Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 19:20:21 +0200 (MET DST)
From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
Subject: Bougainville Update - 19/8/96


Sending this to the list after Louis's sectarian and stupid letter.

>X-Sender: sashab-AT-magna.com.au
>Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 21:36:49 +1000
>To: (Recipient list suppressed)
>From: Sasha Baer <sashab-AT-magna.com.au>
>Subject: Bougainville Update - 19/8/96
>
>
>Title -- National Alliance
>Date -- 9 August 1996
>Byline --None 
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source --The National (PNG),9 August 1996
>Copyright -- The National
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>NATIONAL ALLIANCE WON'T HURT PARTY, SAYS MOMIS
>
>PORT MORESBY:  Bougainville MP and Melanesian Alliance (MA) leader John
>Momis has assured his party's followers nationwide that MA is still intact.
>Mr. Momis said the National Alliance formed last week with PNG's founding
>Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare as its spokesman was not another political
>party.
>
>He said that National Alliance was essentially a group of MPs who
>individually felt strongly about issues such as corruption and deterioration
>of ethical standards among public officials.
>
>Mr. Momis also said the National Alliance included MPs from both the
>Government and the Opposition and also members of various political parties.
>
>"Resignation from those parties is not a requirement for membership in the
>National Alliance. This alliance was certainly not formed overnight, and its
>members are not out with personal grudges nor agenda," Mr. Momis said.
>
>He said members of this alliance were individual national leaders who agreed
>to admit publicly that it was an illusion for people to wait for one
>political party alone to deliver this nation out of its present problem.
>
>"There is no one political party that has the corner on the brains and
>leadership so essential to lead our nation to true progress and
>development," said Mr. Momis.
>
>"For too long PNG political leadership has been divisive and
>confrontational, and the nation has suffered too heavily already as a result
>of such low-level politics.
>
>"Only a more co-operative and consultative type can truly save this nation,
>and the formation of the national Alliance is a first step in that direction."
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title --Army ambush-rebels killed 
>Date --15 August 1006 
>Byline --None 
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- Post-Courier (PNG), 15 August 1996
>Copyright -- Post-Courier
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>FIVE REBELS DIE IN ARMY AMBUSH
>
>Fierce BRA fighter Justin Koike was among five rebels killed in renewed
>fighting with security forces on Tuesday.
>
>Another killed in the clash was Jeffrey Pokio, claimed by the government to
>have been responsible for the death of a resistance force member and a
>mobile squad policeman lobbing a hand grenade into a bunker at Manetai late
>last month.
>
>"While Justin Koike was a notorious criminal who was responsible for many
>atrocities around Central Bougainville, he was rebel commander of 'C'
>Company in Central Bougainville, Defence Force commander, Brigadier-General
>Jerry Singirok said yesterday.
>
>Weapons captured from the killed rebels included: a factory made shotgun,
>two M16A1 rifles, a.22 rifle and a hand grenade.
>
>"I am appealing to rebels to give up their fighting and continue peace
>dialogues and other initiatives as continuous fighting will mean more loss
>of lives from either sides," Mr Singirok said.
>
>Islands region reporter Peter Niesi said the rebels were reportedly ambushed
>while driving a Manetai care centre truck that had been abandoned when
>security forces withdrew from Manetai and Atamo care centres.
>
>Reports indicated that the rebels died from a combination of gunfire and
>explosives hurled onto the white Mitsubishi truck which the rebels had taken
>over.
>
>The truck, badly damaged by the ambushers, has been abandoned. 
>
>Koike has been described as Ishmael Toroama's "right hand man".  He had
>accompanied Toroama and his band during last March's attack on security
>forces, including general duties policeman in and around the Buka area,
>resulting in the death of 11 security forces and policeman at Mutsugan
>island, outside Buka town, and Siara/Soroken, North Bougainville.
>
>Koike, together with Toroama in a meeting with BTG members Joe Watawi
>(northwest chairman) and Reverend Terry Mose on March 21 had confessed they
>were plagued by vivid nightmares and asked for prayer.
