Benedict Darate and the Napidakoe Navitu

Bougainville's struggle for self-determination began as early as the 1950s. But the main characteristics of all these anti-colonization efforts was that, people were not united. Thus, many did not achieve what they wanted until the late 1980s when the late Francis adopted politics into a long family problem.

During this era, Bougainville did developed many tiny movements to fight outside domination with a minimum of impacts across the island. One such movement aimed at liberating Bougainville was Napidakoe Navitu.

Napidakoe Navitu, according to Benedict Darate, was created in late 1969 in the Kieta District to unite Bougainvilleans so divided by Western religion, education, politics and money.

Benedict Darate

Bougainville was division around the 1950s, was created by religion and politics. Buka had its own, a classical one is the Hahalis Welfare Society struggling to rid Christianity. Kieta had many, example the Meekamui Pontoku Onoring with Damien Dameng, Tone'pa Movement in Evo and others. Many were in the Christianity's many introduced religions that were also bringing in the division and conflict.

Thus, one common binding factor in Bougainville was the uncontrolled influx of PNG's redskins and other foreigners that the cocoa-copra plantations and the BCL's Panguna mine was supporting.

From, all these mess, Napidakoe Navitu was born, with major issue was to foster a united front against PNG and strive for self-determination.

So, what is Napidakoe Navitu? Napidakoe Navitu was a umbrella body, according to Darate, created out of the many independent movements-called by the Christians and government-as cargo cult organizations. It aimed to fight for the rights of the Bougainville people.

Napidakoe Navitu: 'Na' stands for Nasioi area of Kieta, 'Pi' stands for Pirung (all peoples on islands and coasts, 'Da' stood for Damara, that is the Panguna to Kongara area, 'Ko' stands for Koromira and the single 'E' stood for Evo. 'Navitu' is a word for UNITY in the Nasioi language.

Due to the fact that the so called CARGO CULT leaders were holding the upper hand in the group, they were said to be culture based in their world views.

It was based at Kuka village (North Nasioi) and sourced a little funding from a monthly collection of 20t fee from members and supporters. 

The movement had sub-committees around Central Bougainville led by figure like Damien Dameng, Tone'pa, Peter Itomui, David Sisito and Miriori (from Kereinari).

The structure was as follows: the Chairman, was Sir Paul Lapun, whilst the tressurer was Raphael Bele and the secretary was the Australian Barry Middlemiss who is honoured for the organization's successes in the 1970s.

In 1970, Napidakoe Navitu pushed for a referendum for self-determination or autonomy and independence for Bougainville. But did not eventuate because of conflicting views from the Noth Bougainville and South Bougainville areas.

In the many sub-committees, Darate was a member in the Oune Mu'mung-sinaa. This committee hailed from the Oune area, home to the Bougainville's notable leader, ABG's first president, late Joseph C. Kabui and his elder brother, Martin Miriori.

Oune Mu'mung-sinaa was lead by Michael Aite from the Paruparu area and Benedict Darate. Since it was based at Dupanta Village in the vicinity of the developing Panguna mine, it was incharge of the many anti-mining protests in the 1970s and 1980s.

It was the committee that also played the upper hand in the declaration of Bougainville independence in the 1 September 1975.