This article was created Saturday, 04th April, 2015. This is a reblog.
BY CYRIL GARE
Among our first class servicemen, is military legend, Brigadier General Tony Huai (Retired) (pictured) from Rapa village in the Bereina district of Central province. Not once but twice he was Commander of the PNG Defence Force; 1985-88 and 1993-95.
“I really enjoyed my time in the military. If I had a choice, I’d go and do it again. It’s a discipline life but it’s very good. It’s in my blood”.
Huai had a family history. He uncle, a six foot two, served in the Royal PNG Constabulary during colonial days, his other uncles served as “carriers” during World War II while his father was a Councillor after the war.
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| Tony Huai (retired) |
On Holy Thursday, I caught up with this military hero at the haus win of the Police Southern Command headquarters at Konedobu after enquiring to write a story about the Kumul force in Vanuatu. He openly availed himself and charmingly told about his experience as Commander that led the Kumul force to Vanuatu in 1980 that quelled the Coconut War or Coconut Rebellion and quashed the self-style independent State of Vemarana that was proclaimed by Jimmy Stevens on May 27, 1980, eight weeks before Vanuatu’s Independence.
The record held more for him when he was recalled to become the PNGDF Commander for the second time by the Julius Chan Government to oversee the Bougainville conflict.
In 1963 charismatic Jimmy Stevens formed the Nagriamel movement. Prior to Vanuatu's independence, the islands were known as the New Hebrides. The New Hebrides were governed by a condominium of France and the United Kingdom. In 1980, France and the United Kingdom agreed that Vanuatu would be granted independence on 30 July 1980.
In that year, Jimmy Stevens, head of the Nagriamel movement, led an uprising against the colonial officials and the plans for independence. The uprising lasted about 12 weeks. The rebels blockaded Santo-Pekoa International Airport, destroyed two bridges, and declared the independence of Espiritu Santo island as the "State of Vemerana". Stevens was supported by French-speaking landowners and by the Phoenix Foundation, an American business foundation that supported the establishment of a libertarian tax haven in the New Hebrides.
On 8 June, 1980, the New Hebrides government asked Britain and France to send troops to quell the rebellion. France refused to allow British to deploy troops to defuse the crisis, yet French soldiers who were stationed on Luganville (town) took no action. As Independence Day neared, the Prime Minister to be, Fr. Walter Lini asked Papua New Guinea for intervention. Sir Julius then Prime Minister directed Ted Diro, then Commander of the PNGDF to prepare for Vanuatu. Tony Huai, who was then Director Land Operations was tasked to establish an operational plan and battle procedures. The operation was code named Wantok Durua or Operation Helpim Wantok.
As Papua New Guinean soldiers began arriving in Espiritu Santo, the foreign press began referring to the ongoing events as the "Coconut War".
The Vanuatu engagement is held today as one of country’s most successful military operations in our time attributing to zero loss of lives and zero destruction of assets and properties.
By mid-June, 1980 a PNGDF “advance party” left for Vanuatu on PNGDF DC3’s and Air Niugini charters. Their mission was to establish communication with the Vanuatu Government, collect intelligence, set administration and logistic bases.
Maritime squadrons including patrol boats HMPNGS Lae and Madang captained by majors Mathew Efi and Eric Ani respectively and landing crafts HMPNGS Salamaua and Buna also sailed out.
“South easterly wind was very strong and pushing back on our maritime fleets only to arrive at Port Villa after three weeks”.
About mid-June, the main body of the troops flew into Port Villa via Honiara, Solomon islands. “When we arrived, we were well established”.
From Port Villa, several reconnaissance flights were taken over Fanapo, the base of Jimmy Stevens where he lived with his 25 lives and children and some 40 active members of his rebel group on the island of Espiritu Santo.
Furthermore, intelligence coming in from Vanuatu police and the wider community indicated weapons including US army carbines (automatic rifles) left behind from World War II and tailor made dynamites with fuses were in rebel hands.
In addition, a PNGDF reconnaissance team comprising six brave parachutists led by a Madang Sergeant had returned with vital intelligence and detail sketch of Fanapo after five days inside Fanapo undetected.
Troops’ preparation –to enter the rebel camp at Fanapo and flush them out - intensified with focus on marksmanship “making sure troops are zeroing on their individual rifles”.
On the second week of August, 1980 at 4:30 am the troops departed for the rebel held island of Espiritu Santo. The instruction was to secure the airfield and other strategic facilities at Luganville. “It was an emotional moment,” Huai recalled, “as we walked down to the Port Villa airport, the three DC3’s were ready, doors open, troops move in, all overloaded, what we call “military overloaded” meaning fully equipped soldiers for battle.
“The three air crafts took 120 men. The two Nomads (aircrafts) carried my Command group. As we took off, we could see the morning sun rise coming up…it was beautiful, very clear sky. First aircraft took off, second aircraft took off, third aircraft took off, and my aircraft took off and we circled and then we came into a formation, a beautiful formation, what we call Arrow Head; a lead DC3 in front, a second DC 3 on the left and third DC 3 on the right, while my Nomad was behind the lead DC 3 followed by the second Nomad of my Command group behind, forming an arrow head, just like the shape of a flying aircraft.
“When we arrived at Luganville at about 6:30 am, the 42nd Commando unit of the British army was relaxing, sun bathing top naked. Their Commander saw me, saluted me and acknowledged our presence. I said to him sir, you ready to leave, he said yes, they were waiting for their Hercules C130 to arrive. He wished me luck”.
Within 15 minutes the airport at Luganville was fully secured. Huai led the troops to town where the French troops were stationed and the message was the same that they were also leaving. By 5 pm Luganville was fully secured.
At Luganville, arrangement was courted for Huai to meet with Jimmy Stevens. Record set when Huai personally met Jimmy Stevens in the jungle half way between Luganville and Fanapo. There they hugged and greeted each other before Huai relayed the message of Prime Minister Lini to Stevens. The talk took place on a log fell across the road by the rebels to signify the meeting spot for the two men that day.
The message was simply: surrender and enjoy pardon or succumb to military confrontation. Stevens never adhered.
Days later, Jimmy Steven’s son was killed by PNGDF snippers after ramming through a military block at Luganville where the Kumul force was stationed and maintaining a State of Emergency 24/7 guarding strategic public facilities such as water supply, hospital, airport, fuel depots, electricity, and communication. A “no go” 12 miles economic zone over the Espiritu Santo domestic waters was also imposed by Huai that “anything within this range will be shot and sunk”.
Two days after the death of Jimmy Steven’s son, the troops invaded Fanapo only to find the “white flag” waving at them depicting the surrender of Jimmy Stevens and his rebel group. There was no challenge.
At Stevens' trial, the support of the Phoenix Foundation to the Nagriamel movement was revealed. It was also revealed that the French government had secretly supported Stevens in his efforts. Stevens was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment; he remained in prison until 1991.
“The Vanuatu experience was an eye opener for us”, Huai said. At the time of deployment, Huai was Lieutenant Colonel and Director of Land Operations. After the successful Operation Santo Pax, he was promoted to full Colonel, a rare occasion in military history where an army officer is promoted while in conflict. Huai’s clocked 28 years of distinguished service in military. He turns 64 in August and a good father of 9.
“As you complete your article please, include my most sincere and humble appreciation to all officers and men of all land, maritime and air elements for their magnificent and professional performance of all military skills to achieve a task in time and without loss of life. I salute them all and God bless them all,” Huai said in late text message last night.
