Live blog: Agwi freed; Sasa being 'dealt with', says O'Neill

WITH KEITH JACKSON

SOURCES INCLUDE ABC, AAP, NAMORONG REPORT, TWITTER, PNG ATTITUDE READERS

1900 The updates will continue later if there are further developments

1815 The ABC’s Liam Fox [Liam (Old Irish, noun)= he who is first with the news] reports Peter O'Neill saying that Brig Gen Agwi has been freed, soldiers involved have withdrawn to Taurama Barracks and Col Sasa is being "dealt with". The prime minister “wouldn't clarify”, says Fox. The ABC is also reporting that all domestic airports in PNG are closed (thanks Peter Kranz).

1810 Y'know it's eerily quiet.  If this was a western, I'd be expecting the hail of arrows.  It's all tenter and no hook. And we've got 2,000 readers needing a fix.

You can now read a transcript of retired Papua New Guinea General Jerry Singirok’s interview with Radio Australia here

And watch Damien Kingsbury, professor of international relations at Deakin University, speaking to Al Jazeera on the PNG political situation

 

1805 “Is a military coup in PNG just around the corner?” contributor Paul Oates asked last year. “Given the 'solidarity' being expressed by PM Somare for [the] Fiji coup leader, it wouldn't take much for some PNG soldiers see a parallel 'window of opportunity'.” I’d take a lottery ticket on the back of that prescience, Paul

1740 The man claiming to be the new commander of Papua New Guinea’s Defence Force, retired Col Yauara Sasa [pictured] denies he conducted a mutiny this morning. “It looks as though it’s a military coup but it is not a military coup. I’m restoring, I’m intervening to restore the constitution and that means all - that is also the public servants, heads of the departments, statutory bodies and institutions - comply with what (the court has decided). The court has made its decision but nobody seems to be adhering to the court decisions. So what does that mean: the court has no powers now?”

1640 Still no news, but plenty of entertainment. “All indications are that Namah and O’Neill will still be in power and the Somare regime may face High Treason charges for trying to overthrow the state. But hey this is the fucking land of the unexpected and I'm just a drunk blogger writing this nonsense for you with loud music in the background. OMG, just ran out of alcohol. Maybe PNG also has ran out of sanity” – Martyn Namorong at his intemperate best.  Read more here

1620 The deadline for the surrender of the army mutineers has come and gone.  So far no reports of action. Peter O’Neill is believed to have been in the Southern Highlands at the scene of the tragic Tari landslide. Sir Michael Somare is maintaining a sullen silence.

1610 Liam Fox (ABC) tweets that he has heard that Jacksons (international) airport has been closed. Could this be to stop incoming support for the mutineers or to prevent pro-Somare people from getting out of town?

1515 More from Peter Kranz about the Belden Namah media conference. Quotes from Namah - "Somare has now lost the total respect of the country he fought for independence (for). He was the chief minister, the first prime minister. He is the grand chief. I want to say this to Somare: You have lost your mind. You have lost total control of yourself. You have lost your mind. You have lost sanity."

Mr Namah said 15 of the 30 men loyal to Sasa and Somare had been arrested but those numbers cannot be verified. He said the army officers had until 4.06pm to surrender or face the full force of the law.

1500 So let’s try to recap the critical elements in the latest crisis to envelope Papua New Guinea; a crisis triggered by a mutineer colonel who paradoxically says he is trying to alleviate a crisis.

Just before 3 pm there’s a little over an hour left before deputy prime minister Belden Namah’s deadline expires for the rebel soldiers to surrender – 4.06 pm, the official public service knock-off time.

There seems to be less than 100 of them under the command of retired colonel Yaura Sasa, apparently commissioned by the ‘Somare cabinet’ to take control of the Army from its rightful commander, Brig Gen Francis Agwi [pictured], who is variously said to be under house arrest or, according to Sasa, not under house arrest.

Commander Sasa appears to have taken control of the Murray and Taurama barracks in an attempt to restore the Somare government and claims the authority of the Supreme Court and the PNG Constitution to justify his extreme actions.

So far prime minister Peter O’Neill has not made any public statement but was said to be wanting to visit the barracks with loyal troops, although this could not be confirmed.

Air Niugini flights to Lae, Wewak, Vanimo and Kiunga - all close to Army bases– have been suspended to deter soldiers likely to be sympathetic to the Somare faction from travelling to Port Moresby.

Meanwhile Port Moresby is reported to be quiet.

Comments

[Peter Kranz]

Naiko - I am merely reading it as I see it. I may well be wrong. And I am aware that O'Neill was a key player in the previous Somare administration and still has unanswered questions to face over the NPF scandal.

So does Namah re. the Singapore bank accounts, illegal logging levies etc.

But O'Neill has been saying some right things since he has been in power - although I don't know if he has the means to deliver on free health care and education.

Maybe it's a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea.

I saw PNG getting steadily worse under years of Somare's rule, andf massive evidence of blatant corruption which was not acted upon (Finance inquiry, Moti affair, etc)

But I am not optimistic about the future. Sori tru.

[Naiko Nalapu]

Peter Kranz - You seem to be very negative and degrading of the Somare side only, but don't forget the Oneil/Namah team has also done the same if not worse by tampering with the constitution and the judiciary, defying court orders etc...

No one is a saint here. They are all equally corrupt.

