1960

•  A government geological report confirms the presence of intensive low-grade copper mineralisation in the Panguna/Kupei area.

1962

•  Nasioi villagers in Kieta tell a UN visiting mission that they are dissatisfied with Australian rule.

1963

•  CRA Exploration granted an authority to prospect over 630 square kilometres.

1964

•  CRA geologist walks into Panguna valley on 1 April.

•  Paul Lapun elected as member for Bougainville Open Electorate.

1965

•  Party of village leaders visited mines in Australia .

•  Diamond drilling supported by helicopter access.

1966

•  Sufficient diamond drilling completed by CRA to confirm significant copper/gold mineralisation.

•  Federal Minister for External Territories , C.E. Barnes, tells disgruntled villagers that they will receive compensation but no special benefits.

1967

•  Landowners protest strongly to Mining Warden's Court on renewal of Prospecting Authorities.

•  Mining Agreement negotiated between the Company and the Administration, with an offer of 20% equity to PNG should project proceed.

•  Agreement ratified by legislation in House of Assembly.

•  Limited road access established to support escalation of exploration activities.

•  Paul Lapun affiliates with Pangu.

1968

•  Mungkas Association founded by Bougainvillean tertiary students, calls for a referendum on secession.

•  Bougainvillean representation in House of Assembly increases to three.

•  Bulk Sampling and Pilot Plant test work confirms ore reserves.

1969

•  The expatriate owned Arawa Plantation acquired compulsorily as the site for a town site.

•  Bougainville Mining Limited granted Special Mining Lease.

•  Company reaches agreement on Rorovana land acquisition in direct negotiation with landowners.

•  Attempts by the Administration to acquire a parcel of land for the port meets strong opposition from Rorovana villagers.

•  Napidakoe Navitu formed in wake of unrest in land acquisitions.

1970

•  Shipping arrives into new port at Anewa Bay .

•  Port mine access road upgraded to transport mining and construction equipment.

•  Napidakoe Navitu expands influence and adds support to calls for a referendum on secession options.

1971

•  Secession issue raised in House of Assembly by Paul Lapun, but subsequently rejected by visiting UN Trusteeship Mission.

•  E.G. Whitlam advises that if elected to government, the Australian Labor Party would grant immediate self-government to PNG.

•  Escalation in construction work force fuels anti-redskin (other Papua New Guineans) sentiments.

•  Construction work force peaks at over 10,000.

•  Bougainville Mining Limited granted Tailings Lease over the Jaba Valley .

•  Public share issue in May.

•  PNG government takes up 20% share option.

1972

•  Father Momis moves motion to review mineral policy and include right to negotiate mining agreements.

•  Michael Somare elected Chief Minister in new House of Assembly.

•  Bougainville representation in House of Assembly increases to four, Paul Lapun, Donatus Mola and Raphael Bele for open electorates and Father John Momis as the regional member.

•  Widespread anger felt throughout Bougainville at murder of two prominent Bougainvilleans by Eastern Highlands villagers.

•  CRA/Bougainville Mining Limited mine starts commercial production on 1 April.

1973

•  PNG attains self-government on 1 December.

•  Copper prices rise to record levels and mine profitability soars to an unprecedented $158 million.

•  Bougainville Special Political Committee submits demands for District Government to the Constitutional Planning Committee.

•  Bougainvillean, Dr Alexis Sarei appointed District Commissioner.

•  Bougainville Mining Limited name changed to Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL).

1974

•  Heads of Agreement signed by the Papua New Guinea Government and BCL for the variation of 1967 Bougainville Copper Agreement.

•  BCL agrees to moratorium on exploration within PA's.

•  Bougainville District Government evolves as the genesis of provincial Government with Leo Hannett in role of District Planner.

1975

•  PNG attains independence under Prime Minister, Michael Somare, on 16 September, and becomes the 35 th member of the Commonwealth.

•  Papua New Guinea introduces its only currency – kina and toea.

•  Industrial unrest at Panguna erupts into rioting.

•  Bougainville District Government votes to secede from PNG and adopts the title of North Solomons.

•  North Solomons declares independence, 1 September.

•  Bougainville Development Corporation incorporated with District Provincial government as major shareholder.

1976

•  Provincial Government formalised under PNG organic law. Dr A Sarei appointed Premier of the North Solomons Provincial Government.

1977

•  Father Momis returned as regional member for Bougainville .

•  Michael Somare returned as Prime Minister heading a coalition government.

