16. Bougainville Women Build Sustainable Peace and Unity BICWF Perspective on Peacebuilding Legend:

Transcription

1 1 16. Bougainville Women Build Sustainable Peace and Unity BICWF Perspective on Peacebuilding Monica Rartsie Taga (Coordinator of the Bougainville Inter-church Women s Forum BICWF, Papua New Guinea) Legend:

2 2 When we talk about peace we tend to think of men leading negotiations and creating a just and peaceful society. We have to start shifting our minds into thinking of women and peace as this is the case that has been witnessed through out Bougainville. Women are weaving peace and long lasting unity and harmony on the island. Poem about women and peace Weeping and wailing were obvious scenes in Bougainville from 1989 to Sitting down and praying for peace and tranquility were virtues of my conscience. But should I ignore the other women around me who were loosing close family members? Why is Bougainville going through so much hate and anger? Let us march to voice our importance. We women hold an abundance of respect from our sons and husbands and we can demand to be heard. This was the start of the crusades for peace initiated by women. We have never looked back and since then peace has been prevailing on the island. Women working together for long lasting peace. 1. Papua New Guinea and Bougainville The island of Bougainville suffered from a 10 years violent conflict that killed 15,000 people. Bougainville is part of Papua New Guinea (PNG), a country in the Western South Pacific bordering with Indonesia and by sea with Australia and the Solomon Islands. Its 5 million inhabitants gained independence from Australia in 1975, the national capital is Port Moresby. 97% of all land is owned by customary groups and over 80% of the population live of mixed subsistence farming and cash crops for monetary income (coffee, tea, cocoa, copra, timber). PNG is rich in minerals, which are mostly extracted in large scale projects run by international companies. Tax payments from large-scale mineral extraction are a major source of income for the national government, local landowners receive royalty payments. At Panguna in Central Bougainville the Australian company Conzinc Rio Tinto owns the largest open-pit copper (and gold) mine in the world. It is because of this mine that the Bougainville conflict erupted. 2. The Bougainville Conflict In 1989 a civil unrest started after unsuccessful agreements between landowners and the PNG government over the sharing of royalties from the giant copper mine operated by Conzinc Rio Tinto of Australia (CRA) in Panguna, Bougainville. Landowners demanded 10 billion PNG Kina as compensation for environmental pollution, since land-holders felt they were not properly compensated for deriving benefits from copper and gold extraction in Panguna. What followed was the

3 3 formation of what was to be called the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) who went to the mountains of Bougainville to fight against the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). The rebellion resulted in economic sanctions laid by the PNG Government from March 1990 to All non-bougainvilleans were evacuated, and the island sealed off for trafficking of goods and services. Without a possibility to sell their cash crops, with no more goods in local shops to purchase to supplement garden food, with no medicines in hospitals, no schools operating, Bougainvilleans went back to their roots for survival and sustenance. The PNG Government brought in the national army (PNG DF, Defence Force) and together with the Bougainille Resistance Force (BRF) that sided with the government it controlled some areas, other areas were controlled by the BRA. The local population had little choice but to be with the force in control of their areas, and suffered from violence from both sides. Bougainville men siding with the different conflict parties fought against and killed each other. Many times whole communities had to leave their food gardens to hide in the mountains from fighting. Because there were no medicines many people died of malaria and other preventable diseases; many women died from childbirth as there were no health services. Many people were traumatized from experiencing and witnessing violence and killings. 3. The role of women in ending the conflict Women faced particular hardships in their role of providing food for the families, and women organized to end the violence and suffering. Women organized vigil (prayer) nights or prayer forums amidst the blocked: Here women from all denominations, but also men and children gathered in meditation and prayer for peace. Women told their husbands and sons that enough was enough and that they were marching and lobbying for peace and unity amongst the communities on the island. They reached out to other women throughout the island and eventually organized long peace marches from the North to the South to come together. They held meetings and appointed women leaders to represent them in a number of peace talks. Communication was difficult and dangerous, as there were no longer modern means of transport and communication, and women passed messages and information from mouth to mouth. In 1996 women organized a Peace Forum in Arawa near Panguna, Central Bougainvillle. 700 women attended, many of them walked for days to attend the Forum. Bougainville women got organized in many different levels. They intervened when fights broke out amongst men. They played the role of mediatory between the BRA and the PNGDF as well as the BRF. They organized peaceful marches to present petitions to the PNG Defence Force and prepared neutral grounds for BRG to start a dialogue with the PNG DF. As the peace process progressed women participated in signing of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) for peace. They also became included in decision making bodies at all levels with their male counterparts to address the situation of sufferings experienced in their homes and communities and Bougainville as a whole. Women also crossed the sea between

4 4 Bougainville and the Solomon Islands in small boats for aid and advocacy. Bougainville women living outside the island formed groups and did fundraising for medicines. International organizations also assisted with much needed supplies.

