http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/...74?autoplay=1167210
Updated 26 July 2013, 16:51 AEST
There's been another step towards healing the wounds caused by the civil war in Bougainville with an historical meeting between leaders of the formally warring factions of the Bougainville Revolutionary ArmyThe three are ex-BRA kingpin Ishmael Toroama, Moses Pipiro from the Me'ekamui Unity Government and Chris Uma from the original Me'ekamui faction.
Another step forward in Bougainville's reconcilitation process (Credit: ABC)
They were followers of late revolutionary leader Francis Ona who ignited the 10-year Bougainville Civil War in protest against the Panguna copper mine operated by Bougainville Copper Limited.
Presenter: Pius Bonjui
Speaker: President of Autonomous Regional of Bougainville, John Momis
MOMIS: Yes, the encounter between the three ex-combatant leaders at Panguna was a very, very important event, because the ex-combatant themselves, the commanders did not work together. One commander worked with the ABG, the other two supported Me'ekamui and now as a result of the reconciliation, they have pledged to work together and work with ABG to restore law and order, rule of law, good governance, support good governance, work for fiscal self-reliance, and also create a stable atmosphere which would be conducive to both internal investors and foreign investors. As the date for referendum comes closer, people now realise that we have to work harder and stabilise the situation and also work harder to ensure that there is good governance, that there some measure of democratisation to happen in Bougainville, so that when the time comes for the referendum, which we must also be prepared. People will vote freely and according to their conscience, so that the outcome will be acceptable to all factions.
BONJUI: Now, that the two other factions are ex-combatants are now fall into line with the Ishmael Toroama as a group, The authorised Bougainville government now is going to meaningfully engage with the rest of the Bougainville people to move the region ahead?
MOMIS: Absolutely. I think there is as a result of the agreement yesterday, as a result of their encounter and reaching the agreement to work together, there is certainly a greater sense of solidarity in Bougainville amongst all factions and this is good for us, because the ABG is a legitimate government on the ground and despite the fact that we don't have a sufficient funds and sufficient capacity for governance, the fact that people are now supporting the government, especially in view of the fact that in a referendum, the date for the referendum is imminent, so that we must work together to instill a sense of hope and sense of comfort that things will stable and that peace will prevail.
BONJUI: Right y ou are visiting or you are planning to visit Guava Village as a form of reconciliation on your part. When are you travelling there and tell us a bit more about this visit to Guava Village?
MOMIS: Yes, the event is being prepared for probably in about three weeks time. They'll be a major event, because I'll be going back to the late Francis Ona's own village, where I was held captive, and then released by Francis Ona, because he agreed that I should go back unharmed to represent Bougainville in the National Parliament and Bougainville's interests.
So I think it's important for me to go back and touch base with the people and also visit the grave of the former leader, Francis Ona.
And after that, we will have two days of consultative meetings in Panguna itself, with the landowners, which will probably the second last meeting we will have in order to prepare our people to organise ourselves, work out our position with respect to the important issue of negotiations with BGL on the Bougainville Copper Limited.
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