Bougainville referendum results tabled

Parliament today witnessed the historic tabling of the 2019 Bougainville Referendum results, where 97.7 percent Bougainvilleans voted overwhelmingly for Independence.

Minister for Bougainville Affairs Manaseh Makiba also tabled the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework Agreement.

The former is a record of the joint consultations between the two governments following the Referendum while the latter outlines the way forward if the National Parliament affirms the majority vote.

While the three documents were tabled, there was no full debate on the three documents, especially the Melanesian Framework Agreement.

The PNG and Bougainville Governments wre unable to reach consensus on on a possible pathway in the event the National Parliament does not accept the referendum results.

Bougainville Affairs Minister Manaseh Makiba outlined that the Melanesian Framework agreement only caters to a vote by parliament, which is in favor of the referendum results.

He however reiterated that Parliament “retains the discretion to make any decision on the Referendum results as it considers appropriate.”

Makiba says in the event of a negative vote, a pathway can be carved out in line with the Bougainville Peace agreement:

Minister Makiba reminded members of the House of the enormous responsibility they have when they eventually vote on the referendum results, urging them not to forget the aspirations of Bougainvilleans captured in their referendum results.