Francis Ona
Encyclopedia
Francis Ona was a Bougainville
secession
ist 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 proclaimed himself "King of Meekamui" in May 2004.
at the mine but he was increasingly critical of its impact on the environment and what he claimed was the low level of royalties paid the landowners. From the mid-1980s, he and others challenged the leadership of the Panguna Landowners Association (PLA) claiming that they were not representing the interests of all of the traditional landowners.
By early 1988, Ona and his associates including his cousin Peputua Serero had formed the New PLA supported by both mineworkers and the traditional opponents of the Panguna mine Damien Dameng's Me'ekamui Pontuku Onoring. The New PLA made a number of claims including monetary compensation for the impacts of the mine, a 50 per cent share of mine revenue to the landholders and a transfer of ownership to Bougainville. The PNG Government set up an independent inquiry which, incredibly, dismissed the claims about the environmental impact but was critical of other parts of the mine's operation. In response, Ona established the Bougainville Revolutionary Army
(BRA) which conducted numerous acts of sabotage against the mine including the destruction of the mine's power supply leading to the mine's closure in May 1989. Ona rejected an initial compromise deal by Bougainville Copper and the Government.
Ona became the acknowledged leader of the BRA after the death of Serero in 1989 with Sam Kauona, a former soldier in the army leading military operations. The Papua New Guinea Government sent in the police and then the army under Jerry Singirok
to quell the uprising but they were unable to do so. The island was placed under a State of Emergency
under the control of the PNG Police Commissioner while there were increased complaints about human rights abuses by PNG forces which initially strengthened support for the BRA.
In January 1990, Bougainville Copper announced that they were placing the mine in mothballs. The PNG Government announced that they would withdraw troops and for international observers to verify the disarmament of the BRA. The police fled fearing for their lives in the absence of the army while there was an attempted coup in Port Moresby
over the deal.
In response to a blockade imposed by the PNG Government later in 1990, Ona declared himself to be the head of the Bougainville Interim Government declaring independence for the island. The island then descended into anarchy with several armed factions seeking power with the PNG Government supporting the militias. The BRA fell out with Joseph Kabui
, the Premier of Bougainville, who had previously been a supporter.
During Prime Minister Paias Wingti's
term, the PNG Government renewed military efforts with troops capturing Arawa
, the provincial capital in 1993 and recapturing the Panguna mine. Sir Julius Chan
, Wingti's successor tried to broker a deal but neither Ona and the BRA nor Kabui would sign a deal. Frustrated, Chan ordered a full-scale invasion in 1996 but neither Australia nor New Zealand would support it. Chan then hired Sandline International
mercenaries leading to the military threatening to arrest them on their arrival and the resignation of Chan to forestall a coup.
and Joseph Kabui with a multinational Peace Monitoring Group commencing operations on the island. Though Ona and the BRA controlled 90% of the island, the break with Kabui meant that they were not involved in the talks. Ona continued to see the New Zealand brokered peace talks as unwarranted outside interference with Bougainville governance, and did not participate.
In an interview with Australian film maker Wayne Coles Janess, who made an acclaimed documentary film about the Bougainville Crisis and whom the PNG government attempted to murder, Ona declared :
.... 90% of Bougainvillians are supporting me. And I want to summon Prime Minister of PNG and PNG government , if 90% is not supporting me, let them carry out a referendum and we'll see.
Ona was subsequently ignored in the creation of the Autonomous Bougainville Government
. At this time Ona agreed with Noah Musingku
to establish a funding source for Bougainville which would allow true sovereignty. This system became the U-Vistract
system, which sought to utilize the untapped natural resources of Bougainville to finance reconstruction. Ona remained isolated in the Panguna
region that BRA controlled for the next 16 years.
The Bougainville conflict is estimated to have cost between 10,000 and 15,000 lives mainly due to disease and starvation. A tribal reconciliation process started in 2000 and appears to have been successful. The PNG government promised in 2001 to hold a referendum on independence within the next ten to fifteen years. As of 2011 the referendum has not been held.
