Bougainvillean presidential election, 2010
Encyclopedia
The Bougainnvillean presidential election of 2010 was held in Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea
. The presidential contest was part of the overall general election on the island
. Voting began on May 7, 2010, and ended May 24, 2010. Final results for the election were announced on June 8, 2010.
John Momis
, the former Governor of Bougainville and framer of the Papua New Guinean constitution
, defeated incumbent President
James Tanis
and five other challengers in the election.
This was the third presidential election since a 2001 peace agreement. (The 2005 and 2010 elections were previously scheduled, while the special 2008 presidential by-law election
was held due to the death of former President Joseph Kabui
.)
The presidential election was held simultaneously with the legislative general election
. More than three quarters of all incumbent members of the Bougainvillean House of Representatives were defeated in their re-election bids.
, a former separatist leader in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army
, had been elected president in an early 2008 presidenital by-election
following the unepected death of former President Joseph Kabui
in June 2008. Kabui's death forced the by-election
just 18 months before the scheduled presidential election in 2010. Tanis was elected to serve as president for the remainder of Kabui's term. He sought re-election in 2010.
Voter rolls were updated for the 2010 general election. 134,279 voters were registered to vote in the election. According to the updated voter lists, North Bougainville had the highest number of eligible voters, with 57,979 registered voters; followed by 48,652 voters in South Bougainville and 27,648 voters in Central Bougainville.
South Bougainville remains the most politically unstable region of the island, with fourteen separate, armed militia
s operating in the area. Violence in southern Bougainville had decreased during James Tanis' presidency.
The earliest results, which were reported from Central Bougainville, gave President Tanis a clear lead over the other candidates, with Tanis' 1405 votes leading all other candidates, including Reuben Siara, who placed second with 495 votes. However, as more areas of the island were reported, Momis was able to significantly cut into Tannis lead. On May 27th, Tanis lead Momis by just 268 votes, with 5,226 votes to Momis' 4,958. By June 2nd, Momis had overtaken Tanis and the other candidates, leading his nearest rival, President James Tanis, by more than 8,000 votes.
On Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. John Momis
was declared the winner and president-elect of Bougainville. Momis won 43,047 votes, or 52.35% of the total votes cast in the election. The incumbent, President James Tanis, earned an estimated 17,205 votes. Momis won the popular vote in both South Bougainville and Tanis' home region of Central Bougainville.
In his victory speech, Momis thanked Tanis for his service and pledged to continue successful programs by the Tanis government. Momis stated that his administration would focus on good governnance, the disposal of ordnance
and weapons, education and health. He also pledged "zero tolerance approach" to corruption
, stated that less than 25% of incumbent members of the House of Representatives had been re-elected to office due to voter disgust with corruption and mismanagement in government.
President James Tanis thanked Bougainvillean voters and pledged to support President-elect Momis during the transitition of government.
on June 10, 2010, at the Parliament house. Bougainville’s Chief Magistrate
, Peter Toliken, administered the oath of office
. Momis will hold a 5-year term.
On the day he was sworn in, President Momis appointed Patrick Nisira
, the outgoing Works Minister in the Tanis administration and one of the few politicians to have retained his seat in the general election, as his Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville
. Nisira represents the Halia constituency.
The new government, with Momis' full cabinet, will be officially sworn-in on Tuesday, June 15, 2010.
Analysts view Momis as more in favor of continued autonomy
and continued integration with Papua New Guinea, while Momis' predecessor, James Tanis, supported full independence. During the presidential campaign, Tanis had stated, "There has been a growing opinion that the bottom line is independence. If this mine (Panguna
) funded PNG independence in 1975, then it can fund Bougainville autonomy and independence."
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. The presidential contest was part of the overall general election on the island
Bougainvillean general election, 2010
Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Bougainville from 6 May to 21 May 2010. Results were expected on 9 June 2010.-Presidential election:...
. Voting began on May 7, 2010, and ended May 24, 2010. Final results for the election were announced on June 8, 2010.
John Momis
John Momis
John Momis is the current President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Momis was sworn in as President of Bougainville on June 10, 2010, after defeating his predecessor, President James Tanis, and five other challengers by a landslide in the 2010 presidential election.Momis, who served as a...
