Bougainville Independence Talks Underway At Military Camp Near Christchurch
Bougainville independence talks have started just outside of Christchurch, in New Zealand's South Island, between the governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville.
In 2019, 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans voted for independence. The referendum, though mandated by the 2001 Peace Agreement, was not binding.
Both governments are now debating the rules by which the results of a referendum on independence are tabled in parliament.
The discussions at Christchurch's Burnham Military Camp focus on finalising the process to bring the referendum results before PNG's Parliament.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape called Burnham the spiritual home of the Bougainville peace process.
The military camp hosted pivotal talks in 1997 that helped end the Bougainville civil war.
Marape said the Era Kone Convenant committed both governments to present the referendum before PNG's parliament in 2025.
Bougainville has stated that it expects to be independent by 1 September 2027.
It has established a Constitution Commission and included it within the region's autonomous parliament.
The Christchurch meetings are closed to the media.
New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade refused to share with RNZ Pacific a list of who will be attending the meeting.
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