Bougainville!

Too much talk upsets talks on Bougainville!

From a Port Moresby correspondent The sensitive Bougainville talks nearly broke down when reports from an Australian press conference by the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Mr Somare, gave the im pression that the secessionists had agreed to government proposals for a settlement involving autonomy within Papua New Guinea for Bou gainville.

Some Bougainville leaders were upset and cut communications with the team representing the govern ment at the talks. The government, for a while, could not get in touch with the secessionist chairman, Father John Momis.

Almost immediately after reports of the Australian press conference were published and broadcast, Mr Somare issued a statement denying that he had said the secessionists had agreed to proposals put forward by the government. He claimed he had been misrepresented by Australian reporters who were not familiar with the situation.

“I intended to convey only that Bougainville leaders had agreed that we present a package deal”, he said.

“Whether or not they agree to the proposals we put forward will be up to them”.

A copy of the statement was quickly sent to Bougainville and in the following days the Prime Minis ter’s press office desperately tried to get a transcript of the Australian press conference to substantiate Mr Somare’s denial.

Nevertheless, the exercise has left government specialists on Bougain ville worried. They fear that next time the secessionists will not accept any excuses for wrong impressions given by Mr Somare at oress con ferences. The Australian instance is the second occasion when Mr Somare has had to despatch urgent messages denying reports of what he had said.

Following a Port Moresby press conference late in February, Mr Somare, quickly telexed a transcrip tion of the proceedings to Bougain ville to correct any impressions that the government had decided to re instate the island’s Provincial Govern ment which was abolished last year when no agreement could be reached and trouble erupted.

Whether or not Mr Somare was

misrepresented at the two press con ferences is debatable. Deliberate or not, Mr Somare is always vague at his press conferences never giving precise answers. Even seasoned poli tical roundsmen find his vagueness trying at times. To avoid further misrepresentation, his advisers have decided that he should either refrain from answering or play it low-key when asked for comment on Bougain ville.

They are also considering joint statements with the secessionists on all Bougainville matters. When that will be effected, remains to be seen.

The second round of talks that forged ahead with major break throughs late in February presents analysts with intriguing politics at its best. With malicious aforethought, the Tolais lobbied to have the talks held in Rabaul. Before the talks be gan, the Tolais invited Mr Somare to a rally where they successfully put their case for provincial govern ment, and called on the government to include in the constitution the provincial government recommend ations of the Ledderman-Watt report which recommends more provincial autonomy. Outspoken parjiament arian, Mr John Kaputin, was promi nent in the Tolai lobbying. Behind the scene moves by him, Tolai Pro vincial Affairs Minister, Mr Tammur, Tolai East New Britain Commis sioner, Mr Rabbie Namaliu, and the Prime Minister’s Tolai press sec retary, Mr Bill Kuamin, enhanced the conducive atmosphere that led to the major breakthrough in the long Bougainville dispute.

Naturally, having the talks in Rabaul gave their people the oppor tunity to put their case for provincial government to Mr Somare. Beyond that, however, the scenario becomes puzzling. Why the other three acted is understandable. While they are nationalists, who share the same principles with Fr Momis and Mr Kaputin, they work for Mr Somare.

Mr Kaputin, on the other hand, is an arch-enemy of Mr Somare. His only respect for the government is with his compatriot, Mr Tammur.

Thus it is hard to work out why he figured in the talks. Did he do it because of his friendship with Fr Momis and Mr Tammur or did he do it out of self-interest?