Bougainville government okays peace ministry
The administration has been directed to release funds for the ministry
The Interim Bougainville provincial government has approved
the establishment of the Ministry of Peace and Reconciliation. The provincial
executive council, in consultation with the transitional consultative council,
approved the creation of the peace and reconciliation ministry on Jan 14. Governor
John Momis is responsible for the ministry until a member is appointed within
the interim Bougainville provincial assembly. The establishment of the ministry
would increase the executive chairman positions from eight to nine. Mr Momis
said in a statement the PEC has directed the Bougainville administration to
allocate funds to cater for the new ministry. The idea of setting up the Ministry
of Peace and Reconciliation was initially proposed in an information paper titled
Bougainville Peace Agreement Road Map to Lasting Peace on Bougainville prepared
by the BPC vice president jointly with the United National Observe Mission on
Bougainville. The proposal contains the strategy to secure lasting peace and
stability in the post UNOMB/BIT period through Bougainville capacity building.
Mr Momis said the provincial executive council formally adopted the strategy
on Nov 24, 2003. Meanwhile, the joint Bougainville leadership meeting in Buka
last week has again expressed concern over the delay in finalising the Bougainville
Constitution and directed the technical officers to immediately meet and sort
out the outstanding issues. The leaders who are members of the transitional
consultative council, a political body consisting of executive members of the
interim Bougainville provincial government and the Bougainville Peoples Congress.
They expressed their concern after being briefed on the work of the Bougainville
Constitutional Commission and the delay caused by the Attorney Generals report
on the second draft of the ABG Constitution. Governor Momis said, the leaders
fear that the delay will lead to frustration and can be seen as a delay tactic
by the National Government on the establishment of the Bougainville Autonomous
Government. Mr Momis said Bougainville leaders agree that legal issues raised
by the Attorney General should be tested in court. Meanwhile, the technical
officers both from Bougainville and the National Government are expected to
resume discussions with the Attorney-General to try and resolve other outstanding
issues. (The National)