Panguna agrees
Landowners reach agreement to re-open giant gold-copper mine By ROMULUS MASIU in Arawa
AFTER 24 years, the leaders, landowners and people of Panguna mine in Bougainville have reached some sort of agreement and are ready to sit down, talk and negotiate for the re-opening of the defunct giant copper-gold mine. Landowner discontent over equitable distribution and sharing of Panguna mine benefits led to PNG’s first serious Bougainville Crisis in May 1989 that went on for about 10 years. It left about 20,000 dead, including men, women and children, as well as PNG soldiers, policemen and correctional officers. According to reports from Panguna, the landowners are now ready to kick-start dialogue and negotiations with all the stakeholders, including the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) led by President Fr John Momis, the PNG Government and BCL for the re-opening of the copper-gold mine. Its is yet to be confirmed how widespread this consensus for negotiations fore the re-opening of the mine is, but it appears that Panguna landowners are now speaking the same language as pro-ABG veterans and ex-combatants of Ishael Toroama and his group. But one thing is certain - they want all outstanding issues to be sorted out, including bel kol or compensation payments, customary obligations for blood shed and lives lost during the 10 year crisis from May 1989 to August 2011 when the final peace agreement was signed in Arawa when Sir Julius Chan was Prime Minister. What is coming out of Panguna is good news for everybody, especially for Dr Momis and the people of Bougainville who need money to develop the province as it moves forward to the scheduled referendum in 2015 when the people will have a say in determining their political destiny. It also comes at a time when about 10 Chinese and US businessmen who are now in Buka for talks with Dr Momis for possible investment in Bougainville. The Panguna landowners have elected Lawrence Daveona as chairman of the Special Mining Lease Association, one of six associations that make up the Umbrella Panguna Landowners Association. Mr Daveona automatically becomes chairman of the umbrella association. The umbrella association has not been registered and Mr Daveona has undertaken to do have it registered as a matter of priority. The full executive of the umbrella association is chairman Mr Daveona, deputy chairman Richard Avero, treasurer Tony Tapakau and secretary Dennis Nasia. The association executive met yesterday (Monday) and resolved that they will be the sole representative of their people in any talks with ABG, the national government, BCL and any other interested investor. Chairman Daveona, who comes from the same village of Guava as late Francis Ona who instigated the 10 year crisis, thanked the landowners for electing him chairman and told them he will make the re-opening of the mine his priority. “I will fight for what is best for the landowners and for all the people of North, Central and South Bougainville, especially those who died and suffered during the Bougainville Crisis,” he said.
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