Trading Bougainville Copper (ADRs) 867948
Posted on January 21, 2014 by Ben Jackson
Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) will participate in the first meeting of the Joint Panguna Negotiation Coordination Committee (JPNCC) for 2014 this Wednesday 22 January.
The meeting is to be held in Port Moresby and will include representatives from the Autonomous Bougainville Government, customary landowners, the Government of Papua New Guinea and BCL.
The customary landowners of the mine affected areas of Central Bougainville are the driving force behind the JPNCC.
BCL recognises that the Panguna mine can only reopen with the backing of the landowners.
The scope of the JPNCC includes environmental, social and economic baseline studies, including public health and social mapping studies.
The environmental baseline study will be crucial for the future implementation of environmental programs.
The JPNCC also oversees Belkol, a customary process of remorse and redress after a conflict or dispute, with the ultimate aim of moving forward in unison.
BCL views the inclusive and robust nature of the JPNCC to be an important step towards the potential resumption of mining on Bougainville.
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Aber inzwischen habe ich den Eindruck, man will sie deutlich klein halten und versuchen, sie möglichst mit einem Almosen abzuspeisen. Man darf nicht vergessen, die Landeigner sind keine reichen Barone, wie Großgrundbesitzer in Europa. Die haben kaum das Geld, sich neue Waffen zu kaufen und das Geld, das sie für ihr Einverständnis zur Wiedereröffnung erhalten, müssen sie mit ihren Anhängern teilen, und das sind die Ärmsten der Ärmsten.
Es ist doch so wie überall in der Welt. Das Großkapital gönnt gerade denen nicht den Dreck
unter den Fingelnägeln. Wie bei uns in Deutschland: Wer gönnt schon den "faulen Harzlern, die nicht arbeiten wollen" ihre paar Euros.
Also gebt den Landeignern endlich das was ihnen zusteht, dann könnt ihr endlich im Geld baden.
An official reconciliation ceremony has taken place in Port Moresby between PNG's Prime Minister and the President of the Atonomous Government of Bougainville.
Last year a highly public spat over the effectiveness of Bougainville programs funded by national money strained relations.
Amid traditional music and costumes, the leaders of Papua New Guinea and of the Autonomous Government of Bougainville put on a public show of making up.
PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill wore strings of traditional Bougainvillean shell money around his neck, as he atoned for the past.
"Yes we have made many mistakes in the past and we will continue to make mistakes in the future," he said.
"But it must not deprive the rights of our people on Bougainville so that they too can be entitled to better services, they too can enjoy the development and growth that the rest of Papua New Guinea's enjoying."
By his side stood John Momis, the president of the Autonomous Government of Bougainville.
"We should not be sidetracked by all kinds of views and statements that are being expressed in the media," he said.
"So, Mr Prime Minister, I think that it is good that we should be here today to confirm our commitment to once again confirm our commitment to the spirit of bi-partisanship.
The two were coming together after a dispute - played out in the media - over how effectively money from the national budget was being spent on Bougainville.
A lot of work has been done to patch things up and the reconciliation was symbolized by an exchange of vegetables and a pig.
History of conflict
Bougainville's recent history has been one of conflict - disputes over the compensation from an Australian-owned copper mine turned into a civil war in the 1990s.
The resource-rich region remains under-developed and the Australian Security Policy Institute recently warned that Bougainville risks returning to conflict.
But this recent political rift, at least, appears to be healing.
The Bougainvilleans gave Peter O'Neill a bow and arrow that he will take to Bougainville next week and publically break, to show the end of hostilities.
Both men say political leadership is key to development, to peace and to the referendum on independence that Bougainville plans to hold between 2015 and 2020.
"It is incumbent on us as leaders to make sure that we work to the full implementation on that peace agreement so that the benefits of that goes to our people - both in our country and of course on Bougainville," Mr O'Neill said.
A similar sentiment came from Bougainville President John Momis.
"In the final anaylsis it is the politicians who should determine the direction, and call upon the bureaucrats to implement the agreement," he said.