1978

Landowners form into a representative negotiating group –Panguna Landowners Association (PLA).

1979

•  Landowners demonstrate in panguna, supermarket looted.

1980

•  Compensation Agreement with PLA formalised.

•  Road Mine Tailings Lease Trust Fund established.

•  Provincial Government election won by Leo Hannett.

•  Julius Chan assumes role of Prime Minster after a vote of no confidence.

1981

•  Provincial Government demands equity in BCL, escalation in the royalty rate and an increase in the Non-renewable Resource Fund levy.

•  Scheduled date for review of the 1974 Agreement. National government rejects BCL's recommendation of Provincial government involvement.

•  Road block by villagers halts production for a few days.

1982

•  North Solomons Provincial Development Study prepared for Provincial Government by Economic Consultants Ltd.

•  National elections – Somare returns as Prime Minster.

1983

•  Milling capacity increased to 130000TPD to improve production and compensate for declining ore grades.

•  Bougainville Limestone Mining launched uner auspices of Bougainville Development Corporation as part of a strategy to stimulate the economy of the province.

1984

•  Compensation agreement extended for further four years with CPI adjustment.

•  MA endorsed candidates capture a resounding majority in Provincial elections.

1985

•  Production costs reflect benefits achieved from investment in cost effective technology.

•  New coalition takes over government after successful vote of no confidence in Somare Government. Paias Wingti becomes Prime Minister.

1986

•  Aid funded mineral survey incorporated selected areas on Bougainville .

•  Study on tailings disposal options culminates in proposal to construct pipeline to west coast.

1987

•  Bougainville Initiative Fund launched as main thrust of Father Momis election campaign.

•  First evidence of challenge to PLA leadership.

•  Sarei abdicates Premiership and Joseph Kabui gains support within the House of Assembly to become Premier.

•  Pre-concentration screening plant commissioned.

1988

•  Environmental impact study by Applied Geology Associates Limited (AGA).

•  AGA report angers landowners for failing to attribute a wide range of environment concerns to mining activities.

•  Scheduled review of Bougainville Copper Agreement fails to materialise.

•  Anti-company sabotage begins.

•  Provincial elections confirm Kabui as Premier.

•  Somare steps down from leadership of Pangu Pati in favour of Rabbie Namaliu. Namaliu forms new coalition government after vote of no-confidence. Namaliu is Prime Minister.

1989

•  Secession replaces compensation as main revolutionary issues.

•  Repeated sabotage results in closure of mining operations.

•  Army brought to supplement police.

•  State of Emergency declared.

•  Peace initiatives flounder.

1990

Jan

•  BCL retrench 2,100 employees.

•  PNGDF launch major offensive against BRA – fails.

•  Law and order deteriorates further.

•  BCL and contractor employees shot at.

Feb

•  BCL withdraws non-Bougainvillean work force from NSP

Mar

•  Cease fire declared: PNGDF & police withdrawn from Bougainville and a blockade is imposed on the island.

May

•  Francis Ona declares Bougainville independence and forms the Bougainville Interim Government (BIG) with himself as president.

Aug

•  Endeavour Accord signed between BRA & PNG government.

Sep

•  Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) assumes control and declares an independent republic.

Oct

•  PNGDF invited back to Buka: over the next two years gradually re-establish a presence throughout Bougainville .

1991

Jan

•  Honiara Accord signed.

Aug

•  BRA pre-conditions for peace talks.

-

The Government withdraw all troops from Buka and the northern tip of mainland Bougainville .

-

A multi-national peace keeping force is sent to Bougainville .

-

Troops currently based Rabaul be taken back to Port Moresby .

•  Peace ceremony held in northern Bougainville where BRA rebels surrendered weapons in front of their northern commander, local chiefs and members of the Buka Interim Authority.

•  Peace talks do not eventuate.

Sep

•  Pacific Conference of Churches calls for a referendum on Bougainville . PM replies that a referendum is out of the question and unconstitutional.

Oct

•  Buka leaders condemn BRA leadership for their renewed campaigning for secession. Moses Havini unsuccessfully lobbies Commonwealth Heads of Government for an end to PNG's blockade of Bougainville .

Nov

•  Ona declares BRA will fight to the last man to stop security forces advancing further south from Tinputz.

1992

Sep

•  Paias Wingti elected Prime Minister

1993

Feb

•  PNGDF re-take Arawa township.

Mar

•  Memorandum of Understanding signed to start Bougainville restoration.

Sep

•  Prime Minister Wingti's coup; he officially announces his resignation and is immediately re-elected.

