Bougainville

Bougainville Island lies just to the north of Australia. Geographically and ethnically it is part of the Solomon Islands but it was made part of Papua New Guinea (PNG) during the colonial carve-up in the early part of this century. In 1969 CRA (the Australian subsidiary of RTZ) established a copper mine in Central Bougainville against the traditional landowners will. Over 20 years, an entire river system was killed, indigenous workers were paid half that of the migrant workers and many hectares of rainforest destroyed. After 20 years of protests, petitions, lobbying and compensation claims, the locals had had enough. Power lines to the mine were destroyed with explosives taken from the mine and in response the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) was called in. Shortly afterwards, Bougainville was declared independent, and an army was formed to defend the land (Bougainville Revolutionary Army). The landowners vowed that RTZ would never reopen the mine.

In addition to the military response, the Australian Department of Defence advised PNG to enforce a total blockade of the island, preventing entry and exit rights, as well as essential goods and services, including medical supplies. Now the BRA and Bougainvilleans are still holding out against the PNGDF despite the deaths of over 10,000 civilians (about 8% of the population) as a result of the Australian backed blockade.

RTZ/CRA want their mine back and PNG is launching its biggest offensive in what has become the Pacific’s longest running war. Enabling them to do this is $32 million in military aid from Australia. Over 2000 PNGDF have been trained in Australia since the beginning of the crisis and Australia has also supplied 4 patrol boats, 5 speedboats, 4 Iroquois helicopters and Nomad aircraft to the PNGDF. All this equipment is being used to fight a people using sling shots, bows and arrows and home made guns who are growing all their own food and using coconut oil for fuel in their vehicles.

International Actions are desperately required to highlight Bougainville’s plight. Papua New Guinea’s Government, the Australian Government and RTZ offices are the obvious targets. There is to be an action called by the Bougainville Freedom Movement (UK) on Monday 15th July. Meet at 12 noon at the front of Charing Cross Station, London