Bougainville Referendum Commission Chairman Bertie Ahern was cheered when he announced that more than 98% of valid ballots favored independence. PM and EU chief agree to extend Brexit trade talks. Will this place become the world's next country? It is widely anticipated that the vote will be for independence, however, the final decision will be made by the PNG Parliament. Beijing has recently increased its efforts to boost ties with island nations in the Pacific, establishing diplomatic ties with the Solomon Islands and Kiribati. Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville takes major step towards independence. “There’s tears, tears of joy, raw emotion - people have waited a long time,” Referendum Chairman Bertie Ahern said in the town of Buka adding that “the pen is always mightier than the sword.” T he South Pacific region of Bougainville voted overwhelmingly to become the world's newest nation by gaining independence from Papua New Guinea, results showed on Wednesday. But mining operations have been crippled by the war - and the distribution of revenue was one of the factors behind the conflict. #Bougainville #PapuaNewGuinea #Referendum Footage used in this video courtesy of Skyborne Visions LLC, check them out! Voters had two options - more autonomy, or full independence. Voters backing Bougainville's independence from Papua New Guinea have won a landslide referendum victory in a major step toward the troubled isles becoming the world's newest nation. NFK Editors - December 15, 2019. The fighting came to an end in 1997 with help from international mediators. Observers expect up to three-quarters to opt for independence - but the poll will just be a first step. Video, Is global warming making hurricanes stronger? The islands were named after an 18th Century French explorer and became part of a German colony, German New Guinea, at the end of the 19th Century. People voted overwhelmingly for independence (97.71 per cent) in what was widely regarded to be a successful process, with an informed and engaged citizenry. The Referendum Commission is headed by former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who helped to negotiate 1998 Good Friday Agreement as part of the Northern Ireland peace process. Bougainville votes on independence from Papua New Guinea About 207,000 Bougainvilleans are registered to vote on whether Melanesian isles … The region became something of an economic powerhouse for the fledging nation with rich deposits of gold and copper. .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Papua New Guinea country profile, PM and EU chief agree to extend Brexit trade talks. Nevertheless, the landslide victory will put pressure on PNG to grant Bougainville independence. 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Australasia. Pro-Trump rallies see scuffles in US cities, .css-gw44ni-IconContainer{display:inline-block;height:1em;width:1em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-right:0.25em;}playUS starts shipping Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The referendum was non-binding - meaning independence won't happen automatically. The Germans' first administrative centre was not established until 1905 - 21 years after their rule began. © 2020 BBC. Analysis Interpretation of the news based on evidence, ... 60 or so secessionist movements around the world want independence in 2020. Likewise, its population would be one of the world's smallest - slightly smaller than Pacific neighbour Vanuatu, and slightly bigger than Barbados. Read about our approach to external linking. The declaration was the manifestation of a Bougainville identity which developed during the 20th Century. Of those: The results were announced in the town of Buka by former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, the chairman of the Bougainville Referendum Commission. If Bougainville gets independence, other PNG provinces (there are more than 20) could also up their demands for greater autonomy - or possibly secession. Video. But according to research by Australia's Lowy Institute, Bougainville achieving self-reliance would at best be years away. Asia Dec 18th 2019 edition T HE INTENDED destination is not in doubt. Likewise, its population would be one of the world's smallest - slightly smaller than Pacific neighbour Vanuatu, and slightly bigger than Barbados. The best news, sports, opinion, entertainment, business and information from Bremerton, Silverdale, Poulsbo, Port Orchard and throughout Kitsap County, WA VideoPolish women forced abroad for abortion. The expectation is that the province will vote in favour of independence - but it's not a given, so there are three possible outcomes: Voting will be held between 23 November and 7 December and results are expected later in December. ... Bougainville. Try the same news story at these levels: Bougainville - Level 5 or Bougainville - Level 6. Last December the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, an area in Papua New Guinea (PNG), voted in a referendum for independence, a move motivated by a history of violence and conflict. A special two-week vote was held, and the results were clear. Last December the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, an area in Papua New Guinea (PNG), voted in a referendum for independence, a move motivated by a history of violence and conflict. The results of Bougainville's independence referendum are set to be announced Wednesday -- with the troubled Pacific islands expected to resoundingly back the … In late 2019, the people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea (PNG) voted in a non-binding referendum offering two choices: greater autonomy or independence. Voters had two options - more autonomy, or full independence. The people of Bougainville, an island group in Papua New Guinea, have voted overwhelmingly for independence. Motjeka Madisha: South Africa footballer dies in car crash. The JSB meeting, which was to initiate consultations on the independence referendum, was called … In October, new Prime Minister James Marape reiterated that the vote was non-binding, and that the result would be "deliberated upon" by the governments of PNG and Bougainville. 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