|
|
|
AUSTRALIA
- WIDOW CALLS FOR FULL INQUIRY INTO NEWSMEN DEATHS BRISBANE, Oct 16 AAP - The widow of one of five Australian journalists killed in East Timor in 1975 today renewed calls for an inquiry into their deaths, saying she had statements from new witnesses. Shirley Shackelton delivered a so-called summons to the federal government and said: "We are calling for a full and open inquiry." The young television newsmen from Sydney and Melbourne were killed when Indonesian soldiers descended on the village of Balibo in October 1975. Greg Shackelton, Tony Stewart, Malcolm Rennie, Brian Peters and Gary Cunningham were shot and stabbed to death and ever since their relatives have been fighting to uncover the real story of what happened. Mrs Shackleton said there were new witnesses who had given statements to civilian police attached to the United Nations transitional administration in Dili. The appeal for an inquiry, delivered today to the Brisbane office of the Department of Foreign Affairs, questions the role of former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and his knowledge of the build-up of Indonesian forces prior to the invasion of East Timor. Mrs Shackelton also said the role of former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and his knowledge of an alleged cover-up of the journalists' murder left questions unanswered. "We are also questioning the role of successive governments in continuing military ties with Indonesia," she said. Human Rights campaigner Ciaron O'Reilly said: "The failure of Australian governments to make a vigorous protest and call for a criminal investigation ... has allowed death and destruction to continue with relative impunity on the East Timor border." Today's summons was addressed to John Howard, Alexander Downer, Paul Keating, Robert Hawke, Malcolm Fraser, Gough Whitlam and others. ............ FIJI - INTERIM PRIME MINISTER'S PAY CONTROVERSY SUVA: The head of Fiji's unelected interim administration, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, enjoys an annual salary of $96,000 - $18,000 more than the deposed elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry earned, news reports revealed today. The administration imposed a 12.5 per cent pay cut on civil servants after being appointed in July. The Fiji Sun reported today in a front-page spread that the military installed administration - which is the biggest cabinet in Fiji's history - is being paid at a far higher level than the elected government ousted by a coup d' etat in May. Documents received by the newspaper revealed that Qarase is paid $95,596 after the 12.5 percent pay cut compared with Chaudhry who was paid $78,000 plus a $11,500 non-taxable expense allowance. Qarase is also entitled to an optional taxable housing allowance of $10,500, the paper said. Chaudhry arrived back in Fiji yesterday amid tight security after death threats and, according to the Daily Post, he dedicated himself to the rebuilding of Fiji. "We all have a duty and responsibility to restore Fiji back to democracy and constitutional rule as soon as possible, the rule of law, to end discrimination and to work together to build this nation which has great potential," he said. He also said his globe-trotting campaign had been successful in spotlighting the issue of democracy in Fiji. The Fiji Sun said Chaudhry was paid $18,000 parliamentary salary and $60,000 office salary a year (both taxable), $7000 non-taxable constitutency allowance and $11,500 non-taxable expense allowance. The deputy prime minister in the interim administration, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, former military commander at the time of the 1987 coups, is paid a total of $75,850, compared to the $75,000 salaries the two ousted deputy prime ministers, Dr Tupeni Baba and Adi Kuini Speed, were getting. The attorney-general is paid $72,100 compared to the $67,200 for the ousted elected office-holder. The Daily Post reported that University of the South Pacific academic Professor Asesela Ravuvu - who is taking leave from the university to chair the Constitutional Review Commission - is being paid $65,700 a year with a housing allowance of $10,800 a year for his constitutional post. The Fiji Sun quoted Cabinet Secretary Bal Ram as saying: "We are preparing a response in full and our comments will be sent to you tomorrow." The general secretary of the Fiji Public Service Association, Rajeshwar Singh, said the salary increase of the interim ministers "justified" why ordinary civil servants had a pay cut. "These unelected people are getting higher salaries and more perks than the elected government did - I thought the government had no money," he said POLICE TO UNMASK COUP INSTIGATORS SUVA: A pre-dawn telephone call by rebel leader George Speight on the morning of May 19 is likely to trigger a spate of high-level arrests, reports the Fiji Times. More than 10 high profile personalities are likely to join the Speight group at their Nukulau island prison. Senior law enforcement sources involved in the investigation confirmed last night that arrests were imminent. Evidence collected so far point to the involvement in the coup of a number of very prominent Fijians. The members of at least two chiefly families face arrest and imprisonment on Nukulau once the investigation is complete. Sources last night said the inquiry was at an advanced stage. Members of one of the chiefly families attended a meeting with Counter-Revolutionary Warfare Unit officials and other key participants on the