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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General expresses support for the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

21 March 2001

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, today expressed his concern at the mutiny staged by rebel soldiers in Papua New Guinea protesting over proposals for defence reforms. The Secretary-General said that the Commonwealth stood firmly behind Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta at this time of crisis and would react strongly to any move to overthrow or force from office the democratically elected Government of Papua New Guinea.

The Secretary-General said, "I am greatly concerned at the reports of tensions in Papua New Guinea, which appear to have been caused by the defence reforms proposed by a Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group and endorsed by the Government of Sir Mekere Morauta.

"I call on the rebel soldiers to return the stolen weapons and ammunition and to act in a manner that is in the best long-term interests of the people of Papua New Guinea."




01/26 21 March 2001
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