DOCSLIB.ORG

The Bougainville Bulletin Edition 11 2017

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Bougainville Bulletin Edition 11 2017 Edition 11 - December 2017 Free copy, not for sale Our voice, Our image, Our place Email: [email protected] | us AutonomousBougainvilleGovernment | www.abg.gov.pg BOUGAINVILLE TO BE MAJOR BOUGAINVILLE ECONOMIC DECLARED PROJECTS UPDATE DEVELOPMENT WEAPONS-FREE Page 6 Page 10 Page 14 AROB-PNG Women unite leaders talk Women of Bougainville have met on the 16th anniversary of the signing of the Peace referendum Agreement to discuss unification and their leadership role in Bougainville’s future. he long deferred TJoint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting between the Autonomous B o u g a i n v i l l e Government and the National Government has been scheduled for the 14-15 December. In a special parliament convened on 22 November President Chief Dr John Momis said some of the agendas are outstanding from previous JSB meetings, while others are focused on referendum preparations. A key issue for discussion will be the eputy Speaker • Discuss unification “In the early part of the recent formation of the DFrancesca Semoso, and solidarity to promote peace process you risked Bougainville R e f e r has brought Bougainville women’s empowerment and your lives going into the e n d u m Commission women together to discuss advance their participation jungles to persuade your and the urgency to their leadership role as in political processes. husbands, children and operationalize it. the region prepares for Ms Semoso said women relatives to put down “We need to appoint referendum. Held at should be educated about weapons and join the peace Commissioners, agree Parliament House, Speaker the roles of the parliament, process,” Hon Hamal said. on an independent Simon Pentanu, gave his leadership and referendum, “History will forever Chair and put in place support to the program and being in the parliament remember the sacrifices systems, processes and based on the belief that itself was an important part you’ve made to help Deputy Speaker procedures to govern women were true leaders of the experience. bring lasting peace to Francesca Semoso how the Commission in the peace process even\ Representing the Bougainville.” “The Member for Tsitalato, Hon will work,” President before the first cease-fire President, Minister for government now looks Fidelis Semoso; Member Momis said. occurred. Public Service, Hon Hamal forward to your vital for Tonsu, Ezekiel Massat; Momis further The conference aimed to: Sawa, said the government contributions during the current and past ministers stated that all of this • Establish and agree on recognized the role played next three years to prepare and members; women’s required the support key issues for women in by women during the early people in the conduct of the regional representatives; and agreement of the Bougainville part of the peace process referendum in 2019 and the UNDP; Auxiliary Police National Government. • Understand the Peace and the overall development period beyond.” and secretaries from various Agreement and its three that has taken place since Witnessing the significant departments. pillars, and participate in the signing of the Peace occasion were Minister for continued on page 5 > key ABG processes Agreement. Economic Development and 2 The Bougainville Bulletin Edition 11 - December 2017 Bougainville news Edition 11 - December 2017 3 What’s Inside ABG strategic Community Governments Bougainville News ...................................................................................3 development plan: Referendum Update .................................................................................6 gets underway Women, Youth, Community .....................................................................8 Department Update - Department of Technical Services .....................10 A brief update ommunity Ms Pearson said they Our voice, Our image, Our place Cgovernment accounts were preparing to conduct Reconciliation and Unity .........................................................................12 have now been established a second round of training Bougainville Peace Agreement ..............................................................13 for all rural areas, together for elected members on Editor’s Desk with a small administration these matters, as well as Economic Development ..........................................................................14 grant to help governments more training on the role of ello Readers, Feature: Simon Pentanu - Rewarding 25 Years in Parliament .............16 establish themselves and ward steering committees, begin to plan and prioritise and inclusive decision- H Community Government .........................................................................18 Welcome to Edition 11 of the Bougainville Bulletin. activities. making including the Since the last edition, there have been some encouraging Sports ........................................................................................................20 Department of voice of traditional chiefs. and very positive developments happening within the Community Government “We want a system that government and our communities. Director, Ms Donna strengthens traditional These developments include establishing progress Pearson, said most systems and roles. in growing Bougainville’s economy, Community governments have already We want chiefs to be Government as well as preparing for referendum in A community group deep in discussion during the Regional Consultations in conducted more than two working together with Bougainville. Buin, South Bougainville. meetings. elected members and The Community Government