Francis Ona who created the BRA and started the 10 year Bougainville Crisis was holed up in the mountains of Panguna, he was the self proclaimed King of the Meekamui and even though there was in place a peace treaty for the past 12 years, there were still roadblocks in and near to the No Go Zone. Even after Ona passed away in his mountain hideaway, the Meekamui continued their campaign. I wanted to go to Arawa and then onto Kieta, down in the land of the Meekamui.
After discussing security concerns with the powers that be, I decided that I needed a decent guide to get me into the deep south of the main island of Bougainville. So I was at work one day chatting with a workmate who once worked as a mechanic at the great Panguna Mine, and once lived in Arawa before the conflict started. A man wandered up to us and we got talking. He was from Bougainville and happened to be the Marist Priest for the region of Arawa and Kieta. I asked him when he would return and he said "the same week you plan on visiting". I had found my guide.
So here's a portrait of my guide. The man who was going to keep me safe and get me to where I needed to be. And a man of the church meant that God was going to be our co-pilot, there were times coming up that I am glad he was.
Here we are, about to climb into a 4WD for a 4 hour drive south from Buka down into the land of the Meekamui.
@michelleyoung - I'm saving my best for later. I reckon you need a nice bottle of wine, some cheese and a comfy chair for Saturday's, Sunday's and Monday's installments... just sayin'
@lyno - I think I will have a crack at it Lyn, this project is the proof reading.
He looks lost in deep and concerned thought and fits well with the narrative. If I was going to have a body guard, who was also a Priest, I would hope that he would be as imposing as this man appears to be.
@calliopef @filsie65 @tthompsonca - He was a good bloke. Very handy to have around!
@sangwann @alia_801 @carolinedreams - Thanks Dione, Alia and Caroline!
@dalboy - the next few days will tell....
@houdiniem - he was talking to this lady who was a bit crazy.
@lyno - I think I will have a crack at it Lyn, this project is the proof reading.