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Agence France-Presse

Polls on the Pacific island chain of Bougainville closed on Saturday to end two weeks of voting in a historic referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea.
Officials anticipated the “vast majority” of 207,000 registered voters cast their ballots across the region and beyond, with polling stations established for Bougainvillean diaspora in Australia, the Solomon Islands and other parts of PNG.
“We won’t have turnout figures until the end of the scrutiny process but during polling we witnessed long queues at polling places, we witnessed great enthusiasm,” said chief referendum officer Mauricio Claudio.
“So we anticipate a high turnout.”

The vote is a cornerstone of a 2001 peace deal that ended a brutal decade-long war between Bougainville rebels, PNG security forces and foreign mercenaries that killed up to 20,000 people and displaced thousands more.
Joyous scenes marked the opening of polling stations two weeks ago, with Bougainvilleans asked to choose between greater autonomy or independence from PNG.
There are no reliable exit polls, but it is widely expected voters will return a result in favour of independence.
The last postal votes were due to be collected on Saturday evening, when polls officially closed.
Why the US, China and Australia are watching as Bougainville votes
This kicked off a process of verification before counting takes place, with results expected to be announced in the coming week.
If voters do choose independence, the decision would require ratification by the PNG parliament, whose recently installed Prime Minister James Marape will need to carefully manage expectations within the diverse country.

There is anxiety among some in Port Moresby that Bougainville could set a precedent and spur other independence movements.
But rejection risks rekindling old feuds and skittling the peace process.
US and allies sideline China in Bougainville by helping fund independence vote
New Zealand lead an international unarmed police contingent for the vote, backed by fellow witnesses to the 2001 peace agreement: Australia, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Claudio said voting had gone “better than we expected” with little incident.


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Pacific nations

Polls close in Bougainville after vote on independence from Papua New Guinea

Bougainville residents queue to vote at a polling station in the long-awaited referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea. Photo: AFP

FILE PHOTO: Residents hold a Bougainville flag at a polling station during a non-binding independence referendum in Arawa, on the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville November 26, 2019. REUTERS/Melvin Levongo/File Photo

Why the US, China and Australia are watching as Bougainville votes

Ahead of Bougainville’s landmark independence vote, women dance at a November 6 reconciliation ceremony that brought together former enemies in a decade-long civil war. Photo: AFP

Photo taken on November 6, 2019 shows children attending a Bougainville reconciliation ceremony ahead of independence referendum in Arawa, Bougainville. - Once-sworn enemies in Bougainville's cruel decade-long civil war gather for a series of reconciliation ceremonies, hoping shared tears, regret and apologies can bury the past ahead of a landmark vote on independence. (Photo by LLANE MUNAU / AFP)

Photo taken on November 6, 2019 shows former Bougainville Revolutionary Army fighters shaking hands with Papua New Guinea policemen at a Bougainville reconciliation ceremony ahead of independence referendum in Kokopo in East New Britain. - Once-sworn enemies in Bougainville's cruel decade-long civil war gather for a series of reconciliation ceremonies, hoping shared tears, regret and apologies can bury the past ahead of a landmark vote on independence. (Photo by ELIZABETH VUVU / AFP)

epa07529808 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill (L) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, 26 April 2019. EPA-EFE/PARKER SONG / POOL

SYD01:PAPUA-MINE:ARAWA,PAPUA NEW GUINEA,3MAY97 - FILE PHOTO 24APR97 - Bougainville Republican Army (BRA) Platoon Commander Rommy Joel rides shotgun in no-mans land between the BRA and Papua New Guinea Defence Force controlled zones on the coast road between Kieta and Arawa on the East Coast of central Bougainville. The BRA has said they would discuss reopening the Panguna mine if future talks with Papua New Guinea included independence for the island, 800kms (500 miles) northeast of the capital Port Moresby. (AUSTRALIA OUT,NO ARK,NO ONLINE) jdp/mb/Melbourne Age/Photo by Michael Bowers REUTERS

US and allies sideline China in PNG’s Bougainville by helping fund independence vote

The vote in PNG’s autonomous region of Bougainville, formerly the site of a bloody civil conflict, will run from November 23 to December 7, and could trigger separation negotiations to create a new nation. Photo: AFP

Bougainville leaders agree on peace plan

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The Pacific island chain of Bougainville has been voting over the last two weeks in a referendum on independence or more autonomy
Voter turnout is expected to be high and officials anticipate most will support independence



The Pacific island chain of Bougainville has been voting over the last two weeks in a referendum on independence or more autonomy from Papua New Guinea.
