Reality Check for Bougainville Independence Dreams - Bougainville Is Still PNG

Bougainville saying it will be fully independent on September 1, 2027 sounds bold, but it’s not happening. Not like this. Not now. And probably not anytime soon. Declarations don’t create countries. Power, law, and agreement do.

Here’s the cold truth, Bougainville is still part of Papua New Guinea. That’s not an opinion, that’s the legal fact. PNG is one country. One flag. One constitution. You don’t just wake up, pick a date, and walk out like it’s a bad relationship.

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea will not allow this to happen. Trust me. James Marape and the current government, backed by parliament and the constitution and foreign powers are not going to let Bougainville just declare independence and call it a day. No government on earth gives up territory because of speeches and emotion.

Talking about raising flags and singing anthems is symbolic, sure. But symbolism doesn’t override national law. PNG leaders are not going to hand over sovereignty because someone calls a date “sacred.” Politics doesn’t work on vibes.

This is not an attack on the people of Bougainville. The people have suffered, and their history is real. But leadership needs to stop selling dreams that can’t be delivered. False hope is worse than no hope.

Bougainville is part of Papua New Guinea and will remain part of Papua New Guinea unless the national government agrees, the constitution changes, and the process is fully legal. That’s the reality. Anything else is just noise.

We are one country. Dividing ourselves with impossible promises helps nobody. Focus on unity, development, and real progress, not independence talk that the system will shut down the moment it gets serious.

Harsh? Yes. True? Also yes.

By The Hardest Pills to Swallow

Editorial|PNG SUN| - Papua New Guinea Government's Position and The Respond from the Autonomous Bougainville Government President Ishmael Toroama

#pngsun #editorial: Autonomous Bougainville Government President Ishmael Toroama has made it clear in the recent past that Bougainville will move forward with its independence plans even if the PNG Parliament rejects the 2019 referendum result.

He was bluntly speaking in a video recorded during the passage of its annual budget.

His strong stand reflects growing frustration among Bougainvilleans. This must not be taken lightly by the National Government and its relevant ministry with the Parliamentary bodies. It is not a threat but possibilities.

The statement itself reflects elements of possibilities in light of regional diplomatic ‘cold wars’ before us.

To PNG, the island has an autonomous government but still part of its territorial integrity. To the world, the ABG is invited directly by overseas governments to attend events, forums and meetings.

We do not want anymore wars-we have had enough. Wars are definitely not the panacea to their aspirations. Everyone wants a peaceful journey determining the political future of the island.

We have a vehicle Joint Supervisory Body through the Melanesian partnership agreement between the two parties. It drives views of each party in mutual and peaceful means.

What is needed urgently is an open and honest discussion based on reality, not emotion, pride, or political pressure.

Independence does not have to be an all-or-nothing choice. Around the world, there are workable models where regions control their own affairs while keeping some links with the main country.

Examples include Guam and Puerto Rico under the United States, Greenland under Denmark, Hong Kong under China, and the United Kingdom’s devolved system. These models show that strong self-rule can exist without a total breakdown.

A smart option for Bougainville would be to push for full control of resources, revenue laws, and local governance, while PNG carries old national responsibilities. Bougainville could also use easy access to PNG markets to grow jobs and income.

For PNG, such arrangements could protect stability, reduce financial risks, and keep economic ties alive.

The real problem is not lack of choices, but lack of fresh thinking. Honest dialogue and practical solutions are now more important than ever.

Oscar Temaru's Tavini Huiraatira party wins round one of French Polynesia's territorial elections

For the first time, the Tavini came first in several large towns in Tahiti and dominated in Moorea. Photo: Tahiti Infos / Antoine Samoyeau

French Polynesia's pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party has come out on top in the first round of the territorial elections.

The party led by Oscar Temaru won almost 35 percent of the votes, beating the ruling Tapura Huiraatira party of Edouard Fritch, which obtained 30 percent.

The recently formed A Here Ia Porinetia was the only other party to clear the 12.5 percent threshold to make it to the run-off round in two weeks.

The other four lists are eliminated, including Amuitahiraa O Te Nunaa Maohi, which is the renamed Tahoeraa Huiraatira party founded by the veteran politician Gaston Flosse.

