Investigate Theodore Mirung's murder!

Theodore Mirung and I went to law school together. He was murdered by soldiers in a state sanctioned assassination. The investigation into that murder was stopped in Waigani. We need to have truth and reconciliation.

Bougainville charts way for PNG

By Peter Niesi

I wept again while writing this article, Premier Theodore Miriung. You stood tall among the many peace-makers amid much dangerous tension. You spoke out when that meant harassment and possible death at the hands of Papua New Guinea security forces.
My tears were similar to those in 2001 when I saw security forces return unheralded � like scolded dogs with their tails between their legs � as the peace process picked up momentum.
National leaders enthralled in the peace-making did not want to be associated with sending soldiers trained to kill against their own citizens. Although it took help � lots of it in finances and personnel from Australia, New Zealand and others like Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and the United Nations global family that helped PNG and Bougainville leaders reach this day.
I wish them all well today. But I�m glad I�m not there to see the rejoicing today at the House of Representatives because Premier Miriung, you won�t be there physically and neither will you, Anthony Anugu of Siwai. Neither will those who put their bodies on the frontlines and paid the ultimate price � among both Papua New Guinean security forces and Bougainvillean ex-combatants.
They are among the 20,000 Bougainvilleans who lost their lives either from direct gunfire, diseases or trauma as many fled into the bushes and the hundreds of security forces men whose only commendation was that of their commanders declaring them heroes in the Buka forward movement base chapel.
I�m not alone in my tears � I�m sure your family members may rightly join me in these moments of weakness.
In fact, mine pales into insignificance compared to the tears and pains of those who lost loved ones as loyal soldiers and policemen who tried to fight, make peace and mostly flounder in confusion at the mixed signals from Waigani, the resource constraints in a confusing, insurgency war that ravaged Bougainville for 10 years.
ThE blood that flowed is in startling contrast to the coastline of white sandy beaches with drop away cliffs, sudden plunges into deep blue seas and reefs that stretch out for miles to the sea. These mesmerising coastlines are hemmed by green kunai grass plains or overhanging trees, resilient to salt spray.
Further inland, virgin forests terraced by rows of coconut palms and cocoa trees in varying shades of greenery merge and contrast up rolling hills. The crowns of these trees chase majestic heights as they flow upwards, changing from the rolling hills to more rugged ridges as they pursue the Crown Prince Ridge in the distant blue.
From this vast landscape, Bougainvilleans will emerge to Buka today to witness a new era. The dawn, definitely, of a new political landscape for Bougainville and � unavoidably � for Papua New Guinea.
It is one that has given the youth a voice. It has empowered women to take their rightful place alongside men in political leadership. It has defused the horse-trading and locking up of members that has become the norm of PNG politics as jockeying for power takes place.
Bougainville, which has set the pace in PNG�s political development, is at it again with today�s inaugural House of Representatives assembly.
Hero Miriung � who broke ranks with the then rebel Bougainville Interim Government to attend the Arawa Peace Conference in 1994 � won�t be there. But his blood that spilled and forged the current peace process now brings president Kabui to the fore.
Miriung�s words: �That peace can only be achieved as factions drop illusions of victor and vanquished and strive to forgive, reconcile and try to forget linger with his spirit on this inaugural assembly.�
While the National Council of Women fights over executives � and out of that National Parliament representation as possible nominated MPs � the Bougainville Constitution allows women to contest three regional seats. And this is not a special women�s side show.
Each of the women is elected by Bougainvillean people � old, middle-aged, and youth � of both genders.
Unlike the 33 constituencies which have lesser voters, these three women were voted by whole regions � South Bougainville, Central Bougainville and North Bougainville.
While youth fight for an office in the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, three youths under the banner of ex-combatants have seats in the House of Representatives for Bougainville.
The allowance for that is a key inspiration for the involvement of the youths in the election of the representatives for each of the 33 constituencies; in the election of the women representatives in each region; and in the casting of their votes for the president.
The Bougainville impact does not end with the elections. For the presidential cabinet, it is up to the regions to nominate their ministerial candidates, not for representatives to go lobbying.
And given the president is elected by the people, his final decision would not threaten his position � a reason for some of the dubious decision-making and selection of cabinet ministers in national and provincial governments that has become an embarrassing hallmark of PNG politics.
Remember the suspension spree of yesteryears because provinces were abusing and misappropriating funds.
That arose because provinces jumped on the bandwagon of Bougainville, � then North Solomons Provincial Government � arrangement.
National political leaders then, in their wisdom, decided to be fair to every province.
They opened up a gateway for provinces without necessary capacity to assume provincial governments and necessary powers, functions, responsibilities and finances.
Those that were ready became successful. Too successful for the National MPs who felt threatened and began to whittle the powers away until the Micah Reforms came in and replaced the Organic Law on Provincial Governments with the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments. That effectively beheaded the premiers and gave leadership to the provincial or regional members.
This tug-of-war on powers has been addressed in a different way under the Bougainville peace agreement. The National Government, through Parliament, cannot unilaterally remove autonomous Bougainville powers. This must be agreed to by the Bougainville House of Representatives before that power is whittled away.
Does this mean that Bougainville has it all its way? Definitely not!
When President Joseph Kabui is sworn-in today and assumes the full powers of the presidential office, his office, his cabinet � and indeed the autonomous Bougainville administration � will not automatically assume all powers.
They will have to firstly build capacity, then give 12-months� notice on specific powers that they feel they have capacity to assume.
This will be checked by the relevant authorities in the National Government who will recommend the release of this power to Bougainville.
These double-checks on powers goes all the way to the referendum on Bougainville�s future status with PNG.
The clock on this begins ticking when President Kabui is sworn-in. Ten to 15 years after that, there will be a referendum by Bougainvilleans to determine their future status � remain as a province of PNG or become an independent state.
Even if the referendum results in a resounding yes � they want to secede from PNG and become a sovereign, independent state � the PNG Parliament will have to make a decision.
The fact that all this is governed by a special amendment of the Constitution to insert the Organic Law on peace, autonomy and referendum is meant to protect the unity of PNG.
But East New Britain, which has always been on the heels of Bougainville in decentralisation, has pushed for a national framework on autonomy.
The Central Provincial Government is eyeing similar arrangements with Morobe Province. Even usually mild mannered Milne Bay under Governor Tim Neville wants to head the same way the province directly north of it is going.
But this land of PNG�s rising sun, affectionately known in Tok Pisin as �Sankamap Province�, will be the pace setter. What it does with the autonomous arrangements will impact further on what happens to the 19 provinces of PNG.
Bon Voyage, Bougainville as you set sail with Captain Joe Kabui and his 38-member crew.
We and rest of the world are watching.

PNG Post Courier 15th June 2005