Paska appeals to B’villean voters
BY ISAAC NICHOLAS
President of the PNG Trade Union Congress John Paska has called on Bougainvilleans to vote in favour of remaining part of Papua New Guinea.
“I recognised the fact the scars of conflict are still fresh in the memory of many. If they were easy to erase I’d do it. The fact is that they will linger on even after the pages of history are written.” Mr Paska said.
He said while the will of the people will be called upon, ultimately the future will depend of how Bougainville leaders shape the direction in which the ballot will express itself and so it is for the leaders to win or lose.
“In democracies, people choose but they choose on cue from leaders so leaders must take full responsibility for whatever the outcome,” he said.
“Non-Bougainvilleans share in the tragic history of the conflict. I’m one. We all wish it didn’t happen but it did and we have to deal with it.
“I was part of a small group of Papua New Guineans which included Dame Meg Taylor; Richard Kassman, the late Peter Donigi and Sir Barry Holloway who joined Brigadier-General Jerry Singirok’s camp to provide moral and technical support against the war.
“We put our lives on the line because we judged it was worth the effort and sacrifice. We categorically opposed the use of our military against our own people.
“We also didn’t want Bougainville to secede. We succeeded but at great costs on all sides.
“At this juncture we will respect the will of the people to determine their destiny. Democracy will speak at the ballot. What should have happened at the time will now materialise in an environment of peace.
“It is everyone’s desire that Bougainville remains an integral part of PNG. It will be to the benefit of the people of Bougainville that they remain part of PNG. They must know that we love them and desire them to remain.
“We have a shared cultural history that stretches beyond independence and the birth of PNG.
“To walk away now is to deny the bonds that have existed for thousands of years and which inextricably tie us together as one people.
“Running a country is not cheap and smaller nations have often found out to their detriment that small is not always beautiful.”
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