Why a Part of Papua New Guinea Is Eyeing Independence

(Bloomberg) -- Nearly two decades after a bloody civil war ended, Papua New Guinea’s province of Bougainville in the South Pacific is a step closer to independence after a referendum showed an overwhelming majority want to establish a new nation. But the way forward now that votes have been counted is far from clear.

1. Bougainville? What’s that?

A group of islands comprising a semi-autonomous region that is part of Papua New Guinea. Settled around 30,000 years ago, its name today comes from its first Western visitor, the French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, who arrived in 1768 (the flowering vine Bougainvillea is also named after him). The bulk of its quarter of a million people reside on the main Bougainville Island, which is roughly the size of Jamaica. Although geographically part of the Solomon Islands, it became part of German New Guinea at the end of the 19th century under an agreement with the British, who created their own protectorate in the rest of the Solomons chain. Australia began administrating Bougainville after World War I and (except for a brief Japanese occupation during World War II) played a role until PNG achieved independence in 1975.

2. Why do they want independence?

The people of Bougainville have long claimed ethnic and cultural differences with people from the PNG mainland, about 900 kilometers (560 miles) to the west, and secessionist sentiment goes back more than a century. A pro-independence movement lobbied the United Nations during the PNG’s formation but didn’t grab the world’s attention until 1988, when protests against the Australian-owned Panguna copper mine turned violent. A decade-long civil war ensued that claimed as many as 20,000 lives. At the heart of the conflict was anger that local communities were absorbing the environmental damage and not receiving enough benefits from the massive copper resource, which was mothballed during the fighting and remains shut. The rebellion ended in 2001 with a peace agreement that included the creation of the nation’s only provincial legislature, the Autonomous Bougainville Government -- and a promise of a referendum.

3. How did the voting go?

It was organized by the independent Bougainville Referendum Commission, led by former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern. Starting Nov. 23, people had two weeks to vote either for greater autonomy, or for independence. Citizens living abroad could mail in their ballot. Prime Minister James Marape has indicated he may be willing to consider providing greater autonomy through more economic independence, including re-opening the Panguna mine. But many locals complain that the provincial legislature lacks the authority and funding for any real self-governance, so a compromise of granting greater autonomy seems unlikely to placate supporters of independence.

4. So independence could come quickly?

No, it could take years, if it comes at all. With the results released Dec. 11 showing 98% of voters want independence, representatives from the national and regional governments are expected to hold consultations that could result in draft legislation for Bougainville to secede. But the bill would have to pass the national parliament in Port Moresby, the PNG capital, where there has been significant opposition. Marape, who came to power in May, has been more conciliatory than his predecessor, Peter O’Neill, who had held up funding for the referendum and signaled his government would be loathe to ratify any vote. Still, Marape said in September he wants to “maintain unity” for the country.

5. And in the meantime?

There’s concern that many Bougainvilleans, particularly in more isolated regions, assume that a win for independence will automatically and quickly lead to the formation of a new nation, and that they could react violently if that doesn’t occur. Should opposition in Port Moresby become entrenched, it could result in disgruntled locals unilaterally declaring independence, as they tried more than once before. In a worst-case scenario, it could mean another war.

6. Are there wider repercussions?

Independence for Bougainville could embolden other remote provinces to seek to cut ties. Instability in one of the South Pacific’s largest economies wouldn’t be in the best interests of an often impoverished region. It also would jeopardize attempts to attract much-needed foreign investment and aid, including from China. It could also mean the redevelopment of the Panguna mine, one of the world’s largest resources of copper, is delayed indefinitely.

The Reference Shelf

• An Australian National University expert provides details about the referendum, including historical context.
• The Lowy Institute reports on Australia’s stake in the vote’s outcome, and the ghosts of Bougainville’s past.
• The World Bank’s 2018 assessment on Bougainville.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jason Scott in Canberra at jscott14@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ruth Pollard at rpollard2@bloomberg.net, Paul Geitner

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