From: "Vikki John" <VIKKI-AT-lexsun.law.uts.edu.au>
Date:          Fri, 3 Apr 1998 10:42:28 GMT-1000
Subject: M-NEWS: (Fwd) (Fwd) BOUGAINVILLE INDEPENDENCE NOT NEGOTIABLE:



Subject:  BOUGAINVILLE INDEPENDENCE NOT NEGOTIABLE: SKATE

http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/PIReport/1998/April/04-02-06.html

> PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT
> 
> Pacific Islands Development Program/Center for Pacific Islands Studies
> 
> BOUGAINVILLE INDEPENDENCE NOT NEGOTIABLE: SKATE
> 
> CANBERRA, Australia (March 31, 1998 - PACNEWS)---Papua New Guinea's
> Prime Minister, Bill Skate, says Bougainville is an integral part of
> PNG and has ruled out the complete withdrawal of PNG troops from the
> island.
> 
> He says he would be failing in his duty as the national leader if PNG
> left Bougainville and permitted the island to decide its own political
> fate.
> 
> Speaking on Australian television's Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)
> Dateline program last weekend, Skate said PNG's Constitution
> stipulated very clearly that Bougainville is an integral part of PNG.
> 
> "They (the Bougainvilleans) know my position. Independence is
> non-negotiable with me or, for that matter, the people of PNG," Skate
> said.
> 
> To withdraw the PNG Defence Force completely from Bougainville, he
> added, would be seen as a defeat for the National Government.
> 
> He admitted that there was an agreement for PNG troops to withdraw,
> but said it was a matter of being a gradual process. "Everything must
> move simultaneously and gradually... not a complete withdrawal."
> 
> A spokesman for secessionist leader Francis Ona told SBS that the
> current peace negotiations are a "sell out".
> 
> Morris Koiri, a member of the Bougainville Interim Government, said
> the negotiations were a ploy by PNG and other regional and business
> interests to regain control of the island and its resources.
> 
> Bougainville Revolutionary Army Commander Sam Kauona admitted there
> were differences with Francis Ona, but said the Kauona and Ona camps
> were still united in their goal of Bougainville independence.