News June 2013.2

Rio Tinto Plc, the world’s second-biggest mining company, won dismissal of a lawsuit in the U.S. accusing it of contributing to genocide in Papua New Guinea.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco today affirmed a lower court’s ruling dismissing the case. The appeals court’s decision was prompted by an April 22 order by the U.S. Supreme Court, which in a separate case brought against Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) had scaled back application of the 1789 Alien Tort Statute.

That law, also invoked in the Rio Tinto case, has been a favorite tool of human-rights advocates seeking to hold companies responsible in U.S. courts for atrocities overseas.

The lawsuit against London-based Rio Tinto stems from the deaths of thousands of indigenous people starting in 1988 on the island of Bougainville, where Rio Tinto was part of a group operating the world’s largest open copper pit.

The case is Sarie v. Rio Tinto Plc, 02-56256, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (San Francisco.)

Women of Central Bougainville say that they must be allowed to participate at the various negotiations stages of the Panguna Negotiations.

Two women leaders from Central, MRS. BANAS and LYNET ONA told the Arawa forum that women as landowners must be given the chance to participate and give their ideas.

They said that they were not happy in the way the men of Bougainville were leading Bougainville.

AND at the BANA forum another woman leader, AGNES NARA echoed the same sentiments as women were not being recognized to participate at these important forums.

MRS. NARA said that women have the right to participate and give their views as their population is more than the men folk of Bougainville.

New Dawn FM understands that all stakeholders are given the chance to get into groups and present their views to the forum.

And all contributions from these forums will be collated to form the common stand of the people of Bougainville.

The people of BANA yesterday praised the ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS for attending the to-days BANA Regional Forum on Panguna Negotiations.

The member for BOLAVE, LAWRENCE WAKAI made these comments in fare-welling the participants of the two-days BANA forum in BOLEUKO yesterday.

The member said despite his busy schedule the ABG President made it his business to participate fully at the forum.

He said that this showed the President’s commitment to listening to the worries of his people.

New Dawn FM understands that the ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS also attended fully the Arawa and Buin forums.

The Four days Regional Forum on Panguna negotiations held in Arawa and BANA this week has achieved results.

AND it has received contributions from all stake holders including the MEKAMUI, EX COMBATANTS, WOMEN’S,CHURCHES YOUTHS and constituencies of RAO AND TERRA in Wakunai, NORTH NASIOI, SOUTH NASIOI , KOKODA and KONGARA and in BANA the three Constituencies of BABA,LATO and BOLAVE with the landowners of the Tailings in which wastes from the PANGUNA mine was dumped.

Majority of the contributions sympathized with the ABG which needed funds to deliver much needed services to the people of Bougainville.

The local member for BOLAVE LAWRENCE WAKAI thanked the ABG and especially the mining department for having this important forum in his electorate which has been used by BCL to dump its wastes from the PANGUNA mine.

He said damage to their environment will never be repaired as damage is still occurring today.

MR. WAKAI said that he was happy that the ABG President and Cabinet ministers and CEO’s of Divisions including the chief administrator were able to visit his electorate.

He said that it was a privilege for the people of BOLAVE to have this delegation to BANA and because the Works and Finance Ministers were also there they can see the state of the roads and put funds to rehabilitate the roads.

The people of BANA want some development to take place on the South West of Bougainville.

One of the Presenters for the LATO constituency, PETER TABARI told the BANA Forum that the people of BANA want a town for mine workers to be built down the tailings way.

In his presentation, MR. TABARI said the people of BANA during the BCL days only received wastes from the PANGUNA MINE and this time want some development on this side of the island.

He said that the building of the town will also ensure that a proper tailings system is developed.

MR. TABARI said that the people of BANA this time want to participate in the developments and called on the government to make sure this is addressed during negotiations.

The ABG President DR. JOHN MOMIS yesterday told the people of BANA that the fear of the unknown is making many people of Bougainville remaining still in survival mode which should not be the case today.

He said the struggles of Bougainville since the conflict should have prepared our people to move from the survival mode to development and Prosperous mode.

The ABG President made these comments when answering questions from the people BANA who said that Bougainvilleans still survived without basic services during the Bougainville conflict.

AND they can still survive and run this Autonomous Region with the skills that made them survive the war.

ABG President said that a survival kit is needed in an emergency situation in which Bougainville has left behind.

DR. MOMIS told the people of BANA to support their government by working together with their government who will take them to achieve their dreams for independence.

The 5th Regional Forum on Panguna Negotiations for the people of BANA ended yesterday afternoon.

MEMBER for Central Bougainville Jimmy Miringtoro has assured the people of Asitai in his electorate that he will fulfill his election promise to rehabilitate their primary school and aid post.

Miringtoro, who is also the National Communications and Information Technology Minister, made this assurance in response to a statement in yesterday’s Post-Courier by his constituent Mr Kaipas from Wakunai, Central Bougainville.

Mr Kaipas said the money promised to rehabilitate the school and aid post had not been forthcoming.

