Minister rejects comments on Bougainville referendum

BOUGAINVILLE Affairs Minister Mannaseh Makiba has rejected comments by shadow minister Sir Puka Temu on the Bougainville referendum result and peace process, saying they are incorrect.
“I have been in constant dialogue with the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and its Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Ezekiel Massat regarding the process of tabling the Bougainville referendum result (in Parliament),” Makiba said in a statement.
He said while the deadline for the tabling of the referendum result as outlined in the Era Kone Covenant had passed, it did not mean that the Government was delaying the process.
“I am legally bound to ensure that the tabling of the referendum result conforms to constitutional requirements,” he said.
“Section 342 of the Constitution is clear that the two governments must consult prior to the result being tabled in Parliament. That process is continuing. I am working with Massat to reach an agreement on the best way forward.”
He said that part of that process includes the mechanism by which the result will be tabled.
“The two governments have agreed that the best way forward in tabling the referendum result in the Parliament is by a sessional order,” he said.
“We continue to discuss contents of the sessional order and I anticipate that I will be in a position to move a motion when Parliament next convenes.”
Makiba also refuted Sir Puka’s comments on the Government’s commitment to Bougainville.
“The Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister James Marape, has done more than any other government to resolve the question of Bougainville’s future.”
He added that the Bougainville Peace Agreement contained a number of obligations.
“They include provisions for the Government to progressively transfer powers and functions to the ABG under the region’s autonomy arrangements,” he said.