For the first time, the Tavini came first in several large towns in Tahiti and dominated in Moorea.

With 35 percent of the votes, it substantially improved its first-round result from the elections in 2018 when it won 20 percent.

The results show a sharp drop in support for the Tapura, which in the first round in 2018 won 43 percent of the votes.

The Tahoeraa, which then won 29 percent, plummeted to less than 12 percent and will no longer be in the assembly.

The party had dominated French Polynesian politics for decades but was gradually weakened by internal rifts after Flosse was forced to relinquish power over corruption convictions in 2014.

Expulsions and defections led to the formation of a slew of new parties, most notably the Tapura.

Observers said the Tavini gains this year could in part be attributed to its campaign to repeal a recently adopted additional tax.

They also said there was displeasure with the government's response to the pandemic.

Last year, Fritch and the former vice-president Tearii Alpha were both been fined for flouting Covid-19 rules they put in place.

Alpha, who was the vice-president at the time, invited 300 people, including all cabinet members, to his wedding at the height of restrictions.

The leaders' inconsistency prompted the resignation of the tourism minister Nicole Bouteau who formed a new party together with a former vice-president Teva Rohfritsch.

While they failed to get their party to the second round, another former vice-president Nuihau Laurey led the A Here Ia Porinetia to win enough votes to contest the runoff round.

In a reaction on election night, Fritch said he still believed most voters preferred autonomy over independence.

Also on election night, Tavini's Tematai Le Gayic said the territorial elections were not to be viewed as some sort of independence referendum.

Observers said Tavini might get the support of those who voted for eliminated parties opposed to Tapura and retake power.

In what was a surprise last year, the Tavini candidates beat the Tapura candidates to win all three of French Polynesia's seats in the French National Assembly.

Fritch described that outcome as catastrophic, given the dominance of the Tapura in the territorial assembly.

A Here Ia Porinetia also hopes to get support from voters of the eliminated lists.

Laurey and party founder Nicole Sanquer have been campaigning for a renewal of the territory's leadership.

The party proposed a maximum of two terms for elected officials to prevent people entering office for life.

In the second round, on April 30, the list winning most votes will get a third of all seats as a bonus, which assures it securing an absolute majority.

The remaining two thirds of the seats will then be distributed according to the lists' relative strength.

The system was reintroduced by France in 2011 after nearly a decade of political instability.

In 2018, the Tapura won less than half of the votes but because of the bonus clause it obtained two thirds of the 57 seats.

While Fritch has said he will seek re-election as president in May, Tavini's Oscar Temaru will not contest the top job despite heading the Tavini list.

The party has said it will nominate as its candidate Moetai Brotherson, who is a member of both the French Polynesian Assembly and the French National Assembly.

avini Huiraatira party's Oscar Temaru will not contest the top job despite heading the Tavini list Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

France happy with UN reaction over New Caledonia

France says the UN decolonisation committee has welcomed an invitation to New Caledonia following the territory's third rejection of independence from France in December.

The invitation was made by the French overseas minister Sebastien Lecornu who briefed the committee in New York last week.

Mr Lecornu said while the series of referendums under the Noumea Accord has been completed, it only marks a step in the process started in 1988.

He said it is now necessary to get out of the logic of pro- and anti-independence politics and instead open a new page of discussions to build a common institutional framework.

France wants to hold another referendum in June next year about a new, yet to be determined statute for a New Caledonia within France.

In December, more than 96 percent of voters rejected independence in the third and final referendum, which was marked by a majority of voters abstaining.

The vote was boycotted by the pro-independence parties after Paris rejected concerns about the impact of the pandemic and refused to postpone the plebiscite.

Pro-independence politicians visited the UN days before the vote, with their parties rejecting the referendum outcome as illegitimate.

They said they will only discuss a path forward once France has had its presidential elections, and then they will only talk about terms to attain independence.

New Caledonia has been on the UN decolonisation list since 1986

Bougainville referendum: voting begins amid scenes of jubilation

People are ‘in the mood for celebration’ as they choose whether to split from Papua New Guinea

After 20 years, the big day has finally arrived for the people of Bougainville. Large crowds gathered on Saturday at the aptly named Bel Isi (Peace) park in Buka for the first day of a two-week referendum to decide whether the archipelago should become independent from Papua New Guinea.

