Presidential Statement at the Third Joint Moderation Consultation meeting
Prime Minister and the PNG Delegation, the United Nations, Moderator, Sir Jerry Mataparae, the New Zealand (NZ) Government and the People of New Zealand, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Sir Jerry, on behalf of the people of Bougainville, I am thankful once again to be here at Burnham, New Zealand to discuss Bougainville’s political issue of independence. This time, through the Moderation Process, led by Sir Jerry, because the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) would not agree on the Ratification Process in the manner in which GoPNG would take the Referendum Results and Outcomes of the Post Referendum Consultations to the floor of the National Parliament.
BURNHAM 1: Burnham Military Camp is the spiritual ground that gave birth to the Bougainville Peace Process. On the 05th – 18th July, 1997, almost 28 years ago. Bougainville leaders, including Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) and the Bougainville Interim Government (BIG), Resistance Faction and the Bougainville Transitional Government (BTG) met on this very ground to put an end to the Bougainville Conflict. The intentions of the talk was to unite the warring parties.
BURNHAM 2: Bougainville Leaders met with the leaders of GoPNG on the 1st – 10th October 1997. The second Burnham Talks came up with the “Burnham Truce”, which led to a regional peace keeping operations into Bougainville led by our neighboring friends including New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Vanuatu and of course supported by our international friends and partners including the United Nations.
Sir. Jerry, you would have a better picture than most as you were the Commander of this combined-force Peace Monitoring Group. The pivotal role you continue to play in the Peace Process is acknowledged Sir.
This Burnham Talks and others resulted in the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) signed on the 30th August, 2001.
The BPA is one of the greatest peace agreements in world and it still stands today, 24 years since it was signed in 2001. And we can humbly thank the New Zealand Government and the people New Zealand for their continuous support. Even today as we speak, NZ has a presence in Bougainville through its Police, and also Volunteer Service Abroad programs and other capacity. However, I want to focus on the road to peace, recovery and progress through the BPA.
Sir Jerry, I must re-emphasize, the Bougainville Leaders have achieved the three pillars in the BPA. By 2004, the Bougainville Constitution for the Autonomous arrangement was adopted and by 15th June, 2005, the ABG was finally established through blood, sacrifice and importantly the will of the people of Bougainville, having the confidence that the ABG was one step towards independence through the constitutionally guaranteed referendum process.
Today, ABG stands with 14 Ministries and 14 Departments, its own Parliament, Parliamentary services, Administrative functions and its own Bougainville Police Service to maintain law and order and a very young democratic process that elects its leaders every five years. Though, resources and capacities continue to pose challenges, ABG is a learning and progressing.
REFERENDUM: In November 2019, the people of Bougainville voted in the constitutionally guaranteed Referendum process. There were only two options provided in the Ballot Paper; 1) Greater Autonomy and 2) Independence; which was defined as “an independent nation state with sovereign powers and laws, recognized under international law and by other international states to be an independent state, separate from PNG.”
As the world is aware, the people of Bougainville voted overwhelmingly for independence at a rate of 97.7%. This is a very high turnout in anybody’s language.
Therefore, the ABG condemns the continuous use of the term “non-binding” referendum outcome. As far as the ABG is concerned the Bougainville Referendum was binding because it was constitutionally guaranteed under Part XIV of the National Constitution.
Post-Referendum Consultations – there were three post-referendum consultations as required by law in Kokopo, Wabag and Port Moresby, which resulted in an agreement to determine a political settlement for Bougainville in “no earlier than 2025 and no later than 2027” as guided by the agreed joint Wabag Roadmap providing for a pathway to the parliamentary process in the Era Kone Covenant (EKC).
I provided the background so we must be reminded of the sacrifices and commitment of the people of Bougainville to the process. We have ensured that the process is mutually agreed to by both parties. I have maintained and respected that all agreements made by the two governments is of legal binding and must be obligated to implement.
Disagreements continued with diverging views, especially on the question to be put before parliament and the voting majority, the ABG position being “simple majority” and the National Government position was “two-thirds absolute majority” required to endorse the Referendum results.
These disagreements prompted the ABG and the GoPNG to convene a JSB meeting to specifically deliberate on the issue of involving a Moderator to mediate the Ratification process between the two governments.
Moderation Process – Sir Jerry was then appointed as the Moderator. We have had two moderation consultations in Port Moresby and I must admit, it has not really satisfied the process in which we must find long term solution and finality to the wish of the people of Bougainville in independence. Most disappointing is that this Moderation process has also been pushing for different models such as free associations, federated states and so on. Bougainville will not accept any other options or models apart from the defined definition of independence in the referendum.
BURNHAM 3: Today, we are back again in Burnham. This time we want look into the future, political independence for Bougainville. This is the only solution for the people of Bougainville. We want to find meaning in this moderation process in Burnham. The people of Bougainville are hoping for finality, they have high expectations that Burnham will finally provide the roadmap to Bougainville’s independence.
But time and time again, we are bombarded by the rhetorics of PM Marape about putting Bougainville’s referendum results in the Tari-Pori Bilum, Bougainville Referendum Result being as high as Mt Wilhelm and looking through each others lenses. It must be appreciated that this language is not acceptable to the people of Bougainville. The people of Bougainville have died for independence and will not accept any other option that is lesser than the definition of independence as defined in the Referendum.
Therefore, I want to make it my commitment to leave Burnham with an agreement that allows for Bougainville’s independence through any form agreement, such as the Heads of Agreement. I am asking both governments to bring finality to the long struggle for the people of Bougainville. I have made it absolutely clear since 2021 and I will make it clear again that Bougainville will not accept any other options but independence.
The Heads of Agreement must provide for independence for Bougainville as agreed to in the BPA, as a compulsory option, the Bougainville Constitution, Part XIV of the National Constitution and mutual agreements by both governments through the Post-Referendum Consultations.
FINAL MODERATION CONSULTATION: The final moderation will be held in Bougainville in June 2025. There is no better time for the Moderator, the ABG and the GoPNG to finalize the independence process for Bougainville. It has been more than 20 years since the BPA was signed. The BPA gives clarity and certainty to Bougainville’s political aspirations and the people of Bougainville want to be assured that their independence is guaranteed.
INDEPENDENCE – if these processes including the Moderation Consultations do not provide for the clarity and finality to the independence my people fought, sacrificed, died and voted for, then Bougainville will be left with no other option but to exercise its right to explore all other precedents and legal options available and at its disposal and will invoke these options as it deems necessary.
For too long the National Government has procrastinated on the Independence issue.
Bougainville is now convinced it is National Government strategy to delay any finality on Independence and hope there is a Regime change through the ABG Elections. Well let me remind the National Government, the Bougainville Constituent Assembly meets in the last week of this month. It might very well adopt the Independence Constitution and set the date for Independence as the 01st September, 2027. There might be no reason to hold another round of Moderation Talks.
Thank you.
H.E Hon. Ishmael Toroama
President - ABG
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