The referendum question was a choice between greater autonomy within Papua New Guinea and full independence; voters voted overwhelmingly (98.31%) for independence. Bougainville Referendum Results : ‘We are reborn’: Bougainville votes 97.7 % for independence from Papua New Guinea. Voters had two options – more autonomy, or full independence. “Now, at least psychologically, we feel liberated,” said John Momis, president of the regional autonomous government. We are reborn.”. The position of Bougainville … The two-week referendum period began on November 23 and closed on December 7. After two weeks of voting, the results are finally in: More than 98% of Bougainvilleans have voted in favor of independence. @AdrianaAdri09 @ahawatson @GordonPeake @Jezzamiller. According to the official results from the referendum, almost 98 percent of the 181,067 votes cast backed independence in the non-binding poll. Results announced on Wednesday, had the case for independence backed by 97.7 per cent of the 206,000 registered voters. Some believe it could provide a revenue source for Bougainville should it become independent. Two Australian Federal Police officers were seconded to a New Zealand-led police operation to maintain security for the poll. He said that the people have spoken through the votes and the outcome will not be different. Bougainville News Feature : If we have all learnt anything from Panguna, it is this. Bougainville News Alert : President Toroama reports on 100-days progress : Bougainville News : Reflections of memory and reality , there is rhyme, reason and ritual to hunting, gathering and fishing. The people of Bougainville, an island group in Papua New Guinea, have voted overwhelmingly for independence. In December, the results of an independence referendum made it clear: 98 percent of voters in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville chose … The Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC) formally wound up operations in accordance with its Charter on 31 May 2020. The first ballot box to be used in Bougainville's independence referendum is unlocked in Buka at the start of polling, 23 November 2019. A majority of voters selected independence, at 97.7 percent of the vote, with less … Ballot boxes are returned by boat to Buka, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. The mine was a huge export earner for Papua New Guinea but many in Bougainville felt they received no benefit and resented the pollution and disruption of their traditional way of living. The Bougainville Referendum is a key part of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, which was signed in 2001. ( Log Out / Bougainville had a nine-year separatist war that began in 1988, fuelled by economic grievance. The end of the fighting led to the Bougainville Peace Agreement, the creation of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, and the promise of a non-binding referendum on independence. That agreement calls for “consultation” and a negotiated outcome reached between the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and the PNG government once the referendum result is known. Independence option wins in Bougainville referendum Three weeks ago we reported on Bougainville's independence referendum - a non-binding vote on whether to split from Papua New Guinea and become a separate country. A non-binding independence referendum was held in Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea, between 23 November and 7 December 2019. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades People of the autonomous Papua New Guinea region voted in a non-binding referendum on possible independence late last year. Even in colonial times, Bougainville was an outpost. Bougainville votes with more than 97 per cent in favour of independence from Papua New Guinea in an important post-conflict referendum. Before now, Bougainville is an Island in Papua New Guinea, but citizens of the Island have carried out a referendum which showed a landmark step towards breaking out to form their own country. Though the independence option was expected … The results were announced in the town of Buka by former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, the chairman of the Bougainville Referendum Commission. The only other option in … Results were announced at the central counting centre at Hutjena on Buka island, by Bertie Ahern, former Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) who was appointed Chairman of Bougainville’s Referendum Commission (BRC) which has overseen the referendum process. "I have confidence that both PNG and Bougainville leaders will proceed with consultations from hereon with the same resolve for a peaceful outcome and decision guided by the people’s decision through the ballot and the results as announced today," Pentanu said. The 98% result is above pre-referendum predictions – most experts expected the figure to be around 75% – 80%. