Latest news with #BougainvilleIndependence
ABC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Hopes new deal will bring Bougainville one step closer to independence
The signing of the Melanesia Agreement between Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape and Bougainville's President Ishmael Toroama has brought hope that an end to the deadlock in independence talks is near. The new agreement outlines a pathway to the endorsement of the 2019 referendum by the PNG Parliament, where more than 97 per cent of Bougainvilleans voted in favour of breaking away from PNG. Helen Hakena, Executive Director of Women's Development Agency in Bougainville and a long-time campaigner for peace and women's rights, said the new deal carried great meaning for the women of Bougainville in particular.
ABC News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Deep sea mining regulations on the agenda as International Seabed Authority Assembly kicks off
On the program today Delegates from around the world arrive in Jamaica for the International Seabed Authority Assembly, where regulations for deep sea mining may be finalised. Hopes of Bougainville independence grows after leaders sign the Melanesian Agreement. US aid cuts threaten a massive infrastructure project designed to provide clean water for the population of Timor-Leste's capital city Dili. Solomon Islands celebrates 47 years since becoming independent from British rule. The sprint king and queens of the Pacific Mini Games are crowned in Palau. And statistics reveal a sharp decline in marriges in Fiji.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Bougainville pins hopes on Melanesian Agreement for independence
Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama, left, and PNG Prime Minister James Marape confirm the appointment of New Zealand Governor General, Sir Jerry Mateparae. 10 September 2024 Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government Bougainville and Papua New Guinea have concluded many months of talks on the autonomous province's quest for independence. Most recently, the parties met for ten days at the New Zealand army camp at Burnham - a place dubbed the spiritual home of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, after it featured 28 years ago in the talks that ended the civil war. But there appeared to be few achievements the parties could point to, and there has been little communication from either government with the public. The Minister for the Implementation of the Independence Referendum, Ezekiel Masatt, managed to shed a different light on the matter in this discussion with RNZ Pacific. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) Don Wiseman: There have been lots of meetings and lots of talks going back, you could say going back 28 years, but since this referendum process began, we've had nearly six years of talks, off and on, and Bougainville hasn't got much to show for it, has it? Ezekiel Masatt: In terms of what? DW: Progress has not been great. EM: Is Bougainville to blame for it? DW: I don't know. What's going on. Why? Why is no progress being made? EM: Progress, specifically in terms of what? DW: In terms of getting close to the tabling of the referendum, the process of getting toward independence by the first of September 2027, which is what the government has said it aims to do. EM: The Bougainville Government, DW: Yes, yes. The Bougainville government said that. EM: Okay. Well, let me, let me put on record the first of September date. While everybody is warming to it, that date was recommended by the Bougainville Leaders Consultative Forum, and it's a recommendation. At the moment, we going through the process of the Bougainville Constituent Assembly, who are debating the independence constitution. That starts today, coincidentally, so today and tomorrow is committed to the Bougainville Constituent Assembly, and once they've concluded their debate on the Constitution, then we'll see what happens. Now, let me make it absolutely clear, Don, that whilst we have embarked on various pathways to independence, I've always made it absolutely clear that our preferred option is to get independence through consensus, and that's through the BPA, [Bougainville Peace Agreement]. We know the history of what has transpired after the conduct of the referendum. There's been a series of consultations. Ezekiel Masatt Photo: PINA There's been a breach, like I said years ago, that Papua New Guinea lives in a daily breach because there had been an agreement on ratification being a couple of years ago, that hasn't transpired. Now, despite all the hiccups, I think there's a new leash of life with the Melanesian Relationship Agreement. The Melanesian Relationship Agreement, one, allows the two governments to look at what sort of sovereign powers Bougainville can exercise in the interim. It also calls for the immediate consultation between the two Houses, the speakers and the clerk, in terms of the sessional order. And more importantly, it has called for the immediate activation of the Bipartisan Committee, and it's now been agreed that once the report of the Bipartisan Committee goes into the House, the National Parliament, then the referendum result and the consultative outcomes will also go in. We had a commitment from the chairman of the Bipartisan Committee, Dr Marat, in New Zealand, that they would commence work quickly. And I've been advised that as early as this weekend, the Bipartisan was supposed to meet in Rabaul in one of the first engagements to me, there's no delay on our part. There's no delay on our part. It's a process, and therefore, there's been some delays. We're confident in where we're going. The Autonomous Bougainville Government President Ishmael Toroama, left, and PNG Prime Minister James Marape signed the Melanesian Agreement on Thursday. 26 June 2025. Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government DW: Under the Melanesian Agreement, some sovereign powers being handed down earlier. What are we talking about? EM: We haven't worked on the specifics, but my view is that, and the government's view is that, we won't be able to assume all the sovereign powers. Therefore, priority must be given to some economic sovereign powers where we can make some decisive economic decisions. I think that's the start. But despite the elections going on, I am hopeful that the technical teams can continue to meet to craft out some clear agenda in terms of which sovereign powers we can assume in the interim. DW: Okay, so you're quite confident that Port Moresby is fully supportive of the process, or do you think they're delaying the process? EM: Put it this way, does the National Government procrastinate, and they have a history, historical record of procrastinating, whether it's justified or not. We have other options that are open to us. We had this discussion before that the other option to get independence is through the working of the independent constitution, and I have in the original motion setting up the constituent assembly, I was very clear in reaching out to the National Government by making the motion for the adoption of the Constitution and any other resolution to be subject to the consultative outcome and the moderation talk. Now, having