From: "Vikki John" <VIKKI-AT-lexsun.law.uts.edu.au>
Date:          Thu, 3 Jul 1997 10:51:05 GMT-1000
Subject: M-NEWS: (Fwd) Bougainville Peace Talks in New Zealand


     BOUGAINVILLE 
     Thursday, July 3, 1997

     Breakthrough as peace talks head for NZ 
     By LINDSAY MURDOCH, Herald Correspondent in Hong Kong
     Sydney Morning Herald  - World News.

     Peace talks aimed at ending Bougainville's war will go ahead in New Zealand this
     weekend despite a security flap over fears that Papua New Guinea sent a hit-squad to
     the Solomon Islands last month to assassinate leaders of the separatist Bougainville
     Revolutionary Army (BRA).

     A spokesman for Australia's Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, confirmed last night that
     the Solomon Islands raised concerns with Australia about the presence of PNG
     nationals who arrived unexpectedly in Honiara for "undisclosed purposes" while rebel
     leaders were staying at a rundown motel in the town.

     Sources in Honiara said two small groups of PNG nationals, including men claiming to
     be bricklayers who had an association with officials of the PNG High Commission in
     Honiara, prompted the move by the Solomon Islands.

     Mr Downer's spokesman said Australia asked PNG about the group but was
     subsequently told by the Solomon Islands Government that it accepted the men were in
     Honiara for "bona fide purposes". 

     The spokesman declined to comment on any assassination threat or disclose any
     further information, saying: "All that is an intelligence matter and I am not going to
     comment."

     The rebel leaders, whose accommodation bill was being picked up by Australia, found
     out about the arrival of the PNG men through their own intelligence network and asked
     two Australian peace negotiators, Mr Leo White and Mr Mark Plunkett, to pass on
     their fears. 

     The rebels were ready to launch a counter-attack if any attempt was made to kill any
     of the virtual entire leadership staying at the motel.

     In the most significant breakthrough for peace in years, New Zealand's Foreign
     Minister, Mr Don McKinnon, announced yesterday that representatives of the BRA,
     its political wing, the Bougainville Interim Government, and the PNG-appointed
     Bougainville Transitional Government would attend the weekend talks at Burnham
     army camp, near the south island city of Christchurch.

     While the rebels' reclusive political leader, Mr Francis Ona, will not go to New
     Zealand, the BRA is expected to be represented by its military commander, Mr Sam
     Kaouna, Mr Ona's next-in-charge, Mr Joseph Kabui, and other rebel leaders.

     Up to 20 representatives from both sides are expected to travel to New Zealand but,
     despite the likely presence of several PNG politicians, the PNG Government will not
     formally take part in the talks.

     Australian officials say the rebels' decision to go to New Zealand indicates their
     willingness to negotiate to end the war that has cost the lives of up to 12,000 people
     since the late 1980s. 

     Previous efforts to include the rebels in peace talks have failed because of fears for
     their safety. 

     In 1995, rebels returning by boat to Bougainville from Australian-sponsored talks in
     Cairns were attacked by PNG troops. The Solomon Islands Government has often
     protested against attempts to kill rebels in its sovereign territory, particularly waters off
     Bougainville.

     Earlier this year, two PNG men found with guns in their hotel room in Honiara were
     forced to leave the country.

     Government officials said they suspected that the men were in the Solomon Islands to
     try to kill rebels, who often seek medical care and refuge in Honiara.

=================================   
Ona won't attend peace talks in NZ
3/7/97 - Papua New Guina National Newspaper

PORT MORESBY: The leader of Bougainville's secessionist rebels, Francis Ona, has bailed out of
peace talks scheduled to be held in New Zealand early next week, ruling out the prospect of serious
headway being made.

A spokesman for Mr Ona said the New Zealand Government, which 

brokered the talks to be held at Burham Army Base outside Christchurch, had been informed of the
decision.

The meeting will bring together the PNG Government-backed Bougainville Transitional Government
(BTG), the rebels' political arm the Bougainville Interim Government (BIG), and rebel military
commanders.

BIG vice-chairman Joseph Kabui said the talks were preliminary, but Mr Ona's absence did not
mean he was opposed to them.

"These (talks) are just leading to opening the door and Francis, by staying away, does not imply he
has got reservations or something against them," Mr Kabui said.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Don McKinnon said they had offered to host the talks following
approaches from Bougainville groups and discussions with the PNG Government.

"This is a step along the path towards settlement of their differences with the Papua New Guinea
Government," Mr McKinnon said, adding "It should not be assumed there is a quick-fix solution to
the situation in Bougainville."

BTG Premier Gerard Sinato said they would send a 25-member delegation including their own
representatives, members of women's groups and local chiefs.

The talks would start early next week and run for two weeks, he said.

Mr Sinato also clarified that the two Australian lawyers who conducted a training course on the
island had nothing to do with the forthcoming talks.

He said the course which was conducted in Buka for BTG leaders and representatives from
churches and NGOs, had nothing to with the talks, which he said were purely for Bougainvillean
leaders.

"We have obtained useful negotiation techniques and these will assist both sides when discussing
social, economic and political issues during the talks," Mr Sinato said. 

The rebels' Sydney-based spokesman, Moses Havini, said the talks could help establish a consensus
position before the new PNG government is formed later this month.

He said the four newly-elected Bougainville MPs had also been invited to the talks. They are:
Bougainville Regional member John Momis, North 

Bougainville member Michael Ogio, South Bougainville member Michael 

Laimo and Central Bougainville member Sam Akoitai.

A spokesman for Mr Momis said he would be too involved in trying to negotiate the next PNG
government to attend the talks straight away.

However, he may fly to New Zealand later.

BIG leader Joseph Kabui said the New Zealand Government had been "very accommodating" and
had set no time limit on the talks.

"We are particularly looking forward to talking with our brother Bougainvilleans," Mr Kabui said.

He added he hoped New Zealand could provide his delegation with winter clothing. "It will be a bit
hard for us coming from the tropics."

He also hoped they might all be able to go to the rugby union test between Australia and New
Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday night.

"We might be able to see it, we all like rugby," he said. - AAP and AFP
========================Australia welcomes move
3/7/97 - PNG National Newspaper

HONG KONG: Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer welcomed news of peace talks on
the Bougainville crisis to be hosted by New Zealand this weekend, but said Australia would not be
participating.

Mr Downer said Australia was not involved in the talks but Prime Ministers John Howard and Jim
Bolger had liaised over the issue.

There have been a number of telephone conversations between Prime Minister Howard and Prime
Minister Bolger about the Bougainville situation and PNG, and we have encouraged New Zealand
to be active on this issue as well," he said.

"For them to be hosting these talks between the rebels/BIG on the one side, and the Bougainville
Transitional Government on the other is a useful development and it's the sort of development we
want to see.

"We thought on this occasion it was an opportunity that New Zealand could take. They can play a
useful role in the overall process and we've wanted them to."

Mr Downer said the weekend talks would be an important building block towards solving the crisis.
"We certainly believe that developing a good modus vivendi (working arrangement) between the
BTG and the rebels is an important component of finding a solution to the 
Bougainville problem."

"Ultimately if we are to get a solution to the Bougainville problem we'll have to build another block
and that will be getting the PNG Government involved in the process.

"But clearly this isn't the time to do that because the PNG election has just taken place and we're
now sifting through the results and a new government will have to be formed." - AAP