aborted

Papua New Guinea

Bougainville peace talks

Peace talks on the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville have been officially abandoned, with Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan, hardening his stand against secessionist rebel leaders. The leader of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army refused to attend the peace conference set up in Arawa last week, saying they had fears for their safety. The talks, which opened on October 10, were adjourned on October 14 until October 17, but now the PNG Government has abandoned them..

The South Pacific Peacekeeping Force of troops from Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu pulled out of Arawa by October 19, at least one week ahead of schedule. Sir Julius said the BRA leaders were enemies of peace, and he appealed to all Bougainvilleans to take a stand and stop supporting. He said if the island wanted peace , then the people had to break free from those who would bind them in violence, distress and misery.

Meanwhile at least seven people were reported killed in Bougainville within 24 hours of the end of the failed peace talks.

Arawa has reverted to being a war zone.