News 06.2015
Please note: Beginning from January 1st, 2015 the ESBC's Newsroom will NOT be updated daily. In future we will only cover major events on Bougainville or relevant news related to the re-opening of Bougainville Copper's Panguna mine! Thank you for your understanding! |
09.06.2015
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville ready to talk mining with Rio Tinto
Bougainville's re-elected president says one of his first moves will be talking with Rio Tinto on whether it is interested in re-opening the Panguna mine.
John Momis won a resounding victory after counting in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region was completed at the weekend.
Bougainville is to conduct a vote on possible independence before 2020 and Mr Momis says mining is the only way to quickly achieve the necessary fiscal self-reliance required before then.
He wants to talk with Rio Tinto first because they ran the Panguna mine, through Bougainville Copper Ltd, before the Bougainville Conflict.
"Hoping we can come to an agreement to start taking some practical steps to re-open the mine, but if Rio Tinto chooses not to engage us then we have other options to look at."
President elect John Momis.
Rio Tinto has indicated it is reviewing its position after the outgoing government passed a new mining law.
08.06.2015
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
John Momis re-elected as President of Bougainville in landslide victor
But first in Bougainville, John Momis has been re-elected president of the Autonomous Region, gaining around half of the votes and easily defeating eight other presidential candidates.
John Momis re-elected as President of Bougainville in landslide victor (Credit: ABC)
He received more than 50,000 thousand votes, with his closest rival Ismael Toroama on 17,571.
Joining us now is Aloysius Laukai from New Dawn Radio says voters would have been concerned by the possibility of a leadership change so close to Bougainville's upcoming referendum on independence, giving Momis a distinct advantage.
Presenter: Liam Fox
Speaker: Aloysius Laukai from New Dawn Radio
LISTEN HERE !
08.06.2015
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Momis praises Bougainville people's commitment to democracy
Bougainville's president-elect John Momis says people's conduct in the recent election has shown their commitment to democracy.
Mr Momis was speaking after the final results came though at the week-end following a week-long count for the presidency.
Mr Momis commended the elections authorities on the successful staging of the election, which was conducted for the first time by the autonomous Papua New Guinea region's own electoral commission.
He also acknowledged those that have given him the mandate to lead the people of Bougainville in the next House of Representatives.
He said despite some hiccups during the election period, it was conducted peacefully and showed people's commitment towards democratic principles, values and the long term vision for the people of Bougainville.
The Third Bougainville House of Representative will be sworn into office on June the 15th.
The only woman to win an open seat, Josephine Getsi, says she believes her community involvement was critical to her success.
Ms Getsi defeated 11 men in Peit constituency in north Bougainville.
A record 11 women contested the open seats.
She says her role as a teacher was one of the reasons she defeated the men standing against her.
:The people knew me, knew me very well working with them together, working amongst them, they knew me very well. As a teacher working with the community, the people, the different groups of people, the youth and I also worked with the women involved in the women's activities in the community and Bougainville as a whole."
08.06.2015
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Momis re-elected as Bougainville president
John Momis has been re-elected president of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
He was declared the president-elect by the Regional Returning Officer John Itanu on Saturday after defeating eight other candidates also vying for the presidential seat.
Mr Momis who has held the presidency for the past five years had led the race since the start of week-long counting.
The former Bougainville Revolutionary Army leader, Ishmael Toroama, was runner up receiving 18,466 votes to Mr Momis' 51,382.
Mr Momis commended elections authorities for the successful staging of the election which was conducted for the first time by the autonomous Papua New Guinea region's own electoral commission.
