Bougainville News Oct 1 97 id PAA18163; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 15:07:08 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Tue Sep 30 19:47:58 1997 =================== The National (PNG) 1/10/97 ==================== K4m Red Cross aid for Bougainville By PHIL YOMBON PORT MORESBY: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society has brought more than K4 million worth of household utensils and gardening tools for Bougainville. Head of the delegation Iain Logan said Tuesday night that the Red Cross had brought and delivered essential things like kitchenware, clothes and tools to the people in all parts of the island, including rebel-controlled areas. He added that the delegation had established a close relationship with the rebels and the security force. He said the delegation was studying the drought and the frost situation nationwide, and would make recommendations to the International Red Cross Society for assistance. Mr Logan called on business houses in PNG to support the Miss PNG contestants in their fund-raising activities so that the funds can be used to help the people. He expressed concern that the Bougainville rebels and some other fighting groups like the Bosnians were engaging children in warfare, especially the males. ===================== Ona silent on his absence at talks By PHILIP KEPSON RABAUL:Bougainville rebel leader Francis Ona did not give any reason why he failed to accompany other rebel leaders for the second New Zealand peace talks at Burnham army base this week. Bougainville Forward Tactical Commander Lieutenant Colonel Tarua Falaniki told The National yesterday, from Buka, that security force members and civilians on the island could not establish why Mr Ona had decided against accompanying other rebel leaders Joseph Kabui, Isamael Toroma, and Sam Kauna to the meeting. "All I am aware is that Kabui, Isamael, and Kauna had left the island for the peace talks. Francis Ona must still be in the hills in Panguna...Nobody knows why he failed to attend both meetings," said Lt.Col Tarua. Mr Ona had criticised Mr Kabui and Mr Torama's decision to release the five security force members who were held hostages after the first peace meeting recently in New Zealand which led to the Burnham Declaration. Col Falaniki said the situation on Bouganville after rebel and Bougainville Transitional Government (BTG) left for the meeting was quiet, adding that people are patiently waiting to hear the outcome of the meeting. A Government official, who did not want to be identified, said from Buka that the issue of the extension of BTG term, which is expected to end this December, must be sorted out before any peace initiatives can be pursued. The official said Bougainville MP John Momis and South Bougainville MP Michael Laimo's position against the extension of (BTG) term is likely to cause possible disruption to any peace initiatives if the government extends BTG's term. "And it is important for the Government to consider listening to Mr Momis and Mr Laimo because their participation in peace talks can bear fruit." He said most people in Bougainville do not want the transitional government's term extended but want either to elect the members of BTG through proper election or to come under the existing reform on Provincial and Local Level Governments. "This is in order to allow Mr Momis to automatically become governor, to participate actively in the peace process," said the official. "Allowing the BTG to continue in office does not guarantee people's co-operation with the leaders on peace initiatives," he said. ================= Soldiers' actions 'illegal' Colonel testifies at Enuma court martial By PHIL YOMBON PORT MORESBY: The Acting Chief of Operations of the PNG Defence Force yesterday told a Court Martial here that the actions of PNGDF members whose leaders are currently facing mutiny charges were illegal. Lieutenant Colonel Davey Ugul, the highest ranking PNGDF officer so far to take the witness box in the Court Martial, said he personally witnessed Defence Force Commander Leo Nuia placed under house arrest and also saw members of the operation walking around heavily armed and carrying a machine gun. At no time during his testimony did Lt Col Ugul name any of the five soldiers currently facing mutiny charges as having been involved in the house arrest or carrying of arms. The five soldiers facing mutiny charges - Major Walter Enuma, also leader of the Sandline operation Rausim Kwik, Captain Bola Renagi, Captain Belden Namah, Lieutenant Michael David and Second Lieutenant Linus Osoba - are alleged to have been the leaders in an operation that led to the alleged placing under house arrest of Brigadier General Nuia in June this year. Counsel for the five soldiers, Powes Parkop, denied his clients were involved in any illegal or mutinous actions and countered with his own claims that the operation of Commander Nuia and his loyal soldiers which led to the arrest and charging of the five was itself illegal. The Court Martial, scheduled to have begun in the morning, was delayed due to a power failure. When it resumed at 1.30pm, Lt Col Ugul told the Court Martial that since he as acting Chief of Operations was neither informed of, nor authorised any of the alleged operations, they were illegal. It was his duty to authorise any military operations. He said the operation led by the five officers was also illegal as there had been no direction from the commander of the force. Lt Col Ugul confirmed seeing Brig-Gen Nuia under house arrest on June 28 this year, adding that he saw the members of the operation with a machine gun, and heavily armed. However, Mr Parkop denied that they had led any operation. He accused the commander and his soldiers of conducting illegal operations leading to the arrest and charging of his clients. Court martial judge, Justice Mark Sevua, disqualified Mr Parkop's claims saying that the accusation was outside the jurisdiction of the defence trial. The five accused, through Mr Parkop, had earlier made an unsuccessful application to disqualify Justice Sevua from presiding over the mutiny trial alleging bias. The case was adjourned to 1.30pm today. ================================================================= 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-10.01.97-15:07:09-14670