Arawa, Bougainville

To Papua New Guinean's, Bougainville island is mostly known for the brutal civil war over the Panguna copper mine and homing some of the darkest skin in the png world. I was told over and over by locals about the imported AK's, reused WWII M-16s, and other guns in town left over from the Bougainville crisis. Asking around I found that everyone had a gun. When trying to get photographs of them I also found that everyone either kept their guns at their uncles house or buried them in the bush too far away to find. I spent three days here and loved it. Everyone was incredibly nice and very helpful. The streets and buildings in Arawa town are in terrible shape. Bougainvilles civil war is still very visible.

Simon and his older brother from Pavaere village overlooking Arawa town.

The old provincial government building was burnt down along with most of the town in the years after the local Panguna mine was shut down in 1989 . The large two story building, built on a foundation designed after a bird of paradise, now unintentionally offers a huge beer garden with multiple bia stores scattered throughout the old government grounds.

Having a few white cans with Peter Kauma in his new shop. He will keep his shop running until the government kicks him out to rebuild the provincial house.