Writs for Bougainville referendum set for August, polling in October

National

WRITS for the Bougainville referendum will be issued on August 16 and polling will start on Oct 12.
Chairman Bertie Ahern, of Ireland, said the Bougainville Referendum Commission remained fully committed to its task and would continue to inform the people of Bougainville on how the preparations were going on.
He said the commission was yet to confirm an arrangement for Bougainvilleans living outside the autonomous region to take part in the referendum. He said the commission had given a letter to the ABG and PNG governments and was waiting to do what the governments wanted done.
“But in our way, we believe it would be better to arrange for them (Bougainvilleans) to vote wherever they are as it would cost less,” Ahern said.
He has had vast experience in such issues in Ireland and other countries.
He said the target date for the completion of the referendum was June 15 next year.
“Our big challenge is to get working on the ground and we need the cooperation of everyone,”Ahern said.