Bougainville commemorates Foundation Day
Bougainville yesterday commemorated its Foundation Day, marking 21 years since the establishment of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG).
Celebrations commenced with a dawn service at the Bougainville Parliament House and continued with a boat and vehicle float through Buka, showcasing the vibrant colours and spirit of Bougainville.
The main program was held at Hutjena Oval in Buka and attended by ABG Parliamentarians, government officials, community leaders and members of the public under the theme, “From Sacrifice to Sovereignty”.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the ABG Vice President was the ABG Member for Atolls and Minister for Fisheries and Climate Change, Hon. Amanda Masono.
“Sacrifice is not a word we use lightly here. We do not borrow it from textbooks. We earned it. We lost between fifteen and twenty thousand of our own people during the crisis. Every one of them was somebody’s child, somebody’s father, somebody’s mother. When we speak of sovereignty, we are not speaking of politics alone — we are speaking of a debt owed to the dead and a promise made to the living,” she said.
Minister Masono reflected on the recent deliberations in the National Parliament regarding the ratification of the 2019 Bougainville Referendum result.
“There will be many views in that chamber. Some will support us readily. Some will hesitate, and some will resist. That is the nature of any parliament, and it is the nature of a democracy we ourselves believe in.”
“To those who hesitate, the Vice President’s message is not anger. It is dignity. We do not need to raise our voices, because our case was never built on volume. It was built on blood, on a peace we kept when keeping it was hardest, on weapons we laid down, on a vote we held openly before the eyes of the world.”
She reiterated the Vice President’s call for all Bougainvilleans to remain united and steadfast as Bougainville continues its journey amidst current challenges.
“The pressure is now on us as much as on anyone. A target year of 2027 is not a gift — it is an assignment. It asks every public servant, every constituency, every school and every village to make the independence-ready mission our shared and daily work,” she said.
She said independence is not simply a date that the ABG is working towards, but a goal that requires a functioning economy, a capable public service and the capacity for Bougainville to stand on its own.
The celebrations also featured the launch of the ABG Department of Veteran Affairs Corporate Plan, which will guide the Department's priorities and programs in supporting veterans and preserving their legacy.
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