The people who forced an Air Niugini plane to abandon its flight to Buka on Friday are terrorists, Bougainville President John Momis says.
President of the autonomous Bougainville government, John Momis. Photo: RNZI
The group was made up of service providers who had reportedly not received payment owed them by the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG).
New Dawn FM reported Mr Momis condemning the group, saying it was the second time it had forced a plane to abandon its flight to Bougainville.
The people of Bougainville were fed up with a minority trying to hijack the hard work of many genuine service providers, who waited patiently for the ABG to pay them when funds were available, he said.
Problems with law and order could make ratification of next year's referendum on possible independence difficult, the president said.
Bougainville's unique window of opportunity was quickly closing because of the actions of the group, who were working against the will of the majority, he said.