stories will give you “Community resources people in the governments have been communities.” a preview of their plans as the second level tier of ver the past three Extensive community to be finalised in mid to About the Bougainville Bulletin discussing staffing, Ms Pearson advised government in Bougainville, and also a brief on the months, the consultations in North, late November. Once O logistics, operations, that while 2017 was upcoming Urban Community Government elections. Autonomous Bougainville Central and South approved by the President The Bougainville Bulletin is a publication of the Autonomous Bougainville and many have begun about elections and Bougainville continues to move forward in its referendum Government has been Bougainville together and the BEC, there will Government, produced by the Directorate of Media and Communication. discussions on collection the establishment of preparations despite the many challenges faced by our working hard to develop a with non-resident be a comprehensive of head tax, which community governments, government. These issues are further explained in the new Strategic Development Bougainvilleans in Port communication process to We encourage stories from the public. To submit an article or letter for review, under the Community 2018 will focus on Referendum Update on pages 6-7. Plan. Moresby and members of ensure that all members of please contact us: Government Act they are planning. This step-by- We also bring to you an update on major reconciliations The purpose of the plan the Bougainville Students the community understand able to collect to help fund step approach will make and declarations made by two constituencies in is to provide a framework Association at University of what the ABG will be doing Email: [email protected] development activities,” sure 2019 onwards will Bougainville. This demonstrates their readiness to of priorities for the coming PNG have also taken part. for them in the future. Post: Editor, Bougainville Bulletin, Directorate of Media and Ms Pearson said. bring more support to actively and freely take part in the referendum by years to ensure that the The working group has Importantly, there Communication, Autonomous Bougainville Government, “The ABG is advising community activity Bougainvilleans across our region. public service is able to gained extensive insight will also be a process of PO Box 322, Buka, community governments implementation. An update from the Department of Technical Services on deliver critical services and understanding into measuring and assessing Autonomous Region of Bougainville. that guiding documents to In briefings from pages 10 -11, gives you the latest information on major to enhance autonomy and the needs of ordinary whether the priorities are assist their tax collection the Department of infrastructure developments happening throughout the support fiscal self-reliance. Bougainvilleans, including being addressed. us on AutonomousBougainvilleGovernment are being developed. Community Government, region- the most recent of which was the completion of Work has been led by ex-combatants, youth and All departments will be Electronic copies can be downloaded at: www.abg.gov.pg This will make sure President Momis said that the upgrade and sealing of the Buin Town Roads. Chief Secretary Joseph women. accountable for delivering management of public now that ABG has given If you have access to the internet, please visit the Nobetau, guided by a A final community on each objective, and there The Bougainville Bulletin is produced with funding support from the Bougainville funds is for community power to the communities ABG website www.abg.gov.pg for the latest news on working group of key consultation was held will be regular updates so Program; a development partnership between the Autonomous Bougainville benefit.” through the community development, government, referendum and more. department
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Political Reviews
    Political Reviews The Region in Review: International Issues and Events, 2017 nic maclellan Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 2017 volker boege, mathias chauchat, alumita durutalo, joseph daniel foukona, budi hernawan, michael leach, james stiefvater The Contemporary Pacic, Volume 30, Number 2, 461–547 © 2018 by University of Hawai‘i Press 461 Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 2017 Vanuatu is not reviewed in this issue. As a consequence, disgruntled young Bougainvilleans brought the mine to a Bougainville standstill through acts of sabotage in In 2017, the Autonomous Region of late 1988. The GoPNG sent its police Bougainville in Papua New Guinea riot squads and later its military to the (PNG) entered its final and decisive island and declared a state of emer- stage of peacebuilding, with prepara- gency on Bougainville in June 1989. tions for a referendum on the future Opponents of the mine established political status of the region com- the Bougainville Revolutionary Army mencing in earnest. Peacebuilding on (bra), which took up the fight against Bougainville began in the late 1990s the PNG security forces. Fighting that after a decade-long violent conflict. started in central Bougainville soon During the conflict, Bougainvilleans spread across the whole island. The suffered from the collapse of basic bra adopted a secessionist stance and services such as health and education called for political independence for and the breakdown of infrastructure Bougainville. bra fighters managed and public administration. Out of the to overrun and shut down the mine almost 20,000 Bougainvilleans who at an early stage of the war, and it has lost their lives, only a minority were remained closed ever since.
