The Bougainville independence referendum result will be tabled in Papua New Guinea’s national parliament on 27 August.
After months of uncertainty, both governments have resolved that the Bougainville referendum results will finally be tabled for parliamentary deliberation in three week’s time.
It follows a meeting in Port Moresby of the Joint Supervisory Body, co-chaired by PNG prime minister James Marape and Bougainville’s president Ishmael Toroama.
The 2019 referendum saw 97.7 percent of respondents say yes to independence, although the referendum is non-binding and subject to parliament’s decision whether to ratify or not.
Also to be tabled later is a record of consultations since the referendum, and the Melanesian Framework, which outlines the path forward for either outcome whether parliament votes yes or no to ratification.
Marape and Toroama will jointly determine the date on which Parliament will vote on whether to ratify the result.
In June, PNG’s government surprised Bougainville leaders and others by announcing the ratification vote threshold will be three-quarters of MPs, not the two-thirds threshold usually required for constitutional amendments in PNG.
Bougainville would continue preparations for self-government until 1 September 2027, focusing on strengthening institutions, governance systems, peace and security, and economic readiness.
Marape said the process would be conditional on Bougainville demonstrating financial self-sufficiency, maintaining peace and stability, and eliminating armed violence and factionalism.
