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Bougainville’s demand for autonomy within Papua New Guinea overwhelmingly opted for independence in the referendum of 2021. The notion of autonomy within Papua New Guinea gained a majority of 97.7
From 1988 to 1998, The PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville regional authorities were engaged in a direct civil war, which ended in 2001 with the Bougainville Peace Agreement. Observers argue that Papua New Guinea cannot ignore or postpone the poll for the independence of Bougainville, although it may take years.
Background
Bougainville has been self-governed since 1968. About 25 Bougainvilleans met with Paul Lapun and Donatus Mola in Port Moresby to discuss a referendum on the island’s status. Bougainville joined Papua New Guinea in 1976 without a vote after gaining independence from Australia in 1975. In 1988, the BRA and PNG engaged in a civil war
The 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement ended the civil conflict following the 1998 ceasefire. After Bougainville’s first independent government was elected in 2020, an independence referendum was conducted in June 2020. The notion of independence of Bougainville emerged victorious with an overwhelming majority
Despite the clear outcome, the referendum was non-binding and subject to ratification by PNG’s parliament. This came up as a significant plot twist. The fact that international players, particularly Australia’s then-Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, pushed Bougainvillean officials to agree to a non-binding referendum during the peace agreement is an important backdrop. The international community convinced Bougainville that PNG would be pressured to respect a vote for autonomy.
Planning of Autonomy Within Papua New Guinea
The referendum was delayed to October 17, 2019, because of concerns that the national government hadn’t delivered much of the promised funds. On November 23, the Bougainville Referendum Commission asked that the referendum be postponed until then. In a statement, they said this was the last time they would have to do this. Voters may cast their ballots over two weeks, starting on November 23 and ending on December 7. Due to the enormous number of people living in small towns and villages and the fact that half of the population is illiterate, organising the vote was very challenging. Bougainville’s Referendum Commission chairman, former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, was selected in October 2018 and entrusted with putting the referendum together.
Voters
In November, the BRC developed the referendum’s official “certified voter list”. Over 206,000 of nearly 300,000 registered voters were eligible to vote. Males who have completed the up rite of passage are eligible to cast their ballots at polling stations designated for this purpose. Bougainvilleans living outside Papua New Guinea, Australia, and the Solomon Islands were granted the right to vote.
Question
The following question was posed to the electorate:
Is Bougainville becoming an independent state something that you support?
Results
The announcement of the results occurred on December 11. The option of independence was widely expected to win, with support estimated at 90 % before the referendum.
Observers from Divine Word University said the referendum was held in a festive atmosphere, and an official of regional authorities said it went better than expected. The notion of independence from the PNG received a whopping 97.7% of the votes.
Because no appeals were filed within 40 days of the referendum’s conclusion, the result was declared “Petition Free.” The Referendum Commission commended the governments on December’s result when the referendum was formally completed.
Aftermath
President John Momis of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville declared, “At least psychologically, we feel free,” following the release of the results. Puka Temu, Minister of Bougainville Affairs for Papua New Guinea, said the ruling was “credible,” but the country should take time to digest the conclusions. Bougainville’s leaders and Papua New Guinea’s government will have to work together to win independence as the referendum was not legally binding. Finally, Papua New Guinea’s National Parliament will resolve Bougainville’s status. Rod McGuirk of Time magazine remarked, “The process of building a distinct country may take years to perform.”
Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape recognised the referendum results and committed to working with Bougainville’s regional authorities to establish “a road map that leads to a permanent peace solution.” PNG authorities feared that Bougainville’s independence might precede similar movements in East New Britain, New Ireland, and Enga.
According to Jonathan Pryke, head of the Pacific Islands department at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, the referendum results hurt PNG. “Negotiations may have lasted years or decades if the PNG regional authorities had a lower majority, say 55% or 65% consequently, it is significantly more difficult for them to fulfil this aim.”
He stated that the referendum would push Indonesian West Papua rebels and New Caledonian independence advocates to vote in France’s 2020 independence referendum. Upon attaining its independence, Bougainville will likely appeal to its neighbours, Australia and New Zealand, for support in constructing its institutions. At the same time, China and the United States may offer diplomatic and economic partnerships with the nation. China wants to integrate an autonomous Bougainville into its Belt and Road Initiative.
Negotiations started on May 17, 2021. After Momis’ tenure expired in 2020, the president-elect, Ishmael Toroama, declared Bougainville to be self-governing by the end of 2025. Marpa advised prudence while creating a timeframe. Marape admits Bougainville voted for independence, but he feels it will split the nation,whileToroama says Bougainville would be doomed without autonomy.
Toroama created the Independence Ready Mission to prepare for independence. He declared he wanted autonomy by 2022, which would lead to liberation. The area will become self-governed by 2027, according to a July 7, 2021 announcement.
Conclusion
Before granting independence, Papua New Guinea’s parliament must ratify the deal. Toroama expressed unhappiness with the speed of discussions in December 2021. This led to a joint announcement by Marape and Toroama on handing Bougainville’s independence between 2025 and 2027 through the Era Kone Covenant. This would describe the constitutional procedure, seek permission from PNG and Bougainville’s regional authorities by January 31 2022, and commence two months later if approved. Bougainville’s constitution-drafting panel was sworn in on February 25 2022. In April 2022, the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the Government of Papua New Guinea signed the Era Kone Covenant agreement on the referendum ratification process. The deal calls for ratification in 2023 and independence between 2025 and 2027.
