Buka “Fanat Agism”
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Waning
Twelve Natives Imprisoned; Ring-leader Uncaptured
From Our Own Correspondent
Rabaul, Nov. 3.
LATEST reports regarding the outbreak of religious “fanatacism” in Buka and Northern Bougainville indicate that the unrest is on the wane.
A Government official recently made a patrol through the affected areas and arrested 12 of the agitators, all of whom were tried and sentenced to varying periods of imprisonment. The ring leader, Sanapo, is still at large, having hidden somewhere in the bush on the island of Buka.
Exhibits during the trials included native-made flags, bearing the initial “P” and crosses in several designs. The initial stands for the name of the native Pako, who was implicated in the fanatic movement in 1932. He was arrested, tried and imprisoned, and died while serving his sentence.
Sanapo is alleged to have received a “visit” from Pako in a dream and been instructed to spread reports among the natives of the coming resurrection and the supplies of foodstuffs which would be made available to all “believers.”