Fiji, June 10 -- Bougainville Regional MP and Works Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr has urged Papua New Guinea's Parliament to support the proposed Sessional Order on Bougainville, arguing that lawmakers must first agree on the process for considering the region's political future before debating the outcome of the 2019 independence referendum.

Speaking during debate on the Sessional Order Tuesday, Tsiamalili stressed that Parliament was not being asked to vote on Bougainville's independence but to establish the framework through which future decisions would be made.

"Today is not the day Parliament decides the political future of Bougainville. Today is not the day Parliament votes on independence.

"Today is not the day Parliament accepts...