Amid a significant security presence, hundreds of Bougainvilleans marched through the streets as they followed the autonomous region’s president, John Momis, as he arrived at a polling booth to cast his vote.

Momis, accompanied by his minister for Bougainville affairs, Sir Puka Temu, and the referendum commissioner, Ruby Mirinka, was the first to cast his vote.

Bougainville regional president John Momis waves as he arrives at a polling station in Buka on Saturday. Photograph: Ness Kerton/AFP via Getty Images

The jubilant crowd cheered on as groups danced to the beat of bamboo pipes, singing songs of freedom that described the crisis of the past and a peace process that started at the end of the civil war 20 years ago and which paved the way for the referendum.

As he exited the polling booth after casting his vote, Momis waved to the crowd who replied with shouts of support as they waited for their turn to vote.

“It’s obvious that the people are now in the mood for celebration and I join them as they have every right to celebrate,” Momis told a media conference. “This is a forecast or beginning of good things to come if we collaborate and work as trusted partners to implement something that both parties have contributed to.”

With tears in her eyes, Justina Panu, a voter from Arawa, said that it was thrilling to watch her president vote. “We are excited and emotional,” she said.

Janet Chigoto, from Buin, waved her large Bougainville flag and said: “I am proud and happy. The time has come for us to vote for what we’ve been waiting for. Blood has poured on our island. We want our own powers to run our country so I am going for Box Two.”

“It’s a great moment for me,” said Barnabas Matanu from Buka. “It’s been long overdue and we’ve been waiting for years. We are enthusiastic and on cloud nine.”

Over the next two weeks, everyone over the age of 18 will have the option of requesting greater autonomy within Papua New Guinea, or full independence. Voting will take place in select towns and stations around the island of Buka and mainland Bougainville.

A young voter, Tanya Okia from Kieta, hoped that her generation would see a free and independent Bougainville. “Bougainville will rise. Myself and the other 365 youths here, we are all heading for number 2 box.”

“I will be putting my ballot in box 2,” said Moses Seropa from Arawa. “I want to see Bougainville become our own country, in my lifetime. I want to see us producing our own products. We have tons of natural resources, good lands and great farmers so we need to take ownership starting with this vote.”

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/

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Powes Parkop on Bougainville Referendum: A Historical Day for Our Country

Source: Facebook.com

Bougainville has impacted our country in so many ways. Whether it was contributing to the economy, shaping of the constitution and system of governance, or the tragic years of conflict in 1988 to 1997 and in many other ways, Bougainville remains an integral part of PNG.

Today we enter another historical day for Bougainville and the rest of PNG. Whatever happens from here on will be historical, as it will impact our country and the history we shared. Despite the outcome, let us be comfortable with the fact that this nation of a thousand tribes is strong and it’s future is stronger because of this diversity. This is our strength and not our weakness. Diversity makes us stronger and we become better people and a better nation. It is not an easy Union but it’s an opportunity for us to build a greater nation and future.

Remember without Goliath, a mere Shepard boy with no skills and knowledge other than being a sherpard, could never be the King of Israel.

This massive fusion of our diverse nation of a thousand tribes and 860 languages into one prosperous nation is a mammoth task and our own Goliath. But it is also an opportunity for us to challenge ourselves to foster a respectful, tolerant and grateful country where we can all thrive together to build a prosperous future.

How wonderful it would be when we overcome all our stereotypes and inhibitions that we have against each other. It will be like David has slain Goliath who had been tormenting the Israelites for so long. So here, we have an opportunity to show equality, to allow freedom, and show true democracy where all tribes and languages have a stake at the table. It has been painful, tragic and a long journey, but let us be confident that we will prosper after today and we will secure a greater future with Bougainville still having a strong place and role in our stride to prosperity.

Congratulations to Sir Puka Temu and all the leaders who have shaped this journey since the Peace Agreement, up to this historical day. Let us be confident about the future, as a unique rainbow nation of a thousand tribes and 860 plus languages. Together, we are stronger!

