BOUGAINVILLE: PNG Postcourier 9/12/97 id CAA26911; Fri, 12 Sep 1997 02:10:20 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Source: VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Thu Sep 11 22:08:49 1997 PNG Postcourier 12 September, 1997 Envoy: Solomons deal `no threat' to BRA THE JOINT communique signed by PNG and Solomon Islands Prime Ministers is non-threatening to the rebel Bougainville faction. That was the feeling of PNG High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Mr Joseph Assaigo, following the signing of the communique on Wednesday. Mr Assaigo said the discussions which climaxed in the signing ceremony had resulted in a clear ``set of agenda on which we can now work together in peace, in harmony and complete trust and confidence between the two governments and countries''. Asked if the joint communique was threatening in any way to the rebel Bougainville faction and their stance, he said: ``No, it's not. In fact, it is consultative for all players to get together and discuss their differences and get things done in a more amicable and more unified manner where we can work together towards a lasting solution on Bougainville.'' Solomon Islands Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu had, during his four-day visit, broadened the vision of various Melanesian ethnic groupings including the volatile Bougainville situation, to look at a Melanesian confederacy. Mr Ulufa'alu said that the Bougainville problem was a Melanesian one and should be addressed as such. Mr Ulufa'alu stated: ``We will strive forward in the future for a Melanesian Confederate. We will support that endeavor. ``But that unionism must be based on unity with diversity. The word diversity must mean (and it can only be made into real meaning if) we recognise the legitimate differences that exist among our own people in terms of culture, in terms of ethnics, in terms of practices, and in terms of resources and government and relative position of our economies.'' Mr Ulufa'alu said that only legitimate recognition of differences could result in meaningful unity. He hoped the Melanesian bloc would be recognised in a beneficial way for all. By PETER NIESI ====================== Opposition pushes for termination of BTG status THE Government and the Opposition are headed for a big showdown on the status of the Bougainville administration. Opposition leader Bernard Narokobi yesterday pushed further their total disagreement to government moves to further extend the term of the Bougainville Transitional Government (BTG). Instead, they want the term to lapse when the present one expires on December 31, and allow Bougainville MP John Momis to take over the administration as governor. This would be in line with arrangements in the other provinces under the reforms. Mr Momis is a senior member of the Opposition. Mr Narokobi said the Opposition maintained that the transitional government that has been in office for the past four years could not be continued and maintained in view of the progress being made on Bougainville. He said the continuation of the BTG would be ``fundamentally undemocratic''. He said: ``We want genuine Bougainvillean leaders to represent Bougainvillean people. ``We do not believe the BTG is the genuine representative government of the people of Bougainville. ``It was born out at a time there was a need. The situation has changed and the atmosphere is good and elections must be allowed to proceed to constitute a proper body that says we represent the Bougainvilleans, we will negotiate whatever terms and conditions for our people. ``If we were to go along with the extension of the transitional government then we are creating a situation where appointed people will speak for the masses and that would be improper.'' Mr Narokobi said the Opposition would not support the Government to make any further amendments to allow the current nominated members of the BTG to remain in power for another 12 months. Like any other provincial and local level governments, we think it's in the interest of everybody that we must conduct the elections,'' he said. ``Fundamentally, we have three important personalities claiming legitimacy or support of the people. ``One is the elected Regional member, John Momis, the second person is Gerard Sinato who claims that because he is the head of the transitional government that he is the the boss of Bougainville, then you have Francis Ona who by personal actions seems to have usurped the authority on Bougainville. It is philosophically and morally fundamental that we establish who really is the legitimate authority on Bougainville to speak for them with authority. This is a deliberate denial of John Momis's right to govern that province.'' He believed provincial and local level government elections on Bougainville would accelerate the peace process. He said it would be in PNG's interest to allow the active involvement of Mr Momis and South Bougainville MP Michael Laimo on Bougainville matters. He said Prime Minister Bill Skate would find in Mr Momis a man who really understood all the insides and outsides of Bougainville. ``You have the best chance striking a lasting peace (with Momis),'' he said. By WALLY HIAMBOHN ======================= B'ville chiefs key to peace commander CHIEFS in Central Bougainville have been told they are the key to the peace process. Defence Force commander Brigadier-General Leo Nuia told the chiefs at a meeting in Arawa on Wednesday that they had to take the lead, regardless of which area they were from. ``You need to work together keep the dialogue going and the practical aspects of the peace process,'' he said. ``There's no peace without hard work, and if you are not careful Arawa will be left behind while other districts move ahead.'' ========================= Comment: Brig. Gen. Leo Nuia is known as the "Butcher of Bougainville". The Bougainville chiefs are definately included in the peace process. Let us hope that by Mr Nuia 'telling the chiefs that they had to take the lead' was without the barrel of the gun pointed at them. ========================= For further information, please contact: Bougainville Freedom Movement PO Box 134, Erskineville. NSW. 2043 Australia Tel: (+61-2) 9558.2730 ================================================================= 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-09.12.97-02:10:20-23138