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BOUGAINVILLE: New administration inaugurated17.06.2005
People across the island of Bougainville - as well as Bougainvilleans living in Papua New Guinea - have celebrated the birth of the new autonomous government of Bougainville. The celebration marks the beginning of a new era for the island, which will now be able to put the long period of civil unrest behind it. Read the transcript of the ABC Radio Australia's Pacific Beat coverage.
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TIRIMAN: Bougainvilleans gathered in Buka today to welcome the first of a two-day ceremony to celebrate the inauguration of their new autonomous government. This gathering was attended by traditional dancing groups and school children, including members of various diplomatic corps based in Port Moresby.
In his address in Tok Pisin, Bougainville President Joseph Kabui described the creation of the government as an important milestone in the political process on the island.
KABUI: Today, this morning on the 15th of June 2005, at six o'clock, yumi nau lukim politikal baby yumi kolim the autonomous government of Bougainville. Emi kam long ples klia.
Na yumi lukim flag blong Bougainville emi fly igo antap with pride. Mi thankim olgeta, mi thankim Papua New Guinea Government through long ol praim ministers, subsequant prime ministers, starting with the prime minister, the resepctive ministers for Bougainvile, mi thankim Australian gavman, New Zealand gavman, our international friends Fijians, Solomon Islanders, Ni-Vanuatuans, everybody.
Mi no nap lus tingting tu long the Christian denominations, who continued to pray for a day of dawn, a day when Bougainville can live in peace and harmony, a day Bougainvilleans can live in prosperity, this day is now today with us.
And not forgetting of course the United Nations, who have done a tremendous job long teikim yumi to where we are.
Today emi dei Bougainville can really and truly say olsem yes, we do have a government now, this is indeed an important milestone blong Bougainville.
Let us continue to enjoy this day, a momentous day that all people on Bougainville and, of course, Papua New Guinea as it is a joint creation that we have made this political baby become a reality, let us all enjoy today.
TIRIMAN: But while many Bougainvilleans are celebrating the historic ceremony, others weren't able to attend.
Mel Togolo, the former president of the Port Moresby-based PNG business association and a prominent Bougainvillean says that, although he is not on the island, he'll be there in spirit.
TOGOLO: Yes of course, as a Bougainvillean, I would like to share with my people on the island. Unfortunately, it's not possible for me to be on Bougainville, but I'm sharing in their celebration in spirit and I wish all the Bougainvilleans the best of luck.
The challenge hasn't really started yet, we have to be realistic about the future of Bougainville and how best we could get various developments on the island going forward.
Bougainvilleans have to be united to make sure that the policy that leaders are going to introduce for the new autonomous government are carried out in not only by government, but by people themselves.
Bougainvilleans have to look towards security of food and to look at ways in which to utilise the land that we've got in a more beneficial way in considering the future generation of the island.
It is, I think, a significant day for Bougainvilleans, but we should not shy away from facing the realities or challenges that face the island and the people in order to get real development moving on the island.
By ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
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