Bougainville - More worrying news 23/10/97 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Wed Oct 22 22:03:33 1997 The National (PNG) Newspaper - 23 October, 1997 Australia may back B'ville defence ops CANBERRA: The Australian government has tentatively agreed to back Papua New Guinea in future military operations on Bougainville following a review of defence ties. A new joint statement on defence cooperation released last night raised the prospect of "Australian defence support for achieving a lasting peace on Bougainville". Australia's refusal to support the PNG military against the decade-long rebellion on Bougainville was cited as a major factor by the former government of Sir Julius Chan in its disastrous decision to hire Sandline mercenary forces last year. All-party talks now underway in New Zealand have produced a ceasefire. The Australian government has offered assistance to the PNG government but until now stopped short of offering military peace-keeping forces specifically in Bougainville. In return for a pledge to assist in future internal security operations, the new defence pact makes support for democracy a pre-condition for future cooperation following the PNGDF's central role in the removal of Sir Julius over the Sandline contract. The new defence cooperation statement was released following talks in Canberra between PNG Defence Minister Mao Zeming and his Australian counterpart Ian McLachlan. Long-standing relations were reviewed in the light of the strains which emerged over the Bougainville conflict, the PNG government's recruitment of the Sandline mercenary force and the subsequent revolt by former commander Jerry Singirok. "Events of the past year have served as reminder to both of us of the strategic importance of our relationship," Mr McLachlan said in a statement. He said primary activities under the new defence cooperation principles would be strategic planning, management and fundamental military skills including leadership and discipline. "The key principles for the New Defence Partnership outlined in the statement are mutual interest, openness and transparency, mutual respect, achievable goals and support for democratic and constitutional processes." The statement explicitly ackowledged the PNGDF's constitutional role for internal security in spelling out the primary focus of defence cooperation on regional security, training and education and exercises. "From time to time, bilateral activities will support other needs," it added. "In particular, cooperative activities might include Auustralian defence support for achieving a lasting peace on Bougainville." The joint statement emphasised that both countries are strong democracies, a clear reference to concerns raised by Brigadier General Singirok's defiance of the Chan government. "Maintenaince of the defence relationship depends on both defence forces supporting their respective democratic and constitutional processes," the new defence co-operation principles state. - AAP ========================= 'Nenta had vowed to back Singirok' Second Sandline Inquiry PORT MORESBY: Former police commissioner Robert Nenta had pledged to support sacked army commander Jerry Singirok after he unveiled a plan to cancel the Sandline contract and ask the government to quit on March 17, Deputy Police Commissioner Ludwig Kembu told the second Sandline Inquiry yesterday. Mr Kembu said he had accompanied Mr Nenta to Murray Barracks that day to attend the conference with Mr Singirok and other PNGDF officers when he learned of Mr Singirok's plan to remove the Sandline personnel and take on the government. He said he was in his office that morning when Mr Nenta called him to his office and advised him that they were to go to the barracks as something big was brewing there. He said he did not know that Operation Rausim Kwik was under way, but was told by Mr Nenta that the army was going to call on the government to resign over the Sandline deal, and that some constitutional office holders were behind Mr Singirok, including the Governor-General and the Chief Justice. He did not elaborate, nor was he cross-examined on the naming of the office-holders. Mr Kembu said the first thing that had occurred to him was that a military coup was about to take place, but he was not sure. He said he had gone to Murray Barracks with Mr Nenta, and on arrival there, Mr Singirok had greeted them by saying ''Welcome to the club''. He said Mr Singirok then explained his plans to them, and he was taken by surprise when Mr Nenta said he would support Mr Singirok. ''I was shocked, I could not understand why my Commissioner said that,'' Mr Kembu said. He said before he left, Mr Nenta asked him to organise a mobile squad to be deployed around Murray Barracks, but after discussions with others officers, that idea was dropped because he could not work out what role they could play in Mr Singirok's plans. Mr Kembu will continue giving evidence today. Meanwhile, the Inquiry also heard that statements made by then NCD governor and now Prime Minister Bill Skate, in Parliament on March 25, calling for a commission of inquiry and the resignation of the then prime minister Sir Julius Chan, were consistent with what Mr Singirok had said. Varitimos Mal, counsel assisting Sir Julius's lawyer Marshall Cooke, QC, asked State witness Captain Paul Kaliop, officer in-charge of an army intelligence unit, if Mr Singirok and Mr Skate had planned to execute the same proposals - to abort the Sandline contract and seek the appointment of a caretaker government. Mr Kaliop replied that he could not recall having