Police out in Bougainville

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33957, 25 September 1975, Page 17

Police out in Bougainville

ew Zealand Press Association —CopyrtgL

POR I MORESBY . September 24. The Papua New Guinea Go\ eminent took immediate police action today to discourage a threatened Bougainville secessionist take-over of a Government patrol post in the south of the troubled island.

i District authorities sent a contingent of 10 i police to the Boku patrol post in south-west 'Bougainville this mornling after officers there reported about 500 prosecessionists were outside the post and threatening to take it over.

A 40-man riot squad was also sent to the island from Rabaul in New. Britain as a precautionary measure. The immediate police action appeared to discourage the secessionists.

The Bougainville Deputy District Commissioner (Mr Dan Duggan) said by telephone from Bougainville that the situation at Boku this afternoon was “calm.” “It looks as if the show of force by police has prevented any trouble,” Mr Duggan said. The Boku patrol post is a collection of about 50 small buildings in the Siwai area. It caters as the administrative centre for about 17,000 people. The post is staffed by 25 Government officers, including several Australians. It is situated on a cliff overlooking the Puita River, the scene of fierce fighting during World War 11. South Bougainville, and particularly the Siwai area, is claimed as a stronghold by the secessionists. A secessionist leader, Leo Hannett, said that the action at the Boku post was in line with the “Republic of North Solomons” plans to oust P.N.G. Government officers and replace them with their own nominees.

He said that the villagers of Siwai planned to install a secessionist official, Mr Michael Poowa, as their administrative head in the area.

“We will not tolerate any take-over of Government property,” Mr Duggan said firmly.

Mr Hannett said that he had not heard if they had successfully done this because communications with Boku were very poor. The post is linked to main towns by radio telephone and bed weather has made reception very uncertain. Mr Hannett said that secessionists throughout the island will be asked to support the action by the Siwai villagers. However, Mr Duggan said that by late this afternoon the villagers had dispersed to a meeting house about ■ three kilometres from the patrol post. About 150 of them were holding a meeting there. The riot pol’ce arrived in Kieta from Rabaul this afternoon and travelled to Arawa. where they will remain on “standby” in case they are needed at Boku.