, the former Governor of Bougainville and framer of the Papua New Guinean constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
, defeated incumbent President
President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville
The President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville governs the island, which is an autonomous entity within Papua New Guinea.The first President of Bougainville was Joseph Kabui, who was elected in June 2005, following the 2000 peace agreement which ended the Bougainville War...
James Tanis
James Tanis
James Tanis is a politician in in Papua New Guinea who was President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville from 2009 to 2010. He was previously the Vice President of the Bougainville People's Congress....
and five other challengers in the election.
This was the third presidential election since a 2001 peace agreement. (The 2005 and 2010 elections were previously scheduled, while the special 2008 presidential by-law election
Bougainvillean presidential election, 2008
Presidential elections were held in Bougainville from November 30 to December 18, 2008. Voters elected the new President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, following the death of President Joseph Kabui while in office, on June 7.The potential resumption of controversial mining activities,...
was held due to the death of former President Joseph Kabui
Joseph Kabui
Joseph Canisius Kabui was a secessionist leader and the first President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, off the coast of Papua New Guinea, from 2005 to 2008. He was also the leader of the Bougainville People's Congress....
.)
The presidential election was held simultaneously with the legislative general election
Bougainvillean general election, 2010
Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Bougainville from 6 May to 21 May 2010. Results were expected on 9 June 2010.-Presidential election:...
. More than three quarters of all incumbent members of the Bougainvillean House of Representatives were defeated in their re-election bids.
Election background
Incumbent President James TanisJames Tanis
James Tanis is a politician in in Papua New Guinea who was President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville from 2009 to 2010. He was previously the Vice President of the Bougainville People's Congress....
, a former separatist leader in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army
Bougainville Revolutionary Army
The Bougainville Revolutionary Army was formed in 1988 by Bougainvilleans seeking independence from Papua New Guinea .BRA leaders argue that Bougainville is ethnically part of the Solomon Islands and has not profited from the extensive mining that has occurred on the island...
, had been elected president in an early 2008 presidenital by-election
Bougainvillean presidential election, 2008
Presidential elections were held in Bougainville from November 30 to December 18, 2008. Voters elected the new President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, following the death of President Joseph Kabui while in office, on June 7.The potential resumption of controversial mining activities,...
following the unepected death of former President Joseph Kabui
Joseph Kabui
Joseph Canisius Kabui was a secessionist leader and the first President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, off the coast of Papua New Guinea, from 2005 to 2008. He was also the leader of the Bougainville People's Congress....
in June 2008. Kabui's death forced the by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
just 18 months before the scheduled presidential election in 2010. Tanis was elected to serve as president for the remainder of Kabui's term. He sought re-election in 2010.
Voter rolls were updated for the 2010 general election. 134,279 voters were registered to vote in the election. According to the updated voter lists, North Bougainville had the highest number of eligible voters, with 57,979 registered voters; followed by 48,652 voters in South Bougainville and 27,648 voters in Central Bougainville.
South Bougainville remains the most politically unstable region of the island, with fourteen separate, armed militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
s operating in the area. Violence in southern Bougainville had decreased during James Tanis' presidency.
Candidates
Seven candidates contested the 2010 presidential election, including incumbent James Tanis. The number was down significantly from the fourteen candidates who ran during the 2008 presidential by-election.List of candidates (alphabetical order)
- Robert Atsir - resident of North Bougainville
- Martin Miriori - resident of Central Bougainville Miriori is the older brother of former Bougainville President Joseph Kabui, who died in 2008. He was a former international spokesperson for the Bougainville separatist movement.
- John MomisJohn MomisJohn Momis is the current President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Momis was sworn in as President of Bougainville on June 10, 2010, after defeating his predecessor, President James Tanis, and five other challengers by a landslide in the 2010 presidential election.Momis, who served as a...
- resident of South Bougainville and a member of the New Bougainville PartyNew Bougainville PartyNew Bougainville Party is a political party in the autonomous region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. It was founded on 22 April 2005 by John Momis, governor from 1999 to 2005, and is currently led by Ezekiel Masatt....
. Momis, a former Roman Catholic priestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, served as the now defunct Governor of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea's ambassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Momis is also one of the authors of the Papua New Guinea national constitution. - Sylvester Niu - resident of North Bougainville
- Reuben Siara - resident of Central Bougainville Siara is a lawyerLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
by profession. - James TanisJames TanisJames Tanis is a politician in in Papua New Guinea who was President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville from 2009 to 2010. He was previously the Vice President of the Bougainville People's Congress....
