Vikki John
I am deeply saddened and in shock to find out that Francis Ona passed away suddenly on July 24 at his village in Guava, Bougainville, at the age of 52.
Although I had not met Mr. Ona in person, I was privileged from 1993-95, with other supporters of the Bougainville Freedom Movement around Australia, to be connected with him on regular phone link-ups that were supported by then-WA Greens politician Dee Margetts. This was at the time when Bougainville was blockaded by sea, air and land by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, supported by the Australian government. Ona bravely communicated what was happening on the ground in Bougainville via a satellite phone, and we all listened intently to find out what the Bougainville Freedom Movement could do for the people of Bougainville.
Our main role was to assist with humanitarian aid, school materials etc. and to spread the news about Bougainville to people all around the world. Many generous people in Australia assisted by donating to the cause — including church groups, unions, schools, humanitarian groups, doctors, lawyers and ordinary workers.
We would ship the donations to Honiara in the Solomon Islands, and they would then be distributed and shipped to Gizo, then taken by banana boats through the blockade by brave boatpeople to Bougainville.
Ona was a true hero to his people and an inspiration to all of us who struggle towards a just world. Ona and his people stopped the biggest mining company in the world, Rio Tinto, in 1988. The mine at Panguna remains closed to this day.
Bougainville Freedom Movement (Australia) mourns the untimely death of Francis Ona, who remained true to his ideal of an independent Bougainville right to the end.
May he rest in peace.
[Vikki John is the national coordinator of the Bougainville Freedom Movement (Australia).]
From Green Left Weekly, August 3, 2005.
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