Asia and Oceania

Papua New Guinea
Last reviewed: 06 August 2009

Country information

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History

In 1884, Germany raised its flag in the north while the UK raised its own in the south. Formal division was established between German New Guinea and British Papua in 1886. British Papua was handed over to Australia in 1906. Australia took control of German New Guinea at the outbreak of the First World War. In 1949, the Trust Territory of Papua and New Guinea was given to Australia to administer until self-government on 1 December 1973. Papua New Guinea became a wholly independent State on 16 September 1975.

After 30 years of independence, PNG still faces major challenges. HIV/AIDS is growing towards southern African proportions, fuelled in part by extraordinary levels of violence against females. Serious law and order problems hinder inward investment. An under performing public service and corruption also slows development. Logging takes its toll on the diminishing rainforest. Education and health services remain weak and are difficult for many to access due to poor road communications. Such access difficulties also hamper development of rural economies.

Bougainville

Bougainville Island, part of PNG, has a history of separatist feelings. Behind some Bougainvilleans' separatism was the view that the money from the Panguna Copper Mine, a development which accounted for much of PNG's export revenue, was going to the national government and overseas and not back to the local community. This simmering resentment, together with other local tensions, led to the outbreak of hostilities in 1989. The conflict spread throughout the island and lasted 9 years. Twenty thousand Bougainvilleans lost their lives.

After lengthy negotiations, the Comprehensive Political Settlement was struck between the Government of PNG and provincial leaders in August 2001, ending the civil war in Bougainville. The agreement gave Bougainville the right to exceptional autonomy within PNG and granted the province the option of a referendum on its future political status, including the option of independence, to be held 10 to 15 years after the election of an autonomous Bougainville Government. The agreement also included a Weapons Disposal Programme, to which the UK contributed financial support. The autonomous elections took place from 20 May to 2 June 2005, and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) was inaugurated on 15 June 2005. With the formation of the ABG, the Organic Law of Provincial Government and Local Level Governments, which operate everywhere else in PNG, ceased to apply in Bougainville. Bougainville has four Members of the PNG National Parliament who are entitled to attend and speak in the Bougainville House of Representatives but they cannot move motions, vote or be counted towards a quorum. They however have the same entitlements as all other National MPs.

Late President Joseph Kabui, the 1st President for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville passed away on the 7th of June 2008. Born in 1954, the late President was a Commander in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army during the civil unrest on Bougainville and was elected as the President in 2005 after the island gained autonomy from Papua New Guinea. A by-election was held between 6th and 20th December 2008 resulting in the election of President James Tanis with the writs returned on the 31st of December 2008.