Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 16:37:25 +0100
Subject: M-G: Bougainville Update - 22/3/97 Part 3


PNG deal was contract to kill
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The Australian, March 22, 1997
------------------------------

By LEISA SCOTT, MARY-LOUISE O'CALLAGHAN and DON GREENLEES

MARCH 22: Official documents released yesterday prove mercenaries hired by
the Papua New Guinea Government were contracted primarily to fight
Bougainville rebels, despite repeated assurances by the Prime Minister, Sir
Julius Chan, that they were hired as military trainers.

Former defence commander Brigadier-General Jerry Singirok released the $US36
million  ($45.5 million) contract and renewed his calls for Sir Julius and
two senior ministers to resign to make way for a caretaker leadership when
Parliament resumes on Tuesday.

The contract authorises a "strike force" of 70 mercenaries to "conduct
offensive operations" aimed at securing the giant Bougainville copper mine
and "rendering the BRA militarily ineffective".

This completely contradicts Sir Julius, including assurances he gave to the
Prime Minister, John Howard, that the contract was essentially for training
and the mercenaries would not be engaged on the "frontline" on Bougainville.

As Port Moresby's streets returned to relative calm yesterday after two days
of rioting, Australian envoys flew back to Sydney after leaving the PNG
Government with a revised offer to organise and fund Bougainville peace
talks and increase civil and defence aid.

Senior sources said the Government had also actively considered plans for
Australian participation in a multinational peacekeeping force should the
PNG Government and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army agree.

Mr Howard said he considered the situation in PNG to still be "very
unstable" but acknowledged General Singirok had exercised a calming influence.

General Singirok, who was sacked on Tuesday, maintained pressure on the
Government, claiming PNG was in the middle of a "major constitutional crisis".

"Let you, the members of the public, judge for yourselves whether the Prime
Minister and his ministers have been telling you the truth all along," he
said after releasing the contract.

The Chan Government issued a statement last night accusing General Singirok
of mismanagement and misappropriation of funds.

It also alleged he had wilfully obstructed the past four months of police
investigations into the assassination of former Bougainville premier
Theodore Miriung.

General Singirok's hardline stand came as about 60 mercenaries were flown
out of the country, a decision forced on Sir Julius on Thursday after
widespread rioting and looting and growing signs of a military revolt.

The contract was signed by the PNG Deputy Prime Minister and Finance
Minister, Mr Chris Haiveta, and the chief executive of Sandline
International, Colonel Tim Spicer, on January 31 this year. It engages
Sandline initially for three months.

"Sandline is contracted to . . . conduct offensive operations in
Bougainville in conjunction with the PNG Defence Forces to render the BRA
militarily ineffective and repossess the Panguna mine," the contract says.

An inventory appendixed to the contract shows Sandline was due to provide at
least two Russian MI-24 and two MI-17 helicopters. These were to be fitted
with six 57mm rocket launchers and used to strike both rebel and unarmed
civilians on Bougainville, General Singirok said.

Under the terms of the contract, the 70 Sandline personnel were to be sworn
in as "special constables" of the PNG police force but retain "military
ranks commensurate with those they hold within the Sandline command
structure".

The general dodged questions yesterday of any threats if the three men did
not resign, saying legal clarification would be sought.

Flanked by dozens of armed soldiers at his home inside the Murray Barracks
compound, General Singirok maintained he was not in command of the defence
force and was simply a soldier with the rank of Brigadier-General. He denied
his Prime Minister-appointed replacement, Colonel Alfred Aikung, was under
house arrest.

General Singirok rejected Dr Chan's appointment of a Commission of Inquiry
into the Sandline issue on the grounds that both the Prime Minister, his
deputy and Defence Minister Mathias Ijape were "clearly implicated" in the
employment of the mercenaries.

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Our troops placed on PNG alert
==============================

The Age, Asian Online, 22 March 1997
------------------------------------

By KAREN MIDDLETON and LINDSAY MURDOCH

The Australian Defence Force has been put on stand-by to evacuate
Australians from Papua New Guinea if the violence and unrest escalates.

The move, revealed yesterday, came as PNG's sacked military commander,
Brigadier-General Jerry Singirok, set a new ultimatum for the Prime
Minister, Sir Julius Chan, to resign by Tuesday.

General Singirok also released a copy of a Government document contradicting
public assurances by Sir Julius that 70 mercenaries hired to assist in the
fight against rebels on the island of Bougainville would be used only as
military advisers.

