President to implement B’ville’s independence in 3-yrs time

THE newly-elected President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Ishmael Toroama says he has “two to three years to implement Bougainville’s independence” from PNG.
“My time frame is two to three years to implement Bougainville’s independence,” he said.
“My job now is to consult with the Government on the peace agreement and other issues and see where we can come up with a sort of understanding that the last government had implemented.”
He said the outcome of the Bougainville Referendum “simply reflects the rights and wishes of the people”. Under the Bougainville Peace Agreement, a referendum to decide the political future of Bougainville was to be held no later than 2020. Last year, 98 per cent of Bougainvilleans voted for independence.