Bougainville News - 29/9/97 id AAA21860; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 00:49:59 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Mon Sep 29 00:38:01 1997 The National (PNG) - 29/9/97 Igara heads peace talks team By JOHN APAMI and AAP PORT MORESBY: A top level Government team left here yesterday to attend the second round of Bougainville peace talks at the Burnham army base near Christchurch in New Zealand this week. The Government team led by the Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department, Robert Igara, includes Defence Force Commander, Brigadier General Leo Nuia, Police Commissioner Robert Nenta, Attorney General Sao Gabi and Secretary of the Department of Bougainville Affairs, Larry Hulo. Announcing the team's departure yesterday, Bougainville Affairs Minister Sam Akoitai expressed confidence that the talks in New Zealand would maintain the peace momentum. "As shown by recent events including the reconciliation initiatives among Bougainvilleans, a momentum of peace is already underway," Mr Akoitai said. "Papua New Guinea and indeed the leaders and people of Bougainville want peace now, and expect that measures to achieve it are fully investigated and acted upon." Mr Akoitoi said the composition of the government delegation demonstrated its importance. He said the talks this week would lay the groundwork for a leaders meeting before the end of the year. Mr Igara said the Government was not taking an agenda to the talks. "We are going with an open mind. From the national government point of view we are going to meet other parties for the first time," he said. "We prefer not to say anything at the moment, we will see what will happen when we get there." Rebel spokesman Moses Havini said the talks would centre on the technical aspects of enforcing a ceasefire on the island. He said the political issue of independence was unlikely to be raised. "The political issue is of course the root cause of this struggle," he said from Sydney. "But in this meeting we'll be dealing with more technical aspects of the Burnham declaration". Mr Havini said a key issue to be discussed was a neutral peacekeeping force for the island, which must be decided after consultation with Bougainville leaders. The government did not join the first round of Burnham talks in July where the rebels and the Bougainville Transitional Government (BTG) agreed on key measures to restore peace to the Pacific island. Up to 80 representatives from the warring parties began leaving PNG and Bougainville for Christchurch. More than 30 rebel members were flown by chartered helicopter from Bougainville to Honiara in the Solomon Islands over the weekend. They will be later flown to New Zealand. The Australian government has agreed to foot the bill for the transport costs which are expected to exceed A$160,000 (K168,420). Meanwhile, the Catholic church and Christians throughout the country have been urged to join in prayers for the success of the talks by Archbishop Karl Hesse of Rabaul and Bougainville. ================== Singirok appears in court PORT MORESBY: Sacked Defence Force commander Jerry Singirok has appeared in person for the first time at the Waigani District Court here for his committal hearing on sedition charges. Singirok was accompanied by his wife, Wenni, as he appeared briefly on Friday before the magistrate who later adjourned the case to Oct 17 after an application from his lawyer Moses Murray. Mr Murray requested the two-week adjournment because the court files were not completed with evidence from his client. In granting adjournment the presiding magistrate told the court that the case could not go ahead without having complete evidence. ========================= 'Army needs discipline and loyalty' PORT MORESBY: Defence Minister Mao Zeming has called on members of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force to maintain discipline, loyalty and respect because these are vital for the development of the force. Addressing soldiers at the Murray Barracks headquarters here on Friday, Mr Zeming said there had been a lack of discipline and loyalty, and mistrust had creeped in among members of the force in recent months. "Our loyalty, discipline and respect are the determining factors to see real growth and improvement in the force. "If we cannot get these basic things right, we need to ask ourselves, am I honestly serving the country with honour and dignity," Mr Mao told the soldiers. He said he had directed the Defence Department to place more emphasis on maintaining the existing facilities like transportation, uniforms, catering and messing, supplies and logistics in the budget. He said there was a need to review the options, objectives, programs and the organisational structure to suit the real needs of the Defence Force. He challenged the senior officers to manage and deliver the most basic needs to the members of the Force, and be accountable for their shortcomings as well. "Our Defence Force must be geared towards nation-building," he said, adding that manpower equipped with adequate financial backup would help the force and the development of the country. The minister said the government continues to pursue constructive bilateral relationships with countries with which it has established defence cooperation programs, adding that there was a need to strengthen such bilateral programs. Mr Zeming said he will be operating from Murray Barracks after the next parliament session so that he can pursue the important role which the Defence Force plays in nation-building. ================================================================= 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-09.30.97-00:49:59-3856