Papua New Guinea’s province of Bougainville referendum for independence
Port Moresby … News time
Papua New Guinea province is set to hold a referendum for independence in Bougainville, and Bougainville could become the new country in the world if the votes are cast as expected. The island’s history includes exploitation, liberation efforts and the gradual process of peace during the 9-year war during the colonial system. There will be a new date here on Saturday when 200,000 people will vote whether they want greater independence or independence. Observers estimate that three quarters of people will vote for independence, but polling is just the first step.
Why Freedom?
The island was named after a French expedition in the 18th century and became part of a German colony called German New Guinea in the late 19th century. Australia gained control of it during World War I, which remained until 1975. It also remained under Japanese control for some time during World War II. The current population of Bougainville is 3 million and during the colonial period its status was a military outpost. Germany established the first administrative center there in 1905, 21 years after the rule. Documents regarding the referendum indicate that the central and northern mountainous areas of Bougainville had no contact with churches or colonial rulers after the Second World War.
Papua New Guinea gained independence in 1975 and Bougainville became its province, although the decision did not receive much support. Shortly before Papua New Guinea, the independence resolution was adopted in Bougainville and it was an attempt to create the Republic of the North Solomons, but it was of no importance to both Australia and Papua New Guinea. The dissatisfaction continued after the failure of the independence resolution, and in 1988 a 9-year war for secession began. It is estimated that between 4 and 20 thousand people were killed in the war. This war ended in 1997 after international arbitration.
This resulted in a Bougainville peace agreement.
Then in 2005 an independent Bougainville government was formed and it was promised that there would be an unconditional referendum for independence. So what options are there now? People now have two options for voting, more independence or independence. The expectations are that the people of the province will vote in favor of independence and there are three possibilities: People vote for greater independence and not for freedom. In this case it will remain part of Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea should recognize the votes cast for independence and begin the process of becoming an independent country. If people voted for independence and Papua New Guinea did not recognize the result or tried to delay further steps, it could lead to a new crisis and conflict. Voting will take place on November 23 and December 7, and results are expected by the end of December. The referendum commission is headed by former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who played a part in the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998, which was part of the peace process there.
What does Papua New Guinea say?
The central government had previously stopped funding for the referendum because it preferred that Bougainville remain a part of it. In October, new Prime Minister James Marape promised that the vote would be unconditional and the Papua New Guinea and Bougainville governments would consider the results. So does PNG want Bougainville to stay with it? Bougainville is rich in natural resources, although bronze and gold mining were damaged by the war. Earlier, this province was the richest province in the country. One worrying thing is that besides Bougainville, there are 20 more provinces in PNG and then they too can demand more independence or separation.
Is Bougainville ready for independence?
If it were to become a new country, it would be much smaller, with an area of only 10,000 square kilometers, a little larger than Cyprus and a little smaller than Lebanon. Likewise, it will be among the least populous countries in the world with a population less than that of its neighboring Veneto and slightly more than Barbados in the Pacific. Australia is its richest neighbor, Bougainville’s richest donor and has also played a mediating role in the ceasefire. It is reported that China has already sent a delegation to research investment opportunities, including plans to build a port. Beijing has recently increased ties with the Pacific Islands and also established diplomatic relations with the Solomon Islands and Kiribati. The US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have also provided financial support for the referendum.
