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Mi yet ples meri long south Bougainville laik tok stret long president blo mipla John Momis osem ol manmeri lo Bougainville ino longlong bai yu ken giamanim mipla lo hia na bihain go autsait na tanim toktok long ol pipol lo wol. Long autsait long Bougainville yu save toktok osem mipla ol pipol blo Bougainville inidim displa Panguna mine lo riopen. Mipla klia lo displa ol trick yu save mekim, yu ting mipla no save? Bihain long yu giamanim ol lain autsait yu save kam long mipla ol pipol na tok ‘mine bai riopen sapos ol pipol itok’. Yu wantem ol niusman blo yu save putim ol giaman rabis long nius na mekim mipla ol pipol iluk osem mipla sapotim riopening blo displa mine.
Yu tok osem klostu olgeta man na meri iwanbel na laikim riopening long ol pipol lo Australia, wanem evidence blo yu istap lo pruvim displa? Yu yet yu mas ikam na explainim we yu kisim kain ol evidence osem mipla laikim mine riopen. Noken tingting lo ileksen kempain blo yu na raunim Bougainville olsem flying fox. Nau yet lo displa taim yu wok lo raun nabaut opim ol liklik project nabaut long ol ples we yu no save putim lek or mak blo yu, tasol em orait yu save long mipla ol pipol lo hia, mipla iken smail na hamamas lo ai blo yu na u ting mipla istap lo gutpla bel wantem yu. Yu mas tingting gut lo displa samting.
Mi yet bin hamamas lo harim displa ripot ikam aut long ol pipol lo Panguna osem ol man na meri ino wanbel lo riopening. Displa ripot we wanpla grup lo Australia imekim, lo mi yet em displa ol toktok em makim tingting blo planti blo mipla lo ples. Yes, em itru osem mipla no laikim mining, mipla no nidim tu, na displa tingting ibin stap lo bipo yet ikam inap nau, na bai istap osem tasol. Plis President Momis inap nau lo giaman.
Ating, moa gutpla yu kam na tokaut long mipla ol pipol lo ples long as why yu save mekim ol displa kain ol toktok wantem nogat gutpla sapot blong mipla ol pipol. Sapos yu ting osem samting yu wok lo mekim em istret, ok inap yu tok why igat planti manmeri ino wanbel long ol toktok blo yu lo hia yet long Bougainville.
Mipla bin gat bikpla bilip osem bai yu bringim Bougainville lo independence osem na mipla votim yu long 2010 ileksen, tasol iluk osem yu wok lo traim bringim mipla go bek lo displa taim bipo we mine ibin bagarapim tru mipla ol pipol blo yu long taim ol poisin blo mine go insait lo wara na graun, na tu ol squata setelment ikam pulap tru we ol save rapim of yangpla meri na mama igo lo gaden, skul o wok, na kilim ol yangpla mangi blo Bougainville. Wanem samting imekim yu ting osem disla mine riopening bai narakain?
Narapla samting tu, yu ting displa ol land owners association blo Panguna go inap lo Loloho imakim maus blo olgeta manmeri? Yu tingting gut lo displa bikos ol displa giaman representative isave tasol long ol kona blo Arawa taun na ino long ples blong ol.
Taim yu bin kam lo Buin sampla wik igo pinis lo openim displa bikpla show, na ol toktok yu mekim long ol autsait man kam giamanim yumi nabaut, mi no bin wanbel long ol displa toktok bikos yu sutim pinga long ol na yu yet no lukim osem bikpla giaman tu yu wok lo mekim lo ai blo mipla ol pipol blo yu na autsait tu.
Olsem na gutpla president blo mipla, ating sapos yu no bin save mekim ol displa giaman toktok bipo , bai yumi stap lo gutpla bel na bai yu no inap gat displa kain ol toktok rabis long yu. Em mi yet ipilim hevi tru osem yu yet lida ikam lo sait blo mipla ol Buin, na displa ol pasin blo lidasip blo yu iwok lo mekim mipla lain blo yu pilim nogut. Ating moa gutpla yu lusim issue blo mining long ol Panguna yet na traim na lukluk long ol narapla wei yumi ken mekim independence blo Bougainville ikamap tru.
Translation
I, a village woman in South Bougainville want to frankly say to our president John Momis that the people of Bougainville are not stupid that he can trick us here and then go outside and say something else to the rest of the world. Outside Bougainville, you say that your people in Bougainville need the reopening of the Panguna mine. We are aware of this trick you play; do you think we do not? And after lying to the people outside you come to us and tell us that ‘the mine will reopen if the people say so’. You with your media people always putting out trash in the news making us the people look as if we actually support the reopening of this mine (Panguna).
