Bougainville President His Excellency (H.E) Ishmael Toroama has reaffirmed Bougainville's commitment to its political aspirations, economic development and continued peacebuilding efforts, while calling for a greater understanding of Bougainville's history and the democratic will of its people.
President Toroama delivered his statement to the Bougainville House of Representatives this week and reflected on recent discussions in the National Parliament regarding the 2019 Bougainville Referendum and the findings of the National Government's Bi-partisan Committee on Bougainville Matters.
He said the discussions highlighted differing views on Bougainville's history, governance, and political future.
“Our history speaks for itself. Our aspirations for self-determination existed well before the idea of an independent Papua New Guinea came into being. For more than a century our people have expressed our aspirations for independence,” Toroama said.
President Toroama said Bougainville's aspirations for self-determination are deeply rooted in its history, cultural identity and the experiences of its people over many generations.
He emphasized that Bougainville's political aspirations were not driven by convenience or political expediency, but by the sacrifices, resilience and determination of its people to shape their own future.
The President also addressed concerns often raised regarding Bougainville's readiness, including economic self-reliance, security and governance.
He acknowledged that while Bougainville continues to rely on inter-governmental and development partner support, the ABG is focused on building its own revenue base and creating long-term economic opportunities for its people.
"The reason for my silence is because I do not want this government to continue to waste time complaining. Instead, we must invest our time and energy into creating our own revenue. We have already embarked on this path, and we will soon reap the benefits of our efforts," President Toroama said.
On peace and security, the President reaffirmed the government's commitment to engaging all Bougainvilleans through peaceful means and strengthening unity across the region. He noted that Bougainville remains one of the most peaceful regions in Papua New Guinea and that peacebuilding efforts remain a priority of the government.
President Toroama also reiterated that the Bougainville Peace Agreement remains the foundation of the political process and emphasized that autonomy was established as a transitional arrangement to support Bougainville's post-conflict recovery while preparing for a future political settlement.
“The most important point that Bougainville and Papua New Guinea must remember is that autonomy was never intended to be our final destination.”
“Autonomy was intended to be a transitional arrangement to allow Bougainville to rebuild after the war while preparing for a future political settlement,” he said.
“Many of the so-called failures of autonomy stem from the fact that Bougainville has been rebuilding a post-conflict society under an arrangement that was intended to be transitional and not in any way permanent.”
He called on leaders and stakeholders to fully understand Bougainville's history, the contributions of its people to nation-building, and the sacrifices made throughout the conflict and peace process.
"If there is to be a genuine understanding and lasting peace, it must begin with honestly acknowledging our history and respecting the democratic will of our people," he said.
In concluding his address, President Toroama urged Bougainvilleans to remain united, resilient and optimistic about the future, noting the accelerated pace of development experienced across Bougainville over the past 12 months.
"There are many good things happening in Bougainville so we must look forward to them. The last 12 months alone have seen development hit an accelerated pace. This time we are in the driver's seat of development so let us all stand together and stand fast," President Toroama said.
