mining law claims “insulting”nisira

http://bougainville.typepad.com/newdawn/2013/03/120313mining-law-claims-insultingnisira-by.html

By Aloysius Laukai
ABG Vice President, PATRICK NISIRA has responded to “insulting” claims about Bougainville’s new draft mining law.
He was replying to claims by former BRA leader, Sam Kauona, that Bougainville mining policy was being influenced by an expatriate adviser to the Autonomous Bougainville Government.(ABG)
Mr. Nisira said: “the claim of external influence is an insult to the intelligence and commitment of ABG leaders. Kauona reflects a racist, colonial mentality when he suggests the ABG is somehow controlled by a white-man.
The new Bougainville law is being developed by Bougainvilleans, for Bougainville using regional forums, meetings with ex-combatants, long discussions in the Bougainville Executive Council(BEC).
The Vice President said that we make decisions remembering the bitter experience of the Panguna mine imposed by Australia, on behalf of BCL.
Based on the lessons learnt from the crisis of the mining impacts, we are determined to avoid mistakes of the past.
We aim to do that through our new law, which will protect landowners, as well as all other Bougainvilleans.
All must share in revenues, and in access to opportunities provided by mining.
The Vice President said that the extend of mining must be strictly controlled, with resource owners participating in exploration and development decisions.
Mr. Nisira said that the ABG Policy were decided by BEC alone with no outside input.
Ends