Sasako banned

Brisbane-based journalist Alfred Sasako has been banned from enter ing Papua New Guinea following a trip to Bougainville last Christmas in which he interviewed the island’s secessionist leaders. Sasako, a Solomon Islander who works for Australian Associated Press in Brisbane, reached Bougainville by canoe from the Shortlands, Solomons’ northernmost islands. Sasako’s report and photographs were published in last month’s issue of Pacific Islands Monthly.

The Papua New Guinea government said Sasako is banned because he entered the country illegally. But Sasako told the regional news network Pacnews that Bougainville was not under Papua New Guinea rule when he landed on the island. He pointed to the Endeavour Accord, the peace agreement signed by the secessionists and PNG government officials in August, as proof that Port Moresby was not in control of the island.

The ban on Sasako came at the same time Port Moresby banned the Sydney based television network, Special Broad casting Service (SBS), which sent a team to Bougainville through the Solomon Islands last month. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Rabbie Namaliu is reported to have complained to the Solomon Islands authorities.