Independence for Bougainville could embolden other remote provinces to seek to cut ties. Instability in one of the South Pacific's largest economies wouldn't be in the best interests of an often impoverished region.
Explanation:
The people of Bougainville have long claimed ethnic and cultural differences with people from the PNG mainland, about 900 kilometers (560 miles) to the west, and secessionist sentiment goes back more than a century. A pro-independence movement lobbied the United Nations during the PNG’s formation but didn’t grab the world’s attention until 1988, when protests against the Australian-owned Panguna copper mine turned violent. A decade-long civil war ensued that claimed as many as 20,000 lives. At the heart of the conflict was anger that local communities were absorbing the environmental damage and not receiving enough benefits from the massive copper resource, which was mothballed during the fighting and remains shut. The rebellion ended in 2001 with a peace agreement that included the creation of the nation’s only provincial legislature, the Autonomous Bougainville Government -- and a promise of a referendum.
With the results released Dec. 11 showing 98% of voters want independence, representatives from the national and regional governments are expected to hold consultations that could result in draft legislation for Bougainville to secede. But the bill would have to pass the national parliament in Port Moresby, the PNG capital, where there has been significant opposition. Marape, who came to power in May, has been more conciliatory than his predecessor, Peter O’Neill, who had held up funding for the referendum and signaled his government would be loathe to ratify any vote. Still, Marape said in September he wants to “maintain unity” for the country.