“What he said was true,” admitted the Minister. “However, until Wakunai education officer gives (the required) information on Asitai primary school to my JDPBPC and the district project management office, I can not release the money

“My commitment still stands and I ask Mr Kaipas and our people to get ready to provide sweat equity, when my JDPBPC and the district project management office are vetted on the final costing of the project. With the current DSIP allocation I don’t see any problem in giving a major facelift to one of my schools.

The Member added that, in the case of the aid post, the funds had been sitting idle in Treasury for twelve months so he diverted them to the Arawa Health Centre to accommodate doctors there.

“I don’t want money that is supposed to be use for projects sitting and idling dormantly in the bank,” he said. “As per the guidelines of DSIP, the money for the project after JDPBPCs resolutions are made must be spend directly on the project and must not be kept in the bank for a long time. The people of Asitai have not made any move or commitment to have the project get started.”

The Member confirmed the money allocated for the Asitai aid post will be reimbursed shortly and the project would proceed.

Kieta and Panguna District Health Workers in Central Bougainville are to receive overwhelming assistance from Sankamap Export Limited. The Bougainvillean owned company, specialising in the export of quality cocoa and copra to overseas markets, has offered sponsorship of K500 to go towards the travel expenses of three representatives to attend the 2013 New Guinea Islands Nurses Christian Fellowship. The event will take place in Manus next week.

The three representatives from Kieta and Panguna Districts are: Christine Lekara, Genevieve Anisia and Regina Mate.

The gathering will benefit all the nurses in the Kieta and Panguna District. This is the first time funding h has been offered from either government or business houses.

According to Mrs Lekara, the event will provide very important presentations given by doctors. When the three officers come back they will impart the knowledge and skills they’ve learnt to their colleagues across Bougainville.

Mrs Lekara said this is very important as the new Arawa General Hospital is about to be built and we need to prepare our nurses with the updated knowledge.

While presenting the K500 to Mrs Lekara, Sankamap Export Limited Arawa Branch Manager Gavin Mambu said his company depends on the community of Bougainville to sell their produce (cocoa and copra) to export to the overseas markets. Therefore, it is only right the company gives back something to the community through such sponsorships.

“It’s a two way thing, farmers come and give us their quality cocoa and in return we give back to the farmers by offering small help. We are a Bougainvillean owned company and have a duty to look after our people,” Mr Mambu said on behalf of his big boss Robert Critchley.

Papua New Guinea's island of Bougainville has a new library that's now open in Arawa.

It's a collaborative project between the New Zealand based, Bougainville Library Trust, the Bougainville Heritage Foundation and the New Zealand based organisation, Volunteer Service Abroad.

And it's not just a library, but a place of storytelling, performance and craft.

Speaker: Lloyd Jones, author and Chair of the Bougainville Library Trust; James Koibo, Chair of the Bougainville Heritage Foundation

MADDOCKS: Lloyd Jones' 2006 book Mr Pip is the story of a young schoolgirl who discovers the wonders of literature, during the civil war of Bougainville.

Its pages are soon to splash across the silver screen - the movie set to premiere in October.

Money raised from sales of the book, and donations from the Bougainville Library Trust, helped to fund the library and supply its books.

Lloyd Jones attended the opening of the Bougainville Library and he says it was a colourful occasion of speeches interspersed with cultural performances.

MADDOCKS: After four to five years of hard work and many challenges, it was a satisfying moment for Lloyd when the purple ribbon was cut and the library doors unlocked.

JONES: The best moment was an unrehearsed moment when I invited everybody, the crowd, I invited them inside the library and they didn't need to be invited twice. There was just this torrent of people that kept up passing through the doors and as they passed the threshold there were these woops and shrieks of joy.

MADDOCKS: But that moment didn't arrive easily. Lloyd explains that there were some particular challenges around land.

JONES: It's complicated, the whole land title thing in Bougainville generally, but in particular in Arawa which is really a mining town so you've got that layer of occupation over old ownership.

So trying to find the site was very difficult. But once we got that that was a big tick in the box and then we approached an architect that would create a building that combined western building values with local building values.

And I think his name's Paul Kerr-Hislop. You know, New Zealanders and Australians have donated to this project, the Hodder Trust in the UK, the Booker Foundation. There's been a lot of generosity towards this project.

MADDOCKS: Once the money was raised, a builder from the the New Zealand-based organisation Volunteer Service Abroad was appointed.

The VSA have been sending volunteers to Bougainville since the end of the Bougainville conflict.

JONES: Now Barry had worked there before and he was instrumental in establishing the carpentry centre in Arawa. So then he worked with a whole lot of apprentice carpenters so it killed two birds with one stone.

JONES: Yeah and trained these guys so that they became more accomplished. It was a useful project from the point of view of a training project.

And all the timber is of course sourced locally. There are some amazing weaving's on the outside of the building. All those were sourced from five different villages.

MADDOCKS: Lloyd says that the library, or Stori Haus as they call it, is not just a place to read books.

JONES: The one thing we need to emphasise here is a shift from the conventional idea of a library. We're celebrating story and that means celebrating in the form of books but also in local storytelling form.

Right now it's not a lending library, it's a reading library. But it will be the venue for all the cultural activity in central Bougainville. It will also be an archive for documents important to Bougainville.

