Bougainville Independence Movement (BIM) was a political party in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, of eastern Papua New Guinea.
The party's creation was announced on 6 April 2005 by James Tanis, who invited rebel leader Francis Ona to lead the group. Tanis had been the Bougainville Peace Minister and vice-president of the Bougainville People's Congress. Tanis stated he wanted the party to represent the "independence aspirations of the Bougainville people".[1] He finished third in the presidential election, behind Joseph Kabui and John Momis.[2][3]
Tanis won the 2008 presidential by-election following Kabui's death, serving under the BIM banner.[2] He was defeated at the 2010 election.[4] Tanis subsequently worked for the government as a senior public servant, and the party did not contest the 2015 election.
In the 2019 Bougainvillean independence referendum, 98% of the voters supported independence.
References
edit- ^ "Bougainville minister announces new party". PNG Post-Courier. 7 April 2005.
- ^ a b "Tanis elected President of Bougainville". Pacific Islands Report. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ "Three parties vie for president seat". PNG Post Courier. 14 April 2010.
- ^ "Bougainvileans welcome election of President John Momis". Radio Australia. 15 February 2012.
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