The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has rejected a suggestion by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape that a nationwide consultation be held regarding the outcome of Bougainville’s 2019 Referendum for Independence.
Attorney-General and Minister for Bougainville Independence Mission Implementation, Ezekiel Masatt Wednesday reminded Marape that the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) was signed to end the Bougainville civil war – dubbed the bloodiest conflict in the Pacific region since World War Two.
“The BPA was to promote peace by peaceful means and address the issue of Bougainville’s political future, with independence being a constitutionally-guaranteed option,” Masatt said.
In 2019, 97.7% of Bougainvilleans voted overwhelmingly for independence.
“That is the referendum result and by law, only the two governments can consult on independence being the referendum outcome,” he said.
He accused the PNG Government of “using such terms as political status and political solution, to an extent where they have misconceived the original definition”.
Marape said his Government “will consult with the rest of the country (on the Bougainville referendum outcome) because our people must have a say”.
“This year and first half of next year we will consult the country on some of the key constitutional questions and we will work to the plan we set in Wabag,” Marape said.
The plan is that by 2024, the matter is tabled in the PNG Parliament.
Masatt said there was no legal basis for the proposed nationwide consultation which Marape had alluded to.
“The provisions of the Organic Law on Peace Building and the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement required the people of Bougainville to hold a constitutionally guaranteed referendum,” he said.
He said the ABG and the PNG Government should be the only two parties to discuss the outcome of the referendum. “There is no mention for a nationwide consultation on the matter,” Masatt said.