Reconciliation

The area had been plagued with lawlessness resulting in burnt houses and villagers fleeing into the thick jungles to take refuge. In Gumase, an elementary school, church and aid post were burnt to ashes in 2021. Locals fled the village to hide in the mountain ranges. Others were forced to give up their daughter’s hand in marriage to men in other villages just to settle down and take refuge in new communities.

What has been a traumatic ordeal for people in the Nayudo LLG for the past couple of years, is slowly seeing peace make its way back into the area.

While delivering her Independence address this morning, Governor Peter said the program will commence in the Guari Local Level Government (LLG) from Sept 18-21; Woitape LLG from Sept 23 – 26; and Tapini LLG from Sept 28 – 30.

“The PEC has resolved to see the peace and reconciliation program rolled out to the remaining LLGs in the Golilala District and be completed before Sept 12, 2025. I believe in doing so, we prepare our people to participate meaningfully and as responsible and valued citizens of this country to the development of their local communities,” said the governor.

The local Chiefs brought Sir Julius to the exact spot where he was customarily bestowed his leadership rite of passage by Nicholas Brokam, one of the first New Irelanders that made it into the Legislative Council of PNG from 1951 to 1964 through the support of an American Catholic Priest.

Mr Schnaubelt made the offer at the Kavieng Airport recently in response to the women in Kavieng who protested on his arrival demanding that the three New Ireland Members reconcile and work together for the good of the province.

He said: I have no problem with the reconciliation and am happy to sit with Member for Kavieng, Ian Ling-Stuckey and Governor Sir Julius for a reconciliation ceremony.”

It was signed in Vunapope, Kokopo, on Wednesday (Nov 6), upholding Melanesian cultural values and practices of brotherhood to sincerely declare they truly resort to reconcile with each other for the atrocities caused during the 1989 to 1997 Bougainville Crisis.

The parties pledged their commitment with collective responsibilities to implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement, affirming dual commitment to protecting the state and the freedom and rights of citizens.

According to an advance team, led by Advisor for the National Coordination Office of Bougainville Affairs, Dr Henry Okole, there are three reasons why Kokopo was chosen; one being that ENB was where most Bougainvilleans fled to during the crisis, that ENB was the forward base of the PNG Defence Force back then and that ENB is an ideal location for a pre-reconciliation program, which cannot be done in Bougainville where fighting and blood was shed.

He says the second phase of the reconciliation program is set to be held at Panguna, after the Referendum is conducted.

The NCD Election manager, Alvin Jimmy explains that the police advised him that the Park was not a viable option.

Jimmy told Loop PNG that the Park was not secure for the pre-counting and so they contacted management of the Rita Flyn courts who agreed to have the process held there.

One of the activities to take place will be the replacing of used ballot papers from the deferred polling held on Tuesday.

The Rita Flynn Courts will be the central coordinating office for the NCD Election until after the Elections.

This is from a peace advocator and elder from the Bougainville west coast district of Kunua, Herman Siriva.

Speaking to PNG Loop,  Siriva said reconciliation is the only way forward and it’s only through this that Bougainville will go to referendum.

Just two weeks ago a major reconciliation ceremony was held in his home village of Doaso in Hahon Kunua District, where a senior veteran Barnabas Tobby reconciled with families of 22 people that where killed by the BRA. The victims included a PNGDF soldier, late Corporal Gareitz.