Masatt outlines three-pronged strategy toward Bougainville’s Independence
ABG Vice President and Attorney General Hon. Ezekiel Masatt has reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to advancing Bougainville’s political agenda through a coordinated, three-pronged approach toward achieving independence.
In his ministerial statement to the Bougainville House of Representatives last week, Vice President Masatt said the government is pursuing independence through three simultaneous strategies — the Bougainville Peace Agreement and referendum, constitutional amendment, and international lobbying.
He emphasized that the law is explicit that independence was the compulsory option in the 2019 referendum, countering attempts by the National Government to redefine or reject the outcome.
“The Bougainville Peace Agreement guarantees that independence must be an option, having been given constitutional coverage under Part 14,” Masatt said. “Although two or more options could be presented, the two governments ultimately agreed to only two options in the referendum ballot — greater autonomy and independence, with independence being the compulsory option.”
Masatt said the National Government’s ongoing difficulty lies in trying to redefine independence within what he described as the “plate of options” it previously proposed.
“I want to remind members of the House that Bougainville can only define independence when it is a sovereign state separate from Papua New Guinea,” he said, warning that any attempt to negotiate outcomes other than independence would “breach the trust of the people,” since free association had already been legally rejected.
On the referendum ratification process, Masatt clarified that ratification means endorsing the people’s decision, not voting against it. “The question that must be asked is whether the National Parliament is willing and ready to accept the decision of the people of Bougainville,” he challenged.
The second strategy focuses on achieving independence through a constitutional amendment, which will involve the formation of a Constituent Assembly to deliberate on Bougainville’s draft constitution.
Masatt explained that the Bougainville House of Representatives converted to a Constituent Assembly in March this year, noting that the members are already mandated leaders. “Issue of writs during the 4th House had ended the term of Constituent Assembly members from the 4th House, but as current members of the 5th House, Members will be sworn in when the President as Chairman of the Constitutional Planning Commission calls for a meeting through the Speaker,” he explained.
The Vice President anticipated that the Constituent Assembly would be established by mid-November, mirroring the approach taken by many Commonwealth nations in their own independence transitions.
The third strategy involves international lobbying to secure recognition of Bougainville’s future status. Masatt said this effort has already begun with countries in the Pacific region including Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands.
He added that Bougainville’s pursuit of United Nations membership will form part of negotiations under the broader Melanesian agreement.
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