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Date Posted: 11:41:38 03/11/02 Mon
Author: ForUs
Subject: Re: Mutiny rocks PNG
In reply to: Buffy's vampire 's message, "Mutiny rocks PNG" on 09:41:05 03/11/02 Mon


Getting retrenched is like deflating a balloon!!!..it becomes deflated and will be there forever unless one gives a helping hand...



toktok taso......ForUs



>Armed rebel soldiers in Papua New Guinea, some in
>balaclavas, were refusing to return to their barracks
>last night after a weekend rampage in which buildings
>were gutted by fire and an armoury raided.
>
>There were graphic accounts of senior officers
>plunging into the ocean and swimming for safety as
>they were fired upon. Other officers were forced to
>scramble through dense mangroves.
>
>While the commander of Moem Barracks, at Wewak in East
>Sepik Province, also fled, many soldiers and officers
>not involved in the mutiny remained on the rebel-held
>base.
>
>The mutineers are angry over termination packages
>linked to staff cuts in the military.
>
>A 13-point petition also demanded the resignation of
>the Prime Minister, Sir Mekere Morauta, and
>replacement of the chief of the Defence Force,
>Brigadier-General Peter Ilau.
>
>
>General Ilau criticised elements of the command at
>Moem for not properly explaining the compensation
>packages.
>
>
>He also warned that "evil forces" were at work and
>"dying to get their hands on those [seized] weapons
>and ammunition".
>
>"It is your duty to God, Queen, country and your
>Defence Force to ensure that no evil force will
>succeed," General Ilau said.
>
>Defence force leaders said that contact had been made
>with leaders of the revolt. "The renegades still have
>their weapons with them," the defence force chief of
>staff, Colonel Tom Ur, said. "They are still
>finalising their demands. There are about 48 of them,
>but about six or seven main ringleaders."
>
>There was violent unrest at Moem in September 2000,
>also linked to moves to reduce the size of the PNG
>Defence Force.
>
>During another mutiny in March last year, the Prime
>Minister was placed under heightened security after
>rebels at the Murray barracks in Port Moresby seized
>dozens of high-powered weapons.
>
>The Australian Government, which has been the subject
>of protests in PNG for backing military staff cuts,
>expressed concern yesterday over the latest
>developments. "We hope order can be restored and the
>trouble does not spread,' a spokesman for the Foreign
>Minister, Alexander Downer, said.
>
>"We have obviously been in contact with the Papua New
>Guinea Government."
>
>Australians in the Wewak area have been officially
>urged by Canberra to "exercise caution".
>
>There were local media reports yesterday that about 20
>M16 and SLR weapons were taken at the weekend, but the
>Defence Force said there would have to be a stocktake
>to determine the number of firearms involved.
>
>The strife began in the early hours of Saturday
>morning when shots were fired to stop loyal personnel
>at Moem barracks putting out a deliberately lit fire
>which gutted a military intelligence and
>administration block.
>
>The National newspaper reported that there were shouts
>of "Sutim ol ofisas, sutim ol ofisas (shoot the
>officers, shoot the officers)".
>
>Attempts to put out a second fire in a communications
>centre several hours later were again blocked and the
>building was destroyed.
>
>"I am very disappointed - the buildings have nothing
>to do with their demands," Colonel Ur said.
>
>Senior officers were being sent from Port Moresby to
>Wewak and face-to-face talks with the mutineers were
>expected within a couple of days.
>
>"We will sit down and discuss it," Colonel Ur said.
>
>"I think there are divisions among the group
>themselves on their demands."
>
>He said some disgruntled soldiers thought others had
>"gone overboard".
>
>Colonel Ur said soldiers with 20 years or more service
>were generally satisfied with termination packages
>being offered, but those with fewer years in the
>military wanted to know what they would be given.
>
>Asked if the latest group of rebels faced punishment,
>Colonel Ur said; "For those involved in criminal
>activities, normal disciplinary action will be taken."
>
>Questioned on when the raided firearms would be
>recovered, Colonel Ur said: "The sooner the better."
>
>He said the PNG Prime Minister was being briefed daily
>on the attempts to restore discipline.

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