From: "Vikki John" <VIKKI-AT-lexsun.law.uts.edu.au>
Date:          Fri, 23 Jan 1998 17:01:25 GMT-1000
Subject: M-NEWS: (Fwd) Bougainville Update 4.49pm  - Radio Oz 23/1/98



Radio Australia - World News

     BOUGAINVILLE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT
     REACHED AT CHRISTCHURCH TALKS
     Friday 23 January, 1998 (4:49pm AEDT)


          A permanent ceasefire has been announced for the Papua
          New Guinean island of Bougainville to end the nine-year
          secessionist war.

          The agreement, which builds on an interim truce in place
          since last October, was struck after five days of peace talks
          in New Zealand. 

          Libby Hakaraia reports from Christchurch. 

          The Lincoln agreement on peace, security and development
          on Bougainville has been signed by the leaders of the
          Bougainville factions, the Papua New Guinea government
          and the PNG Opposition party. Under the agreement, a
          permanent and irrevocable ceasefire will take effect on
          Bougainville at midnight on the 30th of April. The parties
          have also agreed to extend the truce currently in force until
          the ceasefire begins. The Truce Monitoring Group which
          includes Australian soldiers will be succeeded at that time
          by a peacekeeping team, endorsed by the United Nations.