured PNG police
>>officers and soldiers.
>>
>>The Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer, said it was
>>hypothetical to speculate on whether visas for wounded mercenaries would be
>>granted.
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>Contact Details:
>>===============>>
>>Vikki John (BFM)     +61-2-9558-2730   email: V.john-AT-uts.edu.au
>>Moses Havini (BIG)   +61-2-9804-7632
>>Max Watts            +61-2-9818-2343   email: MWATTS-AT-fisher.biz.usyd.edu.au
>>(Journalist specialising in Bougainville, East Timor and West Papua issues)
>>
>>Bougainville Freedom Movement
>>P.O. Box 134, Erskineville, NSW 2043, Australia
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>Regards Sasha
>>
>>Sasha Baer
>>International Amateur Radio Network
>>Bougainville Freedom Movement
>>Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol
>>Mobile:    +61-0419-433-702
>>sashab-AT-magna.com.au
>>http://www.magna.com.au/~sashab/
>>
>>
>>



     --- from list marxism-general-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---