BRA: Bougainville referendum agreement unfair

Former BRA general Sam Kauona Sirivi cautiously welcomed the new “Agreed Principles on Referendum” for Bougainville agreed to between the PNG Government and the Bougainville Negotiating Team.

The agreement was reached on Friday, January 26, 2001 in the town of Kokopo, East New Britain, PNG.

What was hailed as a “major break through” by the leaders was the compromise to hold a referendum on independence within a minimum of 10 years and maximum of 15 years from the date of the election of a Bougainville government. The agreed principles are, however, conditional on “weapons disposal” (disarmament) by the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) and “good governance.”

Commenting from New Zealand, the former commander said: “It’s an unfair agreement, and a vote on independence in a referendum should not be made conditional on BRA weapons disposal, only.”

“The Lincoln Agreement, provision 4, which I was a signatory to, also clearly emphasizes the “Withdrawal of Defense Force from Bougainville,” in a “phased withdrawal,” subject to the restoration of civil authority.

“Why wasn’t this provision also included with disarmament of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army?

“As Far as I am concerned all forces, PNGDF, BRA and Resistance, must be all subject to the same provision of demobilization, as according to the Lincoln Agreement.

“I cannot believe that our leaders have given so much away and therefore are selling Bougainville away.

“You have given too much away to the dishonest government,” said the former Commander.

Knowing past false promises made by the Papua New Guinea Government, the former Commander was wary about PNG’s inability to honor agreements.

“We are essentially asking an institution, the PNG Parliament, Bougainville’s the No.1 enemy, to give Bougainvilleans their freedom. It’s like a pig tied to a pole. We are already negotiation on an unequal platform,” said Mr. Sirivi.”

“The survival of the PNG/Bougainville peace process depends very much on honesty, fairness, and transparency. The Bougainville struggle was voiced and fought for more vigorously (than anything) since pre-colonial and pre-PNG independence days. If we have not learnt from our past mistakes then, this struggle could go on for another forty years,” concluded Mr. Sirivi.