This is also posted as a reply on the RTG forum. One thing I go...

This is also posted as a reply on the RTG forum.

One thing I go out of my way to do and that is avoid being offensive ...

If the EL is rejected then is it possible that it might spell the end of independence for Bougainville because it's difficult to see the ABG getting a better cut from the cash generated by the mine than by owning 72.8% of the developing company (I think that the National Government has already indicted it would give its BCL shares to the ABG at some point). Whether the Island collectively could financially survive (a condition for independence as I have read) on the much lower level of ownership, which would eventuate from say an RTG ending up as the developer, is a matter for consideration (putting aside the matter of the other eight landowner groups). That is why I commented yesterday that it's all very well rounding up signatures and printing off NO BCL tee shirts but people need to see the whole picture (and don't take offence it's just the same in Australia, you only have to look at the activities of GetUp!). Potential development in the north of the island would, of course, be enormously beneficial but they haven't sunk a drill hole yet