The document - a contract to hire the mercenaries - stipulated that they
conduct offensive operations in conjuction with PNG troops, render rebels on
the island militarily ineffective and take control of the abandoned Panguna
copper mine. The men had the power to ``engage and fight hostile forces'',
the contract said.

The revelations came on another day of street violence in Port Moresby. In
one incident, a gang of about 20 men raided an apartment block that houses
several foreign diplomats.

Australia's Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, confirmed that the chief of the
Defence Force, General John Baker, had moved some sections of the force to
an increased state of readiness in case the situation in PNG required
Australian intervention.

But Mr Howard emphasised there was no suggestion any Australian forces would
be deployed to PNG, only that they may be needed to help evacuate
expatriates. there. He downplayed General Baker's determination as
``routine''.

A Defence Department spokesman later said the move to increased readiness
did not indicate any Government decision to deploy troops to PNG.

It came as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade upgraded its travel
advice on PNG, urging Australians to defer all non-essential travel to Port
Moresby until the difficulties there eased.

In Port Moresby, as security forces stopped crowds gathering on the streets,
General Singirok rejected a board of inquiry into the deal to hire
mercenaries from the London-based Sandline International, saying it could
not be impartial because Sir Julius was implicated in it. General Singirok
told journalists that PNG faced a ``major constitutional crisis'' because of
the refusal of Sir Julius, his deputy, Mr Chris Haiveta, and the Defence
Minister, Mr Mathias Ijape, to resign.

Sir Julius announced the board of inquiry on Thursday night in an attempt to
restore law and order after two days of rioting and looting in Port Moresby.

But General Singirok's stand will further fuel political pressure on Sir
Julius, who has already been forced to back down on plans for the mercenaries.

Amid angry scenes, 41 of the mercenaries were last night escorted to the
Port Moresby airport by soldiers loyal to General Singirok and deported,
despite the fact that Sir Julius had earlier this week ordered them
released. PNG soldiers booed and jeered them and yelled ``murderers'' as the
mostly black Africans boarded a flight to Hong Kong.

All of the mercenaries, except their leader, Mr Tim Spicer, are now believed
to have been deported. Mr Spicer is understood to be still under house
arrest in Port Moresby by troops who want him to be available to testify
about the Sandline contract.

Sir Julius late yesterday released a statement attacking General Singirok,
claiming he was under investigation over failure to account for $10 million
spent on a Bougainville offensive last year.

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Sandline given carte blanche to wage war
========================================

The Age, Asian Online, 22 March 1997
------------------------------------

By RACHEL GIBSON

Sandline International, the company contracted by Papua New Guinea to
restore peace to Bougainville, was hired to wage war on Bougainville and to
destroy the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, documents obtained by The Age
reveal.

In conflict with claims made by the PNG Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan,
that the company was employed to provide military training and logisitical
support only to PNG forces, a copy of the contract signed by the PNG
Government and Sandline sets out explicit military objectives. The contract,
signed on 31January, requires Sandline to ``conduct offensive operations''
in conjunction with the PNG defence forces; to ``render the BRA militarily
ineffective and (to) repossess the Panguna mine,'' closed in 1989.

The second aim is described in the document as the contract's ``primary
objective''.

The contract also requires Sandline to:

*Train the PNG Special Forces Unit in tactical skills specific to the
objective.

*Gather intelligence to support effective deployment and operations.

*Provide follow-up operational support to be specified and agreed between
the parties.

The Australian Government has always believed that mercenaries hired by
Sandline were brought to PNG to assassinate leaders of the secessionist
rebel army.

While continuing to maintain the men were hired primarily in an advisory
capacity, Sir Julius has refused to make the contract public.

The nine-page document, signed by a representative of the PNG Government and
a Mr Tim Spencer, OBE, for the London-based Sandline, says Sandline will be
paid $US30million for its services for three months, or until the ``primary
objective'' is achieved - whichever comes first.

Fifty per cent of the fee is to be paid upfront with the balance handed over
30 days after the first of the 70-strong ``strike force'' are deployed. The
contract effectively hands the company carte blanche, giving it full powers
over the demoralised PNG Defence Forces and waiving all permits and
approvals needed by the visiting mercenaries to carry out their objectives.

``Sandline's commanders will have such powers as are required to efficiently
and effectively undertake their given roles, including but not limited to
the powers to engage and fight hostile forces, repel attacks therefrom,
arrest any persons suspected of undertaking or conspiring to undertake a
harmful act, secure sovereign assets and territory, defend the general
population and proactively protect their own and state forces from any form
of aggression or threat,'' the contract says.