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Of the 181,000 ballots, almost 98% were in favour of independence. Eleven Australian MPs and observers took part as election monitors during the referendum period, led by Jane Prentice. The islands attempted to declare independence during the formation of Papua New Guinea in 1975 – but they were ignored. In late 2019, Bougainville held a non-binding referendum on its future political status, with voters asked to choose between greater autonomy within Papua New Guinea (PNG) or independence. The President Momis mentioned the people of Bougainville that despite so many problems they have faced in the past kept their faith for the future of Bougainville as clearly demonstrated by their vote. Young men in their Upe initiation hats, the symbol of Bougainville, line up to vote in the independence referendum in Teuapaii village.Credit:Ben Bohane. "The biggest task begins today," he said. The other option in the vote was greater autonomy from Papua New Guinea. With 87.4 percent* turnout, voting in the Bougainville referendum – conducted from November 23 through December 7 – concluded with the announcement of results on December 11. "My thoughts today are with the President and all members of our Bougainville Parliament who have been steadfast in their resolve that no one drops the baton on the home stretch after the voting and counting and the announcement of the results today. The referendum was a key part of a 2001 peace agreement that ended a civil war in which at least 15,000 people died in the cluster of islands to the east of the Papua New Guinea mainland. In his address to the people who were present at the Hutjena Counting Centre, President Momis thanked the people for giving his ABG the clear mandate to consult with the National Government on the wishes of the people. But according to research by Australia’s Lowy Institute, Bougainville self-reliance would at best be years away. Bougainvilleans have voted overwhelmingly for independence from Papua New Guinea following the announcement of results this afternoon by the Bougainville Referendum Commission. The two-week referendum period began on November 23 and closed on December 7. Bougainville News 2020 : The Bougainville referendum and the fate of Melanesia: Which Way, Big Man? He also thanked the Donor partners, International organizations that observed the polling and the count the UN team, High Commissioners of Britain, Australia, New Zealand and many who were part of the peace process on Bougainville. The final say will now go to lawmakers in the Papua New Guinea Parliament. The results of Bougainville's independence referendum are set to be announced Wednesday -- with the troubled Pacific islands expected to resoundingly back the … This site remains as an archive of all BRC public information regarding the conduct of the Bougainville referendum. Ben Bohane has reported the Bougainville referendum as part of a collaboration between the Walkley Foundation, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. The islands have a population of around 300,000, and 206,731 people enrolled to vote in the referendum. The President Momis mentioned the people of Bougainville that despite so many problems they have faced in the past kept their faith for the future of Bougainville as clearly demonstrated by their vote. Likewise, its population would be one of the world’s smallest – slightly smaller than Pacific neighbour Vanuatu, and slightly bigger than Barbados. The referendum is part of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) between the government of PNG and the leaders of Bougainville in August 2001. The mine has remained shut since the conflict. Experts believed Bougainville would vote overwhelmingly in favour of independence ahead of the other option which was greater autonomy. At Wednesday's event held to announce the referendum results, Puka Temu, the national government's minister for Bougainville affairs, said the government is committed to the spirit of the peace agreement, but pleaded for patience from the people of Bougainville… President MOMIS also thanked the National Government for their commitment to complete the process and the end result must be a total and lasting peace for the people of Bougainville. The new country – should it happen – would be small, with a land mass of less than 10,000 sq km (slightly larger than Cyprus, and slightly smaller than Lebanon). Ballot boxes are returned by boat to Buka, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.Credit:BRC/AP. Pajomile Minaka, from Bougainville’s southern region the 36-year old, who was a child during the conflict , told Reuters he was taking a law course to equip himself to help rebuild his homeland. The country is rich in natural resources – especially copper, which has been extracted on a large scale since the 1960s under Australian administration. Bougainville votes overwhelmingly for independence from PNG. We are reborn.”