Vanuatu seals defence pact with P.N.G.

Press, 11 August 1980, Page 6

Vanuatu seals defence pact with P.N.G.

NZPA Papua New Guinea The Prime Minister of Vanuatu (the Rev. Walter Lini) flew home from Port Moresby yesterday after tying up the final legal loose ends,to Papua New Guinea’s pledge of up to 3QO combat trbops for “peace-keeping” work in Vanuatu. In a special ceremony on Saturday' night, Father Lini and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (Sir Julius Chan) signed a defence agreement which becomes, the legal basis for the presence in Vanuatu of troops from Papua NewGuinea’s Islands Regiment. By this Wednesday, Papua New Guinea will have 200 fully-trained soldiers in the Vanuatu capital of Vila, armed and available to move against the secessionist rebels on Santo, according to the commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (Brigadier-General Ted Diro). General Diro said last week he “expects casualties” as his troops move into their peace-keeping role.

“We plan for the worst,” ;he said. “The situation ir ■Santo is far from a peaceful settlement.” ’ At Saturday night's de-'fence-pact signing, Mr Lint. ‘ an Anglican priest, asked for j prayers for his nation, des--1 cribing the next few weeks Jas a period of “very difficult development.” “If God wills. 1 hope no i life will be lost,” he said, (“and miracles sometimes i happen.” ! Sources close to the Prime 'Minister of Papua New .Guinea said that his troops I are not expected to make ■any move on Santo until the 1200 British and French (troops are evacuated. Father j Lini told reporters that he iexpected the French, and British to Trave left the island by August 19. Father Lini said that the Vanuatu Government had recently detected a “change of mood” among the Santo rebels and he had hopes of an end to rebel activity soon. He said it looked as if “more and more the conservative members of the

.rebel groups are beginning ito withdraw one by one 'from the main ringleaders,” Father Lini said he had - received reports that many (French “colons” were withdrawing their support from i rebel leaders because they .saw that if they continued ito oppose the Vanuatu Gov-', eminent “their future and ithe future of France in the ’ Pacific will be very difficult.” : The chartered Air Niugini t F2B aircraft carrying.. the I Vanuatu Prime Minister yes-, j terdqy encountered “hydraullie difficulties” about 200 km from Port Moresby and was 'forced to return to Port Moresby Airport just, before noon. \ * After the plane, carrying Father Lini and- 32 combat troops landed safely, the ya-, nuatu Prime Minister was met for the ■ second time ,in. 24 hours by Sir Julius and General. Diro. . , After an unscheduled lunch in Port Moresby, ths troops and Father Lini departed safely for Vanuatu on board another aircraft