Fiji, June 4 -- President Ishmael Toroama says the overwhelming mandate delivered by Bougainville voters in the 2019 referendum is facing a critical test as Papua New Guinea's National Parliament table the Bi-Partisan Report on the referendum.

In a statement to Bougainvilleans, Toroama urged calm and unity ahead of what he described as an important moment in Bougainville's political journey, saying the people would soon hear directly from PNG political leaders about Bougainville's future aspirations for independence.

"My fellow Bougainvilleans, in the next few days, the resolve of the 97.8 percent of Bougainvilleans who voted for Bougainville to attain independence will be tested by the tabling of the Bi-Partisan Report on the 2019 Boug...