Speaker 1:

These BRA rebels are risking their lives running a border between the Solomon Islands and Bougainville. Taking wounded out and innocents in has cost many lives. If their boat is spotted by a BAG patrol, they'll shoot, and they'll shoot to kill.

The last time I was on Bougainville, there were a few homemade shotguns, some captured weapons and little ammunition. Today, things have changed.

I'm travelling with members of the Southern command of the BRA, heading to a rebel controlled area inland. The PNG blockade has never been tighter. The military have good reasons for ensuring this nine year old war is hidden from the world.

Over the past few months, rumours of civilian massacres at the hands of the Papua New Guinea army have filtered out from the island. Peace on Bougainville, seems further away than ever.

This woman was shot during an attack by the PNG military, 23 people in her village were killed, including one of her sons and two of her grandchildren. Her other son, Jaqcim survived.

Speaker 2:

[foreign language 00:02:52]

Speaker 1:

Jaqcim now lives at the entrance to take care of his mother, his three children each injured by a grenade blast in the same attack.

Speaker 2:

[foreign language 00:03:14]

Speaker 1:

People are now looking to the BRA for shelter and protection as the PNG Army attacks on civilians increase. They're establishing bush shelters and gardens in the areas controlled by the PNG and legally have the government [inaudible 00:03:55] to search for a fair sentence.

Speaker 3:

[foreign language 00:04:18]

Francis Ona:

[foreign language 00:04:56]

Speaker 1:

This is the man the PNG government has paid the foreign ministries to track down and kill. Francis Ona the leader of the Secessionist is pivotal to any real resolution to the war in Bougainville.

Francis Ona:

I have already received intelligence reports that proves the government Papua New Guinea government is planning for a big war on Bougainville.

Speaker 1:

Late last year, the PNG Army fired mortars on a church in Southern Bougainville. The first missed, the second was a direct hit. Nine people were killed and six were injured.

Speaker 5:

When I came, I didn't recognise the body, which was lying around here. It was all squashed up, like a pig being cut and filed up in one file. When I came, I asked the people ... who the mortar had killed. The one, the body which was lying there, he was a cousin to me. He was killed with his daughter. She was about four years old.

Speaker 6:

[foreign language 00:06:28]

Speaker 1:

When I was filming here two years ago, I experienced the actions of the PNG Army first hand.

Speaker 7:

[foreign language 00:08:14]

Speaker 1:

Then the BRA were outnumbered and vulnerable. Now the tables are beginning to turn.

Thomas:

I'm the commander of the H Company in the BRA structure. Our companies start from A to J and I'm the Commander of the H Campaign. So we caught the prisoners from the Kangu assault when there was a very big fight at Kangu.

Speaker 1:

With the help of the Bougainvillean who won support alongside the PNG military, Thomas and the men of H Company killed 12 PNG soldiers and captured five. These five prisoners of war have become the focus of talks between the Papua New Guinea government and the Bougainvilleans.

Speaker 9:

The BRA's, they look after us very well. They don't do any harm to us. They treated us well. We were well looked after by the BRA and civilians.

Speaker 10:

[foreign langauge 00:09:43]

Speaker 11:

[foreign language 00:10:01]

Speaker 1:

Tomorrow a PNG delegation is coming to negotiate the release of the prisoners. The local chiefs, BRA and Bougainville interim government are discussing their positions and the future of the prisoners of war.

Speaker 12:

I'm talking about autonomy. It's no good asking for less when you ask for something. When you negotiate you don't ask for less things, you ask for the best for the people. If you ask for less [foreign language 00:10:27]. You ask for the best, you bargain, bargain, bargain. Okay, then you can get somewhere.[foreign language 00:10:38]

Speaker 13:

[foreign language 00:10:54]

Speaker 1:

After two days of discussions, the local chiefs came up with a dozen demands. The most important, the withdrawal of Papua New Guinea troops from Bougainville in return for the prisoners.

Speaker 9:

[foreign language 00:11:08]

Speaker 1:

Are you married?

Speaker 14:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

How many [inaudible 00:11:18]?

Speaker 14:

Two. [foreign language 00:11:27]

Speaker 1:

Are you worried that you'll never see your family again?

Speaker 14:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

Are you worried about being killed on Bougainville?

Speaker 14:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

The PNG delegation is flying in with people [inaudible 00:12:22] entourage. They're more than a little surprised to see me. No one from outside is allowed into Bougainville, least of all someone with a camera.

Speaker 15:

Fire.

Speaker 16:

The next man is the 'father' and 'chief' of Papua New Guinea, the Right Honourable Sir Michael Somare.

Speaker 1:

This is a high powered delegation made up of senior figures from the PNG government.

Speaker 17:

[foreign language 00:13:01]

Speaker 18:

Number nine, BRA political prisoners to be released.

Speaker 19:

[foreign language 00:13:24]

Speaker 1:

The delegation wanted the BRA to release the prisoners but the locals are demanding that the PNG Army is withdrawn.

Thomas can you tell us what happened?

Thomas:

[foreign language 00:13:53]

Speaker 1:

Some of the delegation return the following day to make a last minute plea for the release of the POW.

Speaker 21:

[foreign language 00:14:15]

Speaker 22:

[foreign language 00:14:36]

Speaker 17:

[foreign language 00:14:53]

Well, can I just say that I'm personally disappointed. I would have hoped that something could have happened but I'm not going to give up and I don't think anyone's going to be giving up. I don't think the BRA's going to give up, I think that we've all got to spirit and we'll continue to work together. I've given an invitation to them that I'll come back at any time, any place, anywhere, sit down and talk to them. I think that anyone in the government would do the same thing.

Speaker 23:

[foreign language 00:16:12]

Sam:

[foreign language 00:16:13]

Speaker 1:

So what's the situation Sam?

Sam:

The situation is that it's quite tense. The enemy wants to make an operation to try and ...

Speaker 1:

Some members of the PNG government have been talking of peace, other are planning for war. Now with the failure of the peace talks, the war in Bougainville is about to enter it's ugliest phase.

Sam:

Try to release the POWs and the operation is that they are, the enemy is planning two angles of approach. One from town, the other one from Kangu Beach. And our boys are in standby for any moves or any steps that the enemy takes.