Bougainville News 10/22/97 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source:VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Tue Oct 21 22:02:22 1997 The National (PNG) Newspaper 22/10/97 Further talks to be held in NZ WELLINGTON: Two further sets of Bougainville peace talks are set to be held in New Zealand during coming months, government sources said yesterday. The first round, to take place before Christmas, would involve a handful of officials representing the various factions on the war-torn island. That would set the scene for a meeting of leaders in January 1998 which will possibly include PNG Prime Minister Bill Skate. "They all feel comfortable here. For the Bougainville rebels, Burnham is almost like a second home," one source said. Two earlier rounds of talks at Burnham Army camp near Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island ended on Oct 10 with the parties signing a truce pending the leaders' meeting. New Zealand Foreign Minister Don McKinnon confirmed a meeting of officials was the next step, but said arrangements were up to the parties to the talks. "The next stage in the process is for a small group of officials to meet to make preparations for the leaders' meeting. Confirmation of the arrangements for those meetings is in the participants' hands," Mr McKinnon said. Government officials did not expect rebel leader Francis Ona to be involved in the talks. They said he seemed to be becoming marginalised, although it was difficult to assess how much influence he retained. A senior New Zealand government official estimated 80 to 200 troops would be needed for a regional peace-keeping force on the island, should one be requested. But it was unlikely this would be directly under United Nations control. Diplomats believe New Zealand favours deploying a larger force initially which could be scaled down later. Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Monday played down the prospects of a quick resolution to the decade-old conflict despite the current cease-fire. Mr Downer told the Australian parliament that the peace process was evolutionary and should not be hurried. "So far the Burham talks have led to the truce between the parties to the Bougainville conflict and that I think is a very important confidence building measure," Mr Downer said in answer to a question from MP Peter Nugent. "There is a mood of hope and dialogue and we will continue to encourage that." The government had made an effort to build lines of communication directly with key players rather than through the Port Moresby government, with contacts made with both rebels and the BTG, he said. "The talks in Burnham are part of what I describe as an evolutionary process and I don't think it is wise to push the peace process too fast," Mr Downer said. "This is a dreadful, longstanding conflict in our immediate vicinity and we want it resolved in a peaceful way. "The Australian government is acting very constructively, very patiently and very responsibly in trying to assist that process." - Reuters and AAP ============================= Three groups engaged in peace mission RABAUL: Three different rebel groups are currently carrying out a major peace awareness campaign on Bougainville, a senior security force officer has said. Forward Tactical Commander on Bougainville, Lieutenant-Colonel Tarua Falaniki, told the National yesterday that the three groups which are taking part in the peace awareness campaign include rebel members who are allies of Sam Kauona, Joseph Kabui and Ismael Toroama, BTG officials, village chiefs, civil servants and members of the security forces. Lt-Col Falaniki said since the peace awareness campaign began on Oct 10 after the Burnham truce was agreed, it has been proceeding well without any interruptions. He said the main component of the peace awareness campaign is promotion of freedom of movement for the people and reconciliation among Bougainvilleans, adding that security force members are carrying out the awareness program from their camps among people living in the vicinity, while the rebel leaders and the Government representatives including chiefs are moving from place to place explaining the contents of the peace talks recently held in New Zealand. He said, however, that rebel chief Francis Ona remains opposed to the peace initiatives currently being pursued by his fellow rebel leaders Mr Kabui, Mr Kauona and Mr Toroama, which he said was evident from his pronouncements against both rounds of the peace talks in New Zealand and the silent position he has adopted while the peace awareness campaign is in progress. ===================== TI members 'tied to Singirok moves' Sandline Inquiry By DANIEL KORIMBAO PORT MORESBY: Members of Transparency International played a part in former Defence Force commander Jerry Singirok's moves to cancel the Sandline contract and to bring down the government, the second Sandline inquiry heard yesterday. Captain Paul Kaliop, in charge of a section of the Defence Intelligence Branch, told the Transparency Inquiry that several prominent civilians, whom he now knew to be members of the rights watchdog, Transparency