Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 07:12:56 +0100 (MET)
From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
Subject: M-I: BOUGAINVILLE UPDATE 9/1/97 No.315


>From: "Vikki John" <VIKKI-AT-lexsun.law.uts.edu.au>
>Organization:  Faculty Of Law, Uni. Of Tech., Syd.
>To: Bougainville.Updates-AT-lexsun.law.uts.edu.au
>Date:          Fri, 10 Jan 1997 09:54:28 GMT-1000
>Subject:       BOUGAINVILLE UPDATE 9/1/97 No.315
>Reply-To: v.john-AT-uts.edu.au
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>Priority: urgent
>
>The Bougainville Interim Government
>Media Statement - 315. Thursday 9 January 1997
>
>PNG MUST WITHDRAW ALL ITS ARMED FORCES FROM 
>BOUGAINVILLE, OR FIGHTING WILL NEVER END.
>BTG LEADERS CALLED TO CO-OPERATE TOWARDS PEACE 
>ON BOUGAINVILLE OR RESIGN FROM BTG.
>
>BOUGAINVILLE:  The President of the Bougainville Interim Government 
>Mr Francis ONA has reiterated the popular call, including from PNG Leaders
>such as Sir Michael Somare for the PNG Military to be totally withdrawn from
>Bougainville including its Outer Islands. This is if Peace is to be 
achieved between 
>Bougainville and Papua New Guinea in 1997.
>
>He said the BRA like all Bougainvilleans long for Peace and are committed to 
>achieving it as soon as the Papua New Guinea military, to be replaced by an 
>International Peace Keeping Force, is pulled out of Bougainville.
>
>The Chiefs of Darenai, Central Bougainville, made a state visit to the 
President 
>Mr Francis Ona last week appealing to the BRA to protect the civilian 
>population from the marauding pro-PNG Resistance who are heavily armed by 
>the Papua New Guinea Government. And in the PNG Military's name are 
>harassing and executing civilians wherever they are found -  as in the case 
of a
>civilian who was killed by the Resistance last week while collecting coconut.
>
>Mr Ona said the call by leader of the Resistance Mr Sam Akoitai ( who has his 
>own evil plans ), for the PNGDF to remain on Bougainville, and unfortunately 
>supported by the new BTG (Bougainville Transitional Government) 
>Premier Mr Gerad Sinato, is in bad faith and taste. 
>These so-called leaders are clearly showing that they have no faith in 
their own 
>people, tradition and culture for the resolving of their own 
problems/disagreements 
>in their own Bougainville way.
>
>If they can not lead then they should resign from their present positions with 
>BTG immediately. 
>
>I want to assure the Nation that there won't and will never be any 
back-lash from 
>the BRA to its own people. This is not 1991 but 1997.
>
>The President of BIG and Supreme Commander of the BRA states that the BRA 
>of today is a very different force. It is well disciplined, trained and 
operates 
>under disciplined rank. It has developed remarkably well from the separate 
groups 
>that were initially formed by civilian recruits in 1989 to 1990 who had no 
training 
>in United Nations Human Rights Conventions.
>
>The BRA forces have undergone regular training on human rights conventions, 
>international human rights law, etc.., from their BIG Officers over the 
past 8 years; 
>who in turn have undergone such training on human rights issues in 
institutions in
>Australia, the Philippines, Bangkok and in Geneva, Switzerland.
>
>" I am once again calling for the support of the BTG Premier Mr Gerad Sinato, 
>Mr Sam Akoitai, Resistance Chairman to unite with me and the people of 
>Bougainville to forge peace and justice in 1997. For this to grow we must 
first of
>all see the total withdrawal of the PNG Military from Bougainville; but, 
that such
>a vacuum be filled by an International Peace Keeping Team under United Nations 
>mandate and supervision", concluded Mr Ona from Bougainville.
>
>Contact Mr Moses Havini on Telephone:  +(61-2) 9804 7632 Sydney Australia.
> 
>
>
>
>
>
>
>





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