Papua New Guinea 23,17 at 23:17 on November 23, 2009
In Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific, a referendum has begun on the 23rd to ask whether the autonomous state in the eastern part is independent. Independence support is expected to dominate, but if Congress does not approve the result, there is a concern that the situation will become unstable.
In Bougainville Autonomous Region in eastern Papua New Guinea, about 15,000 people died in a civil war that lasted for 10 years from 1988, and a peace vote was held in June after next year. It was.
The referendum began on the 23rd, and in the state capital Beka, a large number of voters went to the polling place while singing songs and playing musical instruments, and voted one after another.
The man who came to vote said, “I was looking forward to it. I strongly support independence.”
The vote will be held until the 7th of the month, and the results will be announced by the 20th of the month, with independent support expected to account for the majority.
However, in order to achieve independence, approval of the Papua New Guinea Parliament is required, and if it is not approved, there is a concern that the situation will become unstable.
In addition, even if it is independent, it is pointed out that China, which has a strong presence in the countries of the South Pacific, may expand its influence by leveraging a huge amount of support, and the future is drawing attention.