Major General Jerry Singirok, a retired commander of Papua New Guinea's Defence Force, was one of many at this week's Bougainville reconciliation.
The reconciliation, in Kokopo in East New Britain, brought together former combatants from both sides, including Mr Singirok, ahead of this month's pivotal vote on independence from PNG.
By the end of the conflict, he was commander of the PNGDF and he played a key role in one of the defining moments of the crisis when he forced the government to remove the Sandline mercenaries from the country, which was followed by the resignation of the prime minister.
Mr Singirok spoke with Don Wiseman and began by telling him about his role in Bougainville.
Former PNGDF Commander Jerry Singirok (right) embracing his former commanding officer Joe Pais after not seeing him for decades. Photo: Facebook / Bougainville Unification Core GROUP
