Bougainville: cease-fire fails
By Frank Enright
The Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) has declared an end to the cease-fire between itself and the Papua New Guinea Defence Forces signed in September before the abortive peace talks held in the Bougainvillean capital, Arawa.
PNG Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan ordered the hunting down of BRA and Bougainville Interim Government (BIG) leaders last month.
On November 25 in Port Moresby, the Charter of Mirigini was signed between Theodore Miriung, a former BRA supporter, and Chan. This agreement opens the possibility of PNG establishing a compliant transitional authority on Bougainville.
Speaking from the blockaded island, BIG spokesperson Martin Miriori warned Miriung and any others who sign the charter with PNG that their personal safety could not be guaranteed.