310511 ABG caution journalists
By MARIA LAUKAI

ABG yesterday cautioned journalists to refrain from making biased reports on matters of Bougainville interest.

Referring to editorial comments published by Post Courier on May 27 that ‘ABG was walking a tight rope’ and is ‘caught in a corner when dealing with its former combatants’, ABG vice president Patrick Nisira said the comments were ‘extremely biased and unprofessional.’

Nisira in a statement said ABG does not need the irresponsible and biased reports of the media.

He added that the media has failed time and time again to seek the views of the ABG President or the Prime Minister of PNG on potentially sticky matters affecting the peace process in Bougainville.

He said the Peace Agreement that binds Bougainville together with PNG in the process of deciding Bougainville’s political future and ultimate peace for its people, is a joint creation by both governments.

Nisira added that journalists reporting on Bougainville matters ought to be familiar with this agreement and the laws that give legal effect to the agreement and the situation on the ground before they put pen to paper to express their personal commentaries on important matters that affect this arrangement.

He cautioned that negative reporting had often caused more damage than good in ABG’s effort to unify the Region.

Nisira pleaded that journalists must consult the ABG instead of taking advantage of their media to express their own personal views as anything that affects the Bougainville Region affects PNG.