File spoon-archives/marxism-news.archive/marxism-news_1997/marxism-news.9710, message 48


From: "Vikki John" <VIKKI-AT-lexsun.law.uts.edu.au>
Date:          Fri, 31 Oct 1997 16:54:35 GMT-1000
Subject: M-NEWS: (Fwd) Bougainville Update 31/10/97


31/10/97

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS TO BOUGAINVILLE ?

ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM CANBERRA
AUSTRALIAN TROOPS ARE TO BE SENT TO BOUGAINVILLE
AS PART OF A "MILITARY PEACEKEEPING FORCE."

THIS PLAN HAS NOT, REPEAT NOT, BEEN DISCUSSED WITH
THE BOUGAINVILLE INTERIM GOVERNMENT (BIG)
OR THE BOUGAINVILLE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY BRA.

WE WERE ABLE, WITH SOME DIFFICULTY, TO REACH A
SENIOR SPOKESPERSON FOR THE 
BOUGAINVILLE INTERIM GOVERNMENT (BIG)
THIS MORNING (31.10.97)
AND ASKED HIM WHETHER THE B.I.G. HAD AGREED TO 
THIS PLAN (TO INCLUDE AUSTRALIAN TROOPS IN THE
PEACE-KEEPING FORCE AND OR MONITORS).

HE RESPONDED VERY FIRMLY THAT THERE HAD BEEN
NO CONTACT WHATSOEVER WITH THE B.I.G. ON THIS
QUESTION.

"THE B.I.G. HAS REJECTED THE PRESENCE OF ANY REPEAT ANY
AUSTRALIAN TROOPS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF NEGOTIATIONS.

WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANY AUSTRALIAN "PEACE-KEEPERS"
ON BOUGAINVILLE, UNDER ANY PRETENSE WHATSOEVER."

THEY ARE NOT WANTED ON BOUGAINVILLE.

AUSTRALIA HAS SUPPLIED WEAPONS, TRAINING AND PILOTS
FOR THE PNG ARMY ALL THRU THE WAR, THEY ARE IN NO
WAY NEUTRAL, BUT HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST US
FROM THE BEGINNING.

THIS PROJECT, THIS PLAN, IF IT GOES ANY FURTHER, WILL
ANTAGONISE EVERYBODY IN THE B.I.G.

IT WILL SPOIL THE PEACE PROCESS, WHICH HAS BEEN GOING
VERY WELL SO FAR.

THIS IS A REPETITION OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S 
TRICKS OF 1994, WHEN WE HAD ABSOLUTELY AGREED THAT THERE
WOULD BE NO AUSTRALIAN TROOPS IN THE PEACE-KEEPING FORCE
AND THEY NOT ONLY SENT THEM IN, BUT TOOK OVER THE ENTIRE
SHOW."


WHEN WE ASKED THE B.I.G. AS TO AUSTRALIAN LOGISTIC SUPPORT
- IN TRANSPORTING B.I.G. AND B.R.A. DELEGATES TO THE 
BURNHAM PEACE  CONFERENCE IN NEW ZEALAND, THEY REPLIED:

"THAT WAS FROM HONIARA, IN THE SOLOMONS.   WE HAD NO
OBJECTIONS TO THAT.   BUT THEY CANNOT COME TO 
BOUGAINVILLE."

IN A SEPARATE, PARTLY OFF THE RECORD DISCUSSION, A B.I..G 
SPOKESPERSON SAID:

"SO THERE WILL BE ONLY A FEW AT FIRST, AND WHAT HAPPENS
IF SOMEBODY FROM THE B.R.A., WHOSE CHILDREN OR WIFE HAVE 
BEEN KILLED BY THE AUSTRALIAN HELICOPTERS, TAKES A SHOT 
AT ONE, KILLS  OR WOUNDS HIM, WHAT WILL THE OTHERS DO ?   
SHOOT BACK ?   START THE WAR ALL OVER AGAIN ?
WHAT ARE THESE MORONS IN CANBERRA THINKING OF ?

ARE THEY JUST STUPID OR VICIOUS ?   

EIGHT YEARS OF KILLING ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR THEM ?"
----------------------------------------------------------------
For further information, please contact:
Bougainville Freedom Movement
PO Box 134, Erskineville.  NSW  2043  Australia
Ph: +(61-2) 9558.2730

 




   

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