mastaflash
11 years ago
Bougainville president fails victims of brutal resource conflict
"It is important to understand the significance of holding Rio Tinto responsible for its actions and the actions of the PNG government. At all times, Rio Tinto, through BCL, controlled the government's actions on Bougainville ... whenever government action was called for on Bougainville, BCL was the one that requested it". - Momis, 2001
http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=12383
Sadly political leaders on Bougainville charged with responsibility for peace-building have largely abrogated their domestic and international obligation to challenge impunity and seek redress for victims of gross human rights violations. Indeed, in perhaps the most gutting blow for victims, Bougainville's President has aligned his government with Rio Tinto, a company he once accused of ordering and facilitating the atrocities.
mastaflash
11 years ago
State crime expert bemoans skewed discourse over Bougainville mine
Radio New Zealand
A criminologist with a particular focus on Bougainville says many grass-roots communities in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province have not been given access to information about Rio Tinto’s role during the civil war.
In recent months, Rio Tinto’s subsidiary Bougainville Copper Ltd has been among the principles discussing expectations that its huge Panguna copper and gold mine, which has been shut for 24 years, will re-open.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government says it hopes to begin negotiations with BCL soon.
Dr Kristian Lasslett from Ulster University’s State Crime Initiative says any decision on the long-term future of Bougainvilleans must take into full account, the long list of unresolved abuses from the civil war sparked by problems around the mine. He spoke to Johnny Blades.
KRISTIAN LASSLETT: I don’t think the people on the ground have been privy to the full story on what Rio Tinto did during the conflict. They haven’t learnt about what the executives have admitted to. They haven’t learnt about the depth of Rio Tinto’s support of the PNGDF or what they said to the government. And I think that would be absolutely vital information that would then [help us] make an informed decision about their future. I also think we need to see a more diverse range of experts going to the islands to advise people and the government about their options. At the moment there seems to be very much one voice and that voice is talking about the mine reopening. And there are not other options looking at sustainable forms of development that might provide a less divisive way of generating revenue, given the mine’s history on the island.
JOHNNY BLADES: So you feel the whole discourse about the reopening of the mine is being skewed at the moment?
KL: Yeah. I think at the moment the debate about the mine is being very much skewed. The ABG and Bougainville Copper Ltd have developed a very strong narrative, and that narrative is that independence and autonomy hinge upon there being enough revenue coming in, and that owing to the conditions on the island the only source of revenue is the mine reopening. In addition to that, there have been suggestions by ministers from within the ABG that were the mine not to open, other catastrophic consequences could arise, including the reoccupation of Bougainville by the PNGDF. You could imagine it would have a frightening effect.
JB: Standing up for the rights that were infringed upon and all the abuses and so forth also can be seen, surely, as asserting statehood, which is all part of this autonomy question.
KL: Yes, that’s right. There is clearly a very strong case for a civil action, and I would also suggest there is a very strong case for criminal liability. This is another avenue – getting the resources to rebuild the island. Because as we know Rio Tinto is one of the wealthiest mining conglomerations in the world at the moment.
http://ramumine.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/state-crime-expert-bemoans-skewed-discourse-over-bougainville-mine/
mastaflash
12 years ago
This is a funny post from Sturm: 2013 – an Outlook
Last year marked the most promising steps towards a re-opening of the Panguna mine ever since its closure in 1989. Nevertheless, the share price closed the year at AUD 0.512 (= minus15,57 percent) … quite obviously due to fraudulent - probably US-based - market participants in Sydney stock exchange during the last months.
There is absolutely no reason why the current share price is supposed to be 40 percent lower than at Francis Ona’s death!
Unfortunately a weak an incompetent Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) does nothing to protect honest investors against fraud. In so far they are active complicit to criminal manipulations that trouble the market.
Unfortunately Rio Tinto as well has yet intervened to protect its own investment in one of their most promising mining projects in the future.
In so far 2012 has to be considered as an “annus horribiles” for investors.
Luckily 2013 announces positive prospects: Within the next months all steps for re-opening the Panguna mine by BCL will be accomplished, the fraudulent US-short-sellers will stop to push down the share price because with every short sell their activities are supposed to end in a financial catastrophe for them. We believe that the BCL share price will see an impressive turn-around during the next months that will soar the share price to AUD 3 or more!
