Transcript
MARTIN MIRIORI: They have already said it is too late. That effort is too late, much too late. They should have come earlier. And some of these prime ministers that are trying to come - they are part and parcel of the problem. For example Rabbie Namaliu when he was prime minister in 1990 the callout order was made under which the security forces operating, and then my friend Sir Julius Chan, you know, in 1997, the Sandline issue. But the big majority of Bougainvilleans, I think for me from my own assessment, I think there is no turning back.
DON WISEMAN: Do you think there was a time when maybe they could have had an effect?
MM: I think the case with Bougainville, it's got history. Rich history. Past history where in the 1900s, the early 1900s, the sixties, people in that time, the leaders at that time they were already longing for this day to come. So basically I think for the prime ministers to come at this point in time, as I said, at the eleventh hour, maybe it's kind of a waste of time. They should have come earlier. They should have come earlier.
DW: Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is also singing the same tune. He says he will ensure the vote goes ahead but he wants to maintain the unity of PNG. He's also reminded people that after the vote it then goes to the national parliament for a final decision to be made. Do many Bougainvilleans understand that. That it's actually going, in the end, to come down to the national parliament making a decision.
MM: Yes but if it's an absolute majority, 90 percent, I don't think Papua New Guinea will have any choice because the will of the people, even the international community is going to respect it. That's the way I look at it. There will be a backlash on PNG from the international community because this process is being monitored by the international community and under the UN.
DW: It's getting pretty close now. It's what 14 months away this vote. Is there excitement building?
MM: There is a lot of excitement. They are looking forward to the day. The 15th of June 2019. They are all talking about it. The common roll for the referendum is being worked on. By April the common roll should be ready, all completed, and awareness is taking place, right now, right across the region and the great majority of people, they cannot simply wait. Because The day is coming. They know what they want.
