each candidate has announced their intention t

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201006/s2917613.htm

Brij Lal observes Bougainville Election

Updated June 3, 2010 17:33:00

Results from the Bougainville elections are expected in around a week's time. The Assembly consists of 40 seats one of which is reserved for the President. At the moment the front runner for the top job is John Momis with the incumbent James Tanis second. Each candidate has announced their intention to reopen the Panguna copper mine which was closed during the 10 year long war in the province.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Professor Brij Lal from the Australian National University ]

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LAL: I mean there are some problems understandable in the lines of communication difficulties, infrastructure and so on, but my sense was that first of all there was commitment on the part of people to make it work and the second thing was very clear to me as I travelled from Buka to Arawa, to South - Siwai area, out in the bush, former combatants, the BRA were participating in the elections. I mean there are some members of BRA who were standing outside, but by and large, people wanted to make it work and you had the sense that they wanted to go forward. I think on the whole, one would say that the elections were fair and free. I talked at length to Mr James Tanis, the president as well as to John Momis, both of them said to me as far as they are concerned the process was working and they have full confidence. So I think this is very, very important development and more important, it is a very important election, because in 2014 there will be a vote under the peace agreement between Bougainville and Papua New Guinea to determine whether Bougainville will become independent or not.

COUTTS: John Momis, who is one of the candidates and at the moment counting is still in progress. He's ahead of James Tanis. But you spoke, as you just mentioned, to Mr Momis and he has ideas and feelings about the mine in Panguna?

LAL: Well, I think it is point - that which ever part wins, whoever is president, this is an issue they will have to deal with. Panguna mine was of course a conflict from 1988 to 1998. My sense is that having talked to both these gentlemen, that they will look at ways of reopening the mine. Because if Bougainville is to have an autonomous existence, it will have to have a strong financial base and in the present circumstances, that will only come from the Panguna mine. I think that Mr Tanis is likely or he has told us that he would like to open the mine, but may be a renegotiated deal with the former Bougainville Copper Limited, the BCL and I think it would be fair to say that John Momis is looking at other sources, including China. He talked about getting China involved in commercial agriculture, he talked warmly about their expertise and skill the Chinese have. Whoever wins the mine will I think at a time reopen, but by whom I think is something that is unclear at the moment.

COUTTS: It's not surprising I think that John Momis is speaking warmly about the Chinese. He has just spent the last year or so there as the ambassador and he also has a personal connection to China?

LAL: Yes, I was surprised. He received it very graciously at his house in Sohano and he talked about his ancestry. He says my grandfather was Chinese in the area around Buin which is southern Bougainville and he said when he went to China, he went to his "ancestral village" and it was a very moving experience for him. I think he is well, you know he was ambassador to Beijing, so they are both personal connection, but also his own direct professional involvement as a diplomat.

COUTTS: Now what role did he think that the Chinese can play in the running of Panguna?

LAL: He was not specific. This was the last days of the campaign. The question was asked by one of the members of our group about Chinese practices in mines and resource exploitation in other parts of the world, including Africa, but he was very circumspect in his comments, but giving the impression that if he won, that he would certainly not rule China out.

COUTTS: Now there are some in the pack that feel that both Sir Michael Somare and John Momis, who attract a venerable status now probably should stand aside for someone younger like James Tanis?

LAL: Well, this is one of the problems in the Pacific, not only Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, but remember also Fiji with Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. I suppose there is a sense that some of these people feel that they are indispensable to the destiny of their countries. John Momis is now in his 70s, Sir Michael Somare is again of the same vintage. Yeah, I think this is a human trait, you don't want to give up power. You feel that you are indispensable. You feel you have a lot to contribute. But my sense was again just looking at the candidate for presidency, in Bougainville, a number of younger people, including a woman candidate for president was a surprise. You see the difficulty in Bougainville is again the legacy of the last ten year conflict between 88 and 98. I mean schools were destroyed, children did not go to school, infrastructure was hobbled. So you are now really getting a new cadre of leaders and may be in four, five years time they will have the necessary experience and skill to take on leadership positions in their country.