The University of EdinburghPeace Agreements DatabasePeaceRep

Memorandum of Understanding

  • Country/entity

    Papua New Guinea
    Bougainville
  • Region

    Asia and Pacific
    Asia and Pacific
  • Agreement name

    Memorandum of Understanding
  • Date

    4 Jun 1996
  • Agreement status

    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement

    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level

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

    Implementation/renegotiation
  • Conflict nature

    Government/territory
  • Peace process

    Bougainville: peace process
  • Parties

    JULIUS CHAN, PRIME MINISTER;
    THEODORE MIRIUNG, PREMIER;
  • Third parties

    WITNESSED BY: W NOEL LEVI, SECRETARY; JAMES TOGEL, MEMBER, BTG;
  • Description

    Agreed transitional arrangements for Bougainville Transitional Govt, future talks on autonomy, establishing local level govt, and funding arrangements for BTG.


Groups

  • Children/youth

    No specific mention.

  • Disabled persons

    No specific mention.

  • Elderly/age

    No specific mention.

  • Migrant workers

    No specific mention.

  • Racial/ethnic/national group

    No specific mention.

  • Religious groups

    No specific mention.

  • Indigenous people

    No specific mention.

  • Other groups

    No specific mention.

  • Refugees/displaced persons

    No specific mention.

  • Social class

    No specific mention.


Gender

  • Women, girls and gender

    No specific mention.

  • Men and boys

    No specific mention.

  • LGBTI

    No specific mention.

  • Family

    No specific mention.


State definition

  • Nature of state (general)

    No specific mention.

  • State configuration

    No specific mention.

  • Self determination

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum

    No specific mention.

  • State symbols

    No specific mention.

  • Independence/secession

    No specific mention.

  • Accession/unification

    No specific mention.

  • Border delimitation

    No specific mention.

  • Cross-border provision

    No specific mention.


Governance

  • Political institutions (new or reformed)
    Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→Temporary new institutions
    Page 1, 1. Transitional arrangements for BTG
    It was requested by Premier Theodore Miriung that the current term of the Bougainville transitional government by extended beyond the 1997 national elections.
    The Prime Minister appreciates the specific commitments relating to Bougainville and commits the national government to do its best endeavour to pass amendments to the organic law on provincial governments and local level governments to effect the above.
    It was further agreed that the process by initiated as soon as possible and concluded by the sixteenth 16th day of June, 1996. The officials of the national government and the BTG have been mandated t immediately work on the details.

    Page 1, 3. Local level government
    Both parties agreed that a system of local level government be established as soon as possible to facilitate the process of normalisation on Bougainville.
  • Elections

    No specific mention.

  • Electoral commission

    No specific mention.

  • Political parties reform

    No specific mention.

  • Civil society

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional/religious leaders

    No specific mention.

  • Public administration

    No specific mention.

  • Constitution

    No specific mention.


Power sharing

  • Political power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Territorial power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Economic power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Military power sharing

    No specific mention.


Human rights and equality

  • Human rights/RoL general

    No specific mention.

  • Bill of rights/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Treaty incorporation

    No specific mention.

  • Civil and political rights

    No specific mention.

  • Socio-economic rights

    No specific mention.


Rights related issues

  • Citizenship

    No specific mention.

  • Democracy

    No specific mention.

  • Detention procedures

    No specific mention.

  • Media and communication

    No specific mention.

  • Mobility/access

    No specific mention.

  • Protection measures

    No specific mention.

  • Other

    No specific mention.


Rights institutions

  • NHRI

    No specific mention.

  • Regional or international human rights institutions

    No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

  • Criminal justice and emergency law

    No specific mention.

  • State of emergency provisions

    No specific mention.

  • Judiciary and courts

    No specific mention.

  • Prisons and detention

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional Laws

    No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

  • Development or socio-economic reconstruction

    No specific mention.

  • National economic plan

    No specific mention.

  • Natural resources

    No specific mention.

  • International funds

    No specific mention.

  • Business

    No specific mention.

  • Taxation

    No specific mention.

  • Banks

    No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

  • Land reform/rights

    No specific mention.

  • Pastoralist/nomadism rights

    No specific mention.

  • Cultural heritage

    No specific mention.

  • Environment

    No specific mention.

  • Water or riparian rights or access

    No specific mention.


Security sector

  • Security Guarantees

    No specific mention.

  • Ceasefire

    No specific mention.

  • Police

    No specific mention.

  • Armed forces

    No specific mention.

  • DDR

    No specific mention.

  • Intelligence services

    No specific mention.

  • Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces

    No specific mention.

  • Withdrawal of foreign forces

    No specific mention.

  • Corruption

    No specific mention.

  • Crime/organised crime

    No specific mention.

  • Drugs

    No specific mention.

  • Terrorism

    No specific mention.


Transitional justice

  • Transitional justice general

    No specific mention.

  • Amnesty/pardon

    No specific mention.

  • Courts

    No specific mention.

  • Mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Prisoner release

    No specific mention.

  • Vetting

    No specific mention.

  • Victims

    No specific mention.

  • Missing persons

    No specific mention.

  • Reparations

    No specific mention.

  • Reconciliation
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble
    ... - determined to maintain the process of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction on Bougainville, including the impetus created to date,

Implementation

  • UN signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Other international signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Enforcement mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Related cases

    No specific mention.

  • Source
    Originally accessed from Conciliation Resources Accord (http://www.c-r.org/accord/papua-new-guinea%E2%80%93bougainville – no longer available from original source).
    Currently available from UN Peacemaker: https://peacemaker.un.org/png-mou96

Memorandum of Understanding

Mirigini State House, 4 June 1996

The Prime Minister and the leader of the national government delegation, the Rt.

Hon Sir Julius Chan Gcmg, Kbe, Mp and the premier and leader of the Bougainville transitional government delegation, Mr. Theodore Miriung having met at the Mirigini House, Port Moresby on the fourth (4th) June, 1996 and:

in further pursuit of the Miriung charter and its implementation as determined in the Waigani communique which they signed on 18 may 1995, determined to maintain the process of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction on Bougainville, including the impetus created to date, having held extensive discussions, reached the following understanding:

1. Transitional arrangements for BTG

It was requested by Premier Theodore Miriung that the current term of the Bougainville transitional government by extended beyond the 1997 national elections.

The Prime Minister appreciates the specific commitments relating to Bougainville and commits the national government to do its best endeavour to pass amendments to the organic law on provincial governments and local level governments to effect the above.

It was further agreed that the process by initiated as soon as possible and concluded by the sixteenth 16th day of June, 1996.

The officials of the national government and the BTG have been mandated t immediately work on the details.

2. Autonomy

3. Local level government

Whilst acknowledging the complexities of any discussion on the granting of some degree of autonomy for Bougainville both parties agreed to deliberate further on the level and scope of autonomy for Bougainville.

The details are to be worked out by officials from both sides later on.

Both parties agreed that a system of local level government be established as soon as possible to facilitate the process of normalisation on Bougainville.

4. Funding

Signed at Mirigini State House on the fourth day of June, 1996

Whilst acknowledging past difficulties on drawing down funds allocated for Bougainville and the BTG, both parties agreed to work within the current arrangement to facilitate a prompt release of funds earmarked for Bougainville.

JULIUS CHAN

PRIME MINISTER

WITNESSED BY:

W NOEL LEVI

SECRETARY

THEODORE MIRIUNG

PREMIER

WITNESSED BY

JAMES TOGEL

MEMBER, BTG