Call for the Resumption of Weapons Disposal in Bougainville

Special FemTalk 1325 Report: A Call for the Resumption of Weapons Disposal Programme in Bougainville: Helen Hakena

By Nandini Vandhana and Sharon Bhagwan Rolls

In the last week the Pacific women’s rights movement has rallied together in their condemnation of the the torture and killing of Helen Rumbali, President of Bana Bougainville Women’s Federation and women’s rights advocate.

On 4 April 2013, four women, including Helen Rumbali, were kidnapped and tortured after being accused of sorcery (sanguma). Three women, Helen’s sister and her two nieces, remain in a local health centre serviced only by nurses and their condition is unknown.

Earlier today, FemLINKPACIFIC’ s Community Media Officer, Nandini Vandhana managed to contact Helen Hakena, the Executive Director of Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency who is the Chairperson of the North Bougainville Human Rights Committee who organised a protest march and is also amplifying the call against the violence and also in calling for the repeal of the Sorcery Act by the Papua New Guinea Government.

She explained the situation remains tense and women remain vulnerable to armed violence and so many are choosing not to venture out to their gardens and river particularly with the prevalence of guns:
“(because) there are guns around and guns have been displayed in the open during last week and again this week by people who have been keeping (the women) as hostages.”

According to Hakena there is also a need to accelerate the formulation of the Bougainville Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security because that would pave the way for women’s full security:

“And I really would like as a woman leader to see guns and stronger laws here, guns are removed and destroyed, there should be laws put in place so that guns you know those that hold guns should get license from the government.”

The guns remain despite the UN assistance weapons disposal programme ahead of the first elections for the establishment of the Autonomous Bougainville Government:

“These are guns which were used during the Bougainville crisis and which were not collected by the UN when they were here… but some of those containers of weapons were not destroyed so guns were taken out of containers several years ago and are in circulation in the communities around Buka across Bougainville.”

The presence of guns also puts the political stability of the John Momis Government at risk and Hakena is calling for the resumption of the weapons disposal programme and strengthening of the police force, particularly to ensure the safety and protection of women:

“Immediately we women would like complete total disposal and destruction of guns and we would like the Police to carry out investigations on the death of those women and the torturing of those women because we would really like the laws to start protecting women and to put a stop and to end more killings.”

“So women feel and think that it’s still not okay for people to walk around or to be passing on information, like it’s too risky, risky for people because there is fear, and there is mistrust again in the area.”

While several ex combatants have been helpful and have assisted the government in minimizing the risk in Bana women still feel vulnerable and Hakena feels that the police should be better equipped to be able to address the current situation as well as address the root causes of the situation:

“Women are still scared that they may be shot at following the incident. The Police should be taking on an enhanced role to minimize the cause of the conflict by going into the area because they have implemented for the government of ABG.”

“Women could not defend themselves and that’s why we called on the government particularly the Police to carry out investigations to the killings, to the suspects or carry out investigations and bring out the perpetrators to justice because those women, there are laws in place because those people did not use the laws that are in place to protect, so women could come and defend themselves, you know the law of court, but you know that wasn’t done. Here in Bougainville we are working hard to restore law and order and to restore peace and there are means available, there are Police in all the Districts and those policemen were not used or the courts were not used, you know so that women could defend those allegations. They were kidnapped in the night and taken to isolated villages where they were continually harassed and tortured.”

While it is understood that the women are slowly recovering from knife wounds in the local health centre Hakena insists that they should be released and transferred to the Buka General Hospital. Meanwhile, she and other women’s rights activists are also mobilizing with women’s NGOS, the churches and the ABG to accelerate the repeal of the Sorcery Act:

“We are mobilizing and lobbying government, here on Bougainville. We would like the sorcery act laws to be repealed quickly. The perpetrators should be brought to justice and women or those that are suspected of sorcery must have the opportunity of defending themselves in court.”

The issue she said is not isolated to Bougainville and must be a national priority:
“Because what is happening is in the highlands of Papua New Guinea women are being burnt to death and tortured.”

Hakena will be using the New Guinea Islands Development Forum in East New Britain to also amplify the call for the protection of all citizens, particularly the women.

And the cost of armed violence is not only at the personal level but also has serious implications for Papua New Guinea’s economic security says Hakena: “(with) law and order problems people will be losing property, millions of kina will be lost, as well as making women more vulnerable.”

***FemLINKPacific coordinates the Regional Women's Media and Policy Network on UNSCR1325 and convenes the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) in the Pacific

ENDS

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