We understand if shareholders are confused by the current situation. All investors in Bougainville Copper must understand that our company is in focus of criminal activities initiated by backdoor players, carpet beggars and fraudulent market makers. In so far manipulation of the market and highly volatile share price will still be present in future as well.
Bougainville Copper’s assets in copper, gold and silver are one of the biggest worldwide. As a major shareholder of BCL, Rio Tinto has to protected all honest stakeholders and investors in BCL and to guarantee adequate future shareholder value evolution.
mastaflash
12 years ago
Two parts to Bougainville Copper Agreement review
The Bougainville Copper Agreement (BCA) review process will take on two phases as explained by the legal brains behind the planning.
Autonomous Bougainville Government legal chief executive officer and Tony Reagan, the Australian legal adviser in a recent meeting on the review of the BCA, explained that phase 1 would include preparation now until 2013 and this would involve the following:
¦ Incorporation of individual Lease area associations and the umbrella landowner association;
¦ Conflict resolution work in central and south Bougainville;
¦ Conduct of baseline studies on Environmental, social, health and other baseline studies in the Mine Lease areas;
¦ Public Awareness throughout the region and development of appropriate capacity and negotiation position by each party including a joint position by the ABG and Panguna Landowners Association and;
¦* Reaching an agreed process for conduct off negotiations and conclusion of agreement.
Phase two (2) will include Conduct of Review and negotiations which will also include:
¦ Each party to be represented by a negotiating team, led by an appropriately authorized lead negotiator;
¦ ABG/PLA joint negotiating team;
¦ Each team to be supported by appropriate technical advice;
¦ Separate negotiation tables to deal with environment, social, and the financial aspects of negotiations.
mastaflash
12 years ago
Negotiations underway for Panguna Mine reopening
Strong recommendations have been made by the North Bougainville Panguna Mine Negotiations Forum, for the world’s largest open cut mine, to be reopened.
All three districts in North Bougainville are supporting the mine’s reopening, but that must proceed only, if proper negotiations are completed.
The Bougainville Copper Limited will be the first partner.
It was also recommended, that all parties be represented fairly, in negotiations between the Bougainville Copper Limited, Autonomous Bougainville Government, and the PNG Government including the Landowners.
mastaflash
12 years ago
Forum says re-open Panguna mine with BCL
by ALOYSIUS LAUKAI | Radio New Dawn
A TWO-DAY PANGUNA NEGOTIATION forum held at Hutjena Secondary School in Buka has strongly recommended that the closed Panguna copper mine be reopened by the former partner, Bougainville Copper Ltd.
The regional forum for the North Bougainville districts of Buka, Atolls and Nissan ended with all three districts supporting the reopening of the mine.
In a seven point recommendation, the three districts said the mine should reopen only after a new deal has been negotiated between all parties.
They called on the Autonomous Bougainville Government to make sure all parties are represented when the new deal is negotiated between BCL, ABG, the PNG government and the landowners.
The Division of Mining organised the meeting to get the views of the leaders and people of North Bougainville, Nissan and the Atolls District that includes the islands of Carteret, Motlock, Tasman and Fead. The forum was hailed a success.
Three more forums will be hosted in Central Bougainville and South Bougainville to get responses from other districts.
mastaflash
12 years ago
FORUM ENDS WITH ONE MINDSET
By Aloysius Laukai
The two-days Panguna negotiations Forum held at the Hutjena Secondary School Hall this week has strongly recommended that the closed PANGUNA Copper Mine be re- opened with BCL as their first partner.
The Regional forum for the North Bougainville Districts of Buka, Atolls and Nissan ended with all the three districts supporting the reopening of the Panguna Copper Mine by the old partner BCL .
In their seven Points recommendations all three districts said they supported the reopening of the Panguna Copper mine only after a new deal has been negotiated between all parties concerned.
They called on the ABG to make sure all parties are represented when the new deal will be negotiated between the BCL, ABG and the PNG Government and of course the Landowners.
The Division of Mining organized this meeting to get the views from the leaders and people of North Bougainville, Nissan and the Atolls District that includes the islands of Carteret, Motlock , Tasman and Fead Islands. The forum was hailed a success.
