NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

200619NON BINDING GOOD FOR BOUGAINVILLE SAYS FORMER PRESIDENT
NEW DAWN FM NEWS

The former ABG President, JAMES TANIS says that the non-binding referendum was made to safeguard Bougainville and PNG if an unexpected situation arises when the outcome of the referendum vote is announced.
He said those negotiators had in mind those scenarios that one of the parties could dump the other if the referendum was binding.
MR. TANIS explained that the process is binding the two governments but not the referendum.
He said the Peace Agreement locks the two governments to continue to talk on the result before the parliament makes the ratification.
MR. TANIS made these remarks when answering to questions by a chief in TOROKINA who wanted to know what would happen if the vote is FIFTY/FIFTY for both options.
He said if a scenario is that 100 percent have voted for Independence, the National Government and the ABG must still work out the transitional period in which Bougainville must build its capacity over a few years.
MR. TANIS said if the referendum was binding the National Government can just say thank you, you are Independent go your own way and this would create a situation in which Bougainville could lose much needed services creating problems for its citizens from day one.
This question of the non-binding referendum was asked in all the venues the roadshow team made their presentations.
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200619PNG GOVERNMENT 100 PERCENT COMMITTED SAYS MINISTER
NEW DAWN FM NEWS
The Minister for Bougainville Affairs, SIR PUKA TEMU yesterday told the visiting Australian and New Zealand delegation that since the change of the government two weeks ago, Prime Minister, JAMES MARAPE has announced that the PNG Government is 100 percent behind the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
And central to that at this time is to see through the referendum process.
He said that PM MARAPE has also pledged to work closely with Bougainville to address what needs to be done after the referendum, regardless of whether Bougainvilleans choose Greater Autonomy or Independence.
Bougainvillean people are still part of Papua New Guinea regardless of the political outcome of the vote, we cannot abandon them.
The Bougainville Affairs Minister said that the MARAPE-DAVIES government does not have any hidden agenda regarding Bougainville.
He further stated that we are country of a THOUSAND TRIBES, but that shall not deter the PNG government’s commitment to see through Bougainville to attain a prosperous future.

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200619PNG MINISTER HAPPY WITH BIG BROTHER SUPPORT
NEW DAWN FM NEWS
The Bougainville Affairs Minister, SIR PUKA TEMU said that one way to gauge the importance of Australia’s and New Zealand’s assistance to PNG is to imagine how PNG might have likely to cope without the readily-available support from these two countries.
Speaking in Buka to the visiting delegation, SIR PUKA TEMU questioned how would the Bougainville Crisis have turned out without the support and generosity that Australia and New Zealand accorded to PNG and Bougainville during the height of the conflict?
That is a ‘counterfactual scenario’, and I am grateful that events did not turn out any other ways.
He said, as we draw closer to the referendum, I would like to sincerely thank Australia and New Zealand for still being here with PNG and Bougainville.
SIR PUKA told the Minister of Foreign Affairs, that he was sure Bougainville leaders will agree with him in saying that your presence here adds great significance and credibility to what Australia is doing on the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
But more importantly for PNG and Bougainville, it is reassuring that our commitment to the full implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) is aligned with the interest that your country has shown, the position that New Zealand has taken, as well as the commitment displayed by other stakeholders and development partners.
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190619TRIPARTITE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND & PAPUA NEW GUINEA IMPORTANT SAYS MINISTER.
New Dawn FM News

The Bougainville Affairs Minister, DR. PUKA TEMU today acknowledged the important tripartite relationship that the three countries, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea have developed over the years.
Minister TEMU made these remarks during lunch at the Reasons Guest house in Buka town today.
He said that this significant relationship between our three countries have grown over the years and continue strengthen our friendship.
DR. TEMU also acknowledged the members of the Regional Peace Mission contributing countries like Solomon Islands Vanuatu and FIJI for their continued support for peace throughout the Pacific.
He said as the Minister for Bougainville Affairs Minister it was only proper to thank these countries for their continued support especially assisting PNG on the Bougainville issue.
DR. TEMU said that PNG will continue to work with Australia and New Zealand to complete the Bougainville Peace Agreement with the conduct of the referendum in October and also manage the transitional period after the vote is taken.

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150619TEMU FIRST PNG MINISTER TO VISIT TOROKINA
New Dawn FM News
The newly appointed minister for Bougainville Affairs, DR. PUKA TEMU became the first Papua New Guinean Minister to visit the people of Torokina on Saturday.
The trip to Torokina involved travelling to Marau by road then another one hour on a 60HP Yamaha boat to the famous Torokina district.
The Minister was accompanied by his counterpart Minister from the ABG, ALBERT PUNGHAU and the UN representative, RUI FLORES and the NCOBA Director JOHN ANUMA and their support staff plus media team from PNG and the local media, NBC, Post Courier and New Dawn FM.
The delegation was welcomed by a traditional Sing Sing DARE group on the beach and were escorted to the Torokina Primary School.
They were addressed by the Minister for Bougainville Affairs, DR. PUKA TEMU and ALBERT PUNGHAU before time was given to the public for question time.
Many asked very highly explosive questions in which both Ministers responded well and supported by the former ABG President, JAMES TANIS who is now the strategic advisor to the newly Bougainville Affairs Minister, DR. PUKA TEMU.
The team travelled back to Marau at 4pm and this time the sea was rough due to strong wind and low tide in the area.
The team finally arrived in Arawa at 7pm.

