Bougainville - 10 June 99 (PC) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - "Vikki John" Postcourier - 10 June 99 - Letter to Editor Buka leaders' push not in order THIS is a letter of appeal to the so-called Leitana Council of Chiefs. Firstly, I would like to point out some of the notions that the group is harboring: + BUKA to break away from the rest of North Solomons in order to become a separate province of PNG. + THREAT of force to disrupt present political arrangements taking shape in Bougainville. + INTENTION to remove John Siau and Sam Akoitai from office. + THE notion of legalised independence for Bougainville rather than achieving it illegally. Some of the above mentioned ideas are clearly risky and not in the best interest of the people as a whole. Some seem rather erroneous, implying that they either do not know what they are talking about or just covering up with nonsense. I only made mention of those ideas which surfaced when the named council of chiefs met. All the above points taken together only serve to undermine the credibility of the people who form the council of chiefs in so far as they count themselves as being amongst leaders of Bougainville. Of course one has the right to hold and express one's opinions toward the current political situation the majority of Bougainvilleans are dealing with. It seems to me as though there is no chance at all to talk over points of disagreements among us, since one party is always going to the media to express whatever points of contention. People rarely see what should be the wisest course of action given a certain situation and circumstance. The present political arrangements taking shape in Bougainville are legitimate because of the desire for peace and freedom, and nothing else. That is what the trend of present political arrangements contain. It is a relief to us that the constitution has also recognised the desire for peace and freedom and is working in a way which ensures justice for all. Bougainvilleans are aware of the legitimacy of the PNG constitution but one must understand our awareness of the PNG constitution within the context of how we understand and interpret our struggle. Our struggle is not only a struggle for rights but also a Perspective Action Struggle and in this context, I believe, its legitimacy cannot be entirely subjected to the prescriptions of the PNG constitution. It is therefore, in my view, not proper for the people of Bougainville to be seen as merely breaking the PNG constitution for the sake of doing so. Whether ordinary Bougainvilleans are intellectually conscious of the drive that had always enlisted them on the path of struggle is not so much a question. It is not proper to look down on our ordinary people needing enlightened guidance from the top. Whatever powers that be in Bougainville would do well to go through a process of intellectual awareness. Let us genuinely understand our people and support them in their endeavours to assert their dignity and pride in this changing world. It is not good enough to rationalise people's inner convictions in accordance with one's intellectual attitude of mind; one then runs the risk of misunderstanding the very people one is supposed to lead. But I believe time is a factor which will always tell, whether leaders have really understood those entrusted to their care. I want to let the so-called Council of Chiefs know that, with the kind of ideas they harbor in their minds, they will never achieve anything good for the people of Bougainville in the long run. It looks more like the Leitana Council of Chiefs is after their own interest. I doubt very much whether they would come up with a better alternative to the present formation of government on Bougainville. In fact they do not have any alternative at all. Garry Dickson Kieta, Bougainville ================================================================= 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-06.10.99-03:44:46-19202