 | |
| Use | Civil andstate flag  |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | 1975 |
| Design | Red and whiteupe headdress superimposed on a green and whitekapkap, on a field of cobalt blue. |
| Designed by | Jonathan Havini Marilyn Havini Moses Havini |
Theflag of Bougainville (Tok Pisin:plak bilong Bogenvil) is a symbol of theAutonomous Region of Bougainville inPapua New Guinea. It was originally adopted in 1975 by the secessionistRepublic of the North Solomons.
According to theBougainville Flag, Emblem and Anthem (Protection) Act 2018, the flag consists of "a depiction of anupe superimposed over concentric discs of black and white on acobalt blue field". Theupe is a traditional headdress worn by Bougainvillean men as a symbol of adulthood. The black disc "represents the distinctive skin colour of the Bougainvillean people", while the white disc represents thekapkap, a traditional symbol of authority made frommother of pearl. The 24 green equilateral triangles within thekapkap symbolise "the importance of land to the Bougainvillean people", the blue field represents the ocean. The official flagaspect ratio is 2:3.[1]
The flag was designed by Jonathan Havini and his sonMoses Havini, with the first flag produced by Moses's Australian wife Marilyn Havini.[2][3] It was first raised atArawa on 1 September 1975, during the independence celebrations for the unrecognisedRepublic of North Solomons.[4] It was chosen in a nationwide competition, with the selection panel appointed by the Bougainville Provincial Assembly includingJohn Momis, Peter Sissiou andLeo Hannett.[3]
As a symbol of secession, the flag was initially proscribed by the PNG government. In January 1976, a primary school on Buka Island was shut down for flying the flag.[5] However, the flag was retained by the North Solomons Province following the reintegration of the republic into PNG in 1976.[6] TheProvincial Symbols Act 1978 gave official status to the flag and made it an offence to use it commercially without the consent of the responsible minister.[7] Later, theAutonomous Bougainville Government'sBougainville Flag, Emblem and Anthem (Protection) Act 2018 reaffirmed the official status of the flag. It also created a new offense of using, displaying, destroying or damaging the flag with the intention to dishonor it, with a maximum fine of 10,000kina or around $2,900 as of December 2020, and extended the fine for unauthorized commercial use to a maximum of 100,000 kina for corporations.[7][1][8]
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