Rural folks need to understand referendum

THE Bougainville referendum is going to be a momentous event and it is only logical that the people should be fully aware of what they will be voting for.
However, reaching the majority of the 300,000 Bougainvilleans in the main islands and atolls to relay the right kind of information has been problematic.
Experts dealing with Bougainville’s preparedness revealed at a seminar on the referendum this week that the autonomous region still needs more awareness in order for people to fully understand the importance of their votes and what that would mean for the future of the region.
Australian university lecturer Professor Satish Chand and former National Research Institute director Dr Thomas Webster recently pointed out the need for such awareness and information dissemination to the Bougainville people.
Webster believes that the lack of communication infrastructure in the region is restricting awareness efforts.
While awareness on a government-to-government level is on-going, the greater concern is for such information to be disseminated in simple language to the rural population.
Before the referendum on June 19, 2019, every Bougainvillean of voting age should know what the watershed event is all about.
Whether it is a vote for full independence or for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville to remain a part of PNG, the people will decide through a secret ballot next year.
The media, especially Bougainville’s own radio station, and the ABG government are responsible for ensuring that the people understand fully what the referendum means for their future.
It has been pointed out time and again that one of the biggest challenges facing Bougainville relates to finance or the economy.
One has to question whether an independent Bougainville can survive or follow the trend of some African states which rapidly descended into socio-economic ruin.
The question of fiscal self-reliance is quite possible, with mining, specifically the closed Panguna mine.
Besides Panguna, Bougainville has other known mineral reserves. But no development can proceed until the moratorium on mining ends in 2025.
The region’s alternative sources of revenue are cocoa and fisheries.
Prior to the crisis 20 years ago, Bougainville was the country’s biggest cocoa producer. And in recent years there has been a lot of work, with the support of donor agencies, to revive the industry there.
There are quite positive signs of it reaching its pre-crises production levels or even exceeding them.
Local chocolate production has also started. If given financial and technical support, the cocoa industry can be the mainstay of the region’s economy.
Self-determination was in some respect brought upon the island although there may have been a desire by some Bougainvilleans to break away from the PNG since the days leading to Independence.
The 10-year conflict, beginning with the shutting down of the Panguan mine in 1989, has resulted in a greater resolve for Bougainville to seek autonomy and self-determination.
The Bougainville Peace Agreement, signed in Arawa on Aug 30, 2001, provides for a referendum on Bougainville’s future political status.
The choices available in the referendum will include a separate independence for Bougainville.
Bougainville and Papua New Guinea need to prepare well for this very important event next year. There may be other provinces which will be closely following this process.
The outcome of the referendum will be subject to ratification by Parliament, although one can expect that the will of the people to decide their future will be respected.