Bougainville:Kabui elected BPC chief 5/31/99 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - VIKKI@law.uts.edu.au Sun May 30 21:09:28 1999 The National - 31 May 99 Kabui elected BPC chief PORT MORESBY: Joseph Kabui has been elected president of the newly established Bougainville Peoples Congress. He later appointed 29 members to the executive council. He was elected with an overwhelming majority of 77 votes on Friday. His nearest rival, fellow co-chairman and former ex-premier Gerard Sinato, received 10 votes, according to a BPC media statement. It added that Mr Kabui thanked the BPC members, the people of Bougainville, the United Nations, the Peace Monitoring Group, and NGOs involved in the peace process. Mr Kabui said: "The election of the Bougainville Peoples Congress and the election of myself as its president is a victory for people, victory for democracy, victory for peace, victory for reconciliation and victory for development and progress." He said he was committed to lasting peace and for a lasting political settlement for the people of Bougainville. "This is only the beginning of a long road, but the foundation for a new Bougainville has already been laid," he added. He called for honesty, trust and respect from all parties including his own BPC members and also the four Bougainville parliamentarians including John Momis. The statement said Mr Kabui also appointed 29 members to the Congressional Executive Council. The CEC is a well representative cabinet, which also includes four women. The representation of the CEC members extends from the Atolls District to the districts of Southern Bougainville. The CEC members are: Atolls District: Taehu Pais Michael Titus; Buka District: Richard Lyons, Dennis Sareke, George Lesi, Usiah Toukes; Tinputz District: Gabriel Spae; Wakunai District: Joe Pais, Thomas Keriri. Central District: David Sisito, Linus Dake: Joseph Kabui; Buin District: Andrew Miriki, Joseph Nanou; Siwaii District: Jonathan Ngati, Albert Punghau, Nick Peniai. Bana District: William Lavabua, Thomas Siona, James Tanis; Torokina District: Michael Piriri, Joseph Taraitsi; Keriaka District: Gerard Sinato; Selau, Siur District: Joseph Watawi. The women's representatives are Lucy Morris, Genevieve Pisi, Elizabeth Burain and Therese Jaintong. The BPG adjourned its meeting to Dec 10 but the CEC will meet to prepare for the first formal negotiations with Waigani at the end of June, said its media statement. ================================================================= 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-06.02.99-04:11:05-17932