Bougainville Vice President and Attorney General Ezekiel Masatt has accused Papua New Guinea’s National Government of deliberately undermining the Bougainville independence ratification process after Parliament revelations showed a proposed 75 percent voting threshold for ratification.
In a strongly worded statement, Masatt said the move confirmed fears that Port Moresby was making it increasingly difficult for Bougainville’s independence aspirations to succeed.
“Today’s revelations in the Parliament were disappointing to say the least,” Masatt said.
“Of great concern was the ratification voting threshold of 3/4 percentage, unilaterally crafted by the National Speaker and endorsed by the Nation Executive Council (NEC).”
Masatt argued that the proposed threshold goes beyond constitutional requirements.
“A constitutional amendment requires 2/3 majority. They just made it hard with a 3/4 majority.”
He said the latest development followed last week’s events and pointed to what he described as a coordinated strategy by the National Government.
“Like the debacle last week Tuesday, today’s events confirms that there is a National Government Strategy to poison the waters and make it impossible to come close to reach the voting threshold.”
“The National Government Strategy now reduces Melanesian Agreement (MA) Framework to nothing but an academic exercise.”
Masatt said the framework had effectively been rendered meaningless.
“The MA Framework was doomed to fail if not earlier, then definitely now.”
He also questioned the role of Bougainville representatives serving in the National Executive Council.
“I question the Bougainville MP Ministers sitting in the NEC Meeting – what’s going through your mind? Do you see what we on the outside see?” he asked.
Masatt said public assurances from Bougainville MPs now appeared misleading.
“This means your colourful statements were nothing but smokescreen and diversions for the ultimate National Government position not to grant Independence.”
Despite his criticism, Masatt reiterated the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s position on independence.
“But let me repeat President’s words, ‘BOUGAINVILLE INDEPENDENCE IS NON-NEGOTIABLE’,” Masatt emphasised.
He said the ABG would continue participating in talks with the National Government.
“ABG will continue to participate in the negotiations in good faith going forward, despite the attempts to poison the MA and Ratification process.”
Masatt revealed that the next round of discussions later this month would see Bougainville table what he described as its final position.
“In the next round of discussions set for late this month; ABG will present the FINAL BOUGAINVILLE POSITION. The National Government can accept it or reject it,” he stressed.
He also challenged Bougainville MPs to decide where they stand on the issue.
“Bougainville MPs can make their lifetime career choices whether or not to support the Bougainville Position.”
Masatt further criticised Prime Minister James Marape’s proposal to ratify Bougainville’s political future on the anniversary of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
“The Prime Minister’s proposal to ratify on the anniversary of the BPA now takes on the appearance of a sick joke, disrespecting the lives of those lost before, during and after the crisis,” he said.
