By Aloysius Laukai
The member for Peit
Constituency in the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Lawrence Bele, says all
ex combatants must be rehabilitated and reconciled if Bougainville
Mr Bele made the
remarks at a ceremony to announce that 41 ex-combatants from the Peits
constituency will attend a trauma counselling workshop at the Nazareth
Rehabilitation Centre at Chabai.
He said he has
been trying to find ways to rehabilitate ex combatants to fit into the
community as good citizens after the ten year conflict.
He said another
batch of ex- combatants will attend a similar course towards the end of August.
Mr Bele said after
these courses, further training will be held in the constituency to include
mothers and the rest of the community.
The one week
training is funded by the United Nations Development Program.
The ceremony was
witnessed by the Minister for Reconciliation and Weapons Disposal, Robert Hamal,
Acting Chief Administrator, Patrick Koles, and representatives of UNDP and AusAID.
Representatives of
AusAID program on Bougainville, Edwina and Roslyn Kenneth told the ceremony that
AusAID will continue to support the work of building peace in the province.
They congratulated
the member for Peit, Lawrence Belleh, Sister Lorraine from the Nazareth
Rehabilitation Centre and UNDP for developing counselling training for the Peit
ex-Combatants.
They also thanked
the ex-combatants for agreeing to attend the one-week program.
They said that in
any post conflict situation, prior to carrying out development projects,
rehabilitation, healing and counselling must be undertaken first.
They said that
they were confident that the counselling organised by Sister Lorraine will help
re-integrate the former combatants into their communities.
UNDP supports
three programs in its efforts after the Bougainville
At the same
ceremony, the UNDP Program Officer on Bougainville, Wesly Kenneth, also
announced UNDP support for three programs to assist the ABG to establish
lasting peace and normalcy: Good Governance, Peace & Reconciliation, and Economic
Revival.
Mr Kenneth said UNDP
sees trauma as one of the impediments that, if not addressed, will prolong the
peace process.
He said UNDP has completed
some trauma workshops in Arawa and is piloting a program geared towards ex-combatants
throughout the entire region.
He said trauma
cases were similar throughout Central, South and North Bougainville and must be tackled head on.
This is a more effective way to spend public/government money. Hopefully this is given the priority that it must have by the Authorities - ABG!. Well Done.
Posted by: John Kopana | 30 July 2009 at 12:38 PM