There's so many projects honestly, it's combining the role of a library as we know it with a cultural centre with a national archive. Now if all those things can be pulled off you'll have a really rich institution.

MADDOCKS: The opening marked the handing over of the library from Lloyd Jones' Bougainville Library Trust to the Bougainville Heritage Foundation.

KOIBO: The objective is to protect and promote Bougainville culture identity. It is also the strengthening the access to further education for all Bougainvilleans with emphasise on fostering cultural, support the local legends, stories, poetry, music and songs into printed material so that young people in future can do research and see how our people lived because quite a lot of customs and cultures are dying now because of the education here in the island of Bougainville.

MADDOCKS: The Heritage Foundation is now in control of the library's interior, and its intent is to make sure it feels like Bougainville.

KOIBO: Whatever crafts are there maybe, bows and arrows and other cuttings will be installed into the building so that when you enter the building itself, the building itself has got a big conference room and also a stage where people can perform traditional dances. So when you walk in there you feel like you are walking into Bougainville.

MADDOCKS: The building was put together with both international and local knowledge and its architecture accounts for Arawa's steaming heat.

JONES: The roof kind of hovers over the building it's not necessarily connected to it. So there's a cycle of air that's travelling through it all the time. Even on still days you get the sense that there's a breeze internally and in the wind house which is attached to the interior of the building.

MADDOCKS: The idea of a library as a public resource is a particularly alien one for the locals.

But it's hoped that a volunteer librarian who arrived last week, will put that point across: that this library is there for anyone at anytime.

IT’S an all go for the Panguna Mine re-opening with all stakeholders in Central Bougainville reaffirming their support for the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

All stakeholders in the three districts of Central Bougainville – Wakunai, Panguna and Kieta – spoke out during the two-day 4th Mining Forum on Panguna Mine Negotiations held in Arawa, saying it’s time to boost the region’s economy in preparation for the vote for Referendum to Independence 2016.

All opted for the mineral rich mine pit (Panguna) along the Crown Prince Range to bank roll the region’s independence.

The only stumbling block now is the Me’ekamui government of unity under the leadership of Philip Miriori who still has reservations and wants the mine to be opened after Independence is granted for Bougainville.

The Me’ekamui Government of unity represents the other side of the landowners of Panguna who are opposing the re-opening of the mine on environmental grounds and more importantly on where they will be relocated to and placed if BCL or any other mining company re-opens the mine.

Mr Miriori stood firm questioning the forum on where the Government ABG will relocate them to if they are to open the mine.

“Where will you put me and my people of Panguna if you start operations on our land again? We have nowhere to go now our land has been spoilt, taken away from us and you’re still pushing us away by not considering our plight and forcing the re-opening of the mine,” Mr Miriori had said.

President Chief Dr John Momis sympathised with Mr Miriori and the people of Panguna, telling the forum that he has been deeply touched by the statement of Mr Miriori and assured them that ABG as the legitimate government of the day has this very important obligation to take care of its people.

“Yes, Miriori and the landowners of Panguna have a genuine point, we have to give them new land, a new place to live as they have given us their land, their God-given land for all of us to benefit –even PNG benefited from their land therefore, we’ll accord them a special compensation, that will be stipulated in the new mining law for Bougainville.”

However, President Momis reminded the people of Bougainville to be realistic when talking about the issue of Panguna.

“All the things that have happened to us in the past is history now, we’ve learnt from them and moved forward.

“Your government ABG is taking care of the loopholes in the system – the colonial laws have been thrown out where there was no consultation at all, now everything is very different and more importantly we need money to run our government since National Government of PNG is not honouring its commitment as stipulated under the Bougainville Peace Agreement.”

However, Bougainville Veterans Associations throughout the island have put up a firm stand that Panguna Mine must be re-opened so that all Bougainvilleans – more than 20,000 lives that perished during the Crisis must be compensated.

Former late Francis Ona’s side-kick Glynn Tovirika challenged those who are negative about the mine re-opening to tell the former combatants who are responsible for the permanent closure of the mine that where will they get the money from and how will they pay the compensation for those killed.

Mr Tovirika challenged the Me’ekamui that what will they offer to the people of Bougainville – to the families of those who died during the crisis – they are still crying for the family members who have died.

“Whether you like it or not, we will still open the mine. We (ex-combatants) are the ones who close the mine and we are the ones who will open the mine because this is the dream and wish of late leader Francis Ona, who told us that the mine is not permanently closed, but will operate back after we’re ready to gain independence. That time is now, we are ready,” Mr Tovirika said.

The two-days 5th Regional forum on Panguna negotiations in Bana which started yesterday is progressing well with al stakeholders participating.

The forum is the second last forum of the forums that the ABG and the mining department is using to get the views from all stakeholders on the future of the Panguna Copper Mine.

This morning the forum participants separated into groups and discussed their issues in their groups and later presented their views to the forum.

In most of the presentations nearly all the stakeholders they wanted in principal to reopen the mine but with conditions that is issues that are outstanding from the past and also the present.

