#Bougainville #News: Toroama outlines ABG Position
The Autonomous Bougainville Government President Ishmael Toroama said Bougainville must have its independence within the next four years, through the election of members to the parliament of the independent state of Bougainville by June 2025.
President Toroama made this statement as he outlined the official position of the ABG as Bougainville begins the first Post Referendum Consultations with the National Government.
President Ishmael Toroama met with Prime Minister James Marape today in Kokopo with their respective consultation teams to deliberate on Bougainville’s political future.
Following the overwhelming outcome of the Referendum in 2019 where 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans opted for independence from PNG the two governments are finally meeting to consult over this outcome as required by the Bougainville Peace Agreement, and Part XIV of the National Constitution.
The formal consultation process began only 5 months ago, when both governments signed the Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum, on the 11th of January.
“When both governments signed the Bougainville Peace Agreement in August 2001, we committed ourselves to a “deferred 15-year referendum” period.” President Toroama said.
“This was to allow time to our people, on both sides, to heal the wounds of the conflict, and ponder over what we need to find as a final solution for Bougainville and Papua New Guinea,” President Toroama added.
“For those who fought for independence we wanted independence at that time of our negotiations over the Bougainville Peace Agreement; but in all fairness to our people, we were prepared to wait 15 years, to allow our them to have their say, through a free and fair referendum vote, at some later stage,” he said.
President Toroama said both Governments have in good faith co-operated over the last 20 years in implementing the BPA with the understanding for a referendum.
In interpreting the referendum results; President Toroama said that it is clear that Bougainvilleans have rejected greater autonomy, having already lived, seen, worked, and experienced the slow progress of autonomy under current arrangements of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, over the last 16 years.
He said Autonomy, under current arrangements or any future arrangement that is short of independence, is not an option for a solution for Bougainville.
“All we have done in the last 20 years, whether in the weapons disposal or autonomy space, were intended to bring us closer to this day, when we should consult over the outcome of the referendum, and reach an agreement on the future of Bougainville,” President Toroama said.
“Our position on the future political status of Bougainville is clear and that is independence,” President Toroama said.
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https://www.abg.gov.pg/.../toroama-outlines-abg-position
#Bougainville #News: PM Marape at Joint Consultations
Bougainville’s self-determination aspiration is no longer an isolated issue but has become an issue of national interest that concerns the whole of Papua New Guinea.
Prime Minister James Marape made this statement during the Joint Post Referendum Consultations with the ABG in Kokopo today.
Mr Marape said that the National Government under his leadership as Prime Minister respected the results of Bougainville’s referendum for independence in 2019.
“I assure President Toroama and the people of Bougainville that the overwhelming results of the referendum will not be diluted and my government will respect this outcome,” Mr Marape said.
“The joint consultations must find a process that clearly indicate a way forward for the people of Bougainville as well as the rest of the country,” Mr Marape said.
He added that it was critically important to note the guiding principles of the Bougainville Peace Agreement to ensure both government implement it in its entirety.
The Prime Minister was not explicit on the National Government’s position on Bougainville seceding from the rest of Papua New Guinea.
He only expressed concerns on how Bougainville’s hopes to become independent might have serious repercussions with the state of union in PNG.
He also indicated that this could pave way for other resource rich provinces to resort to creating instability and seek independence from the rest of the country.
“Bougainvilleans and the rest of the country must come to understand that we are the most diverse country on earth and my responsibility is to preserve the union of the country,” he said.
However Prime Minister Marape was quick to point out that Bougainville is a special case in PNG owing to the historic context of the Bougainville Crisis and calls for independence for Bougainville that predates the independence of PNG.
Prime Minister Marape also reassured the Bougainville leadership at the consultations that if National Parliament fails to ratify the referendum results, the motion would be withdrawn and resubmitted after consultations with the ABG again.
Mr Marape also acknowledged President Toroama’s wish for independence to be granted to Bougainville in June 2025.
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https://www.abg.gov.pg/.../pm-marape-at-joint-consultations
#Bougainville #News: Joint Government Consultations on Bougainville’s political future begins today
Political Independence is the official position of the Autonomous Bougainville Government as Bougainville begins the first Post Referendum Consultations with the National Government.
President Ishmael Toroama met with Prime Minister James Marape today in Kokopo with their respective consultation teams to deliberate on Bougainville’s political future.
Following the overwhelming outcome of the Referendum in 2019 where 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans opted for independence from PNG the two governments are finally meeting to consult over this outcome as required by the Bougainville Peace Agreement, and Part XIV of the National Constitution.
The formal consultation process began only 5 months ago, when both governments signed the Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum, on the 11th of January.
“When both governments signed the Bougainville Peace Agreement in August 2001, we committed ourselves to a “deferred 15-year referendum” period.” President Toroama said.
“This was to allow time to our people, on both sides, to heal the wounds of the conflict, and ponder over what we need to find as a final solution for Bougainville and Papua New Guinea,” President Toroama added.
“For those who fought for independence we wanted independence at that time of our negotiations over the Bougainville Peace Agreement; but in all fairness to our people, we were prepared to wait 15 years, to allow our them to have their say, through a free and fair referendum vote, at some later stage,” he said.
President Toroama said both Governments have in good faith co-operated over the last 20 years in implementing the BPA with the understanding for a referendum.
In interpreting the referendum results; President Toroama said that it is clear that Bougainvilleans have rejected greater autonomy, having already lived, seen, worked, and experienced the slow progress of autonomy under current arrangements of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, over the last 16 years.
He said Autonomy, under current arrangements or any future arrangement that is short of independence, is not an option for a solution for Bougainville.
“All we have done in the last 20 years, whether in the weapons disposal or autonomy space, were intended to bring us closer to this day, when we should consult over the outcome of the referendum, and reach an agreement on the future of Bougainville,” President Toroama said.
“Our position on the future political status of Bougainville is clear and that is independence,” President Toroama said.
Ends////
https://www.abg.gov.pg/.../joint-government-consultations...
Bougainville Remembrance Day - 17 May 2021
The ABG delegation in ENB held a Dawn Service this morning to commemorate the Bougainville Remembrance Day.
It is on this day in 1990, that Late Francis Ona led a Unilateral Declaration for Bougainville’s Independence with the raising of the Flag in Arawa, Central Bougainville.
Moreover, it a special day to remember the loss of more than 20,000 lives in the 10 year bloody conflict.
It is also a time to reflect on the Bougainville Peace Agreement 2001 that have stood the test of time delivering a successful Referendum for Independence, and now sets the framework for consultation on the results for ratification by the National Parliament.
(ABG Facebook)
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