There's A 'Right

Of Self

Determination'

By Leo Han Nett, A

Bougainvillian in Port Moresby

Proposals for a referendum to enable the people on Bougain ville to decide if they want to re

main with Papua-New Guinea,

become independent or join up with the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, will be discussed in the November meeting of the P NG House of Assembly—and it is apparent there will be a lot of opposition to the proposal from all sides of the House.

Opposition will certainly come from the government, which is well aware of its responsibility to work for unity of the whole territory— as well as being aware of the benefits that will flow from the rich copper deposits on Bougainville.

Plenty of people have been voicing their opinions since the moves were introduced into the Assembly last meeting, but the Administration is trying to play it cool. At a forum held in late September at the Uni versity of Papua-New Guinea, called to discuss the referendum proposal, the Administration refused an invita tion to send a speaker.

It seems to me the Administration is using the period before the debate in November to divide the Bougain villians. But this won’t help. It will rebound once the leaders of Bougainville, together with the majority of the educated, thinking Bougainvillians who are behind this move, make a concerted effort to win their people.

I was one of the people who called for this referendum. The moves began on September 8, when two members for the Bougainville Open Electorate, Paul Lapun and Donatus Mola, had a meeting with a group of 25 Bougainvillians stay ing in Port Moresby. The group was composed mainly of students and men working with the Administra tion. We passed a motion which resulted in the application which will be discussed in November.

The main reason we called for a referendum was to get the people of Bougainville to think seriously of their future. It is commonly feared

by Bougainville people that the isle will aways be a hard-working si; girl to feed fat Mrs. Territory. 1 this is of secondary importance. 1 fundamental reason for the call a referendum was the belief in right of self-determination.

Bougainvillians should have chance to think about their o viction that they are a differ people, a well-knitted group v should therefore be on their own.

Their tie with Papua-New Guii was due to an accidental act history—to a bungling act of t alien powers, Germany and Engla in a settlement of their dispute o Samoa in 1898.

The meeting very favourably c< sidered union with the Brit Solomons, to whom Bougainvilli; are more akin racially, and for im Bougainvillians in Buin and Sh there are even affinity ties.

It seems to us that the feeling close relationship and desire for un between the Solomons people a the Bougainvillians is mutual.

Pretty Mrs. Miss

Miss Nukualofa 1968 (above) is now [?] Tupou. Soon after arriving back from prize trip to Fiji in late September [?] Nukualofa, 24-year-old Saane Tu[?] married Tonga's new Assistant Crc[?] Solicitor, Tevita Tupou, 27. The cuu[?] have known each other for six ye[?] Meanwhile, due to a mix-up in dona[?] monies, Miss Siosi'ana 'Uheina Tonga now been declared winner of the fu[?] raising section of the Miss Nukual Contest, replacing Miss Fale Siliva.