momis in epic return to panguna

29.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier

http://www.bougainville-copper.eu/news-november-2011.html


Momis in epic return to Panguna
By GORETHY KENNETH


BOUGAINVILLE’S president John Momis will now go back to Panguna 21 years after his abduction in 1990 by the Bougainville Revolutionary Army.
President Momis’ visit to Panguna will be historical as he has never stepped on Panguna soil since his abduction by the late Francis Ona’s commandos from Tinputz in the mid 1990s.
He was taken hostage to Guava and kept there in captivity before being released some months later. The story of Mr Momis becoming a Prisoner of War (PoW) in Guava village is such that a reconciliation is still pending.
He was kept a prisoner for almost six months in Panguna by the late Ona and his men. One of Bougainville’s instrumental leaders (named) was handed a gun to kill Momis but he let him escape after several pleas by Mr Momis.
Mr Momis was a priest at that time and to date his “legs” have never set foot in Panguna (Read story in the Weekend Courier).
Mr Momis also, had never visited Panguna even when he was the Regional Member for Bougainville in the National Parliament. He is now going back there early next month to see his people and to further negotiations for the development of Bougainville, because that is where the heart of the Panguna Mine lies.
The Bougainville administration is now in preparation to facilitate his visit to Panguna tentatively before the JSB meeting in Buka.
The JSB will be held on December 5.
The people of central Bougainville specifically Panguna and Guava have invited Mr Momis to visit the place and address his people in that part of the world.
The Panguna management consultative committee meeting held recently in Buka was briefed of the planned visit by the president.
“This is a long overdue matter that must take place as soon as practically possible,” the meeting was told.
“At this meeting an official invitation was extended to President Momis and he accepted and preparations will now begin by PMCC stakeholders in consultations with ABG Administration officials to make this event a reality.”
On the same note, Bougainville Copper Limited chief executive Paul Coleman is now being invited officially by the PMCC and specifically the people of Panguna to visit the area where the giant mine pit lies idle. Mr Coleman’s visit will happen after Momis’ official trip. Mr Coleman already visited Panguna but that was on an invitation by those who were involved in the Panguna Scrap Metal operations, which BCL has been facilitating.