By ROMULUS MASIU
THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force was not arming any factions in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
That is the word from the army after Me’ekamui officials in Bougainville accused the PNGDF of supplying weapons and ammunitions to a certain faction on the island to wage war against them (Me’ekamui).
Me’ekamui leaders who were in Buka this week said the PNGDF must explain why they are supplying arms to the Wisai Liberation Front (WLF) who have taken up arms to fight the Me’ekamui faction in the Konnou constituency, Buin in South Bougainville.
They alleged that the weapons were brought to Buka on the CASA plane early last month.
However, a high ranking officer from the PNGDF headquarter in Murray Barracks out-rightly denied the allegations.
The officer, who asked not to be identified, said the PNGDF had no right and are in no position to do such things as it is against the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
He added that the CASA plane that landed at Buka airport in January had gone to pick up a ministry team comprising of PNGDF soldiers who were on the island during the festive season conducting Christian outreach programmes with locals.
WLF operations commander Philip Pusua also denied that the PNGDF was supplying his group with firearms and ammunitions.
“No one is supplying us with firearms and ammunitions. In fact we are buying firearms right here on Bougainville. The government has not collected all the weapons. Weapons are floating around, and I mean there’s a lot of them. I am very surprised to know that there are still many weapons on the market.”
Mr Pusua said his group is buying firearms from locals throughout the island region with the military issue M16 rifles selling for K8, 000 each in Central Bougainville and K4,000 in the northern region.
The former combatant could not disclose how many firearms they’ve bought already but only said ‘enough for a platoon’.
WLF is the latest armed faction in the troubled Konnou constituency following the footsteps of the earlier formed Bougainville Freedom Fighters who have taken up arms to oppose the armed Me’ekamui faction in the area.
WLF was recently formed after the gunning down of former Bougainville Resistance Fighters commander Jacob Naisy late last year at his Oria home.
When asked if there’s a possibility of laying down arms for possible peace talks, Mr Pusua said they will do so only if the Konnou Me’ekamui faction is disarmed.
“As long as they are armed, we are not putting down our weapons,” Mr Pusua said.