Kick out BCL Tenements

KICK OUT BCL TENEMENTS OF THE SEVEN SISTERS AND OPEN PANGUNA MINE
BY JENNIFER NKUI

The North Bougainville Regional Parliamentary Committee wants the Autonomous Bougainville Government to kick out the Bougainville Copper Limited tenements of the seven sisters and open Panguna mine.
The committee which is chaired by member for Hagogohe Peter Sohia said on the issue of ownership of the BCL tenements of the seven sisters, the people have spoken loudly and widely enough, no tenements and land must return to the landowners.
He told New Dawn in a press statement that the Bougainville Copper Agreement was long overdue even before the crisis.
He then pointed out the BCA is partly to be blamed for creating the Bougainville war and it should be thrown out the window in this day and age of Bougainville’ progress to the future.
Mr. Sohia said the committee will support a Bougainville Mining Act that provides resource owners and landowners’ ownership of the mine, jointly with ABG.
He said they will be representing the people of Bougainville, particularly on future mining interests of the reopening of the old Panguna mine which the entire Bougainville population says it’s owned jointly by them and the landowners of Panguna, an acquired customary obligation brought by the Bougainville conflict.
He added that the people’s basic interest must be considered by parliament before any mining laws are passed.
He urged the government to workshop the special addition of the Bougainville Mining Act to the Regional parliamentary committees of Central, South and North Bougainville first before it goes to parliament for debate and eventual passage.