peace bid set for ex rebels

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Peace bid set for ex-rebels

EX-COMBATANTS on Bougainville’s west coast, mainly the Kunua/Keriaka area, are preparing for a major reconciliation ceremony.
The reconciliation will take place between the former Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) and the Bougainville Resistance Fighters (BRF) who were engaged in the 10-year Bougainville crisis.
In the lead up to this reconciliation ceremony, a United Nations Development Program (UNDP)-funded sporting event, the Peace Fair Games was held last week at the Kunua government station and was attended by players from as far away as Keriaka and included women, youths and ex-combatants from Teua.
A team from the Buka-based UNDP were also present at the games and said they were impressed with the turnout, especially the former fighters who came in large numbers to participate.
Bougainville UNDP head Howard Wilson said the games helped a lot by getting everybody together in preparation for the reconciliation.
However, due to heavy rain last week and as a mark of respect for a village chief who had passed away, the planned reconciliation program had to be called off.
The president of the Peace Fair Games Jonah Siviesi thanked UNDP for funding the event.
“We are now looking forward to this big event which will reunite the people of Teua Constituency, and allow our people and our children to live with each other in peace,� Mr Siviesi said.
He said the crisis was not just between the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and the BRA but most of the fighting was done between BRA and BRF – Bougai-nvilleans fighting each other on their own land.
“We have witnessed the success of this games but the reconciliation will depend on how we manage and co-ordinate the event.
“It is your project and up to you to organise it,� Mr Wilson told chiefs and the large gathering at Kunua.