File spoon-archives/marxism-news.archive/marxism-news_1997/marxism-news.9709, message 16


From: "Vikki John" <VIKKI-AT-lexsun.law.uts.edu.au>
Date:          Thu, 4 Sep 1997 12:32:04 GMT-1000
Subject: M-NEWS: (Fwd) The Guardian: Bougainville update (3.Sept '97)


------- Forwarded Message Follows -------

>                     The Guardian September 3, 1997
> 
> Bougainville update
> 
> A meeting last week between Australia's Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, and
> the representative in Australia of the Bougainville Interim Government, Mr
> Moses Havini, was the first such meeting and indicated that the Australian
> Government is now prepared to give defacto recognition to the Bougainville
> Interim Government. Mr Havini welcomed this development and said that "the
> present Australian Government now sees that in order to resolve the
> conflict on Bougainville it must involve the BIG and BRA who were formerly
> regarded as rebels."
> 
> The Australian Government is attempting to find ways to deal itself back
> into the Bougainville situation having been sidelined when the New Zealand
> Government took the initiative to bring the Bougainville political forces
> together in New Zealand. At that meeting the three principle forces on
> Bougainville adopted the Burnham Declaration and resolved to work closely
> together. This was a major achievement and unified the Bougainville
> leadership in support of a process to bring about peace and to work for an
> agreed political future for the island.
> 
> For some time the Australian Government recognised that a successful
> military outcome for PNG was not possible. This was partly the reason why
> Australia opposed the intervention by the Sandline's mercenaries.
> 
> However, although the tactics of the Australian Government have changed and
> is now in favour of peace the Government continues to oppose independence
> for Bougainville and has its sights set on the reopening of the CRA Panguna
> copper mine.
> 
> The allocation by the Australian Government of $100 million over five years
> to help with the alleviation of suffering and for the reconstruction of
> Bougainville, while welcome, may also have the aim of creating an
> opportunity for the direct involvement of Australian personnel on the
> ground in Bougainville.
> 
> New strains
> 
> The allocation of the aid money has caused some new strains in relations
> between the Australian and PNG Governments. Mr Downer told journalists that
> the money would come from Australia's normal aid allocation which meant
> that other aid allocations to PNG might be cut. On the other hand, PNG's
> new Prime Minister, Bill Skate, maintained that it was an additional
> amount.
> 
> When challenged that Australia was "robbing Peter to pay Paul", Mr Downer
> claimed that it was wrong to say that one interpreation was wrong and the
> other right.
> 
> Mr Skate called on the Australian Government to come clean on the
> Bougainville issue. "We are talking about Bougainville which through its
> copper mine helped Papua New Guinea and Australia," he said.
> 
> Mr Skate's comment confirms that the CRA Panguna copper mine on
> Bougainville remains central to both the PNG and Australian Governments.
> 
> While supporting peace talks the PNG Government has ruled out independence
> for Bougainville. Prime Minister Bill Skate says independence for
> Bougainville is "non-negotiable".
> 
> Another round of talk with the Bougainville political forces is scheduled
> to be held in New Zealand later this month. On the previous occasion only
> Bougainvillean representatives were present. This time the PNG Government
> will be included.
> 
> Important victory
> 
> The four non-government organisers who stopped the Sandline International
> mercenaries from going to Bougainville (to kill, maim and murder the
> people) and were charged with "unlawful assembly" had all charges struck
> out when they faced a PNG court last week.
> 
> In congratulating the four men involved, Bougainville Freedom Movement
> spokesperson in Sydney, Vikki John, said: "Justice is served. You all
> deserve Nobel Peace Prizes".
> 
> At the same time a PNG Military Court has charged four leading defence
> force officers with mutiny following their demonstrations against the
> Sandlines mercenaries. A hearing of the charges has been set down for
> September 8.
> 
> Those charged include Major Walter Enuma who was a strong supporter of the
> former commander of the PNG Defence Forces, Major General Singirok.
> 
>                                  * * *
> 
> South African Government acts against mercenaries
> 
> CAPETOWN, South Africa: The SA Government has introduced legislation
> which punishes soldiers of fortune with 10 years in prison and $220,000
> fines. A member of the SA Government says that it is a "constitutional
> duty" to avoid interference in the affairs of other countries.
> 
> The bill introduced by Defense Minister Joe Modise in July imposes controls
> on military assistance abroad. It bans participation in actual military
> combat, giving military advice, training, the procurement of military
> equipment and the provision of security services.
> 
> Kader Asmal, who heads SA's National Conventional Arms Control Committee,
> said: "Applications (for permission) will be refused outright if they might
> result in the violation or suppression of human rights, endanger peace by
> military destabilisation ... support terrorism ... or prejudice South
> Africa's national or international obligations and interests."
> 
>


  


   

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