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Human Rights: Bougainville Peace Agreement

Implementations

Human Rights – 2001

No further information is available on whether steps towards implementing the human rights provision in the peace agreement had been taken.

Human Rights – 2002

No further developments observed this year.

Human Rights – 2003

Governor John Momis, during a presentation to a high-powered ministerial delegation visiting Bougainville in February 2003, said that one of the major outstanding issues of his government and other leaders involved in the peace process was the, “provision of compensation for some of the grave human rights abuses that occurred during the conflict.”¹ In addition, the draft constitution, “provides for the adoption of the human rights and freedoms contained under the PNG constitution and the adoption of the criminal code.”²

“Papua New Guinea: Bougainville governor calls for strong government support,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, February 19, 2003.
“Papua New Guinea: Draft Bougainville constitution under consideration,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, May 16, 2003.

Human Rights – 2004

On 14 January 2004, the National Government handed over the constitution to the Autonomous Bougainville Government in Arawa.¹ The new Autonomous Bougainville constitution has specific provision on human rights. Part 14 of the constitution, (Article 178-186), has different provisions related to human rights, including entitlement to reasonable damages for an individual’s human rights (Article 184). Bougainville citizens have additional human rights that go beyond those rights granted to their fellow citizens under the Papua New Guinea constitution.

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