>from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Bougainville. UN condemns Aust ZeroOption. Iraq > >GUARDIAN ROUNDUP -- SEE INDEX > >****************************** > >5. Bougainville: People running out of patience >6. UN report condemns the stench of mandatory sentencing >8. British Govt. bans Iraq relief flights > ********** > >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Bougainville. >5. Bougainville: People running out of patience > >The pro-independence Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) is running >out of patience with Papua New Guinea's indecisiveness and failure to >make firm commitments regarding a satisfactory political solution for >Bougainville. The peace process, which was commenced in 1997 after >almost 10 years of war between PNG and Bougainville, is now very >fragile, with PNG continuing to manoeuvre to gain time and avoid a >referendum on the question of independence. > >Considerable progress has been made since the cease-fire came into >force in April 1998 and a regional Peace Monitoring Group was >established on Bougainville along with a United Nations Observer. > >The PNG-enforced blockade of Bougainville was lifted, the process of >restoring basic services and reconstruction has begun, >and considerable progress made towards reconciliation >between Bougainvilleans. > >Relations between Boguainvillean leaders and PNG under the leadership >of Prime Minister Bill Skate improved considerably. > >As part of the process, and in accordance with agreements endorsed by >Papua New Guinea, the people of Bougainville elected a People's >Congress (government), representative of the whole of Bougainville. > >The key questions of the withdrawal of PNG Defence Forces, disposal >of arms, the exercise of self-determination remained to be resolved >-- through negotiations. > >The cease-fire agreement refers to the gradual withdrawal of the PNG >Defence Forces with the simultaneous disposal of arms by the BRA and >the Resistance (Bougainvilleans who were co-opted by PNG). > >At present the PNG Defence forces are still sitting on Bougainville, >the BRA still has its arms as well as the Resistance and the only >people who are standing between them is the Peace Monitoring Group >(led by Australia) which is not armed. > >Negotiations were held last December with the new PNG Government led >by Sir Mekere Morauta. > >During those negotiations the Bougainville People's Congress, which >is now the Government of Bougainville, and all the groups and leaders >in Bougainville were united in presenting their negotiating position >to the Morauta Government. > >Political questions > >Moses Havini, international representative for the Bougainville >Government told "The Guardian" that their position centred >around three principles. > >First, that the highest level of self-government short >of independence be established in Bougainville immediately. > >Second, that under this highest level of self-government, >the Bougainville Government would have exclusive responsibilities >for the full range of powers and functions in Bougainville other >than agreed essential powers and functions that may be >reserved primarily to the PNG Government. > >Third, and the most crucial point, that a referendum be held as >a legitimate right of Bougainvilleans on the question of independence >for Bougainville, at a time to be determined by the Bougainville >Government. > >Unity on negotiating position > >"This is the common negotiating position which we presented to Sir >Michael Somare [PNG Minister for Bougainville Affairs] and his team >in December last year", said Mr Havini. > >"So we are not talking about a referendum in terms of tomorrow or in >three years time but further down the track when the people >of Bougainville are actually ready for it. > >"In fact what we said was that the referendum would be held on a date >to be determined by an autonomous government of Bougainville, after >consultation with the Government of PNG. > >"There would be a number of triggers which would depend on >the following factors: capacity of the Bougainville >administration, progress towards reconciliation, the political and >economic situation, and the progress in the operation of the >autonomy arrangement. > >"And then, of course the other important issue would be the progress >on arms disposal." > >The referendum would be a yes-no vote on whether the people >of Bougainville become an independent nation-state or remain >within the constitutional frame-work of the PNG nation-state. > >This was the proposal put to PNG negotiators at the meeting >last December. > >"In presenting this common negotiating position to Sir Michael Somare >in December, Sir Michael Somare said to us that he would now present >this proposal to the Cabinet and, in fact, they were not altogether >opposed to the idea of autonomy and even considering a referendum and >that during our second round of negotiations he would come back with >an answer to the