Towards resolution

By Evelyn Hogan

The “Bougainville Crisis Towards Resolution” conference in Canberra on September 29 brought together Bougainvilleans both pro- and anti secessionist who shared an intense experience of suffering.

Joseph Egilio, member of parliament for Central Bougainville, said the saddest thing about the conflict was the disunity among the people. He said, “First we were against the company, then the PNG government, then we were at each other’s throats: clan against clan, families against families, brothers against brothers”.

It was the third Bougainville confer ence organised by the Department of Political and Social Change in the Research School of Pacific Studies of the Australian National University.

UPNG’s Professor of Political Studies, Yaw Saffu, started with an academic analysis of events. Egilio read a statement by Minister for State for Matters Relat ing to Bougainville, Michael Ogio, which set out the objectives of the Wingti government. These are to restore law and order, legal authority and rehabilitate the young people; accelerate delivery of goods and services through the interim authorities; revive the functioning of the churches, NGOs and youth organis ations; and create incentives to resurrect commercial life and infrastructure.

When this in place they would begin negotiations for a lasting political sol ution.

Moses Havini and Mike Forster rep resented the secessionists, and Egilio, Nic Peniai and Leo Hannett those who now wish to remain within Papua New Guinea. Ruth Saovana-Springs gave an insight in the role of chiefs, the particular burdens imposed on women and vividly

described the psychological impact of the

conflict on children.

Macquarie University expert in Con flict Resolution, Dr Greg Tillett, sug gested several possible courses of action.

In response to the PNG government’s request to Solomon Islands to remove the Bougainville Revolutionary Army office in Honiara, Mike Forster asked, if the humanitarian office was a negative thing? It is through Martin Miriori in Honiara that negotiations have already taken place, he said.

There was a lack of participation by

non-Bougainvillean Papua New Guin

eans. Foreign Minister, John Kaputin, who is very understanding of the complexities of the situation, had been invited but was unable to attend. Several PNG students and Canberra-based Pa pua New Guineans attended, but no non-Bougainvilleans and few academics asked questions from the floor.

Egilio, who had previously been with the secessionist interim government in Arawa, said they had found the BRA unco-operative. He withdrew and con centrated on working with the Wakunai council of chiefs. He complained the Kietas denied the Wakunai people the right to export cocoa through their port.

So he went to Buka and asked for ships to be brought to Numa Numa. His conversion came when the PNG govern ment showed its sincerity in lifting the blockade and greater organising capacity by sending a ship three days later.

Leo Hannett, former Premier of North Solomons Province, lamented that more than 40 well-educated Bougainvilleans had been killed during the crisis leaving few new leaders to take initiat ives. But there is a new generation of leaders arising throughout Papua New Guinea. They are closer to their tra ditional elders and more practically oriented, with a broader range of professional and technical training, than the first generation of university gradu

ates.

Nic Peniai, engineering graduate and Chairman of the South Boungainville Interim Authority, is one such man. He reported that when Minister Ogio visited the South Bougainville area in late September he could not believe how much had been achieved by the Interim Authority in just two months, and not only in the revival of health services and schools. There had also been a political reconciliation process involving the chiefs, the former BRA (who are now resistance workers), the PNG Defence Force and the Interim Authority.

Peneeiai is a complex man of gentle toughness. With fingertips callused play ing guitar, the grinding of back teeth belies an underlying tension. Trim and healthy after four years of blockade imposed subsistence, he is lucky to be alive. In March he was one of seven taken prisoner with Anthony Anugu, former MP for South Bougainville, to the BRA camp at Panguna. After Anugu and two others were tortured and killed, Peniai cheated death and escaped with the other four captives.

He returned to South Bougainville to help lay the foundation for reconciliation and restoration. Because of BRA attacks on their leaders, Buin and Siwai chiefs had already invited the PNG Defence Force in to secure the area.

Peniai said, “I have lost two brothers and a mother through the activities of the BRA. Any more delay will be another death.”

All participants expressed the need for peace and continuing dialogue among all parties to the dispute. Over time, a process of reconciliation including other Papua New Guineans is needed as well.