News on BHP's Ok Tedi mine

In Papua New Guinea a quiet revolution has just taken place, demonstrating the power of major transnational companies, and writing into law what has long been the defacto, and until now not publicly acknowledged, relationship between this country’s government and the resource corporations.

With legislation presented to the PNG parliament and passed on the same day, PNG has sacrificed its sovereign right to protect its citizens through its legal system, and has passed the power to resolve disputes directly to a company. It has also agreed to deprive PNG people of their rights to choose their own representatives and allow people, who can be handpicked by a company, to make decisions on behalf of everyone, whether or not the individuals, villages, clans or communities have agreed to this. read the full ZNet Commentary

ABC Australia Radio National interviews MPI and EarthRights International on the topic of resource extraction in Burma and at Papua New Guinea, Ok Tedi. Real audio format. Listen here >> After permitting the company to dump 80,000 tonnes of waste a day into the Fly and Ok Tedi river system since 1984 BHP has now been given a final gift from the PNG National Government - an unrestricted legal indemnity for all the pollution and destruction it has already caused and will occur in the future as result of the continuing operation of its Ok Tedi mine. It has precipitated an unprecedented constitutional challenge by former PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.

Mr Gabia Gagarimabu, the PNG member for South Fly describes the decision as a disgrace: "The Bill is typical of the way BHP has dictated terms to the PNG Government ever since it came to Papua New Guinea." Continues >> Australian corporate activities causing social and environmental harm in our Asia-Pacific neighbourhood don't just threaten affected communities. They also undermine Australia's international reputation, and regional security. The links below explain what we mean.

The destructive - and dangerous - behaviour of Australian mining companies overseas should be controlled by law, writes Geoff Evans >>

BHP seeks Ok Tedi settlement - BHP would seek to be absolved from the environmental liabilities of the Ok Tedi copper mine if it were to surrender control of the mine, the company's chairman, Mr Don Argus, said yesterday. Mr Argus said BHP would gladly hand over its interest in the mine to the Papua New Guinea Government if the opportunity arose. Date: March 8 2000

Shut Ok Tedi immediately, World Bank report says - The World Bank says BHP's giant Ok Tedi copper mine in Papua New Guinea should, on environmental grounds, be closed immediately. Date: March 7 2000