Bougainville Revolutionary Army
Encyclopedia
The Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) was formed in 1988 by Bougainvilleans seeking independence from Papua New Guinea
(PNG).
BRA leaders argue that Bougainville
is ethnically part of the Solomon Islands
and has not profited from the extensive mining that has occurred on the island. In 1989, BRA leaders proclaimed Bougainville independent from PNG and established the Bougainville Interim Government (BIG). As a result, the fighting between BRA and the PNG military, with support from Australia
, escalated.
In January 1991, the Honiara Declaration was signed under which both sides agreed to a ceasefire. This ceasefire was soon broken and fighting continued. In 1997, Bill Skate
of the National Congress Party was elected Prime Minister of PNG and promised that peace in Bougainville would be his highest priority. This led to the signing of a ceasefire agreement, the Rotokas Record, and a movement towards peace and the autonomy of Bougainville. As a result, the BRA is no longer actively engaged in fighting, although some of its leaders are involved in the BIG.
A documentary about the struggle of the indigenous population to save their island from environmental destruction and gain independence, was made in 1999, called The Coconut Revolution
. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479000/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9073157933630784238
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
(PNG).
BRA leaders argue that Bougainville
Bougainville Province
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, previously known as North Solomons, is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea. The largest island is Bougainville Island , and the province also includes the island of Buka and assorted outlying islands including the Carterets...
is ethnically part of the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
and has not profited from the extensive mining that has occurred on the island. In 1989, BRA leaders proclaimed Bougainville independent from PNG and established the Bougainville Interim Government (BIG). As a result, the fighting between BRA and the PNG military, with support from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, escalated.
In January 1991, the Honiara Declaration was signed under which both sides agreed to a ceasefire. This ceasefire was soon broken and fighting continued. In 1997, Bill Skate
Bill Skate
Sir William Jack Skate KCMG was a Papua New Guinea politician and statesman. He was the son of an Australian father and a native PNG mother...
of the National Congress Party was elected Prime Minister of PNG and promised that peace in Bougainville would be his highest priority. This led to the signing of a ceasefire agreement, the Rotokas Record, and a movement towards peace and the autonomy of Bougainville. As a result, the BRA is no longer actively engaged in fighting, although some of its leaders are involved in the BIG.
A documentary about the struggle of the indigenous population to save their island from environmental destruction and gain independence, was made in 1999, called The Coconut Revolution
The Coconut Revolution
The Coconut Revolution is a 2001 multi-award winning documentary film about the struggle of the indigenous peoples in the Bougainville Island...
. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479000/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9073157933630784238
External links
- Ecological Revolution on Bougainville - Solidarity South Pacific