Talk:Sandline affair
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When looking for sources, be aware that there's at least one published book that covers the incident at length and a decent-length BBC pitch of the book that aired this week on their world news program that gets picked up by Public Radio International. MrZaiustalk 08:23, 29 September 2007 (UTC)
Max Watts is an expert on the Sandline Affair as he reported about it after interviews with the involved figures ... he can be contacted under RosieK@bigpond.com - he wrote about this article in the "Prime Minister Chan resigns" chapter (Max Watts in CAPITAL LETTERS):
"Enuma attempted to order the soldiers back to barracks [..]"
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EDIT OR ETC WIKIPEDIA (ATTEMPTS FAILED)
I DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE THE PRESENT VERSION, NOT BAD, BUT I DO KNOW A BIT MORE...
HERE IS A MAXIST "COMMENT": (IF YOU KNOW HOW, AND FEEL INSPIRED, ADD IT TO THE TEXT ?)
THE CRITICAL MOMENT CAME AT ABOUT 3 AM, THAT WEDNESDAY (DON'T HAVE CALENDAR, THINK IT WAS THE 26TH MARCH 1997)
The demonstrators outside parliament, led by MELSOL (PETI, O'Nata ? spell) had remained in place, despite thirst ! (apparently australian supporters did - in extremis - send enuf $ to hire 3 water trucks). When they heard that - contrary to all previous calculations and expectations, CHAN had won the "No Confidence" motion (who said he would resign anyway ? not bloody likely) - they became very angry. Enuma told the soldiers who were supporting the demonstrators, the students: "I hereby order you to return to the barracks". A Sergeant (no i don't know his name, and don't know if he would want it known) then stood up and said: "Sir, we have followed you all the way UP TO NOW", but if we withdraw, the (pro Chan) Police will massacre the students, the demonstrators. THIS ORDER (TO WITHDRAW) WE WILL NOT OBEY."
CHAN WOULD NOT HAVE RESIGNED, IF HIS POLICE HAD ATTACKED THE STUDENTS, ONCE THE SOLDIERS HAD WITHDRAWN.
BUT THEY DIDN'T, AND IT WAS ONLY THEN THAT CHAN AND CO WERE "FINISHED" - AND THE BOUGAINVILLE WAR COULD BE ENDED.
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THIS WAS THE KIND OF TIPPING OR CRITICAL MOMENT, WHERE HISTORY IS MADE, IS CHANGED. IT CAN BE COMPARED TO THE 11 ? MARCH 1975 WHEN THE PORTUGUESE SOLDIERS OF THE RALIS 1 AND THE (RIGHT-WING LED) PARACHUTISTS STOPPED SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER, AND FRATERNISED. THE RIGHTIST COUP AGAINST THE PORTUGUESE REVO COLLAPSED. WE HAD THAT ON FILM !!!
(IN VIVA PORTUGAL)
SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED AGAIN IN LISBON AFTER 25 AUGUST / EARLY SEPTEMBER 1975 WHEN THE TILL THEN LEFT-LED MFA OFFICERS SWUNG TO THE RIGHT, BUT WERE OVERTAKEN BY THE LEFTIST SUV SOLDIERS, WHO KEPT THE REVO GOING ANOTHER 2 MONTHS. (TILL 25 NOVEMBER) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.8.166.33 (talk) 20:23, 31 March 2008 (UTC)