. The referendum for Papua New Guinea’s eastern region is now set for October. Pajomile Minaka, from Bougainville’s southern region the 36-year old, who was a child during the conflict , told Reuters he was taking a law course to … A 40-day petition period passed without any complaint lodged, and international observer groups declared the referendum credible, transparent, and inclusive. Sir Puka Temu representing PNG government, said "on behalf of the PNG Prime Minister James Marape I wish to acknowledge this historic day in PNG. One estimate cited by the Lowy Institute says Bougainville would only have 56% of the revenue needed to be self-reliant. Members of the Bougainville Women's Federation celebrate the referendum result on Wednesday.Credit:@UNinPNG. The people of Bougainville, an island group in Papua New Guinea, have voted overwhelmingly for independence. Bougainville’s President John Momis said the territory remained guided by principles of democracy and fair play. This is a key agenda item for the Joint Supervisory Body meeting on Friday in Port Moresby. Bougainville Referendum Results : ‘We are reborn’: Bougainville votes 97.7 % for independence from Papua New Guinea ” That’s my dream, to go and rebuild, We need the best policies, the best laws, to … It involved nearly 1500 polling officials across 829 locations in PNG, the Solomon Islands and Australia. The people of Bougainville have chosen overwhelmingly to become the world's newest nation in a historic referendum to break away from Papua New Guinea. Skip to main content ABC News Homepage He said nearly 98 percent for Independence is a huge testimony of what the people of Bougainville want for their future. “You see my tears – this is the moment we have been waiting for,” she said. The referendum is nonbinding, and independence will need to be negotiated between leaders from Bougainville and Papua New Guinea. Other observers from the Pacific Islands Forum, the Commonwealth Secretariat and some Pacific nations gave unofficial indications they thought the referendum was conducted peacefully and in a largely free and fair manner. We have not learnt enough. In total, 181,067 ballots were cast. The people of Bougainville have chosen overwhelmingly to become the world's newest nation in a historic referendum to break away from Papua New Guinea. ( Log Out / Bougainville President, Ishmael Toroama, is aiming to push Papua New Guinea to make more definite commitments on how both governments will negotiate over the results of the independence referendum. The Bougainville referendum was also witnessed as a celebratory event – defying fears of renewed hostilities. The Pacific island chain of Bougainville has begun voting in a long-awaited referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea (PNG).. More than 1,000 people waited on Saturday morning to … The Bougainville Peace Agreement granted the region more autonomy, and those who opposed secession hoped the pact’s lengthy timeline — allowing for a nonbinding referendum … The official referendum result shows an overwhelming 98 per cent of voters have opted to leave PNG and become a sovereign nation. Last week the election results in Papua New Guinea’s autonomous region of Bougainville were announced. It is hosted by the National Research Institute of Papua New Guinea as a record of an historic national event. The South Pacific region of Bougainville voted overwhelmingly to become the world’s newest nation by gaining independence from Papua New Guinea, results showed Wednesday. Change ). Photos copyright Ben Bohane/Wakaphotos.com The results of Bougainville’s independence referendum are set to be announced Wednesday — with the troubled Pacific islands expected to … Although the PNG government was against independence, and does not have to accept the result, the huge mandate will make it hard to ignore. The referendum voting process is now formally closed. He said that the people have spoken through the votes and the outcome will not be different. How its outcome will be handled remains unclear. The PNG minister for Bougainville affairs, Puka Temu, said “the outcome is a credible one” – but asked that voters “allow the rest of Papua New Guinea sufficient time to absorb this result”. ( Log Out / The United Nations Resident Co-ordinator for PNG, Gianluca Rampolla said the UN was "fully committed to continue providing support to both governments in the post-referendum process". Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It is the hard decisions, and the pains and rewards that has got us thus far". Bougainville will begin counting votes on Tuesday in its independence referendum, officials said, amid expectations that the island once ravaged … ” That’s my dream, to go and rebuild, We need the best policies, the best laws, to be the best country. Of those: 176,928 voted for independence The violence began in the late 1980s, triggered by conflict over an enormous open-cast copper mine at Panguna. Voting in the Bougainville independence referendum is done: more than 98 per cent of valid ballots favored independence. 