>
>Reverend Mose had given them New Testaments to read during that meeting to
>petition them to leave the Siara/Soroken junction to consider the eternal
>welfare of their souls.
>
>Corporal David Ban's whereabouts are still unknown. The noncom, captured by
>BRA men earlier this month, has been the object of two failed rescue attempts.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Sydney Morning Herald, August 16, 1996
>=====================================>
>Rebels killed by PNG
>--------------------
>
>By GREG ROBERTS
>
>In a new round of fighting on Bougainville, five members of the separatist
>Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) have been killed by Papua New Guinean
>troops.
>
>Among the dead are Mr Justine Koike, a leading BRA strategist and commander
>of the rebel C Company in central Bougainville.
>
>The men were killed on Tuesday in a gun battle near the village of Manutei,
>north of the former provincial capital of Arawa.
>
>The chief of the PNG Defence Force, Brigadier-General Jerry Singirok, said
>the rebel casualties included Jeffrey Pokio, who last month killed a soldier
>and a member of the pro-PNG Resistance militia when he threw a grenade into
>a bunker near Manutei.
>
>General Singirok said weapons retrieved from the dead rebels included a
>factory-made shotgun, a .22 rifle, a self-loading rifle and a hand grenade.
>
>Meanwhile, the BRA claimed soldiers had fired phosphorus bombs from
>Australian-supplied Iroquois helicopters.
>
>The rebels say the bombs were fired at several villages in central and
>southern Bougainville last week. They claimed chickens and livestock had
>died from the "chemical warfare attacks" and that many villagers were
>complaining of nausea, headaches and other illnesses.
>
>General Singirok denied the claim.
>
>"It is not true," he said on Port Moresby radio.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title -- Buka curfew lifted
>Date --16 August 1996 
>Byline --None 
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- The National (PNG), 16 August
>Copyright --The National
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>POLICE LIFT ALL CURFEW RESTRICTIONS ON BUKA
>
>BUKA:  All curfew restrictions on Buka Island and the outer islands of West
>Coast Bougainville have been lifted effective yesterday.
>
>The lifting of the curfew which was recently relaxed to between 10pm to 5am,
>was announced by Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Joel Kean in
>Buka yesterday.
>
>Mr kean also announced the relaxing of the curfew hours for North West
>District which also came into effect yesterday. The new curfew hours are
>10pm to 5am.
>
>Curfew notices have been put up to inform the police about the decision by
>the security forces to do away with curfew restrictions on Buka Island.
>
>Mr Kean however, warned the communities of Buka and North West that
>home-brew is still unlawful. People found brewing and consuming home-brew
>will be dealt with severely by police, he said.
>
>Meanwhile, representatives from the police, defence, resistance force and
>the administration met for the first time today in an attempt to ease
>tension caused by a number of incidence involving members of the resistance
>forces, reserve police and members of the community who had laid complaints
>with police.
>
>The meeting which was chaired by the deputy administrative secretary,
>Francis Kabano, discussed a wide range of issues relating to the roles and
>responsibilities of the resistance force, the engagement of the resistance
>force, and the security arrangements on Bougainville.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title --PNGDF-US Army exercise 
>Date --16 August 1996
>Byline --None 
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- The National (PNG), 16 August 1996
>Copyright -- The National
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>PNGDF-US ARMY EXERCISE CONCLUDES
>
>LAE:  A month long joint PNG Defence Force and United States Army jungle
>exercise code named "Balance Passion 96", ended here on Tuesday on a high note.
>
>Thirty soldiers from various sections of the PNGDF Engineering Battalion at
>Igam Barracks took part in the exercise along with their American counterparts.
>
>At the closing ceremony, Lieutenent Colonel Miri Osi told the soldiers that
>to be successful in combat, "the unit must train continually to develop and
>maintain combat-ready soldiers such as yourselves."
>
>"Training as we all know, builds self-confidence, promotes teamwork, and
>increases professionalism in soldiering," Lt-Col Osi said.
>
>"You have just completed training which will be of great benefit to the unit
>and the PNGDF," he added.
