Panguna Mine

In the media there are lots of talks of re-opening the Panguna mine but it is a different story when you are on the ground, you will not hear more of that talk.

Outsiders think that it is very simple and easy to re-open the mine after 20 thousand Mekamuians/Bougainvilleans were killed, wounded and died while closing the mine down.

On the 27th of March a chief of one of the clans in Central Mekamui/Bougainville came to see me and we talked for a while chatting on our interest etc.  Later we went to see a person who I will do an interview with. Fortunately the member for central Bougainville in the PNG National Government Jim Miringtoro was there too. He invited us to where he and others were sitting. While chatting on we came across the Panguna mine topic. He told us that Panguna will remain closed till the compensation is paid by BCL.

I asked him if he could talk to me on the camera, he agreed and we did the interview. He told me that 80% of Bougainvilleans don’t want the mine re-opened. He mentioned the silent majority who the mainstream media never talks to: they don’t want the mine re-opened. Every time he visited the rural villages during his constituency visits they voiced out their concern to him.

As we finished the interview with the member, we walked to the mini market at section 15 and we caught up with one of the main characters in the struggle for no mining: Mr Damian Daman. We asked if he could talk on the camera and he agreed. His answer to our question is short: no to re-opening Panguna. When asked what if the ones who are talking about the re-opening go ahead and sign any agreement? He told us something bad will happen.

On our way back we saw the minister for veteran affairs in the Autonomous Government David Sisito. He too agreed to talk on the camera. His stand is for the company to pay the original demand of PNG K10 billion. Without BCL paying the compensation it is a big NO to re-opening the Panguna mine. As one of the founders of the revolution he still maintains the outstanding demand.

Sweat, tears and blood has flown down our brothers and sisters, relatives etc while talking about re-opening Panguna mine we step on our dead leaders and comrades blood and tears. This is not the way to go and very much against our culture and customs.

All of the three leaders, when asked about the economic, had the firm stand that our island will be based on agriculture. We live from the land and we have proved it during the war. They told me that those who are talking about re-opening the mine they don’t care about the land and the future generations: they only worry about money. They told me the Regions member Mr F Semoso is pushing hard to re-open the mine, but that will not happen he will just hand out cash after cash for a speedy re-opening.

The video of the interviews will be out before June.

Panguna Mine Dilemma

Here is Clive’s article posted from the ground, giving us an inside on the real views of Mekamuians. BJ

Paguna mine is still a very sensitive issue. There has been a lot of media coverage by the mainstream media and in the outside world it looks like it will re-open tomorrow.  After so many one-sided media reports I went back to the ground to Mekamui/Bougainville to hear and see for myself if it will be re-opened soon.

On my first day in Arawa, many people I talked to were all against re-opening the mine. The silent majority that has never been interviewed and talked to by the mainstream media and the ones, who carry the pain every time when those in the high places look down on them, are opposed to the mine re-opening.

I went to see the Meekamui General Chris Uma to ask him what his position on the issue is and he gave me the article that he gave to the Post Courier: “Rebel hits out against mine talks”.

The next day I went to the checkpoint to interview the boys. I met an original Meekamui Government officer by the name of Bleise and he told me that this checkpoint would not be lifted, as we don’t want the mine to re-open. When asked what will happen if the pro-mining landowners sign an agreement, will you guys lift the check point? “No, the checkpoint won’t be lifted.”

I asked one of the Meekamui soldiers, who have been offered jobs if the mine re-openens by BCL, what they think about taking the jobs? The soldier told me that jobs are not important. “We care for our land and future generations. Where will our children live if we destroy the land?”

Back in Arawa again the media comes out with a story that Meekamui hardliner Chris Uma met and talked with Bougainville Regional member Mr F Semoso and given green light for the re-opening of the mine. I went early to Chris Uma’s residence and met him. I asked him if that is the gospel truth, he told me yes he met F Semoso but didn’t talk about the mine re-opening. That is one of the propaganda that the Government side is coming up with. He says he agreed to meet F Semoso so that he will know who Chris Uma is and where he stands.

