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.

• Agreement document

  PG_960604_Memorandum of 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

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