Bougainville

wants the vagrants out

Prom a Bougainville correspondent Bougainville’s growing political independence was demonstrated at the last meeting of the island’s Pro vincial Assembly, the interim body which will be replaced this year by an elected Premier and eighteen members.

The Provincial Assembly called for strong measures by the PNG Government to control the influx of “outsiders” who have flooded into Bougainville in the wake of the copper mine.

Father John Momis, the regional MHR for Bougainville encouraged members to protect their own people against the vagrancy and urban crime caused by these newcomers.

“They come here for money only, shame our women and show dis respect for our customs, disrupt our peace and offend our dignity”, he said.

A demand was made for the in crease in the number of Bougain villean police to be sent home to help in understanding the culture. In particular they should work in the villages to support the new system of village government.

Consultations were called for with the national authorities to approve proposals for identity cards or work passes for all non-Bougain villeans. Landing bonds were pro posed which would ensure the fare home for those who arrived to work, and the assembly urged that power should be given to courts to repatri ate those convicted of vagrancy, repeated drunkenness and assault.

The money to repatriate the current large numbers of vagrants was re quested immediately.

The assembly executive moved that all leaders find ways to over come the serious drinking problems, and members called for the appoint ment of “peace officers” in every village to arrest or fine troublesome drunks. Other suggestions covered, possible curtailing of liquor trading licences, shorter trading hours for taverns and limits on the amounts purchased by customers.

Said one member sadly, “We don’t want to ‘pasim’ beer altogether; just stop the ‘spaking’ (inebriation).