Joint Statement on the Outcomes of the first Post-Referendum Consultations held at Kokopo (Kokopo Statement)

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Country/entity: Papua New Guinea
Bougainville
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Joint Statement on the Outcomes of the first Post-Referendum Consultations held at Kokopo (Kokopo Statement)
Date: 19 May 2021
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Bougainville Conflict (1987 - 1998)
The conflict on Bougainville, an island under the jurisdiction of Papua New Guinea (PNG), began in 1987 as a dispute over compensation for the use of land by Bougainville Copper Ltd, a an Australian subsidiary. The underlying issue of independence soon emerged and the conflict escalated between the government of PNG and the native islanders, in turn spearheaded by the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA). Until fighting ended in 1998, an estimated 20,000 died in the conflict. Several pre-negotiation agreements culminated in an agreement to a ‘permanent and irrevocable’ ceasefire, and a framework for normalizing the PNG-Bourgainville relationship, which included elections.
Stage: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Bougainville: peace process
Parties: Hon. James Marape, MP
Prime Minister
Government of Papua New Guinea

Hon. Ishmael Toroama, MHR
President
Autonomous Bougainville Government
Third parties: -
Description: Short joint statement in which the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government acknowledge the results of the Bougainville Referendum on independence, to continue the post-referendum consultation process, and to fully implement the Sharp Agreement.

Agreement document: PG_210519_Joint Statement on the Outcomes.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: Page 1, Untitled Preamble
Whereas we acknowledge the requirements under s.342 of the Constitution for both the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government to consult on the results of the Referendum.

Page 1, Untitled Preamble
Whereas we jointly recognize that the first post referendum consultations (first consultations) have been held from 18th - 19th May, 2021 here in Kokopo, East New Britain.

Page 1,
We jointly acknowledge that the results of the Bougainville Referendum have been tabled in the first consultations and that of the Bougainville people have voted 97. 7% in favour of Independence.

Page 1,
We jointly appreciate the positions of both Governments on the Referendum results and the road ahead of us.

Page 1,
We jointly direct the technical teams for both the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government to:
I. consult on the definition and process of ratification;
II. identify Constitutional issues relating to the referendum result and the tabling of the consultation outcomes in the National Parliament;
III. develop a Joint Roadmap on Post-Referendum Consultations; and
IV. fully implement the Sharp Agreement as a matter of priority.

Page 1,
We jointly agree that the second Post-Referendum Consultations will be held in Wabag, Enga on the margins of the Joint Supervisory Body meeting in June 2021.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: Page 1,
We jointly acknowledge that the results of the Bougainville Referendum have been tabled in the first consultations and that of the Bougainville people have voted 97. 7% in favour of Independence.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
Page 1,
We jointly direct the technical teams for both the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government to:
I. consult on the definition and process of ratification;
II. identify Constitutional issues relating to the referendum result and the tabling of the consultation outcomes in the National Parliament;
III. develop a Joint Roadmap on Post-Referendum Consultations; and
IV. fully implement the Sharp Agreement as a matter of priority.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: Power sharing→Territorial power sharing→Autonomous regions
[Summary: The entirety of the agreement relates to provision of a referendum on secession of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, as an act on self-determination, implementing the commitment of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

Page 1, Untitled Preamble
Whereas we acknowledge the requirements under s.342 of the Constitution for both the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government to consult on the results of the Referendum.

Page 1,
We jointly agree that the second Post-Referendum Consultations will be held in Wabag, Enga on the margins of the Joint Supervisory Body meeting in June 2021.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: https://www.abg.gov.pg/uploads/bulletin/Bougainville_Bulletin_Edition_18.pdf (Accessed on 13/6/2022)

JOINT STATEMENT

On the Outcomes of the first Post-Referendum Consultations held at Kokopo, East

New Britain

Whereas we acknowledge the requirements under s.342 of the Constitution for both

the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government to consult on

the results of the Referendum.

Whereas we jointly recognize that the first post referendum consultations (first

consultations) have been held from 18th - 19th May, 2021 here in Kokopo, East New

Britain.

We jointly acknowledge that the results of the Bougainville Referendum have been

tabled in the first consultations and that of the Bougainville people have voted 97.

in favour of Independence .

We jointly appreciate the positions of both Governments on the Referendum results

and the road ahead of us.

We jointly direct the technical teams for both the National Government and the

Autonomous Bougainville Government to:

I. consult on the definition and process of ratification;

II. identify Constitutional issues relating to the referendum result and the tabling

of the consultation outcomes in the National Parliament;

Ill. develop a Joint Roadmap on Post-Referendum Consultations;

and

IV. fully implement the Sharp Agreement as a matter of priority.

We jointly agree that the second Post-Referendum Consultations will be held in

Wabag, Enga on the margins of the Joint Supervisory Body meeting in June 2021.

Signed at Kopoko this 19th day of May 2021.

Hon. James Marape, MP

Prime Minister

Government of Papua New Guinea

Hon. Ishmael Toroama, MHR

President

Autonomous Bougainville Government