When Peter O'Neill travels to Bougainville next week he will be first PNG prime minister to go do so since the civil war ended in 1997.
§
PNG PM visit to Bougainville still go ahead, trip organisers insensitive Mekeemui chiefs say
by ramunickel
The National aka The Loggers Times
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s visit to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ABG) next week will go ahead despite strong opposition from the Mekeemui council of chiefs in Central Bougainville.
Acting chief administrator of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Chris Siriosi Tuesday confirmed the visit planned for 27 -30 January.
An official from the Prime Minister’s Office said O’Neill had met with ABG President John Momis and the visit was on track.
But the Mekeemui leaders have described the organisers of the visit as “insensitive, frustrated and selfish individuals” who failed to appreciate the division and the complex situation the people had been in since the Bougainville crisis.
The Mekeemui control areas known as a no-go zone, including the Panguna copper mine site.
In a statement, they said despite peace initiatives and millions of kina poured into a voluntary weapon disposal programme supervised by the United Nations, commanders who were part of the programme still carried weapons.
The leaders said they had high regard for O’Neill as a vibrant prime minister and had initiated their own plans to meet him and begin dialogue that would pave the way for reconciliation and a united Bougainville.
Council of chief’s chairman, Chris Uma said O’Neill’s visit to the region was a big issue and all sectors of Bougainville should have been consulted.
“This is because a lot of our people have still not gotten over the pain and suffering from PNG Defence Force and the government of PNG’s decision to impose economic blockade on the island that almost wiped out the population of Bougainville because of the lack of medicine,” he said.
“The prime minister should not trust his ministers (Communications and IT Minister Jim Miringtoro and Autonomous Region Minister Steven Kama Pirika) who conveniently relocated themselves to Rabaul during the crisis and never lived through the crisis to feel the pain our people had to endure.”
Uma, the commander of the Mekeemui Defence Force, said the ministers’ decision to bring O’Neill to the region with consulting them reflected their lack of respect for people who lost their lives during the crisis and their surviving relatives.
He called on Miringtoro and Pirikato apologise to the people of the region for causing the blunder.
“Let me put it on record that the Mekeemui Council or chiefs will invite O’Neill to Bougainville at a time when we are ready to receive him and his government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the Government is committed to delivering major impact projects for Bougainville as budgeted for.
Speaking during a one-on-one meeting with the President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville Chief John Momis in his Parliament office in Port Moresby.
O’Neill gave his assurance that all impact projects identified for Bougainville would be delivered as planned.
ramunickel | January 23, 2014 at 10:47 am | Tags: Bougainville, Chris Uma, Human rights, Jimmy Miringtoro, John Momis, Landholders, Panguna, Papua New Guinea, Peter O'Neill, Steven Kama Pirika | Categories: Human rights, Papua New Guinea | URL: http://wp.me/pMvf7-2Zj
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ABC Reporting on Bougainville – biased and inaccurate like always
by ramunickel
Today the ABC published a story - see below - on yesterday’s peace ceremony held between the PM, Peter O’Neill and Autonomous Bougainville Government President, John Momis. It features a number of omissions and inaccuracies that have become something of a habit for the ABC when reporting on Bougainville.
Fail 1: The Bougainville conflict was a ‘civil war’. Last time we looked civil wars were domestic conflicts between multiple internal actors. ABC seem to have forgotten that Australia and Rio Tinto played a large role in this war. Or perhaps they feel the senior level admissions and mountains of documents are not ‘credible’.
Fail 2: The war was over compensation. Oh please, this is not a schoolboy error, try preschool error. The war started when landowners closed a mine because it was polluting their land and waterways – the Panguna Landowner Association’s message was very clear, money can never compensate for the damage the mine did to land, environment and culture. But, of course, the compensation lie needs to be pumped right now, because it means Rio Tinto can reopen the mine, but this time giving a little bit extra to the locals to keep them chipper.
