An interview with Dr. Affie Adagio:
“These statements from the people in Bougainville just brought me to tears,” said Dr Affie Adagio, when she announced that the statemnts would be read out publicly. “What happened in Bougainville needs to be known. It was truly awful,” she said.
“I was helping Waratah Rosemarie Gillespie out by typing the sworn statements to go in her book Running with Rebels, behind the lies in Bougainville’s hidden war (Ginibi Productions). The statements are so powerful and so terrible I felt I needed to do something myself so I have organised for them to be read out by actors at the Theaterette in Parliament House at 2pm. on Wednesday 11th March.”
“It’s appropriate that this is International Women’s Week,” Dr Adagio said, “because in Bougainville the women are the landowners. They started the war on Bougainville because they didn’t want their stolen land dug up for copper.”
“That all happened 20 years ago and the mine is still shut down,” she said. “Those women were truly strong. They had to be.? Australia sent over guns and helicopters to kill them so the mine could be reoponed. The PNG soldiers went on a rampage of rape, torture, looting, burning and killing. We have sworn statements about what happened. And they tried to kill Waratah too, to stop her taking medicines to the hospital through the blockade that Australia put on the island.”
“This record of bad behaviour needs to be confronted loudly and publicly,” Dr Adagio explained. “What we forget becomes repeated”
“We are bringing Joanne Apea-Bosco-Dateransi, a landowner from Panguna, down to tell us about the situation on Bougainville now.”
Everyone is welcome to come to NSW Parliament House in Macquarie Street, at 2pm on Wednesday 11th March to hear the reading. $10 (or $5 for concession/students). This is to help us pay Joanne’s fare from Bougainville and for light refreshments afterwards.
Lynda Stoner, Andrew Vial, Fran Macpherson, Isobel Kirk, Gillian Levett, Jonathan Marshall and others are helping by coming to read out the some of the statements. So this should be an impressive event.
Dr Affie Adagio may be contacted for further comments: 0421 101 163
PROGRAM
Seminar Commemorating International Women’s Day –
Strength of the Women of Bougainville
The Humanist Society of NSW, The United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA NSW), and
The Women’s International League for Peace and Feedom (WILPF NSW)
Theaterette, State Parliament House, Macquarie Street Sydney
Wednesday 11 March 2009: 2-5pm
Opened by Lee Rhiannon, MLCDr. Affie Adagio as MC
Hear about the strength of the Women of Bougainville who made world history
Waratah Rosemarie Gillespie will share some of her experiences on
Bougainville – woven with the wisdom of the women of theland.
Sworn Statements of eyewitnesses in Bougainville will be read out by actors
such as: Lynda Stoner, Andrew Vial, Belinda Giblin, Fran Macpherson, Isobel Kirk,
Gillian Levett, Janice Potten and Jonathan Marshall
A short documentary Lateline film will be screened followed by
Joanne Apea-Bosco-Dateransi, a landowner from Panguna
Women’s Chorus singing songs celebrating IWD
UN Resolution 1325: Valerie Weekes presenting a talk on the rights of women
in conflict situations. Dr. Stefania Sidelecky presenting WILPF 1325 update
Light Refreshments provided at 4.30pm
Enquiries: (02) 4787 1446 or email: BougainvilleWomen@gmail.com