5 5 Chronological list of events: 1994: Bougainville Catholic Women s Federation held in Buka. More than 2,000 Catholic women from all over Bougainville attended. 1994: A delegation of 150 women from the Catholic Church travelled to Port Moresby for negotiations. 1994: In South Bougainville women led a peace initiative Siwai led by a woman leader. 1994: In Arawa, Central Bougainville, peace talks were held between the South Pacific Peace Keeping Force and the Interim Bougainville Government. 150 women took part in the demonstration and advocacy Forum where the song Bougainville, my Bougainville became a hit song for peace. 1994: In December PNG government established the Bougainville Transitional Government (BTG) with the signing of the Mirigini Charter between Papua New Guineas prime minister Chan and BTG s prime minister Theodore Miriung; a woman leader became a serving member in the BTG. 1995: Women from the BRA and PNG Government controlled areas of Bougainville in separate groups attended the 4 th Global Conference on Women in Beijing. Upon their return women of northern Bougainville conducted a silent march in protest against the war, defying the declared state of emergency. 1995: September and December meetings in Cairns, three women leader representatives attended. 1996: Peace Forum in Arawa on August 21 st -25 th, attracted over 700 women from Uniting Church (UC), Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) and Pentecostal churches of Bougainville. The Forum s theme was: In search of Genuine Peace and Reconciliation. It was made possible with funding from Australia Uniting Church Human Rights. Bougainville Inter-Church Women s Forum (BICWF) was formed at the Forum. 1996: United Nation official negotiations with the Chan Government were witnessed by women of North Bougainville. 1996: BICWF women accompanied Momis and Martina (Member for Bougainville in PNG national Parliament) to participate in the negotiations for the release of five PNGDF hostages held by BRA in Kongara. Martina who held a chiefly position in her clan in the Teop-Tinputz District shielded Momis by standing in front of him and so prevented him to be shot by members of the BRA. 1996: Another Women s Forum organized with the theme; Women Speak Out. A brief was sent to the Australian Government, which resulted in a women s position paper that was published and used as a stepping stone for discussions at the Peace Talks in Burnham, New Zealand. 1997: Women from Leitana Nehan Women s Development Agency accompanied Rarua Skate (wife of PNG Prime Minister) to meet with women leaders from BRA areas and the Bougainville Women Peace Freedom (BWPF) at Kurai village in the Kieta-Central Bougainville Region.

6 6 1997: Seven women attended the Cairns 2 and 3 Peace Talks where women called for a fuller participation by women in all peace talks. The calling sparked of a feeling of competition from the male counterparts. 1997: Seven women from the BTG and BRF joined political leaders meeting in Burnham, New Zealand that together Bougainville political leaders and leaders of the warring factions, huddled together at the New Zealand Army Base, for secure peace talks. 1997: In October, Bougainville and PNG Delegates met for Burnham 2 Talks. Again a meeting, which brought together all warring parties, BTG and BRF. 1997: Bougainville Women Peace Freedom was formed as a political voice and selected future women representatives to negotiations and peace process meetings. Access was limited to women of Central and South Bougainville. 1998: The Lincoln Talks created an avenue for a higher autonomy and a referendum for Independence in 15 years time. 22 women delegates were represented who strongly call for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis and reconciliation amongst all Bougainvilleans. 1998: Cease-fire negotiations were held and again women delegates were included in this key negotiation aboard the australian ship HMS ToBruk. 1998: Bougainville constituent Assembly was formed. Women continued to be represented and a portfolio of Women and Youth Affairs was established in the Bougainville Transitional Government. 1998: July BWPF regional meetings in central, South & North Bougainville included an island wide forum. Trainings on politics and human rights were also conducted. 1999: A democratic general election throughout the island resulted in the formulation of the Bougainville Reconciliation Government. Six women representatives were elected based on the regions with the inclusion of the extra two women members. 1999: PNG government refused to recognize the Bougainville People s Congress headed by Joseph Kabui resulting in a court battle where a governor is voted in to represent the PNG government. 1999: International Women s Day was organized for a peaceful protest march. A woman leader encouraged other women to continue to light and take the torch of unity in activities in their various villages and communities. 2000: International Women s Day March & workshop on domestic violence were conducted. 2000: During the North Bougainville women peace march a petition was presented to the Governor. 2001: The first Bougainville women s summit in Arawa focused on renewed friendship, reaffirming and strengthening each woman s work in the region and further developed a plan and strategy for future involvement in the political settlement for peace.