reconsidered that the possibility is there of a National Government strategy to procrastinate and to delay, I have since amended that motion - the House has amended that motion yesterday, stating clearly that the resolutions by the Constituent Assembly will no longer be in principle. If the Constituent Assembly goes ahead and adopts the Constitution, then it is within its legal right to set the date for independence. Photo: Supplied DW: So the Constituent Assembly is now the premier political body? EM: No, it's not the premier political body. It's the body that specifically deals with the amendment, rejection or adoption of the Constitution. And once it's done that, its activities come to an end. DW: We talked about the first of September 2027 and that's a maybe then. But when do you think Bougainville might be independent? How far away is it, this independence? EM: We have the recommended date. Everybody's warming to that date. The question of independence readiness, that's being addressed throughout the constituencies in Bougainville. The Autonomous Bougainville Government is working through the issues in terms of all the other economic big projects, so that we're in a position where we can sustain the economy and move forward. DW: In terms of the economy, you've still got a lot of work to do to have any degree of economic viability, don't you? EM: That's a justifiable argument. I have made it absolutely clear that the work on the economy of Bougainville must now also take some precedence. My argument is that to make the economy subject to political independence is something that I wouldn't agree to. We must obtain political independence in order to have some sovereign powers in order to make strategic economic decisions. Now, given the Melanesian Agreement where Bougainville can assume some sovereign powers, I think that's a great start in the right direction, and therefore I look forward to continued engagement by the technical officials and we can address some of these economic issues now. Having said that, it's not like we're sitting around doing nothing in Bougainville,. There are very major economic initiatives that have been taken on by the government. Another issue is, as you know, there's been the transfer of the BCL [Bougainville Copper Ltd] shares. That's an issue on its own. I'm not going to dive into that issue. And I think even on the economic issues, I have very much left it to the economic ministers to come in. But overall, to demand that Bougainville should meet some economic threshold or be economically independent before political independence, is a foolish argument. Australia never demanded that Papua New Guinea be economically independent. When Papua New Guinea got its independence, it had nothing except the Panguna Mine to deal with. I don't know why everybody's imposing on that economy. Whilst it's a genuine call, I think it's an internal matter for Bougainville to work on its economy. We're not shying away from that responsibility.
RNZ News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Talks result in PNG and Bougainville signing 'Melanesian Agreement'
The Autonomous Bougainville Government President Ishmael Toroama, left, and PNG Prime Minister James Marape signed the Melanesian Agreement on Thursday. 26 June 2025. Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government The leaders of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea have signed a deal that may bring the autonomous region's quest for independence closer. Called 'the Melanesian Agreement,' the deal was developed earlier this month in ten days of discussion at the New Zealand army base at Burnham, near Christchurch. Both governments have agreed that the national parliament in PNG has a key role in the decision over the push for independence. They recognise that the Bougainville desire for independence is legitimate, as expressed in a 2019 independence referendum result, and that this is a unique situation in PNG. That is the agreement's attempt to overcome pressure from other parts of PNG that are also talking about autonomy. The parties say they are committed to maintaining a close, peaceful and enduring relationship between PNG and Bougainville. Both sides said to bring referendum results to the national parliament both governments will develop a sessional order, which is a the temporary adjustment of parliament's rules. The said that a Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee on Bougainville, which will provide information to MPs and the general public about the Bougainville conflict and resolution is a vital body. The Parties said the will explore the joint creation of a Melanesian framework with agreed timelines, for a pathway forwards, that may form part of the Joint Consultations Report presented to the 11th National Parliament. Once the Bipartisan Committee completes its work the results of the referendum and the Joint Consultation Report will be taken to the 11th National Parliament. The parties said they will accept the decision of the national parliament, in the first instance, regarding the referendum results, and then commit to further consultations if needed, and this would be in an agreed timeline. In the meantime, institutional strengthening and institutional building within Bougainville will continue. To ensure progress is made and political commitment is sustained, the monitoring of this Melanesian Agreement could include an international component, a Parliamentary component, and the Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee, all with UN support.
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
PNG and Bougainville leaders to finalise independence agreements on Thursday
PNG Prikme Minister James Marape and Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama duringmoderation talks ealier this year. Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government Leaders of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville are due to hold a one-day meeting on Thursday to sign off on agreements related to the autonomous region's quest for independence. The meeting will likely mark the end of the involvement of former New Zealand governor-general Sir Jerry Mateparae. Sir Jerry was brought in to help find a way forward after a years' long stalemate over the tabling of the results of Bougainville's independence referendum. His involvement is set to end as Bougainville enters its election process, with writs expected to be issued at the end of next week. Most recently, ten days of meetings in Burnham, New Zealand, orchestrated by Sir Jerry, appear to have failed to achieve significant progress. The PNG and Bougainville governments have largely refused to talk about the issues publicly. Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is set to attend a major peace and reconciliation ceremony between PNG and Bougainville in September. PNG Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko has confirmed Guterres' attendance. The Post-Courier reports Tkatchenko saying the UN chief will be in Port Moresby from 2-3 September for the national reconciliation. The national reconciliation was originally going to be staged in 2019 before Bougainvilleans had voted in their independence referendum, but it did not go ahead.
