The Arawa Agreement
(30 April 1998)
AGREEMENT COVERING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CEASEFIRE
The Government of Papua New Guinea, the Bougainville Transitional Government, the Bougainville Resistance Force, the Bougainville Interim Government, the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and Bougainville leaders ('the parties'):
i) recognizing that the situation on Bougainville has substantially improved following the signing of the Burnham Truce.
ii) realizing that this was brought about by the cooperation between all parties, the people of Bougainville and the Truce Monitoring Group in observing the terms of the truce.
iii) Desiring that this same spirit of cooperation be maintained and continued and,
iv) realizing that the Lincoln Agreement on Peace, Security and Development on Bougainville is the basis for the Agenda for ongoing consultation and negotiation between the parties, which Agreement needs to be implemented.
Hereby agree to the following arrangements:
PART I – CEASEFIRE
1. Permanent and Irrevocable Ceasefire
A permanent and irrevocable ceasefire will come into effect on Bougainville at 2400 hours on 30 April 1998.
2. Terms of Ceasefire
2.1 and the use of arms, ammunition, explosives and other instruments of death, injury or destruction on Bougainville.
2.2 No one will manufacture, trade or distribute weapons in Bougainville.
2.3 The parties will cooperate in reporting and preventing use, manufacture, importation, sale, trade and exchange of weapons and ammunition.
2.4 People will be allowed to move freely without hindrance in Bougainville.
PART II- NEUTRAL REGIONAL PEACE MONITORING GROUP AND UN OBSERVER MISSION
3. Invitation of Neutral Regional Peace Monitoring Group
3.1 The Papua New Guinea Government, in consultation with the parties, will negotiate an agreement based on the Agreement Concerning the Regional Truce Monitoring Group to establish a neutral regional Peace Monitoring Group.
3.2 The parties agree that Papua New Guinea will invite Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Vanuatu and other countries in the region to participate in the neutral regional Peace Monitoring Group.
4. Mandate of Peace Monitoring Group
The parties agree that the Peace Monitoring Group will carry out the following mandate:
i) monitor and report on compliance with all aspects of the ceasefire;
ii) promote and instill confidence in the peace process through its presence, good offices and interaction with people in Bougainville;
iii) provide such assistance in implementation of the Lincoln Agreement as the parties to the Lincoln Agreement and the states contributing to the Peace Monitoring Group may agree and available resources allow;
iv) cooperate by agreement in ways that assist in democratic resolution of the situation.
5. Invitation of UN Observer Mission
5.1 The parties agree that the Papua New Guinea Government will request:
i) the United Nations Security Council to endorse the neutral regional Peace Monitoring Group; and
ii) the United Nations Secretary-General to send an observer mission to Bougainville.
5.2 The Parties recognize that the United Nations observer mission will work in conjunction with the Peace Monitoring Group while maintaining the right to make its own observations and assessments.
5.3 The mandate of the United Nations observer mission will be to monitor and report on implementation of these arrangements and may be requested to assist in other areas as agreed by the parties.
PART III - MECHANISM FOR CONSULTATION
6. Peace Process Consultative Committee
6.1 The parties agree to establish a Peace Process Consultative Committee which will replace the Peace Consultative Committee.
6.2 The PNG National Government will seek funding for the establishment of a Secretariat for the Peace Process Consultative Committee.
7. Membership of Peace Process Consultative Committee
7.1 The Peace Process Consultative Committee will comprise members from all the parties.
7.2 The United Nations observer mission and the states contributing to the Peace Monitoring Group will be invited to sit at meetings of the Peace Process Consultative Committee.
8. Chairman of Peace Process Consultative Committee
The parties agree that the Chairman of the Peace Process Consultative Committee will be the leader of the United Nations observer mission or otherwise as may be agreed by the parties.
9. Function of the Peace Process Consultative Committee
The parties agree that the functions of the Peace Process Consultative Committee shall be the following:
i) consult with all the parties on aspects of the ceasefire;
ii) assist the PMG to monitor the ceasefire and resolve problems resulting from breaches of the terms of the ceasefire;
iii) promote the process by screening and clearing issues arising from the Lincoln Agreement;
iv) develop detailed plans for the disposal of weapons;
v) develop detailed plans for phased withdrawal of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Mobile Riot Squad;
vi) promote public awareness and understanding of the peace process;
vii) work with similar bodies at District and local levels to achieve the same objectives in their respective areas; and
viii) staffing of the secretariat.
10. Consultation with the Peace Process Consultative Committee
recognizing the special situation in Bougainville, the Police Commissioner shall consult with the PPCC prior to any order to re-deploy the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Mobile Riot Squad on Bougainville.
PART IV - CALL OUT ORDER AND NEUTRAL ZONE
11. Call Out Order and Neutral Zone
11.1 The Special State Negotiator will raise with the Government of Papua New Guinea, within seven days of the signing of Annex 1 to the Lincoln Agreement, the following:
i) recognition by all parties of the township of Arawa as a demilitarized neutral zone; and
ii) rescinding of the call-out order to consolidate the ceasefire.
11.2 The first meeting of the PPCC shall take place within seven days of the implementation of i) and ii) above.
Ceasefire Annex 1
This agreement is Annex 1 to the Lincoln Agreement on Peace, Security and Development on Bougainville.
Dated at Arawa this 30th April 1998
SIGNED BY:
Sir John KAPUTIN, KBE, CMG, GC (Togo), MP
Special State Negotiator
PNG Government
Hon. Gerard SINATO
Premier
Bougainville Transitional Government
Mr. Hilary MASIRIA
Chairman
Bougainville Resistance Force
Hon. John MOMIS, MP
Member for Bougainville Regional
PNG Government
Hon. Sam AKOITAI, MP
Minister of Bougainville Affairs
PNG Government
Mr. Joseph KABUI
Vice President
Bougainville Interim Government
General Sam KAUONA
Commander
Bougainville Revolutionary Army
Hon. Michael LAIMO, MP
Member for South Bougainville
PNG Government
Hon. Michael OGIO, MP
Member for North Bougainville
PNG Government
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