2012 Papua New Guinea Defence Force mutiny

The mutiny in Papua New Guinea in 2012 was an attempt on former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Michael Somare be reinstated to office.

The mutiny began on 26 January 2012, when a group of soldiers headed by retired colonel Yaura Sasa, presented the commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force ( PNGDF ), Brigadier General Francis Agwi under house arrest. Sasa claimed that he had been appointed by former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Michael Somare appointed commander of the PNGDF, and demanded of Governor-General Michael Ogio Somare back as head of government use. The mutiny under the code name " Operasin Strongim Konstituson, operation protection of the Constitution " was related to the dispute over the premiership between Somare and Peter O'Neill.

Background

Political situation

In August 2011, Peter O'Neill Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. Somare, who had ruled the country for decades, was overthrown in August 2011 and replaced by O'Neill, as his post was declared vacant while he was on medical treatment in Singapore. In December 2011, presented the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea found that Somares removal from office was unlawful and demanded his reinstatement.

This led to a political stalemate in which Somare the commander of the PNGDF, Brigadier General Francis Agwi asked to intervene in his favor. However Agwi refused and remained on the side of O'Neill. O'Neill was supported by most members of Parliament and remained in office. As the newspaper The Australian reported that Somare told Bertha, daughter of the former prime minister, told reporters said that the decision to replace Francis Agwi Yaura Sasa through, was hit by her father and his shadow cabinet. Sasa was before retiring from the military as a defense attache at the Embassy of Papua New Guinea in Indonesia.

Earlier mutinies

The Mutiny 26 January 2012 was the second mutiny by the military in Papua New Guinea. The first rebellion occurred on 28 July 1997, as a special unit of PNGDF the Murray Barracks occupied. Prime Minister Bill Skate made ​​at the time the soldiers involved in the mutiny concessions, after the rebels had set previously taken hostage commander of the armed forces, Brigadier General Leo Nuia released.

Course

On January 26, occupied at 03.00 clock 20 to 30 soldiers under the command of Yaura Sasa the headquarters of the armed forces in the Taurama barracks outside the capital Port Moresby. Several shots were fired. The mutineers brought Agwi in the Murray Barracks near the center of the capital, where he was placed under house arrest. At a press conference on January 26, 2012 Yaura Sasa did not want to be understood as coup his actions. He called on Governor-General Michael Ogio for the reinstatement of former Prime Minister Michael Somare. The Parliament he introduced a seven-day ultimatum. It should make the decisions from the previous year and restore the political order. Otherwise Sasa wanted to take the necessary steps in order to "respect the Constitution " wiederherzustellen.O ' Neill gave birth Defence Minister Guma Wau from his duties, and appointed Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah as acting defense minister.

On the evening of January 26, 2012 Belden Namah told that most of the 30 involved in the mutiny soldiers have been arrested. The mutiny would have failed. In response to reports that Somare had prompted the mutiny, declared Namah, Somare had the " lost sense" The number set by the rebel commander Agwi was released. On January 27, 2012, held still armed rebels in the Taurama barracks on. Yaura Sasa refused together with about 20 supporters to leave the barracks and asked for a full pardon for himself and his followers. On the night of January 28 January 29, Sasa was in a house in Boroko, a suburb of Port Moresby, was arrested. The remaining soldiers in the barracks surrendered 30 January 2012 their weapons and vehicles to Belden Namah, who had negotiated the violent end of the mutiny. In return, they received the promise of a general amnesty.