Bougainville - Lobbying Intensifies for BPC Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - VIKKI@law.uts.edu.au Tue May 25 22:42:54 1999 Postcourier - 26 May 99 Lobbying intensifies in Arawa LOBBYING for the top jobs in the Bougainville People's Congress has intensified in Arawa with hours remaining before members of the congress are sworn in. The front runner for the post of president is former North Solomons Premier and Bougainville Interim Government vice-president Joseph Kabui. The vice-president's position will be a toss up between co-chairman of the Bougainville Constituent Assembly and former BTG Premier Gerard Sinato and BIG spokesman Andrew Miriki. Others in the running are Thomas Anis, Member for Konga Nick Peniai, Member for Telepi (Bana) James Tans and Member for Selau Joseph Watawi. The election of the president, vice president and the speaker and his deputy will be conducted through secret ballot. Factions in Bougainville have gone into closed door meetings to plan their strategies and put up nominations for these positions when the first meeting of the People's Congress gets under way in Arawa this morning. Reports from Arawa say members of the Bougainville People's Congress began arriving in Arawa as early as Monday. The final group of invited guests and dignitories will depart Buka this morning on Air Sunkamap, while helicopters will make several trips into Arawa. The provincial workboat, the MV San Kamap, is at Buka ready to sail to Arawa. All four Bougainvillean parliamentarians have been invited to attend. But late yesterday, only the Minister for State and Member for Central Bougainville Sam Akoitai had indicated he would attend. It could not be confirmed independently whether Regional Member John Momis, South Bougainville Member Michael Laimo and Member for North Bougainville Michael Ogio would be there. Co-chairmen of the BCA Kabui and Sinato have written to Mr Momis asking him to chair this morning's meeting. If he does not attend, one of the co-chairman will chair the meeting to elect a speaker who will then take over the proceedings. Many people have travelled to Arawa to witness the occasion. There is silence over the swearing in and formation of the Bougainville People's Congress from self styled president Francis Ona's faction. Mr Ona has decided not to take part in the process since his vice-president Joseph Kabui broke ranks in April 1997. An invitation was sent to Mr Ona to nominate five of his representatives to be on the congress. No reply has been received but officials are optimistic that they will get answers from Mr Ona in Arawa today. The Bougainville Resistance Force, the BRA, the former BTG, BIG and women will make their five nominations into the People's Congress in Arawa today. The provincial council of women has nominated its president, Theresa Jaintong, Elizabeth Burian and Dorcas Awasi as their members, while the Bougainville Women for Peace and Freedom, a pro BIG movement, will name their representatives this morning in Arawa. According to the source, the only problem being encountered in Bougainville is the bad weather, with heavy rain making it impossible to get into mountainous areas. The source said because of this, Mr Kabui is still stranded in Nagovis. A helicopter will try to bring him and others out today. ================================================================= 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-05.26.99-13:31:37-21650