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via IFTTT November 25, 2019 at 07:45AM

Bougainville: World’s newest nation expected to form as islands vote in independence poll

Region thought likely to break away from Papua New Guinea would be first new country since South Sudan

• Nick Perry, The Independent Online

The Pacific islands of Bougainville are voting in a historic referendum to decide if it will become the world’s newest nation by gaining independence from Papua New Guinea.

The vote will run over two weeks and is a key part of a 2001 peace agreement that ended a civil war in which at least 15,000 people died in the cluster of islands to the east of the Papua New Guinea mainland.

Experts believe the 250,000 people of Bougainville will vote overwhelming in favour of independence ahead of the other option, which is greater autonomy, but the vote will not be the final word.

The referendum is non-binding and a vote for independence would need to be negotiated by leaders from Bougainville and Papua New Guinea. The final say would go to legislators in the Papua New Guinea parliament.

Gianluca Rampolla, the UN resident co-ordinator in Papua New Guinea, said the world body has been working hard to ensure the vote is peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible. He said there are 40 UN staffers on the ground and more than 100 international observers.

He said it is unlikely there will be violence during voting.

“They’ve been waiting 19 years for this historic moment,” he said. “I think they will be left with joy.”

Just over 200,000 people are eligible to vote in the referendum, with the results due in mid-December. Mr Rampolla said the extended voting period of two weeks is due to the region’s rugged terrain.

“There are people coming on boats, there are people walking,” he said. “It’s the rainy season. There are rough seas. Flexibility is needed to adjust on the ground.”

Voters have two weeks in which to cast their ballot (AP)

John Momis, president of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, told reporters on Friday the region stood on the verge of a new socio-economic and political order.

“We are trailblazers forging a new path into the unknown with the sheer determination to face any challenge that comes our way,” he said. “We will face this together as one people and one voice to decide our ultimate political future.”

In his weekly column in the Post-Courier newspaper, Papua New Guinea prime minister James Marape said complex discussions and negotiations would be needed after the referendum before a political settlement could be reached.

The violence in Bougainville began in the late 1980s, triggered by conflict over an enormous open cast copper mine at Panguna.

The mine was a huge export earner for Papua New Guinea but many in Bougainville felt they got no benefit and resented the pollution and disruption to their traditional way of living.

The mine has remained shut since the conflict. Some believe it could provide a future revenue source for Bougainville should it become independent.

The civil war lasted for a decade before the peace agreement was signed. The other key aspects of the agreement were a weapons disposal plan and greater autonomy for the region.

Mr Rampolla said the peace agreement had been one of the few in the world that had lasted so long. He said it could end as a success story if the referendum and subsequent negotiations resulted in an outcome that everybody could support.

Press Association

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PNG’s O’Neill sounds warning on eve of Bougainville referendum

Papua New Guinea’s former prime minister Peter O’Neill has sounded a note of warning on the eve of Bougainville’s independence referendum.

Photo: AFP or licensors

People from the autonomous PNG region are this Saturday to begin a two-week polling period for a non-binding vote on whether Bougainville should be independent or have greater autonomy.

The result of the referendum is subject to ratification by PNG’s national Parliament.

Mr O’Neill, who was replaced as prime minister by James Marape in May, said people needed to make an informed decision in the vote.

Referring to the Bougainville civil war, he said PNG could not go back to the crisis and loss of life.

“We have to all work together to ensure the peace and unity of our people,” Mr O’Neill said in a statement.

“Now the vote must be undertaken in a peaceful manner, properly supported by our security forces to ensure transparency and public confidence.”

Recently, numerous past and present PNG prime ministers have been advocating togetherness and urging Bougainville to stay with the nation.

But a grandmother from Bougainville’s Guava village, atop the Panguna mine which sparked the civil war, said the overtures had come too late in the piece.

Maggie Voring said the trauma of devastated families lingered on decades after the civil war, and that Bougainvilleans had largely made up their minds.

“That is too late. Long time ago, [PNG] they step on us. I’m thinking that after this next move, we’re just going independent… because of our bloodshed.”