>
>Lt-Col Osi said there were limited training support and resources to conduct
>the exercise but it was still successful because of the commitment and
>resourcefulness of the soldiers. 
>
>"I am pleased to mention here with the time and effort put in by both the US
>Army trainers and yourselves, Balance Passion 96 was able to complete its
>aim," Lt-Col Osi said.
>
>He thanked the six US Army Special Forces members for their efforts in
>making the training a success
>
>The US team leader, Chief Warrant Officer Abbott, said the overall training,
>was basically on communication techniques, medical training, marksmanship,
>land navigation and patrolling.
>
>Mr Abbott said the aim behind the training was to save lives when the unit
>was deployed on Bougainville.
>
>"We really enjoyed the hospitality extended to us and also found that Papua
>New Guineans are very friendly people," Mr Abbott said.
>
>The PNGDF Engineering Battalion and the US Army Special Forces exchanged two
>plaques as tokens of friendship and camaraderie.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title -- 187 Buka curfew lifted
>Date --16 August 1996 
>Byline --None 
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- The National (PNG), 16 August
>Copyright --The National
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>POLICE LIFT ALL CURFEW RESTRICTIONS ON BUKA
>
>BUKA:  All curfew restrictions on Buka Island and the outer islands of West
>Coast Bougainville have been lifted effective yesterday.
>
>The lifting of the curfew which was recently relaxed to between 10pm to 5am,
>was announced by Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Joel Kean in
>Buka yesterday.
>
>Mr kean also announced the relaxing of the curfew hours for North West
>District which also came into effect yesterday. The new curfew hours are
>10pm to 5am.
>
>Curfew notices have been put up to inform the police about the decision by
>the security forces to do away with curfew restrictions on Buka Island.
>
>Mr Kean however, warned the communities of Buka and North West that
>home-brew is still unlawful. People found brewing and consuming home-brew
>will be dealt with severely by police, he said.
>
>Meanwhile, representatives from the police, defence, resistance force and
>the administration met for the first time today in an attempt to ease
>tension caused by a number of incidence involving members of the resistance
>forces, reserve police and members of the community who had laid complaints
>with police.
>
>The meeting which was chaired by the deputy administrative secretary,
>Francis Kabano, discussed a wide range of issues relating to the roles and
>responsibilities of the resistance force, the engagement of the resistance
>force, and the security arrangements on Bougainville.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Title --PNGDF-US Army exercise 
>Date --16 August 1996
>Byline --None 
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- The National (PNG), 16 August 1996
>Copyright -- The National
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>PNGDF-US ARMY EXERCISE CONCLUDES
>
>LAE:  A month long joint PNG Defence Force and United States Army jungle
>exercise code named "Balance Passion 96", ended here on Tuesday on a high note.
>
>Thirty soldiers from various sections of the PNGDF Engineering Battalion at
>Igam Barracks took part in the exercise along with their American counterparts.
>
>At the closing ceremony, Lieutenent Colonel Miri Osi told the soldiers that
>to be successful in combat, "the unit must train continually to develop and
>maintain combat-ready soldiers such as yourselves."
>
>"Training as we all know, builds self-confidence, promotes teamwork, and
>increases professionalism in soldiering," Lt-Col Osi said.
>
>"You have just completed training which will be of great benefit to the unit
>and the PNGDF," he added.
>
>Lt-Col Osi said there were limited training support and resources to conduct
>the exercise but it was still successful because of the commitment and
>resourcefulness of the soldiers. 
>
>"I am pleased to mention here with the time and effort put in by both the US
>Army trainers and yourselves, Balance Passion 96 was able to complete its
>aim," Lt-Col Osi said.
>
>He thanked the six US Army Special Forces members for their efforts in
>making the training a success
>
>The US team leader, Chief Warrant Officer Abbott, said the overall training,
>was basically on communication techniques, medical training, marksmanship,
>land navigation and patrolling.
>
>Mr Abbott said the aim behind the training was to save lives when the unit
>was deployed on Bougainville.