    [Show full text]
  • Presidential Candidates (2010 – 2015)
    Bougainville presidential candidates (2010 – 2015) This is a brief commentary on the main candidates vying for President in the second ABG and Bougainville parliamentary elections. The views expressed are opinions based on my own observations as well as views deduced from others from conversations on my recent visits to the Island. These views and comments should not be taken as gospel truth. They may assist voters in making considered choices and preferences. 1. James Tanis, incumbent President: Mr Tanis has served as a transitional President following a bye-election 13 months ago; took over at a difficult time at the height of questions and suspicions about Invincible and BRDC and when reconciliation and issues of unsurrendered arms needed political guidance and dealt with decisively to get leadership back on track and restore confidence and trust in ABG; Tanis chose Ezekiel Massat from Buka Island as his Vice President and this has provided a strong, loyal and highly committed political team in discussions with the National Government and many donor countries and agencies. Tanis won his last election through a very condensed, savvy and tactical campaign in villages and communities. He is all too aware that the race to the end is determined by all votes cast; that is to say the second and third preferences are absolutely significant in determining the final outcome. A summary of President Tanis’ achievements in his short Presidency include: a) Proactive involvement by ABG in enabling Panguna landowners to recommence and complete 90% of their reconciliations. Tunis’s personal involvement at community level was a marked departure from the lip service and empty promises by his predecessor and other provincial and national leaders from the area in responding to requests to get ahead with reconciliations in Panguna.
    [Show full text]
  • A Stitch in Time: Preserving Peace on Bougainville 3
    SPECIAL REPORT November 2013 A stitch in time Preserving peace on Bougainville Peter Jennings and Karl Claxton Executive summary This report sets out a plan that Australia should adopt now to help deliver a sustainable solution for the future From late 1997 to mid-2003, Australia at first supported and of Bougainville. The proposal is designed to help prevent then led a pathbreaking unarmed regional peacekeeping the need for a costly military intervention of the type seen mission that helped end a decade of conflict on Bougainville. so regularly in the Pacific in the past 15 years. A concerted The mission ensured that large-scale fighting didn’t resume pre-referendum focus on peacebuilding in Bougainville, and bought time to prepare for a more measured and coordinated with regional partners, will forestall the need for orderly future political settlement. Sadly, those preparations a Timor or Solomon Islands-style stabilisation later. haven’t been sufficient to give confidence that a workable political settlement has taken shape. The Papua New Guinea Government, donors, neighbours and officials on Bougainville have failed to build the capacity needed by the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to remediate the causes of the 1990s conflict. Bougainvilleans do not yet have realistic options to choose either autonomy or independence. Although there have been some positive developments, most indicators are far from encouraging as the 2015–20 window for a referendum approaches. Misunderstandings between Port Moresby and the ABG persist, while Bougainville remains a deeply divided society. Economic imperatives to resume mining add new pressures. The most likely referendum outcome at the moment—Papua New Guinea refusing to ratify a clear but far from unanimous vote for an independence Bougainville is utterly unprepared for—would be destabilising.
    [Show full text]
  • Full List of Candidates for the Second Autonomous Bougainville Government General Elections 2010
