http://www.bougainville-copper.eu/pageID_8755207.html
News 10.2010
12.10.2010
Source: The National
THE concept of autonomous governments might mean different things to different people.
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, for instance, seems really to be a first step towards ultimate independence.
The autonomous community, as it is practised in Spain, is a first level political division established in accordance with the Spanish constitution that recognises the rights of regions to self-government but declares the “indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation”. Regions can attain autonomous community status but they are prevented from aspiring further.
It is important to realise that autonomy on Bougainville has not been devolved from the national government as in Spain. It has been wrestled from central authority.
Entirely new sections had to be added to PNG’s legal scheme of things to take account of the special case on Bougainville.
A provision for referendum, which was earlier thought to be dangerous and excluded from the National Constitution, has now been included only to give Bougainvilleans a chance to answer the ultimate question between now and 2015: Do they or do they not wish to remain a part of PNG?
But is PNG to be lumped with the same provision for referendums so that, at some future date, another province or region might aspire for the same?
As more provinces clamour for autonomy, it is crucial to ensure we do not create a situation where the nation faces disintegration at some future date.
The clamour for autonomous governments, which is slowly spreading outward from the New Guinea Islands region after the case of Bougainville, must be addressed decisively by the national government before it is too late.
At this juncture, it is instructive to take a closer look at the Bougainville arrangement.
The Bougainville Peace Agreement was signed in 1997. In the agreement, there are three interlinking pillars which are sequenced as autonomy, referendum and disarmament.
In their application, however, disarmament began before autonomy and referendum is yet to come.
PNG agreed to the terms of the Bougainville agreement but the creation of the Bougainville constitution and the Autonomous Bougainville Government derived from Bougainville efforts.
The national government played a supportive, advisory and financing role.
The Bougainville interim provincial government, in consultation with the Bougainville people’s congress, established a constitutional commission and a constituent assembly which were the forbearers to the Bougainville constitution and the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
The final draft constitution was reviewed by the national executive council and ratified by the national parliament, but it is the supreme law for all matters that fall within Bougainville’s jurisdiction. It is enforceable in the Bougainville courts and the Supreme Court.
The national government’s powers and functions over Bougainville included defence, foreign relations, immigration, central banking, currency, international civil aviation, shipping and trade, posts, telecommunications and cross-boundary fish stocks.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government looks after the balance including a civil service, a court system, police, correctional institutions and the right to impose and collect taxes.
Bougainville police will not develop the equivalent of an armed police mobile unit.
While public servants will be subject to the control of the autonomous government, they will swear an oath of allegiance to the head of state of PNG.
Until it has the sufficient revenue-raising powers, the national government is continuing to provide various types of grants including recurrent, unconditional and development grants.
Once Bougainville is financially self-reliant, the two governments would reach a revenue-sharing formula. The autonomous government would then assume the powers and functions to impose, set rates of and collect personal income tax and company tax (within certain limits).
In relation to foreign aid, the national and autonomous governments will be able to obtain foreign aid – provided this does not reduce the value of aid already available to PNG and subject to overriding national foreign policy considerations.
11.10.2010
Source: Post-Courier
ABG minister gets tough
By PETERSON TSERAHA
THE Veterans Minister in the Autonomous Bougainville Government David Sisito will embark on a complete overhaul in his ministry.
Firstly, there will be a full scale investigation into the K5 million Veterans money, and whoever is found guilty of misappropriating that money will be held accountable and prosecuted.
“My ministry, I think is the most sensitive in the ABG and it definitely needs a very aggressive leader to handle veteran issues.” Mr Sisito said.
He also said his ministry was the most controversial one in the past five years especially with the Veterans Holdings Limited, where a lot of ex-combatants had raised questions as to how they would benefit from the company.
“The first thing I want to know of is how much money is left from the K5 million and the acquittals and financial reports, receipts invoices, rentals accommodation, transportation air fares, business deals both domestic and abroad, and everything,” Mr Sisito said.
“Three major projects will be launched soon, one in the South, Central and North Bougainville so everyone will benefit.
“We will be looking at projects everyone will benefit from and not just greedy individuals and groups,” he said. Mr Sisito said those who failed to perform would be sacked.
11.10.2010
Source: Post-Courier
Guns disposals plans afoot
By GORETHY KENNETH
RESPONSIBLE ABG stakeholders are seriously working on a common framework for weapons collection and disposal – a way forward for the region.
They are UNDP, AusAID, NZ Police, Law and Justice Sector Program, ABG Peace Division, the ABG Veterans Division and the Eivo/Torau MP Melchior Dare.
It was universally noted that the current government’s target for weapons program was three years, and ABG faces manpower problems and that there was a need for a structure to be created. This will now be effected as a task force has been set up with an aim to tackle the weapons issue in Bougainville.
The ABG administration could not make it for the meeting, which was chaired and introduced by newly appointed UNDP technical adviser on Bougainville Anthony Agyenta. A brief synopsis of the situation was presented and Agyenta outlined the current challenges that must be addressed such as:
* THE need for an ABG-led weapons program (this must begin with a consensus across the ABG and local counterparts
* DEERMINATION of the roadmap (key ABG Divisions to develop a common approach, decide on who leads the process and what goes into the weapons program guidelines including timelines.
While UNDP commended the recognition by the Veterans Affairs and Peace Divisions to develop a joint approach, a proposal of a working group to start the process and determined terms of reference to be established were discussed.
UNDP, who had a leading role in early 2000 on the weapons disposal program, said that it was a political issue, which needed a clear policy and a need for public education. -----------
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