Fail 3: The ABC has been swooning over a recent Australia Security Policy Institute report which warns Bougainville risks falling back into conflict unless more Australian aid is apportioned to the island and the mine reopened. It was given prime time position last year. And here it is mentioned again, and like in 2013 the ABC fail to mention ASPI is funded by Australia’s Department of Defence – slight conflict of interest perhaps. Never.
Fail 4: Bougainville is ‘under-developed’. Walk around the island, you see lush foliage, rich soils, pregnant waterways, people with a diverse diet, a colourful culture, nothing under-developed about that; except for perhaps the Kawerong Valley and the Jaba river which are choked and polluted.
THE ABC 'story'
Papua New Guinea PM Peter O'Neill and Bougainville President John Momis attend reconciliation ceremony
An official reconciliation ceremony has taken place in Port Moresby between PNG's Prime Minister and the President of the Atonomous Government of Bougainville.
Last year a highly public spat over the effectiveness of Bougainville programs funded by national money strained relations.
Amid traditional music and costumes, the leaders of Papua New Guinea and of the Autonomous Government of Bougainville put on a public show of making up.
PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill wore strings of traditional Bougainvillean shell money around his neck, as he atoned for the past.
"Yes we have made many mistakes in the past and we will continue to make mistakes in the future," he said.
"But it must not deprive the rights of our people on Bougainville so that they too can be entitled to better services, they too can enjoy the development and growth that the rest of Papua New Guinea's enjoying."
By his side stood John Momis, the president of the Autonomous Government of Bougainville.
"We should not be sidetracked by all kinds of views and statements that are being expressed in the media," he said.
"So, Mr Prime Minister, I think that it is good that we should be here today to confirm our commitment to once again confirm our commitment to the spirit of bi-partisanship.
The two were coming together after a dispute - played out in the media - over how effectively money from the national budget was being spent on Bougainville.
A lot of work has been done to patch things up and the reconciliation was symbolized by an exchange of vegetables and a pig.
History of conflict
Bougainville's recent history has been one of conflict - disputes over the compensation from an Australian-owned copper mine turned into a civil war in the 1990s.
The resource-rich region remains under-developed and the Australian Security Policy Institute recently warned that Bougainville risks returning to conflict.
But this recent political rift, at least, appears to be healing.
The Bougainvilleans gave Peter O'Neill a bow and arrow that he will take to Bougainville next week and publically break, to show the end of hostilities.
Both men say political leadership is key to development, to peace and to the referendum on independence that Bougainville plans to hold between 2015 and 2020.
"It is incumbent on us as leaders to make sure that we work to the full implementation on that peace agreement so that the benefits of that goes to our people - both in our country and of course on Bougainville," Mr O'Neill said.
A similar sentiment came from Bougainville President John Momis.
"In the final anaylsis it is the politicians who should determine the direction, and call upon the bureaucrats to implement the agreement," he said.
When Peter O'Neill travels to Bougainville next week he will be first PNG prime minister to go do so since the civil war ended in 1997.
ramunickel | January 23, 2014 at 9:05 am | Tags: ABC, Australia, Bougainville, Environmental damage, Human rights, Landholders, media, Panguna, Papua New Guinea, Rio Tinto | Categories: Environmental impact, Human rights, Papua New Guinea | URL: http://wp.me/pMvf7-2Zg
The projects have been suggested as urgent by customary landowners in areas affected by the Panguna mine.
Many of these issues have arisen as a result of structures going decades without maintenance.
The sudden shut down of the Panguna mine also meant there was no opportunity for the usual closure procedures to take place, which has resulted in many negative externalities.
In the Special Mine Lease area there is a need for culvert repair to prevent flooding, the provision of new toilets, septic tank facilities, permanent roofing material and the removal of a small dam at Upper Kurua that has the potential to cause serious flooding.
The lower tailings region would benefit from a bridge repair or replacement, water supply for the Jaba river-mouth villages, and a health facility for the relocated village at Katauri.
A clean-up is needed for chemical and oil spills at Loloho and an improved water supply with tanks for Rorovana.
There are also issues around the port mine access road that may result in an engineering study, maintenance to the wing bridge that is used by school children and a connecting road to Guava Village.
