Their spit represents the blood spilt on both sides - the hole is covered over. The ceremony gradually builds toward two significant events. In one, former fighters raise their bows and arrows above their heads, and snap them in two - a gesture of peace, symbolising a commitment to end the fighting. In the other, ex-combatants hand a large stone to the elders of both groups. The stone, representing the power seized by the young men during the war, is given back to the elders, and buried in a hole in the ground, setting off a tangible wave of relief through the crowd.
Former enemies shake hands.
In my heart now, I feel nothing will happen because all the commanders have reconciled themselves. We feel light. Led by small groups, some of whom have been practising reconciliation dances for months, the community celebrates into the night. The ritual at Hahon is one of many reconciliation ceremonies that have taken place in Bougainville since the 1998 cease-fire. The events differ in scale, some involve as few as two combatants, while others bring together a victim and a perpetrator.