Fiji, Oct. 22 -- Papua New Guinea's Parliament has been urged to respect Bougainville's overwhelming vote for independence while carefully weighing the constitutional and national implications of a decision on the region's political future.
Minister for Bougainville Affairs Manasseh Makiba said this when opening parliamentary debate on the 2019 Bougainville Referendum, which saw 97.7 percent of voters choose independence and 2.3 percent favour greater autonomy.
Makiba said the debate was an opportunity for MPs to consider Bougainville's history, the referendum result, the constitutional framework and the implications of the decision before Parliament.
He said the vote required a three-quarters majority, making it a significant constituti...