Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 10:29:44 -0500
From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
Subject: M-NEWS: Bougainville Update - 28/3/97 Part 1


>Delivered-To: malecki-AT-algonet.se
>Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 18:54:40 +1000
>To: (Recipient list suppressed)
>From: Sasha Baer <sashab-AT-magna.com.au>
>Subject: Bougainville Update - 28/3/97 Part 1
>
>Australia welcomes latest developments in PNG
>============================================>
>Radio Australia, Wednesday 26 March, 1997 (7:25pm AEDT)
>-------------------------------------------------------
>
>The Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, says the political
>developments in Port Moresby today were part of the constitutional process.
>
>He says they show that the P-N-G constitution is working.
>
>"Well the most satisfactory outcome for Papua New Guinea is really
>three-fold. First of all that the mercenaries should be out of the country
>and they are out of the country. Secondly, and obviously related to that,
>there should be no new military operation on Bougainville. And thirdly that
>the Constitutional processes in PNG are seen to work and remain firmly in
>place".
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>BRA Leader says he's willing to negotiate with new PNG PM
>========================================================>
>Radio Australia, Wednesday 26 March, 1997 (7:25pm AEDT)
>-------------------------------------------------------
>
>The Bougainville Revolutionary Army leader, Frances Ona, says he is prepared
>to negotiate with Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan's replacement.
>
>But he insists that any negotiations about the future of Bougainville should
>take place on the island.
>
>Speaking by radio phone, Mr Ona said the unrest in Papua New Guinea was a
>warning to future leaders if they intended to rule by the gun:
>
>"My terms are that people on the island must be given total right and
>freedom to speak and that is under that constitution of Papua New Guinea,
>people have the right to speak with their own rights, and so this means that
>people must give up freedom and not by under the barrel of a gun where
>previously has been done".
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>PNG Prime Minister stepping aside over mercenary issue
>=====================================================>
>Radio Australia, Wednesday 26 March, 1997 (7:26pm AEDT)
>-------------------------------------------------------
>
>The Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan, has stepped down to
>defuse the crisis facing his country.
>
>Speaking in parliament, Sir Julius said he would also direct Deputy Prime
>Minister, Chris Haiveta, and Defence Minister, Mathias Ijape, to step down
>until the conclusion of a government appointed inquiry into the controvesial
>hiring of mercenary troops.
>
>The report is expected in about three weeks, but Sir Julius said he was
>stepping down until at least the next election.
>
>The poll is due on June the 14th, but Sir Julius said he would push for it
>to be brought forward.
>
>Sir Julius said he would ask the cabinet within 24 hours to appoint an
>acting Prime Minister to carry on with a caretaker government until the
>election.
>
>The Prime Minister's announcement followed an army revolt and a week of
>rioting, looting and street demonstrations.
>
>The unrest was prompted by a decision to award a 36-million dollar contract
>to Sandline International to provide mercenaries for operations against
>secessionists on Bougainville island.
>
>He said the pressures the mutinous army had put his government under for
>nine days were against the principle of a stable democracy, which was why he
>had resisted demands for his resignation for so long.
>
>Sir Julius said he believed he had taken the right course to preserve peace and
>order.
>
>When he made his announcement it was greeted with a huge roar from some
>two-thousand people gathered outside parliament house.
>
>Troops demanding the Prime Minister's resignation and angered over his
>recent sacking of the army commander, Brigadier-General Jerry Singirok, last
>night refused to allow about 100 MPs out of parliament after they had
>rejected a motion against Sir Julius.
>
>Another motion was to have been moved by opposition MPs today, but Sir
>Julius made his announcement beforehand.
>
>The Governor-General, Sir Wiwa Korowi, has called on troops to return to
>their barracks.
>
>Immediately following Sir Julius's announcement an emergency meeting was
>convened of all senior defence force command officers. 
>
>A Defence Force spokesman said General Singirok was not at the meeting.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Former PNG Defence Force Commander says he will not leave capital
>================================================================>
>Radio Australia, Wednesday 26 March, 1997 (8:59pm AEDT)
>-------------------------------------------------------
>
>The former commander of the PNG Defence Force, Brigadier General Jerry
>Singirok, has warned that if he was to leave Port Moresby the situation
>could be further inflamed.
>
>General Singarok, interviewed on Australian television, had been asked about
>influence he still has over the armed forces despite having been replaced by
>Major Jack Tuat.
>
>He admitted his continuing influence but denied still directing the military.
>
>General Singirok also explained that he had not left his home at Murray
>Barracks in Port Moresby, as requested to do so by the Governor General, Sir
>Wiwa Korowi, because he had no other home to go to.
>
>General Singirok warned that it would NOT help to calm the situation if he
>was to leave Port Moresby.
>
>"What people don't realise is that if I am directed by the Governor-General
>to leave Port Moresby, the interpretation by the average soldier or civilian
>would be: "They've stood him down as commander, they've now got rid of him."
>That misinterpretation alone could fuel more emotions, which are already 
high." 
