4 May 2018

Meeting of Bougainville body postponed until June

4:13 pm on 4 May 2018

A meeting of the body overseeing Bougainville's peace process has been postponed until next month.

Flag of autonomous region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea

Photo: manganganath/123RF

The Joint Supervisory Body was scheduled to meet this month with agreement needed on the question for Bougainville's independence referendum as well as eligibility criteria.

The Papua New Guinea autonomous region is to hold the referendum in June next year under the terms of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

Bougainville's Chief Secretary Joseph Nobetau told local radio they were waiting to hear when Prime Minister Peter O'Neill would be available to meet.

Mr Nobetau said there was a lot to discuss including formalising the Bougainville Referendum Commission Chair, weapons disposal work, fisheries revenue and a possible summit on economic development proposed for later in the year.

"I am satisfied with the work done by the ABG (Autonomous Bougainville Government) technical team and I am confident that our political leaders will be well prepared and supported so that the decisions that come out of the JSB are in the best interest of the people," he said.

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