BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE COMPLETES NATIONWIDE CONSULTATION ON BOUGAINVILLE REFERENDUM
A parliamentary bipartisan committee has conducted its extensive nationwide consultations and gathered a public input on the critical Bougainville referendum, aiming to provide a comprehensive and balanced perspective to the National Parliament.
Committee Chairman Dr Allan Marat said the committee’s four key terms of reference, primarily focused on overseeing the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and to report bi-annually to Parliament, through conducting widespread stakeholder consultations.
A significant emphasis has been placed on maintaining a bipartisan approach to ensure that both government and the opposition’s perspectives are represented. The committee members stressed the importance of moving beyond government-to-government discussions to create a truly national conversation.
The key themes that emerged from the consultations were the critical need for national reconciliation, discussions about provincial autonomy, and the complex issue of sovereignty.
Vice Chairman for the Committee and Provincial Member for West New Britain stressed the importance of making informed decisions based on facts rather than emotions or party lines.
The Mataungan Society and the Bougainville Community in East New Britain pointed the deep integration of Bougainvilleans within Papua New Guinea and the necessity of ensuring peace and harmony throughout the process, regardless of the referendum’s outcome.
The committee will compile these consultation results into a report for the National Parliament, providing a critical input for the eventual parliamentary vote on Bougainville’s future.
Established in June this year, the committee had travelled across Papua New Guinea, engaging with citizens in the 4 regions to understand public sentiment regarding Bougainville’s potential independence.
