Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 19:52:20 +0100
Subject: M-G: Bougainville Update - 10/3/97 Part 1


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>From: Sasha Baer <sashab-AT-magna.com.au>
>Subject: Bougainville Update - 10/3/97 Part 1
>
>Title -- 488 BOUGAINVILLE: Govt bid to buy Panguna mine
>Date -- 3 March 1997
>Byline -- None
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- Post-Courier (PNG), 3/2/97
>Copyright -- Post-Courier
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>GOVT BID TO BUY PANGUNA MINE
>
>THE PAPUA New Guinea Government wants to buy control of the Panguna mine on
>Bougainville, Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan announced at the weekend.
>
>The buyout bid is the latest in developments on Bougainville in the past few
>days.
>
>Deputy Prime Minister Chris Haiveta confirmed last night he had gone to
>Hongkong to set terms of reference for brokers for the buyout.
>
>Mr Haiveta rejected speculation that contracted "military advisers" Sandline
>International would be getting shares in Panguna as part payment for their
>services.
>
>Aside from Bougainville, Sir Julius is also under pressure personally with
>allegations in a Melbourne newspaper that his family company is a major
>shareholder in a security company being investigated for alleged breaches of
>labour and other laws.
>
>In major moves on Bougainville:
>
>*  DEFENCE Force chief-of-staff Jack Tuat said he had no confirmation that
>up to 17 mercenaries had landed at six points on Bougainville on Saturday.
>
>* AMERICA and Australia warned their citizens to get out of Bougainville
>after BRA leader Francis Ona's threat that "unauthorised foreigners" would
>be shot on sight.
>
>* AUSTRALIA and New Zealand counselled strongly against the use of
>mercenaries on Bougainville.
>
>* QUEENSLAND Premier Bob Borbridge ordered that Queensland hospitals must
>not treat any injured mecenaries hired by PNG.
>
>* TWO Australian news teams, trying to cover the mercenaries story, were
>chased near Wewak on Friday and had cameras seized by troops.
>
>Rabaul-based reporter Joe Maeva said last night there was still no
>independent confirmation of the "mercenary landing" reported by the BRA.
>
>Rebel sources said the landings were at Taurato island, Buin, Loloho,
>Moratai, Tonu and Wakunai in groups of 20 to 30 men.
>
>Sir Julius said the government was approaching mining giant RTZ-CRA with a
>view to purchasing its 53.9 per cent interest and regaining control of the
>Panguna mine.
>
>He said the original claims over the mine were at the heart of the
>Bougainville crisis and were critical to a fair and lasting solution.
>
>"These are the root causes of our international battles and the reason for
>the loss of so many lives," he said.
>
>Weekend reports from Australia indicate that PNG has approached RTZ-CRA
>through Hongkong brokers Jardine Fleming.
>
>A spokesman for RTZ-CRA said from Melbourne yesterday the company had asked
>for a firm proposal, but had not yet received one.
>
>The PNG government owns 19 per cent of the mine and the rest is owned by
>minority shareholders.
>
>The RTZ-CRA spokesman said the company did not think the hiring of
>mercenaries would solve the Bougainville problem. 
>
>Sir Julius moved to sort out the media spotlight [on] "the military training
>initiatives being undertaken" by the Defence Force.
>
>(Editor's note: The Post-Courier also ran on the front page a photograph
>from the Weekend Australian of PNG hostages held captive by the BRA. The
>caption said: "Hostages under guard ... three of the five government
>military men being watched by BRA guards in a jungle camp."
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title -- 489 BOUGAINVILLE: Questions over Panguna mine
>Date -- 3 March 1997
>Byline -- Editorial
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- Post-Courier (PNG), 3/3/97
>Copyright -- Post-Courier
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>Post-Courier editorial, 3 March 1997:
>QUESTIONS OVER PANGUNA MINE
>
>THE Papua New Guinea government's policy statement on the Panguna mine
>released by Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan raises serious issues about the
>government's moves towards solving the Bougainville crisis.
>
>Sir Julius said he had been forced by media speculation to make a premature
>announcement that the government was approaching RTZ-CRA with a view to
>purchasing its full interest and regaining control of the Panguna mine.
>
>And Deputy Prime Minister Chris Haiveta separately told this newspaper that
>there was absolutely no truth to the inferences being cast that the
>so-called mercenaries, Sandline International, and its sub-contractors,
>Executive Outcomes, were being paid off, at least partly, with equity in a
>government-owned Panguna mine.