Three more forums would be hosted in Central Bougainville and South Bougainville to get the responses from these other districts.The two-day forum was broadcasted live on New Dawn FM, Bougainville's Community Radio Network.
mastaflash
12 years ago
Bougainville has final say on mining
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, under President John Momis, is now writing a mineral policy and legislative regime to put the government and its people at the pinnacle of resource development.
This is a regime in which the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and its resource owners are equal partners.
The ABG is the ultimate authority in determining policy and legislative framework on resource development in Bougainville, including the future of Panguna mine.
The resource owners are ABG’s cohesive partners in this regime, where they recognise
and respect their government’s authority and the government recognises the owners’ rights through the constitutional framework.
There are important considerations and aspirations in the mineral sector which many do not understand.
Firstly, under the PNG constitutional framework, the ABG is fully mandated to exercise its mining, oil and gas powers from the national government, of which this process is actively under way.
During the Alotau Accord of 2008, the national government and ABG agreed upon 15 steps, which the ABG shall fully comply with.
In line with this, the national government has agreed not to assume mining, oil and gas powers in relation to Bougainville without ABG’s request or agreement.
The 15 steps also include the reviewing of the Bougainville copper agreement and lifting the current blanket moratorium on any exploration in the autonomous region.
Secondly, the ABG is now in the process of legislating a Bougainville transitional mining arrangement act.
The main purpose is to monitor some of the recent activities where dubious foreign companies are mining in Bougainville by luring local resource owners through joint-venture companies.
In this instance, the ABG has a moral and legal duty to pass this law to protect its citizens from
the sweet-talk by foreigners and their local cronies who go around misleading and promising landowners huge financial returns.
Whilst this law is temporarily in place, the ABG will continue its consultations with its people and mineral policy and technical experts to develop a responsible, sustainable mineral extraction legislative framework.
Thirdly, the future of Panguna mine will be determined after a full consultation with landowners, impacted communities and the people.
The ABG and its people will not accept any resource development deal struck outside the shores of Bougainville.
With the Panguna mine, the ABG is currently undergoing an unprecedented approach where consultations with landowners are winding down, consultations with ex-combatants have been completed and discussions and awareness with the people will kick off this month through regional forums.
To sum it up, the ABG is the legal authority to make decisions on mining and the Panguna
mine.
It is currently in consultation with all stakeholders to develop
a mineral policy and legislative regime that puts the government and its people in the forefront with responsible mineral extraction.
If investors are serious in contributing meaningfully to this process, they are invited to come to Bougainville.
Kearnneth Kolynnopo Nanei
Bougainville
mastaflash
12 years ago
ABG’s plan to open mine criticised
By Winterford Toreas
The Autonomous Bougainville Government’s mission to fast-track the re-opening of the Panguna Mine in Central Bougainville is now drawing criticisms from many people on the island.
One of those who have always been vocal about the issue on the mine’s reopening is the former Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) general commander Sam Kauona.
Mr Kauona revealed that the ABG was now in the process of amending Section 23 of the Bougainville Constitution which states that the landowners have total rights and control over minerals that is found in their land.
He said the ABG was now planning of amending this Mineral Rights law so that all minerals will become the property of the State.
He claimed that an “Australian sponsored lawyer” (name) had already conducted a three-day comprehensive workshop with President John Momis and his Cabinet at the ABG Parliament House about a fortnight ago.
Mr Kauona said their main focus of discussion was about the new Mining Laws and who should hold the title for the Mineral Rights.
He said this lawyer had emphasised that minerals were not owned by the people, adding that their only right was for gardening and living on those resources.
This lawyer had stressed that the people who claimed that they owned the minerals did not know what was underground or their value so the State had the power as it governed both the land and people.
Mr Kauona claimed that this lawyer was able to convince the ABG Cabinet and had put the ABG in a position to have Section 23 changed so that the ABG would take ownership of these minerals.
“I’m going to tell (this lawyer) and President Momis that I fought the foreign “inserted concept” (Law) and got rid of it. I’m here to write new laws governing my land, my resources and paramount of all, my people,” Mr Kauona said.
