Parlt to debate poll result

PARLIAMENT is not duty-bound to accept the outcome of the Bougainville Referendum in the first instance but to receive the result, consider it and make the final decision, Bougainville Affairs Minister Sir Puka Temu says.
Sir Puka, in his report to Parliament yesterday, said the referendum was conducted to the highest international standards and was an eye-opener for Bougainville and PNG.
“For Bougainville to separate from PNG as the definition suggests, it would entail a significant step for a range of critical issues,” he said.
“Bougainville and PNG will be neighbours forever.
“We will continue to have many shared interests.
“It is accordingly important that we pay close attention to the interests and options and issues involved,” he said.
Sir Puka said the national constitution did not provide for separation or secession of a part of the country.
“This means that if the national parliament were to agree to rectify the referendum outcome in favour of independence, the national constitution would have to be amended to allow for it to be granted,” Sir Puka said.
“We must be mindful of the fact that the National Government was signatory to the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
“The referendum vote is in favour of independence.
“However, if Members of Parliament feel compelled not to give legal effect to that outcome, the right place to express that view is through the consultation process in which both governments will engage.”
Sir Puka said the consultation process would start after the mid-year ABG elections, and it might proceed for about 12 months until mid-2021. Prime Minister James Marape said PNG had noted what the Bougainvilleans wanted.
“We will process it in the context to secure the rest of the country from also not going the same path,” he said.
“The country is safe from entertaining the thought of discussing autonomy within the context of succession and we will deal with Bougainville, giving respect to self-determination.
“Bougainville has given us the greatest lesson that with no proper respect to landowners and provincial governments, the nation can pay the highest price,” Marape said.