Sir Mekere will be remembered as a peacemaker: Toroama

THE late Sir Mekere Morauta will forever be remembered as a peacemaker in Bougainville, says Autonomous Bougainville Government President Ishmael Toroama.
“At the turn of the last millennia, we saw the close of one of, if not the darkest, chapters in PNG’s short history – the cessation of hostilities of the Bougainville Civil War,” Toroama said in a statement.
“The late Sir Mekere described it as a terrible time that saw the people of Bougainville suffer through the loss of lives and development.”
Toroama is in Port Moresby to attend the funeral of the late Sir Mekere today.
“Despite the end of the conflict, there was much to be done in the peace process that followed in Bougainville.
“And that was to negotiate maintaining peace and stability,” he said.
“The Ceasefire Agreement in 1997 laid the foundation for the peace process under the government of the late Sir William Skate.
“The late Sir Mekere inherited this process when his government came into power and his greatest contribution was the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement in Arawa on Aug 30, 2001.
“This historic occasion set the foundation pillars of autonomy, referendum and weapons disposal that has stood the test of time in the last decade building a peaceful and resilient Bougainville.”