Bougainville - Funding tops the agenda Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - VIKKI@law.uts.edu.au Sun May 23 23:09:47 1999 The National - 24 May 99 Funding to top BPC agenda By PHILIP KEPSON RABAUL: Funding for the running of the Bougainville Peoples Congress (BPC) is expected to top the agenda of its first meeting this week, with several selected leaders already demanding payment for government workers. Bougainville rebel spokesman Andrew Miriki said yesterday the important issue now is the source of funding for the running of the BPC. He said in line with the existing understanding, the Bougainville Constituent Assembly executives are required to consult with the acting administrator for Bougainville John Siau for funding arrangement with the National Government. The BPC's first meeting, following the election, is to be held today. Wages alone for the members of the BPC is expected to form a major component of any funding. Meanwhile, provincial electoral officer Mathias Pehei said certain members of the congress, mainly those who were selected before the election in Central Bougainville, had asked for their wages. "Some of them from Central Bougainville have already asked us for their pay and we advised them that it would take some time to make arrangements," he said. However, resistance force commander for South Bougainville Jacob Naisy said funding for the BPC, including wages for its members, should not come from the National Government. "The BPC, in actual fact, should be recognised as a non-governmental organisation or a mere pressure group on Bougainville because it would be formed outside the legal frame work of the country. Therefore, the National Government should not fund its operation including wages for the members," said Mr Naisy. According to the electoral office in Buka, the BPC would be composed of a total of 114 members, who were either elected, selected or appointed in line with the BCA constitution. ======================== Give us credit for promoting peace YOUR Editorial comments for those of us who have been very active in playing the key role in the Bougainville peace process do not only try to discredit us, but they are also provocative and intended to continue promoting divisions among the Bougainvilleans. The process had started in June 1997. In effect the information consultations actual had started a few months back in March. You do not have any idea at all on the very constructive role that some of us played from outside with NGOs and foreign governments, including the New Zealand Government, to start the process. Rosemary Gillespie must not be identified as part of the overseas team with Moses Havini, Mike Forster and myself. She has always been with Francis Ona's group which has not been very supportive of the process. The process is fragile and still has a long way to go yet. Some of us continue to make every genuine effort to find ways to unite our people. We are at least mature, responsible and sensitive enough to refrain from making unnecessary comments in your paper which could easily undermine this very delicate process. Our silence must not be interpreted in any other way. This is part of our effort in making sure that peace is at least given the chance to survive. All of us have the role to play to support this peace process. Therefore credit should be given where it is due. You should not forget that even this recent understanding signed in New Zealand still has to go through us who your editorial seems to discredit our efforts and contributions to the process. We are the ones who will have to work out the actual mechanics on how this understanding or any other previous agreements can be implemented. We have been in fact the ones who have been both instrumental and involved in directly negotiating most of the various important agreements signed so far to support the peace. Moses Havini, Mike Forster and myself have gone back to the island about seven times now since signing of ceasefire agreement in April last year. Besides, we are always in regular contact with our people on the ground almost on the daily basis. We do not live in comfort as you seem to imply. But one thing that is very clear to us is that we have the interest of our people in Bougainville always close to our hearts, and that is why we have tirelessly continued to work hard for peace in the last ten years with the support of the international community that we all see on the island today. Martin R Miriori, Co-chair BRG steering committee, The Hague, Holland ================================================================= 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-05.26.99-11:36:27-24367