Bougainville-BRA Unhappy with Peace Process

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit

source - N.BRAumann@tu-bs.de  Thu Apr 27 07:14:04 2000


The Independent (PNG), Issue #258, April 27, 2000

BRA unhappy with peace process - by RAYMOND PALANGAT
 
BOUGAINVILLE Revolutionary Army (BRA) elements on the Bougainville are
apparently not at all happy with the current peace process and have
threatened to disrupt it.
 
BRA commander, Ishmael Toroama has claimed that the BRA was not very happy
with the way the Bougainville peace process was currently being manipulated
by certain leaders in Bougainville and Papua New Guinea to address the
fundamental issue of referendum for the people of Bougainville on
independence.
 
In a statement Commander Toroama warned that the BRA was not prepared to see
the history of 1975 repeated again this time by the same leaders who
misjudged and mishandled the situation against the popular wishes of the
people on the issue of referendum. The statement was sent by BRA
representative in the Netherlands Martin Miriori.
 
Commander Toroama said that it seemed that the peace process was now being
hijacked and monopolised by certain people and their cronies who were making
money out of the situation, while deliberately trying to tip the balance to
one side that had a clear track record of denying the people of Bougainville
the right to a democratic choice of their political future in the past.
 
"BRA therefore vows to closely monitor the situation, and unless we see that
the real issue of referendum is being addressed properly with firm
commitment from PNG, we will simply refuse to entertain any discussion on
issues such as the weapons disposal, or even allowing the BIG/BRA leadership
to participate in the coming peace talks," said Commander Ishmael.
 
According to the statement BRA soldiers were feeling very uneasy and boiling
with deep anger which could explode at any moment and this might prove to be
very costly to the whole peace process.
 
"It is like a very dangerous rumbling volcano which I am trying to keep calm
at the moment from exploding. I am therefore obviously under a lot of
pressure from my soldiers who are not very happy with the way they see
things going," Commander Toroama said.
 
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