Bougainville voters back independence by landslide Voters backing Bougainville's independence from Papua New Guinea have won a landslide referendum victory, according to results released Wednesday -- a major step toward the troubled isles becoming the world's newest nation.\\n\\n\\nThe chairman of the Bougainville Referendum Commission Bertie Ahern announces that 176,928 people -- around 98 percent of voters -- backed independence with just 3,043 supporting the option of remaining part of Papua New Guinea with more autonomy. SOUNDBITE of Bougainville Referendum Commission chairman Bertie Ahern announcing the results.