Latest news with #AutonomousBougainvilleGovernment
RNZ News
13-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Amanda Masono eyes Atolls seat in Bougainville's election
Amanda Masono Photo: Facebook / Amanda Masono The Bougainville elections, which happen once every five years, are underway. The [ writs were issued last week, candidate nominations have now finished, and campaigning will be getting underway for voting over the first week of September. It will be an interesting poll for Amanda Masono, who came into parliament in 2020, winning one of the three seats reserved for women, North Bougainville. But this time around she is contesting the Atolls seat, campaigning alongside men, in a seat that her late father once held. RNZ spoke to Masono and began by asking how the previous five years had gone for her. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) AMANDA MASONO: I think, yes, there's been some challenges, but more of them, which is, getting to know the people and trying to deliver to their expectations. Overall, generally try to support my government in ensuring that we prepare for independence for Bougainville. So yes, I've decided to recontest this election to get in for a 2025 to 2030 government. DON WISEMAN: When you say you've got your sights set on independence for Bougainville, what do you think you have achieved in the past five years, down that road? AM: Personally, I've been involved with negotiations between the national government and ABG (Autonomous Bougainville Government) in terms of the consultations after the referendum has been conducted. And now with the moderation talks with the PNG government, I've been personally involved with that team. For me, it's being in the process and getting to contribute to ensuring that Bougainville gets its independence. On the ground, internally, as member for North Bougainville, we've worked really hard in terms of implementing the independent strategy motion that was passed by our House when we came into parliament. We, as North Bougainville women, I went on to support our community governments and North Bougainville women to develop a strategic plan, which we recently launched. It's called North Bougainville Women and North Bougainville Community Government Strategic Plan 2025 to 2030, where it is a blueprint that guides all community governments to make sure that they are assisted in mobilising resources to continue developing their community governments as we prepare for independence. DW: Let's say we're talking in five years. Where do you think Bougainville will be by 2030. where would you like Bougainville to be by 2030? AM: I believe I'd like to see Bougainville independent by then and exercising some of the sovereign powers and functions that are still with PNG, particularly in terms of the fisheries, because under the Bougainville Peace Agreement there is this arrangement for the benefits from the fisheries to be shared. But Bougainville has not really received what is supposed to be given to it. Read more: I'll say that this election is very critical to ensuring we have a government that is elected to make sure it realises the independence for Bougainville because how we're going, the leaders on the ground have already made a bold statement that by 1 September 2027, we should be independent. So everyone is working towards that, and I believe by 2030 we should already be exercising some of those powers and functions to enable us to really contribute meaningfully and head to independence. DW: Yes, but to a large extent, it's not Bougainville's decision, is it? These plans could be stymied by Port Moresby. AM: Yes, yes, that's That's right, but Bougainville gan really is also working on its independent constitution. It's already established the Bougainville Constituent Assembly to, you know, debate its constitution, and from what we've passed last house, our preparation should not be - what should I say? When we established the Bougainville Constituent Assembly, there was this work done to ensure that, like while we are working, we also organised that, you know, ratification will come from PNG government. But with that unnecessary delay from the other side, our leaders are pretty determined on ensuring that we prepare ourselves internally, and whether the results are ratified or not, it is not PNG's decision to make, as long as we are prepared for that internally. For me, that's what I'd like to say about the ratification process. DW: You have been holding one of the three seats reserved for women, but you're not going to be doing that in this coming election. You're throwing your hat in one of the open seats. It's a fairly fraught thing, isn't it? So how do you think you'll go? AM: For Bougainville, in the current House, there's two women who came from the single constituencies. For us, I came into the reserve seat, so this time, I intend to contest the Atolls seat. I know it will be a bit challenging for me because it's not as straightforward as a woman's reserve seat I will have. I am going up against - most of them are male candidates - but I believe that at such a time as this, I am more than capable to be that voice, that adults' conscience, it needs right now.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Bougainville parliament wrapping up ahead of election process
Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama said the government has been consciously grooming young people to step into more roles in the region's burgeoning bureaucracy. Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama says he is "committed to building a government that is efficient, accountable, and fully capable of leading Bougainville into the future." Speaking to the final session of parliament, ahead of the September elections , he said that independence remains the ultimate goal of Bougainville's political leadership. Toroama has, for the past five-year term, relied on a five-pronged strategy to achieve this goal. This strategy, he said, aimed to establish control and create a society where citizens can become responsible and law-abiding. He said economic development is a key part of this, with the "Anchoring Bougainville Economy" programme, with revenue generation far below the level needed for self reliance. This allows the establishment of a Bougainville-owned investment registry, a restructure the Bougainville Tax office and a new independent taxation system. It also includes "the responsible reopening of the Panguna mine which is a vital economic asset that holds the potential to sustain a significant portion of Bougainville's budget." With an eye to the future, Toroama said the government has also been consciously grooming young people to step into more roles in the region's burgeoning bureaucracy. He said "we are now working to transfer key powers from the national government to Bougainville so that we can manage our own services, develop our own policies and build a public service that truly understands and serves our communities." Toroama said it is about "real, practical control of our schools, our health services, our economy and our laws." "Our journey towards self-determination must be built on solid, long-term planning," he said. "Our government has moved beyond short-term responses to focus on where we want Bougainville to be not just tomorrow, but in the years and decades ahead." Toroama also talked of the issues Bougainville still faces, including the financial dependence in the Papua New Guinea national government. He said law and order issues, especially armed groups who remain outside the formal peace framework, remains a major problem. "Bougainville still carries the scars of unresolved historical grievances, and pockets of social division linger in some communities."
ABC News
26-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
PNG hands over mine ownership to Bougainville
Papua New Guinea's government has transferred its majority shareholding in Bougainville Copper Limited to the government of Bougainville. The transfer includes ownership of Panguna Mine, the massive gold and copper mine that was at the centre of a decade-long civil war. Despite lying dilapidated for the past three decades, deposits beneath the mine are valued at $60 billion. Under the transfer, 53 million dollars worth of shares go to Bougainville to give the government a 73 per cent holding, with the remaining shares in the hands of investors. Gordon Peake, a former advisor to the Autonomous Bougainville Government and author of Unsung Land, Aspiring Nation, said it's questionable if the handover showed Papua New Guinea's commitment to Bougainville's independence path.
Otago Daily Times
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
PNG, Bougainville holding talks at Burnham
Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government Talks between Papua New Guinea and Bougainville to decide on issues surrounding an independence referendum are to be held at Burnham military camp near Christchurch this weekend. The moderator in the talks is former New Zealand governor-general Sir Jerry Mateparae, who sought to have the discussion at Burnham where critical talks in 1997 helped end the Bougainville civil war. The Burnham consultations will be conducted by Sir Jerry with the support of United Nations officials. Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said the government will provide the venue and environment necessary for substantive discussions on Bougainville's political future. It is the third round of talks to try and resolve how the 2019 referendum results are tabled in the PNG parliament. The Bougainville government is strongly in support of independence from PNG and expects to achieve that status by 2027. Peters said reaching a mutually agreed outcome is important for Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, and the wider region, "is upholding the integrity of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, to which New Zealand is a witnessing signatory".
Scoop
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
New Zealand To Host Consultations On Bougainville At Burnham
Rt Hon Winston Peters Minister of Foreign Affairs NewZealand will host post-referendum talks between the Government of PapuaNewGuinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. The 'Burnham Consultations' will be held at Burnham Military Camp at the request of Sir Jerry Mateparae, as independent moderator. The discussions will be led by Sir Jerry and his United Nations team. 'NewZealand looks forward to welcoming parties to the Bougainville Peace Agreement back to Burnham — 28 years after we last hosted peace talks there,' Mr Peters says. 'Our involvement is to provide the venue and environment necessary for substantive discussions on Bougainville's political future. 'Reaching a mutually agreed outcome is important for Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, and the wider region, as is upholding the integrity of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, to which New Zealand is a witnessing signatory.' Representatives will travel from Port Moresby to Christchurch on Friday to attend the talks.
