–Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has reaffirmed his commitment to tabling the 2019 post-referendum results in Parliament, allowing for a final decision on Bougainville’s political future.
Speaking at the Joint Moderation Consultation Meeting between the PNG National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government Monday, PM Marape stated that the National Government is ready to take the post-referendum results to Parliament.
“The question to Bougainville is this. I’m ready to take the result into the floor of Parliament. But what is it? Are you willing to accept the result of the floor of Parliament? Just like I accepted the result of the 97.7 percent vote,” said PM Marape.
The 2019 referendum saw an overwhelming 97.7 percent vote in favour of Bougainville’s independence.
However, the process has been delayed due to unresolved substantive issues, which are now being addressed under the guidance of Moderator Sir Jerry Mateparae.
The referendum was a key milestone in the Bougainville Peace Agreement of 2001, which ended a decade-long civil conflict.
The PNG and Bougainville governments later signed the Era Kone Covenant in April 2022, committing to table the results in Parliament by 2023 and implement a decision between 2025 and 2027.
However, no parliamentary ratification has occurred yet, leaving Bougainville’s political status unresolved.
Marape also raised concerns about unaccounted-for weapons in Bougainville, urging both the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and the United Nations to clarify the status of disarmament.
He questioned whether Bougainvilleans were secretly harbouring weapons despite commitments made under the 2001 Peace Agreement.
“Headlines have come out that guns still remain in Bougainville. United Nations, how come guns remain in Bougainville? You need to tell me. This is something you know. I thought all guns were removed from Bougainville,” stated PM Marape.
Weapons disposal has been a long-standing issue in Bougainville. While the 2001 Peace Agreement called for complete disarmament, concerns persist about hidden stockpiles.
The continued presence of firearms poses risks to security and the overall peace process, with some reports indicating that weapons are still being held by ex-combatants and factions linked to the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA).
Marape emphasised that the PNG Government had fully honoured its commitment by allowing the referendum to take place and expressed concerns about ensuring lasting peace before any final decision on independence.
“No more guns in Bougainville, and I don’t want to find out,” said PM Marape.
Meanwhile, the beginning of the consultation meeting gathering was a powerful plea from the Autonomous Bougainville government president Ishmael Toroama who had walked the long and difficult path to this moment.
His opening statement carried the weight of personal experience. “Many of us present here today have personal experience of these negotiations up to the agreement of the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement,” he said.
He thanked the National Government for including signatories of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, reminding them of the difficult bargains made in the past.
“As one of the key negotiators in those days, I still can remember we never had to get to be part of the bargain. But I still remember in those days, I had to meet the Bougainville Peace Agreement commitment as part of my bargain.”
“And it is the same spirit, I now expect our government to take ownership and endorse independence in the Parliament.”
President Toroama urged the Prime Minister James Marape to “take the Bougainville Referendum Result as stipulated out in the Peace Agreement and pass it on to the National Minister for Bougainville Affairs to be presented on the National Parliament for endorsement through this moderation process.”
He reminded everyone that Papua New Guinea had once led the way in recognising the right to self-determination.
“By this action, the Parliament of PNG to amend its Constitution in 2001, Papua New Guinea was probably the first independent state anywhere else in accord with the UN Charter, the right and the principle of self-determination of its people.”
Despite the complexities of the political process, Toroama stressed the singular focus of Bougainville: Independence.
“Bougainville’s agenda is independence and is the post-referendum consultation for we have this plea.”
President Toroama spoke of the people’s decision to set 01 September 2027, as the date for independence, a decision rooted in the hard-won Wabek Roadmap.
“As President I will uphold the decision of my people throughout these moderation consultations.”
He reminded the audience of the peace agreement’s three pillars: weapons disposal, economy, and referendum, emphasizing that the referendum was the keystone that held the entire process together.
“The referendum pillar was the key pillar that held the commitment of all Bougainvillean’s through the peace process by guaranteeing in the national constitution a choice of separate independence for Bougainville.”
“It is also important to remember that Bougainville people have lobbied for Bougainville’s independence well before PNG’s independence without any recognition from international bodies.”
“Therefore, my focus on this moderation is to define the new relationship between Bougainville and Papua New Guinea as two independent sovereign states. This relationship can be captured through an independence package for Bougainville. Bougainville has done its part in the peace process. It is now your turn.”
The Joint Moderation Consultations Meetings will look into issues on both parties before the post-referendum is taken to the National Parliament to be tabled, as indicated by Prime Minister James Marape.
