The Mataungan Association from East New Britain Province has expressed its strong backing for Bougainville’s quest for independence, emphasizing that the region has been neglected by successive governments. Association Chairman Henry Kubak articulated the sentiments of Bougainvilleans, who feel neither safe nor prosperous under the current national structure.
Kubak made his comments during the Papua New Guinea Parliamentary Bipartisan Committee’s consultations on Bougainville, convened in Kokopo. He voiced concerns over the decline in national development, attributing it to the 1995 repeal of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments, which centralized decision-making in Port Moresby and diminished the authority of provincial governments.
“PNG had a bright future in the early years of independence. Everything was functioning well. But when the Organic Law was removed, the effectiveness of provincial governments collapsed,” commented Kubak. He noted that the overwhelming 97.7% referendum vote for independence by Bougainville signifies a clear message from the people, affirming their frustrations with governmental failure to deliver essential services and development.
Kubak emphasized the broader implications of the Organic Law’s abolition, stating its effects reached beyond Bougainville, impacting areas like East New Britain and other parts of the country. He reaffirmed the Tolai people’s support for Bougainville’s independence, highlighting the longstanding grievances associated with inadequate development and concentrated power.
The consultation team from the PNG Bipartisan Committee, led by Dr. Allan Marat, Parliamentary MP for Rabaul Open, included notable figures such as Sir Puka Temu, MP for Abau, West New Britain Province Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, and North Bougainville Electorate MP Francisca Semoso, as they engaged with communities throughout the nation.
This movement for independence and local governance illustrates a significant grassroots response to perceived governmental shortcomings, signaling a desire for empowerment and better representation in governance. The ongoing discussions raise hope for meaningful change and improved destinies for the people of Bougainville and beyond.
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