Members of the PMG raising funds for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, at Loloho. Photo provided by PMG

A mission achieved without weapons

By Flt-Lt Natalie Sands
SOUTH Pacific nations have demonstrated their active commitment to bringing peace to Bougainville on many occasions.

These efforts have included the South Pacific Peace Keeping Force in 1994 (Operation Lagoon) and the New Zealand-led Truce Monitoring Group (TMG) in 1997.

The Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) is a direct successor to the TMG. This group came to Bougainville unarmed as a result of the Burnham Truce and aimed to act as a neutral party that would help to increase confidence by monitoring and reporting on the truce.

When the Lincoln Agreement was signed, the PMG came into existence on April 30, 1998. This agreement asked interested nations to contribute a neutral monitoring group in Bougainville that would monitor the peace and use their officers to facilitate communication between the parties.

At its height, the PMG numbered more than 300 people. This included a detachment of four Iroquois helicopters from 171 Operational Support Squadron (OSS), a Combined Health Element (CHE), which was capable of everything from extracting a tooth to performing life saving surgery and five permanent team sites – Buka, Buin, Tonu, Arawa, Wakunai, the Headquarters and Logistic Support Team at Loloho and Arawa, and a forward operating base at Sirakatau.

These community team sites, along with the civil affairs capabilities offered by engineers and the medical team, gave the PMG a high profile, helping the PMG gain acceptance among the people of Bougainville.

In late 2000, the PMG’s strength was reduced to 195 personnel. The numbers of monitors at team sites were reduced, the level of logistical support was scaled back and some functions were outsourced.

In August 2001, the PMG began transitioning from 195 to 75 – numerically and operationally the most significant change since its deployment. The teamsites at Wakunai, Buin and Tonu all ceased to be manned permanently, rather maintained as bare bases.

The CHE was reduced from a level three surgical capability to a level one facility, and a civilian firm, Hevilift, replaced 171 OSS. Currently the break down of military personnel is 35 ADF, 15 NZDF, five Fijians, six Ni Vanuatuans and 14 Australian civilians. An additional 10 personnel (five ADF and five NZDF) have been approved for weapons disposal tasks. Also, there is usually a RAN Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) in support of the operation.

The PMG has also kicked a few goals along the way, including successfully facilitating the Townsville Peace Talks in February 2001, the Bougainville Peace Agreement signing ceremony in Arawa in August 2001, along with the current involvement in implementing the weapons disposal program.

Op Bel Isi’s mission has been a groundbreaker. The broad mix of skills that people from different backgrounds bring to the PMG, the trust and respect that it has earned from the Bougainville people and the PMG’s adherence to its mandate of neutrality, have all helped the Bougainvillian people in bringing about the peace they are seeking.

.