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From Joe Kile on The Papua New Guinea Election Results Database
I just checked into this PNG electoral commissions database. I believe you also must have assessed the cost factor for the overall elections since 2002. Meaning, that if you have any, the cost of elections specified. Each respective election years can be also included in the database. That would help the Government to make key financial decisions on future election preparations.
From JK Domyal on The Bougainville referendum: James Marape’s biggest challenge or biggest opportunity?
Thanks Kylie for this piece - a thoughtful discussion point.
The simple question the new PNG PM should ask is this - Why did the initial uprising start in Bougainville? What was the reason Sam Kouna and Francis Ona started the uprising in the late 1980s?
The uprising started when most of us were still in primary school, even PM Marape was in high school at that time.
People like Somare, Momis and Paul Lapun were at the peak of their careers when the uprising started; an uprising that later turned into a crisis.
Now we are educated enough to understand the Bougainville issue, most of us believe the original reason was not for independence or greater autonomy, it was actually a fight against Rio Tinto, the developer of the Bougainville Copper mine for its unfair dealings with the local resource landowners.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Bougainville did stand up for segregation from the rest of PNG, but never started an actual war with the PNG authority.
The leaders of today in Bougainville, except Momis, did not understand the original reason for the 1980s uprising started by Sam Kouna and Francis Ona.
The leaders of today in Bougainville are concerned with the huge casualties faced and the valuable property destroyed during the crisis by PNG's own Defence Force. The PNG government used its own army to cause mass destruction to the island.
That is why the Bougainvilleans today reject the rest of PNG and want to stand on their own. Instead, the PNG government should have mediated between Rio Tinto and the landowners and resolved the crisis in the 1980s.
In Waigani, instead of critically looking at the reasons of the crisis, the government quickly proposed greater autonomy and a referendum on independence as options to win the hearts and minds of the Bougainvilleans.
What about Rio Tinto? Though, the mining giant left the island, the scar of destruction and casualties caused still vividly mesmerised the next generation of Bougainville.
Without addressing the original reason, we cannot find a lasting solution to the island.
If the call for greater autonomy or self-govern is granted to the Island; what could most likely trigger is opening floodgates for more autonomy in the Islands and Highlands of PNG, not just Bougainville.
The new PM ought to critically assess the Bougainville issue. His message of “take back PNG” includes integrating Bougainville island into one united PNG. He will be remembered for taking that bold stand.
PM JM could make unpopular and unconventional decisions like the US President to be harsh and upset other neighbours in the interim but worthwhile for the future of PNG.
From Stephen Howes on The Bougainville referendum: James Marape’s biggest challenge or biggest opportunity?
But what they all agreed to was a non-binding referendum.
From Kurumbi Wone on Papua New Guinea is not Pasifika
What we have been trying to do since the whiteman and now Asian came to this region called "Pacific or Oceania" is that we (Melanesian, Micronesian, Polynesian and Aborigines Australian) always try to see our ourselves through the definitions and images projected from the mind of the whiteman and Asian. Please see that we are the colonial definitions. We don't have our own definitions about who we are, what we are, where we come from and where we are going. In fact, we are actually the "victim of definition" itself. Be careful, do not define Oceania through the ideas of whiteman.
From Michael Karupang on The Bougainville referendum: James Marape’s biggest challenge or biggest opportunity?
Bougainville's struggle for Independence is not a new thing that was just popped in during 1989. It was our forefathers dream. It begun well before PNG gained its independence. Moreover it was bought by the blood of more than 20,000 of Bougainville's heroes who sacrificed their lives during the bloody war in Bougainville. Therefore it is inappropriate for the other provinces to try to fit in the same shoes.
From Julliane Terry on Australia’s seasonal worker program now bigger than NZ’s
I am so surprised PNG is not utilizing this opportunity to the max. I hope our good PM can materialize this. We need shared skills and knowledge in both countries to improve our business potential
From John Braithwaite on The Bougainville referendum: James Marape’s biggest challenge or biggest opportunity?
Good article thank you Kylie. The peace agreement was sanctioned by the United Nations, so the UN and New Zealand would also lose credibility if the referendum result were ignored, and Australia would be viewed as untrustworthy yet again.
From Miso on Why charter cities have failed
Interesting and good article Mr. Woolf. I think the conclusion is not right, as I see, Charter cities (like version 2.0 or 3.0) will have much better chance to create positive results for all involved.
From Kurumbi Wone on The Bougainville referendum: James Marape’s biggest challenge or biggest opportunity?
The ordinary people of both PNG and Bougainville face the same fate under the corrupt tribal leaders and government officials in Papua New Guinea. The conflicts should not be between Bougainvillean and PNGnean ordinary people, it should be between the corrupt leaders and ordinary people.
From Ghandi Katao on The Bougainville referendum: James Marape’s biggest challenge or biggest opportunity?
A very good article by Kylie. The onus is on the people of Bougainville to decide their fate.
But PNGans perception is for Bougainville to remain a part of us with greater autonomy. For this to happen and for lasting peace, here are four suggestions:
1. Compensation - as a Melanesian society it is culturally appropriate for the National Government to compensate the people of Bougainville for the destruction of properties and loss of lives on the Island as a result of the 10 year crisis. Every Bougainvillian family affected by this crisis either by loss of lives, injuries or destruction of properties must be compensated.
2. New Strategy for ABG's funding commitments - the national government must come up with a new realistic funding strategy with realistic time frames to honour ABG commitments.
3. Awareness of the referendum and the two options - the parameters of the autonomy should be agreed by all parties. The people of Bougainville, both old and young, should be fully aware of the terms of the autonomy and independence to make a better decision to vote in the referendum.
4. Resource laws must be amended and must consider equal equity participation by investors and locals. This must be clear in the autonomy terms.
The actions of successive governments before and during the Bougainville crisis has now affected the political future of this country. If successive governments of PNG after this crisis do not learn from this terrible crisis and change PNG's resources laws and clamp down on corruption, we stand to face a greater challenge in the future as indicated by the main article.
If in this referendum, the Marape-Steven Government can achieve the option of having greater autonomy for Bougainville to independence then it would be win-win for both parties, and a big win for PNG as a nation state.
From Titus William on For PNG’s sake let’s hope hosting APEC is for the better
It is interesting only in one discussion made in the meeting is about Climate change
From Terence Wood on The Papua New Guinea Election Results Database