- Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare appoints a 60-year-old retrenched army colonel, Yaura Sasa, as commander of the country’s Defence Force.
- In the early hours of last Thursday, Lae-based Sasa, a former military attaché to Indonesia, leads a small group of 30 soldiers to Taurama barracks in Port Moresby which houses the 1st Royal Pacific Islands Regiment where the mutineers detain their own commander, Lt-Col Francis Kari, under ``house arrest”. The group comprised members of the sea element, air transport squadron and recruits from the Goldie River training depot.
- The group heads to Murray Barracks, home to the Defence Force headquarters about 17km south-east in hired vehicles where they take PNGDF commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi by surprise in his residence and also placed him under” house arrest”.
- Sasa installs himself in Agwi’s office and calls a media conference at Murray barracks at 11am where he announces he has been appointed by Sir Michael as head of the Defence Force.
- Sasa denies it is a military coup, that it is the ``normal process’’ of replacement of a commander by the government. He gives rival prime ministers Sir Michael and Peter O’Neill seven days to implement the Supreme Court’s orders re-instating Sir Michael as prime minister or he will be forced to take actions to uphold the Constitution.
- Air Niugini announces it has suspended flights to centres with military camps – Wewak in East Sepik, Lae (Morobe), Vanimo (West Sepik) and Kiunga (Western). Australian prime minister calls on the PNG military to stay out of politics. “Australia needed a politically stable and economically successful neighbour so it was critical the situation be resolved as soon as possible with the PNG Defence Force chain of command,” Julia Gillard said.
- Senior military commanders and officers snub a summons by Sasa to attend a briefing and their lack of support signals the end of Sasa’s grab for power.
- At about 2pm, shots are fired at military police personnel who retaliated and arrested 15 men belonging to Sasa’s group.
- After negotiations, PNG Defence Force chief of staff Col Tom Ur takes control of the barracks and disbands Sasa’s group allowing Agwi to resume command. The mutiny is over after about 12 hours.
- A small group of Sasa’s men remain at Taurama barracks where they have been demanding a full pardon for their actions.
- Sasa is arrested on Saturday and appeared in court yesterday on mutiny charges, police say. Sasa was spotted by chance at a lodge away from the Taurama barracks, where his supporters have been holed up with weapons since the failed mutiny. He will be held at Bomana prison outside Port Moresby pending his court appearance next month.
Monday, January 30, 2012
How PNG’s latest political crisis unfolded
All quiet on army front
By JEFFREY ELAPA
ALL is quiet in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force throughout the country as the man who led the failed mutiny is held in custody, The National reports.
At around 2am last Thursday, Yaura Sasa, a retrenched colonel in his early 60s, led a group of 30 armed soldiers and placed the commanding officer of the Taurama Barracks, Lt-Col Francis Kari under house arrest.
At around 5am, the group drove to the Defence Force headquarters at Murray Barracks in hired vehicles and took control of the gates as Sasa claimed to have taken over as the commanding officer of the force.
The rebel soldiers placed the commander, Brig-Gen Francis Agwi, and other senior military officers under house arrest. Among them was Col Walter Enuma.
However, the situation was stabilised when the group was disbanded and Agwi resumed control and command.
It had been alleged that several members of parliament funded the operation while Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has admitted appointing Sasa as commander of the Defence Force.
At around 6pm last Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and acting Defence Minister Belden Namah, accompanied by six ministers and politicians, visited the barracks and met with top military officials.
As soon as the mutiny was quashed, police started looking for Sasa.
Sasa was arrested at 8pm on Saturday and questioned yesterday Sunday morning. He was charged with one count of incitement to mutiny.
He appeared before a special court and had been remanded in custody at the Bomana jail.
Military establishments in the city, including Taurama and Murray barracks, were quiet while security was beefed up with armed guards at the gates to the barracks.
A visit to other establishments such as the Defence Force air wing and the maritime base also showed the situation was quiet and under control.
Reports received from other military barracks at Igam, Moem, Kiunga, Vanimo and Kerowil, in the Western
Highlands, indicated everything was under the control of Agwi, who resumed office 11 hours after the mutiny started.
ALL is quiet in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force throughout the country as the man who led the failed mutiny is held in custody, The National reports.
At around 2am last Thursday, Yaura Sasa, a retrenched colonel in his early 60s, led a group of 30 armed soldiers and placed the commanding officer of the Taurama Barracks, Lt-Col Francis Kari under house arrest.
At around 5am, the group drove to the Defence Force headquarters at Murray Barracks in hired vehicles and took control of the gates as Sasa claimed to have taken over as the commanding officer of the force.
