Bougainville police raise referendum concerns after death

A LONG dispute between factions of the Mekamui Government on Bougainville has resulted in the alleged killing of a Mekamui member, Autonomous Region of Bougainville assistant police commander Francis Tokura says.
“Such a killing among political groupings is not good in the lead up to the referendum on October 12 this year,” he said.
Tokura said yesterday there was an ongoing dispute between members of the Mekamui in the Konnou constituency in Buin, South Bougainville.
“Some members in one faction allegedly shot and killed a man from another faction with a high powered weapon last week,” he said.
“The body is now in the Buin hospital morgue and police are now monitoring the situation and it is quiet in Buin town.
“We don’t know what’s going on in the village but relatives of the victims are now meeting to discuss how to solve this ongoing dispute.”
Tokura said Bougainville was still in a volatile state with a large cache of weapons still in the hands of ex-combatants and others.
“As police chief, I can say the law and order situation here is fluid as we prepare for the referendum. Any incident can instigate the use of firearms and I’m calling on Bougainville leaders to really be serious about removing guns from every constituency leading up to the referendum.”
Tokura said the weekend’s rampage resulting in the burning down of 34 houses and firing of guns at the police station and the stoning of police vehicle by armed thugs needed to sound alarm bells as the province prepared for the referendum.
“There are still a large number of weapons in the hands of the ordinary people,” he said.
“We confront many of these armed thugs and it is very intimidating because under the Bougainville Peace Agreement the police is unarmed.
“I’m appealing to Bougainville leaders and people that if they are truly serious in having the referendum, they really have to eradicate arms in their respective communities.”
Tokura said that the much talked about gun surrendering exercise that was going throughout Bougainville was achieving its aim.