    11.04.2010 FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR THE SECOND AUTONOMOUS BOUGAINVILLE GOVERNMENT GENERAL ELECTIONS 2010 * Sitting members are designated with an asterisk KOMPLETTE KANDIDATENLISTE FÜR DIE ZWEITEN ALLGEMEINEN WAHLEN ZUM AUTONOMOUS BOUGAINVILLE GOVERNMENT 2010 * Parlamentsmitglieder der vorangegangen Wahlperiode sind mit einem Sternchen versehen 2010 BOUGAINVILLE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORATE PRÄSIDENTSCHAFTSKANDIDATEN 2010 FÜR BOUGAINVILLE ROBERT ATSIR JOHN MOMIS JAMES TANIS* REUBEN SIARA MARTIN MIRIORI SYLVETER NIU MAGDALENE ITONA TOROANSI 2 NORTH BOUGAINVILLE EX COMBATANTS ELECTORATE FRANCIS BOISIVERE FRANCO HOPPING PETER JOHN BARIK VINCENT VAGASI EDDIE MOHIN BEN MALATAN KORUS JEFFERY MAGUM DAVID TSIKA KORANA RATSI MARCELLINE GETSI LARIS* ATOLLS ELECTORATE (MORTLOCKS/CARTERETS) THOMAS BIKTA FRANK PASINI MARENA BERNARD TUNIM TAEHU KEALI PAIS PAUL TSUBE HAGOGOHE ELECTORATE (BUKA ISLAND) GEORGE KUSI ROBERT HAMAL SAWA* LEO KEHALI GERALD HANETTE DONALD POSONDI PETER SOHIA 3 HAKU ELECTORATE (BUKA ISLAND) JANUARIUS TENEVI* JAMES L BEANI LAWRENCE M KUMANGIN PAUL KEHONO LAWRENCE CHICKA PHILIP KUNES THOMAS DION SOHIA JOEL HIRIATS RICHARD LAHIS LYONS BENJAMIN MURUNA JOSEPH LULUT WESLEY TSURUMI HUBERT H.TOBASI HENRY PETER ONSA GERARD HOLAN RIMANI ANTHONY TSIRINGIN SAM TULO JOHN KOMARIN JAMES KITARAO MICHAEL LATU KORAN HALIA ELECTORATE (BUKA ISLAND) DAMIEN KORA PAUL HATERA CLETUS HAREPA MARTIN GIRIS SAREI ALPHONSE RATSI 4 PATRICK NISIRA* BOWEN RAGU LEO SOLI BORDGER SAMU SEMOSO CHRISTOPHER KABOBO ALEX SILA PEIT ELECTORATE (BUKA ISLAND) DR ALEXIUS SAREI
    [Show full text]
  • 9. Interpreting the Conflict in Summary
    9. Interpreting the conflict in summary This chapter summarises key features of how the Bougainville case will be coded for Peacebuilding Compared. Table 9.1 summarises some key codes that define the section headings in the structure of the chapter. Table 9.1 Summary of some Bougainville codes; 650 other variables are coded Structural factors at root of conflict ‘Consensus’ among analysts that this was a factor or ‘contested but credible’ as a possible factor? Colonialism breeds Bougainvillean Contested but credible resentment against specific forms of exploitation by Australia and a Bougainvillean identity resistant to rule from the capital General breakdown in law and order. Contested but credible Anomie in a chaotic PNG state A qualified ‘resource curse’ of copper Consensus and gold that comes to tempt Francis Ona, Sandline, the PNG state and others to violence. Immigration of ethnic others (especially Consensus highlanders) to Bougainville Proximate factors The BCL mine displaces communities, Consensus destroys the environment, distributes royalties unjustly and opens local divisions between generations and between haves and have-nots Human rights abuses, arson and Consensus payback from PNG security forces Decisions not to renegotiate the BCL Contested but credible agreement in 1981 and 1988 in accord with 1974 agreement Myriad local proximate factors such as Consensus land disputes, sorcery, grabs for local political ascendency Key triggering incidents Demolition of electricity pylons Consensus Rape/murder of nurse Consensus 103
    [Show full text]
  • Bougainville's President Toroama: Part Three – a Candidate in Four Elections 2010–20
    Published on June 29, 2021 Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama (right) at the launch of Halia Constituency's Development PlanAutonomous ( Bougainville Government/Facebook) Bougainville’s President Toroama: part three – a candidate in four elections 2010–20 By Anthony Regan This is the final in a three-part series discussing the little-known record and the leadership attributes of the newly elected (September 2020) President of Bougainville, Ishmael Toroama. This part discusses his candidature in four Link: Page 1 of 6 https://devpolicy.org/bougainvilles-president-toroama-part-three-a-candidate-in-four-elections-2010- 20-20210629/ Date downloaded: September 25, 2021 Published on June 29, 2021 elections in Bougainville since 2010 and considers the extent of, and the likely reasons for, his success in the 2020 Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) presidential election. It concludes with a brief comment on how his record has prepared him for the role of president, particularly in relation to post-referendum consultations with the Papua New Guinea (PNG) government about the future political status of Bougainville. A candidate in four elections 2010-20 Toroama first stood for election in 2010. The unexpected mid-2008 death of the first ABG president, Joseph Kabui (elected in mid-2005), apparently made Toroama attempt a move from a now-ended ‘military’ role into a political role, where he could support the pursuit of independence through political activities. In the 2010 ABG general election, he stood for South Nasioi, one of the 33 single- member constituencies in the ABG House of Representatives. Hecame second, gaining 707 votes to the winner’s 817.
