Bougainville crisis

Special Reports

Summit focuses on Bougainville crisis

By Sam Vulum

Recent revelations of gun-running

operations by the Bougainville

Revolutionary Army (BRA) between Solomon Islands and Bougainville are believed to have added further strain to the already fragile rela tions between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Although PNG Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan denied any real conflict between the two countries in a joint con ference after the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting in Trobriand islands, gov ernment officials have indicated other wise, especially when the operations were allowed to occur with the knowledge of Solomon Islands field forces and immi gration officials. The revelations came to light after the capture of a right-hand man of the BRA operations commander Ishmael Toroama, Thomas Pinau, recent ly- In an interview with the local media, Pina, who was Toroama’s boat operator, said that he and other operators made reg ular runs to the Solomon Islands to bring back medicine, guns and ammunition for the BRA, assisted by the Solomon Island field forces and immigration officials at a border checkpoint on Choiseul Island, about 50 kilometres northeast of Buin on Bougainville. He said in his last trip before his capture by PNG Security Forces, he brought back a Russian sub machine gun which he identified as an SK-47. He said the BRA bought most of their guns, especially shotguns and .22 rifles, from the local Solomon Islands

people.

Sir Julius was asked as chairman of the MSG whether or not the continuing conflict between the two countries would affect the solidarity of the MSG, especial

ly through strained relations.

The PNG prime minister said during a Press conference that the spill-over of the crisis was no threat to the solidarity of the MSG. He said discussions were ongoing and open. However, officials said the rev-

elations of gun-running through Solomon Islands added strain to relations between the two countries and that PNG would have to be firmer in insisting Solomon Islands either outlaw the BRA operating there or co-operate with the PNG Security Forces in cracking down on illegal opera tions.

The official said the blame was now obviously going to be put on Solomon Islands when talks on border security are conducted. South Pacific’s key Melanesian leaders have called for PNG and Solomon Islands to sort out their squabbles over border incursions.

The leaders, who attended the MSG summit, urged PNG and the Solomons to address the rift in bilateral relations with greater urgency and commitment in a joint communique issued at the end of the summit. The Solomon Islands has lodged formal complaints with its neighbour after PNG trooops reportedly fired upon settle ments in the Solomons in search of BRA members. PNG has long complained that the Solomon government has not done enough to stop BRA forces slipping

across the narrow sea channel which divides Bougainville from the Solomons, or to stop the BRA using the Solomons as a staging post for importing weapons and

supplies.

“On Bougianville, the leaders ... urged PNG and Solomon Islands to address the spill-over effects of the crisis on their bilateral relations with greater urgency and commitment,” the MSG leaders said.

“Specifically, they encouraged the two countries to conclude their proposed Basic Border Agreement at the earliest possible opportunity. The leaders also encouraged Solomon Islands and PNG to conclude a joint declaration reaffirming their two countries’ sovereignty over their demarcated territories, including a decla ration that Bougainville is an integral part of PNG.”

The declaration was signed by Sir Julius and Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Danny Philip as well as Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, FLANKS representative Richard Kaloi, and Vanuatu Prime Minister Maxime Carlot Korman.

Mr Rabuka told reporters in Canberra the Bougainville issue was a major con cern at the MSG retreat.

“We discussed Bougainville at our retreat; it’s something all the regional leaders are concerned about, we are all hoping that PNG and the Solomons can sort it out very quickly,” Mr Rabuka said.

He said Fiji would be willing to take part in peacekeeping on Bougainville if asked.

“We told them that we’re prepared to take part (in a solution),” he said. “The initiative has to be made and taken by PNG. It (Bougainville) is an integral part of the territory of PNG and it’s up to them to invite external agencies to participate.

We have had experience in peacekeeping in other parts of the world and the only time our peacekeeping efforts are suc cessful is when bellligerents agree to out siders coming in. If it’s a unilateral deci sion by the outside agencies to come in, it will not work.” ■

Sitiveni Rabuka ... offering Fijian peacekeep ing services on Bougainville