Bougainville Needs Help Now
The Bougainville struggle for Independence has reached a critical point. A
full political settlement hangs on just one crucial concession by PNG.
Renewed war is the alternative.
Bougainville at a Critical Juncture
PNG baulks at setting a schedule for a referendum on independence. Without
it there will not be settlement of the issues in conflict. There will not
be reconciliation between Bougainvilleans and PNG authorities. Conflict
will inevitably erupt again.
PNG authorities are under huge pressures. Australian and western powers are
pushing PNG to impose their sovereignty. Mining companies worldwide oppose
local control of lands which locks them out.
Everything to encourage PNG concession on sovereignty has been done on
Bougainville. Reconciliation of all factions has been a runaway success.
All Bougainvilleans have been united behind the demand for a referendum on
independence.
Expand International Presentation of Bougainville's Case Externally
Bougainvilleans need to step up pressure on PNG authorities. The
Bougainville People's Congress international representative, Moses Havini
has just returned from a Pacific people's conference in Fiji.
Bougainvilleans plan to be represented in Canada in May at an international
human rights conference where significant figures from Europe, North and
South America will be present. Materials presenting Bougainville's struggle
for freedom have to be distributed.
We are appealing to all Bougainville's friends and to everyone who
sympathises with people struggling to overcome colonialism and achieve
control over their lands and lives to help at this critical time.
Give Generously. Help Bougainville get a Referendum Money is needed to step
up the international campaign for Bougainville's freedom. Help out. Send
money! Thousands of dollars are needed this month.
Please send cheques or money orders to:
Bougainville Freedom Movement
P.O. Box 134, Erskineville. NSW 2043 Australia
OR deposit directly into the Bougainville Freedom Movement cheque account
Commonwealth Bank 2212-1002-9038. Thank you.
For further information please contact Vikki John on (02) 9558.2730 or
Moses Havini on (02) 9804.7632
===========================
To the editor,
As follows:
Bougainvilleans continue to fight for Self Determination, no thanks to the ABC.
The Australian mass media generally presents Australia as committed to the
defence of human rights and democracy in the Asia Pacific Region. Was
Howard too tough on the Indonesians in advising on an East Timorese
referendum? Were his efforts (his integrity never in question from the mass
media) to protect human rights in the region disrespectful towards
Indonesia? Such questions have been asked recently. They have masked
Australian and US complicity in the massacres of 1999, with their continued
supply of military aid and diplomatic support for the Indonesian position,
during the slaughter. However, there is that other peace monitoring force
on the other side of Papua New Guinea. Generally forgotten about, at times,
like today, it makes the news. 'There's been a breakthrough on the future
of Bougainville' reports Radio Australia today. 'In a landmark move, Papua
New Guinea says it acknowledges the aspirations for a binding referendum on
independence as called for by Bougainville's leaders.' After their long
struggle against the criminal tyranny of Australia's close partner, PNG,
Bougainvilleans finally won the war. The ABC did not help matters much.
PNG, with important diplomatic support from Australia, continues to attempt
to thwart Bougainville self determination. True to form, the ABC is
misleading. This announcement is not a breakthrough. It is no concession by
the PNG government. It is equally as vague as the promises given at the
Burnham peace talks, 2 years ago, towards recognising the Bougainville
people's desire for self determination. As well, the promised Interim
Government, is far short, in democratic terms, of the original Provincial
Government which was succeeded by the BRA and the Bougainville Interim
Government (its political arm) at the beginning of the war in the late 80s.
The ABC report relates to the agreement signed by the Bougainville and PNG
leaders at Port Moresby (yesterday). According to the ABC, ' It was also
agreed the holding of a referendum may be deferred [consistent with
longstanding Australian policy, which has always been against it] until
after autonomy has been implemented and can be fairly and properly judged.'
The Bougainville representative at the talks, Joe Kabui, and PNG's chief
negotiator, Sir Michael Somare thought otherwise. These details were
omitted from the ABC report. Somare said that the negotiation has in
principle agreed to 90 percent of the issues discussed except on one,
according to the Pacific Islands based Independent. What was that? As Kabui
stated, 'the main issue which both parties have not agreed on is referendum.
We (Bougainville leaders) want a guarantee on referendum from the national
government now but the government wants to set up the autonomous government
first and deal with referendum later. That is where we differ.
We want the guarantee now because it will make it easy for the disposal of
weapons to take place, the setting up of the autonomous government and the
conduction of free elections on the island'. The Bougainville people are to
be congratulated for their successful struggle. They won against
international capital and the US dominated world order (they closed the RTZ
mine in 1988, then they beat the Australians and PNG by 1997). Now they
continue the struggle for self determination, somewhat of a model for other
oppressed people in the region. Kabui, and Francis Ona (the rebel leader)
are no anarchists. However, Bougainvilleans have at least stopped
'development' in favour of their own self determination until now, and at
great cost. Between 10,000 and 20,000 of them have been killed by
PNG/Australian military strategies (mainly the illegal blockade). But, the
Australian power elite and their 'partners' in Port Moresby won't give
up. The ABC continues to omit the facts, and promote a fanciful version of
reality. Australian Defence and Foreign Affairs officials can relax a
little though, knowing, at least, that the media continues to do its job.
Jack Roberts
24 March 2000
--
Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html
Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop
Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink
Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
