Pacific region of Bougainville prepares to vote on independence

Locals likely to back separation from Papua New Guinea during two-week referendum

Former Bougainville Revolutionary Army fighters greeting Papua New Guinea policemen on Nov 6 in Kokopo, East New Britain, at a reconciliation ceremony in a symbolic outpouring of forgiveness between "Melanesian brothers" ahead of a historical independence
Former Bougainville Revolutionary Army fighters greeting Papua New Guinea policemen on Nov 6 in Kokopo, East New Britain, at a reconciliation ceremony in a symbolic outpouring of forgiveness between "Melanesian brothers" ahead of a historical independence referendum that begins this Saturday. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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The world may soon welcome a new country as the Pacific region of Bougainville prepares to start voting on whether to break away from Papua New Guinea.

The two-week vote, starting this Saturday, is widely expected to result in a strong show of support for statehood in the troubled region.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 18, 2019, with the headline Pacific region of Bougainville prepares to vote on independence. Subscribe