PNG: Force in hunt for mutiny mastermind

["Alan Bradley" <abradley1@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>From the Post-Courier (http://www.postcourier.com.pg/

News
 Tuesday  26th, March, 2002

Force in hunt for mutiny mastermind

THE PNG Defence Force yesterday sent out a strong warning that renegade
soldiers would face a military reaction and the full brunt of both military
and civil laws.
This follows the successful operation in capturing renegade soldiers at Moem
Barracks and re-securing arms on Saturday afternoon.
PNGDF Commander Brigadier- General Peter Ilau said the military will
continue investigations until officers and civilians who he suspects
masterminded the Moem Barracks mutiny are found.
"When you deal with disgruntled mutinous soldiers only the military can
solve it. When you start involving people outside of the military, then
issues like amnesty and pardon will start to creep in - and the commander of
the day is compromised immediately when you do that. And those who are
punishable are not punished," Brig-Gen Illau said.
"In this case, I must also thank the Prime Minister and the Government: they
allowed me to exercise my full command to ensure that renegades don't get
pardoned or get amnesty."
He said soldiers who are dishonourably discharged would lose all
entitlements including those who were on the retrenchment lists.
He confirmed that 11 soldiers had been taken captive with the last soldier
surrendering yesterday morning.
When asked what charges were likely to be laid, he said that it was commonly
known that three buildings were burned, including the one from 2000, weapons
and ammunition had been stolen, people had been threatened at gunpoint, and
the government of the day had been threatened and these would determine the
kind of charges.
He said the charges against the 11 ringleaders involved in the mutiny would
range from arson over the burning of the military buildings, break and enter
of the armouries, stealing, illegally in possession of firearms and
ammunition, threatening people at gunpoint and threatening the Government.
"I think there are officers involved, so normal investigations will find
that out. And the officers involved are principally involved in Port Moresby
area, so we will catch up with them," he said.
"Whether the masters are in uniform or civilian, we will find them. We have
some solid information being processed and within the next two or three days
we should be able to make contact with these so-called masterminds of these
type of illegal activities."
Brig-Gen Ilau said PNG's Constitution does not allow for death penalty but
there are equally effective legal penalties, which the courts can dish out
to the mutineers.
He said that 11 other soldiers would remain and be dealt with in Wewak both
by military and civilian procedures.
Military procedures would be carried out before they were handed over to
civil authorities, said Brig-Gen Ilau.

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News
 Tuesday  26th, March, 2002

120 weapons 'missing'

The Defence Force is confident of finding the 120 military arms stolen from
the Moem Barracks armoury in East Sepik Province two weeks ago.
Commander Brigadier-General Peter Ilau, who heaped praise on members of the
force who took part in the arrest of the mutinous soldiers at the weekend,
said the weapons and ammunition the group seized have been secured. Brig-Gen
Ilau said: "100 per cent stocktake is now being conducted. At this stage the
acting commanding officer has advised that the figures that we may be
looking at maybe around 120."
While describing the weapons as small arms, mainly M16s, 9mm pistols and
SLRs, Brig-Gen Ilau said the barracks acting commanding officer Major Willie
Janguan was confident the weapons would be recovered. Maj Janguan believes
the weapons are still in the province.
Brig-Gen Ilau said most of the ammunition had been recovered and that their
only concern were on possible reprisals.
He said reinforcements from Port Moresby were flown to Moem on Sunday to
ensure there was none.

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< The following is the Post-Courier editorial >

Viewpoint
 Tuesday  26th, March, 2002

Moem mutiny a national disgrace

AT last the military has been able to bring under control the disgraceful
mutiny at Moem Barracks which has brought nothing but shame to the Papua New
Guinea Defence Force and the nation as a whole.
This mutiny brought no relief nor answers to the problems faced by the
soldiers and their families over the Defence Force retrenchment program.
Neither did it bring pride to the servicemen in the Second Battalion of the
Royal Pacific Islands Regiment except discredit the long and distinguished
history of the units.
The mutineers have brought much suffering to their families and destroyed
their own future in the PNGDF as they now face the full force of the law for
their actions.
No one is a winner in this shameful episode.
As the mutineers face the law, they leave behind a huge bill for the PNGDF
and the Government for the destruction of the administration buildings at
Moem Barracks. The battalion has yet to find funds to rebuild another
building destroyed nearly two years ago during another revolt by soldiers.
The annual budgetary allocations for the PNGDF have no provision for
reconstruction of buildings destroyed by fire in acts of arson.
We say the time has come for every soldier to take stock of himself and the
oath he has taken to protect his country.
The problems currently faced by Papua New Guinea are insurmountable and
require the efforts of every citizen and community working together to bring
about solutions.
In searching for solutions the nation desperately needs its Defence Force to
assist in maintaining social order and stability, allowing the elected
Government of the day to concentrate on carrying out its Constitutional
duties for and on behalf of its citizens.
The nation is asking its sons in the green uniform to rise above all their
problems and play a leading role in ensuring peace during this difficult
period as we head towards the general elections.

Copyright, 2001, Post-Courier Online.



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