12 May 2017

Bougainville's BRA re-unites after 20 years

From , 5:03 am on 12 May 2017

The man charged with bringing reconciliation on Papua New Guinea's Bougainville says they have made a major breakthrough - re-uniting two factions of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army.

The separatist BRA split at a meeting in Doreinang in 1997, with one group choosing to back the peace process which was underway with talks in New Zealand, and the other, under Francis Ona, choosing to stay away.

The leader of the Bougainville Department of Peace Agreement Implementation, James Tanis, says his agency has a primary role in ensuring the remaining weapons are removed ahead of the referendum, and to encourage unification and dialogue.

He told Don Wiseman the meeting last week in Arawa means the two arms of the BRA are on the same page for the first time in 20 years.

Guerillas of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), some still wearing camouflage, watch the signing ceremony of the Bougainville Ceasefire Agreement at Arawa on Bougainville 30 April

Guerillas of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), some still wearing camouflage, watch the signing ceremony of the Bougainville Ceasefire Agreement at Arawa on Bougainville 30 April Photo: AFP