From: malecki@algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Subject: Bougainville Update - 25/2/97
Date: 26 Feb 1997 00:12:13 GMT
Sasha Baer
International Amateur Radio Network
Bougainville Freedom Movement
Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol
Mobile: +61-0419-433-702
sashab@magna.com.au
http://www.magna.com.au/~sashab/
Contact Details:
Vikki John (BFM) +61-2-9558-2730 email: V.john@uts.edu.au
Moses Havini (BIG) +61-2-9804-7632
Max Watts +61-2-9818-2343 email:
MWATTS@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
2/24 Radio Australia
-reported engagement of foreign mercenaries by the PNG government
-Bougainville Transitional Government Premier Gerard Sinato said totally
opposed to mercinaries and pursuing peace process supported by security
forces and the District Peace Committees; asked PNG Prime Minister (PM)
Sir Julius Chan
-Australian PM John Howard says he told PNG PM Chan that Australia is
deeply concerned
2/25 Radio Australia
-South African based Executive Outcomes mercinaries chair Eeban Barlow
refuses to confirm or deny involvement
-PNG PM Chan says British company only trainers, not mercinaries
-Executive Outcomes experienced in Angola and Sierra Leone, called "the
diamond dogs of war" for obtaining mining concessions in exchange for
military service
-New Zealand PM Jim Bolger sending protest letter to PNG PM Chan
2/25 The Australian, page 1, by Don Greenlees and Mary-Louise O'Callaghan
-Australian PM Howard tells parliament use of mercinaries is "absolutely
and completely unacceptable"
-PNG PM Chan drafting statement claiming mercinaries only training PNG
soldiers and mercinaries are actually from Sandline International "a
reputable professional company"
-Australian ministers and defense officials knew about PNG mercinary plan
two weeks ago and in response considered withholding $9 million (US
dollars) from a defense co-operation program
-PNG paying Sandline International $36 million (Australian dollars)
2/25 by Craig Skehan and Lucy Palmer
-PNG thinks Australian satellite technology could be used to locate
source of Bougainville Revolutionary Army radio broadcasts, but Australia
refused amidst contraversy
-Australian top intelligence (Office of National Assessments) confirms
that party of more than 30 mercenaries are in PNG, partially based on
intercepts of PNG communications, and that a covert operation had been
planned (two Russian-build aircraft landed in port Moresby last week and
since left)
-Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs ordered investigation as to if
any Australian aid money went to the mercinaries and offered to
facilitate peace talks