Latest news with #PNGParliament
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.
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
09-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Bougainville independence talks underway at military camp near Christchurch
Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon 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.