Wednesday before the coup. Those implicated include politicians, business identities, top civil servants and military personnel. The call by Speight on the morning of the coup to the high-level official led investigators to the suspects who now face arrest. Charges will be laid as soon as investigators decide on the nature of the crimes committed. They have studied video footage of the events at Parliament House on and after May 19 in their efforts to identify further suspects. Those identified by the invesyigators played little if any public role in the events of May 19, preferring to remain in the background. But investigators are convinced they were involved and should answer for their actions. INFORMATION MINISTER TRIES TO GAG FIJI TV SUVA: Fiji's military installed interim administration has tried to gag a popular Fiji Television current affairs programme over a planned interview with the deposed elected prime minister of the country, reports one of the country's daily newspapers. The Fiji Sun reported on 21 October 2000 that the interim administration had "strongly advised" Fiji Television Ltd against having ousted PM Mahendra Chaudhry on its weekly Close Up current affairs programme. Chaudhry arrived back in Fiji this week amid tight security after touring several countries and advocating a speedy return to democracy under the framework of the multiracial 1997 constitution. In a letter written to Fiji TV, Information Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola cautioned the company that such a programme would promote "civil insurrection or disobedience". "This is an event that must be prevented at all costs as it not only could place the company's operations at risk but also pose a danger to the general public at large", the letter said. "The Close Up programme also does not subscribe towards the fostering of the spirit of reconciliation that is needed at this time." Fiji TV's head of news and current affairs Richard Broadbridge was quoted by the newspaper as saying that the company had carefully studied Kubuabola's letter and weighed it alongside the terms of its licence. Broadbridge said that while Chaudhry, whose Fiji Labour Party had won the biggest ever mandate since independence in 1970 in the 1999 general election, had opted out of taking part in the programme schedule for October 22, the station was still seeking an interview with him SOLOMON
ISLANDS - GUADALCANAL LEADERS HOPEFUL OF PEACE Solomon Islands (WP): Lasting peace could only be achieved in the war-torn island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands if the warring ethnic militia give peace a chance, says the island's leader. ³What we need is commitments from the Isatabu Freedom Movement and Malaita Eagle Force,² said the Premier of Guadalcanal Province, Ezekiel Alebua. ³Peace now has a chance to come to our islands and we need to respect each other and settle matters." Alebua made the statement yesterday in front of about 500 well wishers and relatives who witnessed the arrival of the Guadalcanal delegation. ³We want peace and let there be peace in the Solomon Islands,² said PremierAlebua. The delegation to the four days talk in Townsville had to be flown back to the Solomons by two separate Australian Airforce Hercules. The MEF and Solomon Islands government took the first flight and arrived back in the national capital, Honiara, on Sunday - a day earlier from the Guadalcanal group. The Guadalcanal delegation included provincial and community leaders and IFM commanders arrived back to a hero¹s welcome ceremony at Munda airport, Western Solomons. Munda is located on New Georgia Island. It is one of Solomon Islands¹ second largest semi-international airports, built by the USA led allied force during World War II in 1942 to 1945. Villagers jumped packed the airport terminal and surrounding area, while about 20 Australia airforce and navy personnel coordinate the disembarking of the 40-member delegation. Following the normal checking process through immigration and customs, Munda community and Guadalcanalese in Western Solomons held a reception for the group. Community leaders and displaced Guadalcanal people co-host the reception to show appreciation for the signing of the peace-agreement that aimed to end the 21-month ethnic conflict. The Townsville Peace-Agreement becomes the seventh of its kind signed by both ethnic groups with successive governments. Emotions were run high as relatives in both the delegation and the displaced community of Guadalcanal, met for the first time after many months of separation. Alebua thanked the people of Solomon Islands and in particular Western Solomons for their prayers that resulted in the signing of the peace-agreement. He assured his colleague, Ruben Lilo, of Guadalcanal province gratitude to the government of Western Solomons for accepting displaced Guadalcanalese. Delegation spokesman Dr Tarcisius Tara Kabutaulaka said: "There¹s a lot to be desired but it is good to have something to start working on. "The challenge now to the people of Guadalcanal is to go and spread the intention of the peace-agreement to the people and militants." Dr Kabutaulaka said it was important to try to communicate this peace plan to others because the delegation needs to carry on from here. ³People are now tied of the war and they want peace and community education is very much needed. Western Solomons Premier Ruben Lilo, who also attended the peace talks and returned with the delegation, said his government has thanked Guadalcanal Province for its commitment to peace. He assured his counterpart of his government's commitment to resolving the ethnic crisis and warned that repeating of the conflict would not be in the best interest of Solomon Islands. Henry Tobani, the IFM spokesman, said: "We are quite happy with the agreement. "The biggest challenge now is commitment and during the negotiation both side showed exactly that and they were very accommodating." SOLOMON
