Senator Scott Ludlam
Rio Tinto must reveal the full extent of its involvement in the Bougainville war in the wake of revelations Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has given evidence under oath on the decisive role of the company’s subsidiary in the conflict.
The Australian Government must also explain its own role in the war, and what it knew about the role of Rio Tinto subsidiary Bougainville Copper Limited in the conflict that claimed 15,000 lives.
“The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Michael Somare, while Leader of the Opposition in 2001, stated in a sworn affidavit that BCL was the driving force behind the military action in Bougainville, and the blockade of the island, to re-open the copper mine. His view has been backed by the former head of PNG defence Major General Jerry Singirok. In light of these revelations, as BCL’s parent company, Rio Tinto must come clean on Bougainville”.
Prime Minister Somare’s evidence is part of an on-going class action in the US against Rio Tinto which began in 2001, brought by victims of the conflict.
“Mr Somare has said under oath that Rio Tinto demanded the blockade of Bougainville and military action, and that BCL provided helicopters, transport, fuel, barracks and pilots for the PNG Government’s war against the Bougainville rebels. If this is found to be true, will Rio Tinto compensate the victims of this war? And what was the involvement of our own Government in this?”
The Bougainville copper mine provided the PNG Government with about 20 percent of its revenue, giving the company enormous power, while the Bougainville locals’ gain from the mine was a derisory amount of income and a ruined environment. This exploitation lead to local resistance and the PNG government responded with a brutal crack-down.
“This war drove half the population of Bougainville from their homes. By 1995, 64,000 people were in refugee camps. Ten per cent of the population died. The Australian Government was supplying weapons and training to the PNG army while the PNG government vowed to kill anyone who broke a blockade on the island, a blockade that kept out medical supplies. This was a horrendous, bloody war on our own doorstep. It’s time for the whole truth behind it to be known.”
