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Big Hopes Pinned On PNG-Bougainville Moderation Talks Next Week
Don
Wiseman, RNZ Pacific Senior Journalist
Scott
Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent
14 March 2025
Papua New Guinea's Minister for Bougainville Affairs has told members of parliament (MPs) about the difficulties in getting the Bougainville referendum outcome to parliament.
His comments came just two days after the Bougainville Leadership Forum set 1 September 2027 as the date for Bougainville independence, in frustration at the holdup.
The Forum was established by Bougainville's Minister responsible for implementing independence, Ezekiel Masatt.
He said that while some may be surprised at the date announced, he is not.
"I think it's a natural progression of what's happening on Bougainville. I think this is a genuine attempt to address some of these issue. I think the people of Bougainville are now demanding a bit more certainty in terms of the independence agenda," he said.
"The Leaders Consultation Forum has now decided that it is time, on the eve of the moderation process, that the national government and the whole world is informed of the people's intentions to now provide a specific date - that being the 1st of September 2027."
Manasseh Makiba confirmed that the key delay is due to his requirement that the tabling of the referendum needs the backing of two-thirds of MPs, while Bougainville is opting for a simple majority.
Consultations with the international moderator, former New Zealand Governor-General Sir Jerry Mataparae, will be held next week.
"Madam Speaker, the reason the referendum result has not been brought quickly in parliament is simply because the consultation is still in progress," he told parliament this week.
"And as soon as the international mediator completes his findings, they will be presented to parliament together with the referendum result. We are hoping that the international mediator will complete his report before the end of July this year."
Makiba said that Sir Jerry may find a solution to the impasse or separately recommend that the PNG government take another approach.
"A possible political settlement that the government can propose to parliament, for parliament to decide."
A former Bougainville regional MP in the PNG parliament Joe Lera believes that the announcement of an independence date is premature.
Lera doubts whether there has been enough consultation and negotiation.
He said that before independence can be agreed to, Bougainville needs to show it is ready from a nation-building perspective.
"Not just from the referendum result perspective," he said.
"To me, both these two sides should balance [and] syncronise. We should be ready financially, we should be ready in the pillars of nation-building - government, people, public services, private sector, economy, education - all these areas."
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