The ABG Minister for Finance, ALBERT PUNGHAU says that the National members distribute their DISP funds and PISP funds with their committees and the ABG has no say in it.

The ABG minister for finance made these comments when replying to questions raised by one of the Panguna landowners, Wendelynus Bitanuma who wanted to know why the National Government members were not contributing towards assisting the setting up of their Associations.

He told the forum this afternoon that funds for the National members are managed by Rural Development and these members have their own Treasuries in the districts where they distribute their funds.

The Minister explained that the Regional Member for Bougainville was given FIFTEEN MILLION KINA for the first time and he had distributed FIVE MILLION KINA each to the three regions of North, Central and South Bougainville.

ABG President DR.JOHN MOMIS opening the 5th Regional Forum on Panguna Negotiations in Bana this morning.

The 5th Regional Forum on Panguna Negotiations was officially opened by the ABG President DR.JOHN MOMIS at the BOLEUKO Community Hall in the Bana district this morning.

This special meeting was programmed to also gauge the view of the people of BOLAVE Constituency who are directly affected by the wastes from the PANGUNA copper mine which used to dump all the wastes on the river system and unto the sea in South West Bougainville.

Although the mine has been closed for more than two decades the damage has been done and the people of BOLAVE continue to live with these problems and the reopening of the Panguna mine will heavily affect them.

In his opening remarks, the local ABG member for BOLAVE, LAWRENCE WAKAI said that he has been against the opening of the mine in the past, however he had to change his stand to support the reopening because he realised that the ABG needed funds to fast track a lot of activities it wants to do for Bougainville.

He said that he was also happy that the ABG has developed its own policy on mining which addresses a lot of these past grievances which started the Bougainville conflict.

Two Bougainville leaders last night made a joint statement that they were happy and are now committed to work together a team to progress the Bougainville Mining Policy in the best interest of the people of Bougainville based on the sacrifices of the ten year conflict on Bougainville.

The two leaders in the past were in loggerheads over differences they had concerning the draft mining policy for Bougainville.

SAM KAUONA with his Bougainville Resources Owners did not agree on Section 23 of the Bougainville Mining Policy which stated that the Landowners owned 50% from their resources whilst the Autonomous Bougainville Government owned the other half on behalf of other Bougainvilleans who were not resource owners.

And just recently the ABG and the Bougainville Resources owners and Ex combatants through a series of consultations agreed to change rights vested to the people of Bougainville.

The bill is yet to be finalized through a series of forums and consultations with all stakeholders on Bougainville before it is presented to the ABG for final approval.

The two Bougainville leaders last night announced that this was a breakthrough and it favours the people of Bougainville.

New Dawn FM understands that drafting instructions has been given to the Lawyers to incorporate the changes before it goes back to public scrutiny again.

This legislation has been controversial because Natural Resources including Minerals and Oil gives power to the economy.

The 4th Regional Forum on Panguna Negotiations ended last night with every stakeholders putting their views on the future of the Panguna Copper mine.

Despite the different views from all sectors of the community, the overall result of the forum was successful.

The fourth Regional Forum on Panguna negotiations in Arawa was for the Kieta and Wakunai districts and all participated fully at the forum.

The forum has for the first time in the short history of Bougainville created the environment conducive for real constructive discussions by all stakeholders.

The ABG President DR. JOHN MOMIS attended full time the two days forum in Arawa officially opening the forum on Monday morning and also officially closing the forum late last night.

According to the ABG President DR. JOHN MOMIS the forum achieved its aim that is to make sure all stake holders present their views on the future of Panguna and Bougainville.

He noted comments made by the President of Mekamui Unity Government on where his people will be located if the government is very strong on reopening the mine.

ABG President commented that the ABG must find ways now to accommodate the Mekamui and the Tonu group through its COE system of government.

He said that empowering the people is the way forward for Bougainville and he does not want to see one group forced out of the way.

The ABG President thanked the people of Central Bougainville for participating at this very important forum.

The ABG President DR. JOHN MOMIS says that Bougainville is at the crossroad and what happens from here will depend entirely on the will for the region to raise its own funds.

He was speaking at the Opening of the 4th Regional Forum on Panguna Negotiations in Arawa yesterday.

President MOMIS said that Bougainville can dream about gaining Independence but Independence and Economy go hand in hand.

AND how things are going on Bougainville does not have the funds to support the Autonomous Bougainville Government which is the only vehicle that will take the people to decide their future status through this referendum.

He told the Arawa forum that Bougainville Independent already as it was already exercising the power of Autonomy BUT will have to look after Defence and Currency after the referendum.

ABG President said that for the ABG to raise enough funds to sustain Autonomy and Independence the PANGUNA mine must be re-opened under the proposed Policy on mining which will be tabled at the ABG House at the September session of parliament.

The meeting will end today and the team will continue with the 5th Forum to be held at the Boleuko Community hall in Bana.

All other speakers and presenters supported the move by the ABG to fast track the reopening of the Panguna Copper mine with BCL as the first company they would like to approach.

Meanwhile the President of the MEKAMUI UNITY Government in Panguna, PHILIP MIRIORI said that their group is ooposed to reopening of the Panguna mine.

