It was a brutal Pacific civil war right costing thousands of lives.
The conflict in Bougainville fought over the world's biggest copper mine ended 14 years ago.
Now the key players - Bougainville Copper Ltd, owned by mining giant Rio Tinto and the governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville want the mine reopened.
But SBS senior correspondent, Brian Thomson, has uncovered explosive new allegations which may complicate the current talks.
The controversial claims come from the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Somare.
Broadcast: 26 June 2011, SBS Dateline programme. Reporter Brian Thomson is senior correspondent for SBS's World News, Australia.
Camera
WARWICK FORD
Fixer
GERALDINE PAUL
Producer
GEOFF PARISH
Editors
DAVID POTTS
CATHERINE WHELAN
Original Music composed by VICKI HANSEN
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