BOUGAINVILLE - Media Release, 26 April 2000

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit

source - N.BRAumann@tu-bs.de  Thu Apr 27 06:18:49 2000

BIG/BRA MEDIA STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  26 APRIL 2000

SENIOR BIG/BRA LEADERSHIP ARE WARNED TO TAKE EXTRA SECURITY MEASURES 
IN THE COMING MONTHS THIS YEAR.

The BIG/BRA intelligence network has uncovered very disturbing unconfirmed
reports that its top leadership might be again on the most wanted hit list
from the anti referendum/independence supporters and sympathizers.

According to the report, it is strongly feared that the President of the
Bougainville People's Congress Mr Joseph Kabui and other senior BIG members
including Commander of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army General Ishmael
Toroama are said to be among the prime targets of this latest security
threat against the leaders.

At this stage, the motive of the threat seems to be still unclear. However,
it is suspected that one of the reasons is that the anti-referendum/
independence groups may not have been too happy when the BIG/BRA leadership
has elected to continue remain outside the Bougainville Interim Provincial
Government following the signing of the Loloata Understanding. Secondly, the
BIG/BRA leadership is still considered to be the real and serious potential
threat to the future political leadership in Bougainville in any future
negotiations towards the formation of the island's democratically elected
autonomous government, and also in addressing the referendum issue on
independence. Therefore the report has suggested that the threat might have
something to do with the leadership struggle, and the anti-referendum/
independence sentiments, both in Bougainville and outside.

The report has therefore warned that senior BIG/BRA leadership must take
extra care when moving around in the coming months of critical negotiations
on the future of Bougainville.

The report suggested that PMG in Bougainville may also be already aware of
this threat.
 
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