It is an island in the Pacific. Several factors stand out. Likewise, its population would be one of the world’s smallest. Why in news? The population is approximately 250,000. The peace agreement made provision for this referendum. The islands have struggled against Papua New Guinea’s rule since the 1970s. Bougainville votes on independence from Papua New Guinea. Thank you for your support! The Autonomous Region of Bougainville is an island located nearly 1000 kilometres east of Papua New Guinea, and directly north of Solomon Islands. As the world waits to see what the future has in store of Bougainville, our host Marco Werman spoke with Shane McLeod, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Syndey, Australia who specializes in the history of Papua New Guinea. So why does PNG want Bougainville to stay? And that was, again, part of the peace agreement. Tag: Bougainville new country. Nithyananda , India’s fugitive godman, has reportedly founded his own country somewhere in the Pacific. In November of 2019, the people of Bonneville currently a part of pop one New Guinea, will hold a referendum on independence. Bougainville to vote on whether to become world’s newest country. Bougainville has voted overwhelmingly for independence from Papua New Guinea, ... Any new country will want to take its proud place in the sporting world – but the path isn’t always easy. Your donation directly supports the critical reporting you rely on, the consistent reporting you believe in, and the deep reporting you want to ensure survives. Meanwhile, the US - along with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan - have provided funds to help with the referendum. Several factors stand out. Within the country, your best bet is New Guinean national carrier Air Niugini (sound it out), which flies to Buka. To learn more, review our Cookie Policy. "There is a palpable pride that the eyes of the world are watching," Mr Ahern wrote this week. It's going to need resources to make itself viable and it's going to be relying on international partners to get there once it is able to negotiate this process with PNG. But it is something that's quite distinct now. But it's going to be very tricky. While under colonial control, Bougainville - current population 300,000 - was always an outpost. The population of the province is approximately 300,000 (2019 census), which includes islets such as the Carterets. Geography. The province would then transition to become a sovereign country, People vote for independence but PNG does not accept the outcome or tries to delay any further steps. 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. Results of the historic referendum were announced on … This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Bougainville is the largest island of the Solomon Islands archipelago, and an autonomous island region within Papua New Guinea.. In that case, Bougainville would stay part of PNG and details would be worked out, People vote for independence and PNG accepts the vote. And, if the poll goes as expected, Bougainville could become the world's next country. Posted on December 5, 2019. Anna Powles, Massey University. Anna Powles, Massey University. The PNG minister for Bougainville affairs, Puka Temu, said "the outcome is a credible one" - but asked that voters "allow the rest of Papua New Guinea sufficient time to absorb this result". Yeah, one of the big challenges for Bougainville is economic prospects. The new president of Bougainville will be Ishmael Toroama, ... and now the potential founding father of the world’s newest country is a compelling story. PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402. The South Pacific islands of Bougainville have overwhelmingly voted to be independent from Papua New Guinea in a historic poll on Dec. 11 that has emboldened separatists as they start negotiating the terms of their sovereignty. Present Status Of Bougainville. G overned by dawn chorus of cockatoos and circadian tropical tides, time on Bougainville – the world’s newest country in waiting – is a moveable feast. The World is a public radio program that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter. The Bougainvilleans really wanted to have their say and be given the opportunity to vote for independence but Papua New Guinea didn't want that vote to happen immediately. Donate $100 or more to hear your name in our podcast credits AND receive an invite to a virtual party with Marco Werman and The World team! For Prelims: Where is Bougainville? The capital is … Watch video 01:40 Bougainville Island, easternmost island of Papua New Guinea, in the Solomon Sea, southwestern Pacific.With Buka Island and several island groups, it forms the autonomous region of Bougainville. Not yet, it's not a binding outcome. Observers expect up to three-quarters to opt for independence - but the poll will just be a first step. "I believe the process will be a credible one, free of the fear and intimidation once wrought by weapons of war.". © 2020 BBC. Initially a response to plantation colonialism, it developed thanks to perceived racism and economic exploitation. We need just 250 more donors to make it! peace agreement sets 2020 deadline for independence poll, How Lewis Hamilton is helping make racing environmentally friendly. The new country - should it happen - would be small, with a land mass of less than 10,000 square kilometres (slightly larger than Cyprus, and slightly smaller than Lebanon). It is part of the Solomon Islands rain forests Eco region. 