Bougainville's Secessionist Leader Reveals Funding Secret Behind Decade-Long Conflict

Francis Ona, the reclusive leader of the Meekamui Movement, has revealed that his group has been secretly funding its secessionist activities by selling gold from the Panguna mine, which sparked a decade-long conflict on Bougainville. The mine, owned by Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL), was shut down due to the conflict, claiming over 10,000 lives. Ona's movement has been occupying the mine site within the so-called no-go zone in central Bougainville, despite the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement promising a referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea (PNG) within 10 to 15 years.

Key Takeaways:

• The Meekamui Movement has been secretly funding its activities by selling gold from the Panguna mine, which was shut down due to the conflict.
• The conflict, sparked by landowner discontent over environmental damage and benefits from the mine, claimed over 10,000 lives.
• Francis Ona, the leader of the Meekamui Movement, has refused to join the peace process or recognize Bougainville's newly-elected autonomous government under President Joseph Kabui.
• The Meekamui Movement has trained 1,000 young police officers and is negotiating trade deals with foreign companies.
• Ona has stated that he would support Kabui and the autonomous government only if they recognize Bougainville as a sovereign nation already independent from PNG.
• BCL chairman Peter Taylor has acknowledged that gold is being extracted from the mine's tailings, but notes that the government should not be allowing unauthorized mining activities.

Statistics:

• Over 10,000 lives were claimed in the conflict sparked by the Panguna mine.
• 1,000 young police officers have been trained by the Meekamui Movement.
• The conflict lasted throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
• The PNG government's income was heavily reliant on the Panguna mine.
• The Meekamui Movement has been occupying the mine site within the so-called no-go zone in central Bougainville.

Sources:

• Asia Pulse, July 4 2004
• Post-Courier newspaper (PNG) (no specific date mentioned in the original text)