The rebel soldiers placed the commander, Brig-Gen Francis Agwi, and other senior military officers under house arrest. Among them was Col Walter Enuma.
However, the situation was stabilised when the group was disbanded and Agwi resumed control and command.
It had been alleged that several members of parliament funded the operation while Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has admitted appointing Sasa as commander of the Defence Force.
At around 6pm last Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and acting Defence Minister Belden Namah, accompanied by six ministers and politicians, visited the barracks and met with top military officials.
As soon as the mutiny was quashed, police started looking for Sasa.
Sasa was arrested at 8pm on Saturday and questioned yesterday Sunday morning. He was charged with one count of incitement to mutiny.
He appeared before a special court and had been remanded in custody at the Bomana jail.
Military establishments in the city, including Taurama and Murray barracks, were quiet while security was beefed up with armed guards at the gates to the barracks.
A visit to other establishments such as the Defence Force air wing and the maritime base also showed the situation was quiet and under control.
Reports received from other military barracks at Igam, Moem, Kiunga, Vanimo and Kerowil, in the Western
Highlands, indicated everything was under the control of Agwi, who resumed office 11 hours after the mutiny started.
O’Neill: Hunt on for plotters
THOSE who incited last Thursday’s mutiny at Port Moresby’s Murray
barracks, or played a part in encouraging it, will face the full force
of the law, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said last night, The National reports.
O’Neill’s warning came after police arrested retrenched army colonel Yaura Sasa in Port Moresby last Saturday night and charged him with inciting mutiny.
Sasa, who led a group of 40 soldiers, placed PNG Defence Force commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi and other senior military officers under house arrest in an attempt to take control of the military.
The move was short-lived with Agwi restored to his position later that day.
So far, two members of parliament aligned to Sir Michael Somare – Andew Kumbakor and John Pundari – had admitted that their camp was responsible for getting Sasa to stage the mutinous act, O’Neill said.
He said Sir Michael issued a statement which suggested he had endorsed Sasa’s actions.
“Let me make this clear – no one is above the law,” O’Neill said.
“If there is evidence of politicians having a direct hand in this mutinous act, they will be subjected to the full force of the law,” O’Neill said.
“Retrenched colonel Sasa has been arrested, appeared in court and is in custody for his part in the drama last Thursday. He is being subjected to the law and others will follow as police gather more evidence in their investigations which are ongoing.”
O’Neill said it was “irresponsible and unbecoming for politicians to make public statements” urging the disciplined forces to break the law.
“It is shocking to see and hear politicians in the Somare camp make statements like this. It shows they have very little regard for the disciplined forces and the rule of law.”
He urged Sir Michael to stop holding himself out as an MP and prime minister.
“Sir Michael is not the prime minister and he is no longer a member of parliament and must move on in life,” he said.
O’Neill said since the Dec 12 ruling by the Supreme Court, a number of court proceedings had been in both the national and supreme courts which were yet to be determined.
“As law abiding citizens, we should wait for the courts to address these issues rather than get desperate and use the disciplined forces to break the law.
“It is becoming clear who is trampling on the law here. And I urge Somare to stop making public remarks aimed at inciting individuals and institutions to break the law.
O’Neill’s warning came after police arrested retrenched army colonel Yaura Sasa in Port Moresby last Saturday night and charged him with inciting mutiny.
Sasa, who led a group of 40 soldiers, placed PNG Defence Force commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi and other senior military officers under house arrest in an attempt to take control of the military.
The move was short-lived with Agwi restored to his position later that day.
So far, two members of parliament aligned to Sir Michael Somare – Andew Kumbakor and John Pundari – had admitted that their camp was responsible for getting Sasa to stage the mutinous act, O’Neill said.
He said Sir Michael issued a statement which suggested he had endorsed Sasa’s actions.
“Let me make this clear – no one is above the law,” O’Neill said.
“If there is evidence of politicians having a direct hand in this mutinous act, they will be subjected to the full force of the law,” O’Neill said.
“Retrenched colonel Sasa has been arrested, appeared in court and is in custody for his part in the drama last Thursday. He is being subjected to the law and others will follow as police gather more evidence in their investigations which are ongoing.”
O’Neill said it was “irresponsible and unbecoming for politicians to make public statements” urging the disciplined forces to break the law.
“It is shocking to see and hear politicians in the Somare camp make statements like this. It shows they have very little regard for the disciplined forces and the rule of law.”
He urged Sir Michael to stop holding himself out as an MP and prime minister.