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>PNG troops return to barracks after PM decides to step aside
>===========================================================>
>Radio Australia, Wednesday 26 March, 1997 (8:59pm AEDT)
>-------------------------------------------------------
>
>Papua New Guinea troops who revolted against the government are returning to
>barracks following the announcement by the Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan,
>that he is stepping aside.
>
>Crowds stood on street corners waving and cheering the troops as they passed.
>
>Earlier, in Parliament, Sir Julius said he was stepping aside to preserve
>peace and order.
>
>He said he would also direct Deputy Prime Minister, Chris Haiveta, and
>Defence Minister, Mathias Ijape, to step aside until the conclusion of a
>government-appointed inquiry into the controversial hiring of mercenary troops.
>
>The report is expected in about three weeks, but Sir Julius said he was
>stepping aside until at least the next election.
>
>The poll is due on June the 14th, but Sir Julius said he would push for it
>to be brought forward.
>
>Sir Julius said he would ask the cabinet within 24 hours to appoint an
>acting Prime Minister to carry on with a caretaker government until the
>election.
>
>Immediately following Sir Julius's announcement an emergency meeting was
>convened of all senior defence force command officers.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Tensions ease in PNG as PM steps aside
>=====================================>
>Radio Australia, Wednesday 26 March, 1997 (10:57pm AEDT)
>--------------------------------------------------------
>
>With tensions easing in Papua New Guinea following the decision of the Prime
>Minister, Sir Julius Chan, to step aside, attention is now focusing on the
>selection of an acting Prime Minister and caretaker governmment.
>
>The cabinet is to meet tomorrow to select the acting Prime Minister after
>Sir Julius annouced that he would step aside until a forthcoming national
>election and the completion of an inquiry into his hiring of mercenary troops.
>
>The poll is due on June the 14th, but Sir Julius said he would push for it
>to be brought forward.
>
>The Deputy Prime Minister, Chris Haiveta, and Defence Minister, Mathias
>Ijape, are also stepping aside.
>
>They too were involved in the hiring of the mercenaries from Sandline
>International, a decision which led to an army revolt and the the unrest
>preceding Mr Chan's announcement in parliament today.
>
>Sir Julius later paid tribute to restraint shown by the Defence Force during
>the crisis, saying the troops had stayed in their barracks except for a few
>dozen who had joined in protests outside the parliament and intimidated
>lawmakers.
>
>He said he had decided several days ago to step aside but had stayed on to
>prove that the democratic process worked and that parliament was supreme.
>
>The sacked Defence Force Commander, Brigadier General Jerry Singirok, who
>pressed for Mr Chan's resignation over the contract with the mercenaries,
>says he will seek immunity from mutiny charges for himself and other members
>of the Defence Force.
>
>He said he would also press for the inquiry into the Sandline contract to be
>widened to take in government corruption in general.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>PNG politicians to choose caretaker PM
>=====================================>
>Radio Australia, Thursday 27 March, 1997 (3:13am AEDT)
>------------------------------------------------------
>
>Members of parliament meet in Papua New Guinea later today to choose a
>caretaker prime minister to take over from Sir Julius Chan, a day after he
>stood down from the leadership.
>
>The move followed a week of social and political upheaval after the defence
>force mutinied over the planned use of mercenaries in operations against the
>rebels of Bougainville.
>
>More from Marius Benson in Port Moresby.
>
>Among those tipped to take over the top job are Sir Albert Kipalan, the
>Lands Minister and the Speaker, Sir Rabbie Namaliu. Sir Julius has stood
>down until a report is brought down by the judicial enquiry into the
>contract he negotiated to hire mercenaries from the Sandline company. That
>report is due in three weeks, although there are moves to give the enquiry
>more time to investigate the deal. If there are no adverse findings, Sir
>Julius could reclaim the leadership before national elections due on June
>14. Sir Julius says he would be in favour of bringing forward the election
>date, if that would help recovery from the political crisis. Marius Benson,
>Port Moresby.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Calm returns to PNG Capital following days of civil unrest
>=========================================================>
>Radio Australia, Thursday 27 March, 1997 (9:23am AEDT)
>------------------------------------------------------
>
>The Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby, is today reported calm following
>more than a-week of political tension and civil unrest.
>
>This follows the dramatic culmination of events yesterday with the Prime
>Minister Sir Julius Chan bowing to pressure from the military and Opposition
>parties by agreeing to stand aside.
>
>He had been under increasing pressure over the use of mercenaries to help
>crush the Bougainville secessionists.
>
>Today, the Government will choose a caretaker Prime Minister to take over
>from Sir Julius Chan as Marius Benson in Port Moresby reports:
>
>Among those tipped to take over the top job are Sir Albert Kipalan, the
>Lands Minister and the Speaker, Sir Rabbie Namaliu.Sir Julius has stood down
>until a report is brought down by the judicial enquiry into the contract he
>negotiated to hire mercenaries from the Sandline company. That report is due
>in three weeks, although there are moves to give the enquiry more time to
>investigate the deal. If there are no adverse findings, Sir Julius could
>reclaim the leadership before national elections due on June 14. Sir Julius
>says he would be in favour of bringing forward the election date, if that
>would help recovery from the political crisis.
>