Ona was never captured and refused to participate in the process. His forces still controlled over half of the island.
. Both Joseph Kabui and Sam Kauona stated that Ona was being used by Musingku and his outsiders. Ona declared that Bougainville was already independent and capable of running its own affairs.
Perhaps as a result of Ona’s continued influence in Bougainville, only 3% of the eligible voters participated in the elections of the New Zealand-brokered Autonomous Government in May 2005, a number that in no way can be considered a mandate for the Autonomous government.
In 2005 the World Bank contacted Ona as King of Me’ekamui and offered financial assistance. The bank recognized his government’s existence and was standing by to provide financial assistance, in the event that it may need such help. This offer was refused.
Members of the Lihiri Mining Area Landowners Association in New Ireland, as well as other mining projects in Fiji and Solomon Islands contacted Ona for assistance in dealing with foreign mining concerns.
Ona died on 24 July 2005 of malaria
in his village. He was succeeded as King of Me’ekamui by Noah Musingku, reigning as King David Peii II.
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...
secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
ist leader who led an uprising against the Government of Papua New Guinea
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...
, motivated at least initially by his concerns over the operation of the Panguna mine by Bougainville Copper
Bougainville Copper
Bougainville Copper Ltd is an Australian copper, gold, and silver mining company that operates the Panguna open cut mine on the island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea . It was one of the world's largest open-pit mines. The Panguna mine dominated the economy of the island during the 1970s and...
, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group
Rio Tinto Group
The Rio Tinto Group is a diversified, British-Australian, multinational mining and resources group with headquarters in London and Melbourne. The company was founded in 1873, when a multinational consortium of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto river, in Huelva, Spain from the...
. He proclaimed himself "King of Meekamui" in May 2004.
Secessionist Leader
Ona was, in one stage of his life, employed by Bougainville CopperBougainville Copper
Bougainville Copper Ltd is an Australian copper, gold, and silver mining company that operates the Panguna open cut mine on the island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea . It was one of the world's largest open-pit mines. The Panguna mine dominated the economy of the island during the 1970s and...
at the mine but he was increasingly critical of its impact on the environment and what he claimed was the low level of royalties paid the landowners. From the mid-1980s, he and others challenged the leadership of the Panguna Landowners Association (PLA) claiming that they were not representing the interests of all of the traditional landowners.
By early 1988, Ona and his associates including his cousin Peputua Serero had formed the New PLA supported by both mineworkers and the traditional opponents of the Panguna mine Damien Dameng's Me'ekamui Pontuku Onoring. The New PLA made a number of claims including monetary compensation for the impacts of the mine, a 50 per cent share of mine revenue to the landholders and a transfer of ownership to Bougainville. The PNG Government set up an independent inquiry which, incredibly, dismissed the claims about the environmental impact but was critical of other parts of the mine's operation. In response, Ona established the 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) which conducted numerous acts of sabotage against the mine including the destruction of the mine's power supply leading to the mine's closure in May 1989. Ona rejected an initial compromise deal by Bougainville Copper and the Government.
Ona became the acknowledged leader of the BRA after the death of Serero in 1989 with Sam Kauona, a former soldier in the army leading military operations. The Papua New Guinea Government sent in the police and then the army under Jerry Singirok
Jerry Singirok
Jerry Singirok was the commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force throughout the Sandline affair of 1997.-Military career:Singirok was a career soldier who had risen through the ranks of the PNGDF, including a time as commander of the forces on Bougainville...
to quell the uprising but they were unable to do so. The island was placed under a State of Emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
under the control of the PNG Police Commissioner while there were increased complaints about human rights abuses by PNG forces which initially strengthened support for the BRA.
In January 1990, Bougainville Copper announced that they were placing the mine in mothballs. The PNG Government announced that they would withdraw troops and for international observers to verify the disarmament of the BRA. The police fled fearing for their lives in the absence of the army while there was an attempted coup in Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
over the deal.
