Jul 30, 2002

Bougainville Peace Agreement


On 27 March 2002, the PNG parliament had its second vote to change its laws to give legal effect to the peace agreement. The vote received more than the required number to pass the historic legislation, setting Bougainville on a course to an autonomous government and a referendum for independence in 10 to 15 years.
The bills to amend the Constitution and the Organic Law were passed 85-0 and 87-0 respectively. They only required 78 votes.

The passage of the bills means that Bougainville can now prepare to elect their own autonomous government. However, this can only happen after the UN, in the person of Mission observer Noel Sinclair of Guyana, is satisfied that stage two of the weapons disposal program, which is currently underway on the island, is complete.

Under its autonomous government, Bougainville will have its own court system, police, immigration, fishing rights, and other national functions transferred under a complex legal arrangement.