>
>Thank heavens for one and all that Mr Haiveta is so clearly putting down
>that rumor.
>
>Because if there was at any stage any truth to it, it would have been one of
>the most disastrous ploys in political history.
>
>Can you imagine the people of Bougainville, even the most ardent of BRA
>critics, going along with hired foreign mercenaries being allowed to
>assassinate their fellow Bougainvilleans and then those assassins being
>given a slice of the mine that brought the island to its knees?
>
>Now, the government says that it is preparing to regain control of the mine
>with the hope of working out a compensation and reconstruction package that
>will please the landowners, the provincial government and all the people of
>Bougainville.
>
>The government wants to continue the peace moves, including a stop to all
>hostilities, weapon surrenders and release of hostages, plus "an unequivocal
>statement rescinding all revolutionary and secessionist intentions" by the
>rebels.
>
>Le us pray that something worthy eventuates.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title -- 491 BOUGAINVILLE: Union chiefs warn of threats to PNG democracy
>Date -- 7 March 1997
>Byline -- Peter Niesi
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- Post-Courier (PNG), 7/3/97
>Copyright -- Post-Courier
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>More criticism of mercenary involvement on Bougainville
>UNION CHIEFS WARN OF THREATS TO PNG DEMOCRACY, STABILITY
>
>By Peter Niesi
>
>THE PAPUA New Guinea government's involvement of mercenaries in the
>Bougainville issue has given [the country] an image as a nation of "outlaws
>who support terrorist activities", according to the PNG Trade Union Congress.
>
>"The action is repugnant and is an outright affront to the democratic cause
>and internal stability," the congress said in a statement issued after its
>management board meeting last week.
>
>But it welcomed the government's announcement of moves to buy back the
>Panguna mine.
>
>The TUC said mercenaries had the reputation of being international outlaws
>and terrorists.
>
>"Their loyalty is to the dollar," it said. "A mercenary force could turn
>against the government, or even the soldiers they purportedly train, at any
>time. Their involvement in PNG dubs us outlaws and supportive of terrorist
>activities."
>
>The congress called on the government to immediately withdraw all paid
>mercenaries from PNG; resolve to never resort to the use of mercenaries;
>commit to negotiation and reconciliation as the way to resolve the
>Bougainville conflict; and assure people that democracy in PNG is not at
stake.
>
>Meanwhile, Melanesian Solidarity for Justice, Peace and Dignity (Melsol),
>together with the University of PNG North Solomons Students Association,
>said there was no guarantee of lasting results being achieved by the use of
>hired mercenaries.
>
>"We believe the decision to be unsound as it does not guarantee peace," said
>Melsol spokesman John Kawowo.
>
>"It's a waste of public monies and will in our view aggravate rather than
>resolve the crisis."
>
>North Solomons Students' Association president Joseph Bisiai said the
>negative effects would far outweigh positive results.
>
>The negative aspects he cited included endangering the lives of innocent
>Bougainvilleans as well as those of the five security forces members being
>held hostage at Laguai in Buin, South Bougainville.
>
>"The only meanigful way towards a mutual and lasting good relationship
>remains that of open and serious dialogue," he said.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title -- 495 BOUGAINVILLE: K24m transferred overseas
>Date -- 8 March 1997
>Byline -- Neville Choi
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- The Independent (PNG), 7/3/97
>Copyright -- The Independent
>Status -- Abridged
>-----------------
>
>K24m TRANSFERRED OVERSEAS
>... as Pato takes Chan,
>state to court
>
>By Neville Choi
>
>ABOUT K24 million (US$18 million) was transferred out of Papua New Guinea
>last night from the account of Roadco from the PNG Banking Corporation,
>after a private lawyer, Rimbink Pato, took the state to court over the hire
>of "mercenaries".
>
>According to reliable sources, the money was the remaining balance of
>payment for the international security advisers hired by Prime Minister Sir
>Julius Chan to be used for Bougainville and other security related
activities.
>
>The K24 million is believed to be part of the K36 million to be spent by the
>government in paying Sandline International.
>
>The Independent could not get anyone from the government to confirm this
>before going to press.
>
>Mr Pato pointed out the fact that the money spent on the foreign military
>advisers is just over half of the budget allocations for the PNG Defence
>Force for 1997.
>
>He said the government saw fit to spend K36 million on hiring foreign
>mercenaries when its own Defence Force remains "ill-equipped, many soldiers
>still need to receive their high risk allowances and families of dead
>soldiers and police personnel still need to be adequately compensated".
