Wednesday,
February 11, 1998 - 11:00
By
Norm Dixon
Independence from Papua New Guinea remains the goal of the
Bougainville people, according to the vice-president of the Bougainville
Interim Government (BIG), Joseph Kabui. Kabui was speaking on January 27 in
Honiara after the latest round of peace negotiations.
Unlike
earlier rounds, the Lincoln talks involved top leaders. The PNG delegation was
led by Prime Minister Bill Skate, the BIG contingent by Kabui and Bougainville
Revolutionary Army commander Sam Kauona, and the pro-PNG Bougainville
Transitional Government by Premier Gerard Sinato.
The prime
ministers of the Solomon Islands and New Zealand, the foreign ministers from
New Zealand and Australia and an observer for the United Nations
secretary-general also attended. More than 230 delegates took part.
Prior to
the meeting, Skate announced that Port Moresby would grant amnesty to exiled
Bougainville rebels, allowing leaders such as Martin Miriori, who lives in the
Netherlands, and Moses Havini, in Sydney, to return to Bougainville. PNG would
also pardon those jailed for "crisis-related" acts.
PNG
diplomatic posts would immediately issue PNG passports to Bougainvilleans.
Skate also lifted bounties of K200,000 placed on the heads of senior BIG and
BRA leaders, including Francis Ona, Kabui and Kauona, by the Wingti and Chan
governments.
During the
talks, Kabui and the BIG delegation held firmly to a series of goals, in
particular that any agreement include a pledge that Bougainville's future
political status remain on the agenda.
"Let
there be no mistaking the intentions of all Bougainvilleans ... of seeking a
solution based on the fundamental human right of self-determination",
Kabui told the delegates.
Kabui
pointed out that article 8 of the Burnham Declaration, signed last July,
accepted the right of "the people of Bougainville, as a people, [to]
freely and democratically exercise their right to determine their political
future".
"The
answer to our problems does not lie in the PNG constitution ... The violation
of the Bougainvillean people's fundamental rights by instruments of the PNG
constitution, and violation of the constitution itself by successive PNG
governments throughout the conflict, means that the constitution can no longer
be applied to us", he said.
Kabui,
while supporting a cease-fire, pushed for the complete withdrawal of PNG troops
within a specific time.
Another
issue strongly argued was whether BRA weapons should be removed completely from
the island. The PNG government side wanted the arms to be taken from
Bougainville and destroyed. Kabui argued that the BRA was prepared only to
"lay down arms" until the arrival of a "neutral"
peacekeeping force.
Following
what Kabui described as "frank, open and fair talks", the Lincoln
agreement was signed on January 23. It was agreed that a "permanent and
irrevocable" cease-fire will begin at midnight on April 30. The current
truce, which has been in force since October, was extended.
The Truce Monitoring
Group — made up of New Zealand and Australian soldiers, with a token contingent
from other Pacific countries — will be maintained until the arrival of a
UN-endorsed peacekeeping force. It believed this force will mostly comprise New
Zealand troops.
One of the
peacekeeping force's main tasks will be to fast-track the training of an
all-Bougainvillean police force. A "phased withdrawal" of the 500 PNG
troops will begin after a "free and democratic" election installs a
"Bougainville Reconciliation Government". The election must take
place before December 31.
The
parties also agreed that another round of talks would take place before the end
of June to address "the political issue" (diplomat-speak for the
question of independence).
Kabui said
on January 27 that the Lincoln talks were "highly successful" and
that most of the rebels' demands had been met. He said that agreement paved the
way for an act of self-determination. He added that the BIG-BRA would campaign
for independence until a referendum decided the issue.
"What
kind of ultimate political animal we have on Bougainville must be left to the
people of Bougainville. It's not up to Australia, New Zealand or anybody else
...
"I
would be comfortable with their decision in favour of independence or the
highest form of autonomy. The rank and file of the rebels will accept the full
verdict of the people. They will never accept a decision forced on them from
the top down. They have lost too much and suffered too long for that. As long
as there is a free and fair referendum, there will be no coercion of the people
by the rebels. That's a guarantee."
Kabui said
he believed that BIG President Francis Ona would now "work with the people
on the ground" on the basis of this agreement. Ona expressed scepticism
about the first round of talks in July because he felt the issue of
independence had not been adequately addressed.
Ona's
doubts deepened when Skate on August 28 stated, "Independence is
non-negotiable". During the South Pacific Forum meeting in September,
Australian PM John Howard also stated that Australian support for the peace
process was contingent upon independence being off the agenda.
Ona also
opposed the participation of 100 or so Australian troops in the 320-strong
truce monitoring group.
Skate
seems to have softened his stand. On January 13, he and PNG opposition leader
Bernard Narakobi said they were willing to discuss "whatever issues may be
important to each and every party" to bring peace to Bougainville. This
has been interpreted as no longer ruling out autonomy or independence.
The
statement added that "significant changes may require parliament to
cooperate across party and other political lines".
On January
26, Skate issued an open letter to the people of Bougainville and PNG "to
say sorry and ask forgiveness ... We acknowledge that the impact of the past
nine years of conflict will continue to be faced by generations to come."
Skate's
meek posture reflects PNG's weakness. A year ago, the Chan government, unable
to defeat the BRA militarily, resorted to apartheid-linked mercenaries to
overcome the rebels.
This
triggered a rebellion within the PNG Defence Force, followed by an uprising by
the people of Port Moresby. As a result, PNG could longer continue the war. The
people's war-weariness and disgust at Chan's use of mercenaries led to his
defeat at the polls.
Kabui said
on January 27 that he believed Skate was "genuine and attuned to the
problem" of Bougainville. "PNG is ready and willing to give
Bougainville the highest possible autonomy", he explained. "Perhaps
at the beginning of the crisis that would have been possible, but not
today."
Sam Kauona
voiced similar views. He said PNG should not fear Bougainville's independence
because in the long run it would lead to stronger solidarity among Melanesian
countries.
From GLW issue 305
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