Bougainville     -     1989 to 2003

The 1989-1998 rebellion on Bougainville, which led to a declaration of “independence” by guerrilla leader Francis Ona in 1993, caused between 5000 and 20,000 deaths through war with the mainland (PNG) army and police, internal civil war, starvation, disease and childbirth fatalities.

 

Operation Bel-ISI is the Pacific Nations Truce and Peace Monitoring between the Bougainvillean Guerrillas (BRA) and the PNG Defence Force in the disputed territory of Bougainville. The force comprises of Fiji, Vanuatu (“Ni Vans”), Tongan, NZ, Australian and Solomon Islander Defence Forces.

 

April 30 1998, marked the transition from the New Zealand led Truce Monitoring Group (TMG), OP BEL ISI (I), to the Australian led Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) and the beginning of OP BEL ISI (II). The transition occurred following the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in the Arawa Township earlier that day. The PMG currently consists of about 100 people from Australia, NZ, Fiji and Vanuatu.

 

The operation consisted of approx 70 ADF logistical staff, including the HQ Peace Monitoring Group. Australian Defence Civilians have also deployed in the capacity of Observers. Electoral Commission personnel also deployed.

 

The PMG successfully brokered an agreement between the PNG and Bougainville in which Bougainvilleans control their public service, courts, police, correctional institutions, taxation and foreign aid initiatives.

 

Strength: 250 Logistics, communications, HQ Staff and Monitors. Total Strength estimated to be 2,400 personnel. The Australian Contingent for OP BEL ISI II was restricted to 70 ADF personnel.

 

 

The Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) operated on Bougainville from 1998 to 2003. The PMG comprised a mix of military and civilian personnel from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu. They played an important role in facilitating the peace process between Papua New Guinea and Bougainville, by monitoring the ceasefire, increasing awareness of the peace process and providing a neutral presence to assist the discussion of important issues regarding the future of Bougainville.

 

The PMG was deployed in on 1 May 1998, taking over from the New Zealand-led Truce Monitoring Group (TMG) that had been in place since December 1997. The PMG withdrew in August 2003. In total over 5,000 unarmed personnel, including over 3,500 Australian Defence Force personnel and over 300 Australian civilians, deployed with the PMG. Assessing the peace process to be sufficiently robust to warrant the withdrawal of its military contingent, Australia announced in February 2003 that its PMG contingent would cease operations on 30 June 2003, and withdraw shortly afterwards.

 

This decision was supported by a similar announcement from New Zealand. On 30 June the PMG held a ceremony to mark the cessation of operations and hand over to the Bougainville Transition Team. The final contingent of the PMG withdrew in HMAS Tobruk on 23 August 2003.

 

Casualties

Died: (1) Lance Corporal Shawn Lewis, 145 Signals Squadron (RAEME), Drowning.