Opening up Bougainville

A NZ police team has played a significant role in rebuilding community confidence, in the conflict ridden Bougainville region of Panguna.

New Zealand Police first sent advisors to the autonomous region of Bougainville in 1999. Their aim was to establish a network of Community Auxiliary Police (CAP) throughout the region. This was done against a background of country-wide armed conflict, which had lasted several years and taken around 10,000 lives.

Traditionally the Bougainville and Royal Mekamui governments do not recognise each other, and Bougainville government officials, including police officers, are forbidden from entering the 'no go' zone of Panguna.

Early in 2008, a NZ police team made an historic break through in rebuilding community confidence when they were admitted to the Panguna area, the site of a very rich copper and gold mine. It was here that conflict, which was to engulf the entire country, broke out.

Since the outbreak of hostilities an armed roadblock has prevented all but locals from entering the Panguna area. By virtue of its location, the road block also prevents access to the entire southern Bougainville area. All government officials, including police had been blocked from passing, what has become known as the Morgan's Junction road block.

Constable Garry Learmonth, Auckland and Constable Brent Marris, Western Bay of Plenty, are the current advisors in the Central Bougainville area adjacent to Panguna. The pair spent many hours working with local Bougainville government officials, Mekamui government officials, and the Mekamui Defence Force, an armed organization that both man the roadblock and provide militia security for the Panguna area.

Garry and Brent were able to bring all parties to the negotiating table at Arawa on 5 May 2008. All parties agreed that the people of Panguna both wanted and needed a CAP unit.

Mekamui agreed to send NZ Police an invitation to enter Panguna through the road block on 4 June 2008.

On that date five NZ police officers, the New Zealand High Commissioner in Port Moresby, two Bougainville government officials and the police region Commanders for Central and Southern Bougainville, as well as a number of local media went through the road block and on to the township of Panguna.

The official party to visit Panguna. The head gear is traditional head gear presented to honored guests. From left to right Brent Marris (Bay of Plenty) Garry Learmonth (Auckland) Murray Hurst (Canturbury) Niels Holm (NZHC) Stu Wright (Tasman) James Koibo and Lucy Travertz (Bougainville Government) Murray Lewis (Bay of Plenty)

At Panguna the party was met by a number of Mekamui government officials, and about 300 locals. The official party was given a tour of the township. It was obvious that at one time the Panguna area was as modern and well serviced as any western town.

A display of traditional, song and dance followed, which included a performance by choir of 100 school children. The High Commissioner then inspected a Mekamui Defense Force guard of honor, this was followed by a number of speeches and a fantastic traditional meal.

During the ceremony the High Commissioner was presented with three chickens bound by their feet. He was invited to release the chickens, which he did. It was explained that this was symbolic of the fact that New Zealanders were now free in the area and could come and go as they pleased.

The grant of entry into Panguna is significant - the establishment of a CAP unit will see the return of a uniformed, well equipped and disciplined law enforcement agency to an area that has been without any formal law and order agency since pre-conflict times.

It's hoped that this first negotiated breach of the Morgan Junction road block will result in the whole of Southern Bougainville being open to all traffic.