By Francis Ona
Christmas 1993 heralds half a decade of our revolution. As 1994 approaches, it is important to reaffirm our thoughts and aspirations so that we take the challenges of the new year with renewed vision.
Every citizen should think ... to value and appreciate all the valuable lessons and aspirations of a life under total economic seclusion from the world.
I ask everyone to think about a very special theme, the environment: our coastline, plains, rivers and the mountains. The total ecosystem we call Bougainville. This environment protects us from the enemy, feeds and shelters us, grows our food and breeds our wildlife. We must shelter and protect it from now on.
We have been fighting a bloody war for the last five years, while others like Papua New Guinea have exploited and tried to destroy our land. We must make sure that we do not lose what we have suffered to protect: our customs and culture, protect our trees and wildlife, the rivers and the environment generally. To make sure that wilful destruction is halted; to ensure that Bougainville is true to its name as our tropical paradise.
If this land can shelter and protect us for the last five years under a blockade, unprecedented in our life and experience, then we should value our natural environment far more than copper and gold. We will stop whoever the enemy may be, whether it be a mining company, organisation or another country. We will not allow our rivers to be polluted, be it by Australian companies, or our forests be logged by Japanese companies.
God bless you all. Thank you.
[Francis Ona is president of the Bougainville Interim Government. This is an edited Christmas address taken from Radio Free Bougainville.]
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