Transcript
JOHN MOMIS: The question now will be, greater autonomy [or] independence.
DON WISEMAN: The question of what greater autonomy is, how much more autonomy and whatever, I guess, are you going to be able to talk to the people about that or is that something that will be up for negotiation with the national government after the referendum?
JM: I guess we will talk to the people about it, but the main thing we will talk to the people about is we want the whole population of Bougainville to go for independence, but understanding that voting for independence doesn't mean that the national government would agree. The final outcome has to be a negotiated outcome, but we will negotiate after the referendum. But it is good to have a very clear position from the Bougainvilleans as to what they want and then of course the Peace Agreement requires both governments to sit down and consult which in effect means negotiate.
DW: The Referendum Commission can now begin its work. it's got all its membership and you have been meeting with the former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. What is it you think Bertie Ahern will be able to bring given that he doesn't know Bougainville does he?
JM: I think he has read just about everything on Bougainville before he came. So he's well read on Bougainville issues. he's been meeting a number of us, just to confirm the different reports he received back in Ireland before he came to Papua New Guinea. We are very happy with him, a lot of experience. You know the Bougainville Referendum Commission will play an independent role to ensure the referendum is conducted fairly, freely and there won't be any questions after the result is announced.
DW: Will Mr Ahern spend a lot of time in Bougainnville between now and June?
JM: He will be coming and going, visiting Bougainville.
DW: The date [for the vote] still set for June 15th?
JM: June 15th is still the indicative date. We are not able to determine the final date until the result of the Second Autonomy Report is know and for the two governments to make a decision on the final date. And of course the Referendum Commission will also have a say, because we don't want to go off half-cocked. It is very very important that we have got enough money, that we get everything sorted out and every facility and offices are set up before we embark on the actual voting. Don't want to have people complaining about a referendum that wasn't conducted fairly.
DW: The outstanding issue for Bougainville, going back many years, has been this money problem. What you see as the constitutionally guaranteed funding from the national government that hadn't been paid. Going into the referendum this is of critical importance, so has it been sorted now, after last week's meeting.
JM: This special JSB meeting was really to deal with the question and matters related to referendum. But we did raise the matter of funding and we agreed out Minister of Finance and the National Government Minister will meet this week, before the Budget is finalised. But the January JSB meeting will concentrate more on the funding issues.
