Bougainville: Independence Still on Agenda Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: VIKKI@law.uts.edu.au Wed Apr 28 23:28:21 1999 The National - 29 April 99 Bougainville independence still on agenda, says rebel leader By PHILIP KEPSON RABAUL: Nobody should think that the issue of independence is over following the signing of the Matakana and Okataina Understanding in New Zealand last week, rebel spokesman Andrew Miriki said. "No body had pushed the issue of independence under the bridge," he said. Mr Miriki made the remark in reaction to Laitena Council of Chiefs chairman Joel Latu Banam and Resistance forces commander Hilary Masiria's statement last week in Buka that the issue of independence was a non-issue following the signing of the agreement. The leaders of the different factions (signatories to the understanding) had agreed to stop making media statements that would promote argument among themselves, thus endangering the spirit of the Understanding. Speaking from Buin yesterday, Mr Miriki said it was not his intention to go to the media but because the two leaders (Mr Masiria and Mr Banam) had made a public statement on the issue of independence, the rebels would like to remind the public that they took part in the signing of the agreement as they felt that it was necessary to do so. Mr Miriki also said the rebel faction agreed to the contents of the understanding because most of the issues were subject for further negotiation. "The understanding was signed mainly to bring the leaders together to further negotiate the outstanding issues. It was never done with the purpose of bringing the the issues to an end," he said. Mr Miriki admitted that the issue of independence was not included in the understanding for discussion but they will take it up in future talks as it still remained as their main agenda for discussion in the peace process. ================================================================= 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-05.12.99-00:11:22-26918