Bougainville election: More than 400 candidates vie for parliament
Photo:
RNZI / Johnny Blades
More than 400 candidates have put their hands up to contest the Bougainville general election in September, hoping to enter parliament.
Incumbent President Ishmael Toroama is among the 404 people lining up to win a seat.
Bougainville is involved in the process of achieving independence from Papua New Guinea - an issue expected to dominate campaigning, which lasts until the beginning of September.
Voting is scheduled to start on 2 September, finishing a week later, depending on the weather.
Seven candidates - all men - are contesting the Bougainville presidency. This number is down from when 25 people stood, including two women.
Photo:
Supplied/ FB -Autonomous Bougainville Government
Toroama is seeking a second term and is being challenged by his former colleague in the leadership of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, Sam Kauona.
Kauona is one of several contesting a second time, along with Thomas Raivet and a former holder of the Bougainville Regional Seat in the PNG parliament, Joe Lera.
There are 46 seats to be decided, including six new constituencies.
Two seats will have 21 candidates: the northern seat of Peit and the Ex-Combatants constituency.
Several other constituencies - Haku, Tsitalato, Taonita Tinputz, Taonita Teop, Rau, and Kokoda - also have high numbers of candidates.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- RNZ News
Bougainville election: More than 400 candidates vie for parliament
Voting is to start on 2 September, finishing a week later - depending on the weather. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades More than 400 candidates have put their hands up to contest the Bougainville general election in September, hoping to enter parliament. Incumbent President Ishmael Toroama is among the 404 people lining up to win a seat. Bougainville is involved in the process of achieving independence from Papua New Guinea - an issue expected to dominate campaigning, which lasts until the beginning of September. Voting is scheduled to start on 2 September, finishing a week later, depending on the weather. Seven candidates - all men - are contesting the Bougainville presidency. This number is down from when 25 people stood, including two women. Photo: Supplied/ FB -Autonomous Bougainville Government Toroama is seeking a second term and is being challenged by his former colleague in the leadership of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, Sam Kauona. Kauona is one of several contesting a second time, along with Thomas Raivet and a former holder of the Bougainville Regional Seat in the PNG parliament, Joe Lera. There are 46 seats to be decided, including six new constituencies. Two seats will have 21 candidates: the northern seat of Peit and the Ex-Combatants constituency. Several other constituencies - Haku, Tsitalato, Taonita Tinputz, Taonita Teop, Rau, and Kokoda - also have high numbers of candidates.
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- RNZ News
Court rules Australian govt owes no duty of care to Torres Strait Islanders to protect them from Climate Change
In a landmark ruling, an Australian court has found the government owes no duty of care to Torres Strait Islanders to protect them from the impacts of climate change. Monash University climate law expert Dr Ella Vines spoke to World Watch's Niva Chittock. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
17 hours ago
- RNZ News
Massive US-led military exercise underway in CNMI
The DC Air National Guard squadron's F-16s arrived at Hickam for a quick pitstop before heading out in support of the REFORPAC exercise. Photo: Facebook / U.S. Pacific Air Forces The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) will be front and center of the Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) 2025 as the US Air Force launched its most expansive military exercise in the region last week. The Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs official Edward Camacho said nearly 300 aircraft and over 600 troops will conduct military exercise in about 25 locations on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota and their surrounding airspace during exercise set from 7 July to 8 August. The special assistant for military affairs to the CNMI governor Arnold Palacios said that Saipan military exercises started on 7 July, followed by Tinian and Rota's on 8 and 9 July 8, respectively. The Saipan exercises will be happening until 8 August, with both Tinian and Rota's concluding at the end of July. Relaying a message from the Pacific Air Forces deputy commander, he said the goal of the exercise "is to integrate and experiment with logistics, sustainment, and enabling capability to bring Fifth Generation Fighters, command and control aircraft, and airlift and air refueling into the Western Pacific region at the speed and scale that has not been seen." US Pacific Air Forces, multinational, and joint partners will conduct exercise Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) 10 July - 8 August 2025, across several locations throughout the Pacific as part of the Department of the Air Force's Department-Level Exercise (DLE) series. Photo: Palacios welcomed the US military and forces from allied and partner nations as they commence REFORPAC 2025. "The US Armed Forces and our esteemed international partners who are gathering in our region for vital military presence underscores a shared commitment to regional security, stability, and humanitarian cooperation," he said. Palacios said REFORPAC will go a long way in strengthening the alliance between the US and its allies. A C-17 Globemaster III touched down at Misawa Air Base in support of Exercise REFORPAC 2025, offloading a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter, cargo, and personnel to enable combat search and rescue operations. Photo: Facebook / Misawa Air Base The Air Force will deploy over 500 Airmen on Saipan with two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, four Black Hawk medium utility helicopters; approximately 115 Airmen on Tinian and six F-22 Raptor stealth fighter aircraft; and 25 personnel and two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft on Rota. Camacho said the Air Force assured stakeholders they will toe the line when it comes to mitigation processes to ensure the military exercise is not disruptive to the islands' ecosystems and way of life. He said REFORPAC is vital to the United States and the region's security "because it showcases our air power and then it also showcases our ability to work with other countries as far as operational interoperability capabilities and as well as communications and maneuvering." Asked to comment on a request made by four CNMI and Guam groups to have a 45-day extension on the comment period for the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), Camacho said that it is not his decision to make. The Revised DEIS' current 75-day review window for public comments on the Mariana Islands Training and Testing and CNMI Joint Military Training proposals began 6 June 6 and is scheduled to close on 20 August. "I don't have any problem with an extension of the 45 days. Unfortunately, others might, and the others that might have that issue are beyond my level to make that decision."
