‘This Is A Difficult Task’: PNG Parliament To Finally Address Bougainville Decision

Johnny
Blades RNZ Pacific senior journalist

Papua New
Guinea’s prime minister has urged the nation to appreciate
the gravity of the decision on Bougainville that parliament
is to debate this week.

The PNG parliament resumed on
Tuesday and from Thursday MPs will debate whether to ratify
the 97.7 percent vote by Bougainvilleans for independence in
their 2019 non-binding referendum.

PNG’s national MPs
have the final say, in adherence with the 2001 Bougainville
Peace Agreement (BPA), which was signed following
Bougainville’s civil war and related crisis of the 1990s,
and ultimately provided for the referendum.

“The
Referendum was legitimate, peaceful and overwhelming in its
result, and we respect the voice expressed by the people of
Bougainville,” Prime Minister James Marape said in a
statement.

As the referendum result is finally to be
tabled in parliament, Marape cautioned MPs and the public
not to create division over the issue through threats, fear,
regionalism or hostility.

“Every member of parliament
will have the opportunity to speak. Every member will
ultimately have to exercise his or her responsibility
according to conscience, guided by the Constitution and the
interests of our country.”

‘Not an ordinary
debate’

“This is a difficult task but duty demands
that we do this,” Marape said, while also praying with other
MPs for wisdom to guide their deliberations on the
issue.

He said Papua New Guineans should appreciate
the gravity of the matter because the decisions on
Bougainville will have implications for future
generations.

“This is not an ordinary parliamentary
debate. It concerns our Constitution, our sovereignty, our
national identity, the aspirations of the Bougainville
people and, above all, the peace that our people have worked
so hard to maintain.”

It remains uncertain whether
this week’s debate will culminate in a vote on whether to
ratify the refendum result as soon as the debate finishes,
or whether it will be scheduled at a later
point.

Earlier this year, the parliament set a
three-quarter majority threshold requirement for
ratification.

The Autonomous Bougainivlle Government
(ABG) has said it plans to declare independence in 2030,
while it works to build prepare for independence in the
meantime.

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