He said the old laws were gone and he was here to change, especially resource laws, whether it was the fish, timber, minerals or hydrocarbon laws.
Mr Kauona was also asked by this reporter to comment on the recent statement made by President Momis during the recently held JSB meeting in Kokopo, regarding the ABG’s move to fast track the reopening of the Panguna.
Mr Kauona gave a big laugh and said he had waited almost a year for his exploration licence but the Government had directed all its focus on the Panguna issue.
He said he would not comment on that but wanted the ABG President to reply to the petition which they had presented to him a few weeks ago.
Meanwhile, a two-day mining workshop was currently underway in Arawa.
The workshop, which started yesterday, was to get views from all stakeholders to legislate a temporary Mining Policy which would be presented in the next ABG parliament sitting scheduled to be held in December.
Mr Kauona, who is also the vice chairman of the Isina Resources Holdings Ltd is attending the worshop, along with five other landowner companies that have registered for mineral exploration licences.
http://ramumine.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/abgs-plan-to-open-mine-criticised/
mastaflash
12 years ago
PANGUNA MINE by mekamui
There are still big talks going on in regards to the reopening of Panguna mine. The leaders who worry so much about the wheels to run the Island region are more into it.
Many people with the Top former Ex-Combatants come out in the media saying it is still a sensitive issue. The main focus now is to reopen the mine to bring much needed economy, which will make the Island Region enough to fulfill the peoples cry for political independence.
Yes mining can bring development like Hospitals, roads and schools but in many cases this development does not reach the rural people that need it most. It can bring money and give political independence to Mekamui/Bougainville as some leaders and ESBC are claiming, but the lesson learnt is that the effects of it are forever and can never be recovered or replaced. It outweighs the benefits too.
In the last environmental work carried out by BCL in 1988, their modeling indicated that river water quality, once the tailings were no longer in the river, would meet drinking standards below the Jaba/Kawerong confluence but would have sufficiently high copper levels and would be toxic to sensitive aquatic species.
With the God given wisdom and knowledge when we see a rotten frog, snake or human waste etc at the head of the stream we know we can’t drink that water. The Panguna hole is like a big sore at the head, so people will not drink the river, which is tested ok with Western technology.
We live on the land and our future children will live on the land. We don’t want to repeat the same mistake again and thousands of our people will die fighting to close it down. We don’t want to be left with our Island turned into gravels and empty rusty skeletons, therefore Panguna mine should be out of mind and out of the lips of crazy greedy politicians and Rio Tinto BCL.
mastaflash
12 years ago
ABG mining laws loom: report
TENSIONS seem to be arising between the Autonomous Bougainville government and the PNG government, with ABG president John Momis reportedly aiming to introduce mining laws before the end of 2012.
According to The National, Momis will not attend a PNG government proposed meeting in Port Moresby tomorrow over “matters related to reopening” the long-troubled Panguna copper-gold mine in Bougainville.
Momis told the newspaper that the ABG should initiate actions in relation to Panguna and warned the PNG government to “recognise that authority”.
He reportedly said the ABG had the clear moral authority to make all decisions about the future of Panguna.
“Further, we are far advanced in the process of transferring mining powers to Bougainville agreed in 2008,” Momis reportedly said.
“The ABG envisages passing its own mining law before the end of the year.”
Gaining community approval is a major hurdle that Rio Tinto subsidiary Bougainville Copper needs to overcome to reopen the Panguna mine.
There were about 600 landowners or landowner representatives of the 1980 compensation agreement for the mine – providing plenty of scope for differences of opinion.
Panguna was the world’s fourth-largest copper mine in the months before it closed in 1989, with Bougainville Island subsequently embroiled in years of civil war.
The mine produced 9 million ounces of gold and 3 million tonnes of copper from 1972.
The Panguna permits under the existing Bougainville Copper Act allow for mining up to 2032.
The orebody at Panguna is only partially mined, with large available reserves.
In the mine’s last year of operation, estimated mill feed was at 691Mt at 0.4% copper and 0.47 grams per tonne gold.
Rio Tinto owns about 54% of Bougainville Copper.
09.11.2012
Source: The National
Bougainville has legal power
THE Autonomous Region of Bougainville says it has a legal and moral authority – not the national government – to make decisions on the Panguna mine.