2000peace agreement sets 2020 deadline for independence poll. Australia, the closest wealthy country, is Bougainville's biggest donor and was involved in the mediation that ended the fighting. Bougainville is a series of islands to the east of Papua New Guinea and the north-east of Australia, and it is technically part of the same island chain that makes up the Pacific nation of Solomon Islands. The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, a chain of islands that lie 959 kilometres northwest of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) capital, Port Moresby, … Geographically, Bougainville is the largest of the Solomon Islands, located near the northern end of … Bougainville, a small island belonging to Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific, has taken a major decision. But it does provide a sense of unity and identity for a lot of Bougainvilleans. The vote is a significant indicator of public sentiment, but is non-binding, and will now need to be approved by the Papua New Guinea parliament before Bougainville can become its own country. And now there might be an addition to this, as Bougainville, might become the new country on the world map. When you think of modern-day secessions, the struggles of Catalonia, Scotland, Kashmir and Kurdistan typically come to mind. I think just the scale of the outcome means that it's pretty hard for anyone to argue those problems. Bougainville is the largest island in the Solomon Islands archipelago. We need just 407 more donors to make our goal of 1,000. An island group that's part of Papua New Guinea is about to vote on independence. Things like fisheries could be a big industry. In November of 2019, the people of Bonneville currently a part of pop one New Guinea, will hold a referendum on independence. Donate today to help keep our coverage free and open to all. Much smaller Buka Island, c. 500 km (190 sq mi) lies north across the 400–500 m (1,300–1,600 ft) wide Buka … Video, How Lewis Hamilton is helping make racing environmentally friendly, Nashville explosion: Camper van blows up in 'intentional act' on Christmas morning, Coronavirus: France finds first case of new variant, 'Balloon boy hoax' parents pardoned in Colorado, Australian expeditioner evacuated from Antarctica in five-day mission, Russian historian jailed for dismembering partner, Queen's Christmas speech: 'You are not alone', Bridgerton: Everything you need to know about the Netflix drama, Uganda Lake Albert boat accident leaves many dead, Boko Haram kill villagers in Christmas Eve attack, new Prime Minister James Marape reiterated that the vote was non-binding, establishing diplomatic ties with the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, along with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Tag: Bougainville new country. It's something quite visible for a lot of Bouganvillenas, [though] not all. Read about our approach to external linking. Geographically, Bougainville is the largest of the Solomon Islands, located near the northern end of that chain.Bougainville is 75 miles (120 km) long and 40–60 miles (65–95 km) wide. Bougainville was the location of an intense battle during World War II. When you support The World with a donation, you ensure our incredible newsroom staff can continue the critical work that brings you stories from around the globe. Also some of the traditions, things like matrilineal land tenure that applies in a lot of Bougainville means that people have a sense of culture that I think will drive that sense of identity as an independent nation. They just voted 97.7% to vote in favour of independence. China, the United States, Australia and New Zealand are all tracking its progress because the island territory sits on a wealth of copper and gold. There doesn't seem to be any questions raised about the counting process or the nature of the voting. It formed the main landmass of the German Empire-associated North Solomons. Donate $100 or more to hear your name in our podcast credits AND receive an invite to a virtual party with Marco Werman and The World team! Estimates of the number of people killed range from 4,000 to 20,000 - between 3 and 13% of the islands' population at the start of the war. Why in news? The region is now known as the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. It says it will accept "any settlement negotiated", but most Bougainvilleans believe that Australia opposes independence. Within the country, your best bet is New Guinean national carrier Air Niugini (sound it out), which flies to Buka. Bougainville (/ ˈ b oʊ ɡ ən v ɪ l / BOH-gən-vil; Tok Pisin: Bogenvil), officially the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea.The largest island is Bougainville Island, while the region also includes Buka Island and a number of outlying islands and atolls. 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. One estimate cited by the Lowy Institute says Bougainville would only have 56% of the revenue needed to be self-reliant. From 1988 to 1998, Bougainville went through an armed conflict between Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. The historic vote caps a decades-long peace process and a long recovery from a brutal civil war between Bougainville rebels, Papua New Guinea security forces and … It's really only been since Europeans came in and imposed colonialism on Bougainville that that idea of Bougainville as a unit has been created. It is inhabited by more than 180000 people. The declaration was the manifestation of a Bougainville identity which developed during the 20th Century. The country is rich in natural resources - especially copper, which has been extracted on a large scale since the 1960s under Australian administration. #Bougainville #PapuaNewGuinea #Referendum Footage used in this video courtesy of Skyborne Visions LLC, check them out! I think that just means that independence has to be happening, there has to be a timeline for that. The islands' history includes colonial exploitation, attempts at independence, a nine-year war and a gradual peace process. If Bougainville gets independence, other