Source: RNZ

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via IFTTT November 23, 2019 at 08:15AM

Expectations high as Bougainville referendum gets underway

Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific Journalistjohnny.blades@rnz.co.nz

Polling for Bougainville’s independence referendum gets underway today.

The autonomous Papua New Guinea region’s non-binding referendum is the ultimate provision of 2001’s Peace Agreement which formally ended hostilities in Bougainville’s civil war.

Bougainvilleans have entered into celebratory mode for this historic occasion. Bougainville flags are everywhere, festivities have broken out, and the mood around the region indicates that the favourite option on the ballot is number two: for independence, rather than greater autonomy within PNG.

The two week polling period starts in the main centres of Buka and Arawa as well as numerous remote locations and then will move around Bougainville progressively.

In coming days polling also gets underway in other parts of PNG and two locales in neighbouring countries – in Brisbane, Australia and Gizo in Solomon Islands.

Bad weather is threatening to delay the start of polling in Bougainville’s atolls. But at this stage nothing will dampen the spirits of a people who are clearly expectant that this is the next step towards the birth of a new nation.

A cultural group performing in Bougainville Photo: RNZ Pacific / Johnny Blades

Cultural groups have been performing in anticipation of the start of polling in parts such as Tinputz district.

A ward representative in Tinputz, Peter Aromet, said Bougainvilleans had been eagerly awaiting this moment since the end of the crisis about two decades ago.

According to him, the experience of going through civil war had shaped the region’s aspirations for independence.

“During the crisis people went through a lot of traumas. If we can turn those traumas into something good, from pain to something positive… I believe that all these traumas that we’ve come through, that we went through, we can use them for something positive.”

“People are very excited about what is expected especially the process between now an December,” said Theresa Jaintong, an Arawa-based social worker and reconciliation leader.

In terms of how the vote may pan out, Ms Jaintong said the ball was firmly in the court of Bougainvilleans.

“It’s up to us Bougainvilleans really to embrace the outcome and then what government will go into, and then drive it together. We have to be really united – the whole Bougainville – at all cost.”

Like many people in Bougainville, Mr Aromet is anticipating a period of transition following the outcome of the referendum, although a time frame is yet to be mapped out by the PNG and autonomous Bougainville governments.

Expectations placed in the referendum by Bougainvilleans are high, although the vote result requires ratification by PNG’s parliament before being implemented.

“If the outcome is positive or in favour of the Bougainvilleans, it might not turn out as people expect,” Mr Aromet admitted.

“But I believe it’s going to take a process. We’ll go to a transitional period – it might take five or ten years, then we’ll go to independence.”

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Bougainville vote results to be delivered in one announcement

Results in Bougainville’s upcoming referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea will be delivered in just one announcement.

The two-week polling period for the non-binding referendum begins on 23 November.

The verification, scrutiny and count process is to begin at the Count Centre in Buka once polling closes on 7 December.

The Bougainville Referendum Commission’s chairman Bertie Ahern said the vote would be delivered to the highest of international electoral standards.

He said that given the need to deliver a clear and credible process, a running tally of votes would not be provided, in order to avoid confusion.

“We are sure that the process will be safe, secure and will enable us to deliver an accurate and credible result,” he said.

“We are also following internationally recognised steps to ensure that the process is open to scrutineers, observers and the media.”

Mr Ahern said that the commission hoped to conclude counting well before the final date for the return of the writ – 20 December.

“Given the emotions of the vote, we will announce just one set of results, which will be the final one so as not to confuse people.

“The BRC will announce the final number of votes cast for greater autonomy and independence, plus the number of informal ballot papers. No more, and no less.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of scrutineers and observers have received accreditation to monitor Bougainville’s upcoming independence referendum.

Briefings were held yesterday in Bougainville’s three main centres, Buka, Arawa and Buin, for 95 observers and 554 scrutineers.

The Bougainville Referendum Commission said the briefings were to ensure the observers and scrutineers understood their role in supporting a transparent and credible referendum.

As well as dozens of domestic observers, several teams of international referendum observers will be converging on Bougainville in the next week ahead of the vote.