people of Bougainville. > >"The second round of negotiations took place in Buka [island north of >Bougainville island] on March 6, 2000." > >Insulting offer > >Sir Michael Somare returned with an insulting counter-proposal that >offered the people of Bougainville no more than a >provincial government system that is basically even lower than >a metropolitan local government council in Australia. > >"Now, the Bougainvillean leaders saw that as basically six >steps backwards. What we were offered is even three times less >than what the Bougainvilleans got in 1975-76, during the >first struggle, by way of a provincial government system", said >Mr Havini. > >"It is very provocative. The people of Bougainville are not dumb, are >not stupid. They know what they are fighting about. > >"They know the political system of Papua New Guinea inside out and >with the question of autonomy they are actually expecting to get >something more and over what they got in 1975-76." > >The Bougainvillean parties were united in their outright rejection of >the proposal from Papua New Guinea. They later requested a resumption >of talks which recommenced on March 17 on Loloata Island and in Port >Morseby. > >They continued until March 23, when an "Understanding" was signed. > >Loloata Understanding > >The Loloata Understanding, as it is called, provides for >a Bougainville Interim Provincial Government to be established under >PNG law. > >This would be followed by the establishment of an >autonomous Bougainville Government. The functions of such a >government are "to be agreed upon" and "Bougainville will take some >years to exercise many legislative powers and functions". > >There is agreement to continue negotiations on a >political settlement. > >There is nothing in the Understanding however, which pins PNG down to >a fixed timetable or commitment to a level of autonomy or even when >autonomy might be achieved. > >The Understanding is just as non-committal on the key >political question of self-determination and independence: >"Negotiations on a political settlement will continue with the >Bougainville Leaders". > >PNG "acknowledges the aspirations for a binding referendum >on independence as called for by the Bougainvillean leaders". > >Acknowledging an aspiration is a far cry from responding to >those "aspirations" or even acknowledging them as rights rather >than just aspirations. > >"The parties will address the referendum issue. The parties >agree that the holding of the referendum may be deferred until >after autonomy has been implemented and can be fairly and >properly judged." > >In effect PNG has not committed itself to a referendum in >the forseeable future or to "autonomy short of independence" >as sought by Bougainville. > >PNG appears to be buying time with the aim of re-establishing control >over Bougainville to avoid giving the people of an opportunity to >express their will. > >The PNG authorities hope to break the unity that has been achieved, >possibly buy off a section of the population and weaken the resolve >of the Bougainvilleans as expressed by the Bougainville People's >Congress. > >The creation of a second government by PNG creates difficulties and >has the potential to sow disunity. > >But PNG might be in for a shock, the Bougainvilleans are a determined >people, determined to become independent and manage their own >affairs, and after the years of war and human rights abuses by PNG >Forces, it may not be so easy for PNG to walk back in and be >accepted. > >Frustration > >On Bougainville people are becoming impatient with PNG's failure to >make advances in the peace process. It remains to be seen how quickly >PNG acts on the Understanding, or whether it continues to drag the >process out. > >"Unless speedy legislation is implemented through the PNG Parliament >for an Autonomous Bougainville Government, over and above what >Bougainville got in 1976, then there is no guarantee that we will >ever get away from what has been offered", said Mr Havini. > >"The people of Bougainville have been fighting now for five decades >and more consistently in the last ten years for an independent >homeland. > >"Under international law, indigenous people's rights and the United >Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, not only is this >right guaranteed under the provision, `the Right to Self- >Determination', but also the right of the people to enjoy their own >economic resources is also guaranteed. > >"Bougainville is a very resource rich island country and most capable >of becoming an independent and leading viable nation within the >Pacific", said Mr Havini. "We are frustrated." > >"Bougainville and Papua New Guinea are still technically in a state >of war. The BRA Force is now fully and better armed than ever, and >has ten years of experience of fighting a successful guerrilla war >against the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. > >Cannot rule out war > >"They are ready to re-enter war with Papua