I don't know if this should really be called a coup yet because as far as I can tell both sides are legally pretty fishy at best, but it could escalate very quickly.Mutiny in PNG as soldiers storm defence headquarters
Mutiny in PNG as soldiers storm defence headquarters
Ilya Gridneff and Daniel Flitton
January 26, 2012 - 1:15PM
Papua New Guinea
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.
They reportedly placed defence force chief commander, Brigadier General Francis Agwi, under house arrest after taking another commanding officer captive.
Australia's high commissioner Ian Kemish this morning held urgent talks with PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and called for the chain of command in the defence force to be restored.
Sir Michael lost office last August after Parliament voted to end his nine-year run as prime minister.
But in December the Supreme Court reinstated him, leading to a week-long crisis that ended with Mr O'Neill in charge of government.
A spokeswoman for Australia's Foreign Affairs department said Mr O'Neill told the high commissioner that authorities were taking steps to manage the situation.
"The head of the Australian Defence Staff at the high commission has also talked with Brigadier Agwi," she said in a statement.
"We understand that discussions are under way within the PNGDF to resolve the matter. The post is monitoring developments closely."
Reports of the motives behind the troops' actions are mixed.
An Australian government source told Fairfax a rival faction had attempted to take leadership of the military.
"It's a small group, [and I] can't see them prevailing. Next couple of hours will be key," the government source said.
The source earlier told Fairfax the former defence attache to Indonesia, Colonel Sasa, led the group before declaring himself head of the PNG defence force.
"My task is restoring the integrity and respect of the constitution and the judiciary," he told reporters from the commander's office in Port Moresby's Murray Military Barracks.
Defence sources in Port Moresby, however, told Fairfax that, despite recent political upheaval, today's events were linked to a dispute over outstanding pay and benefits.
Soldiers have been protesting for years about poor living conditions and funds allocated for salary increases being siphoned off by government bureaucracies.
"Soldiers have been disgruntled about their wages for a while now and, it appears, have acted," he said.
Despite reports of a mutiny there has been no gun fire nor violence, the source said.
An AAP reporter at the scene said the soldiers say the Murray Military Barracks are under their "operational command" and there are rumours of a change in command.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has advised Australians to limit travel around Port Moresby "due to disturbances at Murray and Tarama Barracks".
It will be interesting to see how it plays out though.