Me’ekamui Factions commit to weapons disposal and peace process
The weapons disposal process on Bougainville continues to make significant progress following the Veterans Unification Summit held in July this year.
A symbolic outcome of the summit was the declaration called the ‘Mary Queen of the Mountains, Panguna Declaration’ which saw the reaffirmation of the Bougainville Me’ekamui’s commitment to disposing weapons before the vote in November.
The Panguna Me’ekamui Faction had fulfilled their commitment following the containment of 121 weapons which were brought to Panguna by the Me’ekamui Factions throughout Bougainville, and stored in an armored shed in Panguna on September 01, 2019.
Me’ekamui Defence Force Commander Moses Pipiro, says the weapons will be placed in the armory for the time being until a monument or museum is built for the weapons to be displayed in for future generations to see.
“Our weapons will not be destroyed but be placed in the armory and then be displayed on a monument or in a museum for the future generation to see and remember why we fought,” he said.
Pipiro said that although the Me’ekamui was not a signatory to the Peace Agreement, they have agreed to work with the ABG and the rest of Bougainville during the referendum period to see that a free and fair referendum takes place and what they had been fighting for be achieved.
The Me’ekamui Factions expressed their gratitude to the ABG through Minister for Peace Agreement Implementation Hon. Albert Punghau and National Government Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Sir Puka Temu, for their support to the Me’ekamui to ensure that the weapons disposal exercise is implemented.
The containment of weapons symbolizes the Me’ekamui’s support for the whole Bougainville peace process.
Weapons that are still held after the containment exercise is complete will be seen and dealt with as a law and order issue to be dealt with by the Bougainville Police Service.
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