“Sir Michael is not the prime minister and he is no longer a member of parliament and must move on in life,” he said.
O’Neill said since the Dec 12 ruling by the Supreme Court, a number of court proceedings had been in both the national and supreme courts which were yet to be determined.
“As law abiding citizens, we should wait for the courts to address these issues rather than get desperate and use the disciplined forces to break the law.
“It is becoming clear who is trampling on the law here. And I urge Somare to stop making public remarks aimed at inciting individuals and institutions to break the law.
Sasa charged with mutiny
By JUNIOR UKAHA
YAURA Sasa, the man who led rebel soldiers in a failed bid to take over the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, was yesterday charged with inciting mutiny, The National reports.
National Capital District police chief Peter Guinness said the charge centred on Sasa putting senior members of the Defence Force, including commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi, under house arrest and occupying the commander’s office forcefully and illegally last Thursday.
Guinness said police were also seeking legal advice on laying charges of “false imprisonment” and “deprivation of liberty” against Sasa.
“Police are treating the matter very seriously.
“Investigations are continuing and we will arrest those soldiers involved in the mutiny and the civilians who funded their operations,” Guinness said.
If tried and found guilty, Sasa could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Appearing before a “special court” yesterday at the Waigani committal hearing, a calm Sasa said he did not regret his actions as they were carried out “to uphold the Constitution”.
Sasa, almost 60, from Morobe, who led the eight-hour mutiny, had earlier said he was commander of the Defence Force and his immediate task was to restore “the integrity and respect for the judiciary and Constitution”.
Sasa was picked up by members of the police mobile squad at 8pm on Saturday from the Peai Lodge on Mirigini Avenue in Boroko, NCD.
Guinness said Sasa was taken to police headquarters that same night, interviewed until the next morning and charged.
Guinness said because of the sensitivity, urgency and importance of the case, a special court had to be convened to deal with Sasa immediately.
Heavily-armed elite police officers escorted Sasa to court at around 2pm before he was taken to the Bomana prison.
“He has the right to bail and a lawyer. However, given the seriousness of his case, he must apply through the National Court to have his bail granted,” Guinness said.
Sasa will reappear in court on Feb 29
YAURA Sasa, the man who led rebel soldiers in a failed bid to take over the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, was yesterday charged with inciting mutiny, The National reports.
National Capital District police chief Peter Guinness said the charge centred on Sasa putting senior members of the Defence Force, including commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi, under house arrest and occupying the commander’s office forcefully and illegally last Thursday.
Guinness said police were also seeking legal advice on laying charges of “false imprisonment” and “deprivation of liberty” against Sasa.
“Police are treating the matter very seriously.
“Investigations are continuing and we will arrest those soldiers involved in the mutiny and the civilians who funded their operations,” Guinness said.
If tried and found guilty, Sasa could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Appearing before a “special court” yesterday at the Waigani committal hearing, a calm Sasa said he did not regret his actions as they were carried out “to uphold the Constitution”.
Sasa, almost 60, from Morobe, who led the eight-hour mutiny, had earlier said he was commander of the Defence Force and his immediate task was to restore “the integrity and respect for the judiciary and Constitution”.
Sasa was picked up by members of the police mobile squad at 8pm on Saturday from the Peai Lodge on Mirigini Avenue in Boroko, NCD.
Guinness said Sasa was taken to police headquarters that same night, interviewed until the next morning and charged.
Guinness said because of the sensitivity, urgency and importance of the case, a special court had to be convened to deal with Sasa immediately.
Heavily-armed elite police officers escorted Sasa to court at around 2pm before he was taken to the Bomana prison.
“He has the right to bail and a lawyer. However, given the seriousness of his case, he must apply through the National Court to have his bail granted,” Guinness said.
Sasa will reappear in court on Feb 29
Sunday, January 29, 2012
End of an era in Lae
By REIMUND STRAUSS
Dear Mr Nalu, as we’ve gone finish“ 1998, it takes its time until news from PNG reach
us.
But
they still do!
Today I read your article “End of an era in Lae”, about the late
Paul Menzel, published in The National on Friday, November 25, 2011.
The sad news touches me very much, because during my three-and-a-half years
in Lae my wife and I had a special relationship to Paul.
Did you even know that
Paul wasn’t his Christian Name, but, as far as I recall, Winfried!
Many lunch
breaks I enjoyed at his coffee shop.
In Decembers he offered Dresdner
Christstollen to us, a very special and famous German Christmas cake from the
town of Dresden.
His mother,
living there, sent it to Paul for Xmas all
the way from Germany.