He told the gathering that BCL had no money to restart the Copper and Gold mine.

The ABG member for North Nasioi and Minister for Primary Industry, NICHOLAS DARKU today called on the resources owners from Central Bougainville to forget their differences and support the Autonomous Bougainville Government and its people to share their resources for the common good of the people of Bougainville.

MR. DARKU made these remarks in welcoming visitors to Arawa for the 4th Regional Forum on Panguna Negotiations in Arawa.

He said that this forum is an avenue for the people of Central Bougainville to contribute on how they want their resources to be shared with all Bougainvilleans.

Another Minister for Community Development, MELCHIOR DARE also called for Unity from the people of Bougainville.

Minister DARE said that as the Minister for youth and women who are silent majority in our communities we should think of when making the decision.

He said that the youth must be addressed now before they rise up against their leaders.

The Minister said that another groups of people are the women who outnumber the number of male counterparts on Bougainville.

He said these silent majorities must be included in all decisions that this forum will decide on.

WAKUNAI district in Central Bougainville came alive on Monday as people celebrated the 8th anniversary of the formation of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

The celebration was held in style at a sports field, with different types of traditional dances being performed.

It was also a historical moment, as the president of the ABG, Dr Chief John Momis and ABG Speaker Andrew Miriki came together for the first time there.

A Bomana Police College passing out parade, hosted by the Wakunai-based regular police and community auxiliary police members, added to the fun of the occasion.

Other leaders also present during the event were the ABG member for Terra constituency, Robin Wilson, Central Bougainville women’s representatives in the ABG Joan Jerome and the council of elders’ representatives of the district.

ABG President John Momis, delivered his speech saying, “I am happy and want to congratulate all the people of Wakunai District for your effort taken to celebrating this anniversary. Bougainville is now an independent region and has its own independent government.”

He challenged the people to respect and support the ABG: “If we the citizens of Bougainville are not respecting our government that we created — it is like our own child — how do we expect others to respect it. The number one responsibility for Bougainvilleans is to support their government.”

He encouraged the people to believe in themselves and bring positive development to their communities, revealing that a lack of capacity was one of the contributing factors to the slow pace of development.

The president also gave an update on the progress made so far by the government, including the types of laws already passed by Bougainville.

He also updated the people on the work of the ABG Parliament, before assuring the Wakunai people that under the leadership of Dr Momis, Bougainvilleans can rest assured that their government was in safe hands.

IT was bought by the Autonomous Bougainville Government following the completion of fifteen hi-tech bridges between Kokopau in North Bougainville and Arawa in Central Bougainville.

Mr John Kolan, who managed the Japanese funded bridge project, advised the government that the machine could raise K5 million a year through the sale of crushed

Mr Kolan, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Bougainville Technical Service Division, has expressed his frustration that the machine is not being used for its intended purpose and that the government is continuing to incur expenses for its upkeep. Five men from the area have been guarding the machine 24 hours a day since it was bought. Each is paid K800 a month, meaning around K60,000 has been spent on wages.

ABG President John Momis when asked about this by one of the community leaders from Wakunai last week also expressed his frustration that the machine lies unused.

Dr Momis said he will be following this up with Bougainville’s Project Management Unit to find out about the setback of this crusher’s usage.

He later said the incapacity of the Bougainville Technical Services was one of the reason why this machine is yet to begin its operations.

A REPORT recently released by Care International in Bougainville, has indicated that health facilities and programs are in dire need of assistance and support from the Autonomous Bougainville Government and other partners.

The report used key findings from the Wakunai District of Central Bougainville to demonstrate the negligence of marginalised communities in the rural and remote areas of Bougainville.

Among the indicators from the district include the low access to education, lack of opportunity on income generation, low access to information on sexual and reproductive health and poor access to health and support services.

The report was presented to working partners in a low key gathering at the Provincial Division on Sohano Island last Thursday.

Those present were ABG women’s representative for Central Bougainville, who is also the chairwoman for the ABG Parliamentary Committee on Education and HIV Aids, Joan Jerome, founder of the Bougainville Healthy Community program Ruby Miringka and health division representatives.

The report is part of the Komunity Tingim Aids project whose goal is to improve the sexual health of vulnerable young people in Bougainville.

Health services remain poor and access to facilities remain low. The key objective of the project in Bougainville is to create an environment where young women and men can explore and be educated in sexual health, enabling them to make informed decisions, address their health needs and understand healthy relationships.

Meanwhile, the Bougainville Healthy Community will launch its program on July 2 this year, with the orientation of 1600 volunteers in Turiboiru in South Bougainville.

This NGO group has been contributing immensely to improving the health status of Bougainville.

A representative of land owners around the Panguna mine in Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville says there is strong support for the re-opening of the controversial mine.

An executive of the Panguna Landowners Association, Chief Michael Pariu, was speaking after the latest government organised forum to canvas the people’s views on the mine re-opening.

He says groups from the districts of Wakunai, Kieta and Panguna, including former combatants, have agreed that a re-opening is necessary to lift the Bougainville economy.

