Bougainville Referendum Explained: Part Five

ALTHOUGH subsection 338(3) of the Peace Agreement requires determinations about whether weapons disposal in accordance with the Agreement has occurred, and whether the requirements of good governance have and are being met, these are simply matters that must be considered in setting the date. If one or both of these determinations is or are negative, that will simply be an issue to take account in setting the Referendum date. Such determinations could reasonably be used to support arguments for the date of the referendum being delayed till towards, or at, the end of the five year window.