Children of Matsungan Island, Bougainville

©IR Stehbens, on May 20, 2007, said:

Idyllic perhaps - a very small coral island on a reef off Buka Island. The photo interrupted a game with ducklings. The boys had a clutch of ducklings hidden under the carton in the background. With small sticks they herded the duckling into holes dug in the sand or into the water or into the box. There was constant hilarity but the ducklings were never abused or hurt. I was more concerned for the suffering of the children for the Bougainville War had meant they lived behind a blockade and there was no treatment available for malaria, for example, and they all knew well the terror of the war, for an ambush had taken place on this beach and police arriving by boat were gunned down by waiting gunmen. The war is now over and Bougainville has begun to rebuild a devastated economy, destroyed infrastructure and to heal traumatised communities.

gezginruh, on June 19, said:

Thank you Lincluden. Füsun

©IR Stehbens, on June 22, said:

Dear Fü,

This is all part of my work and commitment. The peace is continuing to be built in Bougainville, and I was honoured to be part of the process of bringing about the peace, of healing traumatised communities, or the disarmament and of the wider peace audit that is now taking place.

So thanks for your encouragement, and I am glad that you know a little about it all now, through the play of these boys.