7 7 2002: Bougainville women leaders meeting in Buka organized by the Peace Monitoring Group to further strategize on their network for peace and reconciliation. 2003: BWPF revisioning training and workshops on NGO structure was attended by 20 women. 2003: Planning for follow-up Bougainville Women Summit was held in Bougainville. 2003: October training to revision women s participation in the political restructuring of Bougainville one of the issues identified in the 2001 Forum was the need to train women in politics and political participation. 2004: Transition of BICWF Organization leaders Inter-denomination World Day of Prayer. 2005: 3 Women from BICWF took part in a consultative meeting in the Netherlands. 2006: UCWF National Convention organized by the United Church in Buka with the theme; Love in Action makes a difference that was attended by women from all denominations. 4. What made the women s involvement and participation possible? Bougainville is a matrilineal society, which means that women are recognized as leaders and rightful owners of the family wealth and resources including land. They are respected and given space in decision making at all levels (within their clans and societies). Women were experiencing the hardships resulting from the conflict because of their role of providing food for the family. Food situation was insecure, there were no health care nor education services for their children, women were dying of childbirth. The suffering made the women act. The most successful and effective strategy in motivating and mobilizing women at all levels is women s togetherness where the very fabric of family connectedness and the notion of caring and sharing is at play. Women are the experts. Also formally educated women worked together with women who lacked formal education. Bougainville women from both sides of the blockade met at international conferences (e.g. in Beijing) and here discussed how to work together to end the violence. The presence of the Pacific Peace Keeping Force and the United Nations enabled women to move around. Recognition is also given to the women by the government at all levels; this means women are represented in the government at all levels which gives very successful results in decisions made on the issues of the conflict. 5. What is the situation today?

8 8 The conflict was finally resolved between the PNG government and the BRA and its political representatives. Today Bougainville is an autonomous province within the nation of PNG and, in 2005, elected its first autonomous government based on its own constitution. However, in many respects it is a constitution on paper only, and the government lacks experience and active force to rebuild the society after the conflict. The infrastructure of the island had been completely destroyed, many people are traumatized. Many children and young people missed out any formal education. There is still very limited health care available to people. The government is missing practical actions to address these issues. It is even discussing re-opening of the mine. 6. The force of women today Following their extraordinary success in forcing men to make peace happen because of their united force, women dropped out of the picture again. In the elected government of Bougainville there are three seats for women representatives, but all other members of the autonomous government of Bougainville are male. The level of organization and unity of women throughout the island also dropped. Some educated women have left the island in search for education opportunities for their children. Today women are overlooked in terms of : Upgrading and restoring health services in rural areas, education / schools for all children, assisting displaced women who are mentally and physically affected, assisting widows and orphans. Women continue to be affected by Hardship in providing for the families basic needs demanded the women to be at home, shortage of medical supplies for the sick, especially for women needing better medical services, easily accessible means of transportation for women for longer stretches of roads, lack of relevant and appropriate information on major health issues such as HIV/Aids. Women and children often fall as the main victims, in a small district located in South region of Bougainville women are restricted from participating in decision-making as this district is the only patriarchal society in Bougainville. restrictions on movement of people in some areas continue to hinder the general public to access much needed services.