“We are financially handicapped to run the affairs of Bougainville, the affairs of community service and also the affairs of affected landowners. So, a reason - clear and loud - voted for everywhere in Bougainville that we are in Bougainville in desperate need of finance. So that is why a re-opening of Panguna mine is what everyone is expecting now.”

He says issues of ’bel kol’ or compensation, and reconciliation and rehabilitation will still need to be finalised beforehand by the company, Bougainville Copper Limited, and the Papua New Guinea and Australian governments.

The ABG minister for Veterans Affairs and former Bougainville Hardliner chairman, DAVID SISITO today bluntly told the resource owners of Central Bougainville that their quest for independence will be in vain if Bougainville does not quickly find a way to raise its own funds to deliver services to the people of Bougainville.

MR. SISITO made these comments at the opening session of the 4th Panguna Negotiations Forum in Arawa this morning.

He said that Bougainville must find ways to raise its Capacity but he does not support the opening of the mine at this stage.

MR. SISITO said that outstanding issues of reconciliation and compensation must be addressed first before talk of reopening the mine can take place.

Exposed: Pro-Mine Bougainville Leader Paid by Foreign Lobbyists

PNGExposed blog

The ‘new’ Panguna Landowners Association, led by its Chairman, Lawrence Daveona – a Port Moresby based businessman and civil servant – is holding itself out as the true representative body for landowners on Bougainville. And, to that end, the association has put itself in the box-seat to negotiate the mine’s reopening [1] with Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL).

But there is more to this political coup than meets the eye. PNGexposed can confirm that the group’s Chairman, Mr Daveona, has received thousands of kina in payments from the European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC), a body set up by BCL’s European investors to lobby for the mine’s reopening.

These payments have been made by ESBC’s President, Axel G Sturm. According to The Australian, Mr Sturm is “possibly the company’s largest individual shareholder”. He has been agitating for the mine’s reopening from his home in the Principality of Andorra, a notorious tax-haven and secrecy jurisdiction (there is no evidence though that Mr Sturm is involved in any illegal activity).

Receipts and reports viewed by PNGexposed show that Daveona received numerous payments by ESBC between 2009-2011, ranging from K1,000 to K4,650 in value (see Appendix A). Some payments are simply labelled ‘Project Funding’ and ‘ESBC Activities in Panguna’, while another was evidently made to purchase a laptop for James Tanis, Bougainville’s former President, who has now come out in support of the mine’s reopening. [2]

In 2008 the ESBC’s President, Mr Sturm, claimed to be “deeply impressed by Lawrence Daveona. He is the ideal mediator in this sensitive issue [mine reopening]. He has our [ESBC] confidence and our full support as well”. [3]

Axel G Sturm with Lawrence Daveona, Michael Pariu, Chris Damana and Severinus Ampaoi – Davoena, Pariu and Ampaoi strongly supported, and profited from, Rio Tinto/BCL during the 1980s and once again lead efforts to reopen the mine today.

We have also discovered evidence that Daveona, evidently on behalf of landowners, took K5000 from BCL to fund the reconciliation process between different landowner groups – a process viewed as a ‘fundamental condition precedent’ [4] for the mine’s reopening.
These payments – in particular the ESBC money – raise serious concerns over whether Mr Daveona’s leadership role has been compromised by personal pecuniary interests.

Axel G Sturm with Sam Akatoi another Bougainvillean ‘leader’ supporting Rio Tinto’s return.

But there is more! Daveona was allegedly sacked in December last year as Acting Deputy Clerk of PNG’s Parliament (Daveona has lived in Port Moresby since the early 1990s). According to a Post-Courier report [5], “alcohol, vehicles and other resources have been provided by Parliament for Fraud Squad officers to carry out investigations against certain senior officers of the Parliamentary services”. It is claimed by the Acting Clerk of Parliament, Simon Ila, that his Deputy, Mr Daveona, was responsible for this inappropriate conduct.

It is perhaps not surprising then that Daveona was one of the targets of Francis Ona and Perpetua Serero as they attempted to clear out the rot from the landowning community during the late 1980s. At the time Daveona was a manager at the Bougainville Development Corporation (BDC), and a Secretary/Director of the Roads Mine Tailings Lease Trust Fund (RMTLTF) – a body set up to administer certain mine compensation payments.

The BDC was controlled by a number of rich nationals. When the conflict kicked off, and Francis Ona called for a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources, the BDC it appears were happy to assist the PNGDF slaughter their own brothers and sisters on Bougainville, flying and maintaining the infamous Iroquois helicopters supplied by Australia. By Daveona’s own admission: “Heli Bougainville was a subsidiary company of Bougainville Development Corporation (BDC) the very company I was also a subsidiary company manager of another one of its companies namely, Wear Resistant Material (PNG) Pty. Ltd at the start of the crisis in 1988. We the employees of BDC at that time knew this [that the PNGDF were using Heli Bougainville pilots] and it was business as usual for BDC”. [6]

The helicopter-gunships flown by Heli Bougainville dropped grenades onto villages, and dumped murdered civilians into the ocean – not exactly “business as usual”.

