The Autonomous Bougainville Government
The Bougainville conflict was one of the most serious and damaging conflicts to have taken place in the Pacific Islands region since the Second World War. The arrangements for the Autonomous Bougainville Government were based on many years of discussion and carefully crafted agreements. Those agreements were negotiated in a peace process in which all of the parties committed to work for lasting peace. Under the Bougainville Peace Agreement the parties established an Interim Joint Supervisory Body as the main forum through which the National Government consulted with Bougainville's leaders.
The Constitution was approved and adopted by Papua New Guinea's National Executive Council (NEC) in December 2004, paving the way for preparations for the first general election for the Autonomous Bougainville Government. The Autonomous Bougainville Government has jurisdiction only over the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in accordance with its Constitution and the Bougainville Peace Agreement as implemented in Part XIV (Bougainville Government and Bougainville Referendum) of the PNG National Constitution. The government was established in 2000 and elections for the first Autonomous Government were held in May and June 2005.
The Constitution of Bougainville specifies that the Autonomous Bougainville Government shall consist of three branches:
- Executive - the Bougainville Executive Council led by a President.
- Legislative - the Bougainville House of Representatives (39 elected members and 2 ex officio members).
- Judicial - the Bougainville Courts including a Supreme Court and High Court.
The Bougainville High Court and other Bougainville Courts are part of the PNG National Judicial System. The Bougainville Courts consist of:
(a) the Bougainville High Court
(b) Bougainville courts (other than the Bougainville High Court and a court with a jurisdiction similar to that of a National Village Court)
(c) the Supreme Court established under the National Constitution, which is the final court of appeal for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, including appeals in relation to determinations made by the Bougainville High Court under the jurisdiction of the Bougainville High Court; and
(d) the National Court established under the National Constitution
President - James Tanis
James Tanis, born in 1965, raised in Panam Village in Lamane, on the border of South and Central Bougainville is the current President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. He was previously the Vice President of the Bougainville People's Congress.
Tanis was inaugurated as Bougainville's second elected President in a colorful swearing-in ceremony on January 6, 2009, as Bougainvilleans in traditional costumes travelled from all corners of the island to attend the ceremony in Arawa, Central Bougainville.
Tanis will serve an interim term, completing Kabui's scheduled term before the presidential election of 2010. He has stated that his focus will be on promoting unity in the aftermath of the civil war. Because a new leader will be chosen in 2010, Tanis has said he is "not looking at achieving much" during his 20-month term in office, but will ensure peace prevails through reconciliation.
Vice President - Ezekiel Massat
Ezekiel Massat is a Bougainvillean lawyer and politician. Massat was appointed the Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville by President James Tanis on January 19, 2009. Massat is a lawyer who has previously served as Bougainville's police minister. He represents the Tonu constituency on Buka Island in North Bougainville.
Massat succeeded John Tabinaman, the former vice president and who had served as the acting president of Bougainville following the death of Joseph Kabui in June 2008.
Massat will also be responsible for justice and law within the Tanis government.
Contact
Patrick Kolef
Chief Administrator
Tel. +675 973 9798
Fax.+675 973 9797
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