BOUGAINVILLE’S independence could be on the agenda when Pacific leaders meet in Palau later this year.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale – the current Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat chairperson – indicated that the issue would be part of talks soon with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.
“I’ve just been communicating with Prime Minister Marape on that and other regional matters,’’ Wale said in response to prominent Pacific journalist, Stefan Armbruster in Honiara.
“We’re trying to work out some dates. So I will be going to Moresby any time over the next few weeks to further those discussions and then have a much clearer idea.’’
The process surrounding Bougainville’s path to independence has been debated in PNG parliament over the past two weeks.
Bougainville voted 97.7 per cent for independence in November 2019 in an act guaranteed by PNG’s constitution as a result of a 2001 peace agreement which ended a 10-year civil war.
“I recognise Bougainville’s independence aspirations and the overwhelming result wea kamaot lo (which came out of the) referendum but at the same time recognising that they are still part of Papua New Guinea and therefore we must respect that fact also,’’ Wale said.
On whether the matter of Bougainville should have been raised by his predecessor, wale said: “Solomon Islands position has always been not to anger PNG but to facilitate whatever the two agree on we will play that facilitative, supportive role.’’
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