PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Author says suffering in Bougainville war yet to be documented

A campaigner for people on the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville says the extent of suffering during the civil war is still not properly documented

Pacific Media Watch
Monday, March 22, 2004

MELBOURNE (RNZI Online/Pacific Media Watch): A campaigner for people on the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville says the extent of suffering during the civil war is still not properly documented.

Marilyn Havini, who has compiled two books on human rights abuses during the decade-long conflict, says people say they can never be compensated for their losses.

She is releasing a new book, which she has co-edited with Josephine Sirivi, on the women of Bougainville, titled "As Mothers of the Land".

Havini believes there is a long way to go before people can resolve the issues which have come out of the war.

"They still have no freedom to speak of the abuses they have suffered because the peace process is still not resolved politically. There is still no freedom in terms of really exploring how many have died, how many have suffered and to what extent. Itıs still too delicate an issue so that is a big chasm thatıs still got to be faced." - Marilyn Havini.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is an independent, non-profit, non-government organisation comprising journalists, lawyers, editors and other media workers, dedicated to examining issues of ethics, accountability, censorship, media freedom and media ownership in the Pacific region. Launched in October 1996, it has links with the Journalism Program at the University of the South Pacific, Bushfire Media, the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism, and Pactok Communications, in Sydney and Port Moresby. (c)1996-2001 Copyright - All rights reserved.

Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original producers as indicated. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views of PMW or its members. 

Recipients should rely on their own inquiries before making decisions based on material listed in PMW. Please copy appeals to PMW and acknowledge source.

For further information, inquiries about joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve, articles for publication, and giving feedback contact Pacific Media Watch at: E-mail: delaro@clear.net.nz

Date Posted: 3/22/2004