Crossing

Bougainville

Crossing the line

Foreign journalists’ incursion into the

troubled island of Bougainville

has PNG vowing tough retaliation

By Sam Vulum

Foreign journalists visiting Papua

New Guinea in the future will be subjected to tough screening proce dures by authorities. Foreign Minister Kilroy Genia warned that the government would take a tough stand against foreign journalists entering the country without proper clearance.

The comment follows the illegal entry of two foreign journalists into Bougainville in January to cover the negotiations for peace and the release of five security force members - captured during the Kangu beach massacre between the South Bougainville Council of Chiefs, Bougainville Revolutionary Army members and a delegation of par liamentarians led by former prime minis ter Sir Michael Somare and Bougainville MP John Momis.

Commenting on the two journalists, an Australian-based television photojoumal ist and a British writer for Esquire maga zine based in Hong Kong, Genia said: “For the two journalists, if they are still in Bougainville, they will be arrested by law enforcement agencies there and will be dealt with accordingly under the laws of this country.

“They did not respect the sovereignty of this country, let alone our immigration laws, and decided to enter illegally, and at the same time risking their own lives.”

The minister said he would not hesi tate to deal with these “ignorant and

insensitive foreigners”.

“I urge all foreign journalists to obtain prior approval from PNG authorities before visiting Bougainville. I also want to warn these journalists that they will be arrested and the full force of PNG laws will be applied by our government,” he said.

“They did not respect the sovereignty of this country, let alone our immigration laws ”

According to sources on Bougainville, the crossed from Gizo, Solomon Islands, to Kieta, Central Bougainville, and hiked to Lagui to cover the event.

PNG has sent a protest note to the Solomon Islands government.

Defence Minister Mathias Ijape, who has confirmed that the two journalists are still on Bougainville, has ordered security forces to arrest them. “The two are find ing it hard to get back to Solomon Islands because we have increased surveillance on the border. The journalists have no

A Solomons Police Field Force patrol heads out past the naval boat Auki Photograph by Michael Field

respect for the sovereignty of this nation and have moved freely in and out of Bougainville. This has to stop,” he said.

“The Solomon Islands police ... have been ■f instructed to destroy . all equipment oj the . j. ??

JOUVnatlStS

“The Solomon Islands police have been notified to assist our security forces

to detain the two. They have been instructed to destroy all equipment of the journalists and have them detained, ques tioned and arrested, and taken to Port Moresby.”

Major Bill Nende, deputy commander of the battallion stationed there said that, according to their information, the two had not crossed over to Solomon Islands.

Major Nende said another foreign radio technician, identified as Sam Veron, from Australia was also on the island. He said that according to information received, the three were expected to leave for Solomon Islands at the end of February. ■

A Solomon Islands Police Field Force patrol races across New Georgia Sound on the troubled Bougainville border Photograph by Michael Field