The swearing-in of the new autonomous provincial government in Bougainville earlier this month was a major milestone in the island’s quest for peace, says Chief of Army, Major General Jerry Mateparae.
Mr Joseph Kabui was sworn in as President, as were the Bougainville Autonomous Regional Government representatives at a ceremony in Buka at the northern tip of the island.
Major General Mateparae attended the ceremony, along with other Government representatives from throughout the Pacific. The swearing-in was followed by the raising of the Bougainville flag, speeches and celebrations, and the day ended with a state dinner.
“I was impressed by the commitment Bougainvillians and the Papua New Guinea government have shown to the peace process. In 1997 they signed the Burnham Truce, and they have come a long way in the past eight years. There are still challenges ahead for Bougainville, such as persuading those who remain outside the peace process that peace is the way ahead for the island.”
As a colonel in 1998, Major General Mateparae was commander of the Truce Monitoring Team on Bougainville. He said he met old friends, and saw many familiar faces when he attended the recent ceremony. “And I was impressed at how far Bougainville itself has come since 1998. There is a significant amount of commercial activity happening in Buka, and local businesses are doing well. The schools are full, and the teachers and students are very enthusiastic about education.”
The Bougainville Provincial Government will be responsible for issues such as health, education and policing, and Papua New Guinea will retain responsibility for border control, security, and foreign relations.
Major General Jerry Mateparae