Bougainville: A Peacekeeper's Journal

This book is based on real events. It details my experiences as a member of Operation Bel Isi II with the aim of peace monitoring on Bougainville Island, a province of Papua New Guinea. It successfully restored the trust of the local people who had suffered terribly in the previous war fought between the BRA - Bougainville Revolutionary Army and the PNGDF - Papua New Guinea Defence Force . I wrote a personal journal detailing what I observed as a soldier, from my pre-deployment training in January 2000 through my 4-month mission, February to May, and my return to Australia on 25 May 2000.
I dedicate it now to my family and the military's Peace Monitoring Group members from several Pacific nations who were there to help the peace process and to many who returned to their loved ones with PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder . For my children and loved ones, I hope that this journal will provide some answers to why I came back as a changed man.