Agwi: I knew of mutiny

By JUNIOR UKAHA
PAPUA New Guinea Defence Force commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi said he knew the Jan 26 mutiny was going to take place.
“I received information and was fully aware that they were going to come for me,” he said after breaking his silence in the wake of the failed mutiny.
Agwi, who was put under house arrest for eight hours, said he was not terrified by the actions of the rebel soldiers.
He said he kept calm and followed the instructions issued to him.
During the day-long mutiny, more than 30 soldiers under the command of retired Col Yaura Sasa drove into the defence headquarters at Murray Barracks and held Agwi and his colonels under house arrest.
They were later disarmed after Sasa’s actions were not supported by senior officers.
Agwi refused to spe­cify what instructions he received from the mutineers.
He, however, said he was “ordered to stay indoors”.
“About 10 soldiers guarded my premises,” Agwi said.
“I came out and met them but was later instructed to stay indoors.”
During the mutiny, The National called Agwi on his mobile phone but he refused to comment, saying he would talk to the media at an appropriate time.