For decades, the distant island of Bougainville has fought for secession(脱离，分离) from Papua New Guinea, for a future as an independent nation of its own(作为一个独立自主国家的未来).
几十年来，这座遥远的岛屿布干维尔一直在为脱离巴布亚新几内亚而抗争，争取有朝一日成为一个独立的国家。
This week, that long-running aspiration faces further challenge, with PNG’s parliament slated to debate the ratification of Bougainville’s 2019 UN-sanctioned referendum, in which nearly 98% of Bougainvilleans voted for independence.(本周，这一由来已久的愿望面临新的挑战：巴新议会定于就批准布干维尔2019年联合国认可的全民公投展开辩论，在那次公投中，近98%的布干维尔人投票支持独立。)
本周，这一由来已久的愿望面临新的挑战：巴新议会定于就批准布干维尔2019年联合国认可的全民公投展开辩论，在那次公投中，近98%的布干维尔人投票支持独立。
That referendum was a key element of the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement, which ended a 10-year long civil war estimated to have killed as many as 15,000 people.(那次公投是2001年《布干维尔和平协议》的关键内容，该协议结束了长达10年的内战，据估计这场内战造成多达1.5万人死亡。)
那次公投是2001年《布干维尔和平协议》的关键内容，该协议结束了长达10年的内战，据估计这场内战造成多达1.5万人死亡。
Divided opinion
意见分歧