PNG Rebel Leader "Snubs" Truce
	  id OAA21747; Wed, 15 Oct 1997 14:06:32 -0400


Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit

source:N.Braumann@tu-bs.de  Mon Oct 13 20:27:13 1997

http://www.wr.com.au:80/national/t1.htm


Ona snubs truce

By PETER KASIA and PHIL YOMBON

PORT MORESBY: Bougainville rebel leader Francis Ona said yesterday his
faction will not be a party to the interim Bougainville truce
agreement reached at the second round of peace talks at Burnham in New
Zealand.

Parties to the Bougainville conflict signed the interim Burnham Truce
following two weeks of talks in New Zealand.

Under the terms of the truce, signatories agreed to immediate measures
to stop fighting pending a formal meeting of leaders desirably by
early next year.

Prime Minister Bill Skate said the truce would take effect
immediately.

Sources quoted Mr Ona as saying from his hideout in Guava, Central
Bougainville, that he refused to accept the truce and that it was
destined to fail.

He said he would not be responsible for any casualties that might
occur during the period of the interim truce.

The sources said from Arawa that Mr Ona was yet to be fully briefed on
the truce by the rebel delegation headed by Sam Kauona and Joseph
Kabui who left New Zealand on Saturday for Bougainville via Honiara in
the Solomon Islands.

Mr Ona said similar agreements in the past had often not been honoured
by the security forces and resistance fighters and he would order his
rebel faction to be on the alert for similar actions.

The sources said a full meeting of the different rebel elements would
be convened soon at Kongara in Central Bougainville to discuss the
latest peace talks at the Burnham army base near Christchurch in New
Zealand.

Meanwhile, the PNG Government delegation to the New Zealand talks
returned here yesterday afternoon.

The officials refused to talk to the media on arrival, indicating that
they would have to brief Prime Minister Bill Skate first today at his
Morauta House office.
 
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