Non-B’villeans with strong family links can vote in referendum

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Non-Bougainvilleans with strong family links can vote in the Bougainville referendum in October, according to a national gazettal by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President John Momis.
They can be married to a Bougainvillean, be a child of Bougainvillean and non-Bougainvillean parentage, or be an adopted child of a Bougainville clan.
O’Neill and Momis, in the gazettal notice dated Feb 28, said non-Bougainvilleans must comply with requirements of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) to be eligible to register and vote in the referendum.
To be entitled to vote at the referendum, such a person must be a member (whether by birth or by adoption according to custom by the clan lineage) of a Bougainvillean clan lineage (matrilineal or patrilineal) owning customary land in Bougainville.
He or she must be married (whether by law or custom) to a Bougainvillean or must be a child whose parent is a Bougainvillean.
Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato said earlier that non-Bougainvilleans married to Bougainvilleans were eligible to vote.
“The roll for the referendum is separated from the roll used in the previous local and national
elections on Bougainville,” he said.
“This means that inclusion in other rolls does not necessarily mean inclusion in the roll for the referendum.
“This goes to all the MPs of the Government and ABG, including the ABG president.
“No one but yourself can register to vote in the referendum.
“Bougainvilleans living in other parts of PNG will also have to enrol.”