Peace hopes for PNG's island slim

Peace hopes for PNG's island slim

PORT MORESBY (Reuter): Hopes for peace on the Papua New Guinea
island of Bougainville are under threat again after rebel leaders
returning by boat from peace talks in Australia were fired upon
by government troops, rebel spokesmen said.

Rebel leader Joseph Kabui said on Sunday the troops ambushed
rebel leaders on Bougainville last Wednesday after he said they
had been promised a safe passage back to the island.

Rebels from the pro-secession Bougainville Revolutionary Army
(BRA) fired back and wounded a member of a resistance force who
are fighting with the government to end the seven-year war.

However, the PNG Defense Force (PNGDF) said it had not
received instructions to allow the rebels a safe passage despite
Kabui producing what he said was a letter guaranteeing this
movement.

"We are trying very hard to make peace on Bougainville but it
is these kinds of acts that undermine the trust and confidence of
the people," Kabui said in a statement.

"We are waiting for a full explanation from the Prime Minister
(Sir Julius Chan) and appropriate action to be taken against
those responsible for this outrage, otherwise the BRA will be
forced to retaliate," he said.

Kabui said the attack took place near Koromira as rebel
leaders crossed back into Bougainville from the adjoining Solomon
Islands by boat.

The rebels were returning from a second round of peace talks
with Papua New Guinea government officials and other Bougainville
leaders in the northern Australian city of Cairns.

Security forces on Bougainville confirmed the attack and said
it was normal to ensure no illegal crossings at a common
international sea border.

"No one...informed us of their return so how would we have
known it was them," a defense forces spokesman said.

A third round of peace talks was scheduled for March/April
this year to continue discussions on disarming all factions,
amnesty for rebels, and the future status of Bougainville but it
was feared this renewed fighting could jeopardize this meeting.

The conflict on Bougainville has devastated the resource-rich
island, stopping all vital services and halting its lucrative
agricultural and mining industries, including CRA Ltd's massive
Panguna copper mine, idle since 1989.

Since the conflict began, hundreds of people have died, either
in fighting or due to a lack of medical supplies available on the
island, 800 kilometers northeast of Port Moresby.