Fiji, Aug. 6 -- Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama has launched a strong defence of Bougainville's push for independence, rejecting Papua New Guinea's position that Parliament can refuse to affirm the 2019 referendum result and warning that such a move would undermine the peace process.

Addressing the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting in Port Moresby on Wednesday, Toroama said Bougainville entered the talks determined to uphold agreements reached by both governments since the 2019 referendum and called on PNG to honour the Joint Consultations Report and the Melanesian Framework.

"We are compelled by legal, political and moral responsibilities to respect, accept and adhere to the Joint Consultation Report and implement the Melanes...