Daveona’s tenure at the RMTLF was also plagued by suspicions. Dr Henry Okole, a Senior Researcher in Governance and Institutional Matters at the National Research Institute, claims:

First, there was a complaint that formal membership of the RMTLTF, including the right to attend meetings and appoint the executive, had been artificially restricted to a small minority of the titleholders in the lease area, while the rest of the landowners had no control over its operation. Secondly, although many ordinary PLA members were aware of the business activities of the RMTLTF, some of our informants claimed that the management had failed to produce a financial report to notify them of the present financial standing of the fund. Thirdly, there was discontent over the recruitment of a Filipino as a general manager of the fund. This man was alleged to be in receipt of an annual salary of K12,000. There were claims that the PLA members were not notified of his recruitment, and there was clearly some resentment at the size of his reported salary. Finally, there were allegations that the whole operation of the RMTLTF, like that of the PLA itself, had come to be geared to the personal gain of the board members. For instance, sponsorship of students to higher education institutions was said to have been monopolised by the board members. There were also rumours that the fund had begun to operate as an integral part of the Bougainville Development Corporation – a move described by the some of our informants as ‘greedy’ and ‘self-benefiting’.

Lawrence Daveona has been, for many years, [7] an advocate of BCL’s return to Bougainville –this support is so overt that on Daveona’s website the following image appears when the heading “Our Future” [8] is clicked:

BCL Chairman enjoys a private boardroom dinner

BCL Chairman and Secretary enjoying the finer things in life.

To date Daveona’s support for BCL has been couched in largely benevolent terms, for the greater good of ‘his’ people. But in light of these payments, and other serious allegations, it would appear fair to ask whether other material motivations inform Daveona’s call for BCL’s return?

And how many other ‘leaders’, we wonder, are also taking payments from those associated with BCL, or have lucrative ‘business contracts’ lined up for BCL’s return – more than a few we bet!

Appendix A

References

1. http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20130611/news.htm

2. http://ramumine.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/former-president-in-depth-on-bougainvilles-future/

3. http://www.bougainville-copper.eu/informations-2008-2.html

4. http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110328/news09.htm

5. http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20121214/news14.htm

6. http://www.bougainville-copper.eu/news-july-2011.html

7. http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20070228/business03.htm

8. http://panguna-landowners.org/bcllandowners/jsp/BCLPeopleFuture.jsp

It is true that for many years the ESBC supported Mr. Daveona's efforts to resume mining by BCL. Unfortunately I had to stop funding Mr. Daveona because of his increasing inappropriate behaviour towards Bougainville's President, Dr. John Momis and mysself. Sadly there was no more sustainable cooperation possible for the benefit of Bougainvilleans. Today, quite obviously, Mr. Daveona follows his very own agenda and private interest which is proved by his recent statements. He does not have any regard for the people of Bougainville or even the Panguna landowner's future.

THE people of Wakunai District in Central Bougainville have expressed their plea to the Autonomous Bougainville Government to move its head quarter to their district.

And they have assured the ABG that they will allocate land to accommodate this move.

Their call was announced by the council of elders chairman for Terra constituency, Amos Tevaria during the recent ABG celebration which was held last week at Wakunai station.

Mr Tevaria said the people of Wakunai are prepared and ready to allocate their land to accommodate the head quarter if given the green light.

He added that Wakunai was located in a central and ideal location, which makes it suitable to accommodate the head quarter.

Mr Tevaria emphasised the Wakunai people’s call that since the government has adopted their traditional and sacred Upe hat as its identity, it would also be fitting for the Wakunai people to be rewarded by moving the head quarter to their district.

ABG President Dr Chief John Momis when responding to Mr Tevaria thanked the Wakunai people for their offer, but said all Bougainvilleans will have to decide where they want their head quarter to be located.

Dr Momis however proposed that he wanted to see all districts in Bougainville to to accommodate different government offices, instead of having all these offices in the ABG’s head quarter.

An executive member of the Panguna landowners Association, Chief MICHAEL PARIU says that the issue of reopening the Panguna Copper and Gold mine depends on the people of Bougainville and not the landowners alone.

He told New Dawn FM in Arawa this morning that PANGUNA was critical to the survival of the region however the people must decide the future and the regional forums were one sure way of getting the information from all sectors of the communities.

He said that although discussions are being made on the issue it will take time for the mine to start up.

MR. PARIU said they are open to any new company who may have interest but want to talk to BCL first as the first company because they have outstanding issues with the people of Bougainville.

MR. PARIU is attending the Regional Forum on Panguna Negotiations for the Wakunai,Kieta and Panguna districts.

The ABG President, DR. JOHN MOMIS today praised the people of Atolls for showing their identity during their ABG eight anniversary celebrations at the Rendevouz Club in Buka town today.

President MOMIS said the size of the clan and number of people on an island is not important however their identity as a people is important.

He said that the ABG sees its people as same despite of the place they come from and also despite what they have in terms of resources.

ABG PRESIDENT MOMIS said that the ABG wants its people to remain focus and stay united so that nothing will push them away from their dream for a better Bougainville.

He said that the ABG as their responsible government will equally distribute benefits from any development like Mining if Panguna is re-opened to all its people in the future.

