• Country/entity

  Papua New Guinea
  Bougainville
  

• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  Asia and Pacific
  

• Agreement name

  Loloata Understanding

• Date

  23 Mar 2000

• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed

• Interim arrangement

  Yes

• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Bougainville Conflict (1987 - 1998) )

• Stage

  Framework/substantive - partial

• Conflict nature

  Government/territory

• Peace process

  Bougainville: peace process

• Parties

  Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Somare, Minister for Bougainville Affairs and Chairman of the National Committee on Bougainville;
  Joel Banam, Chairman, Leitana Council of Elders;
  Hon. Jon Momis, Co-Leader of the Bougainville Delegation;
  Joseph C. Kabui, Co-Leader of the Bougainville Delegation;

• Third parties

  Signed in the presence of: Ambassador Noel Sinclair, Director of the United Nations Observer Mission on Bougainville; Ewan MacMillan, Chief Negotiator, Peace Monitoring Group;

• Description

  Culminated the third round of political negotiations between PNG delegation and Bougainville leaders. Committed to establishing an autonomous Bougainville province within the Constitution of Papua New Guinea. Leaves open question of independence and commits parties to discussing matter.

• Agreement document

  PG_000323_Loloata Understanding.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

LOLOATA UNDERSTANDING

Bougainville leaders and the National Committee on Bougainville met at Loloata Island and in Port Moresby from 17th to 23rd March 2000.

The parties remain committed to the peace process and to continued consultation

and cooperation within the framework and spirit of the Lincoln Agreement;

The parties acknowledge that for the peace process to continue to develop successfully, it must be as inclusive as possible, having the support and approval of the widest possible range of leaders in Bougainville and in Papua New Guinea more generally;

The parties discussed the Bougainville paper, ‘Bougainville Common Negotiating Position:

Expanded Details’ dated 8th March 2000, the Papua New Guinea Government paper, ‘The National Delegation’s Position on the Bougainville Delegation’s Autonomy Proposals’ dated 19th March 2000, and other papers, and agree that these documents provide the basis for future negotiations between the parties.

The Parties agree on the following matters:

Interim Arrangements

The Bougainville Interim Provincial Government will be established under the Transitional Provisions of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments in accordance with the decision of the National Court of 10th March 2000.

The parties note that arrangements for cooperation between the Bougainville Interim Provincial Government and the Bougainville People’s Congress and Councils of Elders have been agreed under the Greenhouse Memorandum of

23rd December 1999.

3. Negotiations on a political settlement will continue with the Bougainville Leaders.

Autonomy

4. The arrangement for an autonomous Bougainville Government will:

• Enable it to deal with the sources of the Bougainville conflict and prevent it from occurring again;

• Enable Bougainville to express and develop both its own identity and its relationship with the rest of Papua New Guinea.

5. The arrangements for an autonomous Bougainville Government will be provided within the Papua New Guinea Constitution, including any amendments, and will include provision for the following matters:

Bougainville will establish an elected autonomous government developed through a democratic process.

The autonomous Bougainville Government will meet accepted standards of good governance.

Bougainville will have responsibility for major powers and functions of government to be agreed upon.

Bougainville will take some years to exercise many legislative powers and functions.

Until Bougainville assumes responsibility for the full range of its powers and functions, National Government legislation and institutions will continue to apply.

Bougainville will need the fiscal and personnel resources required to carry out is functions.

Bougainville will receive substantial funds for reconstruction, restoration and development activities to support the peace process.

Referendum

6. The National Government acknowledges the aspirations for a binding referendum on independence as called for by the Bougainvillean leaders.

The parties reaffirm their support for a progressive political settlement that takes account of, among other things, the wishes of the people of Bougainville.

The parties will address the referendum issue.

The parties agree that the holding of the referendum may be deferred until after autonomy has been implemented and can be fairly and properly judged.

Next Steps and Timetable

Officials of the parties will meet to develop:

detailed proposals within the framework provided by this agreement;

and

a draft agenda for the next Leaders’ meeting.

The parties acknowledge the helpful role that the United Nations Observer Mission on Bougainville can play at their meetings.

The parties agree that there should be increased direct contact between National Government Leaders and Bougainville Leaders.

The next Leaders’ meeting will be held no later than May 2000.

Signed in Port Moresby on Thursday the 23rd day of March 2000.

[Signatures]