Singirok

I'm no hero

By Sam Vulum

Deposed military com mander Brigadier-

General Jerry Singirok,

the man who sparked what is seen as PNG’s most serious crisis since World War 2, said on March 26 he did not want to be seen as a hero for his role in the mercenary cri sis which led to Sir Julius’ resignation.

The man, who was involved in negotia tions for the engagement of Sandline International from day one, suddenly changed his stand, making his country’s leaders sound, at best, like gullible novices and, at worst, like crooks.

In an unprecedented move on March 17, Singirok announced on national radio that he had ordered that the Sandline contract be suspended and called on Prime Minister Sir

Julius, his deputy and finance and planning minister, Chris Haiveta, and defence minis ter, Mathias Ijape, to resign.

He said the hiring of Sandline brought into ques tion the issues of sovereignty and the credibility of the PNGDF and it own profes sionalism which he said the government had greatly undermined.

“I cannot remain silent for long as there have been many false and misleading state ments made by both the prime minister, his deputy and defence minister to the public about the engagement of Sandline and furthermore I’ve detected long-term implications to the nation if we allow this government to continue to be engaged with Sandline.

“It is wrong to hire Sandline on Bougainville at a price which could re-equip and boost the morale of our secu rity forces who for the past nine years have managed to contain the uprising given the depleted resources, personal sacrifices and lack of funding ... from successive govern ments.” He highlighted that the contract had “major flaws” and called for a com mission of inquiry into the

government’s dealings with Sandline.

Singirok, who had repeatedly spoken of his Christian principles, told reporters during the heat of demonstrations that he took the stand as a citizen, not as a commander of the armed forces or as a politician.

“A major issue of this volume had to come. What’s happening out here on the streets and around the country is the result of cries of millions of Papua New Guineans who have not seen services out in the provinces.”

Asked if he would back down, he said: “It would therefore not be proper for me to sit back and allow certain members of the ministry to use their public office, position and status for the purposes which are clear ly inimical to the principles of a democrat ic government as applies in the constitution.

It is therefore only logical that I cannot back down on the call for this prime minis-

Singirok ... “I did what I thought was best”

I'm no hero - Singirok

ter, and the ministers who are implicat ed, to resign.” Addressing a media con ference, he said he had been forced to reveal the full contents of the contract between the government and Sandline.

The contract details the extent and cost of Sandline’s provision of mercenary soldiers and military equipment and the conditions under which it would operate in PNG. It is understood that one of the major grievances among soldiers was the payment of approximately SUS 100,000 ($A 127,500) each to the Sandline mer cenaries for their three months’ work compared to the K2OO (SUSI 24) a month received by the average PNG sol dier. Commenting on Sir Julius’ resigna tion, Singirok said he took a calculated risk in speaking out against the PM’s plan to send mercenaries into Bougainville. He said every PNG per son, including Sir Julius and other politi cians, had emerged from the crisis a win ner.

“I’m committed to the cause. I think it was a calculated risk that I have taken but I want Australians to understand that I have saved a major disaster, a compro mise in our democracy by allowing ...

Sandline to come into Papua New Guinea,” Singirok said.

“I do not want people to see me as a hero ... I saw what the government was trying to do as a major, major disaster in the history of our nation so as a respon sible commander 1 did what I did. It is not an issue of power or glory or hero ism, I did what I thought was best for my country.”

Singirok also said the PNG governor general, Sir Wiwa Korowi, had spoken prematurely when he called on him to leave his home at the military barracks in Port Moresby.

He said he had tried to phone Sir Wiwa after hearing his comments, with no success.

“I am still a military officer, I don’t have alternative accommodation, I’ve got a house in the military barracks, I have no other place to go - it’s as simple as that,” Singirok said. He would not comment on speculation that he would face charges of treason, and said he would wait until the new prime minister released new terms of reference for an inquiry into the Sandline contract before responding to that. ■