Source: RNZ

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Bougainvilleans encouraged to prepare for post-referendum

Bougainvilleans are being encouraged to consult with teams holding transitional dialogue on what happens after the upcoming referendum.

People from the autonomous Papua New Guinea region begin a two-week polling period tomorrow for a non-binding vote on whether Bougainville should be independent or have greater autonomy.

The result of the referendum is subject to ratification by PNG’s national Parliament.

The co-ordinator of the Bougainville Transitional Dialogue for the region’s central district, Agatha Banako, said they were helping people prepare for the period following the vote.

It was an ongoing process that was overseen by the PNG and Autonomous Bougainville governments.

“Whatever the result is, we still have to let the people speak their minds out – what they think on how Bougainville should be run. What are the things, the priorities and how they should be set up, for example areas of economy, education, health,”

she said.

Ms Banako has also been helping disabled people in her ward to get papers to participate in the referendum by postal vote.

As the deadline for obtaining papers for postal voting approached, Ms Banako said it was important for disabled people and others who might struggle to reach a polling station to get papers with the correct information.

Source: RNZ

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Referendum offers possibility of change for Bougainville’s atolls

Communities on Bougainville’s atolls hope the upcoming independence referendum is an impetus for improved services to the remote islands.

A two-week polling period begins this Saturday for Bougainville’s referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea.

The non-binding referendum is a provision of 2001’s Bougainville Peace Agreement, which formally ended hostilities from a civil war which raged through the 1990s.

Sione Paasia, an aviation consultant who hails from Takuu atoll (also known as Mortlock), says all of Bougainville has suffered from neglect of public services since the civil war.

He says that for people of Bougainville’s atolls, their biggest need is for more frequent shipping services.

On average a ship comes by only about five or six times a year, he says.

“And that makes it hard for a lot of things, including economic activities, including health and education services especially.

“So as a result there’s been a huge urban drift from the atolls to Buka and a lot of other parts of PNG.”

According to Mr Paasia, he is one of about 1600 Takuus who left their atoll in search of opportunity and are now scattered around PNG and other parts of the world.

He’s been told there’s less than 400 people left on Takuu itself.

Nukutoa village, Takuu. Photo: Briar March

The Bougainville Referendum Commission has gone to significant lengths to enrol people of Bougainville’s atolls to participate in the vote.

The islanders see the referendum as a potential step towards restoring some of the cohesiveness that Bougainville’s economy and public services had before the civil war.

Apart from the Panguna copper mine, which was central to sparking the crisis, the Bougainville economy had been been under-pinned by agriculture, especially based on thriving cocoa and coconut plantations which have still not recovered.

And Mr Paasia says that Bougvainville has another valuable resource – good leaders.

“I believe the reason why we did so well back then was that we had leaders who had convictions and who were not involved in self-interest. They were focussed on what we need to do for Bougainville,” he says.

“Natural resources don’t necessarily make a country prosper, unless you have good leaders.

“Suffering tends to change people,” Mr Paasia says, adding that he feels there are now more people who seek benefit without putting in the hard work.

It didn’t help Bougainville that widespread destruction of its public infrastructure, and the lasting trauma of armed conflict, robbed multiple generations of access to education.

“Today there’s a lot of opportunists out there, and I think it’s been driven by this mindset – which we have probably borrowed from the rest of PNG of handouts,” Mr Paasia says.

In his view, the upcoming vote for independence or greater autonomy offers a chance to change this.

“PNG will be a better country if Bougainville becomes independent.”

He believes Bougainville and PNG can co-exist harmoniously and prosper in partnership.

“As long as we identify the right leaders who are progressive and have that mindset and integrity to lead Bougainville post-2020.

“There’s a lot of good Bougainvillean leaders out there who are yet to step up onto that platform of leadership. And if we can get those leaders in there, we’ll turn Bougainville around and we’ll turn the services to the atolls around as well.”

Source: RNZ

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Referendum di Mikronesia ditunda

Pohnpei, Jubi – Referendum untuk menentukan kemerdekaan bagi negara bagian Chuuk di Mikronesia, yang rencananya akan dilaksanakan bulan depan telah ditunda, menurut pejabat-pejabat senior di negara Pasifik itu, Jumat (22/2/2019).

