A STEP TOWARDS UNIFICATION FOR BOUGAINVILLIANS
By Edward Kenai
A significant reconciliation is to take place in Panguna between Ishmael Toroama, Chris Uma and Moses Pipiro on the 24th July 2013. This is seen as a very positive step towards unification for all factions that has since divided amongst themselves since the Bougainville Peace Agreement was signed.
Since the Height of the Bougainville Civil War in the early 90s, a standoff within the BRA rank and files took place when a decision taken by the Political Leader at that time the Late Joseph Kabui was not well taken by the Late Francis Ona the Revolutionary Leader.
The Late Kabui made a decision to enter into negotiations with the PNG Government to find a lasting solution to the civil war which claimed a lot of lives. They were all under the Bougainville Peoples Progress (BRAs Political Arm) umbrella that ruled during that time.
Francis Ona didn’t agree and so Kabui had no choice but to stick to his decision to enter into a round table talks with the PNG Government.
Francis Ona didn’t like the idea about Autonomy but wanted OUTRIGHT INDEPENDENCE but Kabui wanted the Peace Process to continue that eventually led to the BOUGAINVILLE PEACE AGREEMENT and the Autonomous Bougainville Government being established.
What took place at that stand off was termed as the ‘ROREINANG COUP” which is something that has never been discussed since the BPA was signed up till now. This took place in a meeting in Roreinang Village in Kieta District, the village were Ishmael Toroama comes from. The ‘Roreinang Coup’ is the ROOT of the splits and factions that we have in Bougainville today.
Kabui realized that there would be no ‘Military Solution’ to this Civil War and so made a bold stand to get to the round table with the PNG Government and talk Peace process.
On a Military aspect, Ishmael Toroama decided to move with Kabui to support him all the way until the Bougainville Peace Agreement was signed and eventually ABG established.
Chris Uma and Moses Pipiro remained with the Late Francis Ona and so had to name the faction ‘MEKAMUI’ because BRA’s Political leadership and Military Leadership was getting the round table to talk Peace and Normalcy.
This is how the factions began. Many of us Bougainvillians who enjoy the Peace and normalcy today should not forget this bold moves that the leaders took at that time.
This move now allowed BRA to start negotiations with the PNG Government.
Since then a total of 25 agreements and MOUs were signed that led to the Bougainville Peace Agreement which is the 26th Agreement according to the Chronology of agreements reached between parties at that time.
The Late Francis Ona had to have the Morgan Check Point up and call the surrounding areas "NO GO ZONE' and so Chris Uma as his military man had to be in charge of the Morgan Junction Check Point.
Also in regards to the Bougainville Peace Agreement , the Late Francis Ona did not want to participate in the Bougainville Peace Process and also the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement because he still demanded outright Independence and not an Autonomous Government Concept.
His right and dignity as the Leader of the Revolution was well respected by Kabui and Toroama.
The Political Leaders ( The Late Francis Ona and the Late Joseph Kabui ) have since passed away, but the Military people that stood in support of their decisions are still alive today and so their reconciliation is very significant to UNIFICATION for Bougainvilleans.
Reconciliation on the 24th July 2013
An INDEPENDENT MEDIATION TEAM has been working around the clock to get the factional leaders together and also get them to a round table talks to set a stage for the Significant Reconciliation.
The first ever meeting which saw for the first time the three war lords come together face to face for talks was at the famous Morgan Junction.
A series of meetings and mediations have already been conducted with the recent one held on Friday 12th July 2013 at Arawa.
The Independent Mediation Team together with the ABG Veterans Minister and his CEO to attend and have their inputs.
A final reconciliation date has been set for the 24th July 2013 and the venue would be in Panguna.
All Ex-Combatants ( BRAs, Mekamui’s, Resistance and other factions) from North, Central, South will arrive in Arawa on the 22nd July and all be meeting at the Arawa Youth Centre before going up to Panguna on the 24th July 2013 for the Reconciliation Ceremony.
This reconciliation is a step forward for THE UNIFICATION PROCESS for all of us Bougainvillians.
ENDS