THE Hutjena Minute

(30 June 1999)

1. The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Minister for State met with the President of the Bougainville People's Congress and the Congressional Executive Council at Hutjena on 30 June 1999.

2. The Parties addressed the issues concerning the future political status of Bougainville.

3. The accompanying document was presented to the Prime Minister by the President, on behalf of the Bougainville People's Congress, and the Prime Minister undertook to submit the document to National Executive Council for its consideration.

4. The Prime Minister advised that the Government would be prepared to consider the proposal for a referendum.

5. The meeting accepted that Bougainville should be given a status under which Bougainville will exercise the powers of government with the exception of certain powers to be negotiated that shall be retained by the Government of Papua New Guinea.

6. The Prime Minister and President agree that every effort should be made to build bipartisan support for the agreements to be reached between the parties.

7. The parties shall meet as soon as practicable to further these discussions.

Signed 10 July 1999

SIGNED BY:

Hon. Bill SKATE, CMG, MP

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

Joseph C. KABUI

President

Bougainville People's Congress

'FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE FUTURE OF BOUGAINVILLE'

Whereas the Government of Papua New Guinea and the people of Bougainville (represented by Bougainville People's Congress) have been conducting talks to resolve the Bougainville conflict and have agreed that the question of the political future of Bougainville must be resolved; and

Whereas all parties accept that only the people of Bougainville can decide on Bougainville's future:

IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. That the political future of Bougainville shall be determined by an independent, internationally supervised referendum on the issue of independence held among Bougainvilleans at a time to be determined by the Bougainville People's Congress (or such Bougainville Government as succeeds Congress).

2. The current arrangements for Government in Bougainville shall be adjusted to allow immediate and effective self government in Bougainville where there shall be a Government of Bougainville that shall

a) assume primary responsibility for a full range of powers and functions of Government save for agreed essential powers reserved primarily to the Government of Papua New Guinea, and

b) enjoy financial powers and assured funding commensurate with its powers and functions.

3. The Government of Papua New Guinea hereby undertakes and agrees to accept the decision of the people of Bougainville, as expressed in a referendum or referenda, on the political future of Bougainville, and to implement any decision in favour of Independence on a date to be chosen by the people of Bougainville through the Government of Bougainville.

4. The measures provided for in this agreement shall be secured by a treaty between Papua New Guinea and the people of Bougainville and further by provision in the Constitution of Papua New Guinea. Such provisions shall not be thereafter changed without the agreement of the people of Bougainville.

5. Any dispute regarding the implementation of the agreed arrangements shall be resolved by consultation between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville People's Congress (or its successor), and if that fails by a mediation panel consisting of equal number of nominees from the Government of PNG and the Bougainville People's Congress (or its successor) and chaired by a representative of the United Nations.

6. The Parties shall meet immediately to develop an agreement expanding the principles in this document to be executed by the parties in Port Moresby on or before 11 July 1999.

Executed this 30th day of June 1999.

SIGNED BY:

Rt Hon. Bill SKATE

Prime Minister

Papua New Guinea

Joseph C. KABUI

President

Bougainville People's Congress

Thomas ANIS

Vice President

Bougainville People's Congress

James TANIS

Vice President

Bougainville People's Congress

Gerard SINATO

Congressional Executive Council

Bougainville People's Congress

WITNESSED BY:

His Excellency David IRVINE

High Commissioner for Australia

Ms Maria MATAEVA

Deputy High Commissioner for Fiji

His Excellency Nigel MOORE

High Commissioner for New Zealand

Lt Col Clyde PARRIS

United Nations Observer

Mission in Bougainville

Brigadier Simon WILLIS

Commander, Peace Monitoring Group

Bougainville

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