Referendum petition period ends

THE 40-day petition period for the Bougainville Referendum process has closed without any complaint lodged.
Acting chief referendum officer Desmond Tsianai said the end of the petition on Monday (Jan 20) formally ended the electoral portion of the Bougainville Referendum process conducted last year.
“Our sole purpose was to deliver, according to the law, a democratic and credible answer to the question of independence or greater autonomy for Bougainville as voted for by Bougainvilleans,” Tsianai said.
“We are glad that this electoral process is now complete, and that it has proven to be a credible one for all interested parties, as well as international and domestic observers.
“The absence of petitions validates the commission’s own view that the referendum was conducted to international standards and was a free and fair process providing a result which the PNG Government and Bougainville can trust.
“We now wish the two governments best as they commence the next steps of the referendum process as defined by the Peace Agreement: a period of consultation and then a final ratification by the National Parliament of PNG of the political future of Bougainville.”
The 40-day petition period is a normal part of any democratic electoral process and is provided for in the Organic Law on Peace Building in Bougainville, Autonomous Bougainville Government and Bougainville Referendum, 2002.
A petition can be lodged by a voter or by the BRC itself.
The commission meets today in Port Moresby to begin the process of winding up its official duties over the next three months, ensuring all outstanding payments are finalised, and all assets and finances accounted for and dispersed to funding agencies or the two governments.
A comprehensive report is currently being drafted by the commission, including an analysis of the lessons learnt for future elections in PNG and Bougainville, as well as full disclosure of finances and expenditure.
Tsianai said the commission would continue to operate according to its charter, including being professional and transparent.
“We were provided with funds from the two governments, the international community and we continue to be accountable to those bodies during this winding up process,” he said.
After the three months, the commission will revert back to a transitional Commission co-chaired by the two electoral commissioners, and the chief secretaries of the governments of PNG and Bougainville.
On Dec 13, 2019, the commission delivered the following results to the Governor-General: Number of votes for Greater Autonomy: 3,043
Number of votes for Independence: 176,928
Voter turnout was 87.4 per cent (181,067 of 207,213 enrolled), a record voter turnout for a national election.
“The commission again thanks every Bougainvillean who enrolled and cast their vote,” Tsianai said.
“That alone has given credibility to the electoral process, and honours the intent of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.”