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Thursday, April 25, 23:54:24 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: [1], 2 ]

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Date Posted: 15:31:06 02/20/04 Fri
Author: Vikki John
Subject: Call for update on Bougainville constitution

Postcourier,
Bougainville Update, 18 FEb 04

Call for update on constitution
BOUGAINVILLE leaders have expressed concerns over the delay of the Bougainville Constitution Congress (BCC) and want an explanation from the Government.
Congress vice president James Tanis said he wanted word from the Government on the update of the constitution.
Mr Tanis said he expected something on the issue from Inter-Government Relations Minister Sir Peter Barter when he last visited the province in his helicopter.
„We do not need delay on the constitution and we want the Government to give us an update, its not good being left in the dark,‰ Mr Tanis said.
Congress member Joseph Watawi also raised concerns over the manner in which the outstanding work of the constitution was delayed.
Mr Watawi blamed the unco-ordinated activities between the Government and donor agencies by the Bougainville Administration.
„The BCC work had already gone through long delays while waiting for the National Government Task Force through the office of the Attorney-General to have its views on the second draft of the Bougainville Constitution,‰ he said.
„Any further delays to this exercise can be very futile, particularly when it is from bureaucratic incompetence.
Mr Watawi said this after Sir Peter informed the people of Bougainville during his one week tour that the National Government‚s views on the second draft has been sought despite other issues, which could be dealt with at a later stage.
„The BCC should immediately proceed with the completion of the third and final draft of the constitution,‰ he said.
Mr Watawi also challenged the National Government and other donor agencies.
He called on the Government and donor agencies to be genuine with their commitment in assisting the important aspects of peace building in Bougainville, one of which, is the constitutional making process in Bougainville.
„The completion of the third and the final draft of the Bougainville constitution must happen sooner than later in order for the people of Bougainville to have an elected autonomous government as soon as possible,‰ he said.
=========================
UNOMB plays vital role in peace process
Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Sir Rabbie Namaliu and Inter-Government Relations Sir Peter Barter are working together to secure international support for the Bougainville peace process.
Priorities include encouraging foreign aid donors to assist in providing infrastructure and opportunities for economic recovery and development in order for Bougainville to have an economy capable of supporting autonomy and strengthening peace by giving former combatants, youth and communities a stake in the future.
An immediate concern is to ensure that the United Nations Observer Mission in Bougainville (UNOMB) is able to fulfil its remaining responsibilities in relation to weapons disposal and the holding of elections under the new Part XIV of the Papua New Guinea constitution implementing the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
„This week, Sir Rabbie hosted a lunch with the heads of diplomatic missions representing the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in PNG ˜ China, France, United Kingdom and the United States, an elected member of the council (Philippines), as well as other strong friends of the Bougainville peace process from the region (Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Solomon Islands),‰ Sir Peter said.
„The occasion allowed me to brief the diplomats (and, through them, their respective governments) on my recent week-long trip to centres and villages around Bougainville.
„This visit covered every district in Bougainville, including Daru Village in the Œno-go-zone‚ around Panguna.
„It also allowed Sir Rabbie and I to explain PNG‚s request for international support for the Government‚s efforts to honour the agreement reached with Bougainville leaders in the Kuri resolution on implementation of autonomy for UNOMB to stay on under the leadership of the current director, Ambassador Noel Sinclair, to complete its agreed responsibilities under the Bougainville Peace Agreement and implementing laws.
„In my informal briefing to the meeting, I stressed the importance of developing an economy in Bougainville capable of supporting autonomy and helping to secure lasting peace by peaceful means.
„I also expressed strong concern, based on my own personal observations on the ground, at the need to promote proper public awareness among people in the no-go-zone.
„This would reduce suspicions, provide them with accurate information about the peace process and encourage them to join with the rest of Bougainville in weapons disposal and other aspects of practical peace-building so they can enjoy the benefits of peace.
„It is vital the peace process and peace become Bougainville-wide. Reaching out and providing accurate information to people who have been isolated in the no-go-zone for up to 15 years is an important key.‰
Reporting on the progress being made in weapons disposal, including the destruction of guns, Sir Peter was able to describe what has been achieved and what still remains to be done.
