Nominations open in PNG for Bougainville election

Liam Fox, PNG correspondent

Last Updated: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:05:00 +1100

Nominations have opened in what could be the last elections on the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville before a referendum on independence.

Writs have been issued for the autonomous Bougainville government's second elections since a peace agreement ended a decade-long civil war in 2001.

The agreement allowed for a referendum on independence from PNG to be held sometime in the next five years.

The current ABG president James Tanis is hoping to retain his position and says the referendum will be a major issue.

"The way the vote goes will give an early indication of how the referendum might shape up," he said.

The future of the derelict Panguna copper mine, which was at the heart of the civil conflict, is also expected to an important issue during the campaign.

Voting is due to start on May 7.

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