By Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific
Papua New Guinea’s prime minister has urged the nation to appreciate the gravity of the decision on Bougainville that Parliament is to debate this week.
The PNG Parliament resumed on Tuesday and from Thursday MPs will debate whether to ratify the 97.7 percent vote by Bougainvilleans for independence in their 2019 non-binding referendum.
PNG’s national MPs have the final say, in adherence with the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA), which was signed following Bougainville’s civil war and related crisis of the 1990s, and ultimately provided for the referendum.
“The referendum was legitimate, peaceful and overwhelming in its result, and we respect the voice expressed by the people of Bougainville,” Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement.
As the referendum result is finally to be tabled in Parliament, Marape cautioned MPs and the public not to create division over the issue through threats, fear, regionalism or hostility.
“Every member of Parliament will have the opportunity to speak. Every member will ultimately have to exercise his or her responsibility according to conscience, guided by the Constitution and the interests of our country.”
‘Not an ordinary debate’
“This is a difficult task but duty demands that we do this,” Marape said, while also praying with other MPs for wisdom to guide their deliberations on the issue.
He said Papua New Guineans should appreciate the gravity of the matter because the decisions on Bougainville will have implications for future generations.
“This is not an ordinary parliamentary debate. It concerns our Constitution, our sovereignty, our national identity, the aspirations of the Bougainville people and, above all, the peace that our people have worked so hard to maintain.”
It remains uncertain whether this week’s debate will culminate in a vote on whether to ratify the refendum result as soon as the debate finishes, or whether it will be scheduled at a later point.
Earlier this year, the Parliament set a three-quarter majority threshold requirement for ratification.
The Autonomous Bougainivlle Government (ABG) has said it plans to declare independence in 2030, while it works to prepare for independence in the meantime.
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