Oct

•  Opposition challenges Wingti coup in court.

1994

Mar

•  Wingti defeated in court Chan elected Prime Minister.

Sep

•  Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan and BRA commander Sam Kauona sign cease fire agreement and agree to hold a peace conference.

Oct

•  Arawa Peace Conference. Talks stymied after senior BRA/BIG leaders fail to attend. BRA leader Theodore Miriung breaks ranks with the BRA to participate. South Pacific Peacekeeping force provides security for the conference.

Nov

•  Chan, Miriung and other prominent Bougainvilleans sign the Mirigini Charter providing for the establishment for a Bougainville transitional government (BTG).

1995

Apr

•  BTG inaugurated. Miriung becomes Premier.

Sep

•  Dialogue meeting held in Cairns between BTG and BRA/BIG.

Dec

•  Second Cairns meeting. BTG and BRA agree to continue talks on peace settlement. BRA delegates ambushed by PNGDF while returning to Bougainville .

1996

Mar

•  BRA set up attacks against PNGDF on Buka Island , Chan lifts ceasefire, authorises PNGDF to conduct operations against the BRA, and foreshadows the end of Bougainville 's special status. Martin Miriori, a senior BRA leader residing in Honiara , given asylum by the Dutch.

Jun

•  Chan and Miriung sign Memorandum of Understanding: PNG government undertook to conduct regional autonomy discussions and extend the BTG's term of office. Meanwhile, the PNGDF continue preparations for an offensive against the BRA.

Jul

•  Offensive, PNGDF Operation High Speed abandoned after 2 weeks. Trust between BRA and PNG at all time low.

Aug

•  Arawa Women's peace conference attended by representatives from all sections of Bougainville in Buka, 700 expected to attend.

Sep

•  12 soldiers killed at Kangu Beach .

•  NCDC Governor Bill Skate calls for national referendum on Independence for Bougainville .

Oct

Premier Theodore Miriung shot dead reportedly by members of the PNGDF.

Nov

•  Gerard Sinato elected by BTG as new Premier for Bougainville .

11997

Jan

Moseley Moramoro and Peter Lowing meet Rupert McGowan

of Jardine Fleming. McGowan purports to act on behalf of the PNG government and expresses an interest on their behalf to purchase CRA's shares in BCL.

Feb

Media exposes the hiring of Sandline International, a British based Mercenary group, by the PNG government.

•  PNG government makes, through the media, its intention to purchase CRA's share in Bougainville Copper Limited made public. No formal approach made to CRA or BCL.

•  BCL share price increases as a result of extra-ordinary purchases of a large volume of shares.

Mar

•  Brigadier General Jerry Singirok, Commander of PNG Defence Force makes a public announcement denouncing the use of Mercenaries stating he has the backing of the military and called on Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Chris Haiveta and Minister for Defence Matthias Ijape to resign.

•  Chan sacks Singirok.

•  Singirok organises ‘Operation Rausim Kwik' and expels the Mercenaries.

•  Soldiers surround Parliament and call for the government to resign.

•  Chan, Haiveta and Ijape stand aside pending an enquiry.

•  Justice Warwick Andrews appointed to chair the enquiry.

April

•  John Giheno, Minister for Mining & Petroleum appointed acting Prime Minister.

Jun

•  Warwick Andrews presents report to acting Prime Minister John Giheno. Report finds no evidence of corruption to support the allegations made by Jerry Singirok. It basically cleared Chan and Ijape but stated that it did not find Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chris Haiveta to be an honest witness.

•  Chan re-instates himself as Prime Minister.

•  Campaigning for the forthcoming National Elections commences.

Jul

•  Former Prime Minister Paias Wingti and current sitting Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan defeated in National elections.

•  NCDC Regional Member Bill Skate elected as Prime Minister, Chris Haiveta re-elected as deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Planning.

•  Bernard Narokobi elected as Leader of the Opposition.

•  New Zealand hosts Peace talks in Burnham. Members of BRA, BIG, BTG and the National government attended. Talks ended with the signing of the Burnham Declaration. Further talks are scheduled for later in the year.

Aug

•  Prime Minister Skate commissions a new enquiry chaired by Justice Kubalam Los in to the Sandline issue.

•  Terms of reference of the Sandline enquiry deemed unworkable and the commission is suspended pending an extended terms of reference from the Prime Minister Skate.

Sep

•  Prime Minister Skate announces extended terms of reference for a new Sandline Enquiry.