9 9 absence of government basic services in some other areas especially in very isolated communities leads to human rights abuse and lack of social services such as health, education and economic incentives, lack of awareness on the functions and procedures of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) will lead to a lack of people oriented government, participation of women in any government held discussions must include all able women and not just women who have been in discussions from the beginning. A new trend of including younger and vibrant women by the ABG needs to be carefully assessed and implemented. 7. Bougainville Interchurch Women s Forum BICWF believes in helping to bring about a just, secure and peaceful society and tries to do so in assisting communities that are faced with new issues in the postconflict period. BICWF focuses on Popular Education Women's Enrichment Training. BICWF facilitates people and communities to learn to read and write about life, to learn and understand as to cope with changes, to deal with changes created / caused by issues constructively, to learn from the peace process and the conflict to avoid it happening again. Women in particular are trained to strengthen their roles in families, communities and empowered to take up their roles confidently, are educated on their rights, network with other women to work on peace and reconciliation. 8. Cooperation with the government The autonomous Bougainville government (ABG) under its constitution has a ministry called the ministry of the local level government, women, religion and NGOs. This ministry is mandated to take care of the affairs of women, youth and the NGO s. Much needs to be done to make this ministry walk its talk for fuller service delivery and monitoring. Initiatives by the NGO s need political support from this office and must be seen to be happening. In lieu of this ministry some efforts by the civil society groups have been facilitated for effective and faster service delivery. 9. What it means for BICWF and its popular education

10 1 Bougainville s peace dividend from Australia, New Zealand and other partners must be commended. However, some of these peace attributes could have been sensitized to benefit the general population and not certain groups as seen by most women who have made the biggest sacrifices for peace. Take for example, the BETA (Bougainville ex-combatants & training aid) fund which was funded by AusAid in This package was a total failure and none of the projects called for funding is in existence today. Women did not play a part on this fund. Then again we take a look at the Bougainville Resistance Force fund a mere cash handout of PGK10.2 million. About a handful of women participated but mostly men were signaled out as the beneficiaries. Much of this money is gone and will not be recovered all due to lack of non-planning and non-participation of women in the negotiations. On the other hand we have the community initiated projects by the European Union in Bougainville. These projects come as infrastructural development on roads, wharves and schools. These are much needed services where accessibility is in question. Therefore aid to Bougainville has to come on a scale where tangible benefits could be derived from. BICWF like other NGO s is working to implement the ABG s five year strategic plan of where the emphasis is on the well-being and sustenance of every Bougainville person to live in a just, secure and peaceful society. This could only come about where all parties played their roles in a more participatory way. 10. Traditional Peace and Reconciliation Process - North Bougainville Bougainville societies have their own traditional ways for reconciliation and restoration of peace after a killing. BICWF found that its activities of community organizing, popular education and training women often encourage people to take action and initiate reconciliation processes, which are then carried out by the clans and families involved according to specific local customs. 1. All village elders, men and women hold a meeting and during the meeting a mediator is selected from the big lead clan - nearby village. In each village there are four clans: Clan 1: Higher Rank is a leading clan (Eagle) Clan 2: Second to first clan and second leading clan (Possum) Clan 3: Third to second clan (sea/ocean) Clan 4: Is a very low rank (Dog) Each clan has traditional roles to play in upholding its identity and participate in the event of the reconciliation process.

11 1 2. The victim with his / her family and clan and the perpetrator with his / her family and clan are given space and initial to see the selected mediator when they are ready for talks. First Stage: Both clans of victim and perpetrator meet and face each other with the mediator guiding them into the process. There is anger, insulting and crying etc. Second Stage: After a month or two either the victim or the perpetrator initiates a second meeting through the same mediator. Here counseling takes place by other village elders who are traditionally recognized as counseling specialists. Towards or at the end of the meeting other clan leaders, both men and women, decide and agree upon charges laid against the perpetrator and the victim is given a space to accept or reject the agreed charge which he or she / and his or her clan is to receive. Time is set for reconciliation to take place. All church leaders organize and prepare church service. Third Stage: reconciliation in the church. During church service; in this catholic literacy forgiving and acceptance and shaking hands takes place between the victim and the perpetrator and their families, clans and everyone; villagers witness the occasion. After the church service bring the perpetrator and his / her family and clans traditional shell money, pigs, uncooked garden food and the amount of money agreed upon with them. Meanwhile, the mediator oversees to the heating of the medium size black river stone, which is done by the women in the village. The victim and family and clan come forward. The heated stone is put in the hole, dug about 20 cm deep. The victim holds hands with the perpetrator and immediate family and cold water is poured on their hands and trips down onto the hot stone, which is then buried. And then the traditional shell money, pigs and garden food is given to the victim, family and clan, and it is further shared amongst everyone.