9/9/97 Bougainville News - PNG Postcourier id BAA10626; Fri, 12 Sep 1997 01:13:23 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit sender: VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Tue Sep 9 00:20:31 1997 PNG Postcourier Newspaper 9/9/97 ================= Solomons will get K10m for`spillover' costs PRIME Minister Bill Skate said yesterday the Government was committing K10 million to repay the Solomon Islands government for services rendered to Bougainville refugees in the Solomons. He announced the commitment at a meeting between selected Cabinet ministers and visiting Solomons Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu and East Kwaio MP Alfred Sasako at Parliament House yesterday. The commitment is believed to be covered in a joint communique that Foreign Affairs officials were drafting for both prime ministers to sign. The joint communique is likely also to cover understandings reached about increasing trade under the Melanesian Spearhead Group Trade Agreement, continued co-operation in education, exchange of magistrates, air and shipping transport and sharing of intelligence information. Before coming to PNG on Sunday Mr Ulufa'alu released a statement in Honiara indicating that millions of Solomon Islands dollars had been spent on caring for an estimated 2000 Bougainville refugees in his country. He said that if Solomon Islands did not have to spend so much on the spillover effects of the Bougainville crisis, the money saved could be used on his government's structural adjustment program. Mr Skate indicated last night that K2 million would be made available almost immediately, after the exchange of letters was signed. This was as part of a new co-operative spirit and to honor a commitment by the previous Chan-Haiveta government. The other K8 million was likely to be included in the 1998 Budget due in November and passed on to Solomon Islands next year. Mr Ulufa'alu has not yet indicated his government's stance on the repatriation of Bougainvillean refugees now living in the Solomons. The Solomons leader met with Mr Skate about 10am yesterday before they joined their colleagues in the Prime Minister's parliamentary conference room. The delegation lunched with Deputy Prime Minister and Planning and Implementation Minister Chris Haiveta in the Members Private Lounge. At 3pm, Mr Ulufa'alu paid a courtesy call on Governor-General Sir Wiwa Korowi. He concluded the day by attending an official dinner hosted by Mr Skate at Parliament House. Today, the Solomons delegation will meet Opposition Leader Bernard Narokobi and Chief Justice Sir Arnold Amet. They will also visit the University of PNG and the Pacific Adventist College. ================== Defence Board of Inquiry adjourns THE inquiry into the Defence Force has been further adjourned at the request of the Government. Defence Board of Inquiry chairman Judge Timothy Hinchliffe announced the adjournment yesterday at a brief and low-key meeting at Murray Barracks. He said Defence Minister Mao Zeming had written to him last Wednesday requesting the adjournment pending the findings of the Sandline Commission of Inquiry. Mr Zeming had said there was some confusion in the community regarding the two inquiries, and that confusion would continue if they were conducted at the same time. There was concern also that certain terms of reference of the Sandline Inquiry impinged on the Defence Inquiry. Judge Hinchliffe and his board, comprising magistrates Richard Cherake and George Manahu, met on Friday to consider Mr Zeming's request and agreed to adjourn until October 6. ``On the one hand the Board is most aware that this hearing should get underway as soon as possible and without any undue delay, as the terms of reference and the matters to be inquired into are of extreme importance not only to the Defence Force but also to the public generally,'' the judge said in a statement. ``We are equally aware of the importance of the Defence Force conducting its own inquiry independent of any other inquiry that may be afoot. ``On the other hand, we do not wish to cause unnecessary extra expense or inconvenience to members of the community, including witnesses whether they be civilian or defence. ``At this particular time we do not know whether or not the Sandline Commission of Inquiry terms of reference will impinge on our own inquiry because at this time, as we understand it, the (Sandline) Commission of Inquiry terms of reference are being reviewed and possibly redrafted.'' The adjournment would also allow his board to meet and consider whatever amendments might may be made. In the event of a clash or duplication of the two inquiries' terms of reference, the board would decide what course of action to take. But it was the board's intention to begin hearing evidence on October 6. =================== Mutiny trial judge urged to step down DEFENCE Force Judge Mark Sevua was urged yesterday to disqualify himself from presiding over the court martial trial of five army officers charged with mutiny. Four of the five -- Major Walter Enuma, Captain Bala Renagi, Lieutenant Michael David and Lieutenant Linus Osoba ? were present yesterday in the packed court set up in the Officers Mess at Murray Barracks. The fifth, Captain Namah Belden, has not yet been served with the summons charging him. Judge Sevua warned yesterday that unless he turned up to face the court a warrant would be issued for his arrest and he would be detained for the duration of the trial. The charges relate to the holding of commander Brigadier-General Leo Nuia under armed arrest at the barracks on July 28. Earlier that day Major Enuma, facing charges relating to an incident during the June national elections, was freed at gunpoint from a Port Moresby cell and taken to the barracks. In a pre-trial submission yesterday lawyer Powes Parkop, representing the five officers, asked Judge Sevua to disqualify himself from the case because of statements he made to the media last month. Mr Parkop said the judge's comments, specifically that ``certain elements of the PNGDF (were) trying to run the army'' and that the people and the government were fed up, formed evidence of prejudice. In reply, the judge said he had made the remarks as a Defence Force Judge and not a trial judge, and the trial would be run on the evidence presented. He said he would await a full submission from Mr Parkop before deciding whether he should disqualify himself, and adjourned the hearing until Friday. Mr Parkop earlier asked the judge to adjourn to give the five accused officers time to seek individual representation. Judge Sevua said he had already, on August 28, given them time. The judge also warned the accused that they would have their bail revoked if they failed to comply with court orders. He said he had received reports that Major Enuma had been seen in the company of Captain Namah and Corporal Alan Nanguromo, in contravention of the conditions set by the court. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytpac-09.12.97-01:13:23-15303