PNG provinces (there are more than 20) could also up their demands for greater autonomy - or possibly secession. However it was ignored by both Australia and PNG. They're planned to last for one year, meaning that the Papua New Guinean parliament probably won't vote to approve or deny Bougainville… After the failed independence declaration, discontent simmered and in 1988 a nine-year separatist war began. People line up to vote in a referendum on Bougainville's independence from Papua New Guinea, in the region's interim capital of Buka Town, on Nov. 25. Well, there is the outcome of the conflict, and for what the people of Bougainville have been through, this peace process has been a real tribute to their patience and their persistence in getting through this. The population of the province is approximately 300,000 (2019 census), which includes islets such as the Carterets. Bougainville and nationhood. Donate today to help keep our coverage free and open to all. One is that the secessionists were able to fight the Papua New Guinea forces to a stalemate. John Momis, right, president of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, before voting in Buka, Papua New Guinea, November 23, 2019 Associated Press Shane McLeod : It's a province within Papua New Guinea, but it was given special status as part of a peace agreement in 2001, which ended a pretty vicious and violent conflict that had been going on in Bougainville for about 15 years or so. Region thought likely to break away from Papua New Guinea would be first new country since South Sudan People have written a bit about Bougainvillean identity — it's something that came about as a result of European colonisation, and, through a couple of centuries of colonization, that has really created this idea of Bougainville as a unified unit. The provisions that were agreed is that PNG's national parliament would get the final say and would have to ratify and respond to the outcome of the vote. Given the scale of the outcome, PNG's government doesn't really have the capacity to interpret this vote another way. If Bougainville’s people vote for its independence in the historic referendum, the world will get its newest and possibly smallest nation. For one, Bougainville is rich in natural resources. But Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s autonomous region of Bougainville is farther along than most to achieving independence – and becoming the world’s 194 th country. This is a small island in the South Pacific which recently received a large number of votes to gain independence from Papua New Guinea. The birth of Bougainville Last year the small Pacific island of Bougainville, a self-governed part of Papua New Guinea, held a referendum on whether it should become an independent country. Almost 98% of the 181,067 votes backed independence in the non-binding poll last month that is part of a peace pact struck in the aftermath of a decade-long war between Bougainville’s rebel fighters and PNG forces, which ended in 1998. But Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s autonomous region of Bougainville is further along than most to achieving independence — and becoming the world’s 194th country. .css-1xgx53b-Link{font-family:ReithSans,Helvetica,Arial,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:700;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#FFFFFF;}.css-1xgx53b-Link:hover,.css-1xgx53b-Link:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Read about our approach to external linking. There are other prospects within Bougainville as well. Results of the historic referendum were announced on … Beijing has recently increased its efforts to boost ties with island nations in the Pacific, establishing diplomatic ties with the Solomon Islands and Kiribati. Before that, it was really tribal and down at the small regional groupings and clan-based. But Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s autonomous region of Bougainville is farther along than most to achieving independence – and becoming the world’s 194 th country. Bougainville has voted to become a new country, but the journey to independence is not yet over. When Papua New Guinea was granted independence in 1975, Bougainville became a province, even though there was little enthusiasm for it. 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. It started with a dispute over a large mine that was operating on Bougainville, but it became a much more intractable conflict and led to clashes between different groups in Bougainville and also with the national government, military and police. This might lead to a new crisis and fresh conflict. The other worry is that it might set a precedent. On Saturday, a new chapter will be written, when 207,000 people begin voting on whether they want greater autonomy or independence. Bougainville, a small island belonging to Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific, has taken a major decision. Bougainville has voted to become a new country, but the journey to independence is not yet over. Our coverage never has been, and never will be, behind a paywall. And, if the poll goes as expected, Bougainville could become the world's next country. The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, a chain of islands that lie 959 kilometres northwest of Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, has voted unequivocally for independence. The Buka Passage divides Buka from Bougainville Island. Once the new Bougainvillean government is in office by September, the talks with Papua New Guinea's national government will begin in earnest. The new country would be small, with a landmass of less than 10,000 sq km (slightly larger than Cyprus, and slightly smaller than Lebanon). By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies and Privacy Policy.