A businessman in Arawa, who runs a guesthouse, while commenting on the issue says: “Mining is not the answer. It will bring more bloodshed on the Island if the pro mining landowners go ahead and sign any new agreement. I lost two sons in the war and no one pays me any compensation for their lives.”

Commenting on the employment he says: “Only the people with papers and skills will have the jobs.” He questions: “What about the widows and the unskilled? Agriculture should be encouraged, the widows and unskilled will have something to do and earn money when selling their produce.”

I met three mothers later going home after a meeting with the intended candidates for central Bougainville in the PNG national Government for 2012. They told me that as mothers who bear so much pain and lost their sons in the war they don’t want Panguna mine to re-open.  When asked about employment and development they all say: “What kind of development and employment is that, if it will destroy our land?”

Bougainville is blessed with many riches, apart from Gold and Copper.

“B’ville gains pace on mine opening” This is what the Mainstream Media, Government officials and BCL like you to think…..

This article, like many other recent ones, paints a picture of Mekamuians/Bougainvillians who can’t wait to have Panguna mine re-opened. It is full of lies, like saying that Chris Uma has given green light for the re-opening of Panguna mine. Please compare to Chris’s article “Rebel hits out against mine talks” listed on this side on the 28. Feb and to Clive’s article “Panguna Mine Dilemma” above.   BJ

Post-Courier Online.     Thursday 17th March,

THIS week two important and successful historical occasions happened in the history of Bougainville – the reconciliation of Me’ekamui Defence Force Commander Chris Uma with Bougainville Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso and the meeting with another hardliner Moses Pipiro with the National Government departmental heads at Panguna.
For Bougainville the “first time meets” for the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and Me’ekamui hardliners with the National Government team and Mr Semoso who went out of his way to meet these rebels, has enabled the progress of the negotiations for the re-opening of the giant Panguna Mine.
Mr Semoso did a leisure drive out of Arawa town on his electoral visit to Panguna to see if he could have a chat with Mr Pipiro, the man who has been guarding the mine pit and Panguna for the last 10 to 20 years.
Over a buai, the two spoke as if they were never enemies or there was no problem.
Mr Pipiro completely shut himself from the outside, even his own ABG leaders over the outstanding issues surrounding the Panguna mine.
Last Monday, Mr Semoso made his way through and did the dirty work of getting Pipiro out of his hide out.
And 11 hours later Mr Semoso took with him a whole delegation of PNG departmental heads who flew in from Port Moresby to the region for the scoping of projects in preparation for the release of the promised one-off K500 million in five years to Bougainville.
The heads, led by Secretary of Mining Nellie James and Health Secretary Dr Clement Malau had breakfast up at the rebel’s brown coffee shop, all prepared by the families of Mr Pipiro and Philip Takaung, the Me’ekamui Government president.
And on Tuesday, Mr Semoso took another successful trip – to make him the first National MP to have Chris Uma come out, reconcile and straight away begin the mine talks on a personal level.
This in itself is a milestone for Bougainville which now has mining on Bougainville and especially the re-opening of the Panguna mine as a priority.
This was a historical moment for Bougainville, PNG and the international community is watching this issue.
The world can now breathe a sigh of relief because the feared rebel who mans the famous Morgan Junction, the gateway to the Panguna Mine has given the green light for the re-opening of the Panguna Mine.
But the re-opening of the mine will come with strings attached – like every other rebel needs – negotiations for compensation and the K10 billion issue.
Chris Uma, who took over as the commander of the Me’ekamui defence force up until the world renowned hardliner Francis Ona died in 2005, one of the factions that currently holds the key to total peace on Bougainville, for the first time in 10 years sat face to face with a Bougainville leader and a National Government Minister to reconcile, grieve and put forward his demands for the future of Bougainville.
The Mine talks can now begin and Bougainville can expect a progress in the peace process, weapons disposal and economic development at large.