Oct

•  Second peace meeting held in Burnham , New Zealand . Members of interested groups attend along with leaders of the individual BRA units.

Nov

•  Deployment of a multi-international Truce Monitoring Group (TMG) to be led by New Zealand will be from Australia , New Zealand , Nauru and Vanuatu . The troops will be unarmed. The TMG will, at this stage, only be deployed until 31 January 1998.

Dec

•  The TMG now full strength of 370. Aropa airport, south of Arawa re-opened.

•  Bougainville Games held, first since the crisis began.

1998

Jan

•  Lincoln Agreement on peace, security and development signed in Christchurch , New Zealand .

•  TMG extended until April 1998.

Feb

•  BCL conducted study for a pre-feasibility to determine the economic viability of a return to operations.

April

•  Francis Ona reportedly issued a shoot to kill order against the unarmed Australian Truce Monitoring Group.

•  New Zealand Army produces a report on hazardous substance in the Arawa / Loloho areas. BCL also assists with information on its known chemicals on the island.

May

•  Cottage industry in scrap metal starts up by destroying Company and other property for non-ferrous metals.

•  The Company applies to the Courts to stop shipping companies from removing any scrap from the island.

June

•  Australian Defence forces (assisted by BCL) complete a report on the chemicals at Arawa and Loloho in response and follow up to the New Zealand report.

Sept

•  Final Sandline Report tabled in Parliament and released.

1999

Jan

•  The Government fails to pass legislation enabling Bougainville to set up a ‘Bougainville Reconciliation' government (BRG) to replace the current provincial government, theoretically organic law takes over and Bougainville comes under the same provincial government legislation as the other 18 provinces in the country. This being the case, John Momis would become ‘governor'. However, at the recommendation of the Minister responsible for Bougainville Affairs Sam Akoitai, the NEC using its powers suspended the ‘provincial government', allowing the BRG to be formed with Joseph Kabui and former premier Gerard Sinato as co-chairman of the Constituent Assembly. John Momis and the Opposition are challenging its legality in Court.

•  Environmental concerns with the disposal of radioactive source used in density gauges are brought to the attention of BCL by the TMG.

•  BCL assists in the removal of the density gauge.

Feb

•  Joseph Kabui receives medical attention in New Zealand .

•  Cease-fire Agreement signed in Arawa.

May

•  Provincial Government elections held. 69 people elected to Bougainville people's Congress (BPC). Five positions allocated to Francis Ona's representatives. Joseph Kabui elected as president of the BPC.

June

•  BCL sponsored KMH and Associates to prepare a detailed step by step plan and costing for a chemical clean up in the Arawa/Loloho areas.

July

•  Vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister, Bill Skate in Parliament. New PM is Sir Mekere Morauta who has committed his government to the Bougainville peace process.

Aug

•  Sir Michael Somare appointed as Minister responsible for Bougainville .

•  Francis Ona's name is linked to U-Vistract, a pyramid money-lending scheme that is currently having trouble paying its members

•  The National Government conducts an investigation into the suspension of the Provincial Government.

Sept

•  Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta recommends that the suspension be extended for six months and that it be conditional on the parties to the peace process putting in place a permanent structure during that period.

•  The Regional Member John Momis challenges the suspension in the National Court .

Oct

•  The Supreme Court rules that the suspension of the Provincial Government was illegal. John Momis the regional member now becomes Governor and forms a Provincial Government. Joseph Kabui states that the BPC will not join the Provincial Assembly but will operate as an independent body.

2000

Jan

•  Australian Government transports potentially hazardous chlorine gas cylinders back to Australia for appropriate disposal.

•  Meeting between all factions of the crisis and the government held at Hutjena. The BPC presented their list of demands ‘The Hutjena Report'.

Feb

•  Sir Michael Somare creates a national committee of senior politicians to formulate a response to the joint negotiating position presented at the Hutjena meeting.

Mar

•  Second round of talks between the factions involved held in Buka. The framework tabled by the government was rejected and the BPC responded with its own nine-point plan for autonomy, which still includes the option for a referendum on independence in the future.

May

•  Joseph Kabui states at the opening of a community health centre that K200 million could easily be made from agriculture, timber and fishing and therefore mining was not required.

•  Sir Michael Somare announces the government is willing to give Bougainville full autonomy.

•  An Australian solider drowns on the island. No foul play, just an accident.

June

•  ‘Gateway Communique' signed in Port Moresby between factions. A feel good statement with a list of demands as an attachment.