In response to a blockade imposed by the PNG Government later in 1990, Ona declared himself to be the head of the Bougainville Interim Government declaring independence for the island. The island then descended into anarchy with several armed factions seeking power with the PNG Government supporting the militias. The BRA fell out with 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....
, the Premier of Bougainville, who had previously been a supporter.
During Prime Minister Paias Wingti's
Paias Wingti
Paias Wingti is a Papua New Guinean political figure. He served as the third Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea between 1985 and 1988, and again from 1992 to 1994.Wingti is a member of the Jika Tribe of the Western Highlands province...
term, the PNG Government renewed military efforts with troops capturing 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....
, the provincial capital in 1993 and recapturing the Panguna mine. Sir Julius Chan
Julius Chan
Sir Julius Chan GCL GCMG KBE was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1980 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1997. He is currently Member of Parliament for New Ireland Province, having won the seat in the 2007 national election...
, Wingti's successor tried to broker a deal but neither Ona and the BRA nor Kabui would sign a deal. Frustrated, Chan ordered a full-scale invasion in 1996 but neither Australia nor New Zealand would support it. Chan then hired Sandline International
Sandline International
Sandline International was a private military company based in London, established in the early 1990s. It was involved in conflicts in Papua New Guinea in 1997 causing the Sandline affair, in 1998 in Sierra Leone and in Liberia in 2003 Sandline International was a private military company based...
mercenaries leading to the military threatening to arrest them on their arrival and the resignation of Chan to forestall a coup.
Bougainville ceasefire
A ceasefire was arranged later in 1997 between new Prime Minister Bill SkateBill 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...
and Joseph Kabui with a multinational Peace Monitoring Group commencing operations on the island. Though Ona and the BRA controlled 90% of the island, the break with Kabui meant that they were not involved in the talks. Ona continued to see the New Zealand brokered peace talks as unwarranted outside interference with Bougainville governance, and did not participate.
In an interview with Australian film maker Wayne Coles Janess, who made an acclaimed documentary film about the Bougainville Crisis and whom the PNG government attempted to murder, Ona declared :
- We have already had other forms of autonomy. The provincial government system in 1975 we were promised. Bougainvillians were promised that after 5 years or after a few years, the provincial government will be replaced by the independent nation of Bougainville. So with this in mind, with this past history , we don't trust Papua New Guinea any more....
.... 90% of Bougainvillians are supporting me. And I want to summon Prime Minister of PNG and PNG government , if 90% is not supporting me, let them carry out a referendum and we'll see.
Ona was subsequently ignored in the creation of the Autonomous Bougainville Government
Autonomous Bougainville Government
The Autonomous Bougainville Government is the government of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.The government was established in 2000 following a peace agreement between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army a guerrilla movement.The...
. At this time Ona agreed with Noah Musingku
Noah Musingku
Noah Musingku, reigning as King David Peii II, is the king of the Twin Kingdoms of Papaala and Me’ekamui on Bougainville Island in the North Solomon Islands...
to establish a funding source for Bougainville which would allow true sovereignty. This system became the U-Vistract
U-Vistract
U-Vistract is an investment plan created by Noah Musingku in Papua New Guinea around 1999 as a means of providing a sovereign wealth source for an independent Bougainville...
system, which sought to utilize the untapped natural resources of Bougainville to finance reconstruction. Ona remained isolated in the Panguna
Panguna
Panguna is a town and a copper mine on Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. By the end of its operations on May 15, 1989 it was the largest open-cut mine in the world; it was also a major catalyst in the unrest in Bougainville in the 1970s and 1980s.- See also :* History of Bougainville*...
region that BRA controlled for the next 16 years.
The Bougainville conflict is estimated to have cost between 10,000 and 15,000 lives mainly due to disease and starvation. A tribal reconciliation process started in 2000 and appears to have been successful. The PNG government promised in 2001 to hold a referendum on independence within the next ten to fifteen years. As of 2011 the referendum has not been held.