- resident of Central Bougainville. Tanis, the incumbent President of Bougainville first elected in 2008, was running for re-election to a full term. He was a former fighter and leader within the Bougainville Revolutionary ArmyBougainville Revolutionary ArmyThe Bougainville Revolutionary Army was formed in 1988 by Bougainvilleans seeking independence from Papua New Guinea .BRA leaders argue that Bougainville is ethnically part of the Solomon Islands and has not profited from the extensive mining that has occurred on the island...
during the civil war. - Magdalene Toroansi - resident of Central Bougainville. Toroansi was the only female candidate in the 2010 presidential election. She gave up her seat in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville parliament, a seat which had been specifically reserved for a woman, to contest the presidential election. Toroansi had represented the Central Kieta constiuency of Central Bougainville.
Election results
Early election returns predicted a tight race between the two frontrunners, President James Tanis and challenger John Momis. Both candidates initially led in early counting.The earliest results, which were reported from Central Bougainville, gave President Tanis a clear lead over the other candidates, with Tanis' 1405 votes leading all other candidates, including Reuben Siara, who placed second with 495 votes. However, as more areas of the island were reported, Momis was able to significantly cut into Tannis lead. On May 27th, Tanis lead Momis by just 268 votes, with 5,226 votes to Momis' 4,958. By June 2nd, Momis had overtaken Tanis and the other candidates, leading his nearest rival, President James Tanis, by more than 8,000 votes.
On Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. John Momis
John Momis
John Momis is the current President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Momis was sworn in as President of Bougainville on June 10, 2010, after defeating his predecessor, President James Tanis, and five other challengers by a landslide in the 2010 presidential election.Momis, who served as a...
was declared the winner and president-elect of Bougainville. Momis won 43,047 votes, or 52.35% of the total votes cast in the election. The incumbent, President James Tanis, earned an estimated 17,205 votes. Momis won the popular vote in both South Bougainville and Tanis' home region of Central Bougainville.
In his victory speech, Momis thanked Tanis for his service and pledged to continue successful programs by the Tanis government. Momis stated that his administration would focus on good governnance, the disposal of ordnance
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
and weapons, education and health. He also pledged "zero tolerance approach" to corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, stated that less than 25% of incumbent members of the House of Representatives had been re-elected to office due to voter disgust with corruption and mismanagement in government.
President James Tanis thanked Bougainvillean voters and pledged to support President-elect Momis during the transitition of government.
New government
Momis was sworn into office as President of the Autonomous Region of BougainvillePresident of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville
The President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville governs the island, which is an autonomous entity within Papua New Guinea.The first President of Bougainville was Joseph Kabui, who was elected in June 2005, following the 2000 peace agreement which ended the Bougainville War...
on June 10, 2010, at the Parliament house. Bougainville’s Chief Magistrate
Chief Magistrate
Chief Magistrate is a generic designation for a public official whose office—individual or collegial—is the highest in his or her class, in either of the fundamental meanings of Magistrate : as a major political and administrative office , and/or as a judge Chief Magistrate is a generic designation...
, Peter Toliken, administered the oath of office
Oath of office
An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations...
. Momis will hold a 5-year term.
On the day he was sworn in, President Momis appointed Patrick Nisira
Patrick Nisira
Patrick Nisira is a Bougainvillean politician. He was appointed as the current Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville by President John Momis on June 10, 2010....
, the outgoing Works Minister in the Tanis administration and one of the few politicians to have retained his seat in the general election, as his Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville
Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville
The Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville is the second highest office in the province, which is an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea...
. Nisira represents the Halia constituency.
The new government, with Momis' full cabinet, will be officially sworn-in on Tuesday, June 15, 2010.
Analysts view Momis as more in favor of continued autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
and continued integration with Papua New Guinea, while Momis' predecessor, James Tanis, supported full independence. During the presidential campaign, Tanis had stated, "There has been a growing opinion that the bottom line is independence. If this mine (Panguna
Panguna
Panguna is a town and a copper mine on Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. By the end of its operations on May 15, 1989 it was the largest open-cut mine in the world; it was also a major catalyst in the unrest in Bougainville in the 1970s and 1980s.- See also :* History of Bougainville*...
) funded PNG independence in 1975, then it can fund Bougainville autonomy and independence."