Sebelumnya, pemungutan suara untuk memutuskan apakah Chuuk akan berpisah dari Federasi Mikronesia (Federated States of Micronesia; FSM), dijadwalkan diadakan bersamaan dengan pemilihan nasional pada 5 Maret 2019 mendatang.

Namun, penasihat hukum utama untuk badan legislatif negara bagian Chuuk, Eliesa Tuiloma berkata, referendum yang awalnya seharusnya dilakukan pada Maret 2015, kembali ditunda sampai waktu yang belum ditentukan.

“Ya, referendum itu akan ditunda,” katanya kepada AFP. “hal ini akan memungkinkan kita untuk menilai lebih mendalam implikasi-implikasi konstitusionalnya.”

Federasi Mikronesia (FSM) terdiri dari lebih dari 600 pulau di sebelah utara Pasifik, yang terbentang lebih dari ribuan kilometer dengan luas area daratan hanya 700 kilometer persegi (270 mil persegi).

Chuuk adalah negara bagian terbesar dari 4 negara bagian FSM dengan populasi mencapai 50.000 jiwa, mencakup hampir setengah dari populasi negara federasi itu.

Sebagian besar penduduk setempat di Chuuk sudah lama dongkol karena ibu kota nasional FSM, Palikir, berada di negara bagian Pohnpei. Selain itu mereka merasa tidak menerima sumber daya yang memadai dari pemerintah, yang menimbulkan desakan untuk merdeka. (PINA)

Editor: Kristianto Galuwo

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via IFTTT February 27, 2019 at 11:56PM

Komisi Referendum Bougainville terima bantuan asing

Buka, Jubi – Australia membenarkan bahwa mereka akan menyalurkan bantuan hingga K 2,4 juta, untuk mendukung pekerjaan Komisi Referendum Bougainville (Bougainville Referendum Commission; BRC).

Pengumuman itu dikeluarkan oleh Komisaris Tinggi Australia untuk PNG, Bruce Davis, di Buka, kemarin (24/2/2019), dalam pertemuan dengan Komisaris Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, George Manu, dan Komisaris Referendum Referendum Commissioner Patrick Nisira.

K 1.2 juta pertama telah diberikan melalui proyek pendukung persiapan referendum Bougainville yang dijalankan oleh Program Pembangunan PBB UNDP. Dana tersebut diberikan untuk menyokong komisi BRC, dalam melaksanakan referendum yang kredibel.

Bantuan ini adalah bagian dari dana K 120 juta per tahun yang disediakan oleh Australia untuk Daerah Otonom Bougainville (Autonomous Region of Bougainville; ABG) melalui kemitraan antar-PNG dan Australia.

“Sebagai saksi saat Perjanjian Perdamaian Bougainville 2001, Australia ingin menyaksikan suatu proses yang dijalankan dengan baik yang mendukung prospek untuk perdamaian, dan stabilitas yang berkelanjutan di masa transisi,” kata Davis.

Komitmen baru ini di luar dari dukungan Australia yang sudah ada untuk pelaksanaan referendum Bougainville, termasuk AU$ 6,6 juta (K 15,8 juta) untuk bantuan teknis kepada Komisi BRC, dan AU$ 3,1 juta (K 7,4 juta) yang dialokasikan untuk lembaga penelitian nasional PNG, National Research Institute, guna mendorong dialog yang lebih cerdas mengenai status masa depan Bougainville.

Komisaris Nisira berterima kasih kepada rakyat dan pemerintah Australia, atas dukungan pendanaan yang tepat waktu.

“Saya meminta kepada pemerintah nasional untuk menyediakan K 20 juta, agar BRC dapat melakukan pekerjaan independennya dalam persiapan pelaksanaan referendum,” katanya.

“Saya juga memohon lembaga-lembaga donor internasional untuk membantu menyediakan dana yang sangat dibutuhkan, demi melancarkan referendum di Bougainville.”

Nisira juga berterima kasih kepada Pemerintah Selandia Baru dan Jepang atas bantuan mereka. (Post-Courier)

Editor: Kristianto Galuwo

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via IFTTT February 27, 2019 at 11:54PM