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090619 DEFINITIONS APPROVED

NEW DAWN FM NEWS

The PNG Prime Minister JAMES MARAPE and the ABG President, Chief DR.JOHN MOMIS this week approved the definitions of the two options that will be in the ballot papers for the Referendum.

The two options are Independence and Greater Autonomy.

These were released by the ABG Chief Secretary and Head of the Bougainville Public Service, JOE NOBETAU.

President and PM have signed off on the high level definitions for the referendum options.

Agreed definitions are:

Independence: An independent nation state with sovereign powers and laws, recognized under international law and by other sovereign states to be an independent state, separate from the State of Papua New Guinea.



Greater Autonomy: A negotiated political settlement that provides for a form of autonomy with greater powers than those currently available under constitutional arrangements.

This means that the Referendum Awareness teams can now explain what these two options are to the people of Bougainville.
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Momis Urges Vote for Independence
ABG Media
200319

Bougainvilleans have been urged to present a unified front when casting their votes when the Autonomous Region of Bougainville goes to the polls on the Referendum in October this year.
ABG President Grand Chief Dr John Momis made this statement during the final part of the week long Bougainville Referendum Roadshow in Buka Town on Monday.
“As your leader I urge you all to vote for option two and that is independence,” President Momis said.
“Having a result that presents a unified Bougainvillean choice gives Bougainville leaders the negotiating power to negotiate with the National Government,” President Momis said.
Momis reminded the people at the Roadshow that after the referendum the result will still have to be ratified by the National Parliament as stipulated under the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
“If the National Parliament fails to ratify the result of the referendum then we still have the option of a negotiated outcome where both governments will collaborate to get the best outcome for the people of Bougainville,” President Momis said.
“This is our time to exercise our right to self-determination, it is our time to forge a new future for our children and the generations to come. Our civil polity must be built upon a strong national identity that adheres to freedom, tolerance and equality,” Momis said.
“While we embark on the final leg of our journey together there will be challenges. Challenges that we cannot ignore but must face with grit and perseverance to overcome them,” Momis added.
“In our journey to self-determination, permanent peace on Bougainville necessitates a credible outcome of the Referendum which in turn institutes stability within the government and the people of Bougainville,” Momis stressed.
The United Nations in conjunction with the ABG has organized this Roadshow with the objective to meet with key stakeholders in the three regions of Bougainville.
It will also gave the leadership the opportunity to inform and engage with the people at the community level and this allows for information regarding the referendum, post referendum planning and related activities to be widely discussed.
This will all be underlined by the key message “Peace by peaceful means, Unity and Rule of Law”.


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Leaders at the meet UN Country resident coordinator, Member Timothy Masiu and John Anuma Director of Ncoba

190319KONNOU DECLARES REFERENDUM READY
New Dawn FM News
The troublesome Konnou constituency last Friday declared itself as weapons free and referendum at a ceremony witnessed by the Roadshow team that was traveling in South Bougainville on the Bougainville Referendum awareness and more than Four thousand men women and children also attended the ceremony.
Konnou had never achieved total peace as there were continued struggles between factions who were created after the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
All fighting stopped after the 29th September 2009 reconciliation that was held at MOGOROI village in Upper Konnou.
Last Friday’s event took place following individual reconciliations that took place at MUGUAI, MONGAI and KULULA in which former fighters gathered to reconcile amongst themselves to create conducive environment for Peace to prevail in the area.
Like what has happened in TONU, the Meekamui faction headed by Commander DAMIAN KOIKE although supported the program but was not present in person at the ceremony.
According to the member for Konnou and Minister for Police and Law and Justice, WILLIE MASIU the remaining factions will eventually join the peace process before the conduct of the Referendum.
Amongst the guns surrendered at the ceremony was a L4A4 machine gun that was used at the Kangu massacre that took place and also in the event five soldiers were captured and later released as a token of Peace and this started the peace process on Bougainville that led to the signing of the Peace Agreement in 2001.

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180319ROADSHOW TO END THIS WEDNESDAY WITH TALK BACK
New Dawn FM News
The ABG Presidential road show that travelled to Central and South Bougainville today ended their public presentations at the Bel isi park.
The Road show which included the ABG President, Chief DR. JOHN MOMIS, UN PNG Resident coordinator, GIANLUCA RAMPOLLA, the Bougainville Affairs Minister, WILLIAM SAMB, the Bougainville Peace Agreement Implementation Minister, ALBERT PUNGHAU were able to do their final presentations.
In direct interactions they talked to more than TWENTY THOUSAND people right throughout Bougainville.
They will make their final presentations to the ABG House of representatives when they meet tomorrow at 2pm.
And before they travel to Port Moresby the UN resident coordinator and his team will be on the New Dawn FM youth TALK BACK SHOW on Wednesday.
The team successfully made awareness on the progress of the Referendum since the last JSB approved the date for the conduct of the referendum.
The team will travel again to some more parts of Bougainville after the two voting options have been defined by the Special task force working on defining the two options before the people of Bougainville can cast their vote.

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