PNG former PM still not sorry for Sandline affair

Eleven years after Papua New Guinea's Sandline crisis, former prime minister Julius Chan still refuses to apologise for calling in mercenaries to try to resolve the Bougainville conflict.

Chan, now New Ireland Province Governor, in PNG's north east, yesterday sat with PNG's Autonomous Bougainville Government President Joseph Kabui in Kavieng as part of a reconciliation meetings.

While no sorry was forthcoming, the pair shook hands and in the Melanesian tradition of hospitality and coming together shared betelnuts.

Chan was forced to step down as prime minister in March 1997 after then PNG Defence Force commander Jerry Singirok led military and public opposition to the use of Sandline International mercenaries.

The mercenary operation under former British army officer Tim Spicer to support PNG troops in Bougainville's bloody secessionist conflict was aborted.

Kabui, who during the crisis was the North Solomons Premier, Bougainville's name, has invited Chan to visit Bougainville.

PNG's Post Courier reported Chan maintains PNG supported his Sandline decision as it would have ended the conflict.

"I apologise to no one for the decision I made as prime minister," he said.

"More than 20,000 people were killed by Bougainvillians themselves.

"The national security council, the head of the military, the head of police all advised that peace must come.

"The National Executive Council heard and decided and I acted," he said.

But while Kabui is attending the meetings criticisms of his leadership are mounting in Bougainville.

Bougainville Landowners are now calling for his sacking because he has acted contrary to the interests of Bougainville's people.

And over the weekend ABG deputy speaker Francesca Semoso said her ABG government had sold Canadian mining company Invincible Resources mineral rights that were "worse" than the deal that sparked years of civil war during the 1990s.

Semoso said her own government had broken its constitution and sold off the region's minerals to Invincible in an arrangement giving the Canadians 70 percent control of the region's resources.

- AAP