ARB President chief Dr John Momis will not attend a meeting in Port Moresby tomorrow proposed by the national government to discuss matters related to the reopening of the mine in Bougainville.
Momis said because the Bougainville crisis originated from the conflict over Panguna, it was the ABG that had a “clear moral authority” to make all decisions about the future of the Panguna mine.
“Further, we are far advanced in the process of transferring mining powers to Bougainville agreed in 2008. The ABG envisages passing its own mining law before the end of the year,” Momis said.
He said the ABG should be the one to initiate actions in relation to Panguna and urged the national government to “recognise that authority”.
He said the ABG was building its capacity to deal with mining issues by establishing a mining department, an office for Panguna negotiations and a cabinet committee on Panguna negotiations.
“All decisions about the future of Panguna will be made utilising this home-grown capacity,” Momis said.
He said they welcomed any suggestions from the national government on the mine but any discussions on these should be held in Bougainville, not Port Moresby.
The invitation for the Port Moresby meeting tomorrow came from the Minister for Petroleum, Oil and Gas William Duma in collaboration with Bougainville Regional MP Joseph Lera, Minister for Bougainville Affairs Steven Pirika Kamma and Minister for Communication Jimmy Miringtoro.
The discussions are expected to be on:
Possible Panguna mine ownership concepts; benefit-sharing models available for consideration by the ABG and the national government on the Panguna mine; and, options for possible mine developers from Brazil, Venezuela and other South American nations other than Bougainville Copper Ltd.
mastaflash
12 years ago
Bougainville has legal power
THE Autonomous Region of Bougainville says it has a legal and moral authority – not the national government – to make decisions on the Panguna mine.
ARB President chief Dr John Momis will not attend a meeting in Port Moresby tomorrow proposed by the national government to discuss matters related to the reopening of the mine in Bougainville.
Momis said because the Bougainville crisis originated from the conflict over Panguna, it was the ABG that had a “clear moral authority” to make all decisions about the future of the Panguna mine.
“Further, we are far advanced in the process of transferring mining powers to Bougainville agreed in 2008. The ABG envisages passing its own mining law before the end of the year,” Momis said.
He said the ABG should be the one to initiate actions in relation to Panguna and urged the national government to “recognise that authority”.
He said the ABG was building its capacity to deal with mining issues by establishing a mining department, an office for Panguna negotiations and a cabinet committee on Panguna negotiations.
“All decisions about the future of Panguna will be made utilising this home-grown capacity,” Momis said.
He said they welcomed any suggestions from the national government on the mine but any discussions on these should be held in Bougainville, not Port Moresby.
The invitation for the Port Moresby meeting tomorrow came from the Minister for Petroleum, Oil and Gas William Duma in collaboration with Bougainville Regional MP Joseph Lera, Minister for Bougainville Affairs Steven Pirika Kamma and Minister for Communication Jimmy Miringtoro.
The discussions are expected to be on:
Possible Panguna mine ownership concepts; benefit-sharing models available for consideration by the ABG and the national government on the Panguna mine; and, options for possible mine developers from Brazil, Venezuela and other South American nations other than Bougainville Copper Ltd.
mastaflash
12 years ago
Reopening of Panguna
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
PRESIDENT of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville Chief Dr John Momis has been invited to attend an urgent mining meeting in Port Moresby this Saturday (November 10th, 2012).
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the issue on the possible reopening of the Panguna Mine.
This meeting has been organised by the National Minister for Petroleum, Oil and Gas, William Duma, Bougainville Affairs Minister and South Bougainville MP Steven Pirika Kamma, Communication and Information Minister and Central Bougainville MP Jimmy Miringtoro and Bougainville Regional MP Joe Lera.
The issues that will be discussed during this meeting include;
? The possible Panguna Mine ownership concepts.
? The benefit sharing models available for consideration by ABG and the National Government on the Panguna Mine.
? Options for possible mine developers from Brazil, Venezuela to see and consult with possible South American based developers.
? Other issues relating to mining.
According to the copy of the invitation letter which was given to President Momis by Mr Lera, the above issues that will be discussed is another alternative that the ABG and National Government can consider other than the one with BCL which the ABG is currently pursuing.
