June 4, 2017
By ROMULUS MASIU
Panguna landowners will, in two weeks’ time, sign an agreement consenting to re-open the former world-class copper mine.
June 16 has been set as the tentative date for the occasion, which will involve them, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL).
The resolve of the landowners was made known to a visiting ABG delegation led by Vice-President and Minister for Mining Raymond Masono and ABG minister for Economic Services Fidelis Semoso at Arawa last Thursday.
Their resolution was made under the auspices of assisting in securing benefits for all Bougainvilleans and compensation for the destruction and loss of lives.
The visiting ABG team had called on the Panguna landowners on behalf of all the people of Bougainville to contribute meaningfully to a political settlement and allow their land and mineral resources to be extracted to achieve their future independent
political aspirations.
“We have been exploited, and our land and pristine forests lost and gone, but it is in giving back to the people of Bougainville for the restoration of all sectors of our environment that our government is calling on us to reopen the Panguna mine,” outgoing chairman of Special Mining Lease Osikaiyang Association Lawrence Daveona said.
“We have been blamed for the crisis that created misery among our brethren but we, deep in our hearts, know that we fought for the land and destruction that is our livelihood.”
“Let us redeem ourselves and bring back our pride and offer back Panguna to restore, rehabilitate and compensate the Bougainville society and to bring prosperity and unity among all families, villages and communities across Bougainville.”
“My people we have no choice. The days of politicking are over and time is running out fast.
“We are racing with the time to determine our political destiny. Decision time is 2019,” Mr Daveona said.
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