>
>"Has the government no faith in its own defence force?" he asked.
>
>He said the money could be better spent on compensating the country's
>Defence Force.
>
>A full hearing of the lawsuit against the government will be heard on
>Wednesday next week. The government's contract with Sandline International
>may be nullified if the government is found guilty of breaching the
>constitution in the court challenge.
>
>In a letter to Sir Julius, the Individual and Community Rights Advocacy
>Forum (ICRAF), [which is also bringing a legal action against the
>government], stated that the government decision is "illegal and not
>provided for" by any PNG laws.
>
>"Any decision to hunt down or kill hardcore BRA leaders or any BRA members,
>or for that matter anyone on Papua New Guinea, would be in breach of the
>constitution, in particular, sections 35 - Right to Life, and 37 - Protecton
>of the Law," the letter to the prime minister dated February 24 read.
>
>Director of ICRAF, Powes Parkop, said the only legal police or military
>force that can operate in PNG is the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and
>the PNG Defence Force.
>
>ICRAF has further described the decision as "politically wrong" for the
>government to assume that the continuation of the rebellion on Bougainville
>is due to the existence of so-called "hard core" BRA and that their
>elimination would bring an end to the rebellion.
>
>ICRAF claims that the policy could result in the emergence of a more "hard
>core" BRA leadership.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Title -- 492 BOUGAINVILLE: Injunction bid adjourned
>Date -- 7 March 1997
>Byline -- Garone Vere
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- The National (PNG), 7-9/3/97
>Copyright -- The National
>Status --Abridged
>----------------
>
>PATO'S PLEA IS TURNED DOWN
>Court adjourns suit against state to Wednesday
>
>By Garona Vere
>
>PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea's National Court yesterday declined to grant
>any interim orders to nullify the state's engagement of the commercial
>private military company Sandline International.
>
>"I will not make any restraining orders against the defandants for the time
>being," Mr Justice Salika ruled after hearing submissions from the
>respective counsels.
>
>Intending political candidate and private lawyer, Rimbink Pato on Wednesday
>filed an originating summons in court on grounds that the engagement of the
>commercial private military company, which her termed as "mercenary", was
>unconstitutional and tantamount to raising am unauthorised force against the
>people. 
>
>The writ had named Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan and his deputy and Finance
>Minister Chris Haiveta, and the state as defendants.
>
>Meanwhile, the East Sepik provincial government yesterday said it will seek
>a court injunction to stop Sandline International from conducting military
>training for PNGDF soldiers in the jungles of Urimo.
>
>East Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare said he has asked his provincial
>executive to take legal proceedings against the engagement of Sandline.
>
>In the capital today, local human rights watchdog Individual and Community
>Rights Advocacy Forum (ICRAF) will also challenge in court the government's
>decision to hire Sandline.
>
>Mr Pato is seeking a total of seven declarations by the court to nullify the
>engagement of Sandline International, stopping the use of K33 million
>earmarked for the exercise and carrying out of any deals with the contracted
>company or the use of the money.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title -- 496 BOUGAINVILLE: Mercenary contract challenged
>Date -- 8 March 1997
>Byline -- Staff Reporters
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- Uni Tavur (PNG), 7/3/97
>Copyright -- Uni Tavur
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>Staff Reporters
>
>The South African mercenary company hired to intervene on Bougainville is
>facing pressure to curb its operations at home while legal challenges are
>being filed in  Papua New Guinea.
>
>Executive Outcomes, the controversial "corporate soldier" company
>subcontracted by Sandline International, is being targeted by the Mandela
>Government and Canada with draft legislation to rein in its operations.
>
>A PNG constitutional lawyer claims the Government has breached the
>constitution in its 'secret' funding of the mercenaries. The Individual and
>Community Rights Advocacy Forum is filing an injunction in the National
>Court today challenging the Government's actions.
>
>This follows a similar action by private lawyer Rimbink Pato whose lawsuit
>was heard yesterday.
>
>Eric Kwa, a law lecturer at the University of PNG, said the government had
>the right to enter any commercial activity.
>
>But it had breached section 209 of the constitution which requires public
>spending to be controlled by  Paliament through the Budget.
>
>"What we are told is that the government used K34 million, which is the
>government's profit from the Orogen Minerals float, to hire the Sandline
>International company. The money was not budgeted for in the 1997 Budget,"
>Mr Kwa said.
