Bougainville News 16 Sept id DAA32717; Tue, 16 Sep 1997 03:05:41 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Tue Sep 16 00:24:19 1997 Bougainville News from Radio Australia and the Postcourier (PNG) Tuesday 16/9/97 BOUGAINVILLE PEACE TALKS RESCHEDULED Tuesday 16 September, 1997 (1:16pm AEST) The next round of Bougainville peace talks in New Zealand has been rescheduled for the first week of October. The talks were to have begun tomorrow, but a clash with this week's South Pacific Forum has forced the new timing. New Zealand Foreign Minister, Don McKinnon, will host the talks which will again be held at the Burnham military base near Christchurch. The Papua New Guinea government will be represented at the peace negotiations for the first time. The other representatives will be from the PNG government-backed Bougainville Transitional Government, the successionist Bougainville Interim government and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army. ============== Postcourier Newspaper PNG 16/9/97 Skate set to make his mark PRIME Minister Bill Skate will leave Port Moresby this afternoon on his way to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, for his first appearance at an international gathering as the nation's top executive. Many of the 13 member countries of the South Pacific Forum will be watching to see what type of a leader Papua New Guineans through their 109 elected MPs have chosen to lead them. Mr Skate's predecessor, Sir Julius Chan, was a respected international figure in both Asia and the Pacific for his policy of ``Look North and Work the Pacific''. He was also a master at ``off-the-cuff'', speeches and was reputed to be a financial wizard. Mr Skate is a self-confessed ``leader of the down-trodden''. That has placed him in good stead with the grassroots people and the squatter settlers especially in Port Moresby. When Solomon Islands Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu visited PNG earlier this month, one of the things raised was the possibility of a Melanesian peace-keeping force for Bougainville as the peace process for the island gains further momentum. That is likely to cause some discussion among the Melanesian Spearhead Group as well as those involved in the previous peace-keeping force at the Arawa Peace Conference in October 1994. But whatever the agenda in Rarotonga this week, it is clear that the South Pacific Forum will be the spotlight that shows whether Prime Minister Skate is a worthy South Pacific leader as well. His approval of K10 million for a road and other projects in Solomon Islands must have increased his standing, even though he has come under fire from the Opposition for committing that money at a time when PNG is suffering a major drought crisis. ============= Govt okays K2m crisis spending CABINET has approved a province-by-province break-up of the K2 million now available from the Finance Department for the drought and frost-stricken people across the country. Prime Minister Bill Skate said yesterday there was evidence of widespread effect of the natural disaster across the nation including water, food and medical supplies shortages, frost, negative effect on cash crop production and migration. Mr Skate said trust accounts would be opened in all provinces, with five provinces having already done so. He said the funds will be channelled for provision of food, water, planting materials and fish fingerlings to restock lakes. ``Current data collected from the provinces hsa been very poor, causing unwarranted delays in the release of these much-needed funds. The visit of Governors and Administrators to Port Moresby this week will also be used to establish an ongoing system for monitoring changes in the situation,'' the Prime Minister said. He added that under the current reforms; there were provisions for a division with roles and responsibilities in preparing and responding to emergencies. ``Provincial Disaster Committees should coordinate all provincial activities and public servants, including Police and PNGDF personnel, will participate to ensure that supplies reach those that need them most.'' He added all donor assistance would be coordinated through the National Disaster Committee. ================== Singirok warned to show up FORMER army commander Jerry Singirok _ facing sedition charges _ failed to appear in court yesterday and the court issued a warning for him to appear later this month or be arrested. Mr Singirok was represented in court by lawyer Moses Murray who received the warning from the District Court magistrate. Senior magistrate David Rei said General Singirok should personnally appear or a bench warrant would be issued for his arrest. Mr Murray made an undertaking for General Singirok to appear on the date set by the court. The case was adjourned to next week Friday for mention. KANDRIAN-GLOUCESTER MP Peter Arul has appeared before the Kimbe District Court on charges of being in possession of a firearm. Clerk of court Pongi Karok said Arul appeared on two charges - for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and for being in possession of a high-powered firearm. The weapon was described as a telescopic .22 SLR calibre riggler. Arul appeared last Friday for mention and his case was adjourned to September 27. His bail was extended, Mr Karok said. ================ For further information, please contact: Bougainville Freedom Movement PO Box 134, Erskineville. NSw. 2043 Australia 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-09.16.97-03:05:43-16178