No one will stop our people': Bougainville president defiant in push for independence

"Bougainville is entering the last 100-metre race of its long path to sovereignty, as it is only a matter of time before independence is realized..."

"The road to this moment has been rocky; Bougainville declared independence in 1975, but was ignored, being incorporated into PNG, and it faced a violent civil war..."

"The 2019 referendum, where 97.7% voted for independence, reflects the people's aspiration, and that's why they elected me as president—because they want sovereignty."

"Without political will from PNG or addressing economic factors, the path to independence will continue to be challenging, but we remain undeterred in our pursuit."

Read at www.theguardian.com