By Frank Enright
"Amnesty International urges the Government of Australia to halt any further provision of helicopters to the PNGDF and to conduct an immediate review of all military aid to PNG. It recommends that such aid be suspended until the PNG authorities have conducted a thorough investigation of allegations that the helicopters have been used to commit human rights violations and have made the results of that investigation available to the Australian Government and the general public." - Amnesty International report: Under the barrel of a gun - Bougainville 1991-1993.
The Bougainville Interim Government announced last month that the Australian-supplied Iroquois helicopters are yet again being used by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force to strafe villagers in central Bougainville.
Meanwhile, the shares of Australian mining giant CRA its rose by 50 cents on the stock exchange before Christmas following an announcement by PNG defence minister Paul Tohian that PNG troops were only five kilometres from the Australian-"owned" Panguna copper mine.
Although PNGDF troops were massed and orders given to take the mine, no attack eventuated, according to Radio Free Bougainville. It is reported that fresh orders have been issued to retake the mine this year. The Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) has vowed to repel any attack.
In December, the Australian Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ASICJ) called on the Australian government to facilitate peace talks between the PNG government and the representatives of the people of Bougainville.
"We strongly urge you to utilise every diplomatic, political and economic avenue available to you to persuade the parties to the dispute that a peaceful resolution is not only necessary but a legitimate regional concern.
"We are cognisant of the sensitivities in relations between Australia, the former colonial power, and PNG. However, we believe on balance that the time is long overdue for Australia to take a higher profile, principled, courageous and committed stance. Such a public approach has been lacking to date", said ASICJ president John Dowd, QC.
The convener of the ASICJ committee on Bougainville, Tony Simpson, noted, "Bougainvillean people, including the rebel forces, have been sending clear, strong signals that they want peace and a return to normalcy".
The Bougainville Freedom Movement asks people to add their voices to the increasing chorus of protest by urging Gareth Evans to review or suspend all military aid to PNG until allegations about the use of the Australian-supplied helicopters are investigated and the findings made public. Ask also that he convince the PNG government to permit access by an international fact-finding mission to assist with the resolution of the conflict in Bougainville.
Messages should be sent to Gareth Evans, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600. Fax (06) 273 4112. Ph (06) 277 7500. The Bougainville Freedom Movement can be contacted on (02) 264 5790.