PRESIDENT of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Ishmael Toroama has refused to recognize the appointment of Anthony Wagambie Jnr as Deputy Chief of Police in the Bougainville Police Service.
In a statement on today, the President said Wagambie Jnr’s appointment will not be recognized by the ABG as it is unconstitutional and breaches the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
He said Section 26 of the Organic Law on Peace Building on Bougainville and Section 237 of the Bougainville Peace Agreement clearly stipulate that the appointment of the hierarchical officers in the Bougainville Police Service by the Commissioner of Police is based on the direct nomination of a suitable candidate by the ABG through the Bougainville Executive Council.
“The National Government through the office of Police Commissioner David Manning ignored my government in its decision.
“We were never consulted nor privy to the process of appointing the Deputy Chief of the Bougainville Police Service,” President Toroama said.
He said PNG’s disciplinary forces are barred by the Peace Agreement from instituting any decisions, be it administrative or tactical on Bougainville without the knowledge and input of the ABG.
“I am dissatisfied with the manner in which the National Government of Papua New Guinea has yet again usurped the role of the ABG in implementing the parameters of the Bougainville Peace Agreement,” the President said.
He said the joint creation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement by the National Government and the people of Bougainville legally require the joint implementation of its provisions.
“The Bougainville Peace Agreement does not exist merely to protect the civil liberties of the people of Bougainville and resolve the Bougainville Conflict.
“The peace agreement is also intended to empower the autonomous arrangements for Bougainville that came into existence as a direct result of the agreement in 2001.”
President Toroama said the ABG has given too much quarter to the National Government in usurping the legal process in the administration of Bougainville’s autonomous arrangements and the Post Bougainville Referendum consultations.
“I want to be clear to the National Government that Mr. Wagambie’s appointment to the Bougainville Police Service by RPNGC Commissioner David Manning is neither welcomed nor recognized by the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
“Bougainville’s Regional Member, Peter Tsiamalili Jnr is the Minister for Police in the National Government and I expect he is aware of the legal ramifications of this appointment and will do what is right by the ABG and the people of Bougainville.”
Sunday Bulletin reached out to Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jnr for a comment and he is expected to make formal response soon.
