Lawyer: Idea of autonomy dangerous By Jina Amba- Post Courier 02/05/2014 A senior Highlands- based lawyer said it is dangerous for PNG to allow Bougainville to have a referendum to decide whether they break away from PNG come 2015. Danny Gonol said PNG, with more than 800 languages and 22 provinces, must remain united at all costs. Mr Gonol said the Constitution does not provide for referendums. He said if Bougainville votes to break away from PNG, then this country must also be ready to allow East New Britain and New Ireland provinces with other like-minded provinces promoting the ideology of autonomy to hold referendums to decide their future with PNG. This eventually will lead to the disintegration of this country. “To allow Bougainville to hold a referendum is the biggest mistake PNG will ever make. It will create a bad precedent for other provinces to follow,” he said. Mr Gonol rather said PNG must promote the ideology of state/ regional Governments. The country be divided into five state/regions with greater autonomy given. He said Bougainville becomes a state with its headquarters at Arawa. He added that the four regions, New Guinea Islands, Momase, Highlands and Southern to become states with respective headquarters at Kokopo, Lae, Mt Hagen and Kerema. He said Port Moresby remains the nation’s capital.
Posted on: Fri, 02 May 2014 02:26:56 +0000
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