A whole lot has been made of the fact that environmental issues...

A whole lot has been made of the fact that environmental issues were the main reason BOC was closed down in Panguna. I feel that this was a factor but you must ask why is the controvercial OK TEDI mine still going.
The other big fact is that the mine did not close solely because of land degredation due to the mine.. it was a question of compensation for the destruction...
Land owners were paid peanuts for their land grab. I think a more sensible approach is in play and this will pave the way to mine reopening.
There was once tribal infighting, constant conflict, no peace deals have been brokered.
The mine was a closed shop, now various delegates and representatives have been given access.
Landowner groups have been formed.. compensation requests from the past now sit at 1-2bn and not 10bn.
This is all reconcilliation, a sign people want to move forward.
The previous $10bn claim was ridiculous and was never going to be filled.
This 1-2bn is more reasonable, and may further push all parties deeper into negotiations.
Previous Somare Govt pretended to want the mine re opened but latest Wiki leaks cables show perhaps a hidden agenda as they opened the gates for the law suit to proceed against Rio Tinto.
What really matters is a fair go for everyone, and right now I think that needs to happenfor everyone.
1. BCL wants to mine
2. Bougainville need the money for independence
3.PNG govt have perhaps only 5 years of revenue before Bougainville can apply for independence to be its own country.
I think these 3 key ingredients will mean that everyone will want to bring a conclusion to this 20 odd year dispute, reach agreement and move forward.
I think the deal will need to be a fair one, i think it will have environmental protection rules tied in, financial security commitments (sovereign wealth fund), transparency.
Fact is people are now discussiong, brokering, negotiating.
Its come a long way since they were killing each other.
I feel Somare was a thorn in the side of BCL, just a hunch, because if you watch the SP and its movement around the time he was replace by O'neill, you might see where I am coming from.
O'Neill and BCL chairman Taylor are close, as is former prime minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu .

"Mr O’Neill told those who gathered at the launch yesterday that he had nominated former PM and Kokopo MP Sir Rabbie Namaliu to head the fund" posted on BCL eu site.

Namaliu is a director of BCL and was the PM of PNG when the Bougainville Crisis Began.