A consultative Committee for missing persons has now been set up on Bougainville following the Bougainvie Executive Council passing the policy in 2014.
It is also historical because it is the first time now for Bougainville-based ex-Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) soldiers, the ones who served on Bougainville are involved.
A consultation workshop on missing persons was held on June 21, 2016 with the theme “(Dead or alive) Leave no Bougainvillean out.”
It was attended by all stake holders namely: ICRC, PNG Red Cross, BPBP, Bougainville veterans association, Bougainville based former PNGDF, Mekamui, Bougainville women’s Federation, Families of the Missing, Buin Peace Volunteers, Bougainville Council of Churches,Bougainvile Police Service and the Ministry of Refefendum,Veterans ,Affairs and Peace. And most importantly the representatives of the families of the missing.
After various presentations by stakeholders at the Consultation workshop, a main presentation as done by the peace office on awareness on Missing persons.
Secretary for the division of autonomy and former ABG president James Tanis speaking at the workshop said the issue of missing persons cannot escape.
“Especially the emotions of those that are still alive dead or alive we should not leave any Bougainvillean out of this whole process,” Tanis said.
The workshop also discussed and highlighted the need to dig up mass graves and also DNA to match whose relative had been dug out.
An election was also conducted and executives of the Consultative Committee for Missing persons (BCCM) were selected and more surprisingly now it’s been chaired by a woman.
The chairperson is now Josephine Kaona Deputy is Bosco ragu (EXDF) and the technical secretary is Ignatius Sapolo (EXDF/Resistance).
The first meeting of the committee outlined how the committee will work and consult with people, and the next meeting is scheduled for this Thursday and Friday in Arawa.
(Picture source: en.wikipedia.org)