They should also train the PNG forces to engage in live fire contact, ambush
techniques, raiding drills and intelligence gathering, and to ``conduct such
ground, air and sea operations which are required to meet the primary
objective''.

Highlighting the PNG Government's sensitivity to criticism about the deal,
the document demands Sandline and its personnel (provided by South
Africa-based Executive Outcomes), maintain complete secrecy about their
engagement. It expressly forbids the company from acknowledging the
existence of the contract until the PNG Government has done so.

``Appropriate steps will be taken to prevent press reporting, both
nationally and internationally'' the contract says.

``If deemed necessary due to external interest, the State shall be
responsible for notifying and updating the international community,
including the United Nations and representatives of other Governments, at
the appropriate time of the nature of this contract and the underlying
intent to protect and keep safe from harm Papua New Guinea's sovereign
territory, its population, mineral assets and investing community,'' it says.

Sandline is recognised in the contract as a specialist in military and
security services of an operational, training and support nature,
particularly for situations of internal conflict.

Nevertheless, the contract compels the shadowy organisation to obey the
``laws and rules of engagement relating to armed conflict''.

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Mercenaries put grim deal in fake-heroic terms
==============================================

The Age, Asian Online, 22 March 1997
------------------------------------

By RACHEL GIBSON

``The state, engulfed in a state of conflict with the illegal and
unrecognised Bougainville Revolutionary Army, requires such external
military expertise to support its armed forces in the protection of its
sovereign territory and regain control over important national assets,
specifically the Panguna mine.'' So begins the contract with Sandline
International.

Sandline International, a London-based gun-for-hire specialising in military
and security services, was to achieve in three months what the Papua New
Guinean Defence Force has been unable to achieve in the 10 years since the
conflict began on the island of Bougainville. The objective was the routing
of the secessionist Bougainville rebel army.

For $US36 million ($A45.8 million), Sandline was to provide a total ``strike
force'' of 70 men, including helicopter and fixed-wing aircrew, engineers,
intelligence and equipment operatives, mission operators, ground and medical
support personnel.

They were to join a 16-man CATT team (command, administration and training)
which would establish home-base at PNG's Jackson Airport and the Jungle
Training Centre in Wewak one week after the first $US18 million installment
was made. Sandline would provide its own weapons, ammunition and equipment,
including helicopters and aircraft, electronic warfare equipment and
communications systems. Its troops, would bring their own US-pattern jungle
fatigues, boots and webbing.

The project coordinator, along with the strike force commander and his
senior intelligence office, would report directly to the Prime Minister, Sir
Julius Chan, the Defence Minister and the commander of the PNG defence
forces.

In return, the state would open all doors and waive all normal regulations
to allow the mercenaries to meet their contractual obligations ``without
hindrance''.

The mercenaries' primary objective was to render the Bougainville
Revolutionary Army ``militarily ineffective''. The contract would run for
three months or until the primary objective was acheived, whichever came
first.

Forty one of those men, believed to be the last remaining contingent of the
strike force apart from the its leader, Mr Tim Spicer, were yesterday
escorted to the Port Moresby airport by soldiers loyal to the sacked
military chief Brigadier-General Jerry Singirok and deported from PNG.

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Travellers warned to take care
==============================

The Age, Asian Online, 22 March 1997
------------------------------------

By KAREN MIDDLETON,
Canberra

Australians were yesterday advised to postpone non-urgent travel to the
Papua New Guinean capital, Port Moresby, amid continuing violence and
security problems.

The Federal Government upgraded its travel advice overnight on Thursday,
urging Australians to take particular care when travelling in PNG and
recommending against visits to the capital during the crisis.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade repeated its earlier warning
that ``due to the serious law and order problem, including a high incidence
of violent crime, Australians should exercise extreme care and maintain a
very high level of security awareness when travelling to PNG''.

The Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer, yesterday welcomed the news that
the PNG Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan, had suspended a contract with
Sandline International for the provision of mercenaries for deployment on
Bougainville. Some of the mercenaries have left PNG.

``It is obviously a positive development, so we see it as welcome news,'' Mr
Downer said on ABC radio.

``But it is important that this development is followed by a return to calm
and that civil authority is able to prevail in Port Moresby.''

A delegation sent to Port Moresby on behalf of the Prime Minister, Mr John
Howard, was last night returning to Australia after meetings with Sir
Julius. The chief emissary, the head of the Foreign Affairs Department, Mr
Philip Flood, was last night expected to brief Mr Howard.