    [Show full text]
  • Partnering for Peace
    Partnering for Peace Australia’s peacekeeping and peacebuilding experiences in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, and in Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. www.acmc.gov.au Acknowledgements We are grateful for the guidance of the Permanent Representative of Papua New Guinea to the United Nations, Ambassador Robert G. Aisi, the Permanent Representative of Solomon Islands to the United Nations, Ambassador Collin Beck and the Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations, Ambassador Sofia Borges. We thank Ambassador Noel Sinclair, CARICOM Permanent Observer to the United Nations, for generously sharing his experiences as former UN Head of Mission in Bougainville. Australia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Gary Quinlan, is acknowledged as the driving force behind this project. The report was produced through a collaborative process led by the Australian Civil-Military Centre with funding and support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Australian Department of Defence, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Special thanks to the officials of these agencies who shared their experiences, knowledge and expertise. In particular, Graeme Wilson and Peter Heyward provided substantial input and assisted with the finalisation of the report. Support was also provided by Sarah Shteir and Pia Simonsen. A large number of Australian government staff overseas contributed time and assistance. Significant input was provided by the Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Australian officials in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste also provided valuable assistance. For their expert input and comments, thanks to Satish Chand, Jim Della-Giacoma, Gordon Peake, Anthony Regan, James Tanis, Paul Tovua, Robert Breen and Edward Wolfers.
    [Show full text]
  • Status and Implementation Of
    RESEARCH REPORT STATUS AND IMPLEMENTATION Kylie McKenna OF THE BOUGAINVILLE PEACE AGREEMENT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR www.pngnri.org REFERENDUM No. 06 January 2019 This page is intentionally left blank RESEARCH REPORT STATUS AND Kylie McKenna IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOUGAINVILLE PEACE AGREEMENT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR REFERENDUM No. 06 January 2019 First published in January 2019 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2019 Te National Research Institute. Direct any inquiries regarding this publication to: Te Publications Unit Leader National Research Institute P.O. Box 5854 Boroko, NCD 111 Papua New Guinea Tel: +675 326 0300/326 0061; Fax: +675 326 0213 Email: [email protected] Website: www.pngnri.org Te National Research Institute (NRI) is an independent statutory authority established by an Act of Parliament in 1988 and confrmed by the IASER (Amendment) Act 1993. NRI is mandated by legislation to carry out independent research and analysis on development issues afecting PNG. Te legislation states that the functions of the NRI are: (a) the promotion of research into Papua New Guinea society and the economy (b) the undertaking of research into social, political and economic problems of Papua New Guinea in order to enable practical solutions to such problems to be formulated. ISBN 9980 75 261 0 National Library Service of Papua New Guinea ABCDE 202322212019 Te opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and not necessarily the views of the National Research Institute.
    [Show full text]
  • Preserving Peace on Bougainville
    SPECIAL REPORT November 2013 A stitch in time Preserving peace on Bougainville Peter Jennings and Karl Claxton Executive summary This report sets out a plan that Australia should adopt now to help deliver a sustainable solution for the future From late 1997 to mid-2003, Australia at first supported and of Bougainville. The proposal is designed to help prevent then led a pathbreaking unarmed regional peacekeeping the need for a costly military intervention of the type seen mission that helped end a decade of conflict on Bougainville. so regularly in the Pacific in the past 15 years. A concerted The mission ensured that large-scale fighting didn’t resume pre-referendum focus on peacebuilding in Bougainville, and bought time to prepare for a more measured and coordinated with regional partners, will forestall the need for orderly future political settlement. Sadly, those preparations a Timor or Solomon Islands-style stabilisation later. haven’t been sufficient to give confidence that a workable political settlement has taken shape. The Papua New Guinea Government, donors, neighbours and officials on Bougainville have failed to build the capacity needed by the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to remediate the causes of the 1990s conflict. Bougainvilleans do not yet have realistic options to choose either autonomy or independence. Although there have been some positive developments, most indicators are far from encouraging as the 2015–20 window for a referendum approaches. Misunderstandings between Port Moresby and the ABG persist, while Bougainville remains a deeply divided society. Economic imperatives to resume mining add new pressures. The most likely referendum outcome at the moment—Papua New Guinea refusing to ratify a clear but far from unanimous vote for an independence Bougainville is utterly unprepared for—would be destabilising.
