PNG asks NZ to oversee Bougainville election

SYDNEY - The Papua New Guinea government is to invite New Zealand, Australia, Japan and other countries to send observers to the Bougainville elections next month.

The PNG Cabinet decided to invite international observers to the first election of the Autonomous Bougainville Government from May 20 to June 2, a government statement said.

The observers would help ensure a free, fair and democratic election, Foreign Affairs Minister Rabbie Namaliu and Intergovernment Relations Minister Peter Barter said in a joint statement.

The United Nations, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat would be asked to arrange and fund a United Nations-coordinated team of about 10 observers.

The decision was made after discussions with Bougainville leaders last month.

A UN Observer Mission is already in Bougainville and will stay during the elections.

Secessionist leader Francis Ona recently emerged from 16 years of seclusion to publicly declare Bougainville an independent state and the elections unnecessary.

Authorities said the majority of Bougainvilleans wanted the election to proceed and hoped Ona and his supporters would not disrupt them.

Bougainville Governor John Momis has announced his withdrawal from PNG's parliament to stand for the presidency of Bougainville's new autonomous government.

- AAP