Dispute Resolution Committee – 2003

Written by

As the constitution drafting and weapons disposal process drew closer to a conclusion, February 18-19, 2003, “[e]leven PNG Ministers travelled to Bougainville. Sir Peter Barter signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bougainvillean leaders to establish an Interim Joint Supervisory Body (IJSB) as a mechanism to manage Bougainville ‘s transition towards autonomy.”1 On October 23, 2003, PNG Government Attorney General, Francis Damem, made a statement to Radio Australia regarding the draft Bougainville constitution. Radio Australia quoted Mr. Damem as saying that the second draft of the constitution of the proposed Autonomous Bougainville Government, “is flawed and is facing big changes”. Mr. Damem is quoted as saying: “My department has been working on a response by the National government to Bougainville on the second draft constitution”. The Interim Joint Supervisory Body called a meeting and issued a statement calling for disciplinary action against Mr. Damem.2

Civil Administration Reform – 2004

Written by

On 14 January 2004, the National Government handed over the Constitution to the Autonomous Bougainville Government in Arawa.3 The new Autonomous Bougainville Constitution includes the establishment and functioning of a public services commission. As part of the public service reform initiative, administrator Peter Tsiamalili, “said the size of the Bougainville public service will be slashed from the present 600 to 300 before the end of the year, adding that out of that one third will be based at the provincial headquarters and two thirds in the districts.”4