...........to compensate all,” added Mr Sohia.
All Bougainvilleans must decide
Post Courier, 15.3.2013
THE political future of Bougainville should be left entirely on Bougainvilleans to decide. Bougainvilleans themselves will decide whether they want to become a sovereign nation or remain an integral part of PNG through the present autonomy arrangement. That’s the message from the former Autonomous Bougainville Government President’s chief of staff Peter Sohia.
Mr Sohia said Bougainvilleans should be making this life-long decision through the free and democratic double entrenchment Referendum as per the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) and the laws that give legal effect to the agreement.
Mr Sohia said the issue on Bougainville’s independence can only be addressed through the 3 pillars of the BPA: weapons disposal, autonomy and referendum for independence. He added that weapons disposal, rule of law and good governance are the benchmark of the Agreement that should be addressed as they are keys to civil development and overal social wellbeing.
He stressed that the issue on the re-opening of the Panguna Mine should never be used as a condition for Bougainville’s political future.
“The issue of the re-opening the Panguna Mine should, at all costs, never be used as a condition or a stepping stone for Bougainville’s independence by the Panguna landowners, the Me’ekamui or anybody else in Bougainville. Panguna is not Bougainville’s independence. And various compensation demands for land and environment damages caused by BCL previously should not be tied to the people’s aspiration for political freedom,” Mr Sohia said.
“The Panguna issue must not be confused with the people’s long outstanding political agenda of independence. Panguna must not and should never be used to bankroll Bougainville’s political destiny and Philip Miriori, a senior Panguna landowner should refrain from using the Me’ekamui, a political movement for independence to delay the reopening of the Panguna Mine, rather he should use his landowner authority to seek compensation for everybody in Bougainville who suffered and spilled blood for Panguna.
In Bougainville custom, Panguna belongs to everybody and it should be opened sooner than later, to compensate all,” added Mr Sohia.
Mr Sohia said the Panguna mine should be re-opened before the Referendum date is set, adding that any compensation demands for land and environment (K10 billion), equitable distribution of wealth, damage to property, personal injury and loss of lives amongst the landowners and the people of Bougainville should be paid before the reopening of the mine.
Mr Sohia was making these comments when responding to a media statement that was made by the President of the Me’ekamui Government of Unity and Panguna landowner Philip Miriori. Mr Mirori had said that the Panguna mine would be reopened after Bougainville gained its political independence.
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