International, frequently visited Mr Singirok at Flagstaff House during the Rausim Kwik operation period. Those named were former politician Sir Barry Holloway, former ambassador Meg Taylor, insurance man Richard Kassman, and lawyer Peter Donigi, who acted for Mr Singirok in the first Sandline Inquiry. He said although he did not know the actual purpose of their regular visits, he was certain they had some interest in the whole operation, including Rausim Kwik. Captain Kaliop said although security at Murray Barracks was tight after Mr Singirok was sacked on March 17, the four had access and regularly visited the general in Flagstaff house during the crisis period. He said Mr Singirok make no secret about his consultations with them when he announced during a parade at the barracks that he was not acting alone in his plans to cancel the ''corrupt'' contract and to force Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan, his Deputy Chris Haiveta and Defence Minister Mathias Ijape to resign. He said Mr Singirok had said in his speech to the troops that he was being advised by constitutional lawyers on his action, and called on them to stand firm against what he termed was 'corruption and greed' of the politicians. Asked if he knew Mr Donigi was sleeping at the Flagstaff House during that period, he said he could not tell. Captain Kaliop told the inquiry his own movements were restricted as he was seen as a 'dissident' officer who was against the former commander's moves. He said before Rausim Kwik, he was posted to work with the Sandline intelligence officers at the operations center at the airport. He said plans for Project Oyster and the major operation on Bougainville with Sandline were going well until a week or so before March 17 when it became obvious something unusual was going on. He said Captain Siale Diro indicated to him something important was happening on Saturday, March 15, which he later learnt was the rounding up of the Sandline personnel to be deported. He said a foreign affairs department official Simon Namis, who was a frequent visitor to the barracks before the operation, coordinated the deportation of the Sandline personnel with Captain Ben Sesinu. He said he did not take part in the operation, and was warned by some soldiers not to move in and out of the barracks as '' they were out to get you'' and other dissident officers. He said all his movements were watched by Rausim Kwik personnel, and his name was included in an alleged hit list for persons who were to be "exposed, isolated, and replaced". The alleged list, which was part of an operations order called Operation Rausim Kwik 2 allegedly by Mr Singirok, was tendered in court yesterday. Others on the list included Colonel Reg Renagi, Col Fred Aikung, Lieutenant Colonel Salamas, Col Leo Nuia, Major Bartley, Lt Col Job Kasa, Capt Oscar Oksap, Lt Col. Karl Malpo, Lt Albert Tagua and other commissioned officers who were against Rausim Kwik. The Attorney General, former Police Commissioner Bob Nenta, his deputy Ludwig Kembu, City Police Chief Sam Inguba, and several staff of the former Prime Minister were also on that list. Capt Kaliop admitted being enlisted as a member of Commander Leo Nuia's Special Operations Group, but denied that their role was to go after the Rausim Kwik boys. He said the SOG was concerned with identifying unit members who were not taking orders from their units, as there was a general breakdown in command and control during the crisis, and to round up soldiers who were doing illegal things. He admitted Col Nuia recruited members sacked by Singirok, some of whom were engaged as security guards for Network International Security Services owned by Sir Julius' son Byron. He will continue his evidence today. ================== Zeming leaves for Australia PORT MORESBY: Defence Minister Mao Zeming left here yesterday for an official visit to Australia where he will hold talks today with his Australian counterpart, Ian McLachlan, on bilateral and defence issues affecting both countries. Mr Zeming said before leaving for Australia that the visit was necessary to prepare the groundwork for the annual Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum to be held in Alotau later this month. He said the meeting of officials from the two sides will also provide an opportunity for the two leaders to establish personal contact and discuss the two countries' joint vision of the defence relationship. Among the issues to be discussed will be mutual respect for each other, openness and transparency in their dealings, and regular dialogue regarding internal and regional security as well as training and development of personnel. While focusing on the future, they will also be discussing existing arrangements, including the Joint Declaration of Principles as well as security arrangements between the two countries. Mr Zeming is being accompanied by Acting Defence Secretary Steven Raphael, Defence Force Chief of Staff Colonel Eric Ani, and three other officers from the Defence Department. ================================================================= 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-10.22.97-15:02:20-10809