Two UH-1H Iriquois helicopters fly past the Bougainville PMG Headquarters and Logistic Support Force buildings in Loloho to mark 1000 days in theatre for the PMG. Photo by CAPT Rachel Leal

The multi-national, tri-Service and civilian Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) celebrated its 1000 days in Bougainville on 9 January 2001.

To commemorate the day, the PMG's helicopter squadron organised a fly-past of the headquarters in Loloho.

Deployed originally to Bougainville as the Truce Monitoring Group in November 1997, members of the Navy, Army, Air Force and civilians from the Department of Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade and AusAid work alongside military members from New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu.

The Truce Monitoring Group was replaced by the PMG after the signing of the Lincoln Cease-fire Agreement in New Zealand in April 1998.

There are currently 218 members of the PMG, who are located in team sites around Bougainville and in the PMG Headquarters and Logistic Support Team in Arawa and Loloho.

The PMG has a mandate to monitor and report on the compliance of the parties with the Lincoln Cease-fire Agreement, and facilitate its implementation, in order to promote an environment in which the signatories to the Lincoln Agreement can successfully achieve the terms of the agreement.

This mandate has not changed in 2001.

The cease-fire has now been in place since 1997, representing four successful years of peace on Bougainville.

Towards the end of 2000, Bougainville leaders met in Port Moresby with the Prime Minister of PNG and other Government delegates. Further talks about the future of Bougainville, are to be held later this month.

The lives of the people of Bougainville are returning to a level of normality and the development of the province is proceeding with the support of Australia and a number of other aid donors and non-Government organisations.

The PMG has gone a long way towards achieving its mandate and is presently reducing in size and preparing the local community for its eventual withdrawal.

The hard-won peace on Bougainville is a testament to the work that has been done by the dedicated members of the Peace Monitoring Group over the last three years. The people of Bougainville will long remember the distinctive yellow t-shirts and hats of the PMG.

By CAPT Lorraine Mulholland