Blow for Papua New Guinea as Enclave Votes 98% for Independence
- PNG nervous result may embolden other provinces to cut ties
- Mining interests want massive Panguna copper deposit to reopen
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Bougainville moved a step closer to becoming an independent nation on Wednesday after results from a referendum showed an overwhelming majority want the province to cut its ties with Papua New Guinea.
More than 176,000 of the 181,000 voters who participated in the two-week referendum that concluded Dec. 6 supported independence, with about 3,000 choosing greater autonomy under Papua New Guinea, the Bougainville Referendum Commission said.