President briefs Parliament on JSB/referendum
President Chief Dr John Momis says significant progress has been made towards referendum and resolving long outstanding issues between the national and Bougainville governments.
The President made the comments at the opening of the final meeting of the Bougainville House of Representatives for 2017.
The President said the two governments, which met last week at the Joint Supervisory Body in Port Moresby, have paved the road for the urgent commencement of the Bougainville Referendum Commission, the independent agency to conduct the referendum in 2019.
“The Prime Minister and I have agreed that former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke is one worthy candidate to lead the Commission and ensure a fair and peaceful conduct,” President Momis said.
Candidates will now be contacted with the two governments to agree on the final candidate before 9 February next year.
The two governments also agreed to appoint two commissioners from each government without delay. Bougainville has nominated Patrick Nisira and Hilary Masiria while the national government will finalise their appointments by 9 February next year.
A trust account will also be established for the Bougainville Referendum Commission with the joint Electoral Commissioners acting as joint signatories. The UN will also be contacted urgently to provide technical support.
The President told Parliament good progress was made to finalise the question or questions to be put to the people at the referendum.
“Both governments have agreed the questions or questions must stick to the terms of the Peace Agreement – they must be simple and clear and include a separate option for independence for Bougainville.”
The President also noted to Parliament other progress made by the joint government meeting:
- Consultations to be conducted with Bougainvilleans in every province on the issue of Bougainvilleans living outside Bougainville participating in the referendum
- Endorsement of a jointly implemented and funded four-stage weapons disposal plan
- Agreement on the terms for the second review of autonomy arrangements
- National Fisheries to be directed to pay the ABG K5 million per year for the years 2014-18
- Agreement on the outstanding Restoration and Development Grant to be paid to the ABG: K437 million (K302 for ongoing national government projects, K100 for Buka Ring Road, K35 for current SIF projects)
- National reconciliation with PNG Defence Force and other parties outside Bougainville
The President emphasised that past differences must be reconciled and put to rest.
“The referendum must be conducted without threat of violence, the outcome must be mutually respected, and the two governments must continue to work jointly to implement the terms of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, an agreement which was jointly created.”
The next joint supervisory body meeting will be held in Buka in April 2018. PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neil and ABG President Dr. John Momis are co-chairs of the meeting.
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