Former Bougainville militant eyes chance for mining to build nation

A former senior leader in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army says if done right, mining can help a new Melanesian nation build an economy.

In an historic result announced last week, a 97.7 percent majority voted for Bougainville to become independent from Papua New Guinea.

To come into effect, Bougainville's non-binding referendum result must be ratified by PNG's national parliament after a period of consultations.

However debate has increasingly turned to how economically viable an independent Bougainville would be, and whether the long-mothballed Panguna copper mine may feature.

Sylvester Birou, a former leading BRA soldier who is also a Panguna landowner, shared his views with Johnny Blades.