Bougainville News 9/23/97 id PAA02102; Wed, 24 Sep 1997 15:57:53 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Tue Sep 23 20:01:05 1997 Tue: 23/9/97 - The National Newspaper (PNG) Bougainville News ================ Govt will seek to extend BTG's term By ALFRED KANINIBA PORT MORESBY: A constitutional amendment on the extension of the Bougainville Transitional Government's (BTG) term will be introduced in Parliament, when it sits at 2pm today. Prime Minister Bill Skate who arrived back yesterday from his first major engagement at the South Pacific Forum meeting in Rarotonga, is expected to issue a statement for the first reading of the bill which the Opposition says it will oppose. Provincial and Local Governments Minister Simon Kaumi confirmed that Mr Skate will introduce the constitutional amendment seeking a further 12-month extension of the BTG's term. Mr Kaumi, who did not want to comment further on the issue, said that the bill would be on the list of priorities for today's sitting. A spokesman for the Department of Bougainville Affairs said that today's sitting will see the first reading of the bill, but added that a two-thirds majority would be needed to have the bill passed in the third and final reading in the November sitting. The Opposition says it will not support any move by the Government to extend the special government arrangements on Bougainville. Opposition Leader Bernard Narokobi said last month that the Opposition wanted to see Bougainville come under the new provincial government reforms along with the rest of the country. Mr Narokobi said the Opposition will not support any moves to continue the transitional arrangements currently in place. In the March sitting, Parliament voted unanimously to extend the transitional arrangements until Dec 31 this year. Mr Narokobi said Bougainville MP John Momis would be governor of the province when the transitional arrangements ceased at the end of the year as stipulated under the reforms law. At present, all provinces including the National Capital District have governors. Bougainville is headed by Premier Gerard Sinato under the special arrangement. ============================ Opposition seeks to join Sandline probe By ERIC KONE PORT MORESBY: The Opposition has put on notice the Sandline Commission of Inquiry that it wants to be a party to the proceedings. At the preliminary hearing yesterday, lawyer Paul Paraka of Paraka Lawyers told the Commission that he was representing the Opposition because it has a bona fide interest in the inquiry. Mr Paraka also requested for some time so that he could make a submission in this regard. He said his clients were only informed over the weekend and that he needed to seek further instructions in respect of their interest in the proceedings. Commission chairman Justice Kubulan Los did not make any ruling on Mr Paraka's application. Justice Los said: "We cannot say anything at this stage because you have to seek instructions and apply properly at an appropriate time." The Commission and the major parties in the inquiry also agreed that former defence minister Mathias Ijape should be represented in the proceedings. Counsel representing former prime minister Sir Julius Chan, Marshall Cooke, QC, told the Commission that Mr Ijape has a bone fide interest in a number of the terms of reference in which contracts were entered into while he (Mr Ijape) was a member of Cabinet and the defence minister. Justice Los granted leave for Mr Ijape to be represented after counsel assisting the Inquiry, Ian Molloy, agreed to Mr Cooke's application. Another counsel, new to the Commission's panel of lawyers, Robert Aisi, informed the Commission that he was there to represent Deputy Prime Minister Chris Haiveta. Mr Aisi indicated that an Australian lawyer, Stewart Littlemore, QC, would be appearing for Mr Haiveta at a later stage. The Sandline Commission of Inquiry yesterday adjourned to Oct 13 in order to study the new terms of reference. Justice Los said the members of the Commission were not in a better position to proceed, adding that he had only received the new terms of reference last Thursday while the two magistrates assisting him - magistrates Raphael Apa and Mekeo Gauli - only saw the terms of reference yesterday morning. "We need to study and talk, I suppose, to appreciate what we are required to do. That is, we need to have many witnesses interviewed and talked to within the country and outside the country," Justice Los said. Meanwhile, documents containing information on former prime minister Sir Julius Chan's children's Network International Security Services company will be withdrawn and returned. The Commission yesterday agreed to withdraw and return the documents because the new terms of reference released last Thursday do not include the company. The Commission granted the leave after Mr Molloy agreed to the withdrawal of the documents which was requested by Mr Cooke. Just before the Commission adjourned, counsel representing the State, Loani Henao, said he would inform the Commission on the new reporting date after consulting with Attorney General Sao Gabi. Mr Henao said it appeared to be an oversight on the part of the Prime Minister to vary the date for the new Commission to report to the Government on the outcome of the inquiry. =============== We have people's backing: Anis By PETER KASIA PORT MORESBY: The Bougainville Transitional Government (BTG) should be allowed more time to continue its mediatory and peace building role on the island until all parties involved in the conflict agree to a final settlement with the Government of PNG. Those are the wishes of the people of Bougainville as expressed by Deputy Premier of North Solomons province, Thomas Anis, last week at the University