New Guinea at any time, >that is, if PNG is secretly inclined that way." > >The BRA has raised concerns about recent political statements by out- >going Australian Peace Monitoring group Commanders, that they were >there to protect PNG's sovereignty. > >"While this is essentially a matter between Bougainville and Papua >New Guinea, the PMG's role is clearly that of a `neutral peace- >keeping' force on Bougainville", concluded Mr Havini. > >**************************************************************** > >6. UN report condemns the stench of mandatory sentencing > >Australia has now become the first advanced Western nation to >be asked by the United Nations to explain its race policies. The >UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial discrimination >has expressed astonishment that 70 per cent of those in jail in >the Northern Territory are Aborigines, whereas Aboriginal people >only constitute 25 per cent of the Territory's population. > >by Peter Mac > >In discussions with the Federal Minister for Reconciliation >and Immigration, Phillip Ruddock, Committee members expressed >deep concern that the mandatory sentencing laws effectively >put Aboriginal people in a most unequal position and exposed >younger members of the Aboriginal community in particular, to >criminal influence. > >A humble Mr Ruddock admitted to the Committee that "the >greatest blemish on Australia's history is our treatment of >indigenous people", and that "The Australian Government has firmly >committed itself to address the unacceptable level of disadvantage >suffered by Australia's indigenous people." > >And in a remarkable act of "double speak" The Prime Minister, >the Federal Attorney-General and Ministers for Foreign Affairs >and Immigration Phillip Ruddock himself have all expressed >their disapproval of mandatory sentencing. > >However, the Government still adamantly refuses to use its federal >powers to override mandatory sentencing legislation in Western >Australia and the Northern Territory, even though they used the same >powers to override "States' rights" with regard to the issues of >euthanasia and safe injecting places for drug addicts. > >Needless to say, the Government is less than comfortable under the UN >spoptlight. > >Federal Attorney-General Daryl Williams described the >Committee's attitude as "one-sided", in view of the Committee's >statements and previous UN criticisms. > >(The Committee last year found that the Government's amendments to >the Wik legislation on native title breached the 1969 Convention on >the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Government >subsequently refused to suspend the 1998 amendments and as a result >Australia is now subject to "early warning" monitoring by the UN for >acts of racial discrimination.) > >Federal Minister Ruddock has also described UN criticism of >the Government as "unbalanced and inaccurate", but Greens' >Senator Bob Brown says that this better describes the Minister's >own actions. > >Another UN committee is also examining Australia's >performance regarding its treatment of Aboriginal people. > >The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), >has presented a submission to the UN Committee on Human Rights, >and the Commission's Chairman, Geoff Clark, is currently engaged >in discussions with the Committee, concerning the treatment >of Australia's Aborigines. > >The ATSIC submission to this committee argues that racism >still pervades Australia's political and legal institutions. > >It also maintains that the rights of Aboriginal people are >being overridden or ignored in matters such native title, the >Stolen Generations, Aboriginal deaths in custody, and the >general refusal to recognise Aborigines as a distinct people, and >the original owners of the land and its resources. > >In the latter respect the submission quotes former ATSIC >chairman Mick Dodson, as follows: > >"In my view there has been an insidious, sometimes even unconscious, >process of appeal to a notion of equality which denies any rights >which attach to cultural differences and, particularly, the identity >of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the indigenous >peoples of this country. > >"The claim to human rights which attach to such identity >are regarded, ironically, as racist and discriminatory. Hence >we arrive at a situation were `equality' and `non-discrimination' are >converted into instruments to strip Aboriginal and Torres Strait >Islander peoples of appropriate recognition and protection of our >rights. > >"In the process grossly racist attitudes find apparent shelter." > >The ATSIC submission to the UN Committee on Human Rights >also specifically refers to the policy of mandatory sentencing as >an infringement of rights. > >The Federal Government's refusal to act on this issue appears >to have, by default, encouraged the emergence of tacit (and in >some cases overt) racism. > >The NSW town of Coraki recently witnessed the burning of >several