    [Show full text]
  • Bougainville: Large-Scale Mining and Risks of Conflict Recurrence
    Bougainville: Large-scale Mining and Risks of Conflict Recurrence Anthony J. Regan Research on conflict resolution suggests that the significant risk of conflict recurrence in intra- state conflicts is much reduced by political settlements that ‘resolve the issues at stake’ between parties to the conflict, and that in conflicts involving grievances about distribution of natural resource revenues, such settlements should include natural resource wealth-sharing arrangements. This article shows that the Bougainville conflict origins involved far more complexity than natural resource revenue distribution grievances, and that the conflict itself then generated new sources of division and conflict, the same being true of both the peace process and the process to implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA). As a result, the BPA addresses many more issues than natural resource-related grievances. Such considerations make it difficult to attribute lack of conflict recurrence to particular factors in the BPA. While the BPA provisions on wealth-sharing address relations between the Papua New Guinea National Government and Bougainville, moves by the Autonomous Bougainville Government to explore possible resumption of large-scale mining has generated a new political economy in Bougainville, contributing to new tensions amongst Bougainvilleans. Most academic observers agree that the Bougainville conflict, 1988-97, would not have occurred but for the impacts of the huge Panguna copper and gold mine, operated in central Bougainville, 1972 to 1989, by Rio Tinto’s majority owned subsidiary, Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL). Undoubtedly the dissatisfaction felt by many Bougainvilleans about the share of revenue received by not only customary landowners of mine lease areas, but also the wider population of Bougainville, was a significant factor in the origins of the conflict.
    [Show full text]
  • A Stitch in Time: Preserving Peace on Bougainville 3
    SPECIAL REPORT November 2013 A stitch in time Preserving peace on Bougainville Peter Jennings and Karl Claxton Executive summary This report sets out a plan that Australia should adopt now to help deliver a sustainable solution for the future From late 1997 to mid-2003, Australia at first supported and of Bougainville. The proposal is designed to help prevent then led a pathbreaking unarmed regional peacekeeping the need for a costly military intervention of the type seen mission that helped end a decade of conflict on Bougainville. so regularly in the Pacific in the past 15 years. A concerted The mission ensured that large-scale fighting didn’t resume pre-referendum focus on peacebuilding in Bougainville, and bought time to prepare for a more measured and coordinated with regional partners, will forestall the need for orderly future political settlement. Sadly, those preparations a Timor or Solomon Islands-style stabilisation later. haven’t been sufficient to give confidence that a workable political settlement has taken shape. The Papua New Guinea Government, donors, neighbours and officials on Bougainville have failed to build the capacity needed by the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to remediate the causes of the 1990s conflict. Bougainvilleans do not yet have realistic options to choose either autonomy or independence. Although there have been some positive developments, most indicators are far from encouraging as the 2015–20 window for a referendum approaches. Misunderstandings between Port Moresby and the ABG persist, while Bougainville remains a deeply divided society. Economic imperatives to resume mining add new pressures. The most likely referendum outcome at the moment—Papua New Guinea refusing to ratify a clear but far from unanimous vote for an independence Bougainville is utterly unprepared for—would be destabilising.
    [Show full text]
  • Constitutional Implementation for Sustainable Peace
    Constitutional Implementation for Sustainable Peace FBA Research Report | June 2019 Funded by the Folke Bernadotte Academy Authors: Dr Anna Dziedzic and Laureate Professor Emeritus Cheryl Saunders, co-convenors of the Constitution Transformation Network (ConTransNet) at Melbourne Law School Acknowledgements: This project was generously funded by the Folke Bernadotte Academy, and we are grateful to them for their interest in this research and their support. This projected benefitted from oversight by Professor Pip Nicholson, Dean of Melbourne Law School, and input and support from Ms Charmaine Rodrigues, Coordinator of ConTransNet. We also thank Mr Stefan Pislevic and Mr Joshua Quinn-Watson, both from Melbourne Law School, who assisted greatly with preliminary research. A draft of this Report was sent to a small group of practitioners and scholars from Papua New Guinea, including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, and international experts. While their contribution remains confidential, we express our gratitude to all reviewers for their time, expertise and thoughtful engagement with this project. The Constitution Transformation Network at Melbourne Law School supports the development and implementation of inclusive constitutions globally, with a particular focus on Asia and the Pacific. The ConTransNet team brings together subject matter and country experts in multiple constitutional fields and has supported constitution-building processes in Asia, the Pacific and in conflict-affected countries globally. ConTransNet organises (with International IDEA) an annual Melbourne Forum on Constitution-Building in Asia and the Pacific which brings together regional constitutional experts to exchange good practice and lessons learned, for the practical benefit of ongoing constitution-building processes. ConTransNet team members also regularly run courses at MLS on constitution-making, state- building and comparative constitutional law.
    [Show full text]