His Coffee Shop was the place to meet for the
Germans living in and coming to Lae.
Our friends Michael Schneider and his wife
Phyllis, at that time living in Bulolo, married at Paul’s Coffee Shop in 1997.
The Morobe Administrator held the Wedding Ceremony there!
When returning to Germany, Paul gave us a beautiful carved tablet
as a present at one of our last days in his Coffee Shop.
He then even wrapped it
as protection for its shipment with our goods.
Months later, when our goods had
arrived in Germany, we cautiously unpacked the present, but something fell to
the floor.
It was a tin of Solomon Tuna, because his tuna sandwich had been my
favourite dish at the
Coffee Shop!
That’s Paul!
We kept the tin for a very special occasion –
it is still there after almost 14 years, as all the good memories of a
wonderful time in PNG.
By the way: Winfried is an old German name and means “friend of peace”.
This name fits for Paul, and we are sure that he finally found his peace.
Reimund Strauss
Freising - Germany
Col Yaura Sasa refused bail
Colonel Yaura Sasa has been refused bail by the Waigani committal court and will spend tonight behind bars.
However, "Defence Minister" in the Somare regime, Andrew Kumbakor, told a news conference that Sasa was entitled to bail and he would push for that tonight.
Kumbakor claimed that soldiers at Taurama Barracks were behind Sasa and the Somare regime.
However, "Defence Minister" in the Somare regime, Andrew Kumbakor, told a news conference that Sasa was entitled to bail and he would push for that tonight.
Kumbakor claimed that soldiers at Taurama Barracks were behind Sasa and the Somare regime.
Glory days of Goroka
By WILL MUSKENS
Dear Malum,
An acquaintance who does missionary work in PNG recently sent me your article published in The National on August 5, 2011 about your reminiscenses of Goroka in the old days.
An acquaintance who does missionary work in PNG recently sent me your article published in The National on August 5, 2011 about your reminiscenses of Goroka in the old days.
As an educational textbook seller I had given her some boxes
of learning guides that she felt could be put to good use at a mission school
in Wabag.
Your article brought back a flood of memories of my own time in Goroka.
Your article brought back a flood of memories of my own time in Goroka.
From
1971 to 1975 I was posted to Goroka, first as Assistant District Commissioner,
followed by two years as the last "white" Council Clerk of Goroka
Local Government Council, handing over to my understudy Himony Lapiso in August
1975 - after which I resigned to start my own small business in Queensland.
The 17 years I spent as a kiap (1958-1975) in PNG were the best years of my life.
The 17 years I spent as a kiap (1958-1975) in PNG were the best years of my life.
In a sense I grew up there because only a few months after completing
high school in 1957 and at just 18 years of age I found myself on a DC-4 flying
from Brisbane to Port Moresby - to a job I knew very little about!
A few short
months later I was sent to Bundi Patrol Post (in a shaky old canvas Dragon
bi-plane!) to caretake while the permanent Patrol Officer took a month's break
in Madang.
My experiences were certainly not unique - in the late 50's there
was a shortage of experienced field staff, and the only way was to expose young
blokes to the challenges of isolation and responsibilities of day-to-day
outstation management.
Learning to speak fluent pidgin was crucial but occurred
rapidly - after all, more often than not and especially when on patrol, there
were only the police constables and medical orderlies accompanying the patrols,
and of course the village people, to talk with.
Before being transferred to
Goroka I had been based for varying terms in Saidor, Madang, Kalalo (Wasu),
Imonda, Green River, Kokopo, Rabaul, Pomio, and Aitape.
Like you, I developed a great affection for Goroka - it was always considered a "plum" posting for government officers, for reasons that you described in your article.
Like you, I developed a great affection for Goroka - it was always considered a "plum" posting for government officers, for reasons that you described in your article.
A literal paradise - cool climate, spectacular
scenery, fertile and bountiful land, and a population that was industrious and
keen to learn and improve their quality of life.
Goroka Council was always regarded as a model for local government in PNG - it pioneered combining urban and rural local government and was extremely successful in serving the diverse demands of both communities.
Goroka Council was always regarded as a model for local government in PNG - it pioneered combining urban and rural local government and was extremely successful in serving the diverse demands of both communities.
We had some
really outstanding councillors back then - Atau Waikave, Akepa Miakwe, Iyape Norikave
(?) and a wonderful gregarious character called Cr Bulmakau! Rural councillors
far outnumbered the handful from the town, but they were able to strike a
perfect balance between urban and rural development and the standard of
services to both constituencies were of a very high standard.
