THE TRUTH - Bougainville's Independence Journey

In this historic parliamentary session, Peter Tsiamalili Jnr. delivers a profound speech on the future of Bougainville and the sacred obligation of Papua New Guinea to honor its constitutional covenant . Speaking as a "son of Bougainville" and a "Melanesian leader," Tsiamalili Jnr. emphasizes that the current debate is not about fragmenting the nation, but about faithfully discharging the constitutional responsibilities established by the leaders who chose peace over conflict decades ago. Key Highlights from the Debate: The Legacy of Peace: Tsiamalili Jnr. reflects on the transition from the "dark age" of the 1989 state of emergency to the brokering of the Peace Agreement in 2001, which was eventually embedded into the supreme law of Papua New Guinea. A Sacred Promise: He reminds the House that the 2002 constitutional votes to invoke Part 14 (the Peace Agreement) passed with overwhelming, unanimous support. Referendum Results: With 97.7% of the people voting for independence, Tsiamalili Jnr. argues that the legitimacy of this result is undisputed, as it emerged from the very constitutional process Parliament created. Constitutional Supremacy: He explains that Section 276 and Part 14 of the Constitution were deliberately designed to prevail in cases of inconsistency, specifically to protect the Bougainville peace process. The Final Step: As a member of the 11th Parliament, he calls on his colleagues to complete the journey started by the 6th Parliament, proving that the word of Papua New Guinea remains unbroken. Peter Tsiamalili Jnr. is a prominent Papua New Guinean businessman and politician. He currently serves as the Minister of Works and Highways (appointed January 2026) after serving as Acting Minister in July 2025. A former Governor-elect for Bougainville, his political career includes serving as the Minister for Police and Internal Security and as the Regional Member for Bougainville from February 2021 to January 2026. He is a second-generation parliamentarian, following the legacy of his grandfather, Sir Paul Lapun. Quotes from the Speech: "History will not remember how loudly we spoke... History will remember only one thing: Whether we honored our word." "For peace was the purpose. For peace was the promise. For peace was the process. And peace must remain the legacy." Watch to understand the deep history, legal framework, and the future of the Bougainville-PNG relationship. #Bougainville #PNGPolitics #Independence #PeterTsiamaliliJnr #MelanesianLeadership #PeaceProcess #PapuaNewGuinea