Autonomous Bougainville Government

The five-point petition alleges malpractice within the ABG and calls for immediate investigations as well as sidelining of government officials, among them, President John Momis and Nobetau.

For the ABG Chief Secretary, the petition calls for an investigation into Nobetau’s alleged involvement in the awarding of citizenship to Djoko Tjandra.

The petition by services providers and ex-combatants was delivered on December 3^rd alleging malpractices in the ABG, claiming there is incompetency, corruption and a system of favouritism.

Speaking at the Central Bougainville Development Forum in Wakunai District, ABG President Chief Dr John Momis said the solidarity exemplified by Bougainville leaders must also be exercised by the people.

President Momis said he was impressed by the initiative by Central Bougainville MP, Sam Akoitai, in mobilising all development stakeholders in Central Bougainville to further development in the area.

“I agree with Mr Akoitai that there is no time for spectators; we must actively participate in developing Central Bougainville and Bougainville as a whole,” Momis stated.

“This decision is to maintain solidarity within the cabinet and further the progress of economic development on Bougainville,” said President Momis.

“This change in leadership will allow for a new approach to generating much-needed revenue for Bougainville as we prepare for the referendum and what may come after.

“We are now on the last stretch of our political journey and to be able to manage our own affairs we need revenue.”

Secretary of the Health Department in the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Clement Totavun, said the polio campaign will target an estimated 116,000 children in Bougainville, starting from the age of 15 down to newborn babies.

He said the campaign has started already in parts of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, particularly in South Bougainville.

“The intensive campaign will run for about two weeks until the 21^st of October,” Totavun stated.

“180 health workers will be engaged in about 80 polio clinic sites set up across the Island.”

With support from the National Coordination Office for Bougainville Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme and the Peacebuilding Fund, the two governments are delivering as one to increase knowledge and understanding of the referendum, provide updates with regard to ongoing weapons disposal efforts, and information on the wider implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

The visit is part of the Fund’s continued efforts to highlight results from its cooperation with the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government in preparation for a free, fair and violence-free referendum for the political status of Bougainville.

Delegates from Australia, Belgium, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Norway will meet with representatives from the two Governments over their five days in the country.

In a statement, Chief Secretary Joseph Nobetau, in his six-month update to the people, said corruption must stop now.

“Four more Department heads have been petitioned for allegations of serious misconduct, matters that are now subject to Independent Boards of Inquiry established under the Bougainville Senior Appointments Act,” Nobetau said.

“Corruption is not only against the law. It is stealing from Bougainville – it is selling out on our dream, our future, and the idea that we are destined for a higher level of behaviour.”

She says only then, both governments can know what the people of Bougainville want and prepare for the outcome.

Semoso, who attended the 1^st Joint Supervisory Body meeting in Arawa last Friday between the PNG Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government, said it’s important that the process of Referendum is complete.

“There’s a lot of pros and cons, a lot of people are saying that we are not ready, but Bougainvilleans are saying, ‘We are ready’,” she stated.

In briefing the Bougainville Executive Council, President Momis said the ABG had a clear plan for the JSB talks to resolve long-standing issues between the two governments.

“While there is much work to do, I am confident that this JSB will make real progress on the referendum questions to be asked, the legal framework of the BRC, appointment of all members of the Bougainville Referendum Commission and funding for Commission activities,” Momis said.

Bouagainvilleans must be prepared to vote on the referendum that will decide their political future. The business of raising awareness and communicating important information needs different avenues to reach everyone and one of those solutions is digital messaging.  

With the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Peace Building Project, the ABG recently installed solar-powered billboards at each of the newly-constructed Community Information Centres (CICs) in Buka, Arawa and Buin.