He said: „The destruction of weapons is moving ahead. More destructions are planned. In some places, the process is progressing so well that former combatants are bringing in guns for immediate destruction (without containing them first). Members of the Me‚ekamui Defence Force (MDF) from the Œno-go-zone‚ are taking part.
„However, the situation in some areas remains fragile. Mutual confidence is the key. Following the UNSC‚s decision to extend UNOMB until the end of June, the message to leaders, former combatants and communities is clear: There is no time to lose. We have to get on and finish the job.
„With Ambassador Sinclair as director, UNOMB has built up the experience and, above all, the respect and trust to encourage former combatants and communities to keep moving ahead.
„It is therefore critical for the sake of maintaining momentum and avoiding disruption that the director stay on to see the job through.
„The same is true of his long-term military adviser Lt-Col Clyde Parris, who has both the appropriate technical qualifications and the contacts, including links he has developed with former combatants in the Œno-go-zone‚, to ensure practical weapons disposal keeps moving ahead and that destruction is effective.‚
Sir Peter said Sir Rabbie has written to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, expressing PNG‚s sincere appreciation for the way in which he and the secretariat‚s Department of Political Affairs have facilitated the UNSC‚s decision to set up and allocate resources so UNOMB can continue supporting the Bougainville peace process on the ground.
„Now that the peace process has come so far and the end of UNOMB‚s agreed role is in sight, it would be both a waste and a shame to risk what has been achieved by making unnecessary changes at this stage,‰ Sir Peter said.
„Stability at the leadership level is vital to maintaining continuity and avoiding unnecessary disruption in weapons disposal and other activities in which UNOMB is involved, even as it is scaled down.
„In fact, UNOMB‚s remaining responsibilities mean that the experience and knowledge of local conditions, the public respect and general trust built up by Mr Sinclair could become more important than ever if the need should arise for one or more of the parties to request UNOMB to exercise the responsibility vested in it by the PNG Constitution s279 (2) to resolve any differences over whether and when conducive to holding elections for the autonomous Bougainville government.
„This is why PNG is asking the UN to retain Mr Sinclair as director of UNOMB after his currently agreed term expires at the end of this month.‚
Sir Peter said the Bougainville peace process has recently gone through a number of significant recently, changes many of which could not be foreseen.
„These include the death just before Christmas of Robinson Asitau, secretary of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army‚s (BRA) Defence Council, the withdrawal of the last neutral regional presence, the Bougainville Transition Team (BTT) at the end of last year, the resignation of the Bougainville Provincial Administrator Simon Pentanu and others,‰ sir Peter said.
„In these circumstances, stability and continuity are especially important.
„PNG‚s request for Mr Sinclair to remain as director of UNOMB is based on the need for stability at the leadership level in a body which has a very important role to play in maintaining and building mutual confidence.‰
==============================
Buka passage to generate power
Plans are underway to generate electricity to Bougainville from the Buka passage.
Bougainville Governor John Momis yesterday confirmed reports that a Chinese consultant attached to the Petroleum and Energy Ministry and the Government was very interested to do some work to help generate power from the islands‚ giant and aggressive passage.
Mr Momis supported the idea and said the Chinese consultant in Port Moresby was convinced the Buka passage was ideal for providing power to the whole of Bougainville because of the fast flowing current.
He said the consultant was still carrying out surveys, while the actual date of implementation was still not available. Mr Momis said they were very serious in coming up with the actual plan and to implement the plan.
More information on the actual process on how to generate power from the fast-flowing Buka passage was not available as the Chinese consultant was overseas.
Mr Momis said he had been in close liaison with the consultant three years ago when he came over to Buka on a private consultant job ˜ and talks about the sea current power started during that time.
„It will be a sea current power generated by the wave from the Buka passage,‰ Mr Momis said.
„Some Chinese companies are very interested to develop the Buka Passage current power. In fact, a Port Moresby based electrical company has already been contacted and has shown its interest.
„It is a very good idea, they are still doing some survey and some work on it.
„This Chinese consultant is convinced the concept is workable and has advised that during his recent trip to China with Petroleum and Energy Minister Sir Moi Avei, businessmen or government was contacted on the idea and were very interested to set up the sea current power from the Buka passage wave.
„I am all for the idea and obviously, it is a great move to harness the energy created by the tide.
„If it works, we will look for funds to build this fixed anchor boats and we will support it until it all comes to reality.
„We‚ll start off with Buka and then Kokopau but the consultant thinks there is potential to generate power for the whole province.‰
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