No further Bougainville referendum delay planned

3:47 pm on 1 July 2019

The National Co-ordination Office of Bougainville Affairs says there have been no discussions to delay the referendum a second time.

A tentative date of June 15th 2019 has been set for a referendum on possible independence in the Autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville.

Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

Starting on 12 October Bougainvilleans are set to vote on whether they want to be independent of Papua New Guinea.

The vote was pushed back from June several months ago due to delays in funding handicapping the preparations for the vote.

There have been reports circulating in Bougainville of a further extension being planned but the Office says there are no such plans.

Meanwhile the Chief Referendum Officer, Mauricio Claudio, says the Bougainville Referendum Commission remains focussed on ensuring the writs for the referendum are issued on 16 August and the vote begins on 12 October.

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