Me'ekamui and ABG move closer with appointment of Lianson Officer

ABG and Meekamui strengthen ties with liaison officer


By Leonard Fong Roka

In a positive move for Bougainville the Meekamui leadership of Panguna and the Autonomous Bougainville Government have begun direct liaisons.
The change of heart came in October and the President’s Office now has pre-notification of every move done by the Meekamui group of Panguna.
The Meekamui group in Panguna, known as the Meekamui Government of Unity (MGU), now has their member Peter Kabarui as the liaison officer between the Bougainville president and the MGU.
It is hoped the establishment of direct communication to the leader of Bougainville will create understanding between the ABG and the people in Panguna.
“We had dinner recently with the President at his residence in Buka and he told us that Panguna is a special case and must be treated accordingly,” said Peter Kabarui, who hails from the recently resettled Dapera Village at the Panguna mine site.
“The President admitted that his leadership has a heart that Panguna and the ABG should be focussed on realignment.”
Both the MGU and the Panguna District Administration currently are pushing for a series of Pan-Panguna conferences, under the leadership of vice executive manager Robin Tekapu, where various leaders, people and government representatives can come together to voice their opinions and find a way forward.
“The Pan-Panguna conference that is backed by the Panguna District and the MGU is the only way forward,” Mr. Kabarui said.
“The ABG created Panguna Peace Building Strategy (PPBS) to unite factions in Panguna, however it is now dividing and confusing us all.”
“PPBS held a dangkinang in Panguna but it was designed to ‘pass the buck’, thus creating divisions when we should be pushing for collaboration and unity.”
According to Peter Kabarui, President Momis now has direct communication with the MGU.
After every activity the MGU undergoes in Panguna Kabarui travels to Buka to debrief the President. Last week he was also in Buka to present a resolution on the proposed Pan-Panguna conference to the President and ABG Chief Secretary, Chris Siriosi.
“In our last meeting with the President we had a positive gathering and all we talked about was unity for the referendum for independence,” he continued.
Kabarui admitted that Meekamui for so long had been ruled by personal interests and went against the legitimate government of Bougainville, the ABG.
They are recognizing the need to be united in the lead up to the referendum on independence and autonomy.