ISLANDS - WARLORD PAID SID$500,000 BEFORE RELEASING HOSTAGE GIZO, Western Solomons (WP): The Solomon Islands government secretly paid SIB$500,000 to the ethnic militia on West Guadalcanal for the release of Solomon Airlines pilot Eric Rove, the militia claim. "Seleni yia hem hard cash and hem stap long here this time," (the money is in hard cash and in my possession) confirmed the general commander of the Guadalcanal Liberation Front (GLF), Harold Keke. Guadalcanal ethnic militia captured Captain Rove with his nine-seater Islander aeroplane at Mbabanakira in south-west Guadalcanal Island six weeks ago. The aeroplane is still under the control of the GLF's general. The government and the airline have been so far unsuccessful in negotiating for its release. The Guadalcanal militia headed by Keke held pilot Rove hostage and demanded SID$2 million from the government for the release of the aircraft. General Keke said in an interview yesterday the Minister of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, Alan Kemakeza, paid the money through an intermediary. Following the hijacking of the aircraft, the government and the Solomon Airlines used the services of the Anglican Church Brotherhood "Tasiu" to mediate between them and the militia leader. The GLF general added that Kemakeza strongly warned him not to reveal any information about the settlement. A spokesman for the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, Martin Karani said yesterday the ministry was not aware of any such payment to Keke. He said if the payment of the money had been made to Keke, probably the only one who would be in a position to comment about it was the minister. The spokesman confirmed yesterday afternoon that the minister had attended a meeting and was unable to answer any question about the payment. Following the release of the pilot on September 18 without his aircraft, the government and the Solomon Airlines management remained silent about the payment. General Keke appealed to Guadalcanal people to remain loyal to the course and not to accept bribes from the government in the form of compensation for peace. He reiterated his earlier called for Guadalcanal militants not to honor the peace agreement and refrain from bribery that might hinder their goal of freedom. General Keke said it was hard to believe that the government had repatriated MEF members from Honiara back to Malaita, considering that more than 80 percent of them were police officers. The West Guadalcanal militia leader said the agreement had compromised the land that many Guadalcanal young men had been killed for in its defence over the last 21 months. He accused the political leaders of Guadalcanal Province of trading the aspirations of Guadalcanal people to ensure that they remained on the government payroll. The general said it was now obvious that leaders of the MEF, IFM, Malaita and Guadalcanal Provinces and the government had been making money out of the conflict. PNG
- AUSTRALIA TO BAIL OUT PNG DEFENCE Australia is to help Papua New Guinea reform its armed forces with an aid package that includes funding for soldiers' rations and unpaid allowances, the Australian reports. Defence aid to Port Moresby will treble to nearly $25 million this year in support of the attempt by the Morauta Government to overhaul the country's increasingly unruly forces. John Howard said yesterday Australia would provide a special package of immediate aid, including a financial bail-out for the PNG Defence Force, which has been collecting debts since its Bougainville deployment began 10 years ago. Worth almost $15 million in total, the one-off package of assistance is over and above the annual $8 million provided under Australia's Defence Co-operation Program. Up to 30 Australian defence advisers may be deployed into a PNG force increasingly beset with discipline, corruption and management problems. The assistance, which represents a large shift in Australia's defence policy with PNG, follows a personal request to Mr Howard from his PNG counterpart Mekere Morauta during the Olympics. Sir Mekere outlined his reform plan yesterday to the PNG parliament, saying the defence force was ill-disciplined and incapable of protecting the nation. In March, soldiers demonstrated in Port Moresby over poor wages, accommodation, catering and unpaid service benefits. Last month on PNG's 25th anniversary of independence, enraged soldiers burned down their barracks at Wewak. A just-completed review of the defence force also revealed that the force could not meet its basic needs, including feeding its men, and would not be able to deploy a significant force anywhere in the country in less than 30 days. Sir Mekere's reform plans are expected to reduce the force from its current level of 4200 men to about 1500 by the middle of next year. Sir Mekere yesterday announced plans for a commonwealth-sponsored eminent persons group to oversee the reforms. An Australian is expected to head this group, given the long history of Australian involvement in the PNG Defence Force, which was established at independence in 1975.
|