Ona was never captured and refused to participate in the process. His forces still controlled over half of the island.
Kingship
On 17 May 2004, Ona declared himself as "King of Bougainville" or Mekamui. He was crowned King Francis Dominic Dateransy Domanaa, head of state of the Royal Kingdom of Me’ekamui. Me’ekamui, meaning “holy” or “Holy Land”, is an old tribal name for Bougainville. Elections for the Autonomous government in 2005, which he opposed, brought Ona out of his safe haven into the public eye for the first time in 16 years. He also sanctioned the establishment of a Central Bank run by Noah MusingkuNoah Musingku
Noah Musingku, reigning as King David Peii II, is the king of the Twin Kingdoms of Papaala and Me’ekamui on Bougainville Island in the North Solomon Islands...
. Both Joseph Kabui and Sam Kauona stated that Ona was being used by Musingku and his outsiders. Ona declared that Bougainville was already independent and capable of running its own affairs.
Perhaps as a result of Ona’s continued influence in Bougainville, only 3% of the eligible voters participated in the elections of the New Zealand-brokered Autonomous Government in May 2005, a number that in no way can be considered a mandate for the Autonomous government.
- His Royal Highness, told the people that the fact that only 3% of the eligible voters on Bougainville voted in the May Autonomous Government elections means that the remaining 97% support his government, and as such, it is the only government they can turn to, to advance their push for development regardless of various differences.
In 2005 the World Bank contacted Ona as King of Me’ekamui and offered financial assistance. The bank recognized his government’s existence and was standing by to provide financial assistance, in the event that it may need such help. This offer was refused.
Members of the Lihiri Mining Area Landowners Association in New Ireland, as well as other mining projects in Fiji and Solomon Islands contacted Ona for assistance in dealing with foreign mining concerns.
Ona died on 24 July 2005 of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
in his village. He was succeeded as King of Me’ekamui by Noah Musingku, reigning as King David Peii II.
See also
- History of Bougainville
- Joseph KabuiJoseph KabuiJoseph 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....
- Pepetua Serero
- Sam Kauona
- Noah MusingkuNoah MusingkuNoah Musingku, reigning as King David Peii II, is the king of the Twin Kingdoms of Papaala and Me’ekamui on Bougainville Island in the North Solomon Islands...
Further reading
- Robert Young Pelton, Hunter Hammer and Heaven, Journeys to Three Worlds Gone Mad. ISBN 1-58574-416-6
- Roderic Alley, "Ethnosecession in Papua New Guinea: The Bougainville Case," in Rajat Ganguly and Ian MacDuff, ed.s, Ethnic Conflict and Secessionism in South Asia and Southeast Asia: Causes, Dynamics, Solutions. 2003. New Delhi, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN 81-7829-202-5, ISBN 0-7619-9604-4.
- Karen Ballentine and Jake Sherman, ed.s, 2003. The Political Economy of Armed Conflict: Beyond Greed & Grievance. Lynne Rienner PublishersLynne Rienner PublishersLynne Rienner Publishers is an independent scholarly and textbook publishing firm. It was founded in 1984 and publishes in the fields of international studies and comparative world politics. It also publishes books about US politics, sociology and criminology. It also translates foreign books to...
. ISBN 1-58826-172-7.
- Brij V Lal and Kate Fortune, ed.s, 1999. The Pacific Islands: an Encyclopedia. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-2265-X. (contains a timeline of the Bougainville secession movement)
- Malama Meleisea. 2004. Cambridge History of the Pacific Islands. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-00354-7.
- ABC Foreign Correspondent- World in Focus - Lead Story (1997) Exclusive interview with Francis Ona. Interviewed by Wayne Coles-JanessWayne Coles-JanessWayne Coles-Janess is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning producer, writer and director of drama and documentary programs. Producing films that define humanity in international situations and engage audiences across cultures and nations.-Life:...
. - http://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/273/ short video clip, an excerpt from the two-part documentary Paradise Imperfect made in 2000.