Bougainville - 15 June 99 Postcourier briefs Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - VIKKI@law.uts.edu.au Mon Jun 14 23:12:32 1999 Postcourier - 15 June 99 Bougainville group set to meet with PM SENIOR members of the Bougainville Peoples Congress have been meeting for a week at Arawa to discuss the issue of self determination. Islands divisional commander, assistant commissioner John ToGuata who has been involved in the peace process on the island for a long time, told the Post-Courier that following the meeting, a four- men delegation by members of the BPC was to travel to Port Moresby to discuss the idea of self determination with the Government. ``Something is certainly brewing over there,'' Mr ToGuata said. Mr ToGuata said he had received information from sources on Bougainville that members of the Bougainville Peoples Congress including president Joseph Kabui had been meeting to discuss the issue of self-determination. Mr ToGuata said as head of police in the Islands region including Bougainville, he was concerned about this revelation especially since they had gone along way with the peace process on the island. Mr ToGuata has been involved in all major peace negotiations inside and outside of Bougainville. He said according to his information, the four-men delegation will travel to Port Moresby to inform the Government on the stand of the BPC. Meanwhile, BRA leader Francis Ona said over the weekend his faction was continuing its fight for independence. He told the Post-Courier that senior members of his faction had been meeting last week. During the meeting they agreed to continue the struggle for independence. Also over the weekend, they extended the ``No-Go'' zone which now virtually covers the mainland. Ona said the no-go zone has been extended to the Tunur junction from Morgan junction. It now covers areas like Aropa, Kongara one and two, Wisai, Kangu Beach whole of Panguna, Sowele and Nagovis. Ona warned outsiders not to venture pass these areas adding that trespassers could be shot. Ona said UN officials could enter but on prior arrangement. Ona also said last week that he had not been in contact with Mr Kabui and Sam Kauona and he did not share their views on the issue of independence. But Mr ToGuata disputed this saying it was obvious they were in constant contact and were trying to trick the Government. * Bougainville case to be heard next week LAWYERS involved in the Supreme Court Reference by Bougainville MP John Momis on the legality of the suspension of the Bougainville Provincial Government were directed to update their information relating to the situation on Bougainville. Chief Justice Sir Arnold Amet yesterday told lawyers for the State, the National Executive Council, Prime Minister Bill Skate and Mr Momis to draw out the agreed primary facts and come back to court on Friday. Sir Arnold said especially, on the recent election and convening of the Bougainville Peoples Congress, all parties should agree on what has transpired to date and its current legal status as per the reference. These include the procedures that were taken or transpired before arriving at the current situation. He said they should summarise all documents for the court's information and reference and to be all filed in an updated Supreme Court reference book. The Chief Justice also directed the State to produce documents to the other parties by Wednesday, including information on the ceasefire agreements. These primary facts were sought in the originating summons filed by lawyers for Mr Momis in relation to the reference. Mr Momis wants the court's binding opinion on whether the decision by the National Executive Council to suspend the BPG on December 31, 1998 and allow for a transitional government was proper in law. While the reference was pending in the Supreme Court, elections were sanctioned by the Government where an elective government was put in place with Joseph Kabui voted as president of the Bougainville Peoples Congress. Mr Momis has also claimed that he was entitled to benefits as governor, of which he was denied as a consequence of the suspension. Sir Arnold said this needed to be stated in the update, especially the law relating to entitlements for governor's in suspension. The Chief Justice will peruse the information next Monday before the hearing on Thursday. ================================================================= 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-06.16.99-04:28:14-29750