It has also been suggested there is a need for technical education for people to improve general employment and business opportunities and a need for recreation facilities in Arawa.
A decision will be made on the projects when engineers and other professionals are able to get on the ground to observe the issues.
By ELIZABETH MIAE
EMOTIONS ran high yesterday for leaders of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville as they watched President John Momis and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill reconcile in a traditional ceremony in Port Moresby.
The ceremony at Parliament House marked the beginning of renewed relations between the two governments that shared a common goal for a better and unified Bougainville.
Chief of South Bougainville Jacob To’oke told Momis and O’Neill the reconciliation meant they were now at a crossroads.
He told Momis and O’Neill that as the representative of the grassroots people of Bougainville their cry was to see the full implementation of autonomy for the region.
“We don’t want politics but want to see and hear of fruitful results from you two leaders by working together,” To’oke said speaking in Tok Pisin.
Momis said negotiations had taken place and were all over and it was now time for implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
“The Bougainville Peace Agreement is a joint creation of the National Government and the leadership of Bougainville,” he said.
“Through the spirit of this agreement we should deal with issues that affect us.
“We must implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement fully and create an atmosphere where people will cast their votes when the time for the referendum comes between 2015 and 2020.”
Momis said his wanted his people to be free to exercise their choice and right to choose the option that they wished to see come about in future for Bougainville.
He emphasised the importance of a close relationship, communication and dialogue with O’Neill to inform each other of important aspects of the peace agreement that must be addressed.
“It’s a good agreement and we should not be sidetracked by all kinds of views and statements that have been expressed in the media.
“We must stick to the agreement and it’s incumbent on the leaders to ensure that the people know what exactly the two heads of governments are doing to make sure that we preempt any more violent situation from arising in the future.”
O’Neill told the Bougainville leaders his government was committed to the peace agreement.
“The agreements are already set in place. We are not there or here to change the agreements. The government is committed to the implementation of the agreement because we really want to make a change on Bougainville.”
Australia is working with the Autonomous Bougainville Government to increase the opportunities for equal participation of women in governance and peace mediation activities in the Panguna District.
Often bearing the double burden of domestic chores as well as additional expectations arising from being a matrilineal society, women from this region are shouldering a disproportionate responsibility and workload. Consequently the Australian Government, through the Panguna Peace Building Strategy, is working with the ABG to try and restore some balance, reducing women"s vulnerability and encourage their participation in governance through capacity building and training.
This intervention is aimed at producing better equipped women leaders and peace mediators. In November 2013, thirty women were trained in basic leadership and management in a five day workshop and 180 people, half of whom were women, were trained to become peace mediators from the four councils of elders areas of the Panguna District. These training sessions were facilitated by representatives from the ABG and the Panguna Peace Office.
These initiatives are considered vital to the region"s prosperity which is dependent on achieving peace and security. There remains a need to reunite and heal divided communities. This is the role of the Panguna Peace Building Strategy, a forward-looking reconciliation and mediation initiative for Panguna and its surrounds.
It was set up by the ABG in 2011 to help communities turn over a new page, rise above the factionalism, division and suspicion and work towards developing mutual trust. The Panguna Peace Building Strategy has the backing of the O"Neill-Dion Government and Australian Government, through Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen, providing K1.28 million to complement the ABG"s funding commitment of K1 million.
At the closing of the women leaders training Panguna District Executive Manager Otto Noruka said Bougainville needs good decisive leaders who understand the community"s needs and puts them at the heart of decision making. Me"ekamui leader Moses Pipiro described the training as vital for Panguna, given its history of violence and suffering, but noted that women and children are often hit hardest by disturbances and upheaval.
"This is why we need to encourage the women to be in a position to seek and manage any future funding to start and sustain projects for the benefit of their associations, communities and families." "Women have played a vital role in the Panguna peace process and we in Me"ekamui, respect our women so much that we came out to negotiate peace with the ABG and the PNG Government," said Mr Pipiro.
