bougainville hardliners to stand by o’neill

07.02.2012

Source: Post-Courier


Bougainville hardliners to stand by O’Neill on his trip to Aropa


FORMER BOUGAINVILLE hardliners want Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to be the first PNG leader to land at the Aropa Airport after its closure in 1989.

Mr O’Neill and his full Cabinet are expected in Arawa at the end of this month to convene the Joint Supervisory Body Meeting followed by the Cabinet (NEC) meeting. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo is also expected to attend this first time ever high level meeting in Arawa with the PNG counterparts.

Sam Kauona, former renowned rebel commander and now businessman, has assured PNG Government, specifically Mr O’Neill and his deputy Belden Namah that security at the meeting would be 100 percent provided and that more than 100 former commanders of central and south stand ready to receive the Cabinet at the Aropa Airport later this month.

Prime Minister O’Neill yesterday welcomed the announcement by Mr Kauona and thanked the leaders of Bougainville for a possible way forward in the re-opening of the Aropa Airport.

Mr O’Neill yesterday said that Prime Minister of Solomon Islands was also expected to attend the meeting.

He said that preparations for the meeting was already underway and the Government was ready to travel to Bougainville to further show his government’s commitment for the region.

Mr O’Neill said that despite the country now going through disasters Bougainville still stands as one of the major agendas for his government.

ABG president John Momis could not be reached for comment as he is in Lae.