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With Covid-19 consuming the energies of many regional countries, it's easy to forget some landmark developments from just before the pandemic emerged.
Anyone remember the Bougainville independence referendum?
Late last year, about 200-thousand Bougainvilleans, or about 80 percent of the population, voted in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region's non-binding referendum.
The result: a massive 97.7 percent majority in favour of independence.
What came after the vote was always going to be the tricky phase.
Before the PNG national parliament can consider ratifying the referendum result, there's meant to be an extensive consultation process, following upcoming five-yearly regional elections in Bougainville in August
Don Wiseman has been following the process.
Photo: The Bougainvillean