Speaking after yesterday's Premiers' Conference, Mr Howard said there was
``every indication'' that the mercenaries were leaving PNG and that the
``reasonable alternatives'' he had proposed to resolve the unrest on
Bougainville remained on the table.

Mr Howard said the situation in Port Moresby appeared to be ``a little
calmer'', but added that he did not want to overemphasise that.

``It's obviously still very unstable, but the calming influence being
exercised by the former head of the defence force, General Singirok, is to
be welcomed,'' he said.

He said Australia took the internal stability of PNG very seriously, but
acknowledged that it was a sovereign country which had ``a very difficult
situation'' in Bougainville.

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Freedom hope for Briton as Papua mercenaries leave
==================================================

The Times, England, March 22, 1997
----------------------------------

BY NOEL PASCOE IN PORT MORESBY, ROGER MAYNARD IN SYDNEY AND MICHAEL EVANS

THE British leader of the foreign mercenaries in Papua New Guinea is likely
to be freed today after Brigadier-General Jerry Singirok, the dismissed
military chief, agreed to let him go.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Spicer, formerly of the Scots Guards, who was once
military assistant in Bosnia to General Sir Michael Rose, is due to be
handed over to Bob Low, the British High Commissioner in Port Moresby.

The mercenaries were hired by the Papua New Guinea Government on a reported
=A318 million contract to help to quell a rebellion on the island of
Bougainville. They were detained earlier this week by General Singirok, who
called for the overthrow of the Prime Minister. His sacking led to riots and
looting in Port Moresby.

As the deal was struck between General Singirok and Mr Low, the sacked
defence chief issued another ultimatum to Sir Julius Chan, the Prime
Minister. He told him to step down by Tuesday or face a parliamentary vote
of confidence.

In Canberra, John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister, confirmed that
troops were ready in case the situation in Port Moresby deteriorated. The
Australians were not preparing to help the Papua New Guinea police to
restore peace, but they could be used to evacuate Australians.

Sixty mercenaries, hired by Sir Julius to train the Papua New Guinea Defence
Force to end the nine-year secessionist Bougainville rebellion, left the
country for Hong Kong yesterday to jeers and insults from demonstrators. The
hiring of the soldiers, contracted by London-based Sandline International,
provoked the confrontation between Sir Julius and General Singirok, who
objected to their involvement in Bougainville.

The former defence chief yesterday released details of the contract with
Sandline International. He was involved in the negotiations. He said the
mercenaries would have been used as frontline fighters in Bougainville and
not merely as instructors, as the Prime Minister had stated.

The demonstrators who gathered at the airport to see off the mercenaries had
assumed that Colonel Spicer, the chief executive of Sandline International,
was among them. However, the company later said that he was still being
held. The High Commissioner spoke by telephone to Colonel Spicer yesterday.

Earlier, demonstrators gathered outside the British High Commission. Mr Low
reassured them that the mercenaries were leaving. Port Moresby was
relatively quiet after police put up roadblocks around the town to stop
rioters.

* Hong Kong: The mercenaries were surrounded by scores of police when they
arrived in Hong Kong, and immediately put on a delayed Cathay Pacific flight
to Johannesburg (Catherine Field writes). One of the mercenaries, a South
African, said they had been kept mainly in solitary confinement.

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British colonel still held by troops
====================================

Electronic Telegraph, England, Issue 666, Saturday 22 March 1997
----------------------------------------------------------------

By Richard Savill South-East Asia Correspondent

BRITISH diplomats were yesterday seeking the release of a former colonel in
the Scots Guards who is being held by army rebels in Papua New Guinea after
his arrival with a band of foreign mercenaries.

Lt Col Timothy Spicer, chief executive of Chelsea-based Sandline
International, remained in detention while 40 mercenaries, including a
fellow former British officer, left Papua New Guinea on a charter flght to
Hong Kong.

Lt Col Spicer, whose company was hired by the Papua New Guinea government to
help crush a long-running rebellion on the island of Bougainville, has been
detained for several days in a barracks on the outskirts of the capital,
Port Moresby.

The Foreign Office said last night: "He is still being detained and we are
seeking his release. It is not clear why he is still being held." Sir Julius
Chan, the Prime Minister, suspended the =A322.5 million mercenary operation
after three days of rioting and street demonstrations. Sandline denies that
its personnel are mercenaries.

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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

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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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