SPSN Deputy Program Director Dr Naihuwo Ahai hopes that the training will motivate the participants to rise up and becoming better leaders in the male dominated regimes that exist in Panguna and Bougainville. "Women in Bougainville have a big gap to bridge to reach the senior positions men currently hold, whether in politics or associations and communities that they belong to." Dr Ahai challenged the women leaders to put into practice what they have learnt at the training, starting an inexorable march towards a brighter and fairer future for the women of Bougainville.
Source: The National, Friday January 24th, 2013
MUCH has transpired since August 30, 2001, when the watershed Bougainville Peace Agreement was signed in Arawa by Papua New Guinea and Bougainville leaders witnessed by a number of foreign dignitaries.
The Bougainville Peace Agreement has set the clock forward to somewhere between 2015 and 2020 as the time of reckoning for the region. The people of Bougainville will decide through a referendum whether to remain a part of the independent state of Papua New Guinea or pursue political independence.
The agreement, a joint creation by the Government of Papua New Guinea and leaders representing Bougainville then, was to resolve the decade old Bougainville conflict and to “secure lasting peace by peaceful means”.
However, the efforts of both parties to adhere to the terms of the agreement and honour each other’s commitment to it have been somewhat half-hearted and lacking in commitment in some respects. Yet given the history of the Bougainville conflict and the many parties involved from either end of the agreement, we would be overly optimistic to expect all aspects of the agreement to be followed to the letter since it was penned over a decade ago.
On its part, the National Government has not faithfully kept part of the agreement, especially in the area of financial grants.
The Bougainville Autonomous Government, a creature of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, was to rely heavily on National Government grants for any of the island’s significant development projects.
The non-payment or deferral of such grants has caused great consternation in the past but the events of this week should bring fresh new hope for both parties.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill made a commitment to pay all that was promised to Bougainville by past governments. And a traditional reconciliation between Prime Minister O’Neill and President John Momis at the National Parliament should bode well and provide a prelude to O’Neill’s Bougainville visit in the coming week. O’Neill told a media conference in the presence of Momis that his government would ensure that commitments made by past governments under the Bougainville Peace Agreement would be implemented.
“We are aware that in the past many government have not really paid much attention to those commitments but since coming to office we have allocated more resources than other governments in the past,” O’Neill told the media conference.
As far as the National Government’s financial commitment to Bougainville goes, the peace agreement states that: Until the autonomous Bougainville Government becomes fiscally self-reliant, the National Government will provide grants to the ABG, including: Recurrent unconditional grants; restoration and development grants; specific purpose conditional grants, including the recurrent grant for policing; and the one-off Establishment Grant. As the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s revenue increases, grants will decrease according to an agreed set of factors.
The peace agreement has three pillars: Autonomy; referendum; and weapons disposal. While autonomy and weapons disposal have been achieved if not partially, all Papua New Guineans and Bougainvilleans will be keenly following developments leading up to the referendum. The choices available in the referendum will include a separate independence for Bougainville.
The date of the referendum will be set taking into account of standards of good governance and the implementation of the weapons disposal plan. The outcome of the referendum will be subject to ratification of the National Parliament.
O’Neill’s visit to Bougainville will be of great significance. He will be seeing the efforts by the ABG and its public service, development partners and the growing agriculture-based business sector. He will witness the resilience of the people there, their hospitality and the tremendous work carried out in the economic and social sectors by donor nations like Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The Bougainville visit is timely and should open possibilities for greater engagement and understanding between the O’Neill Government and the ABG.
Aloysius Laukai | New Dawn
The visit by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea to Bougainville is still on and is scheduled for Monday 27th January, 2014.
The Bougainville Events committee has been working on the final program however they are yet to confirm the exact places the Prime Minister will visit.
This will be the first official visit to Bougainville since the inception of the ABG in 2005.
According to the draft program, the Prime Minister will arrive on Monday and will be welcomed at the Buka airport then join the activities at the BEL ISI PARK and will overnight in Buka.
He will then travel to Arawa on Tuesday morning officiate at the Arawa activities then will fly all the way to Buin on Tuesday.
