The latest statements from the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill on Bougainville's referendum are contradictory, a prominent leader and businessman says.
PNG PM Peter O'Neill Photo: AFP / Peter Parks
Last week, Mr O'Neill told a business forum in Australia that next year's Bougainville referendum was not about independence.
He said the government would ensure the letter and spirit of the Bougainville Peace Agreement was followed but when it came to ratification, all MPs in the national parliament would vote in the interests of a unified and harmonious country.
Martin Miriori, who once headed the former Bougainville Interim Government and was a leader in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, said the statements from Mr O'Neill were confusing.
"One time he says yes, he will go along and then the PNG government would endorse whatever the outcome was. And now with this kind of statement we are confused as to what he is talking about. It is somewhat a bit contradictory, the way he comes out," he said.
Mr O'Neill was also wrong to assert the referendum was not about independence when this was clearly one of several options listed in the Peace Agreement, Mr Miriori said.
While the question for the referendum had yet to be determined, Mr Miriori said he thought it would be best for Bougainville if it was kept as straightforward as possible.
"I think we should really keep it simple. Like Brexit, just a yes or no vote - that's my view. The great majority of our people, they are not well educated. A big population lives in the rural areas, so they will not understand if they are given complicated choices."