Bougainville News: 19/9/97 id CAA21995; Sun, 21 Sep 1997 02:36:35 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source:VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Thu Sep 18 23:17:03 1997 The National Newspaper, PNG - 19 September, 1997 Howard backs peace force for Bougainville RAROTONGA: A proposal to deploy a Pacific peacekeeping force on the disputed Bougainville island made sense, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday. Speaking after meeting Prime minister Bill Skate ahead of the South Pacific Forum summit here in Cook Islands, Mr Howard declined however to commit Australian troops to a peacekeeping operation. Asked about the concept of a Pacific peacekeeping force, he told reporters here: "That's one of the proposals that is in the ether". "It would make a lot of sense providing it were based on a plan that would work, if it were based on recognition that the only solution is one that involves resort to things other than military processes and also one that keeps Bougainville within Papua New Guinea. "That is fundamental in my view to the proper resolution of the dispute." Mr Howard said Mr Skate was optimistic about a resolution to the secessionist dispute on Bougainville, and that the tide had turned towards a better outcome. "He (Mr Skate) is quite optimistic about talks in New Zealand in October and we are helping to take some of the delegates there," he said. "I have indicated to him that we are very keen to help in the peace process in Bougainville if the government he leads accepts that you need a non-military solution to the Bougainville problem." - AAP ================= I'm not biased, Sevua tells court martial By ERIC KONE PORT MORESBY: Defence Force judge Mark Sevua yesterday told a court martial that he had the jursidiction to comment on anything concerning the PNG Defence Force. Justice Sevua made his position loud and clear after five senior officers - charged with mutiny - repeatedly testified that they were uncomfortable with comments which the judge had made during the swearing-in of Defence Force commander Leo Nuia recently. Justice Sevua had commented during the swearing-in ceremony in an open court that anyone who caused trouble would be jailed for contempt of court. The five officers - Major Walter Enuma, Lieutenant Michael David, Second Lieutenant Linus Osoba, Captain Bala Renagi and Captain Belden Nama - are charged with mutiny stemming from the Sandline crisis this year. The five officers basically told the court in general that the comments by Justice Sevua like "a small group of soldiers" implied that they were responsible. Their lawyer, Powes Parkop, told the court that his clients felt the comments were directed at them and they felt that they would be denied a fair trial because the same judge was presiding over the mutiny case against them. Mr Parkop said the main evidence they would rely on would be the evidence given by witnesses in court. He said comments like "a small group of soldiers" and the reference to Operation Rausim Kwik by the judge had created an impression that there might be a "real likelihood of bias". However, Justice Sevua dismissed their fears. "There is no prejudice at all. I am the jurisdiction ... I issued the summons. If you don't know, let me tell you now," he told a witness. Justice Sevua said he would be rightly concerned as the Defence Force judge about any matter relating to the Defence Force. Justice Sevua said: "This is not a Sandline inquiry and no facts on mutiny have ever been put before any court. "In any case, if the accused did not like it, they should have done something about it. "It was for the preservation of peace that I made those comments. I never knew these officers were involved in the Sandline crisis until now," the judge said. Justice Sevua said he will make his ruling on Tuesday whether he should step down from presiding over the court martial involving the five officers. The court martial will convene at 9.30am today to set procedures and for the parties to organise themselves for trial. Justice Sevua extended the soldiers' K500 bail to 9.30am today, except Major Enuma's whose bail was extended to Sept 23 because he is required today to appear before the National Court over charges relating to the alleged setting up of an illegal army in Enga province during the general elections. ================= 'Corruption is biggest challenge' MELBOURNE: Corruption was Papua New Guinea's biggest challenge, with its political leaders having no real guiding philosophy or ideology, former PNG ambassador to Washington Meg Taylor said yesterday. Ms Taylor told the Law Council of Australia's international law section lunch that members of the judiciary were the only officials trusted by ordinary people and the business community. She said investors were offering the path to growth and personal wealth to a small number of citizens. Ms Taylor said there had been a shift in PNG government policy towards looking north to Asia rather than south to Australia, and there had been suggestions that PNG should mimic the allegedly corrupt links between government and business in some Asian countries if it wanted to be successful. "The temptation is mostly irresistible because the sums of money being offered are beyond the experience and comprehension of ordinary Papua New Guineans," Ms Taylor said. "Corruption has negative effects on society and the nation in political, administrative, economic, social and cultural forms. "It diverts the provision of services away from those who need them in favour of those who can afford them." Political parties in PNG are fluid and inherently unstable, with allegiances shifting for material or financial benefits. And politicians tended to see elections as being about personalities, rather than about a commitment to improving lives, she said. Without pre-election ideas about how to improve their people's welfare, it was no surprise they could not deliver when they were elected, she said. - AAP =================== Wives in bid to lift Defence image PORT MORESBY: More than 60 soldiers' wives will meet at Lombrum patrol boat base in Manus on Monday for a week-long conference to seek ways in assisting their husbands in improving the image of the force. The theme of the conference, "Wife, the toughest job in the PNG Defence Force" is an initiative of the Protestant Denomination Women's Fellowship Program within the Defence Force . The aim is to bring together women representatives from all units to discuss and seek ways, through their faith, on how best they can assist their husbands to improve the image of the force. The women will also reflect on their experiences and enhance their Christian beliefs to be good mothers and wives to their families and respective units within the PNGDF. According to the conference coordinator, Mrs Dika Gau Pako wife of the base chaplain, this is the first time wives of soldiers have taken the initiative to organise a conference to share common issues and concerns and put in place a national structure to undertake and support their unit programs. The Protestant Denomination Women's Fellowship program consisting of churches such a United Evangelical Alliance, Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican and Pentecostal was initiated by soldiers' wives in Port Moresby in 1996. Its membership was later extended to other army barracks in the country. ================== For further information, please contact: Bougainville Freedom Movement PO Box 134, Erskineville. NSW. 2043 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-09.21.97-02:36:36-12030