>
>"We are told the company has come to train soldiers to eliminate the BRA
>leaders which is a potential breach of section 35 which talks about the
>right to life," he said.
>
>Mr Kwa said the BRA leaders were citizens of  PNG and they would be
>protected by the constitution. 
>
>"If the Government wants to involve the company to kill its own people then
>this should be discouraged," Mr Kwa said.
>
>"The Government should not be encouraged to have secret negotiations like
>this. Instead, it should be transparent."
>
>Reports from South Africa said the  Mandela Government wanted to curb the
>activities of Executive Outcomes, the mercenary company hired by Sandline.
>Canada was also considering legislative curbs.
>
>"At least two of its senior executives have been identified as former
>members of the Civil Cooperation Bureau (CCB)," said the Weekly Mail and
>Guardian. "The activities of the CCB during the apartheid era have still to
>be unravelled, but it has been widely described as a state assassination
squad."
> 
>Politics lecturer Lawrence Sause criticised Australia because while it
>helped train the Indonesian military, it had refused to help PNG +so why are
>they complaining?"
>
>"Sir Julius Chan has done more than all the governments put together to find
>solutions to the Bougainville crisis," he added.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title -- 493 BOUGAINVILLE: Choppers top army refit list
>Date -- 7 March 1997
>Byline -- Wally Hiambohn
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- Post-Courier (PNG), 7-9/3/97
>Copyright -- Post-Courier
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>CHOPPERS TOP ARMY REFIT LIST
>Special unit to get $US28m of hardware
>
>By Wally Hiambohn
>
>THE Papua New Guinea government, through Sandline International, is about to
>buy six high-powered helicopters to boost its military strength on
Bougainville.
>
>A highly placed source yesterday that the helicopters, most likely
>Russian-made, tested and proven, would be in Wewak and within the next two
>weeks.
>
>And in the other prong of its two-tier approach to the crisis, the
>government is considering buying outright control of the Panguna mine and
>delivering a substantial number of free shares to landowners and other
>Bougainvilleans.
>
>Deputy Prime Minister Chris Haiveta confirmed that proposal last night. he
>said the mine's major owner, Conzinc Riotinto, had agreed to negotiate a
>sale price and the PNG cabinet on Wednesday had given approval for funds to
>be secured and for talks to begin with CRA.
>
>The helicopters, with the capacity to operate long range and to be used as
>gunships and troop carriers, will cost most of a total of US$28 million
>which the government is spending on equipment for the Defence Force.
>
>That money is part of $US33 million being spent on hiring Sandline
>International to train and equip the PNGDF which is fighting a tough
>guerrilla war against the secessionist Bougainville Revolutionary Army.
>
>Sandline International has already purchased and brought in planeloads of
>high-tech fighting weaponry to add to the PNGDF's firepower.
>
>The planes which brought in the weapons, including mortars, machineguns and
>other light but powerful guns, had been mistakenly reported to be carrying
>foreign mercenaries, the source said.
>
>He insisted, however, that there were no fighting mercenaries in the
>country, not even on Bougainville.
>
>There were only 40 trainers, now based at Wewak's Moem barracks and giving
>intense military drills and exercises to a select group of elite soldiers
>known as the Special Forces Unit to be deployed on Bougainville.
>
>The Deputy Prime Minister, Defence Minister Mathias Ijape and Maprik MP Sir
>Pita Lus visited the training site at Moem yesterday and tested some of the
>new weaponry. They came away deeply impressed.
>
>Mr Haiveta could not be drawn into discussing the helicopters purchase. he
>was only able to confirm that $US28 million was being spent on military
>hardware and equipment.
>
>After yesterday's tests, when the three leaders were given the opportunity
>to fire some of the guns, Mr Haiveta said the enemy could not now "hide
>behind trees" as the guns now in the PNGDF's possession could penetrate
>through even large and tough trees.
>
>"Now you can't even hide behind a tree to escape being shot," he said.
>
>Sir Pita said the sub-machineguns he fired were powerful, yet extremely
>light and easy to handle.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title -- 498 BOUGAINVILLE: Mercenaries blunder prolongs the agony 
>Date -- 9 March 1997
>Byline -- Editorial
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- Uni Tavur (PNG), 7/3/97
>Copyright -- Uni Tavur
>Status -- Abridged
>-------------------
>
>Uni Tavur editorial, 7 March 1997:
>MERCENARIES BLUNDER PROLONGS THE AGONY
>
>Hiring of mercenaries for a Bougainville "surgical strike" isn't going to
>help solve the eight-year-old war which has already taken the lives of
>thousands of civilians, soldiers and Bougainville Revolutionary Army rebels.