He will overnight in Buin , open the TUIRUMA Festival and later travel to Siwai.
From Siwai he will fly back to Buka ready for his return to Port Moresby.
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Pipiru welcomes PM visit to Panguna
by ramunickel
EMTV news
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has been welcomed to visit the ideal location of the closed giant copper mine, at Panguna in Central Bougainville.
The Mekamui fighting faction, leaders and its people, have assured the Prime Minister of his safety.
Panguna is home to the world’s largest open cut mine that once produced Billions of Kina for Papua New Guinea’s Purse.
Panguna Mekamui Defence Force commander, Moses Pipiru, says the mine was closed due to issues fought between parties involved with landowners which gave birth to the Bouganiville Crisis; A nightmare that turned into a bloodshed of war and destruction.
Mr. Pipiro says it is now a thing of the past welcoming the Prime Minister to Panguna.
Panguna wants to be part of Bouganville’s independent dream and Mr. O’Neill’s visit is significant. It will embrace a strong partnership and open up opportunities between the National and the Autonomous governments.
Preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit to Panguna are well underway. The Mekamui Defence Force following with a traditional ritual will fire a gun salute to honour Mr. O’Neill.
A liquor ban has been imposed and Police with the Mekamui’s have been working closely to ensure that it is an undisturbed visit.
Mr. O’Neill and the delegation will arrive on Monday and begin the official program in The North Central and South Bouganville Regions.
ramunickel | January 26, 2014 at 12:17 pm | Tags: Bougainville, Environmental damage, Human rights, Landholders, Mekamui, Panguna, Papua New Guinea, Peter O'Neill, Rio Tinto | Categories: Environmental impact, Human rights, Papua New Guinea | URL: http://wp.me/pMvf7-2ZG
26 January 2014
260114MOMIS ANNOUNCES PRIME MINISTER PETER O'NEILL,s BOUGAINVILLE VISIT.
By Aloysius Laukai
ABG President, Chief DR JOHN MOMIS today officially announced the visit of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Honorable PETER O'NEILL starting tomorrow,Monday January 27th 2014.
He revealed this on his radio broadcast on Radio Bougainville and New Dawn Fm this afternoon.
President MOMIS called on the people of Bougainville to unite and welcome the head of Papua New Guinea saying that the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the implementation of Autonomy on Bougainville requires the cooperation of both the ABG and the National Government.
And to make this happen both the ABG President and the Prime Minister must work together to make sure these agreements are implemented in full.
President Momis also announced that the Prime Minister will arrive and overnight in Buka,travel by chopper to Buin in South Bougainville on Tuesday, overnight in Buin and fly to Panguna on Wednesday morning then visit Arawa before traveling all the way to Buka on Wednesday afternoon for his return flight to Port Moresby.
This now confirms all the Prime Minister's visit to North, Central and South Bougainville in his first visit to Bougainville.
All other previous programs are now superseded by this announcement .
ends
Pictured is the two leaders at the Port Moresby Reconciliation ceremony.
image from http://bougainville.typepad.com/.a/...68831e92970c01a73d638a42970d-pi
Sent from my iPad
Posted at 06:07 PM in ABG News | Permalink
By Aloysius Laukai
ABG President, Chief DR JOHN MOMIS today officially announced the visit of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Honorable PETER O'NEILL starting tomorrow,Monday January 27th 2014.
He revealed this on his radio broadcast on Radio Bougainville and New Dawn Fm this afternoon.
President MOMIS called on the people of Bougainville to unite and welcome the head of Papua New Guinea saying that the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the implementation of Autonomy on Bougainville requires the cooperation of both the ABG and the National Government.
And to make this happen both the ABG President and the Prime Minister must work together to make sure these agreements are implemented in full.
President Momis also announced that the Prime Minister will arrive and overnight in Buka,travel by chopper to Buin in South Bougainville on Tuesday, overnight in Buin and fly to Panguna on Wednesday morning then visit Arawa before traveling all the way to Buka on Wednesday afternoon for his return flight to Port Moresby.
