ABG President Ishmael Toroama, left, and Sir Jerry Mataparae. 17 March 2025 Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government
Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President Ishmael Toroama has appealed to Prime Minister James Marape "to take ownership and endorse" Bougainville's independence referendum in Papua New Guinea's parliament.
The joint moderation talks on Bougainville's independence began on Monday, chaired by former New Zealand Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae as the international moderator.
"I appeal to you (Marape) to take the Bougainville referendum results and pass it to the National Minister for Bougainville Affairs to present to the national parliament for endorsement through this moderation process in the same manner the National Constitution was amended to give effect to the Bougainville Peace Agreement," Toroama said in his opening statement.
He said the dialogue was "particularly significant, as this is very much the last leg of our journey".
He said that, as far as he was concerned, the process of negotiating independence was concluded with the referendum - in which Bougainvilleans overwhelmingly voted for independence - and the moderation talks this week were about reaching an agreement on implementing the referendum result.
"Therefore, my focus in this moderation is to define the new relationship between Bougainville and Papua New Guinea as two independent sovereign states. This relationship can be captured through an independence package for Bougainville," he said.
"Bougainville has done its part in this peace process. It is now your turn."
ABG President Ishamel Toroama, sitting front (2nd left), with Sir Jerry Mateparae and PNG Prime Minister James Marape at the Joint Consultation Moderator Meeting. 17 March 2025 Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government
He said the ABG recognised that the sessional order was a process that would happen in the national parliament.
However, he said that while Bougainville "appreciates the engagement in this particular subject, it has diverted our attention from the core agenda of the political settlement on independence".
He said that the independence referendum "result must be endorsed".
"In the spirit of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, the two governments can jointly decide as part of the consultations to reach agreement on a bilateral relationship for independence for Bougainville outside of parliament.
"Bougainville's agenda is independence, and in our post-referendum consultations, we have made this clear, resulting in joint agreements such as the Wabag roadmap and the Era Kone Covenant."
Toroama added that "my people have set 1st September 2027 as the date for independence to take effect".
"This decision is consistent with the jointly agreed Referendum Results Implementation Roadmap, commonly known as the 'Wabag Roadmap', that set the window of 'no earlier than 2025, no later than 2027', for the declaration of independence.
"As President, I will uphold the decision of my people throughout these moderation consultations.
He said he looked forward to the moderation process, which will wrap up on Wednesday, to conclude with an agreement on the independence package for Bougainville.
