BELCOL

Press Release: From the office of the Panguna Mine Negotiations
The BEl Kol or Domangmitta between the people of
Bougainville and the Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) can now go ahead as soon as the Bougainville Executive concil (BEC) approves
a date for the staging of the ceremony in Arawa. The landowners requested the Domangmiitta in
2012 during the first meeting between the ABG, landowners and BCL as a precondition
to any negotiations on
the future of Pnaguna Mine. It is a concept of traditional appeasement according to the custom of the Nasioi people of Kieta, Central Bougainville.
The domangmitta symbolizes a readiness by both parties to reconcile past differences and most importantly through negtiations, forge a new relationship. After two years of discussions and five months of awareness (June – October 2014), the ABG has secured the unconditional support
of Central Bougainville Ex-combatants for the ceremony to go ahead.
According to the
office of Panguna Mine Negotiations, Mr. Raymond Masono, a Memorandum of understanding paving the way for the staging
of the ceremony was signed between landowner representatives and
central Bougainville Ex- combatants on Monday 3rd November 2014 in Arawa.
“The MOU is a significant break through in the ABG’s efforts to obtain majority consensus to stage this ceremony,” Mr Masono said.The MOU is a culmination of five months of consultation
and awareness on the basis and purpose of the Bel Kol. This is inline with
the ABG’s all inclusive, consensual, collaborative and consultative approach of engaging with the people of Bougainville
to express their views on major developmental issues affecting the region.
“The staging of the ceremony will be a major
milestone in the process

of preparing the ABG and landowners to negotiate
the future of Panguna Mine,” Masono said. It now means that the Bel Kol organizing committee co- chaired by acting secretary Department of the Community Government and the executive
managers ofKieta and Panguna Districts can
now proceed with the planning, organization and staging of the ceremony tentatively scheduled for February 2015 in Arawa.
“ I believe that the spirit of commonsense has again prevailed in finding a solution to a difficult and sensitive issue,” Masonao said. “The Majority of
Bougainvilleans are looking forward to the Bel Kol ceremony. With the signing of the MOU to secure unconditional support to stage the
Bel Kol having been achieved, the organizing committee can now focus on delivering a product for which the people of Bougainville would be proud.

Raymond J. Masono Director (Panguna Mine Negotiations)