Joseph Kabui
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Joseph Kabui | |
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| In office June 2005 – June 7, 2008 |
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| Vice President | John Tabinaman |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | John Tabinaman |
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| Born | 1954 |
| Died | June 7, 2008 Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville |
| Political party | Bougainville People's Congress |
| Spouse | Rose Mary Kabui |
Joseph C. Kabui (1954 - 7 June 2008) was a secessionist leader and the first President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, off the coast of Papua New Guinea, from 2005 to 2008. He was also the leader of the Bougainville People's Congress.[1]
Kabui was a commander in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army during the war in Bougainville in the 1990s. In June 2005, after the island gained autonomy within Papua New Guinea, he was elected as President of Bougainville by a large majority, winning 38,000 out of 69,385 votes.[1]
While in office, he granted a Canadian company, Invincible Resources, access rights to 70% of Bougainville's mineral resources, and he was widely criticized for this decision.[1]
Kabui went to Brisbane for medical treatment prior to his sudden death on 7 June 2008 at a hospital in Buka.[1] United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Kabui a "skilled mediator and peacemaker who had a genuine interest in the future of his people", and according to Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, Kabui played a "key role in restoring Bougainville to peace following the bitter conflict on the island".[2] A state funeral was held for Kabui[2][3][4][5] at the St. Joseph's Catholic Cathedral[4][5] in Port Moresby on 10 June.[2][3][4][5] His body was returned to Buka on 11 June, and a funeral mass was held for him in Buka on 12 June. His body was planned to be taken to Arawa, Panguna, and finally the village of Padorima in Central Bougainville. The Bougainville government declared a public holiday to mourn Kabui.[6]
Kabui was believed to have died of a heart attack. In an interview with the Port-Courier, a newspaper in Papua New Guinea, that he gave 12 hours before his death, Kabui said that he had stopped taking his heart medicine four months beforehand and was taking a water tonic instead because the medicine was too expensive. He dismissed suggestions of seeking help, saying that "I am not a man that would ask for things that concern me", and he also said that he had missed a medical check-up because he was too busy with work. His next check-up was scheduled for later in June, but he noted that the necessary trip to Australia was expensive as well.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Bougainville president Kabui dies", theage.com.au, June 7, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Funeral for Bougainville leader", BBC News, 10 June 2008.
- ^ a b "Papua New Guinea holds state funeral for president of autonomous Bougainville island", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 10 June 2008.
- ^ a b c "Hundreds of mourners attend state funeral in Port Moresby for Joseph Kabui", Radio New Zealand International, 10 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Kabui couldn't afford medicine: reports", AAP (smh.com.au), 11 June 2008.
- ^ "Bougainville mourns president Kabui", smh.com.au, 12 June 2008.
[edit] External links
- The Age: Bougainville elects Joseph Kabui as president
- More about Kabui and the secesionists
- Brisbane Times: Bougainville president 'a man of peace'
| Preceded by None |
President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville June 2005 – June 7, 2008 |
Succeeded by John Tabinaman (acting) |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Kabui, Joseph |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1954 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 7, 2008 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville |
