Bougainville leaders seek guarantee

Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea Post-Courier/PINA Nius Online) – Bougainvilleans seeking autonomy and possible independence from Papua New Guinea have demanded an undertaking from the National Government that a promised referendum on independence would be held in five years.

After almost three years of peace talks, the supposed final round collapsed when the Bougainville delegation walked out on PNG Foreign and Bougainville Affairs Minister Sir Michael Somare and a bipartisan national delegation.

Sources close to the Bougainvilleans said the walkout was sparked by a statement by Sir Michael that the referendum would not be held for 10 to 15 years.

Sir Michael made repeated attempts to get the Bougainvilleans back into negotiations.

But their leaders, led by Bougainville People’s Congress president Joseph Kabui, interim Governor John Momis and Leitana Council of Chiefs leader Joel Banam, presented Sir Michael with an ultimatum.

The ultimatum demanded that Sir Michael revert to an earlier promise that the referendum would be held in 2006, sources said.

Mr. Momis a former Catholic priest, Bougainvillean moderate and, like Sir Michael, a founder of PNG’s 1975 independence took the letter to Sir Michael and his delegation.