Bougainville News oct 10-97 id WAA08351; Wed, 8 Oct 1997 22:30:44 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source:VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Thu Oct 2 21:33:07 1997 The Postcourier PNG's No.1 Daily Newspaper Friday 3rd of October 1997 Turmoil hurt Bougainville ops THE PNGDF battalion changeover on Bougainville was thrown into chaos on July 28 as events crippled the Defence Force Operations centre at Murray Barracks said a senior army officer giving evidence at the mutiny trial yesterday. Major John Sehi who was the duty staff officer during the alleged mutiny was giving evidence relating to the control of the operations centre by the Special Forces Units. Maj Sehi told the court that Lt Michael David, armed with a pistol, gave the order for a total communication blackout but he was not threatened in any way. He also told the court that he saw Special Force Unit officers including Major Enuma, Captain Renagi, Captain Namah and Lt David at the gates during the crisis. He said the communications centre was functioning during the alleged take-over. However, he could monitor calls going out but the SFU were also monitoring the calls and ``I was instructed not make any communication.'' He said, ``I had a big and important responsibility and that was to send an important message to the Forward Tactical Commander in Buka on that day.'' He said there was to be a battalion change-over with the second battalion replacing the first on Bougainville using the Defence Force Cassa aircraft. However, the exchange did not take place that day. The delay, Maj Sehi maintained, was because of the communication blackout at Force Operations centre. ==================== Enuma picked up `without warrant' MAJOR Walter Enuma was arrested at Taurama Barracks on July 21 without a warrant stating any ``wrongs'' committed in the Defence Force, according to a senior army officer at the mutiny trial yesterday. Lieutenant Colonel Carl Marlpo, when questioned by defence counsel Powes Parkop, said that there was no warrant served on Major Enuma when SOG units arrested him. He also agreed Major Enuma was not dismissed or charged by the Defence Force when he was caught by the Special Operations Group. Major Enuma, Captain Bola Renagi, Captain Belden Namah, Lt Michael David and Lt Linus Osoba are facing mutiny charges. Colonel Marlpo, who was appointed by the Defence Force commander Leo Nuia to head the SOG, resumed giving evidence after Defence Force Judge Mark Sevua adjourned the trial on Wednesday. Justice Sevua adjourned on Wednesday for what he said was some evidence the ``public is not entitled to know '' after Mr Parkop raised questions during cross examination about the alleged activities of SOG. The trial resumed yesterday after the judge made it clear that the defence line of questions should be centred on July 10 and onwards, after the group was formed. Colonel Marlpo said on Wednesday that SOG was set up by the commander Nuia with the purpose to keep surveillance and conduct any other operations that the normal system was unable to carry out during the Sandline crisis. He also said during cross examination that SOG was formed to bring in people who were absent without leave (AWOL) and bring in those people resisting lawful orders. Mr Parkop asked Colonel Marlpo if SOG, including Captain Puipui and Captain Tatau, allegedly arrested Major Enuma at the Taurama Barracks gates. The colonel agreed and said that the orders were from the commander and ``as far as I know he was known to be AWOL''. He agreed to questions that a warrant stating the charge needed to be served on the accused. Mr Parkop: ``Would you agree Major Enuma never received a (arrest) warrant?'' Colonel Marlpo: ``Yes''. ``Would you agree Major Enuma was not dismissed or charged?''Colonel Marlpo: ``Yes.'' He said the SOG also escorted Major Enuma to Boroko police station only after they had received a request from police. Colonel Marlpo said there was a reconciliation meeting at the commander's house on July 24 with Major Enuma and the commander apologised to the major. ==================== Minister assures tailings safe TAILING disposals used by two Milne Bay mines are up to international standard and the safety of the fishing industry in the region is not under threat. Mineral Resources Minister Ian Ling-Stuckey yesterday tried to put to rest fears raised in Parliament by Esa'ala MP John Kanadi that chemicals from the waste disposal were affecting marine life and the quality of the fishing industry. Mr Kanadi claimed the two mines, Misima and Wapolu, were contaminating the marine environment by disposing waste without proper tailing measures. The minister however replied that the Department of Mining and the mining companies were using strict surveillance systems to avoid these from happening. He said a Melbourne-based environmental consultant had confirmed through tests and surveillance procedures, in September when he requested meeting with them, that the tailing disposal was ``acceptable and meets worldwide standards''. Mr Ling-Stuckey said that the type of waste disposal method used in Misima, the submarine tailing, was used worldwide. He said: ``It sounds worse than it appears; all the tailings are pushed down a tailings pipe to a depth of 80 metres. At that depth, it is believed that some 5-10 per cent of marine life are existing there . . . and there we don't have what we call up-welling, where tidal movements move the currents up to the surface. ``The tailings, when they come out, are pushed down to the sea bed located at about 1200 metres . . . these are mixed with cyanide which are then broken down by sea water.'' He said PNG mining laws set their own standard and are used by the UN as a model for developing countries. ==================== Opposition lends support for BTG extension THE Opposition last night lent its support to the Government to unanimously pass the first votes on two pieces of legislation to extend the life of the Bougainville Transitional Government. But it took intense lobbying by Government MPs, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Haiveta, Government Whip Peter Waieng and Constitutional Development Commission Chairman Vincent Auali as well as compromise to have Opposition amendments that drew that support. The Opposition's conditions highlighted last night by leader Bernard Narokobi indicated to be incorporated into the BTG Act was to have all four Bougainvillean MPs become automatic Transitional Assembly members. They also wanted BTG during its (to be) extended 12 months from December 31, 1997 to prepare for a provincial elections. That resulted in the Opposition backing the Government to get amendments on the ``Organic Law on Provincial Government and Local Level Governments'' and Constitutional amendment No 16 and 17 past the first votes with a unanimous majority of 83 each time. The Opposition support which came as a surprise because of their stated opposition to the extension follows a commitment by Prime Minister Bill Skate to include their amendments to have the four Bougainvillean MPs become automatic members of the Transitional Assembly currently headed by Premier Gerard Sinato. In this paper yesterday, Bougainville MP John Momis had presented a petition decrying the proposed extension of the life of BTG which was signed by 14 Bougainvillean leaders. The Opposition through Leader, Mr Narokobi had indicated earlier that they wanted BTG's life to end on December 31, and Mr Momis to assume the Governorship. That raised a few eye brows as Mr Momis, known as the father of decentralisation, had been a strong opponent of the current provincial government reforms. Parliament was thrown into disarray at times when Leader of Government Business and Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Philemon Embel tried to seek appropriate leave and move the right motions to have Government Business No. 2 and 3 brought forward and for Chairman of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Justice, Fr Robert Lak to indicate that it was cleared. =================== Petition rejected BOUGAINVILLE Premier Gerard Sinato is not aware of an anti-BTG petition signed by chiefs which is believed to have been tabled in the national Parliament this week. But he said the petition was the work of political rejects who claimed to represent the chiefs. ================== Nenta sacking opposed SENIOR police officers in the Highlands have urged the Prime Minister not to sack Commissioner Bob Nenta. Two senior officers in separate telephone calls told the Post-Courier that Police Minister Thomas Pelika was trying to put his own man in the force. They said Mr Pelika's candidate was only a superintendent before he got his law degree and knows nothing about the force and its management. One of the men said the force will be made a laughing stock. He said everyone knew that the minister's candidate was an old friend. Another said Mr Nenta proved during the Sandline crisis that he can hold the force together. He questioned why elected leaders want to change committed officers who are willing to up-hold the law, respect the government of the day and serve with total commitment. ======================== 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-10.08.97-22:30:44-4500