Bougainville presidential committee to look into assassination plot claims
A presidentially-appointed committee in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville is to investigate
claims surrounding an alleged plot to kill the president.
A meeting was held last Friday to examine any evidence of the plot, particularly that implicating the involvement of
PNG’s mining minister, Sam Akoitai.
Militants who had confessed they were part of the failed plan to kill Joseph Kabui said Mr Akoitai gave them 7,000 US
dollars and weapons.
But those who said they had evidence of Mr Akoitai’s involvement failed to turn up to a meeting last Friday called to
look at that evidence.
A presidential spokesperson, Dennis Kuiai, says nine tribal chiefs have been appointed to carry out a three-week
investigation into the claims.
He says there is no need to involve the police.
“With the involvement of the chiefs.....we have come this far for the Bougainville peace process so we are confident
that they will do a better job.”
A Bougainville presidential spokesperson, Dennis Kuiai.