June 19, 2018
Arawa town came alive last week as the people of the former provincial capital joined the rest of Bougainville to commemorate the Autonomous Region of Bougainville day.
This is the first time the day has been officially commemorated in Arawa and drew a huge turn out from the locals as well.
It also included the involvement of students from schools within the town who participated in a float before taking part in traditional performances, a referendum song and dance competitions. Live performances from the evergreen Aunge Punks band, veterans of the music scene in the Kieta district also kept the crowd entertained with the added flavour of the famous Bougainville tunes belted out by various bands who took the stage. The celebrations officially begun with a flag raising ceremony witnessed by MP for Central Bougainville, Sam Akoitai, North Nasioi community government chairman, Rodney Niangko and representatives of the major sponsors of the event, the Panguna Special Mining Lease Osikaiyang Landowners Association, RTG Inc and the Autonomous Bougainville Government. Mr Niangko said this is the day they remember, the birth of their autonomous government.
He said it also gives them an opportunity to reflect on the struggles and hardships they faced in the bush during the blockade and the Bougainville crisis.
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