Disarmament: Bougainville Peace Agreement
Implementations
Disarmament – 2001
On May 9 the Peace Process Consultative Committee endorsed the Resolution on Weapons Disposal of the BPA.1 Stages I and II of the weapons disposal program commenced. Stage I consisted of placing weapons in small containers. Stage II involved placing those small containers into larger shipping containers. Factional unit commanders, verified by the UNOMB, controlled containers. The Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) also monitored them regularly.
- Natascha Spark and Jackie Bailey, “Disarmament in Bougainville: ‘guns in boxes,'” International Peacekeeping, 12(4): 601, 2005.
Disarmament – 2002
“The PMG worked within the defined steps of the BPA and the PMG’s agreement to support the UNOMB in weapons disposal. The PMG provided large, lockable plastic containers for Stage I and large steel shipping containers for Stage II. It transported the containers across the island via helicopter and provided experts to catalogue and count the weapons. The PMG transported ex-combatants around the island to encourage the disposal of weapons and attend the disposal ceremonies, which often attained ritualistic significance, symbolizing an end to the conflict and a return to civilian life.”1 By the end of 2002, the PMG convinced the PNG Parliament to pass legislation indicating the beginning of the end of the disarmament process.
Disarmament – 2003
Stages I and II continued. Following several thefts, the procedure was modified to double locking of the small containers in stage I, which were then deemed to be at stage II. Early in 2003, the PMG command appealed to women, chiefs, and church leaders to convince their community men to disarm.
According to a report of the Secretary General to the Security Council on the UN Political Office in Bougainville, “At the end of February 2003, 80.2 per cent of Bougainville had reached stage II, and two districts had fully completed the process of disarmament. Of the total number of collected weapons, 7.4 per cent have been destroyed in advance of the formal launch of stage III.”1 The report highlighted the obstacles to achieve a reasonably complete weapons disposal in Bougainville, primarily the non-involvement of Mr. Francis Ona and his MeÕekamui Defence Force (MDF) in the peace process. According to a news report, the Australian Defence Force said that the Bougainville disarmament process had gathered 1,621 guns. The Bougainville Revolutionary Army had secured 1,025 of the guns and the other 596 were from the Bougainville Resistance Force. The Australian military spokesman in Canberra, Brig Mike Hannan, said that more than half the weapons have been moved from villages to centralized steel containers with United Nations observers.2
- “Secretary General’s Report,” U.N. Security Council (S/2003/345), March 20, 2003.
- “Papua New Guinea: Bougainville disarmament process gathers over 1,600 guns,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, October 10, 2002.
Disarmament – 2004
Stage III was carried out. Most weapons were destroyed.
Disarmament – 2005
“As of mid-2005 weapons disposal had achieved ‘significant compliance according to the UN, but was still incomplete. About 5 per cent of the weapons at Stage II were not yet destroyed, and some weapons never even made it to Stage I.”1
However, the disarmament process was largely successful. 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. It is therefore determined that the parties had substantially complied with the implementation of the plan, paving the way for the holding of elections.”2 Having deemed their mandate complete, UNOMB left Bougainville.
- “Disarmament in Bougainville: ‘guns in boxes,” International Peacekeeping.
- “Yearbook of the United Nations 2005: Sixtieth Anniversary Edition – Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All,” United Nations; 60 Anv edition, 2005, p. 455.
Disarmament – 2006
Disarmament of former combatants was only partially successful as Francis Ona and his MeÕekamui Defence Force (MDF) did not participate in the peace process. The issue of light arms remained.
Disarmament – 2007
Disarmament of former combatants was only partially successful as Francis Ona and his MeÕekamui Defence Force (MDF) did not participate in the peace process. The issue of light arms remained.
Disarmament – 2008
The government recognizes, “[s]mall firearms control and weapons disposal” as an outstanding issue, and names 2008 as, “the year of Reconciliation and Weapons Disposal.”1
- “Presentation on Bougainville Peace Process,” Autonomous Bougainville Government, 2008, http://www.peacebuilders.in/main/uploads/pdfs/08-07_bougainville_peace_p…, accessed June 9, 2010.
Disarmament – 2009
A Peace, Reconciliation and Weapons Disposal Ministry was created within the Autonomous Bougainville Government. Robert Hamal Sawa was appointed to the position.1
Disarmament – 2010
“The people of Rotokas in the Wakunai District of Central Bougainville have taken the lead in disposing of their firearms. As part of their effort in the Bougainville peace process, ex-combatants in the mountainous region on Wednesday handed in three firearms to the Autonomous Bougainville Government Minister for Peace, Reconciliation and Weapons Disposal and MP for Hagogohe Robert Hama Sawa and his ministry co-ordinator George Manu at Ruruvu.”1
- “Ex-Combatants Give Up Firearms,” PNG Post-Courier, Jan 22, 2010; UNOMB’s Verification Report, Implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement: Completion of Stage II of Weapons Disposal, http://www.igr.gov.pg/unoreport.pdf, Accessed on June 3, 2010.