>
>"We really enjoyed the hospitality extended to us and also found that Papua
>New Guineans are very friendly people," Mr Abbott said.
>
>The PNGDF Engineering Battalion and the US Army Special Forces exchanged two
>plaques as tokens of friendship and camaraderie.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
>=============================================>
>News Release - For immediate release, The Hague, 15 August, 1996
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>PNG Must Halt White Phosphorus Bombardment in Bougainville says BIG Leader
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>White Phosphorus is being used by the Papua New Guinea Defence Forces in
>Bougainville according to reports from the Bougainville Revolutionary Army
>(BRA). The sources report that White Phosphorus is being 
>discharged from Australian built Iroquois Helicopters in central and
>southern Bougainville. 
>
>This is the latest development in an eight year conflict which has killed
>many thousands of Bougainville Islanders. Papua New Guinea launched a new
>offensive in mid-June. This little known conflict called "the 
>forgotten war" centres around the issue of self-determination for the people
>of Bougainville. It is believed that up to 10 % of the Island's population
>has been killed as a direct result of the conflict.  
>
>The government of Papua New Guinea lays claim to the Island and its rich
>copper resources, but the Bougainville Interim Government (BIG) is adamant
>that Bougainvilleans must be free to exercise their own 
>wishes as to the future of their Island.
>
>"It will be the civilians who suffer. White Phosphorus burns any surface it
>comes into contact with and is particularly difficult to extinguish. The
>effects on skin lead to great suffering," said Martin Miriori, Secretary of
>the BIG, from UNPO's General Secretariat in The Hague. 
>
>BIG sources state that illnesses including respiratory types are being
>reported from all over the affected areas. Wild and domestic animals have
>been killed by the chemical. Although the targeted areas are 
>Central and Southern Bougainville, the substance is reported to have drifted
>towards the Wakunai Highlands where many have settled to escape the conflict. 
>
>Mr Miriori is appealing for the  world to investigate. "It is incredible
>that the civilised world can stand by and allow such atrocities to continue
>in the 1990's," he says. As from 1990, no independent media has been allowed
>into the region.
>
>The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Sir Julius Chan was quoted in the
>Sydney Morning Herald of 2 August, as admitting that human rights violations
>by PNG troops on Bougainville are inevitable. 
>
>"The PNG's blatant lack of respect for human rights have been what the
>Bougainvilleans have been trying to show the outside world all along," said
>Mr Miriori. 
>
>Mr Miriori  is calling upon Papua New Guinea to halt the bombardment. He has
>also appealed to Australia and New Zealand to help broker peace. UNPO has
>stated that this conflict cannot be solved through the use of force and
>appeals to the foreign ministers of both countries to use their influence in
>the region.
>
>Mr Miriori is available for comment. Bougainville is a Member of the
>Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organizations (UNPO). UNPO is an
>organization of nations and peoples  not adequately represented in 
>international fora, such as the United Nations.
>
>For more information and interviews please contact Kathy Voyles, Media and
>Information Centre, at UNPO, The Hague, The Netherlands.
>tel.: +31-70-3603318, fax: +31-70-3603346, email: unponl-AT-antenna.nl.
>Americas Coordination Office
>tel + 1 202 637 0475, fax: + 1 202 637 0585 MIC/1996PR.
>www.unpo.org
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Contact Details:
>===============>
>Vikki John (BFM)     +61-2-558-2730   email: V.john-AT-uts.edu.au
>Moses Havini (BIG)   +61-2-804-7602
>Max Watts            +61-2-818-2343   email: MWATTS-AT-fisher.biz.usyd.edu.au
>(Journalist specialising in Bougainville, East Timor and West Papua issues)
>
>Bougainville Freedom Movement
>P.O. Box 134, Erskineville, NSW 2043, Australia
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Regards Sasha
>
>Sasha Baer
>International Amateur Radio Network
>Bougainville Freedom Movement
>Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol
>Work:      +61-2-9200-1516
>Mobile:    +61-0419-433-702
>sashab-AT-magna.com.au
>http://www.magna.com.au/~sashab/
>
>
>




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