Many people in Papua New Guinea's autonomous region of Bougainville still don't fully understand the process for the independence referendum, a Bougainvillean spreading awareness says.
Gerald Turumanu with former combatants. Photo: Gerald Turumanu
Bougainville referendum process still misunderstood
The referendum in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region is due to begin on 23 November.
It is the culmination of the peace process from Bougainville's 1988-99 civil war that is estimated to have killed 20,000 people.
Gerald Turumanu is the youth and referendum representative of the Port Moresby Bougainville Association.
Mr Turumanu said he had voluntarily gone back to Bougainville to spread awareness as "a concerned Bougainvillean".
"I'm moving around which ever communities that want referendum awareness," he said.
"Many of the leaders here, they're very happy about my coming. I've talked to many communities even schools. I'm doing this for the greater good of Bougainville, nobody is paying me.
"I'm down here to encourage the youths. Many of my peers, they are not educated as I am. I must give back."
Mr Turumanu said he attended the recent reconciliation of combatants from the civil war and helped them to formulate their joint declaration.
Gerald Turumanu with Me'ekamui Defence Force Commander, General Moses Pipiro. Photo: Gerald Turumanu
"Only one or two did not come but in fact their people came and from the majority that I spoke to, people from their villagers, even their followers, they all want the referendum to go through," he said.
Everyone in Bougainville is aware of the upcoming referendum but what is not so commonly understood is the post-referendum ratification process, Mr Turumanu said.
"The national parliament will vote over the result of the referendum. Many don't fully understand the process of ratification," he said.
Gerald Turumanu at Panguna mine Photo: Gerald Turumanu
"They're aware that we are voting for the two options: greater autonomy or independence.
"The underlying sentiment of the people of Bougainville is they want independence. But independence comes with all new responsibilities."
Of the six week delay to polling, the second postponement this year, Mr Turumanu said it would enable "a credible referendum result".
"All our people must be fully enrolled. They must be fully prepared."
Mr Turumanu said he had also "had the privilege to mingle" with landowners from around Panguna mine, a vast copper and gold deposit that was the catalyst for the civil war.
"The mine is still a divisive issue. The majority of the people of Bougainville see that we have to envisage a Bougainville without mining at the moment," he said.
"We can mine but not a large scale mine. Mining can be viable through alluvial means because alluvial is sustainable, it's environmentally friendly.
"Large scale mining is a complicated situation because you cannot mine without a proper land act in place, a proper environmental act in place.
"You cannot talk about mining without that legislation in place."