venue: Brot für die Welt, Caroline-Michaelis-Straße 1, 10115 Berlin
in cooperation with United Nations Association Germany and Pacific Network
The South Pacific island of Bougainville could emerge as a new state within the next few years. In a referendum in 2019, 97.7 percent of voters in the Autonomous Region voted for the separation from Papua New Guinea (PNG). The Autonomous Bougainville Government and the PNG Government have agreed on a transition period during which substantial governmental powers will be transferred from the central to the sub state, eventually leading to Bougainville’s full independence. While many issues remain unresolved, such an outcome would mark the culmination of a remarkably successful peace process. International actors are now called upon to support this development and accompany Bougainville’s quest to become the world’s next independent state and 194th member of the United Nations.
The history of Bougainville is closely tied to Germany's colonial past: from 1886 to 1914, the island was part of German New Guinea. Bougainville’s incorporation into the German colonial empire constituted the root cause of the independence conflict that would erupt decades later. In 1949, it became part of the Australian colony of Papua New Guinea, which gained independence in 1975. Between 1989 and 1997, a violent conflict broke out, claiming the lives of around 20,000 people. The roots of the crisis lay in disputes over the operation of the Panguna mine, the world's largest copper and gold mine at the time. The Federal Republic of Germany was among the mine’s largest importers of copper. Due to the fighting, the mine was abandoned in 1989.
With this event, we want to examine the key factors contributing to the success of Bougainville’s peace and independence process, highlight Germany's historical responsibility, foster political dialogue with key actors, and encourage the German government to engage more actively and responsibly in Bougainville. We invite representatives from politics, civil society, and academia, as well as the interested wider public, along with high-ranking guests from Bougainville, to discuss these crucial issues.
We will begin with several presentations on the history and current situation in Bougainville, as well as on PaCSIA’s project work on the ground, and after a short break at 6:15 p.m., we will move on to a panel discussion titled “Bougainville: Between Dependence and Self-Determination.” The event will conclude with a reception starting at approximately 7:45 p.m.
The event will feature simultaneous German-English interpretation.
Please rsvp here.
A detailed program will be available shortly.
With:
James Tanis, President’s Legate for International Relations, Autonomous Government Bougainville
Barbara Tanne, President of the Bougainville Women's Federation (tbc)
Dr. Serge Loode, Director of the Peace and Conflict Studies Institute Australia (PaCSIA)
Ellen Demuth MP, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee
Prof. Dr. Rafael Biermann, Chair International Relations, University of Jena
Dr. Andreas Prothmann, Former German Ambassador in Fiji and special envoy for the Pacific Islands
Martin Krieg, Brot für die Welt
Christopher Brucker, Chair of International Relations, University of Jena
Corinna Broeckmann, Regional Officer for Oceania, Misereor
Amelie Overmann, Advisor Peace and Security, Brot für die Welt
Oliver Hasenkamp, United Nations Association Germany
Eckart Garbe, Pacific Network
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