From: "Vikki John" <VIKKI-AT-lexsun.law.uts.edu.au>
Date:          Wed, 13 Aug 1997 09:41:22 GMT-1000
Subject: M-NEWS: (Fwd) 784 JUSTICE: NGO case again deferred TO 29/8/97


PAPUA NEW GUINEA PEACE ACTIVISTS'  CASE ADJOURNED
TO FRIDAY 29 AUGUST, 1997.

On Friday 25 July, 1997 the four Non-Government Organisers (NGOs) who
stopped the mercenaries Sandline International from going to 
Bougainvillle (to kill, maim and murder the people of Bougainville)
appeared in the National Court Waigani, Port Moresby (PNG) to
face charges of "unlawful assembly".

Jonathan O'ata, John Napu, John Kawowo and Powes Parkop, together
with the people of Papua New Guinea protested peacefully between
16-26 March, 1997, to stop the mercenaries and to expose the 
corruption of former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan's cabinet who
hired the mercenaries.

The nature and substance of the charges against Jonathan O'ata, 
John Napu, John Kawowo and Powes Parkp are trivial, baseless and
polictically motivated.

"These four courageous NGO heroes deserve Nobel Peace Prizes and
not to be charged with "unlawful assembly" said Vikki John of the
Bougainville Freedom Movement who was in Port Moresby to attend
the court case on Friday 25 July 1997.

The court case has been adjourned to Friday 29 August, 1997.

===================================================Title -- 784 JUSTICE: NGO case again deferred
Date -- 25 July 1997
Byline -- None
Origin -- Niuswire (niusedita-AT-pactok.net.au)
Source -- Asia-Pacific Network (PNG), 24/7/97
Copyright --APN
Status -- Unabridged
--------------------

NGO CASE AGAIN DEFERRED 

PORT MORESBY: Four non-government organisation activists facing controversial
charges of "unlawful assembly" in Papua New Guinea again had their case
deferred today - this time until August 29.
 
The four - Jonathan O'ata (Watch Council), John Napu and John Kowowo (Melsol)
and Powes Parkop (Individual and Community Rights Advocacy Forum) - were
arrested on May 5. 

Three of them were seized in dawn raids widely condemned as a vindictive police
"backlash" operation against protest leaders during the March demonstrations
over the the Sandline mercenary plan and alleged government corruption.
 
The case has been twice previously adjourned, on May 22 and June 28.

At one hearing, the judge said: "The wrong people are in the dock."

Australia's national coordinator of the Australian-based Bougainville Freedom
Movement, Vikki John, who travelled to Port Moresby to witness today's hearing,
said the NGOs had helped stop Sandline mercenaries going to Bougainville "to
kill, maim and murder the people of Bougainville".

Ms John was quoted in the National today saying: "These four courageous NGO
heroes deserve Nobel Peace Prizes and not to be charged with unlawful
assembly."
+++niuswire

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====================For further information please contact:
Bougainville Freedom Movement
PO Box 134,
Erskineville.  NSW  2043
Australia
Tel: (+61-2-9558.2730)
email  v.john-AT-uts.edu.au