You say that almost all people are in support of the mine reopening to the people of Australia, where is your evidence to prove this? You have to come and explain to us where you got the evidence that we the people want the reopening. Do not think about your election campaign which is causing you travel around Bougainville like a flying fox. Right now you are traveling around opening small projects in places you barely set foot on or even come to your consideration, but that is alright, you know the people here, we can smile and be merry in your eyes and you think we are in accord with you. You must seriously consider this fact.
I was very happy to hear about this report about the Panguna people; that they were not happy about the reopening of the mine. This report where a group from Australia (Jubilee Australia) compiled, from my perspective, represents the views of the majority of us the people in the villages. Yes, it is true we do not want the mine to be reopened, nor do we (the people) need it, and this was the notion that was from before until today, and it will stay like this. Please president Momis stop the lying.
I think it will be good if you come to us the people in the villages and explain why you make these kinds of twisting statements that do not have the people’s support. If you think what you are doing is right, then why there is great opposition from inside Bougainville?
We had much confidence that you would bring Bougainville to independence and that is why we voted you in the 2010 elections, but it seems that you are trying to bring us back to those times before when the mine brought much destruction to the people through poisoning of the rivers and land, and as well the sprouting of squatter settlements everywhere that harboured criminals that raped our young girls and mothers when they were going to work, school and gardens, not even our young men were safe too. What actually makes you think this proposed reopening will be different?
Another thing as well are these landowner associations from Panguna down to Loloho, do you really think they represent the people? You better give this more thought because these so-called representatives only know the corners of Arawa town, and not their villages.
When you came to Buin some weeks ago to open our show, and the statement you made about outsiders coming in and lying to us, I was not happy hearing those words because you pointed fingers at them and you yourself may have not realized your own big lie you have been making in front of us, your own people and outside too.
Therefore our good president may be if you have not been lying before, we would be in agreement with you and there would be no negative criticisms towards you. I, myself feel very bad that you, a leader from our side in Buin, with your leadership actions is painting a bad image of us your people. I think it would be better if you leave the issue of mining to the people of Panguna and you look at other alternatives that can help make the independence of Bougainville become a reality.
Papua New Guinea Mine Watch 
Ogoi, Dorothy Dix, wanem nem blo liklik ples kanaka blo you? Na man blong you nem blong em Guy Fawkes? Ating hed blo you faol finis ia. Buin emi patriarchal society, oli bihainim strongpla kastom where ol man igo pas na igat bikpla respect lo ol. Ol Ogoi ino nap mekim displa kaen pipia toktok lo ol man na ol mumira blong ol. Ating ol waita oli agensim Momis oli faolim you gut tru ia.
Translation: Mam, Dorothy Dix, what is the name of your native village or hamlet? And your husband, is it Guy Fawkes? You sound disturbed and twisted in the head. Buin is a patriarchal society where the custom there respecting and acknowledging the man as the mast head is still very strong. This kind of ridicule and filth towards men and respected elders would not come from a Buin woman. I think you’ve been really had by the white folks who are against and anti Momis.
Excuse me Puini Rai, you are the one who sounds “disturbed and twisted” and a woman hater. Obviously you have no respect for women at all and why should anybody respect someone like you with your “ridicule and filth” against females and in particular the lady from South Bougainville who wrote the article above.
The article was extremely well written and thought provoking. I say, congratulations to the lady from South Bougainville. Great to hear from the Bougainville sisterhood. Keep up the good work, stay strong and don’t let the “mast head” men stop you from speaking out about truth and justice.
Would the author of this article, who’s demanding that her president lead her to independence within the next five years along a road other than mining, kindly step forward and provide her president with a road map to the hidden treasure chest. Unfortunately, there are many mystery writers who never have any viable alternatives to suggest, any solution to the problem of becoming an independent nation without a bank balance. Well, maybe there’s no other way in the next 100 years. Forget about five years! Without mining, PNG would still be administered by Australia. Without mining, Australia itself would be bankrupt.
Excuse me bougainvillefreedommovement. You have no idea! And I don’t expect you too because you will never understand our cultures in PNG and Bougainville.
If “Ogoi Buin” used her real name she would be so ostracized that her family, including male members of her family, would be obliged to provide or pay a form of recompense for the shame she brought for the way she behaved and ridiculed someone like Momis.
The writer isn’t ogoi from Buin, ogois do not engage in such direct and highly personal, menacing vitriol in their society. This is a Dorothy Dix. And she’s probably got her husband or partner, a Guy Fawkes, writing this.
You “sisterhood” pretension is a fallacy because you do not know a thing about the patriarchal society in Buin. You probably will never understand or appreciate why the aborigines spear someone’s leg as a way of settling disputes and reconciling. If I knew who you were (but you just sound like VJ) and know where you live I would find you and point a lot of bones at you.
Anonymous writers at BFM, I agree that the village woman’s article was well written, albeit rather undiplomatically. However, it isn’t particularly “thought provoking”, as your second writer claims, as it doesn’t offer anything new to think about, any alternatives that might deliver independence to Bougainville within the specified time frame.