Mr Lera said this is an opportunity for the National Government and the ABG to explore other mining options available to PNG through partnership with other mining companies in other countries especially South America.
ABG Mining Minister Michael Oni and ABG Finance Minister Albert Punghau are also expected to accompany Mr Momis to this meeting.
mastaflash
12 years ago
To which Sturm notes: Me'ekamui are facing reality - even if they are slow. It is one step only to understand that independence depends on BCL!
Sorry, Sturm, it is you who are a little slow. If Boug becomes independent, any claim BCL has to mine Panguna, or anywhere else, will be gone (not that there is and valid legal claim today). When will you wake up to the fact that the Meekamui do not want BCL back?...that said, you could negotiate a deal after independence with BCL, maybe, and there will inevitably be competition, but I know for a fact, that the current Meekamui leadership will have nothing to do with BCL, under any circumstance. Wakeup!
mastaflash
12 years ago
Source: Me'ekamui
MINING DEVELOPMENT
I have travelled to PNG, Tabubil and Lihir and lately we talked with the three landowner associations in Guadalcanal province where there is the first and only Mine in the Solomon Islands.
Up in Ok Tedi, the biggest development that I saw is the road from Kiunga to Tabubil. I was told that before the mine was up at Tabubil there was no road and the people from those areas walked for days to Kiunga for basic needs. Kiunga town was a small government station. These days it is a busy and bigger town because it has become the Mining Port.
In Lihir it is the same story, it was a government station before the project. Now it’s a busy island with a modern hospital and daily air service to the island from other major centres in PNG and Australia. In Gold Ridge, the wife of the chairman of the mining area told us that she is happy with the project because she now has a permanent house; before she lived in a leaf house.
In my Island yes the only development I see is the road to the mine site in Panguna which links the people from the Panguna area with the rest of Bougainville, otherwise they would walk for hours and days up and down the mountains. The conflict which started as Landowners differences, sharing of royalties and not reviewing the mining agreement became the war for Independence.
When the mine finally closed down in May 1989, the PNG security forces were fighting the offensive war to re-open the mine as their main objective. On the ground Bougainvilleans fought a defensive war for no more mining and breaking away from the rest of PNG.
Bougainvilleans are saying no to mining, for the simple reason that mining can come later, after the Independence, so that all the revenue from the mining will develop Bougainville and not go to PNG. As one writer stated in his article for the grassroots, Bougainvilleans think and believe that Panguna Kina developed Waigani and other parts of PNG.
This in fact is true because the PNG national government took the biggest cake; we will see that when we are independent the biggest cake will float around the island itself and that Promised Land someone talks about will come. But my instinct tells me that this is the Promised Land we are living in now, when the mine re-opens it will be wasteland.
nekro
12 years ago
ABG prepares for Panguna Mine Negotiations.
http://www.bougainvillebulletin.com/17-current-edition/oct-2012-edition/43-abg-prepares-for-panguna-mine-negotiations
MUCH work has been done in preparing the ABG and landowners to negotiate the future of the Panguna Mine, said Bougainville President Chief, Dr. John Momis. In a ministerial statement presented to members of the Bougainville House of Representatives in parliament last month, Momis reiterated the need to have the Panguna Mine reopened as soon as practicable to support the government’s economic development strategy and fiscal self-reliance.
