PNG soldiers during the military crisis over the political power struggle this week. Photo: Post-Courier

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Post-Courier staff reporters in Port Moresby

The struggle for power between Papua New Guinea’s Parliament-elect Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the Supreme Court reinstated Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is far from over.

This follows a failed mutiny — the first ever in this country’s Defence Force — led by a retired army officer supported by about 40 gun-totting soldiers who stormed the military headquarters of the PNG Defence Force at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby in the early hours of Thursday, catching everyone by surprise.

The mutineers placed the commander, Brigadier-General Francis Agwi under house arrest and installed retired colonel, 65-year-old Yaura Sasa as commander.

The PNG Post-Courier's front page in its weekend edition covering the mutiny. Photo: PMC

The drama unfolded first at the Taurama Barracks, home of the 1st Royal Pacific Islands Regiment where the mutineers, placed their own Commander Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Kari under house arrest and then proceeded to Murray Barracks.

As the drama unfolded at the PNGDF headquarters, the police, who were aware of the mutiny threat, went into action and secured all strategic locations and government institutions including state house, government printer and Mourata House, the seat of government.

“We were all caught by surprise. Fully armed soldiers moved into the barracks and cut power off, proceeded to the residence of the officer who looked after the armoury and ordered him out. They led him at gun point to open the armoury and armed themselves,” an eyewitness told the Post-Courier.

The mutineers, in a press conference with the local media demanded that the Parliament be recalled in seven days and Sir Michael be restored as the Prime Minister. They also demanded that all entitlements for retrenched and former soldiers of the PNGDF be paid promptly by the State.

Under siege
While the mutineers lay siege to the defence headquarters, soldiers loyal to their commander watched helplessly from a distance at the main barracks. Eyewitnesses told the Post-Courier the mutineers that fired on the soldiers to disperse them, sending the public running for cover and had had to move in to close all roads leading into the barracks.

“This is mutiny and the actions of the soldiers borders of treason too,” government Chief Secretary, Manasupe Zurenuoc told the Post-Courier.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, in a press conference later, said normalcy was restored at the PNG Defence Force headquarters.

And he put the blame squarely on Sir Michael for inciting an illegal take over of the force’s Commander, Francis Agwi, with retrenched colonel, Yaura Sasa.

And he warned in no uncertain terms that perpetrators of the mutiny would face the full brunt of the law adding Sasa himself would be dealt with by the “appropriate authorities” tasked to handle the matter.

“I expect the rule of law to apply,” he said.

Minister stood down
O’Neill announced that his deputy, Belden Namah, had been appointed as Acting Defence Minister to deal with the situation, relieving Minister Guma Wau of duties.

By 5pm the situation at the army headquarters was neutralised. The mutineers had returned to their barracks and the commander was freed.

The Post-Courier understands that retired Colonel Sasa will be arrested soon.

The UN and all diplomatic missions in the country also watched the development in the Port Moresby. The Australia Foreign Affairs Department has issued an alert to its citizens in the city to be careful when moving around.

Source: 7807 Pacific Media Watch
Post-Courier editorial opinion