The Bougainville House of Representatives have unanimously endorsed ABG President Ishmael Toroama’s ministerial statement on the Era Kone Covenant.
Members of the House expressed their support of President Toroama’s ministerial statement which refocuses Bougainville’s journey to achieve political independence through the recently signed Era Kone Covenant.
In his statement President Toroama explained the processes that have led to the signing and endorsement of the Era Kone Covenant on Friday April 22, 2022.
The overwhelming 97.7% affirmation on Political Independence for Bougainville by the people at the 2019 Bougainville Referendum clearly indicated Bougainville’s resolve on self-determination.
Per the Bougainville Peace Agreement, the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government were required to consult over the results of the Referendum.
The third and final consultation in December last year resulted in the development of the Era Kone Covenant which creates a new pathway for Bougainville into the ratification of the Referendum results.
Formally known as the The Era Kone Covenant on finalization of the Bougainville Referendum on Independence the Era Kone Covenant;
· Captures the outcomes of the three post referendum joint consultations,
· Ensures the outcomes of the joint consultations are tabled in the 11th Parliament in 2023,
· Commits both Governments to jointly formulate a report to brief the 11th Parliament on its role to give effect to Section 342 of the National Constitution, in this case a report on the three Bougainville Joint Post Referendum Consultations outcomes.
· Provides for the respective executive councils of both Governments to make Constitutional Regulations.
· The Constitutional Regulations cannot be amended or repealed by the National Government except with approval of the Bougainville Executive Council in accordance with the Bougainville Constitution and the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
· By endorsing the Era Kone Covenant by the National Executive Council and the Bougainville Executive Council formally concludes post-referendum joint consultations between the two governments.
The Era Kone Covenant activates the next important stage in the Bougainville Peace Process and this is the drafting of the Constitutional Regulations.
The Constitutional Regulations will give clarity to the ratification process by the National Parliament while taking into account the referendum results and the Post Bougainville Referendum Consultation Report.
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