[He said the Bougainville Administration and the ABG Mining Department has been preparing the ABG and the mine affected and impacted landowners for these negotiations.] “Work on preparing the initial six landowner associations are 98 per cent complete with only the Rorovana association still awaiting its certificate of incorporation. “An interim Umbrella Landowner organization, the United Panguna Resource Owners Association (UPROA) has also been established with the appointment of interim committees comprising of the initial six landowner associations as well as the additional three landowner associations,” said Momis. In addition, the President highlighted several progressive developments that have taken place including; the conduct of a workshop to evaluate ABG objectives and options on future mining development in Bougainville in March, 2011. This workshop was jointly facilitated by Bougainvillean and International experts in the mining industry. The workshop indicated widespread support to re-open the Panguna Mine. The appointment of one of the facilitators of the workshop, professor Ciaran O’Fairchealaigh of Griffith University (Brisbane, Australia) as negotiation advisor to the ABG. This person has been assisting the ABG steering group to ensure that the ABG and landowners are ready to negotiate with the National Government, BCL and other investors when actual negotiations start. The Bougainville Administration’s Panguna negotiating steering group has been to coordinate and manage ABG’s and the landowner’s preparations for the negotiations, along with and a two person secretariat to support the steering group. The development of a rolling work plan containing work streams emanating from the mining workshop on the steps required to progress ABG’s and landowner’s preparation for negotiations. The establishment of a BEC (Ministerial) committee comprising the President, Vice President, Minister for Natural Resources, Minister for Finance, Planning and Treasury and the Minister for Works will oversee and provide political direction to the steering group. The agreement by the National government to the ABG’s request to establish the Panguna Negotiation Coordination Committee comprising the ABG, National Government, Landowners, BCL and other investors, to coordinate preparation for the negotiations, including the baseline studies on the environment, social and economic conditions in and around Panguna Mine. This coordination committee would be formally endorsed at the next JSB meeting. “Now that preparing the mine and impacted landowners is all but complete, the steering group in 2013 will focus on engaging with the wider Bougainville community including interest groups that believe that they also have a role to play in the negotiations,” said Momis. He explained that three regional forums are planned for the latter part of the year in each of the regions of North, Central and South. “These forums are to inform the Bougainville population on what the government is doing to progress negotiations for the possible reopening of the Panguna Mine. “Further, the ministerial committee overseeing the preparations for negotiations is currently considering a draft negotiation structure, which it intends to put to the Bougainville Executive Council for deliberation and approval before the end of this year,” said the President. He assured the people of Bougainville that he would continue to inform them on the progress of negotiating the possible reopening of the Panguna Mine. “This is because my government believes that as the Panguna Mine helped bankroll Papua New Guinea’s independence in the 1970s, it too can again bankroll Bougainville’s autonomy and independence,” said Momis.
mastaflash
12 years ago
ABG’s plan to open mine criticised
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government’s mission to fast-track the re-opening of the Panguna Mine in Central Bougainville is now drawing criticisms from many people on the island.
One of those who have always been vocal about the issue on the mine’s reopening is the former Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) general commander Sam Kauona.
Mr Kauona (pictured) revealed that the ABG was now in the process of amending Section 23 of the Bougainville Constitution which states that the landowners have total rights and control over minerals that is found in their land.
He said the ABG was now planning of amending this Mineral Rights law so that all minerals will become the property of the State.
He claimed that an “Australian sponsored lawyer” (name) had already conducted a three-day comprehensive workshop with President John Momis and his Cabinet at the ABG Parliament House about a fortnight ago.
Mr Kauona said their main focus of discussion was about the new Mining Laws and who should hold the title for the Mineral Rights.
He said this lawyer had emphasised that minerals were not owned by the people, adding that their only right was for gardening and living on those resources.
This lawyer had stressed that the people who claimed that they owned the minerals did not know what was underground or their value so the State had the power as it governed both the land and people.
Mr Kauona claimed that this lawyer was able to convince the ABG Cabinet and had put the ABG in a position to have Section 23 changed so that the ABG would take ownership of these minerals.
“I’m going to tell (this lawyer) and President Momis that I fought the foreign “inserted concept” (Law) and got rid of it. I’m here to write new laws governing my land, my resources and paramount of all, my people,” Mr Kauona said.
He said the old laws were gone and he was here to change, especially resource laws, whether it was the fish, timber, minerals or hydrocarbon laws.
Mr Kauona was also asked by this reporter to comment on the recent statement made by President Momis during the recently held JSB meeting in Kokopo, regarding the ABG’s move to fast track the reopening of the Panguna.
Mr Kauona gave a big laugh and said he had waited almost a year for his exploration licence but the Government had directed all its focus on the Panguna issue.
He said he would not comment on that but wanted the ABG President to reply to the petition which they had presented to him a few weeks ago.
Meanwhile, a two-day mining workshop was currently underway in Arawa.
The workshop, which started yesterday, was to get views from all stakeholders to legislate a temporary Mining Policy which would be presented in the next ABG parliament sitting scheduled to be held in December.
