PNG-BTG-BRA leaders agree to find peace before self-rule


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N.Braumann@tu-bs.de  Sun Nov  9 21:21:50 1997


http://203.22.79.37/postcour/postcour.nsf/

Post Courier (PNG) 11/10/97
 
BTG-BRA leaders agree to find peace before self-rule
 
LEADERS from the Bougainville Transitional Government and
Bougainville Revolutionary Army have reached an understanding to
work with the Papua New Guinea government to restore infrastructure
and services before seeking independence.
 
BTG spokesman Bishop John Zale told the Post-Courier in Gizo,
Solomon Islands that all the BTG/BRA leaders have agreed after the
signing of the Burnham agreement in New Zealand with the PNG
government to make peace among themselves first and then embark on
rebuilding the province to ensure normalcy on the island.
 
And when this is achieved, the leaders would seek from PNG to allow
for a referandum so that they can vote whether or not to have
independence.
 
This is because the idea for Bougainville to get independence is
still strong among all Bougainvilleans and has been before the
crisis begun in 1989, according to Bishop Zale.
 
The BRA leadership is only pushing the idea.
 
According to Rev Zale, there is a strong understanding now for
leaders from both factions after nine years of fighting to settle
down and try to rebuild the province in terms of infrastructure
(roads, bridges and social services) which had been destroyed and
rehabilitation of Bougainvilleans before the idea to pursue
independence is sought.
 
``The intention for independence for Bougainville is strong among
the people and leaders alike but we recognise that the nine years of
crisis have really spoilt the island . . . Bougainvilleans kill
Bougainvillians (BRA and Resistance),'' said Rev Zale.
 
He said the first round of Burnham talks have opened up doors to
clear understanding among leaders of BTG and BRA to reconcile _ to
forgive each other and make peace.
 
The idea of BRA leader Francis Ona is to get independence
immediately but he said most of the leaders think that although they
independence should be pursued _ it would not be good if the PNG
Government leaders hand over Bouganville's freedom in the current
state.
 
``Independence will not work if people (BRA, Resistance and ordinary
Bouganvilleans) are still divided because they will fear each other
all the time. . .so the idea is to seek peace, reconstruct
infrastructure on the island (rebuild roads, bridges, schools and
health services) and improve the livelihood of the people as it was
before the crisis begun'', said Rev Zale.
 
This would allow all the people to leave care centres and return to
their villages _ this is the plan all the leaders have and are
working towards it ``and we try to advice Francis Ona to ensure this
takes place first''.
 
And once this is achieved and everything is back to normal, then the
leaders ``can negotiate with the Government of Papua New Guinea and
tell them of the concern of the Bouganville people''.
 
According to Rev Zale, independence for Bouganville is not the idea
of the leaders but the people and their welfare must be considered
first.
 
And the approach to be taken by the leaders now is that once the
welfare of the people are secure, Bouganville leaders would seek
from the government for a referandum so that the people can vote _
it would only be determined by a majority vote.
 
``We see that this is the only democratic way to get independence .
. . leaders resorted to fighting but it only caused damage in the
province and displaced people,'' he said.
 
And the leaders would have to follow the majority decision by the
people or rather which way they vote _ for independence or to remain
as a province of PNG.
 
He said Bouganville leaders now realise that the province would
deteriorate further if fighting continues on Bounganville.
 
Meanwhile, he said more help is now going to Bouganville (both to
BRA and PNG Government controlled areas) after the Burnham agreement
was signed in New Zealand and it was an encouraging sign.
 
Additionally, he said there is a free flow of people alone the
border between PNG and Solomon Islands in search for services and
goods unlike before where they were hunted by PNG soldiers.
 
 
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