The Governor of the Papua New Guinea island province of Bougainville is calling the island's leaders together today to look at ways to counter rebel leader Francis Ona.
Mr Ona yesterday staged his second rally in a week, calling in Buka for the PNG Government and Australian police to leave the province and dismissing the forthcoming elections, saying Bougainville is already independent.
The rallies mark the first occasions that the reclusive Mr Ona has appeared outside the so called No Go Zone in central Bougainville in 16 years.
The provincial governor, John Momis, says Mr Ona has made it clear he does not want the election of an autonomous government in May to go ahead.
He says they have to come up with measures to stop him and they do have some options.
"'It is obvious that the police are complaining that they are not armed so I guess if necessary we have to arm them. If necessary we have to moblize the other ex-combatants who are pro-election, so we have options open to us, but we just can't sit back annd take things for granted because he is determined to disrupt elections and we must be ready to counteract any thing he might do."
Governor, John Momis
Some observers had expressed hope Mr Ona's re-emergence meant he would take part in the elections.
But Nick Penia, an executive member of the People's Congress, says there appears no chance of this.
Because he has come out openly, very strongly, against the establishment of an autonomous Government, so we don't believe he would ever want to establish a political party to contest the elections. He is totally against the establishment of any government except his Mekamui Government to rule on the island.
