After three hours of intense negotiations in Port Moresby, the Papua New Guinea Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) resolved and endorsed five resolutions to move Bougainville’s independence issue forward.
Prime Minister James Marape and ABG President Ishmael Toroama, co-chairing the special Joint Supervisory Body meeting at APEC Haus Monday with their respective senior ministerial teams, agreed on matters that were a setback to the past meetings.
“We respect that dialogue on the Independence choice of the people of Bougainville voted for in the 2019 referendum for Independence will not be an easy issue to resolve in this JSB.
“But we are determined to settle our joint issues collectively.
“Therefore, having discussed in detail related issues to this meeting’s core and only genda of ratification of the Referendum results, we endorse the following resolutions:
– The pathway to Parliament was by way of Sessional Order;
– The Sessional Order will only be moved when the content of the motion is agreed to by the National Minister for Bougainville Affairs and ABG Minister for Bougainville Independence Mission Implementation;
– The motion will be adopted by a simple majority;
– The proposal by the GoPNG Prime Minister to invite the ABG President and his leaders to provide awareness to members of the National Parliament; and
– That the Constitutional Regulation will deal with other aspects of the Post Referendum.
“In appreciation of the continued peace between our governments and our people, as enabled by the Bougainville Peace Agreement of 2001, we acknowledge and encourage that in the true spirit of our Melanesian ways on resolving disputes, we, the elected leaders in this meeting shall continue to promote a transparent dialogue and consultation as a means to finding a lasting peaceful solution,” both leaders said in a joint statement.
“That this JSB directs the National Minister for Bougainville Affairs and ABG Minister for Bougainville Independence Mission Implementation to consult and agree on the content of the Sessional Order relating to;
(i) The question to be put before Parliament;
(ii) The number of sessions required to deliberate on those matters;
(iii) The voting majority required to endorse the referendum results; and
(iv) The manner in which the referendum results to be brought into Parliament.
“The JSB further directs that the National Minister for Bougainville Affairs and ABG Minister for Bougainville Independence Mission Implementation explore the possibility of seeking support from moderators to mediate any impasses that the two Minister’s encounter in the course of their consultation,” Marape and Toroama stated.
SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS
