mercinaries - near battle

[Chris <red@xxxxxxx>]

[I have summarized a rather long e-mail on this situation in Papau New
Guinea against the Bougainville Revolutionary Army. E-mail me directly
red@xxxxxxx if you want the long version. --Chris]

From: malecki@xxxxxxxxxx (Robert Malecki)
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Subject: Bougainville Update - 25/2/97
Date: 26 Feb 1997 00:12:13 GMT
Message-ID: <5evv4t$13t6$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Sasha Baer
International Amateur Radio Network
Bougainville Freedom Movement
Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol
Mobile:    +61-0419-433-702
sashab@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.magna.com.au/~sashab/

Contact Details:
Vikki John (BFM)     +61-2-9558-2730   email: V.john@xxxxxxxxxx
Moses Havini (BIG)   +61-2-9804-7632
Max Watts            +61-2-9818-2343   email:
MWATTS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(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



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