National Government in breach of Era Kone Covenant say Bougainville’ s Attorney General

The Autonomous Bougainville Government says the national government continues to breach the agreements that are in place dealing with the ratification on the Bougainville independence agenda.

The Wabag Roadmap agreed in Enga Province in 2021 between the ABG and the national government, says a final political settlement for the Bougainville issue must be determined not before 2025 and no later than 2027.

The Era Kone Covenant sealed in Port Moresby in April 2022 reinforces that the national parliament should deal with the ratification of the referendum results in 2023.

However, that has not eventuated leaving the ABG upset with the National Government over its lack of focus and interest on the Bougainville issue.

Parliament was adjourned last November only after passing the national 2024 budget and without tabling the referendum results to kickstart the process of ratification.

The ABG was left disappointed once again early this year when the national parliament adjourned from its February sitting to May without even dealing with the Bougainville Independence issue.

In an interview with NBC News, Attorney General and Justice and Independence Mission and Implementation Minister Ezekiel Massat says the national government continues to live in breach of the Era Kone Covenant each day after 2023 when it left the Bougainville agenda hanging without acting on the joint government agreements in completing the process of ratification.

" I know a lot has happened around the vote of no confidence and parliament keeps on deferring.

"Under the Era Kone Covenant, 2023 is the year of ratification, when parliament adjourned to 2024, it breached the Era Kone Covenant.

"Even at the beginning of 2024 we thought Minister Makiba would make a statement clarifying but parliament again was adjourned to May 28.

"And to me, the national government continues to live in breach", Mr Massat said.