Reconciliation: my side of the island
James Tanis (2002)
James Tanis, a former combatant of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), provides a personal insight into reconciliation processes in Bougainville. He describes the traditional community-orientated reconciliation processes that have been used following the conflict, complemented by newer Christian practices. While the rituals have remained the same, the modern conflict requires more complex mechanisms to sustain the peace. He describes the reconciliation process launched by the BRA and the personal reconciliations that took place between the leaders of the different Bougainville groups and communities. This was crucial for the establishment of a joint negotiating team and position vis-à-vis the government and therefore for the final peace agreement.
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