ABG condemns sessional order

Bougainville Vice President, Ezekiel Masatt, has condemned Tuesday's developments in Parliament, calling the adoption of a three-quarter voting threshold for ratification ‘a National Government strategy to poison the waters.

In a statement late Tuesday, Masatt said a Constitutional amendment requires only two-thirds support of Parliament, but the higher requirement makes it nearly impossible to reach an agreement.

Ezekiel Masatt warned that the move reduces the Melanesian Agreement Framework to ‘nothing but an academic exercise’.

Quoting President Ishmael Toroama, Masatt reaffirmed that ‘Bougainville independence is non-negotiable’, and says the ABG will continue negotiations in good faith despite attempts to derail the process.

He says the next round of talks later this month will see Bougainville present its final position, which the National Government can either accept or reject.

Masatt also criticized Prime Minister James Marape’s proposal to ratify on August 30, the anniversary of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, describing it as disrespectful to the lives lost during the crisis.