UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL 6 July 2005
Bougainville
Statement by H.E. Mr John Dauth LVO Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
(Check against delivery)
Dear Mr President
Australia wants to commend the role the UN has played in the Bougainville peace process and to applaud all parties �€“ the Papua New Guinea government, Bougainvilleans themselves and the UN -for bringing an international peace building operation to a successful end. It is not a usual occurrence in the Council and we should take note of success when we see it.
The Bougainville conflict was one of the South Pacific�€™s longest running and bloodiest conflicts. Between 1989 and 1998 an estimated 10,000 to 18,000 people may have died as a result of the conflict. Of a population of around 200,000 people, up to 70,000 were displaced from their homes into care centres and camps. These are truly shocking statistics and frankly the situation in Bougainville has received too little international attention, not here in the Security Council, but more broadly, which is altogether too typical of issues that arise in our part of the world.
The establishment of the Autonomous Bougainville Government last month, following successful elections, was a momentous event in the process of establishing and consolidating peace on Bougainville.
UNOMB, the United Nations Observer Mission in Bougainville was of course small but it made a strong, indeed vital, contribution to the peace process and it would be wrong not to acknowledge the members of UNOMB involved in operations on the ground.
Australia particularly appreciated the Security Council�€™s past agreements to extend the time of UNOMB's presence on Bougainville. Ending that presence too soon would have risked a recurrence of the problems there and, in that respect, I particularly congratulate the Council for taking a cautious, prudent and conservative approach to the end of the peace building operation. The Security Council has done very well but let me just say that I think this is a reminder of the potential utility of a peace building Commission in the organisation.
Australia congratulates the Government of Papua New Guinea, Bougainvillean leaders and the people of Bougainville for their hard work and the progress they have made. Particularly I would want to recognise the contribution of the women of Bougainville who have had a wonderfully normative impact on their male leaders. The commitment of all to the peace process is a shining example to the world.
Australia has been a consistent and proud supporter of the Bougainville peace process and is pleased to have worked alongside the UN and regional partners �€“ including New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu through the Truce Monitoring Group, the Peace Monitoring Group and the Bougainville Transition Team.
Australia remains strongly committed to efforts to ensure lasting peace and development on Bougainville and we look forward to continuing to work with the United Nations through its agencies and programs, including the UNDP and UNICEF.
And lastly, Mr President, let me say that I particularly congratulate my friend and colleague, the Ambassador of Papua New Guinea, Mr Robert Aisi, for his consistent and strong focus on the issue during his tenure here. It has been a delight to work with him.
Thank you.