Failed mutiny in PNG
Australians are being warned to limit travel around Port Moresby after soldiers loyal to ousted prime minister Sir Michael Somare stormed barracks in the Papua New Guinean capital.
And retired Colonel Yaura Sasa, the man now claiming to be in charge of PNG’s military, has given the nation’s politicians seven days to decide who is in charge of the country.
The mutiny began at 3am local time, with up to 20 soldiers raiding defence force headquarters and arresting the head of army, the ABC reported.
Papua New Guinea’s prime minister says yesterday’s failed mutiny has turned the country into a joke, amid questions about former leader Sir Michael Somare’s role in the events in Port Moresby.
PNG’s Post-Courier newspaper has reported that police are searching for the retired Colonel Yaura Sasa, who briefly claimed to have seized control of the country’s military yesterday.
Earlier, prime minister Peter O’Neill had said that Colonel Sasa, who led a group of soldiers who put the head of the defence force under arrest on Thursday, was being “dealt with”.
The abortive mutiny yesterday was reportedly an attempt to restore Sir Michael Somare to power.
But by the afternoon defence force commander Francis Agwi had been freed and the rebel soldiers had withdrawn back to their barracks.
Mr O’Neill says the attempted mutiny was a desperate act.
“Papua New Guinea deserves better from Somare,” he said.
“Somare has to realise that this country has looked after him for 45 years; now it is his turn to respect the country that respects him.
“We do not owe it to him. We respect him, but he also needs to ensure that the people who mandated him in March also get the respect that they also deserve.
“I do not answer or this government does not answer to one man calling us to recall parliament in seven days.”
Mr O’Neill urged the country to return to normal.
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they came..they saw..they lost..they left..an attempt to takeover met an anti-climactic end..still major issues in PNG..and in west PNG we have killings and violence involving indonesia..a very troubled island right now..
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I have seen several articles on this but no real hypotheses advanced as to why the failed coup was attempted or whether or not anyone guesses it will soon be repeated. Does anyone have any theories?