Agreement

Joint Communique on the outcome of the Bougainville referendum, 2021

The PNG and Bougainville governments opened formal consultations on the referendum outcome and restated that the National Parliament takes the final decision.

What happened

The two governments committed to joint consultations under section 342(1) of the National Constitution and clause 311(b) of the Peace Agreement, affirming that the outcome is subject to ratification by the National Parliament.[1] They recorded the agreed definition of independence and the result, and provided for a moderator to guide consultations on Bougainville’s future political status and the method of endorsement by Parliament.[2][3][4]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: On 11 January 2021 the two governments committed to begin joint consultations on the referendum outcome under section 342(1) of the National Constitution and clause 311(b) of the Agreement, affirming that the outcome is subject to ratification by the National Parliament.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF p. 1. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: Before the vote the two governments agreed that independence meant an independent nation with sovereign powers and laws, recognised under international law and by other states as separate from Papua New Guinea, with a defined territory, a government chosen by its people, and capacity to conduct international relations and hold UN membership.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF pp. 1–2. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  3. 3.

    Claim: The two governments record that 181,067 Bougainvilleans voted and that 97.7% of them chose independence.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF p. 2. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: The Joint Communique provided for the consultations to be moderated by an appointed moderator and to address Bougainville’s future political status and the method of endorsement by the National Parliament.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF p. 2. Government perspective or primary official source Source record

Source note

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