5 Apr 2005

Anoter call in PNG for Ona to join Bougainville peace process

3:31 pm on 5 April 2005

In Papua New Guinea, chiefs representing the Leitana Council of Elders in the Bougainville town of Buka have unanimously called on rebel leader, Francis Ona, to join the province's peace process.

The National newspaper reports that the chiefs, who were joined by Bougainville leaders including Governor John Momis and Bougainville Congress president, Joseph Kabui, called the meeting to rebuff Mr Ona's call for a halt to the election process and the departure of Australian police from the island.

Another of the leaders present at the meeting, former parliamentarian, Sam Tulo, called on Ona to stand in the election and give up his plans to establish what he called a monarchy on Bougainville.