Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says Bougainville will be declared a demilitarised zone as part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring no foreign military presence in the region.
He told the inauguration of the fifth Bougainville House of Representatives in Buka on Friday that demilitarisation in Bougainville was an important component of the agreement to maintain peace and stability.
“By next year, we will put in into law that no PNG Defence Force soldiers or allies will go into Bougainville,” he said.
“We have heard from the people of Bougainville and we will work together as part of our Government’s commitment to peaceful dialogue, economic empowerment, and shared prosperity.”
Marape addressed concerns over the recently signed Pukpuk Treaty between Papua New Guinea and Australia.
He also congratulated Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama and his people for their strong democratic expression and continued commitment toward peace and progress in the region.
“Today is a momentous moment.
“The people of Bougainville have re-elected the Toroama government into office as a mark of continuity of the work that was started not just in 2020, but more importantly, the work that began under the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement,” Marape said.
He called for mutual respect, cooperation, and the need for Bougainville to build a stronger economy as the region progresses toward its long-term aspirations.
“We recall the past, but we must construct a future that fully embodies the aspirations of our people.
“Bougainville and Papua New Guinea must continue to walk hand in hand, side by side, towards a peaceful and prosperous future.”
Toroama said that the current geopolitics at play within the Pacific could bring benefits as well as risks to all within the region, including Bougainville.
“The world was already divided into political and economic alliances by the colonial powers,” he said.
“Today, these powers are competing for global or regional influence using trade, aid, financing, education, security and telecommunications as the tools of influence.
“Geopolitics offers us opportunities as well as risks.
“Bougainville will assess for itself, the merits of these arrangements.
“The lessons of Panguna are too devastating to continue the status quo,” he said.
