Editing History of Papua New Guinea (section)

===Bougainville Island revolt===
A nine-year [[secession]]ist revolt on the island of [[Bougainville Island|Bougainville]] claimed some 20,000 lives. The rebellion began in early 1989, active hostilities ended with a truce in October 1997 and a permanent ceasefire was signed in April 1998. A peace agreement between the Government and ex-combatants was signed in August 2001. A regional peace-monitoring force and a UN observer mission monitors the government and provincial leaders who have established an interim administration and are working toward complete surrender of weapons, the election of a provincial government and an eventual referendum on independence.

The government and rebels negotiated a peace agreement that established the Bougainville Autonomous District and Province. The autonomous Bougainville elected [[Joseph Kabui]] as president in 2005, who served until his death in 2008. He was succeeded by his deputy [[John Tabinaman]] as acting president while an election to fill the unexpired term was organised. [[James Tanis]] won that election in December 2008 and served until the inauguration of John Momis, the winner of the 2010 elections. As part of the current peace settlement, a [[Independence referendum|referendum on independence]] is planned to be held in Bougainville sometime before mid-2020. Preparations were underway in 2015.<ref>"[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/20/australias-interest-in-bougainvilles-independence-is-far-from-locals-wishes Australia's interest in Bougainville's independence is far from locals' wishes"], ''[[The Guardian]]''. 20 May 2015</ref><ref>"[http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/20175037/bougainville-makes-first-preparations-for-referendum Bougainville makes first preparations for referendum]". ''[[Radio New Zealand]]''. 17 April 2015</ref>