BPA to continue after 2020
The Autonomous Bougainville Government says the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) will not end in 2020 and will continue after the referendum vote.
Secretary for Peace Agreement Implementation and signatory to the Peace Agreement, James Tanis, said he wanted to correct any misunderstanding that the BPA and current autonomy arrangements would end after 15 June 2020 – the final date for referendum according to the terms of the BPA.
“The BPA is a document founded on permanent peace and is based on the principle of ‘Peace by Peaceful means.
“The referendum that is currently targeted for 15 June 2019 is one important activity under the BPA to assist permanent peace on Bougainville – but it does not mark the end of the BPA,” Mr Tanis said.
“This is a very important point that all Bougainvilleans must understand so there will not be any fear about what will happen after June 2020,”
“The Bougainville Peace Agreement does not end after 2020.”
“Bougainville will continue to operate as an Autonomous Region under the powers of the BPA, the Bougainville Constitution and the PNG Constitution until the two governments negotiate a final political status for Bougainville based on the result of the referendum,” Tanis explained.
Mr. Tanis said after the referendum there will be other activities guided by the BPA like the post referendum consultations and ratification, which fall under the post-referendum transition period.
“The BPA will continue to guide both governments because the referendum vote is not the end of pursuing permanent peace for Bougainville.”
Other agreements will be negotiated and signed to take into account the circumstances in the post-referendum period but they still are founded on the foundations of the BPA.”
“Even if Bougainville attains independence as one of the agreed options in the BPA, the Spirit of the Bougainville Peace Agreement will live on,” he said.
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