In regard to President Momis’s visits around the AROB, I get the feeling that he’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t (as the saying goes). If he visits his constituents, he gets abused for electioneering; if he doesn’t visit, people accuse him of neglecting to interact with them.
Also, if people smile and pretend to agree with the President – yes I know it’s customary – then whose fault is it if the President gets the wrong impression – his or the fake smilers’?
To answer a couple of the village woman’s questions:
“Then why is there great opposition from inside Bougainville?”
Well, it would be a miracle of gargantuan proportion if every single soul in a community agreed on every issue, even big issues that require big decisions. That’s what democracy is about. I don’t like the current Australian Government, but I have to live with the decision of the majority of Australian citizens.
“What actually makes you think this proposed reopening will be different?”
(1) The people of Bougainville are wiser now;
(2) the people of Bougainville have more power now;
(3) a reopened mine would be governed differently, more democratically;
(4) BCL doesn’t want another war on its hands;
(5) BCL couldn’t afford to invest billions and lose it again; and
(6) we can be sure that NGOs, environmentalists, the UN and the world will have their eyes on the new operation and their ears to the ground.
I hope this helps.
The comments by the prophet “Warwick” are insulting to me as a Bougainville. He is saying we are wiser now. The comments betray writer’s preconceived ideas about that Bougainvilleans were dumb and have now been educated to accept mining as their saviour. Oh yes who doesn’t know we were so dumb to fight a war that never got us anywhere but back where we started. With BCL. The writer goes on to predict that BCL has had a change of heart and will be more “loving and kind” to us this time around. What is wise about going back into water to embrace the same shark that took half your limbs in the last encounter? Well if anything, that shark is a lot wiser now he won’t let the prey put up a fight and get away. You are right BCL doesn’t want another war on it’s hands. There will be electric fences around the mine’s perimeter with armed guards and dogs patrolling to ensure no disgruntled landowner will ever think about starting another dumb war. I haven’t seen a mine being governed democratically. It is not human and it dictates to the government which neglects its people to do the miner wants its to do. BCL will invest billions in everything including security. NGOs and environmentalists are fools who are like canaries sit on a tree all day singing the same old cracked song about injustices and when the shit hits the fan they disappear into the woods only to resurface after the dust has settled. For other writers I am surprised to learn that the new meaning of “independence” in Oxford Dictionary is “mining.”
Yu meri blong guy toktok olsem wanfala longlong Buin meri. Ol meri i save long kastom blo Buin. Yu toktok olsem wanfala pipia meri blong ol white man. Nogat wanfala Buin meri ken tromoim ol kain rabis toktok long lida blong mifala. Olgeta meri long AROB olgeta lida man long ples. Sapos yu strongfala meri lida yu mas sanap long president next yia 2015 na shortcut na kisim independent long July 2015. Sori tumas meri Buin ples meri. Maski long ghostname. Mi michael Luakenu. chief blong ples Luaguo buin. Mani Buin ples meri
Chris Baria sums it up so very well. I need not comment further other than to say that my personal wish and hope for the people of Bougainville is and always has been one for their ‘self determination’ and an ‘Independance’ free of any outside influence by those who seek only to fill their own pockets. Yes this future will take work but is definitly achievable as I know that the people, ‘united’ in this aim and with good ‘internal’ guidance will make it.
Again… well said Chris Baria.
My name…Harry Baxter
Thanks for your views Chris. I really do understand your concerns. However, I need to explain some misconceptions.
1. I’m actually not a prophet. However, like you, I have expectations and hopes for the future of Bougainville. A person’s perceptions and outlook might be optimistic or pessimistic, depending on the issue, but this has nothing to do with prophecy.
2. With regard to your pessimistic, almost terrifying projections in the event of future mining operations on Bougainville, I understand that a number of unique safeguards are being built into Bougainville’s new mining legislation to prevent the kind of horror scene you have described and provide Bougainvilleans with veto powers over mining company proposals and actions.
3. I’m genuinely sorry you felt insulted by the idea that you could be increasing in wisdom. Most folks, including me, desire to increase in wisdom, just as Jesus did (Luke 2:52). We shouldn’t confuse wisdom with intelligence; the two are not generally synonymous. People are born with intelligence and I have always had very high regard for the intelligence of Bougainvilleans. Wisdom, on the other hand, is something that we accumulate, hopefully, with knowledge and experience. I think my statement would have been clearer if I’d said “more aware”, which is what I meant by “wiser”.
I need to add that although I’m a long-term member of the Bougainville community and have lost family members and friends as a result of the war, I don’t feel entitled to vote on Bougainville’s mining issue, as I’ve been away from the region for 15 years, thanks to the targeting of mixed race families by rebel elements. I do, however, feel obliged to express an opinion.
We still demand about the identity of a so call meri Buin. From my ONE TOUCH PIXI