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.
Bougainvillean Freedom Fighter (massey.ac.nz)
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.
From GLW issue
130
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