Bougainville's Baubake Constituency Weapons free, and Referendum ready

The most violent region in Bougainville, the Buin district which has four constituencies, BAUBAKE, LULE, KONNOU and MAKIS had its first constituency BAUBAKE constituency declared as weapons free and Referendum ready at a ceremony held at the Unity Lodge in Buin town on Monday 31st December 2018.
The ceremony coincided with the containment of various types of weapons which included Motar tubes for launching 9mm motar, Altimax 100 round Assault Rifles,M60 Machine Guns, SLR and M16s.
Signifying the day was the Makis faction of the BRA who also joined the Baubake ex combatants and handed in three rifles to be locked into containers whilst another aligned rebel faction from the coastal Konnou area will soon dispose their weapons.
The weapons from these two aligned factions were used as deterrence against opposing factions in the area before the start of the current peace mediations.
Former BRA Commander and now ABG member representing the Ex-combatants from South Bougainville, THOMAS TARI thanked the former combatants for finally deciding the fate of their weapons, which most of it were captured during clashes with the Papua New Guinea Security Forces during the Bougainville conflict.
MR. TARI said Peace was crucial for the future prosperity of the children of South Bougainville and Bougainville as a whole.
He said that we have ended the bloody war and its time for peace so that our children can go to school in peace and enjoy the prosperity of our region.
The former commander said that we need to forget the past and turn into the future.
MR. TARI said that complying with the terms and conditions of the Bougainville Peace Agreement on weapons disposal was crucial for the future political status of Bougainville.
Ends all pictures by Joe Morokana/ New Dawn FM News