Bougainville Update - 6/5/96
Sasha Baer
Bougainville Interim Government, 26/4/96
========================================
Press Release
-------------
Bougainville Report by Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary execution, Mr Waly N’diaye is tabled at 52nd Session of the
Commission on Human Rights; Bougainville Issue continues to be UN’s
concern as contained in Chairman’s proposal: Restructuring of the
Commission’ agenda, 1996; No Resolution or Chairman’s Statement in
1996, but overwhelming support continues at the UN.
Geneva: The Bougainville Delegation flew to Geneva to be present
during the tabling of the report of the Special Rapporteur on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution, Mr N’diaye. The Special
Rapporteur visited the island of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea in
October 1995, invited by the Papua New Guinea Government.
In his 22 page report tabled on Wednesday 17, April 1996, the Special
Rapporteur expressed concern at the continuing report of excesses of
the Papua New Guinea Defence Forces amounting to violations of human
rights with impunity.
Although no resolution was passed or a Chairman’s statement made
during the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 52nd Session,
overwhelming concern from Member States of the Human Rights
Commission, over the conflict on Bougainville was continues to be
expressed by them to the Bougainville Delegation.
The Bougainville issue continues to be a concern for the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights, as it is again contained in the
Chairman’s Draft Proposal Agenda for the Fifty-Third Session of the
Commission E/CN.4/1996/L.100 - 23 April 1996.
The Delegation: Mr Moses Havini arrived in Geneva on the 14th of April
1996, while his colleague Mr Martin Miriori could not attend due to
transit visa problems with the Australian Government. A Bougainville
Activist lawyer Ms Rosemarie Gillespie arrived in Geneva beginning of
April to lobby for Bougainville at this years 52nd Session of the
Commission on Human Rights.
“Although there was no resolution or a Chairman’s Statement during
this Commission, it was still very important to have a presence at the
Commission this year. The continued concern over the Bougainville
tragedy was made loud and clear to the Commission by a number of Oral
Interventions made by a number of Non-governmental organisation. This
included the NGO Against Slavery and Torture, the International
Commission of Jurist and Pax Christie International.
Further, the Bougainville issue continued to be part of the Chairman’s
draft proposal agenda for the 53rd session of the Commission, as was
contained in this year’s Chairman’s report E/CR.4/1996/L.100, 23rd
April 1996”, said Mr Havini from Geneva today.
Contact Mr. M. Havini +61-2-804-7602 Sydney for further information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solomon Islands National Unity, Reconciliation and Progressive Pati,
3/5/96
===========================================================================
P.O. Box 1850
HONIARA
Solomon Islands
South West Pacific
Ph/Fax: +677-26-254
Press Release
-------------
A press release from S.I.N.U.R.P. office, has dismiss a claim by the
PNG High Commissioner that the spokesman for the Bougainville Interim
Government was smuggled out of the country by Australia Government in
a secret operation using a Royal Australian Airforce out of Honiara.
The office denied that claim but stated that the United Nation High
Commissioner for refugee in Canberra has arranged for the charter to
uplift Martin Miriori and his family after Qantas has refused to
uplift them on Tuesday.
The SINURP office since taking office in 1994 has been negotiating
with the UN High Commissioner for refugee to find a third home for the
Bougainville Interim Government spokesman. After long and untiring
negotiation by the UN High Commissioner and SI Government they finally
find a third home for Martin and his family in Netherlands.
The SINURP press release further stated that Mr Miriori’s departure
was not a secret one as claim by PNG High Commissioner in Solomon
Star. Rather it was a Diplomatical arrangement hence the Diplomats
including the PNG High Commissioner, Joseph Assaigo should understand
it because he was also at the Airport to witness the departure of
Martin Miriori and his family.
The SINURP office also stated that such misleading statement statement
by a reputable person such as the PNG High Commissioner, J. Assaigo
does not help Bougainville crisis but rather an attitude that if not
controlled can drag the crisis on and on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Australian, Page 2 4/5/96
=============================
Downer gives aid warning to PNG
-------------------------------
By Mary-Louise O’Callaghan
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer, yesterday refused to rule
out cuts in Australia’s $320 million aid program to Papua New Guinea.
Mr Downer, who was on a brief visit to PNG, said he also told the PNG
Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan, that he could not agree to a
moratorium on the current shift to project aid.
Mr Downer, in a clear signal that PNG should not expect more lenient
treatment from the new Federal Government, said yesterday that PNG had
no real choice but to work within the terms of a $US225 million
($282.8 million) World Bank rescue package.
However, Mr Downer said he had told Sir Julius he would do his best to
“quarantine” PNG aid from proposed Budget cuts.
On the issue of Bougainville, Mr Downer made clear the Government’s
opposition to any attempted military solution and urged PNG to pursue
peace talks which have faulted since the lifting of a ceasefire on the
island last month.
“I think they recognise that there ultimately will have to be some
sort of negotiated settlement,” he said.
Sources within the PNG Government yesterday confirmed that meetings
between Mr Downer, Sir Julius, and the PNG Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Finance, Mr Chris Haiveta, had gone smoothly.
This was despite PNG officials’ concern last week over the
relationship with the new Government, and their threat to downgrade Mr
Downer’s visit to a “private” one.