This now confirms all the Prime Minister's visit to North, Central and South Bougainville in his first visit to Bougainville.
All other previous programs are now superseded by this announcement .
ISAAC NICHOLAS
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill will travel to Bougainville for a two-day visit starting today to reaffirm the gov-ernment’s commitment to the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
Mr O’Neill,’s visit to Bougainville from January 27-28 is no coincidence as the PNC Party has a special attachment to Bougainville with PNC founding leader, the late Sir William Skate’s visit to Bougainville during the 10-year civil war brokered peace.
Mr O’Neill’s visit to Bougain-ville will reaffirm the PNC Party’s commitment is alive and well and will be a reassurance to the people of Bougainville that the PNC Party and government is committed to what it says.
Before his visit, the PM had held a reconciliation ceremony with Autonomous Bougainville Government leaders, including President John Momis, elders and chiefs at Parliament House where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment.
"I want to assure the president and our public and citizens that we are committed to making sure that the peace agreement works and that we want to work closely with ABG and Bougainville people,’’ said Mr O’Neill.
"You know that PNC Party has got special attachment to Bougainville. Our Prime Minister then and founder of our Party late William Skate was one of the first ones to visit Bougainville during the conflict and of course he initiated the peace process upon which the peace agreement was signed, so we place very significant and special attachment to issues on Bougainville."
"I want to share with you that our party and our government is fully committed to making sure that the spirit that our founder has built in ensuring that peace took place in Bougainville, that spirit is alive and well in the party and that commitment is alive and well and we will make sure that we will work together with you .
"We reassure the people of Bougainville and even during the visit that we are fully committed to what we say and do."
During the peace ceremony at Parliament House, the Bougainville leaders presented Mr O’Neill traditional shell money (mismis) that is currently in use in Bougainville to pay for land, bride price, compensation and also represents the chief’s status.
The red shell money which was presented to Mr O’Neill initiated him to become a hereditary chief of Bougainville. He was handed a basket and bows and arrows that will be broken publicly in Bougainville during his visit to officially make peace.
"Yes, we have made many mistakes in the past and we will continue to make mistakes in the future, but it must not deprive the rights of our people on Bougainville so they too can be entitled to better services and enjoy the growth the rest of PNG is enjoying,’’ the prime minister said.
"We are committed to clearing out all the issues that are holding us behind in making sure that the autonomy issue that we want to implement on Bougainville.
"I want to assure the president and our public and citizens that we are committed to making sure that the peace agreement works and that we want to work closely with ABG and Bougainville people.’’
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/...and-the-war/1254308
Das bedeutet, die Mine wäre schon längst eröffnet, wenn man die geschundene Bevölkerung
bereits entschädigt hätte.
Es scheint tatsächlich so zu sein, daß Rio Tinto im Augenblick kein Interesse an der
Wiedereröffnung hat, weil sie fürchten, in der derzeitigen Weltwirtschaftsflaute könnte der Kupferpreis sinken und die Rentabilität ihrer weiteren Minen beeinträchtigen.
Als RT-Investor würde ich kotzen, wenn man "einfach so" schon mal in Hoffnung auf bessere Zeiten Zahlungen leisten würde!
Wahrscheinlich will man ihn auch nicht.
Wenn man die Mine wiedereröffnen will - und wenn man will, geht alles - wird man auch eine rechtsverbindliche Basis schaffen.
Rio Tinto hat, glaube ich, keine Hoffnung auf bessere Zeiten. Sie ist die Made im Speck.
Die Hoffnung liegt auf Seiten der Landbevölkerung und die ist, zum Verdruss von RT nicht mehr so dumm, für einige bunte Glasperlen ihr Land zu verkaufen.
Die RT-Investoren kotzen gelegentlich schon, aber nur, weil sie den Hals nicht voll genug bekommen.
Wie dem auch sei, Rio Tinto wird die Mine früher oder später eröffnen wollen und die Landeigner werden die angemessenen Kompensationen dankbar annehmen.
Es scheint nicht mehr lange zu dauern, kaufen wir nach.