[Peter Kranz]

The Post-Courier says Sasa is in hiding. Other reports state he is with the renegrade few dozen soldiera at Taurama Barracks.

Whatever - he is a pawn. The real culprits are the Somare camp which instigated this.

Doesn't this amount to treason and an attempted coup?

[David Kitchnoge]

When will this circus end?

One desperate old man vs a group of desperate men claiming themselves to be the legitimate government.

What are they all desperate about?

And how could a retired old Colonel still manage to command serving members of the army? Is it legitimate?

[Dietmar Lehr]

Dump, dumper, dumpest....

[Ludmilla]

There are no saints in PNG politics only demons in various guises, the worst in guises of angles and benevolent dictators. I'd say bring in the Amazons to clear the stable of this rot.

[Joseph Boine]

All this has happened after the O’Neill – Namah faction organized a media conference on Monday together with the Police Commissioner, Kulunga and the Defence Force Commander Francis Agwi with their senior officers giving support to the O’Neill – Namah government.

Just yesterday, the court decision on who was to be the legitimate Police Commissioner between Kulunga & Yakasa was deferred by the judge to 6 Feb. In the meantime the judge specifically asked Kulunga to remain as the commissioner until a decision is made at the given date.

So the old man is testing the waters with the help of yet another old man!

[Peter Kranz]

Jerry Singirok gives an interesting interview (ABC News, 9:00) that you carry the transcript of.

He says "It looks like it's over. This was not the same as Sandline, as these were not foreigners. I never took over the government and accepted the laws of the time.

"But this is not yet over - it must be resolved on the floor of Parliament. You cannot use military force to subvert Parliament."

"Using the military by any side totally compromises our democracy.

"Imagine Duntroon or Sandhurst tryuing to take over Governments. It is a dangerous game.

"I respect O'Neill and Namah. They have been elected by Parliament. I have not taken any side, but for the sake of the country they must resolve this politically."

[Peter Kranz]

So O'Nelil says Col Sasa has been 'dealt with' - presumably that means he's under arrest. The few dozen Somare-faction soldiers have retreated to TauramaBbarracks where they are under siege.

[Paul Oates]

The acting Foreign Minister tonight on the 7.30 Report effectively summed up the lack of local knowledge the Australian government has about PNG.

He referred to PNG's PM as 'Michael O'Neill'.

Perhaps he's having a bet each way?

[Peter Kranz]

Hey KJ - I'm a little bit Irish. My great-great-great grandfather married a Mary Kelly from King's County.

I actually did some research on this for a relative who was writing the family history. In the Dublin registry I found an entry from a local church priest of the right date and location (circa 1850).

He had written 'Mary Kelly - married a Protestant heretic and gave birth to a bastard child."

About sums me up I suppose.

[Peter Kranz]

Interestingly we've heard nothing from Kevin Rudd about this yet.

Maybe he's too busy in Davos hobnobbing with billionaires?
_____________

He's on leave. Martin (Michael O'Neill) Ferguson is acting in his stead - KJ

[Peter Aimos]

Interesting to note here about the photos of Sasa and Agwi.

Apparently Agwi has reverted (demoted) to wearing a 'Colonels' rank whilst Sasa has been elevated to 'Brigadier General'.

I wonder whether Sasa simply swapped rank insignias with Agwi (or borrowed) just for the press conference and photo shoot.
_____________

I don't think Sasa was ever a Brig Gen until he promoted himself today - KJ

[Peter Kranz]

Martin Ferguson (Australian Federal Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism) has just reported that all domestic flights in PNG have been grounded [ABC News].

Unfortunately Ferguson spoiled his copybook by repeatedly referring to 'Michael O'Neill' in his press conference. A Freudian slip?
_________

Bloofy Irish! - KJ

[Paul Oates]

Culture Collision. In a parody of Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘HMS Pinafore’, the following words seem rather appropriate:

Captain: I’ll never be untrue to thee.

Crew: What never?

Captain: No! Never!

Crew: What NEVER?

Captain: Well, hardly ever.

You can’t have equivocation without misinterpretation.

Melanesian culture may not always encapsulate explicit definitives. Given the history of the PNG Defence Force and the mutinies or near mutinies of the past, the issues involving the current mutiny demands a clear and unequivocal response.

The loyal members of the Defence Force, the RPNGC, the PNG Public Service must be given a high, ethical standard to follow.

If Michael Somare has, as is reported by his daughter, actively initiated this current mutiny in order to try to regain his personal power, surely that is sedition, irrespective of any previous legality he may have claimed to aspire to continue as PM?

Statements of intent by the PNG Deputy PM are worthless unless followed up with decisive action. The PNG people and the nation deserve nothing less. The title of Grand Chief has effectively been dragged through the Moresby mud.

[Boudreaux]

Somare, how I loathe the name more ever! What have you done to the nation? You are a hungry old fool!

Get it into your skull that we the people of this beautiful nation called Papua New Guinea does not need you!

[Peter Kranz]

The international press has been having a field day presenting this as a coup or a major rebellion.

In truth it appears to be a few dozen soldiers led by a military has-been prodded into rash action by an increasingly desperate Somare faction.

When the dust clears, maybe people could reflect on the damage this has done to PNG's reputation.

What was the point of it all? Except to satisfy one old man's ego.