A Matter of Conscience

Twenty years on from the abrupt ending of his military career, Jerry Singirok has had much time to ruminate on the past. Another strength of his manuscript is, in my view, the extent to which he does stand back and reflect, often quite critically, about his own decisions, as well as more broadly about politics, leadership, corruption, faith, family and many other facets of public and personal life in PNG. While coverage of the Sandline Affair and his military deployments to Bougainville may be action action-packed, it is also a thoughtful work. While still largely remembered for his act of defiance and rebellion, Singirok's actions also heralded the beginning of the Bougainville Peace Process. The book will be of considerable interest to many readers, and not just for those with a Pacific focus.