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Date Posted: 01:26:26 03/25/00 Sat
Author: Anonymous
Subject: Re: TO BOUGAINVILLE AND HER PEOPLE
In reply to: 's message, "TO BOUGAINVILLE AND HER PEOPLE" on 18:26:40 03/23/00 Thu

I thank you for your support and advice. I will pass your comments onwards to those that I know are involved or have connections to the negotiating team. The PNG government has come to realise that one cannot silence a peopleÕs movement with guns. But we must also thank General Singirok and other PNGeans for the courage to save not only Bougainvilleans but also other PNGeanÕs lives, because if the power hungry lot in Julius ChanÕs government had succeeded, Sandline would have been used elsewhere besides Bougainville.There can be no doubt about that. In fact, the forerunner to Sandline had already been used in the highlands. We must also thank Bill Skate for having the courage to finally face the BRA full on with open arms instead of sending more arms. His courage completely disarmed the skeptics and hardliners, and lay the foundation for lasting peace.

Not so long ago, a certain character used to come to this board (and the WF)and tell those of us who posted on the subject of Bougainvillean Independence to keep dreaming because he was adamant that it would never happen. My answer to him was to keep dreaming, because by the time he woke up, Bougainville would be weel on its way to achievinf its target.

In spite of the bitter, historal context of the crisis, most Bougainvilleans were prepared to be part of PNG, if their concerns had been addressed within the context of a united PNG. Unfortunately, Sir Michael SomareÕs initial victory in keeping secessionist sentiments subdued, by offering Provincial Government in 1975, was both short lived and lacked foresight. It lacked foresight becasue it failed to take into account PNGeans predesposition to copying their neighbours. All provinces subsequently demanded and got provincial government, even those that did not deserve it, thereby initiating a breakdown in governance within PNG, in contrast to Bougainville and East New Britain, where the system prospered. Elsewhere, it led to the growth of parochialism and the pursuit of the Ôbig-manÕ status. MPs that should have been working for the good of PNG became preoccupied with Ô big-manÕ business, instead of concentrating on their jobs of making policies and drafting legislations to improve the standard of governance in the country. I feel that parochialism coupled with the Ôpursuit of the Ôbig-man status is the prime cause of the failure of government in PNG. It has allowed corruption to become entrenched.

I saw early signs of the crisis way back in 1984, fourteen years after mining started. Several of those that became BRA leaders were known to me as friend and as an educated PNGean. Their main concerns were the extensive land clearance, overburden and tailings. Many a time I shared drinks with them while we discussed environmental aspects of the BCL operation and how they could be addressed. Unfortunatley, my advice bore no fruit because at the same time BCL was undergoing a cultural change. The old guard was replaced with a new one, whose primary measure of success were dollars, instead of value created for the shareholders. Unlike the old guard, the new ones could not speak tok pisin, and never bothered to visit the local villages. I pointed this out to the Managind director at the time. He was apologetic, and wanted to get to learn tok pisin. But you know something? Pride canbe a big hindrance to progress!

The change in guard resulted in closures of BCLÕs Community RelationÕs offices in the various districts within Bougainville. Even the government office in Panguna was closed. Land owners had no where left to voice their concerns, except with BLCÕs Community Relations Department at Panguna, which, by 1984 had been reduced to a ineffective and subordinate bureau, inspite of the increasing angst against BCL, which several officers within the department were very well conversed with and had brought to the attention of management. Lack of progress from top managment on the landowner concerns set the phase for the next stage in the conflict. Infact there seemed to be a undercurrent effort to devide and rule.It is ironic, however, that the sort of community pressure that I envisaged should be used to lift environmental standards of BCL, is exactly what has driven the lifting of environmental standards elsewhere in the world. Community standarsds now forms the blue print for mining companies in the areas they operate. I feel vindicated, at last!

From 1986 to 1987, the land owners staged various protests and road blocks, still no one listened. The underlying causes remained neglected, especially with Julius Chans refusal in 1984 and 1988 to have the Bougainvile Copper Agreement renewed.

In one of my discussions with some of the members, I proposed that part of the money recieved as compensation be set aside to fund an indepnedent laboratory that could cross check BCLÕs results. I also suggested that sample carcasses of the dying flying foxes (and the dying fish in the rivers) be sent to an independent viral laboratory in Australia for diagnosis. Later this became one of the demands of the land owners within the Road Mining and Tailings Lease area (RTML). Instead, the government repsonded by appointing Applied Geology Associates (AGA) to audit BCLÕs Environmental Management practices. All AGA did was look over BCLÕs data. They did not conduct any independent study, which was what the land owners wanted, and which I had suggeste should happen. It provided no reasonable explantin to the sick fish life and the dead flying foxes.

AGAÕs vindication of BCL, without independent research, convinced land owners of a white wash. It convinced them that their concerns would never be addressed. They felt betrayed by the PNG government, and knew that as long as the company operated and the money kept rolling into the governments coffers, a thousand kilometers awa, no one would listen. The spark of the rebellion was lit.

Francis Ona left the meeting, in which AGA was presenting its findings to BCL amd the land owner representatives and disappeared into the jungle, immdiately creating a core goup of rebels that was later to act as a magnet for the surging ranks of supporters. The involvement of Sam Kauona and other strategists (both national and foreign) were the icing on the cake.

What can we learn from this? Simply, that the biggest mistake that our government can make is to assume that PNG villagers are a bunch of ignorant fools that can be silenced with piecemeal legislation or excuses. Sooner or later, that poor ignorant mother that one may dismiss today as illiterate, will have a son who goes to university and realises how much his mum has been ripped off. It did not take a generation for this fact to be realised on bougainville. The defenceless mothers, who lay before bull dozers to prevent the mine from going ahead, may have retreated, but not beaten. They simply bided their time, until the time was right. Their sons took up the struggle.

The crisis has given Bougainvilleans a chance to look at life without BCL. And most prefer to do without it, for the simple fact that there is less pollution. People are healthier (as a result of eating well).

Why did I go into this lengthy discussion? It is because I felt that the rest of PNG seems to be repeating the same mistakes that were made years ago on Bougainville. The mess at Ok Tedi is a classic example of what I mean. Is PNG doomed to failure? I do not think so, but that will only be the cae if the population mass mobilise and demand a change in the type of leaders that they are getting. Change the way you vote!! Its is the way out of the mess. I still believe that PNG can be a great country..but it will require shock therapy to make it realise this potential.

Cheers and best wishes

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