Papua New Guinea, Nov. 24 -- As the founding Prime Minister of this nation I call on the people of Bougainville to be guided by their inner wisdom in the coming vote for independence or full autonomy for Bougainville.

This is the outcome of the peace agreement that was signed to formally end the Bougainville conflict, to restore peace to the nation and to forge new pathways for improved prosperity and living conditions for our people.

For many Papua New Guineans, from Bougainville and elsewhere in our beautiful country, the act of the referendum represents a sad event in our history following the gaining of full independence for the nation in 1975.

The Bougainville conflict was the price we paid for issues that were never satisfactoril...