...........but I covered one of his campaigns in Arawa and the supporters were talking about opening the mine and they were talking about revisiting the Bougainville Copper agreement with the national government and BCL to reopen the mine so that it can support the economy of Bougainville.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201006/s2919874.htmBougainville election result delayed by technical problems
Updated June 7, 2010 09:08:48
The result of the Bougainville elections in Papua New Guinea is due to be announced today.
Unofficials results had put the former governor of the Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville, John Momis, ahead of the incumbent president James Tanis.
Mr Momis is also the former PNG ambassador to China.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Aloysis Laukai, Bougainville Reporter
LAUKAI: John Momis, a former governor is leading with 41,778 and the president James Tanis is on 17,106.
COUTTS: Ok so will we actually hear officially today the results from the election?
LAUKAI: Yeah we should find out the declaration for the final constituency in Buka this morning. I was at the counting centre and there was some problem with their machines and they started again this morning and they're on the third elimination and there is declaring this morning by 8 o'clock.
COUTTS: Why do you think Mr Momis has managed after his absence in China as the ambassador to come back and take this lead?
LAUKAI: It's because of the wishes of the people, they want good leadership that was not provided in the past. So they want Momis to come back and lead the team of Bougainvilleans, to take it into the next step that they're looking at the referendum.
COUTTS: Is the inference there then Aloysis that Mr Tanis isn't regarded as a good leader?
LAUKAI: Yeah he's a good leader, but according to the votes the people opted for Mr Momis to lead for the next five years.
COUTTS: And Mr Momis also says that some of his priorities are as you say strong leadership but better education and health, what's he promising there?
LAUKAI: At the moment what he's promising is good governance and to make sure that there's law and order before anything can happen, before development or economic activities can really work on Bougainville.
COUTTS: And has Mr Momis said anything about the Panguna mine opening has he made any public comments?
LAUKAI: He hasn't made any public comment but I covered one of his campaigns in Arawa and the supporters were talking about opening the mine and they were talking about revisiting the Bougainville Copper agreement with the national government and BCL to reopen the mine so that it can support the economy of Bougainville.
COUTTS: He's also told one of the independent observers of the elections who's now left Bougainville that he thinks that the Panguna mine should open. But why do you think he's been reluctant to say anything public? Is that out of consideration for how sensitive that issue still is?
LAUKAI: Yes because he has to talk with the landowners, he hasn't faced them because he came just before the elections. But he's thinking of talking with the landowners and then if they agree then they can look at opening the mine.
COUTTS: And will everyone be happy with Mr Momis or are there factions that aren't happy with the fact that he might become the next president?
LAUKAI: Yeah a lot of people have been commenting on Momis, they were just looking a bit suspicious of Momis. They were saying that they could bring, if Momis wins it could bring them back to PNG, but looking at the votes the people have spoken, the voters they want Momis to lead.
COUTTS: Ok and just briefly what time today do you think we'll get a definitive result Aloysis?
LAUKAI: It could be after lunch, by the way things are going it could be after lunch. And Momis is in Moresby and he'll be arriving at 11 o'clock this morning and maybe he'll come straight to the counting centre.