Bougainville: Post Courier 2/4/98 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Tue Feb 3 20:59:58 1998 Postcourier, 4 February 1998 Dihm gets to work on Bougainville plan BILL Dihm, newly appointed director of the Bougainville Affairs Office, sees integrating all restoration and developmental efforts for Bougainville into ``one comprehensive package'' as his key task. Mr Dihm, 45, from Vabukori in the National Capital District, left the Public Service after a career in Foreign Affairs that had him elevated to department head. From Foreign Affairs Secretary in the period 1985 to 1990 he was moved to Personnel Management where he spent 1991 as head of the department. Mr Dihm took over from Bougainville Affairs Secretary Larry Hulo earlier this week following his appointment last week by Cabinet. Taking his cue from the Lincoln Agreement on Peace, Security and Development, Mr Dihm said his tentative program for this year would revolve around three key deadlines:April 30, 1998 when the Permanent Ceasefire on Bougainville supersedes the Burnham Truce. June 30, 1998 by which time the first round of high level talks on political status should have taken place. December 30, 1998 when the Bougainville elections should have been conducted and the Bougainville Reconciliation Government would be in place. ``We want to make sure that each of those three key deadlines and the work that has to be done in the lead-up to those deadlines are properly executed and on time so that the best possible decisions can be taken by Government at the right time,'' he said. ``We are liaising with a couple of the relevant organisations to put these into place properly.'' One of these, he said, involves consulting with the UN to see how best they can become involved in the so-called Peace Monitoring Group that will transform current Truce Monitors from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Vanuatu to a regional peace keeping force. His office would have to co-ordinate with national Government and Pan Bougainville officials in preparation for the political status talks by June 30 as well as the Electoral Commission for the elections of a Bougainville Reconciliation Government. On Monday, he told Prime Minister Bill Skate and Bougainville Affairs Minister Sam Akoitai that an integrated restoration and development plan for Bougainville was his aim. He said the process will begin with some consultation with the Minister for Planning, Minister for Bougainville Affairs together with the Secretary for Treasury, Directors of Office of Implementation and Planning, as well as representatives of aid donor agencies, UNDP, AusAid, New Zealand, possibly EC and Japan. ``Some of those agencies have individual projects running at the moment. A number of line departments have some plans about restoration of services on Bougainville,'' Mr Dihm said. ``But it seems to me that they are not integrated into one comprehensive package. So what I want to do is contribute to that effort of putting together everything into one comprehensive package get the input of everybody and also the parties in this peace process BIG, BRA, BTG, Resistance and the four Bougainville MPs. ``They equally must be consulted and their input given in to this restoration plan. ``In that way, everybody feels that they have some ownership in that document . . . and it has a better chance of getting implemented,'' he said. Mr Dihm said it would also have ``a better chance of getting resourced by foreign aid donors and it will be properly linked with the budget process in the country''. The new Director has had extensive experience in dealing with sensitive matters dealing with international borders and security matters involving Indonesia and Australia. ``I think given that background and experience, I should be able to bring a certain amount of confidence and experience into this type of job,'' said Mr Dihm. ``I know there are competing interests among Bougainvilleans but I think I would like to show that I am impartial, understand all sides of the conflict, keen and dedicated to bringing about reconciliation and a proper understanding as well as implementing practical things that will give some meaning and substance to this peace process,'' he added. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytpac-02.04.98-09:24:40-20363