The start of polling in the Bougainville Referendum tomorrow signifies the beginning for the future of the people in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Autonomous Bougainville Government President, Chief John Momis, made these remarks today, when speaking with members of the media who have converged on the Autonomous Region to cover the referendum vote.
According to Chief Momis, whilst former Bougainville and National Government leaders had negotiated and signed the Bougainville Peace Agreement, the start of voting on Saturday will now see the responsibility shifted to the more than 200, 000 eligible Bougainvilleans who have registered in this referendum.
“A lot of credit must go to the people of Bougainville and PNG – the leadership of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville. Despite the difficult situation we’ve found ourselves in, in Bougainville, the people have worked very hard,” Chief Momis stated.
He added that: “…despite the broken promises by the National Government which are enshrined in the peace agreement, the people of Bougainville have never, despite the painful experiences, have never given up on their responsibility to charter their own way forward.”
