Bouganville

Mr Ahern, speaking after receiving the Referendum Writ from the Papua New Governor General, Sir Bob Dadae, yesterday, said he hoped it will be a continuation of an almost twenty year peace process.

Bougainvilleans are to vote on whether to become independent or have greater autonomy within PNG.

MSPNG closed its office after a group claiming to be hardliners opposed the use of contraceptive implants as it would cause a growth in “promiscuity” (pamuk pasin), the promotion of HIV and STIs and an increase in AIDS cases.

The MSPNG staff had been receiving threats by the so-called group of hardliners and decided to close down the Arawa office and move to Buka. MSPNG saw the official opening of their new outreach centre at Kokopau, North Bougainville.

This is his response to comments by ABG president John Momis who threatened legal action if Waigani does not fulfill its obligation.

“We are spending more money in Bouganville than any other province in the country,” O’Neill told LOOP News.

He says while the government appreciates the complex range of issues in the region, common sense must prevail

He said last week the National Executive Council approved another road project in Bouganville worth K18 million.

Rugby league is now being introduced widely to schools throughout the region by NRL Australia in PNG under the League Bilong Laif (LBL) program.

The program works with schools in the four regions of PNG using rugby league as a tool to support education outcomes.

Development officer Kenneth Kenevi says his team of three staff has done well to bring back the interest of the sport after the Bougainville Crises.

Since the program’s inception at Bougainville in March 2015, they have had about 30 schools involved.

Member for Kopii constituency in the ABG Philip Kuhena in his presentation to an  ABG meeting told  the government to rid of all guns before the voting for referendum  comes about.

 “We need people to vote freely without intimidation and doubts, first we need to clean this place up so when we vote there will be nothing to fear,” Mr  Kuhena said.

“Weapons still threaten the peace we’re enjoying and it will remain an obstacle unless we do something about it.”

Mr Kuhena said it will be complicated because guns have become a part of the Bougainvie culture.

PNGDF is part and parcel  of the Bougainville peace process but their members are often forgotten when an ex combatant meeting is held on Bougainville.

A former soldier, Lance Corporal Gordon Quito Atona, who was with 1RPIR Bravo Company, shared his thoughts on the situation with Loop PNG.  Lance Corporal Atona is rare, because he comes from Panguna where it all started and coming back to fight with his brothers in the name of the PNG Government made him like the meat in a sandwich.

The beach is now a peaceful spot with its jetty the main centre for cocoa trading and the weekly market visits from the nearby Solomon Islanders.

The beach and its history are really important to the Bougainvillean team travelling with the convoy as the Relay promotes unity and a brighter future.

The beach also signifies that the Relay has reached the furthest south-eastern part of the country, with the islands of our neighbour, Solomon Islands, in sight.

Arawa town came together to run a relay around the old abandoned parts of town and the resurrected sections of the town that are beginning to look like a residential suburb again.

The relay included a slippery climb across a steel swing bridge and in true AROB fashion was carried through town inside a replica canoe, carried by the different groups that took part in the Relay.

Students from every school in town and the outskirts took part along with community youth groups dressed in shirts promoting peace through sport.