Bougainville News 10/2/97 id PAA27043; Sat, 4 Oct 1997 15:08:59 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Wed Oct 1 21:28:03 1997 The National (PNG) Newspaper 2/10/97 B'ville peace about a year away, says McKinnon CHRISTCHURCH: A ceasefire and long term peace on Bougainville may only be about a year away, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Don McKinnon said. After welcoming 100 Papua New Guineans, most of them from Bougainville, for more talks at the New Zealand army camp at Burnham south of here, Mr McKinnon said peace on the embattled secessionist island could not be abruptly resolved. He said some lives had been lost in recent months but an end to the terrible suffering and conflict was on the minds of all Bougainvilleans following the Burnham declaration breakthrough, signed at the historic peace talks on July 5-18. Mr McKinnon said New Zealand and the army camp site had played an important role along the difficult path to peace. "It's neutral territory. They are not in an area here where they have known conflict. We have given them a lot of time and a lot of space to work their way through these issues," he said. "When I went back into the history of all the other talks that had been held, there was high expectation they could do everything in three days. "We knew it was going to be a long process. This could take the better part of a year to finally get through. If it takes that long and we get a settlement that lasts then it's worth it." Mr McKinnon said there were expectations that officials this week would address the question of a ceasefire and more importantly about the reconstruction of Bougainville. "There have been some indiscriminate shootings, there have been some killings but nothing anywhere near the level there was every day, week by week early on," he said. "A number of roads have opened up and people are moving around, back into their own villages -- that has not happened for nine years." - NZPA =================== Colonel 'put under house arrest by accused soldiers' By PHIL YOMBON PORT MORESBY: Defence Force director of transport and movement, Lieutenant Colonel Carl Marlpo, told the Court Martial here yesterday that five soldiers who are facing mutiny charges had put him under house arrest. The lawyer acting for the soldiers, Powes Parkop, however denied that there was any house arrest or any military operation that was illegal. Lt Col Marlpo told the Court Martial that Major Walter Enuma - also the commander of the Sandline Operation Rausim Kwik, Captain Bola Renagi, Captain Belden Namah, Lieutenant Michael David and Second-Lieutenant Linus Osoba had been involved in the "Special Force Unit" which put him and Commander Leo Nuia under house arrest. He told the Court Martial that Lt Osoba came to his house about 7am on that day in June this year and placed him under house arrest. "He (Osoba) told me that the reason for placing me under house arrest was to keep me awake because they were going to negotiate for pardon for those who took part in the Sandline crisis," Lt Col Marlpo said. "Osoba told me that the reason for keeping me under house arrest was also because I was influential. "I explained briefly to Lt Osoba that it was up to the Government to make decisions regarding the pardon of soldiers who were involved in the Sandline crisis.'' Lt Col Marlpo testified that Osoba did not tell him who had ordered the house arrest. He said he first noticed two soldiers in "battle order" outside his house when his daughter awoke him. He said he was surprised when he opened the front door and saw Lt Osaba holding a pistol in front of his stomach. The soldiers allowed Lt Col Marlpo's two children to go to school. They returned home at about 9am after their school teacher let them out because of the problems at the barracks, Lt Col Marlpo said. He told the court that seeing Major Walter Enuma walking towards his house, accompanied by Captain Bola Renagi and Captain Belden Namah in the afternoon was a relief. "Major Enuma came straight to me and did the right thing by complementing (salute) me, and saying: 'I am sorry that things have come this far'," he said. "I also learned for the first time that commander Nuia was also under house-arrest. "He instructed me to go down to the commander's residence ... upon arrival I saw the Acting Chief of Staff Col Eric Ani, Acting Chief of Operations Lt Colonel Davey Ugul and Colonel Jack Tuat in the commander's lounge room. ''Col Ani then read out Prime Minister Bill Skate's direction to free those soldiers who were involved in the Sandline crisis." The trial continues today. ================= 'Don't extend BTG's term' PORT MORESBY: Bougainville Regional Member John Momis set himself on a collision course with the members of the Bougainville Transitional Government when he presented to parliament yesterday a three-point petition not to extend the term of the BTG. He also pressed for elections to be conducted to elect new members of the BTG in a democratic manner. The BTG's term is due to expire on Dec 31 and debate has been raging over whether it ought be further extended or for the BTG to be disbanded in favour of an elected government in 1998. Mr Momis said that it was in the interest of democracy that necessary steps be taken to facilitate maximum participation of the people of Bougainville in the search for peace and for a final political deal that would secure the best interests of the people on Bougainville as well as Papua New Guinea as a whole. In presenting the paper which was signed by 14 signatories, Mr Momis requested that a bipartisan committee be established before the next round of talks in New Zealand so that it could be involved earlier in the peace process. He also said the establishment of a bipartisan committee would enable the rebels and the BTG to participate in the talks with more confidence. ================================================================= 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-10.04.97-15:08:53-17665