> 
>Maybe the Government thinks it made the right choice by engaging
>"mercenaries", or  special ops +trainers+, but it only looked superficially
>at the repercussions. It never thought of the five hostages still being held
>captive by the rebels.
> 
>After learning of the mercenaries plan, the rebels have moved the hostages
>further into the jungle where no one could determine their safety.
>
>The Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan, says the mercenaries will be involved
>only in training and equipping the PNGDF soldiers and will not be going into
>the frontline.
> 
>Reports from Cairns Base Hospital in Northern Queensland, however, state
>that Sandline International has made inquiries about handling casualties
>from fighting between the rebels and the mercenaries. 
>
>So what is the guarantee that these mercenaries will not be involved in the
>frontline when they are are making reservations for hospital beds for their
>casualties? With the economic state of the country going downhill, the K33.6
>million would have been better invested in the country's health and
>education sectors rather than sponsoring a war on Papua New Guineans.
> 
>As pointed out by the assassinated Premier Theodore Miriung of the
>Bougainville Transitional Government, the barrel of the gun will never solve
>the crisis. 
>
>For sure, the Government will face bitter international criticism until it
>changes its mind over the hiring of mercenaries. 
>
>The Government should have looked at other avenues in solving the crisis
>rather than hiring foreigners. Instead of helping solve the tragedy of
>Bougainville, it is prolonging it.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title -- 499 BOUGAINVILLE: Chan government lacks transparency
>Date -- 9 March 1997
>Byline -- Editorial
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- The Independent (PNG), 7/3/97
>Copyright -- The Independent
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>The Independent editorial, 7 March 1997:
>CHAN GOVERNMENT LACKS TRANSPARENCY
>
>THE CURRENT government of Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan and Chis Haiveta is
>not a transparent government.
>
>Its actions since it came into power has left a lot of questions unanswered.
>For instance, two that would come to mind immediately would be:
>
>* The Cairns Conservatory purchase: Where are the results of three separate
>investigations into the K18 million purchase of the building in Cairns,
>Australia (which the state would now be lucky to get K1 million if it
>decides to sell)? The deal involved [a] very senior government minister and
>almost everyone knows who was involved.
>
>* The Poreporena freeway: How was the Poreporena freeway deal struck?
>Documents obtained by The Independent show that the original contract was
>for a four-lane freeway from the container terminal at the Port Moresby
>wharf to the New Jackson's Airport terminal at a cost of K65 million. That
>allowed for a profit margin of 24 pe cent of K15.6 million - at that time K1
>was US$1. The renegotiated contract for the two-lane arterial road from the
>container terminal to the new airport terminal costs about K100 million.
>Where is the extra money being spent?
>
>And the government acted questionably again in the "mercenary" hire issue.
>The government has left a lot of questions  unanswered, creating more
>suspicion in the controversial hire of international security firm Sandline
>International for a reported K33 million.
>
>When  the country first learnt of the government's decision to hire Sandline
>International the people had mixed feelings. There were a good number who
>actually supported the government's action. The Bougainville crisis has gone
>on long enough; let's put a stop to it by whatever means, seemed to be their
>attitude, regardless of the possible breaches of the constitution.
>
>But the reported transferring of K24 million out of the PNG Banking
>Corporation last night, a day after private lawyer Rimbink Pato and a
>non-governmental organisation, ICRAF, instituted court proceedings against
>Sir Julius, Mr Haiveta and the state, simply stinks. 
>
>Pato and ICRAF must be commended for taking such a position for and on
>behalf of the people of this country. Something is really wrong if citizens
>take it upon themselves  and, using their own resources, challenge the
>government of the day in court.
>
>Sir Julius has got to tell the people why he had K33 million transferred
>into a company which may no longer be operating. He has got to tell the
>people the real reasons behiond the hire of the "mercenaries". We had
>earlier reports that K20 million was transferred out earlier, Then another
>K20 million was reportedly transferred out of the country last night. Sir
>Julius has got to tell us just how much it will cost this country for the
>hire of the "mercenaries".
>
>This move is highly suspicious, especially on the eve of our national
>elections and many concerned citizens are raising this concern.
>
>This is a democratic country. Our government is for the people and by the
>people. Sir Julius has the obligation to tell his people just what is
going on.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>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/
>
>
>


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