The war continues

Wednesday, February 9, 1994 - 11:00

The war continues

The PNG Defence Force has failed in its plans to recapture the Panguna copper mine by Christmas. An expected attack at Panguna by the end of January failed to materialise. The Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) claims that the PNGDF lost 29 men killed or wounded in fighting on the island during the Christmas-New Year period.

According to the BRA, the PNGDF lost five soldiers killed or wounded in an encounter on December 23 at Koiari village, between Torokina and Marau in west Bougainville. Another 10 PNGDF soldiers were either killed or wounded in a clash at Aropa, near Kieta, on Christmas Day.

The following day, the BRA ambushed a group of PNGDF soldiers and collaborators, known as the resistance, near Manetai, 20 kilometres north-east of Kieta. One PNG soldier and two resistance force members, including a local commander, were killed and five others were wounded.

On December 30, three more PNGDF soldiers were either killed or wounded in another clash at Aropa, while on New Year's Day three PNGDF soldiers were killed or wounded at Itakara camp, 30 kilometres from Kieta. The BRA reported that it had captured 18 high powered rifles and 200 rounds of ammunition in a January 2 attack on PNGDF troops at Buin, in which a truck was destroyed.

On weekend of January 8 and 9 areas between Kieta and Toberoi were bombarded by Australian-supplied helicopters. Radio Free Bougainville reports that the PNGDF continues to strafe villages in central Bougainville. On January 27 a fixed-wing aircraft fired indiscriminately at villages in the Aropa valley; villagers reported that there were no casualties.

Fighting is continuing in central and southern Bougainville between the PNGDF and BRA forces. On January 23, two PNG soldiers were wounded and two civilians killed in a defensive action by the BRA at Itakara Junction, 30 kilometres from Kieta.

Reports that a BRA commander has been holding talks with the PNGDF about a possible surrender were denied by the president of the Bougainville interim government, Francis Ona.