The Peace Process Consultative Committee (PPCC), comprising representatives from the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, Bougainville Resistance Force, the National Government, the provincial Government, and donor agencies met in Hutjena in second week of June 2002 to discuss immediate issues concerning the island. Among the resolutions adopted was the resolution on the likely exit dates for the Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) and United Nations Observer Mission in Bougainville (UNOMB).¹ The PMG remained in Bougainville throughout 2002 and was involved in the weapons disposal program.

The Peace Monitoring Group (PMG), which was led by Australia and comprised of unarmed military and civilian members from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu, was present in Bougainville since 1998. The PMG initially consisted of about 300 personnel, including 90 peace monitors and about 200 support personnel. The majority, between 240 and 250, of the PMG’s personnel were Australian. The New Zealand Defence Force provided 30 people, and Fiji and Vanuatu provided 15 each. All PMG personnel were unarmed.²

The PMG monitored the peace agreement, reported on ceasefire violations, and supported the peace process.³ The PMG was also involved in the weapon disposal programs.

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On March 8, 2005, “UNOMB facilitated a meeting that brought together, for the first time, several Bougainville political leaders, former military leaders and combatants of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and the Bougainville Resistance Force to discuss the peace process with 100 key (MeÕekamui Defence Force) MDF players. The meeting decided that similar exchanges should be held in the near future to sort out differences and to work together for the future of Bougainville. The MDF representatives also pledged not to interrupt the electoral process.⁴ On May 19, 2005, “UNOMB informed the parties to the Bougainville Peace Agreement that the weapons disposal plan incorporated into the Agreement had been implemented. Of a total 2,016 weapons kept in containers, 1,896 were destroyed. UNOMB collected and destroyed an additional 155 weapons, bringing the total to 2,051 weapons.”⁵ UNOMB successfully completed its mandate by helping to implement the 2001 peace agreement. The elections of the Autonomous Bougainville Government took place between May 20 and June 2, 2005. Joseph C. Kabui won the election, and the Autonomous Government was sworn in on June 15, 2005. International monitored the election as deemed it free and fair. UNOMB terminated its mandate on June 30, 2005. Within three pillars of the 2001 peace agreement, the UN mission helped to achieve two main pillars, namely, weapons disposals and elections of the Autonomous Bougainville Government. The independence referendum will be held between 2015 to 2020.

On December 23, 2003, the United Nations Observer Mission in Bougainville (UNOMB) was established for six months as a follow-on from the United Nations Political Office in Bougainville (S/2003/1199). The Observer Mission made some significant progress. “Phase III, the final phase, of the weapons disposal programme had commenced. As at 6 May, 1,588 pieces of contained weapons—81 per cent of the arsenals of BRA and BRF—had been destroyed. UNOMB had certified that 5 of 10 Bougainville districts had completed the weapons disposal programme.”⁶ The mandate of the Mission was extended for another six months until December 2004 (S/2004/527, June 30, 2004).

On September 29, 2004 ([S/2004/771), the Secretary-General submitted a report on UNOMB, with particular attention to its weapons disposal efforts. According to the report, ” Bougainville ex-combatants had destroyed a total of 1,841 weapons, or 92.6 per cent of the total amount. The weapons disposal plan had been completed in seven of the ten districts of the province. UNOMB was working very closely with the parties on the expeditious completion of the weapons disposal plan in the remaining districts.”⁷

On December 21, 2004 (S/2004/1015), “the Secretary-General informed the Council President that, by a December 14 letter, Papua New Guinea had requested a further extension of UNOMB’s mandate. The Secretary-General commended the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville parties for overcoming their differences and adopting the Bougainville constitution, thereby opening the way for the holding of elections for an Autonomous Bougainville government.”⁸ The mandate of the Observer Mission was extended for an additional six months on December 23, 2004 (S/2004/1016).

UNPOB played a significant role in the implementation process of the Bougainville agreement. “The parties to the Peace Agreement completed phase II of the weapons disposal plan and reached agreement on the final disposal of the weapons collected, which allowed the United Nations Political Office in Bougainville (UNPOB) to carry out the necessary certification and verification. That set the stage for the next steps to be taken, particularly the entry into force of constitutional amendments to the Papua New Guinea constitution, which would lead to the drafting and presentation of a constitution for Bougainville, the delegation of police powers and expediting consultations on the functions of the interim provincial government and arrangements for elections. However, significant challenges remained, prompting the Secretary-General, in December, to accede to Papua New Guinea’s request to maintain a UN presence on the island. The new mission, the United Nations Observer Mission in Papua New Guinea (UNOMB), would, among other functions, monitor the constitutional process leading to the adoption of a Bougainville constitution and verify and certify compliance by the parties with the weapons disposal plan. The Mission would work with UNDP, which would lead international reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.”⁹