Postcourier, 18 March 2013
Panguna mine talk opposed
By ROMULUS MASIU
ARAWA-based self-styled Me’ekamui general Chris Uma has bluntly told this paper that Panguna Mine is non-negotiable till after referendum and Independence.
“Only after referendum and independence we will then talk about mining,” Mr Uma told this reporter when quizzed about the re-opening of the giant copper mine in Arawa Town at the weekend.
The Panguna Mine was forced to shut down 25 years ago and presently remain closed.
“Now we can talk about mining but it will not be opened, we can just talk and talk as we wished, but it will not be opened. Only after we achieved the ultimate independence, we can then talk about opening the mine.”
Mr Uma, who controls the Me’ekamui faction in Central Bougainville, said “before we can talk about the mine, we must answer these questions, why did this war (crisis) start, why did it end and what did we achieve from this fight? What will we benefit from this war?
“We must not lose our foresight on these very important questions, and most importantly we must educate our children on these issues, tell them why we fought this war and what will be achieved after this war. And what benefit will we get (from this mine), because mining was the sole reason why late Francis Ona instigated this war. We fought because we (Bougainvilleans) as the rightful owners of this Panguna mine were missing out on the benefits. That is the reason why we fought this war, we were not benefiting, and instead the outside world including the developer were benefiting from our mine.”
Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis has elaborated on the issue on numerous occasions that Bougainvilleans were out rightly ignored in the role of decision making and benefit sharing, resulting in the war.
He had stated that Bougainvilleans were no longer in control of what they rightfully owned and that the outside world and developer had cared nothing about the destruction of Bougainville society, culture and the environment.
Me’ekamui in the local Nasioi dialect means ‘Holy Land’ and the view of the Me’ekamui followers, no one, including the National Government, ABG, Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) or even landowners could make any decision on the re-opening of the Panguna Mine.
Instead, all Bougainvilleans from Buin in the southern tip of the island to Buka in the north will deliberate on the mining issue as all the people have suffered and many lives lost during the conflict.
President Momis has also supported the call, citing in his maiden speech in the Bougainville House of Representatives that the Draft Bougainville Mining Policy Act 2013 will go through a wide consultation, which is very vital, before making a major new law.
Mr Uma is still adamant that the crisis started as the result of the mine, thus the mine is not only for the landowners to debate by themselves but instead for all of Bougainville to deliberate on.
Furthermore, Me’ekamui stands for the principle that all Bougainvilleans must benefit from the mining revenue and spin-offs if it ever opens.
Majority of the Bougainvilleans support Mr Uma’s view, with some opponents as well.
www.postcourier.com.pg/20130318/mohome.htm
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