Mr Kauona, who is also the vice chairman of the Isina Resources Holdings Ltd is attending the worshop, along with five other landowner companies that have registered for mineral exploration licences.
mastaflash
12 years ago
BG sees Panguna re-opening as priority
By GRACE TIDEN
THE AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government has considered the Panguna Re-Opening Process and Negotiations as its highest priority.
Speaking in Kokopo on Wednesday this week during the one-day Joint Supervisory Body meeting between the ABG and the National Government, ABG President Chief Dr John Momis said they hope the issue will be treated as a special agenda on all future JSB meetings until the matter was concluded.
He said the brief that was presented to the JSB detailed the administrative actions taken jointly by the ABG and by the appropriate National Government Departments to deal with the Panguna Re-Opening Process.
A meeting between ABG and the National Government Technical Officers (Joint Technical Officials Meeting) which was held two days before the JSB meeting recommended that a Joint Panguna Review Coordination Group to be established and that the ABG was preparing itself and the landowners to negotiate on this matter.
A full brief by the ABG and the National Government on the progress of the Panguna re-opening process and negotiations was presented during the JSB meeting.
Amongst the conclusions and records of the JSB was the Panguna Negotiations which stated that the JSB noted the establishment of the Panguna Co-ordination Committee within the ABG for the Panguna reopening process and fully endorsed the work streams and the cooperative relations between the ABG and the National Government.
The JSB also agreed for the state to commit its support to the process for the reopening of the Panguna Mine.
Dr Momis also said under the JSB Agenda item Mining, Oil and Gas, the ABG was working on its own mining legislation and drafting instructions has been approved for a Bill for a transitional ABG Mining Act.
He said the main reason for this step being taken was to emphasis that it was the ABG that sets mining policy for Bougainville and that all stakeholders must obey the law.
“This includes foreign companies, some of which so far have failed to even consult either the ABG or lawful PNG authorities about their mining related activities in Bougainville. This ABG legislation will hopefully put a stop to this practice in an emphatic way,” he said.
mastaflash
12 years ago
Late Ona’s son opposes Panguna mine re-opening
Thomas Megas, Stanley Ona ( Francis Ona son ) and Philip Miriori.
By WINTERFORD TOREAS
The eldest son of late Francis Ona is against the re-opening of the famous Panguna mine.
Stanley the eldest son of the late Francis Ona, who was behind the closure of the Panguna mine in the late 1980s, which later led to the Bougainville Crisis has decided publicly to voice his stance against the possible reopening of the Panguna mine.
Late Francis Ona’s son, Stanley Ona boldly said that he will not be entertaining the re-opening of the mine.
Mr Ona had decided to air his disappoint following recent media reports made by the ABG President Dr John Momis and other ABG leaders that the ABG is looking at re-opening the Panguna mine.
“I’m the Minister of Planning and the eldest son of our great human right leader the late Francis Ona.
“My people the Tribal Nation of Me’ekamui will not and cannot entertain any scheme to re-open the Panguna Mine or allow the PNG or ABG to infringe upon our rights as an indigenous tribal nation.
“These media releases are damaging to all parties and unless serious conditions are met, there will be no mining in Panguna,” Mr Ona said
Mr Ona warned that they will not bow down easily to the ABG’s stand regarding the re-opening of the once largest open cut mine in the world.
“The arms and weapons we have are designed for our defence. Twenty thousand lives have perished in our struggle and if our occupiers think that they will walk over us, they are greatly mistaken.
Mr Ona said if the PNG Government wants to “right the wrongs they have inflicted upon the Me’ekamui” they should enter serious negotiations and discussions.
“Hiding behind the bogus ABG that PNG and Australia created, will not further their cause, simply and candidly. There will be no re-opening of Panguna,” he said.
Mr Ona added that the violence, bloodshed, the denial of human rights, killings of women and children of Bougainville was the method that was used in the past by PNG and Australia.
“Are these announcements now telling the world that the Me’ekamui needs to prepare for this to start again?
“I am truly surprised, that you all haven’t learned anything from your bloody past.
“Panguna is not open for discussion.
“Me’ekamui Human Rights and our memorial are issues that we can discuss to put closure to that bloody past,” Mr Ona said.
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