any knowledge of the proposals, saying that the former General did seek assistance from politicians as well as civilians who were backing him in his endeavour to abort the Sandline contract. On March 24, Mr Singirok called on the Prime Minister, Deputy PM and Defence Minister to resign immediately. In the event, the PM's position would have become vacant, and a motion was tabled in Parliament by Mr Skate on March 25, calling for a commission of Inquiry into the Sandline contract. Mr Mal asked if Mr Skate had implemented what Mr Singirok proposed, but Capt Kaliop said he could not recall. He (Capt Kaliop) said there were similarities in their (Singirok and Skate) proposals, but it could have been a coincidence. While Mr Singirok was alleged to have hit-listed senior officials who were against 'Operation Rausim Kwik', other senior officials and former politicians were frequenting the Flagstaff House, Mr Singirok's official residence during the peak of the crisis. Mr Mal asked if the visitors to the Flagstaff House had been discussing the formation of the caretaker government, but Capt Kaliop said he would not know if they were discussing such issues but he said meetings were held between those visitors and Mr Singirok. ========================= Mothers make B'ville mercy mission By TERRY AGAI LAE: Cassowary United Church mothers here have urged all Christians throughout the country not only to pray for peace on Bougainville but to make an attempt to visit the island and see for themselves the situation. The 21-women delegation who recently returned from a two-week visit to the island told The National that their mission was based on spiritual teaching, helping people, especially mothers, and appealing to the people on the island to forgive others. Group leader Kaye Kaipu said the trip was an eye-opener for the women to actually set foot on the island and meet people who have been affected by the nine-year conflict. "It was first frightening when we arrived at Buka because everywhere we could see resistance fighters and our PNGDF soldiers armed with high-powered guns walking about, but we all felt confident because we knew that the Lord was with us," Kaipu said. The women visited five care centres, spending up to two days in each, sharing God's Word and conducting open fellowships. "Three mothers responded openly on behalf of the people of Buka for forgiveness when we conducted a open fellowship forum at the Buka market place," Mrs Kaipu said. She said the cost of the trip plus clothes and food donations was K14,000 which came from fund-raising, while the Morobe provincial goverment contributed K2,000 towards their trip cost. "The general response there is that people want peace and are hoping for a change of life," she said. Mrs Kaipu thanked the people and the goverment of Buka for their hospitality and also the Morobe provincial goverment for the financial assistance to make the trip possible. ========================= Buka women wield power, says paper PORT MORESBY: Buka women are traditionally not meant to have power and yet they have, and it is permanent and potential, according to a seminar paper. According to Roslyn Kenneth of National Research Institute, in her paper Women in Rural Setting, the Haku are matrilineal but men still dominate in decision-making matters that relate to land. Land issues are not only the result of disputes, but discussions about land serve to educate the group about histories of settlement to a particular site, traditional enemies, negotiations, dispute solutions and court cases. The paper indicated that Haku women were not seen in public meetings because they wanted to continue the matrilineal society. Land disputes became violent and threatening, and women with status and positions or who belonged to the chieftain line were discouraged from attending public meetings and matters that would put them at risk. For instance if a woman of high rank was identified by an enemy group, it could be dangerous not only for her but for all those present at the occasion. The paper discusses land pressure on economic development which increased people's recognition of the market value of land and consequently changed people's approaches to land ownership. Land boundaries and population growth are some of the problems the society faces. In her research, Kenneth said that unequal distribution of land among women is evident. Changes in education, such as formal education has, in a way, caused many of the young women to be away for certain periods of time, which meant they did not have the opportunity to learn from the elders about customary tenure. "Now that they have children they are obliged to hold enough land as guarantee for their children's livelihood. They want to know their children's rights over the land,'' the paper stated. Many women felt that it was important to learn about the history of their land since most of the elder people were dying. The Bougainville crisis was an eye-opener which showed people the importance of maintaining one's attachment and connection to land. "Women's power has become increasingly public because of factors such as pressure on resources because of population growth, greed for money, more disagreement on boundaries, whereby women have felt it necessary to risk security and speak up to challenge men,'' the seminar was told. Ms Kenneth presented her paper at the National Cultural Commission forum in Port Moresby this week. ================================================================= 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-10.22.97-23:23:50-19163