The Autonomous Bougainville Government is not perturbed by the statements made by PNG’s Governor General Sir Bob Dadae regarding the region’s aspirations for political independence.

The Governor General warned of Papua New Guinea's disintegration should the National Government allow Bougainville to secede from the rest of the nation.

He made this statement during the Remembrance Day celebrations in Port Moresby today.

ABG President Ishmael Toroama said the Vice Regal was entitled to his opinion but this would not dissuade Bougainville from pursuing its independence aspirations.

“The people of Bougainville have earned the right to choose to be independent after sacrificing our blood, sweat and tears in a conflict that was motivated by greed and undermined the rights of the people by a government that had sworn to protect it,” President Toroama said.

“The Bougainville Peace Agreement guarantees Bougainville this right to be masters of our political destiny,” President Toroama added.

The Governor General’s statement comes at a critical time when the ABG and National Government are consulting over the outcome of the 2019 Referendum where 97.7% of Bougainvilleans opted for independence from PNG.

President Toroama said that Bougainville will continue its Independence Ready preparations while consulting with the National Government.

President Toroama urged Bougainvilleans to be resilient and maintain its resolve to be politically independence.

“Continue to work hard to support the government as we create a new Bougainville that is stable in terms of good governance, fiscal self-reliance and political independence,” President Toroama said.

He added that Prime Minister James Marape has said time and time again that the the 97.7% of Bougainvilleans who voted for independence cannot be silenced.

“We've proven in the past that we could never be silent so let us never be silent until our voice is heard,” President Toroama said.

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