of Goroka in Eastern Highlands. "The path to sustainable peace, unity and reconciliation for the people of Bougainville depended very much on their own ability to forgive one another and forget the past, total demilitarisation of the province by both the PNG Government and rebels, consistent funding of the government's 3R program to encourage progressive development and the national government's genuineness in addressing the issues affecting the province," Mr Anis said. He was addressing a one-day seminar on the peace process in Bougainville attended by staff and students of the university, the Melanesian Institute, churches representatives, NGOs and the general public on Thursday night. Mr Anis told the participants at the seminar that the barrel of the gun was not the answer and secession at this stage would not be viable, but should be discussed with the national government to clear the air over Bougainville's future political status. "More time should be given to BTG and rebel leaders to reconcile and work out a peace program that would effectively satisfy the entire province and yet not disturb the finer fabrics of the constitution of PNG," he said. Mr Anis acknowledged the Burnham Declaration, which he said has had a great impact on the people, particularly the rebels who in the past had not been cooperative in implementing agreements reached between Bougainville leaders and the National Government. "This change in the rebels' attitude can only be attributed to the present government's willingness to allow for continued dialogue and its openness to addressing Bougainville's political issues raised in Burnham by Bougainville leaders and I thank them (Skate/Haiveta government) for their perseverance and understanding," Anis said. He said the province was already enjoying peace as a result of the leaders commitment to honouring the Burnham Declaration and as a result of rebels, Resistance Forces and the Security Forces' observance of the people's wishes made through their leaders. ================ Poll favours Bougainville govt By EMMA BODEN PORT MORESBY: A nationwide opinion poll shows that the majority want the Bougainville Transitional Government to continue for another two years under the leadership of Premier Gerard Sinato. The poll conducted by Mell Research & Marketing Consultants on 1,200 people showed that 76 per cent said this should be so if the Bougainville crisis was going to be solved. They also felt that there must be some stability at the National Government level and a sense of continuity in the efforts to solving the crisis. The poll was conducted in the NCD, Central, Morobe, East and West New Britain, Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Simbu, Southern Highlands, Enga and Northern provinces between Aug 25 and Sept 10 this year. Most opinions were that the current transitional government had been doing a good job and both the National Government and the Opposition must corporate with the Sinato Transitional Government for at least two years if positive results were to be achieved. At least 52 per cent believed that the nine-year-old Bougainville crisis could be solved during the next two to three years. Forty-five per cent of those interviewed want the Bougainville crisis to be solved soon, if possible within the next five years while 17 per cent felt that it was up to the Bougainvilleans. However, 40 per cent felt that the Bougainville situation would not be solved in the next two to three years. They blamed petty politics among Bougainville leaders for the delay, saying Francis Ona did not seem to be approving of recent developments. Some 22 per cent, however, want to see the elected regional MP John Momis take over as governor believing that he was the right man and that this would unite the Government and the Opposition on Bougainville matters. Meanwhile, 48 per cent have shown their support for Prime Minister Bill Skate's approach to Bougainville for his recent trip to Buka and for establishing close dialogue with new Solomon Islands Prime Minister Bart Ulufa'alu. Mel Research and Marketing Consultants believed that the solution to solving Bougainville was "not in Australia or New Zealand but right here and perhaps does not necessarily need millions of kina". ============== Rebels praised for backing peace PORT MORESBY: The chairman of the North-West Interim Authority Joseph Watawi, has praised rebels, chiefs and the community of Kereaka for supporting the peace process charted out in the Burnham Declaration. Leading a BTG delegation to Kuraio, located on the north-western tip of mainland Bougainville, at the weekend where he had met up with some of these leaders, Mr Watawi said the turnout of the people, especially the rebels, was highly commendable. "The meeting did achieve a lot of things. Almost all the people expressed their desire to work for peace. Even the rebels expressed the sentiments for peace as stipulated in the Burnham Declaration," he said. Mr Watawi who chaired the meeting said, "the people of Kereaka have pledged to support the spirit of unity and reconciliation as a priority. They are ready to practically implement this with the people of Kunua (also located in the same area)." He quoted two rebel leaders from the area, John Alukis and John Memesi, as saying they were ready to meet and reconcile with the Resistance Force members in the North-West District. "The people in the Kereaka area also accepted the return of basic social services into their area. Their immediate need is clothing," Watawi said. Kereaka area is one of the places in the northern part of Bougainville where rebel activities are still strong. "I assure my people that I will do my best to approach the Red Cross, churches and NGOs to assist with clothes and other