FACED with a $60 million bill and under pressure to ‘pay up or step down immediately’, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has reportedly agreed to settle all ex-combatants’ claims by an unspecified date next month.
The Office of the Prime Minister would not immediately comment on the report.
But sources told Solomon Star yesterday the message on the Prime Minister’s position was conveyed to members of the armed group plotting to remove him from Office.
“Yes, that message was conveyed to the group by those who are engaged in the dialogue with the government and police. The group is closely monitoring the situation. If he should lie to us again, he shall be made to bear all responsibility.
“I can tell you it will be worse than the ethnic tension which started in June 2000,” one source said.”
The warning comes as reports have filtered through of the quantity of ammunition and equipment the group has in its deadly arsenal. It is the first time the group has quantified the number of high-powered guns and other accessories it has.
Three groups are reportedly combined in the push to remove Mr. Sogavare from office.
“One of the groups is boasting about being in possession of six Light Machine Guns (LMG), several other high-powered rifles, four drones and ammunition to last eight months. We have more than enough of what we need for what we want to do,” one source said yesterday.
The group has also identified ‘targets’ which have been blacklisted. They claimed these targets became rich and powerful overnight from the June 2000 civil unrest at the expense of the public.
“They have been identified and blacklisted,” the sources said.
Meanwhile the group has released details of the number of its members who served on the border with Bougainville during the civil unrest.
“There are 300 of us. We were promised $300, 000 each in allowances and other entitlements although the government has already paid us $100, 000 each. That means we are still owed $200, 000 each.
“This means the government owes the men who worked in the border area during the ethnic tension some $60 million,” one member said.
In addition, the government owes ex-combatants $300, 000 each under the Townsville Peace Accord. One member said this amount has now been reduced to about just half.
“These are the demands that Mr. Sogavare must address or he should remove himself from office immediately,” the member said.
By Alfred Sasako