In 1988, after an absence of 13 years, I took up an offer by the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government to come back to Goroka to set up a new urban authority - the standard or urban services and amenities had deteriorated, for one rreason or another. They decided that the best way to get Goroka working again would be to separate the town and the rural districts into 2 separate local government entities because the single council was no longer capable of handling the demands of both interests productively.
For me it was in many ways a "homecoming" - how ironic that the Premier of EHP was Walter Nombe, who in the time I was ADC in the 70's, had been my sub-distrcit office clerk!
My appointment was as Town Manager of the Eastern Highlands Capital Authority, with a board of 10 local leaders headed by Silas Atopare. It was an extremely challenging time, especially in the first year as we struggled to find sufficient funds to get the Authority off the ground, and with some understandable resistance from the Goroka Council who were not very pleased to have the town, and inherent revenue (land rates etc) taken away from them.
My excitement to be back in Goroka was tempered by the sorry state of the town - garbage piled up along the streets, roads in disrepair, town water barely a trickle if at all, and domestic pigs roaming freely at night and totally destroying the once beautiful parks and gardens for which Goroka was renowned.
The magnitude of the task ahead was immense, and apart from anything else, I was very conscious that here I was, a lone white man, in a way "recycled", with thousands of eyes watching my every move and ready to swoop if I put a foot wrong!
The three years that I spent as Town Manager in Goroka until 1992 surpassed my previous experiences in PNG and included some really remarkable episodes, not least the close working relationship between Silas Atopare and myself, but I won't bore you further with my ramblings.
In 1988, after an absence of 13 years, I took up an offer by the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government to come back to Goroka to set up a new urban authority - the standard or urban services and amenities had deteriorated, for one rreason or another. They decided that the best way to get Goroka working again would be to separate the town and the rural districts into 2 separate local government entities because the single council was no longer capable of handling the demands of both interests productively.
For me it was in many ways a "homecoming" - how ironic that the Premier of EHP was Walter Nombe, who in the time I was ADC in the 70's, had been my sub-distrcit office clerk!
My appointment was as Town Manager of the Eastern Highlands Capital Authority, with a board of 10 local leaders headed by Silas Atopare. It was an extremely challenging time, especially in the first year as we struggled to find sufficient funds to get the Authority off the ground, and with some understandable resistance from the Goroka Council who were not very pleased to have the town, and inherent revenue (land rates etc) taken away from them.
My excitement to be back in Goroka was tempered by the sorry state of the town - garbage piled up along the streets, roads in disrepair, town water barely a trickle if at all, and domestic pigs roaming freely at night and totally destroying the once beautiful parks and gardens for which Goroka was renowned.
The magnitude of the task ahead was immense, and apart from anything else, I was very conscious that here I was, a lone white man, in a way "recycled", with thousands of eyes watching my every move and ready to swoop if I put a foot wrong!
The three years that I spent as Town Manager in Goroka until 1992 surpassed my previous experiences in PNG and included some really remarkable episodes, not least the close working relationship between Silas Atopare and myself, but I won't bore you further with my ramblings.
Suffice to say that in a relatively
short period the wonderfully dedicated personnel of the Town Authority, from
board member to humble street sweeper, managed to restore Goroka to its former
glory, drawing praise from the broad community, and envy from other urban
communities.
We demonstrated that it did not require the re-invention of the wheel to bring a town back to normal operations - all we had to do was to manage meagre finances carefully, apply all the revenues to providing urban utility and public services, implement and enforce local laws dealing with littering and animal husbandry, and inspire civic pride.
We demonstrated that it did not require the re-invention of the wheel to bring a town back to normal operations - all we had to do was to manage meagre finances carefully, apply all the revenues to providing urban utility and public services, implement and enforce local laws dealing with littering and animal husbandry, and inspire civic pride.
It is amazing what a community will
do to rise to the occasion when you provide good governance - Goroka in those
years even banned betel nut selling and spitting in all public areas, with
outstanding effect!
I still have enormous affection for Goroka (and PNG of course) and wish I could still be there.
Thank you for writing about "my town" - I now follow your blog and really enjoy your comments and observations on contemporary life in PNG.
Kind regards,
Will Muskens
465 Simpsons Road
BARDON Qld 4065
(61) 419 658 494
I still have enormous affection for Goroka (and PNG of course) and wish I could still be there.
Thank you for writing about "my town" - I now follow your blog and really enjoy your comments and observations on contemporary life in PNG.
Kind regards,
Will Muskens
465 Simpsons Road
BARDON Qld 4065
(61) 419 658 494
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