| The Governor General SIR MICHAEL OGIO is met at the Buka airport this morning. He is pictured being met by the ABG President Chief JOHN MOMIS. (Picture by Aloysius Laukai) |
By Aloysius Laukai
Source: New Dawn FM
THE Autonomous Region of Bougainville celebrated on Wednesday 15 June 2011 its sixth anniversary as an autonomous governed region with traditional singing and dancing from various groups from the mainland of Bougainville, Buka Island and the atolls.
The day began with traditional groups from Wakunai and Ieta according former North Bougainville MP Sir Michael Ogio to a traditional welcome at the Buka airport on his first official visit to the region as the Governor General of PNG.
Sir Ogio was also honoured with a royal salute by the Bougainville Police Service (BPS) who provided escort for the governor general and Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) president John Momis to Hutjena where more than 300 people including school children had gathered to mark the event.
Sir Ogio, in marking the event said the anniversary symbolized the ‘tremendous stride’ the people of Bougainville and its government had achieved since signing the Bougainville Peace Agreement on Aug 30, 2000 and establishing an autonomous government on June 15, five years later.
“Such event serves as a reminder of the past, of what Bougainville has been through and the achievement it has made in unifying its people in peace and prosperity,” said Ogio.
He appealed to all Bougainvilleans to ensure unity prevailed in the region.
“Bougainville must be unified. I would not underestimate the challenges facing Bougainville, if Bougainville is to succeed, you must demonstrate to the world that you are a creative, self reliant and united people,” urged Ogio.
ABG president John Momis in honour of the event reiterated ABG’s commitment to collaborating with the national government to bring peace and prosperity to the people of Bougainville.
“I am proud that we have reached our sixth anniversary, an amazing achievement. Our peace process has been very successful,” said Momis.
He added that despite the progress so far, there are many challenges that the region would face in its journey towards referendum of independence.
Such challenges include localised armed conflict, weapons disposal, unequal development in areas throughout out the region and corrupt mining interests causing conflict among the people.
Momis urged all Bougainvilleans gathered to work together in addressing these challenges.
“I also remind the national government that when it signed the peace agreement, it committed itself to the peace process in Bougainville,” said Momis.
He said that meant working closely with ABG in various ways including granting directly to the Bougainville government the committed high impact project money of K500 million for the next five years instead of keeping this ‘locked’ in Port Moresby.
Momis thanked the governments of PNG, Australia, New Zealand and Europe who have collaborated with ABG in building Bougainville.
| ABG celebrated sixth anniversary at Hutjena on Buka island The Ceremony commenced at 11am on Wednesday 13 June,2011. After the Governor General arrived at TEN AM Picture of the main Hutjena Stage in the morning. (Picture by Alyosius Laukai) |
| Pictures of School children from the Kamarau International School in Buka town. (Picture by Aloysius Laukai) |
| The Bougainville Police Service and the CIS presenting a guard of honor for the GG at the Buka airport. Pictured is the GG SIR MICHAEL OGIO inspecting Guard of Honor at the Buka airport. Picture by Aloysius Laukai |
| PNG Governor General Sir Michael Ogio delivering his speech (Picture: Aloysius Laukai) |
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