tanis meets rebel leader

http://www.thenational.com.pg/022709/nation8.php

Political independence is not possible without financial independence.And financial independence for Bougainville means the reopening of the Pangunamine.

So I think that the next news will be the lifting of the roadblocks around Panguna by Chris Uma.(maby before the Somare/Tanis Meeting sheduled for end of next week)

By AUGUSTINE KINNA
THE commander of the Me’ekamui force, Chris Uma, is prepared to work alongside the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to meet the objectives of referendum to independence.
Mr Uma said this while meeting with ABG President James Tanis and two ministers, Robert Hamal Sawa and Glen Tovirika, in Arawa on Tuesday.
“We are happy that the president and his delegation have taken time to visit us because, at the moment, we need a leader who can direct us to the right path, and I am confident that Mr Tanis is going the right way,” he said.
“We want peace throughout Bougainville and we are also prepared to support the ABG in the process of reconciliation and weapons disposal.”
As a Bougainvillean, he saw the road to independence as the main objective and, therefore, it was time to work as a team, he said.
Mr Uma said he understood that Mr Tanis had bridged the gaps with the Government, the administration, warlords, churches and the people of Bougainville to restore confidence and trust for reconciliation to take place.
Mr Uma said his people were ready to reconcile and move on with their lives.
Mr Tanis said that all Bougainvilleans must unite to restore peace in the region.
He said he would shortly be moving to Arawa in order to work closely with the Me’ekamui force and other factions in South Bougainville.
He would be “going right down to the people” in order to understand the situation and to approach it in a peaceful manner, he added.