Hired guns in Bougainville

PORT MORESBY - Fijian mercenaries are training young militiamen how to use high-powered weapons on Bougainville, Papua New Guinea said.

Bougainville's new autonomous regional Government and the Papua New Guinea Government are worried about the presence of the eight Fijians in the island's so-called no-go zone, occupied by followers of the late separatist leader Francis Ona. They have allegedly been hired by an Ona ally, Noah Musingku, who ran a failed pyramid scheme that scammed many islanders.

Bougainville President Joseph Kabui and PNG's Intergovernment Relations Minister Peter Barter said they were concerned the Fijians, believed to be ex-soldiers, were "engaged in training other men carrying and using high-powered guns". The issue has been raised with the Fijian Embassy.

Reports suggest Musingku may be under pressure from impatient investors in his money scheme.

The Fijians were reportedly giving arms training to young men recruited from schools around Tonu in the Siwai district of southern Bougainville to beef up security for the fly-in of funds to Tonu's airfield for a mass payout to investors.

- AAP