Army raids Bougainville villages

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 10

Army raids Bougainville villages

NZPA-AAP Kieta, Bougainville Island

Security forces raided villages along the approaches to the shut-down Panguna copper mine early yesterday, burning houses and rounding up residents.

Witnesses reported houses burning fiercely and said at least two dozen people were taken away by police.

Soldiers blocked the access road to the mine, carefully checking all vehicles before they were allowed to pass.

Overnight, secessionist rebels were reported to have destroyed a power plant at a pig-and-chicken farm run by Bougainville Copper Ltd. Villagers around the minesite who had not yet fled to the bush were yesterday said to be “confused and frightened” by the state of emergency which came into effect at 8 a.m. New Zealand time.

Many have approached local priests and asked to be moved out. Others are likely to be forcibly evacuated from rebel-held areas in a move to isolate

the secessionist leader, Francis Ona, and his followers.

They will be put up in camps while troops move against the rebels. Disas-ter-relief services have been called in to co-ordi-nate the evacuation and arrange supplies. The security forces’ commander, Colonel Lima Dotaona, has called on Ona to end his rebellion, surrender himself and accept the justice of the courts. He said he was confident his men would restore law and order to the province to permit the reopening of the Bougainville Copper, Ltd, mine at Panguna.

Rebels forced the closing of the mine seven weeks ago, denying the national Government millions of kina in direct and indirect revenue.

B.C.L. has already laid off 300 employees from its 3400-strong workforce.

The commercial manager, Ken Perry, confirmed yesterday that further sackings were likely soon. Most employees have already been sent on enforced leave.