The National (PNG): 15 September 1999
BOUGAINVILLE: HEED THE PEACE CRY
A Bougainvillean journalist who survived a military ambush in 1993 writes from Port Moresby of his memories of the pain and anguish he feels about the tragedy in his homeland.
By MORESI RUAHMA'A
WRITING this story brings back vivid memories of pain and agony as I visualise a
tragedy across the sea, bordering Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
On that fateful Thursday of 1993, the seagulls hovered above the waters as the first
rays of the ghost sun penetrated through the morning clouds. Ahead of us towering
mountain peaks scratched the grey and reddish skies as they waited to
receive the first light of dawn. It was a peaceful quiet morning but soon after, the
desperate cries of the dying echoed across that vast eternity of ocean.
Alas, something went amiss and we were indiscriminately shot at - seven of us
altogether and we were slaughtered in the water. Out of the group I was the only
survivor. Praise and glory to God for the divine intervention that saved me.
I was washed ashore on an isolated beach. There I was found by a villager and
dragged home.
We had been heading home from Honiara in the Solomon Islands when our boat was
intercepted by members of the security forces and shot at mercilessly.
I do not want to venture further into that story, which happened during the
10 years of the Bougainville crisis.
The little dirty war fought in the back streets of paradise has taken the lives of
thousands of people in the North Solomons, too many of them innocent women
and children.
The unofficial death toll is more than 12,000. The disciplined forces have also
suffered losses - the army, police and members of CIS.
The war, fought with no regard for the rules of warfare by both sides - PNG security
forces or the rebels - could well be the longest war ever fought in the South Pacific
region.
But in the Bougainville crisis, the events of the warfare were concealed from the
outside world and from most media coverage. A blanket blockade was applied
across the island.
Behind the barrier of the blockade, torture, death, and other human rights violations
became commonplace on the copper rich island. Lawlessness and rape took a firm
hold.
While many were caught in the crossfire, thousands of others suffered from
preventable diseases like malaria.
As the conflict dragged on, successive governments attempted numerous peace
initiatives and signed peace accords which eventually failed. In 1998 the Skate
Government took office and treated the Bougainville issue with more flexibility.
Mr Skate's unique open style of leadership truly brought about the real progress in
the peace process.
His open-minded approach to allow all parties to come together for a round table
negotiation has already been highly acclaimed, especially by the Bougainvillean
leaders, including the Bougainville Peoples' Congress (BPC) chairman, Joseph
Kabui.
Nor will we forget the former premier Theodore Miriung, or those rebel leaders,
some of whom were continually willing to negotiate. Yes, everyone did contribute
to the prevailing peace progress on the island.
So what does the future hold for Bougainville as we enter the new millennium?
The National Government should treat the fragile peace process with every care
and respect the people's wishes. It should not push any unwanted system down
their throats.
The Government should conduct a referendum to find out what the people really
think, and determine the truth of the numerous claims and counter claims for
self-determination and independence.
Already Mr Kabui has urged to the new Government to continue the peace process
started by Mr Skate. That process included the undertaking to carry out the
referendum for Bougainville to determine its own future.
But other factions on the island are against self-determination and want the reform
system to be in place. Advocating this idea are the Leitana Council of Elders
(LCE).
Supported by Bougainville Regional MP, John Momis, Speaker Bernard Narokobi
(then Opposition leader) and others, LCE chairman Joel Banam believes that the
BPC was a vehicle to legitimise the unilateral independence of May 17, 1990.
But many Bougainvilleans strongly believe that there is no other solution to the
conflict other than a referendum.
Whether the people choose greater autonomy, State government, the reformed
provincial system, or self-determination, they will accept the majority decision
and finally end the conflict.