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Boundary Demarcation: Bougainville Peace Agreement

Implementations

Boundary Demarcation – 2001

The peace agreement’s boundary demarcation provision was not implemented in 2001.

Boundary Demarcation – 2002

In 2002, there was a small rift on boundary-related issues. Reportedly, “the ex-combatants broke into the firearms storage containers because the self-declared state of Mekamui extended its no-go zone boundary by 5 km”. The ex-combatants saw the boundary extension as a threat.¹

“Bougainville ex-combatants rearm themselves amid Papua New Guinea poll chaos,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, June 20, 2002.

Boundary Demarcation – 2003

The draft Bougainville constitution reportedly establishes a Boundary Commission to look at boundary issues.¹

“Papua New Guinea: Draft Bougainville constitution under consideration,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, May 16, 2003.

Boundary Demarcation – 2004

On 14 January 2004, the National Government handed over the Constitution to the Autonomous Bougainville Government in Arawa.¹ Article 1 of the Constitution recognizes the boundary of Bougainville as specified in Schedule 3 (the boundaries of Bougainville Province specified in the Schedule to the National Organic Law on Provincial Boundaries) of the constitution. According to Schedule 3:

Commencing at the point of intersection of the meridian 154 degrees east longitude with the Equator thence by the said Equator east to its intersection with the meridian 160 degrees east longitude thence by the said meridian 160 degrees east longitude south to its intersection with the parallel 4 degrees 50 minutes south latitude thence by the said parallel 4 degrees 50 minutes south latitude west to its intersection with the meridian 159 degrees east longitude thence by a straight line south-westerly to a point distant 6 nautical miles on a bearing of 42 degrees true from Cape Friendship thence by a straight line southerly to a point distance 4 nautical miles on a bearing of 70 degrees 30 minutes true from Cape Friendship aforesaid thence by a straight line south-westerly to a point distant 3 nautical miles due south from the southern point of the peninsula which bounds the harbour of Tonelei on the east thence by a straight line south-westerly to a point distant 3 nautical miles due south from Moila Point thence by a straight line westerly to a point distant 8 nautical miles on a bearing of 249 degrees true from Moila Point aforesaid thence by a straight line south-westerly to the intersection of the parallel 8 degrees south latitude with the meridian 154 degrees east longitude thence by the said meridian 154 east longitude north to the point of commencement.

“Papua New Guinea government hands over Bougainville constitution,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, January 17, 2005.