Bougainville President, Ishmael Toroama said Bougainville’s stand for an independent nation will never be compromised and his people have stood on the forefront of the battlefield to protect their people from oppressors, and they have stood yet again on the forefront to make peace.
“Our aspiration for independence is not merely based on figures on paper but it is based on the human struggle of people and our history. We recognize that the Bougainville Process is an ongoing process that remains to be settled by the legal framework that governs it.” said president Toroama.
Toroama’s reflection on Bougainville’s Independence comes on the eve of Papua New Guinea’s 48th year of Independence.
As Bougainville continues to endeavor on it’s own path to self-determination, Toroama acknowledged that they are still a part of Papua New Guinea.
“It is within these sentiments that I wish the Government and people of PNG happy celebrations on the eve of the 48th Anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s Independence. By the grace of God, Papua New Guinea and Bougainville can mutually coexist as brothers defined only by an international border in the near future,” he said.
Toroama said the Late Great Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare had always described Bougainville as an integral part of Papua New Guinea and that statement could not be any truer.
“During the formative years of this country, Bougainville and our political leaders played a vital role in securing and guaranteeing PNG’s independence on September 16, 1975,” said Toroama.
But as president of Bougainville, Ishmael Toroama went on to say that was from a historical standpoint, it is undeniable that Bougainville was an integral part of Papua New Guinea.
“Our resources gave the economic guarantee for independence and the founding leaders supported Sir Michael through the establishment of governance systems that formed the basis of Papua New Guinea’s democracy,” said Toroama.
But Toroama said that was before Bougainville had an unjust war waged on them by the very institution sworn to protect their rights and civil liberties.
“It was sponsored by a regime so disillusioned by greed and plundering our rich resources it did not hesitate to wage a genocidal war against people who were only defending ourselves, our lands and our constitutional right to exist and express ourselves,” said Toroama.
He said while the Bougainville Civil War will forever remain a very dark period in Papua New Guinea’s history it serves as a powerful reminder to Bougainville that any government sworn to protect its people should never raise its hand against them in an act of war.
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