JUNE 16, 2023
PRIME Minister Hon. James Marape on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, appealed on Bougainvilleans to “see through the lens of Papua New Guineans” as he confirmed a nationwide consultation exercise would take place on the idea of a change in the sovereign borders of Papua New Guinea.
A bi-partisan committee will lead this national awareness work to prepare Papua New Guineans and Bougainvilleans of the upcoming ratification by Parliament of the Bougainville issue.
PM Marape made the appeal and clarification in Parliament as he was responding to a ministerial statement on the Bougainville peace process by Bougainville Affairs Minister Hon. Manasseh Makiba.
“The national consultation is not for voting or to question the referendum. The referendum is unique and already held with decision already made; conducted and guided by the 2001 Peace Agreement,” said PM Marape.
“It is an awareness to inform the country that Bougainvilleans have voted for Independence and that the National Parliament will be handling this matter on the Floor of Parliament.
“The border that we have today as prescribed under Section 2 of our Constitution is the border that was carved out by the Fathers of our Nation, including Sir Paul Lapun, the founding member of Pangu Pati, the party that stands for Papua and New Guinea United.
“It is a great pain for me and my generation of leaders to split this country.
“The border that defines our country was borne as a result of consensus and work by people from the east, west, north and south – all parts of our country.
“Not one person, even if prime minister, has the right to tamper with this border.
“It is a constitutional process that now lies before us. This is the challenge we are grappling with that is constitutionally the mandate of every citizen of this country to defend their territory and sovereignty.”
PM Marape said the nationwide consultation was to inform all Papua New Guineans that Bougainvilleans have spoken up about their own independence and to get the people’s views, similar to what had happened prior to the country’s Indepence uniting a diverse people into one country.
“I pray that the rest of PNG sees from the lens of Bougainvilleans their aspirations, and for Bougainvilleans to see from the lens of PNG so that, collectively, we find a political solution that respects each other’s rights.”
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