Guardian: Bougainville update (3.Sept '97) id UAA29848; Thu, 11 Sep 1997 20:25:04 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit sender "Vikki John" Thu, 4 Sep 1997 12:32:04 GMT-1000 The Guardian September 3, 1997 Bougainville update A meeting last week between Australia's Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, and the representative in Australia of the Bougainville Interim Government, Mr Moses Havini, was the first such meeting and indicated that the Australian Government is now prepared to give defacto recognition to the Bougainville Interim Government. Mr Havini welcomed this development and said that "the present Australian Government now sees that in order to resolve the conflict on Bougainville it must involve the BIG and BRA who were formerly regarded as rebels." The Australian Government is attempting to find ways to deal itself back into the Bougainville situation having been sidelined when the New Zealand Government took the initiative to bring the Bougainville political forces together in New Zealand. At that meeting the three principle forces on Bougainville adopted the Burnham Declaration and resolved to work closely together. This was a major achievement and unified the Bougainville leadership in support of a process to bring about peace and to work for an agreed political future for the island. For some time the Australian Government recognised that a successful military outcome for PNG was not possible. This was partly the reason why Australia opposed the intervention by the Sandline's mercenaries. However, although the tactics of the Australian Government have changed and is now in favour of peace the Government continues to oppose independence for Bougainville and has its sights set on the reopening of the CRA Panguna copper mine. The allocation by the Australian Government of $100 million over five years to help with the alleviation of suffering and for the reconstruction of Bougainville, while welcome, may also have the aim of creating an opportunity for the direct involvement of Australian personnel on the ground in Bougainville. New strains The allocation of the aid money has caused some new strains in relations between the Australian and PNG Governments. Mr Downer told journalists that the money would come from Australia's normal aid allocation which meant that other aid allocations to PNG might be cut. On the other hand, PNG's new Prime Minister, Bill Skate, maintained that it was an additional amount. When challenged that Australia was "robbing Peter to pay Paul", Mr Downer claimed that it was wrong to say that one interpreation was wrong and the other right. Mr Skate called on the Australian Government to come clean on the Bougainville issue. "We are talking about Bougainville which through its copper mine helped Papua New Guinea and Australia," he said. Mr Skate's comment confirms that the CRA Panguna copper mine on Bougainville remains central to both the PNG and Australian Governments. While supporting peace talks the PNG Government has ruled out independence for Bougainville. Prime Minister Bill Skate says independence for Bougainville is "non-negotiable". Another round of talk with the Bougainville political forces is scheduled to be held in New Zealand later this month. On the previous occasion only Bougainvillean representatives were present. This time the PNG Government will be included. Important victory The four non-government organisers who stopped the Sandline International mercenaries from going to Bougainville (to kill, maim and murder the people) and were charged with "unlawful assembly" had all charges struck out when they faced a PNG court last week. In congratulating the four men involved, Bougainville Freedom Movement spokesperson in Sydney, Vikki John, said: "Justice is served. You all deserve Nobel Peace Prizes". At the same time a PNG Military Court has charged four leading defence force officers with mutiny following their demonstrations against the Sandlines mercenaries. A hearing of the charges has been set down for September 8. Those charged include Major Walter Enuma who was a strong supporter of the former commander of the PNG Defence Forces, Major General Singirok. * * * South African Government acts against mercenaries CAPETOWN, South Africa: The SA Government has introduced legislation which punishes soldiers of fortune with 10 years in prison and $220,000 fines. A member of the SA Government says that it is a "constitutional duty" to avoid interference in the affairs of other countries. The bill introduced by Defense Minister Joe Modise in July imposes controls on military assistance abroad. It bans participation in actual military combat, giving military advice, training, the procurement of military equipment and the provision of security services. Kader Asmal, who heads SA's National Conventional Arms Control Committee, said: "Applications (for permission) will be refused outright if they might result in the violation or suppression of human rights, endanger peace by military destabilisation ... support terrorism ... or prejudice South Africa's national or international obligations and interests." ================================================================= 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-09.11.97-20:25:01-13066