Rebels & Redskins

Facts & Key Quotations

-          Francis Ona and his rebels declared war on the copper mine and the mining company. This brought the redskins to the island.

-          Redskins isolated the island of Bougainville – “We were surrounded by sea, and while the redskins’ gunboats patrolled the coastline their helicopters flew overhead” P8

-          Some members of the B.R.A terrorised villages

-          They were irritating to the islanders – helicopters like ‘a swarm of flies’

-          Not all redskins wanted to continue fighting: “He was tired of being who he was: tired of his job, tired of this island, and the responsibility he carried” P101

-          The rambos become like children when they listen to Mr Watts’ story: “Those rambos has not heard a storytelling voice for years. The boys sat there, with their mouths and ears open to carb every word, their weapons resting on the ground in front of their bare feet like useless relics” P141-142

-          The redskins were very ill and injured from conflict and disease: “their officer observed through…..” P172   and    “Their uniforms were torn, many of them wore bandages” P171

-          Redskins don’t care for the locals: “One soldier snatched a banana out of a small boy’s hand” P172

-          “We saw they had a hostage. It was one of the rambos who had camped here.” P172

-          “Francis Ona and his rebels declared war on the………………….” P7