B’ville factions make peace

 Mekamui members in North and Central Bougainville came together last weekend to reconcile after nearly 10 years of friction between them.

The friction between the two factions stemmed from an incident in which Northern leader Willie Haga was barred from attending the funeral of secessionist leader, the late Francis Ona at the infamous Morgan Junction in 2005.

The Central Bougainville faction was represented by Mekamui tribal government President Philip Miriori along with his delegation and several family members of the late Ona.

The Northern faction was represented by Haga and several other Northern Mekamui leaders and witnessed by many others.

A representative of the Mekamui tribal government and the people of Panguna, Philip Takaung, formally apologised to Haga for the incident that saw him missing the funeral of his mentor, the late Ona.

Takaung asked for Haga’s forgiveness and to see past any misunderstanding between them so that they may work together for further peace and reconciliation throughout Bougainville.

Takaung extended an invitation to Haga to pay his respects at the grave of Ona at the latter’s Guava village, Panguna.

Haga said that this reconciliation signified the Mekamui’s intention to foster peace within Bougainville.

Haga and Takaung agreed that the Mekamui was ready to work with the Autonomous Bougainville Government to bring peace to Bougainville.

In attendance at the ceremony was ABG President Chief Dr John Momis.