1,096 were classed as informal, or void. He also thanked the Donor partners, International organizations that observed the polling and the count the UN team, High Commissioners of Britain, Australia, New Zealand and many who were part of the peace process on Bougainville. But mining has been crippled by the war – and the distribution of revenue was one of the factors behind the conflict. Bougainville Affairs Minister Sir Puka Temu presented his ministerial statement in Parliament when it convened last Tuesday. Bougainville Referendum Commission Chairman Bertie Ahern was cheered when he announced that more than 98% of valid ballots favored independence. Nevertheless, the landslide victory will put pressure on PNG to grant Bougainville independence. 3,043 voted for greater autonomy BY GORETHY KENNETH Parliament was officially furnished the December 2019 Bougainville Referendum vote results of 98 per cent voting for Independence. ” That’s my dream, to go and rebuild, We need the best policies, the best laws, to be the best country. As Bougainville prepares for a referendum on independence, Australia must navigate a policy response that acknowledges the history of conflict and colonialism there, Bougainville nationalism, PNG sensitivities, the principles of the guiding Bougainville Peace Agreement and new geostrategic realities to help forge a lasting solution. He said the government of PNG was committed to adhering to the letter and spirit of the agreement. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Under the terms of the agreement, the referendum is nonbinding and will be subject to consultation after the vote has taken place. The BPA culminated a peace process that began in 1998 after nine years (1988–1997) of civil war between the PNG Defence Force, its local militia allies and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA). "This is a transformative political statement and I ask for some time for the people of PNG to absorb and process this result." The referendum is non-binding and the vote for independence will now need to be negotiated between leaders from Bougainville and Papua New Guinea. The process of becoming a separate nation could take years to achieve. The referendum was non-binding – meaning independence won’t happen automatically. Will this place become the world’s next country? Residents of Papua New Guinea’s province of Bougainville have been voting in a referendum to secede from Port Moresby. The referendum was approved by the Papua New Guinea government, but the result is non-binding. Discussions will take place with the Papua New Guinea government to decide when – or if – the transition to full independence can begin. One Bougainvillian, nursing graduate Alexia Baria, told news agency AFP that “happiness was an understatement”. Results announced on Wednesday, had the case for independence backed by 97.7 per cent of the 206,000 registered voters. The ABG President, Chief DR JOHN MOMIS was lost for words after the results were declared by the Chair of the Bougainville Referendum Commission this afternoon. Members of the Bougainville Women's Federation celebrate the referendum result on Wednesday. Young men in their Upe initiation hats, the symbol of Bougainville, line up to vote in the independence referendum in Teuapaii village. Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The Speaker of Bougainville’s Parliament, Simon Pentanu, a highly respected local leader said the region's leadership had come under ridicule and criticism but were "the ones that make the hard decisions. The 2019 Bougainville referendum offered valuable lessons for future elections, Kerryn Baker and Thiago Oppermann write. This was the first election to be held after … ( Log Out / Although it is difficult to imagine PNG ignoring an overwhelming vote for independence, the outcome must be ratified by 111 MPs in PNG’s Parliament and that is not certain in a country famously known as “the land of the unexpected”. FILE PHOTO: Residents hold a Bougainville flag at a polling station during a non-binding independence referendum in Arawa, on the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville November 26, 2019. He said nearly 98 percent for Independence is a huge testimony of what the people of Bougainville want for their future. “There’s tears, tears of joy, raw emotion – people have waited a long time, The pen is always mightier than the sword.”. Out of 181, 067 total ballots counted, 176,928 voted for independence, while 3,043 voted in … Bougainville News Webinar Alert : The use of mobile technologies in the 2019 Bougainville referendum presents both opportunities and challenges for the future of democracy in the Pacific, Bougainville News Alert : WEBINAR – Mobile telephones on for public messaging: Did the Bougainville referendum information hotline make a difference? The results are astonishing: 98.3 percent voted for independence (1.7 percent voted for more autonomy). 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