basic needs," he said. ================== PNG will back Pacific nations on greenhouse By DANIEL KORIMBAO PORT MORESBY: Prime Minister Bill Skate yesterday said his government would stand by the views and uphold the concerns raised by smaller Pacific Island States in relation to the consequences of the greenhouse effect. Speaking to reporters on his return yesterday from the 28th South Pacific Forum meeting in Rarotonga, Mr Skate said he would not stand by and allow the greed of industrialised nations to wash over the legitimate concerns of people in the region facing a threat from the rising sea level. Australia had its way and had the Forum position on the climate change worded to its liking despite strong views about Australia's position put forward by Forum leaders and sharp criticism of Prime Minister John Howard by the Federal Opposition. ''On the greenhouse issue, Papua New Guinea's position is very clear, and that is we will stand by the small island states because we cannot allow their small islands to be destroyed and buried by the (rising) sea (level) because of the greed of developed, industrialised nations,'' Mr Skate said. "Even though we have a very unique relationship with Australia, I took a very strong stand to say that I will not allow human beings to be destroyed by greedy people.'' He said the ways and livelihood of the South Pacific people, especially those in the smaller islands, were set to be destroyed if the attitude of the industrialised nations went unchallenged. ''I made it clear to John Howard that I would not support his government's position,'' he said. Government Whip Peter Waieng, who accompanied the Prime Minister to the meeting, said PNG and the island nations have the opportunity to put their case before the third International Climate Change Conference to be held in Kyoto, Japan in December. Mr Waieng said the general concerns of the Forum nations on various issues were covered in the 55-point communique released after the meeting, except the issue of climate change. ''We covered everything agreeably except the issue of climate change, which I think we should leave to our representatives who will be going over to Kyoto for the third meeting on climate change,'' he said. He said Australia has always taken a position on climate change, which was the same position it took during the Forum, and said it would be interesting to see whether it maintained that position in Kyoto. He said the industrialised countries and the developing countries want some standards to be set on the emission of gases into the air. ''Australia is aligning itself with the industrialised countries. They want to have their own standards. They do not want to stick to standards that are set by the International Panel on Climate Change.'' He pointed out that the IPCC standard was that by 2010 or 2020, industrialised countries would have to limit their gas emissions to a globally accepted standard. ''The politics behind all this is that Australia and some other countries want to set their own standards, so we'll see how they go in Kyoto,'' Mr Waieng said. =================== Ok Tedi people look to mine for supplies By CLETUS NGAFFKIN PORT MORESBY: The prolonged dry spell has adversely affected the operations of the Ok Tedi mine in Western province. There has been no throughput and OTML has resorted to maintenance work on the production and processing facilities. The dredging program along the Fly River system has also been suspended as a result. OTML's managing director, Roger Higgins, told The Australian newspaper last Thursday (Sept 18) that Tabubil's isolation has also placed considerable strain on supplies at its only supermarket. The Min people in the surrounding communities have used the market in the past to supplement their needs, due to lack of rain and heavy frosts which have killed their once thriving market gardens. Families in need of food are now looking increasingly to the supermarket, which is supplying a growing proportion of a township of 10,000 and a broader community estimated at 30,000. OTML and its major shareholder, BHP, are flying in more than 30 tons of food and perishables a week to satisfy increasing demand on the supermarket. Mr Higgins said that he is bracing for a drought which is forecast to last until Christmas. The local weather bureau also said that the weather pattern is tracking closely to a 1982 El Nino which lasted nearly five months. Employees with accumulated leave have been asked to take holidays and the remaining workers have been put on dry weather supplement, which equates to 75 per cent of the standard wage. "What we are trying to do here is keep our workforce together so we have the expertise in place when we are in a position to start up without losing time," Mr Higgins said. But many employees are torn between staying in Tabubil or leaving for their villages in outlying regions, which would mean withdrawing their children from school and also relying on their families for supplies. When compared with the desperate situation now facing communities in the Western and Southern Highlands, Tabubil appears well serviced. However, Ok Tedi's ability to continue servicing its 2,000 employees as well as the broader community must be limited. Mr Higgins said that he had been in touch with the PNG Government's emergency services and AusAID which is evaluating the situation. But he cannot wait on assistance and the contingency measures - including power shutdowns - will continue until the drought breaks. "It's a disruptive way of running the town but it is what we have to do," Mr Higgins told The Australian. ================================================================= 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-09.24.97-15:57:55-10586