wooden crosses outside the homes of Aboriginal people. > >The Mayor of Cobar, Councillor Peter Yench, who favours >the introduction of mandatory sentencing, claims that the issue >is being widely discussed in his constituency. > >"You go in the pub and have a beer at night -- people discuss it and >say `We need mandatory sentencing.'" > >Mayor Yench has moved for the matter to be discussed at a meeting of >western NSW councils in June. However, the Mayor of Broken Hill, Ron >Page, has opposed the councils even putting mandatory sentencing on >the agenda. > >The issue of mandatory sentencing is increasingly being seen as in >itself essentially racist. > >The Victorian Attorney-General, Rob Hulls recently stated >that mandatory sentencing "is racist, it is unethical, it is >immoral and it is deliberately targeted at a particular group within >our community". > >The President of the NSW Law Society, John North, agreed >recently that councils should not be considering the issue. > >He commented: "the view of the Law Society is that >mandatory sentencing is indefensible and the Federal Government >should do everything in its power to make sure it's overridden." > >The government, of course, does not appear to be fired >with enthusiasm over these suggestions. However, politics, >like nature, abhors a vacuum. > >In view of the Federal Government's obdurate refusal to act, and with >the support of the Federal ALP, Democrats and Peter Andren, MHR, >Senator Bob Brown has now introduced a private Member's Bill to >override NT and WA mandatory sentencing laws in relation to children. > >Senator Brown commented that: "Australia is rapidly gaining >a reputation as racist against Aborigines.... > >"The fact that the PM, the Attorney-General and the Ministers >for Foreign Affairs and Immigration all say mandatory sentencing >is wrong compounds the absurdity of not only the Government's >stand, but its stand on parliamentary debate of this Bill." > >Senator Brown's Bill was passed by the Senate last week but so far >the House of Representatives has failed to deal with the Bill, debate >on it having been gagged on more than one occasion. >************************************************************** > >8. British govt bans Iraq relief flight > >The British government has blocked attempts by campaigning Labour MP >George Galloway to fly a shipment of three tons of vital vaccines and >medicines directly to Baghdad. The mercy flight was forced to halt at >the Jordanian capital of Amman and its vital cargo for the people of >beleaguered Iraq made to take the thousand mile desert route by lorry >to Baghdad. > >"I am bitter and angry", Galloway told the Arab media as he prepared >for the overland trip. "The medicine includes expensive and sensitive >medicine, such as vaccines for rabies, diptheria and typhoid." > >Although this is the first time that the British government has given >permission for the export of such medicine (collected by the Mariam >Appeal charity) to Iraq, the Labour MP had harsh words for the >obstructions put in the way of the mercy flight by the Blair >government. > >The Mariam Appeal had chartered a plane to take 209 >supporters, journalists, aid workers and doctors along with the >medical aid directly to Baghdad. After British government objections >this was scaled down to 29. Even this was too much for the Foreign >Office to swallow. > >The government eventually referred it to the notorious Anglo-American >dominated UN Sanctions Committee -- which imposed a virtual veto on >the flight. > >The Sanctions Committee demanded precise details on the purpose of >every single person travelling on board this mercy flight -- giving >Galloway just three hours to comply with the request. > >As the majority of the 29 passengers left were journalists the Marian >Appeal saw this "as a wrecking manoeuvre designed to ensure media >exposure of the suffering in Iraq remains beyond the gaze of the >general public". > >On Friday 10 March a leading London peace activist started a death- >fast in protest at the continuing blockade of Iraq. Richard Crump, a >leading member of Voices in the Wilderness and Ex- Services CND, >said: "I don't want to die, but I am willing to risk my health and my >life. > >"A fresh millennium has dawned, with a good deal of hype, flashing >lights, etc. But the wickedness continues re Iraq, as it has done for >the past ten years. > >"Crippling sanctions continue to cause death and privation and the >bombing of that country by British and American aircraft is so >commonplace as to be un-newsworthy. My feeling is that we >are entering a new era of barbarism." > >Iraq is giving US$10 million worth of crude oil to Vietnam to help >the country overcome the aftermath of the tragic floods which hit the >country's central provinces in November and December 1999. The aid is >outside the oil-for-food programme organised by the United Nations. > >"New Worker" " JC > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
