index Bougainville Island - Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea Flag Description
Divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is
red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centred; the lower triangle
is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation
centred.
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Flag Description
Bougainville has a blue flag with a black disk surrounded by white and
green triangles within a thin white circle. In the disk there is a red
and white traditional Upe headdress.
Election type: Provincial Presidential
Election dates: 20 May 2005 to 2 June 2005
Number of eligible voters: 133 000
PNG Minister for Bougainville Affairs: Sir Peter BARTER
President: Joseph KABUI
Papua New Guinea has three levels of government—national, provincial,
and local. Papua New Guinea is made up of twenty provinces, one of which
is Bougainville Island. Bougainville Island has been the scene of a 10
year rebellion that ended in a truce in 1997. In April and May of 1989
separatist rebel forces on Bougainville began a prolonged armed struggle
against the government. Secessionist, Francis Ona, proclaimed "a
republic of Bougainville". Francis Ona
died from malaria on 24 July 2005 aged 52.
A permanent cease-fire was signed in April 1998. A chronology
of the key events in Papua New Guinea including the Bougainville separatist
movement can be seen in a BBC News article entitled Papua
New Guinea: timeline dated 17 May 2005. A peace agreement between
the Government and ex-combatants was signed in August of 2001. Under the
eyes of a regional peace-monitoring force and a United Nations observer
mission, the government and provincial leaders have established an interim
administration and are working toward complete surrender/destruction of
weapons. A constitution has been drafted and the next step is the election
of the first Bougainville Autonomous Government.
It is anticipated that the United Nations will end its
mission in Bougainville at the end of June, following the election. Voters
will choose a new president and thirty-three members of the Bougainville
legislature, along with three elected women and three elected former combatants.
Figures released by the Bougainville Election Manager
show that 293 people will contest the 39 positions in the new assembly.
Five candidates ran for the position of President. They
are former Premier Joseph Kabui, recently-resigned Governor John Momis,
former militant James Tanis, chairman of the Leitana Council of Elders,
Joel Banam and, Bartholomew Kigina from Buin in South Bougainville.
Full election results can be seen at the Papua
New Guinea Electoral Commission ‘s web site.
A team of international observers was on Bougainville
to help assure voters of a free, fair and democratic election. Representatives
from six countries and international organisations formed part of an observer
team to monitor the elections. Representatives from the Commonwealth and
Pacific Islands secretariats, as well as from Australia, New Zealand and
Japan were part of the mission which was co-ordinated by the United Nations.
The United Nations sent officials from New York to co-ordinate the team
on the ground, and to provide logistical support. The team was invited
on behalf of all parties involved in the Bougainville peace process, on
the basis of a decision made jointly with Bougainville leaders in the
Interim Joint Supervisory Body. After the election, the observers will
recommend how the electoral system might be improved consistent with the
objectives of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, the new Part XIV of the
National Constitution and the Organic Law on Peace-Building in Bougainville,
which, together, give legal effect to the Agreement, and the Bougainville
Constitution, which is made within this framework and sets out the detailed
procedures for conducting the election.
An article in The National dated 16 June 2005, entitled
Bougainville’s
new autonomous government sworn in describes the swearing-in ceremony
with Sir Michael Somare as guest of honour, as well as issues to be tackled
by the new government such as HIV/AIDS, employment for ex-combatants and
the disposal of weapons. Also mentioned is the intention of Mr Kabui’s
nearest rival John Momis, to legally challenge the result.
A full analysis and history of the situation in Bougainville
can be read in Ronald May’s Current Issues Brief of 1996 entitled, The
situation on Bougainville: implications for Papua New Guinea, Australia
and the Region.
Government of Papua New Guinea
Type: Constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy
Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February
1952)
Party in government: National Alliance Party (NA)
Head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE
(since 2 August 2002)
Branches: Executive—Monarch (head of state), Prime Minister
(head of government) and cabinet (National Executive Council appointed
by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister).
Legislative—a unicameral National Parliament, sometimes
referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats). Eighty-nine seats are
elected from open electorates and twenty from provincial electorates.
Members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms.
Judicial—In the Supreme Court the chief justice is appointed
by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council
after consultation with the minister responsible for justice. Other judges
are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
Main political parties: National Alliance (NA), United
Resources Party (URP), Papua New Guinea Party (was People's Democratic
Movement (PDM), People's Progressive Party (PPP), Papua and Niugini Union
Party (PANGU), People's Action Party (PAP), People's Labor Party (PLP)
Provinces: Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands,
East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe,
National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands,
Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain.
Suffrage: universal at 18
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