Bougainville Freedom Mvment on Oz Def.Minister Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Thu Nov 6 18:34:37 1997 Radio Australia - World News AUSTRALIA'S DEFENCE MINISTER ON POSSIBLE BOUGAINVILLE ROLE Friday 7 November, 1997 (2:33am AEDT) Australia's Defence Minister, Ian McLachlan says only Australia has the military resources to make a large and long-term commitment to support peace on Bougainville. Mr McLachlan said Australia's Defence Force could play an important role in helping peace on the island, probably with forces from other South Pacific countries. In a speech in Adelaide, Mr McLachlan said he could not give details of Australia's possible role on Bougainville. He said it was too early to say that the peace process would succeed on Bougainville, but the island was substantially at peace. Mr McLachlan said co-operation with the P-N-G Defence Force was a matter quite separate from Bougainville. The minister said Australia had recast its defence relationship with Papua New Guinea to help strengthen the basics of a military force -- discipline, morale, training and respect for law. Comment: Australia has been aiding and abetting the war on Bougainville since 1989. Australia is not "neutral". The Burnham Truce (10/10/97) recommended that a "neutral" regional group be invited to monitor the terms of the agreement on Bougainville. Australia's Defence Minister, Ian McLachlan said he could not give details of Australia's possible role on Bougainville. Why? For further information, please contact: Bougainville Freedom Movement PO Box 134, Erskineville. NSW. 2043 Australia Phone: +(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-11.07.97-09:08:21-19114