James Tanis
Encyclopedia
James Tanis is a politician in in Papua New Guinea
who was President
of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville from 2009 to 2010. He was previously the Vice President
of the Bougainville People's Congress
.
Tanis was raised in Panam Village in Lamane
, on the border of South and Central Bougainville
.
Tanis' predecessor, John Tabinaman
, took over as Acting President after Joseph Kabui
died in office of a heart attack in June 2008. This led to a presidential election in November and December 2008
. There were 14 candidates; Tanis was declared winner with a margin of 13,547 votes over second-runner Sam Akoitai
. The election had a poor voter turnout which was reportedly contributed to by heavily armed road blocks, ongoing local disputes, and complaints by many Bougainvilleans that their names were not on election rolls. Tanis was sworn in on 6 January 2009.
Experts have said that the election of the 43-year-old Tanis "represents a generational change" in Bougainville's leadership.
The Bougainville independence movement began in the 1980s after Bougainville landowners closed the Panguna copper mine. In 1989, Bougainville Revolutionary Army
(BRA) leaders proclaimed Bougainville independent from Papua New Guinea and established an interim government. A civil war consumed the island for the next decade as the BRA fought the Papua New Guinea military. Tanis is a former guerrilla and commander in the BRA. Tanis has been described as having been "once closely linked with the late separatist leader, Francis Ona
." He later became "a key player in forging the 2001 peace agreement" following the Bougainvillean civil war. However, Bougainville remains plagued by infighting and tensions from years of conflict.
Tanis was inaugurated as Bougainville's second elected President in a colorful swearing-in ceremony on 6 January 2009, as Bougainvilleans in traditional costumes travelled from all corners of the island to attend the ceremony in Arawa
, Central Bougainville. The ceremony lasted most of the day and included indigenous music and dance. Before the inauguration, Tanis undertook a trip through some twenty fast flowing rivers and creeks before arriving safely in Arawa for the ceremony.
Tanis will serve an interim term, completing Kabui's scheduled term before the presidential election of 2010. He has stated that his focus will be on promoting unity in the aftermath of the civil war. Because a new leader will be chosen in 2010, Tanis has said he is "not looking at achieving much" during his 20-month term in office, but will ensure peace prevails through reconciliation.
Tanis appointed Ezekiel Massat
as Vice President
on 19 January 2009.
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...
who was President
President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville
The President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville governs the island, which is an autonomous entity within Papua New Guinea.The first President of Bougainville was Joseph Kabui, who was elected in June 2005, following the 2000 peace agreement which ended the Bougainville War...
of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville from 2009 to 2010. He was previously the Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the Bougainville People's Congress
Bougainville People's Congress
Bougainville People's Congress is a political party in the autonomous region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. The party president was Joseph Kabui, premier of the province in 1987-1990 and the first President of Bougainville from June 2005 until his death on June 7, 2008....
.
Tanis was raised in Panam Village in Lamane
Lamane
Lamane or Laman "master of the land" were the landed gentry as well the title of ancient kings of the Serer people of the Senegambia region which includes modern day Senegal and The Gambia. This Serer title was also borrowed by the old kings of the Wolof kingdoms...
, on the border of South and Central Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
.
Tanis' predecessor, John Tabinaman
John Tabinaman
John Tabinaman was the Acting President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, in Papua New Guinea, from 7 June 2008 to 6 January 2009.-As Vice President:...
, took over as Acting President after Joseph Kabui
Joseph Kabui
Joseph Canisius Kabui was a secessionist leader and the first President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, off the coast of Papua New Guinea, from 2005 to 2008. He was also the leader of the Bougainville People's Congress....
died in office of a heart attack in June 2008. This led to a presidential election in November and December 2008
Bougainvillean presidential election, 2008
Presidential elections were held in Bougainville from November 30 to December 18, 2008. Voters elected the new President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, following the death of President Joseph Kabui while in office, on June 7.The potential resumption of controversial mining activities,...
. There were 14 candidates; Tanis was declared winner with a margin of 13,547 votes over second-runner Sam Akoitai
Sam Akoitai
Sam Akoitai, born 5 May 1961 in Bougainville, is a Papua New Guinean politician, a member of the United Resources Party.Akoitai joined the Bougainville Copper Limited company in 1978, and worked there for eight years...
. The election had a poor voter turnout which was reportedly contributed to by heavily armed road blocks, ongoing local disputes, and complaints by many Bougainvilleans that their names were not on election rolls. Tanis was sworn in on 6 January 2009.
Experts have said that the election of the 43-year-old Tanis "represents a generational change" in Bougainville's leadership.
The Bougainville independence movement began in the 1980s after Bougainville landowners closed the Panguna copper mine. In 1989, Bougainville Revolutionary Army
Bougainville Revolutionary Army
The Bougainville Revolutionary Army was formed in 1988 by Bougainvilleans seeking independence from Papua New Guinea .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...
(BRA) leaders proclaimed Bougainville independent from Papua New Guinea and established an interim government. A civil war consumed the island for the next decade as the BRA fought the Papua New Guinea military. Tanis is a former guerrilla and commander in the BRA. Tanis has been described as having been "once closely linked with the late separatist leader, Francis Ona
Francis Ona
Francis Ona was a Bougainville secessionist leader who led an uprising against the Government of Papua New Guinea, motivated at least initially by his concerns over the operation of the Panguna mine by Bougainville Copper, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group...
." He later became "a key player in forging the 2001 peace agreement" following the Bougainvillean civil war. However, Bougainville remains plagued by infighting and tensions from years of conflict.
Tanis was inaugurated as Bougainville's second elected President in a colorful swearing-in ceremony on 6 January 2009, as Bougainvilleans in traditional costumes travelled from all corners of the island to attend the ceremony in Arawa
Arawa, Papua New Guinea
Arawa is the disputed capital and largest settlement in Bougainville Province in Papua New Guinea. The land where Arawa is now situated was previously a large expatriate plantation....
, Central Bougainville. The ceremony lasted most of the day and included indigenous music and dance. Before the inauguration, Tanis undertook a trip through some twenty fast flowing rivers and creeks before arriving safely in Arawa for the ceremony.
Tanis will serve an interim term, completing Kabui's scheduled term before the presidential election of 2010. He has stated that his focus will be on promoting unity in the aftermath of the civil war. Because a new leader will be chosen in 2010, Tanis has said he is "not looking at achieving much" during his 20-month term in office, but will ensure peace prevails through reconciliation.
Tanis appointed Ezekiel Massat
Ezekiel Massat
Ezekiel Massat is a Bougainvillean lawyer and politician. Massat was appointed the Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville by President James Tanis on January 19, 2009. Bougainville is an autonomous region within Papua New Guinea....
as Vice President
Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville
The Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville is the second highest office in the province, which is an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea...
on 19 January 2009.