DR. MOMIS said that Bougainville needs to train more citizens in various fields so that when they return they can develop Bougainville.

He said what the ABG must do now is to identify countries in which Bougainvilleans can attend technical and Universities at a much cheaper rate.

New Dawn FM understands that starting this year ABG through its Peace office was able to send many students to Universities in CEBU, Philippines.

The first batch went in February whilst the second group left Bougainville two weeks ago.

THE mountainous area of Aita in the Wakunai District of Central Bougainville is renowned as an area where the cultivation of marijuana is ripe. Most of the drug sold throughout Bougainville comes from here.

Youths, from mountainous villages like Asitai, in the upper Aita area, have revealed that they have resorted to the growing and selling of marijuana because they claim to have been neglected by the government for a very long time.

“The only project that was given to us is a Lukas Sawmill given by Sam Akoitai in 1998 during his term as the Central Bougainville MP. After that we have never received anything.

“Though we had written many submissions to our current MP Jimmy Miringtoro (pictured) for projects to bring development into our area, we have never been given anything, never and never. This is his sixth year as our MP but we are still waiting,” Mr Kaipas said.

“Even though we are planting garden foods like taro, sweet potato, peanut, round cabbages and other vegetables, many people have given up carrying the produce to the main road to catch a PMV to the nearest market, either in Buka or Arawa to sell these product.

“Because of the long distance we have to walk, we never carry much food resulting in us only earning about K20 from the sale of garden produce. As a result our people, especially the youths, have decided to cultivate marijuana because they see that it is easy to carry while at the same time they will earn more money than those selling round cabbage, peanut and sweet potatoes and other garden food,” added Mr Kaipas.

Kaipas said Mr Miringtoro had promised them during the campaign period last year that he will be funding the construction of the road to their village as a matter of priority.

However, the upper Aita people are keeping their fingers crossed and waiting for funding to be given to construct the road.

Chief Daniel Irario said if a proper road network is constructed, vehicles will be able to drive all the way to their village and transport all their produce back to the market.

Chief Irario added that this will then distract the youths from cultivating marijuana as their mothers and wives will now be able to transport their garden produce to market easily.

But if no assistance is given, Mr Miringtoro will again be like other previous leaders who made empty promises of helping the upper Aita people.

BOUGAINVILLEANS and New Zealanders celebrated the opening of a unique and significant building in the heart of Arawa town last Friday.

This is the Bougainville Stori Haus – that will become the library, archive and cultural centre for Bougainville.

The Haus will also be the place for story-telling, where old people will come and recount folklore to the young generation, especially students and the public.

Visitors to Bougainville, especially tourists, will get first hand information or a snap-shot of the rich culture and history of Bougainville.

The Bougainville Stori Haus is the brain child of the terrific New Zealand journalist and book-writer Lloyd Jones, who is the author of the ever-popular novel, Mr Pip. The Mr Pip book has been acted out in a movie already and will be viewed in the first week of October this year.

Mr Jones initiated Bougainville Library Trust (BLT) based in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2008 to build this Bougainville Haus Stori for the future generation of Bougainville. Mr Jones is the chairman of BLT.

He approached New Zealand Volunteer Service Abroad (NZVSA), who politely accepted and helped to establish the library building.

“After writing the book Mr Pip, which is a story on Bougainville’s rich history, including the conflict, I thought again of ways that I could get the local community involved in and can benefit from. I thought, after the conflict maybe a library will be the best gift for the people of Bougainville. Thus the creation of this marvelous stori haus,” the veteran journalist told Post-Courier in Arawa.

Mr Jones, who is not new to Bougainville, having served on the island as a journalist, said BLT teamed up and created a partnership with Bougainville Heritage Foundation (BHF), which is chaired by James Koibo, and the NZVSA, which saw the completion and opening of the Bougainville Haus Stori. The BLT was responsible for the initial fundraising in New Zealand, where the community there chipped in for this worthy cause. BLT also designed, built and will stock up (with books) the Bougainville Haus Stori. The NZVSA provided the builder, Barry Binding and the librarian, Phillipa Robinson.

The Bougainville Haus Stori was designed by New Zealand architecture Paul Kerr-Hislop, a personal friend of Mr Jones who has blended both western and local aspects of building in the Haus.

The Bougainville Haus Stori situated in the premises of Arawa Secondary School will increase literacy, promote culture, cultural performances, arts and crafts, carvings, and also oral and written story telling.

The Bougainville Stori Haus will also archive Bougainville’s political history and all documents that are important to Bougainville.

Friday’s ceremony saw Mr Jones officially handing over the keys of the Bougainville Haus Stori to Mr Koibo, signifying the haus to be in the hands of BHF.

The New Zealand community in Arawa, including NZVSA and NZ Police, entertained guests with the famous Maori war dance the Haka – Ka Mate and two traditional songs: Tutira Mai and Pokarekare Ana.

Locals performed their traditional singsing, Kaur, and contemporary dances from Arawa Secondary School’s Creative Arts students.

The school’s head teacher, Paul Lapun, presented Mr Jones with a gift to take back to New Zealand.