Sir Julius had written to the Australian Government asking for a four
year moratorium on the shift from direct Budget support to aid tied to
projects. Mr Downer said yesterday that it was not possible to agree
to such a moratorium.
Under Australia’s current aid treaty with PNG, the existing aid
program will move from Budget support to aid tied to specific projects
and sectors of the PNG economy by 2000.
Mr Downer said the Coalition has been elected with a commitment to cut
foreign aid by $120 million and he believed the PNG Government
understood the constraints facing the new Australian Government.
However, Mr Downer said he had given a personal undertaking to protect
the PNG aid program as much as possible.
“PNG is an important country to Australia and we look to act in a way
that will assist and not damage PNG’s long-term interests,” he said.
Mr Downer said he had agreed to requests from the PNG Government to
bring forward the annual Australian-PNG ministerial forum to allow for
detailed high-level talks on how the program aid could best be
applied.
“I explained to the PNG Government that the Australian public expect
accountability ... I’ve got to be ultimately able to answer as to how
I spend on their behalf on the aid program to PNG,” he said.
Mr Downer said he believed PNG would meet its 90-day deadline with the
World Bank.
“I understand they have met the bulk of the conditions and there are
only about three outstanding issues left which will be subject to
negotiation between PNG and the World Bank in the next few weeks,” he
said.
The World Bank put PNG on notice last month that it had failed to
comply with the conditions that would allow for the release for the
second tranche payment of the $US225 million rescue package originally
due last December.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Australian, Page 2 4/5/96
=============================
RAAF jet used to help Bougainville rebel flee
---------------------------------------------
By Mary-Louise O’Callaghan
An Australian government VIP jet was used to evacuate a key leader of
the Bougainville rebellion whose life was believed to be under threat
in the Solomon Islands, the Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, confirmed
yesterday.
The RAAF Falcon was provided after official requests from the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Solomon Islands
Government for Australia to assist with transport, mr Downer said
yesterday as he tried to play down the incident during his visit to
Papua New Guinea.
“We responded to an UNHCR request to give them a bit of help, a bit of
transport assistance, which is all we did,” Mr Downer said.
The Falcon was officially provided on Wednesday as a charter flight
for the UNHCR who had arranged asylum for the rebel spokesman, Mr
Martin Miriori, and his family who have been living in Solomon Islands
for the past few years.
The UNHCR request follows a refusal by Qantas to carry the Miriori
family as commercial passengers because of their “high risk” status.
The family had narrowly escaped death in January this year when their
house in the Solomon Islands was burnt down in what police believe was
an arson attack.
Shortly before the attack, Mr Miriori had travelled as an ordinary
passenger on the regular joint Qantas-Solomon Airlines flight when he
attended a round of Bougainville peace talks in Cairns.
PNG government officials yesterday expressed surprise that Australia
should provide special transport for a Bougainville rebel spokesman.
“They came in and smuggled him out in a highly suspicious manner,
accorded him unprecedented VIP treatment,” a senior PNG government
official said.
Arrangements for the commercial travel for the family broke down at
the last moment. It is understood that both the UNHCR and the Solomon
Islands Government conveyed in writing to Australia that they believed
it would be in the interest of all parties if the family were to leave
Solomon Islands as soon as possible.
Mr Downer said yesterday the matter had been touched on during his
talks with the PNG Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan, but was not a
major subject for discussion.”
“We were just trying to be helpful ... we agreed to provide transport
assistance.”
Mr Downer said PNG had requested that Australia accept Mr Miriori as a
refugee not long ago and therefore providing him with transport would
seem consistent with the wishes of the PNG Government.
Mr Miriori is believed to be in his way to The Netherlands where he
has been granted refugee status.
PNG has been asking the Solomon Islands Government to find a third
country for the Miriori family in an effort to diffuse his role as a
go-between for the rebel leadership on Bougainville and the outside
world.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Radio Australia 0800z 6/5/96 6020kHz
====================================
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan says he is hoping
for more help from Australia to improve law and order enforcement in a
statement released in Port Moresby.
Sir Julius said he expected this to be provided under the Defence
Cooperation Program between the two countries. The Prime Minister said
that during a meeting in Port Moresby last week he and Australia’s
Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer had discussed the program.
He said officials of the two countries would meet soon to discuss this
program and other aspects of Australian aid to Papua New Guinea.
Australia is providing both training and equipment to the PNG Defence
Force to help its law enforcement efforts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Details:
================
Vikki John (BFM) +61-2-558-2730 email: V.j...@uts.edu.au
Moses Havini (BIG) +61-2-804-7602
Max Watts +61-2-818-2343 email:
MWA...@fisher.biz.usyd.edu.au
(Journalist specialising in Bougainville, East Timor and West Papua
issues)
Bougainville Freedom Movement
P.O. Box 134, Erskineville, NSW 2043, Australia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regards Sasha
Sasha Baer
International Amateur Radio Network
Bougainville Freedom Movement
Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol
Voicemail: +61-2-513-5614
sas...@wr.com.au
http://www.wr.com.au/sashab/
Hansjoerg Marbach
I am looking for someone, who could help me know more and understand pacific cultures, or
some persons, who are living in Western Samoa, Cook Island, Tonga and Niue.
Jerry McClurg
I have also an interest in knowing more and understanding better the
islands. I have an especial interst in the area you have described and
have ben searching for anyone from Nuie. I will put together what I have
found to date and will send it to you.