Outrage At Png Attempt To Give BHP A Royal Farewell
Mineral Policy Institute and PNG NGO Environmental
Watch Group Media Release
12 Dec 2001
Port Moresby & Sydney: Papua New Guinean landowners are describing their National Government's attempt to grant mining giant BHP-Billiton a royal farewell from the Ok Tedi mine as the final straw.
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."
"If we let BHP walk away from its environmental and social responsibilities now, Papua New Guinea will come to regret this decision forever".
In an Ok Tedi Mining newsletter from July, landowners were told that the Mine Continuation Agreements would not be finalised until June 2002. Instead it has been rushed through in during December.
PNG NGOs Environmental Watch Group (NEWG) discovered landowners were being induced to sign the Ok Tedi Mine Continuation Agreement. This weekend lawyers working with NEWG visited the Western Province of PNG.
"Based on my conversations with the local people, it is quite clear that in my opinion the people who are signing this agreement do not know what they are signing" said Almah Tararia PNG Environmental Law Centre
"We have been informed by landowners that they have not been told what the Mine Continuation Agreement's effect will be; and those that have not signed it, do not want to sign it", concluded Ms Tararia who visited the Western Province over the weekend.
On Friday December 7, in a late sitting of the Supreme Court of Victoria Mr Justice Bongiorno granted an interim injunction brought on behalf of landowners of the OK Tedi and Fly River Region to restrain OTML from procuring any "Mine Continuation Agreements".
During the past few days over 1500 landowners from over 50 villages have made affidavits opposing the signing of the Mine Continuation Agreement. The affidavits will inform the Court in Victoria that they did not give any authority to anyone else to sign away their legal rights.
For more information:
Gabia Gagarimabu, from overseas +675 327 7645
Almah Tararia, from overseas +675 323 4480
Igor O'Neill, Mineral Policy Institute, from Australia, 0428 77 5540 or 0405 325 897
Port Moresby & Sydney: Papua New Guinean landowners are describing their National Government's attempt to grant mining giant BHP-Billiton a royal farewell from the Ok Tedi mine as the final straw.
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."
"If we let BHP walk away from its environmental and social responsibilities now, Papua New Guinea will come to regret this decision forever".
In an Ok Tedi Mining newsletter from July, landowners were told that the Mine Continuation Agreements would not be finalised until June 2002. Instead it has been rushed through in during December.
PNG NGOs Environmental Watch Group (NEWG) discovered landowners were being induced to sign the Ok Tedi Mine Continuation Agreement. This weekend lawyers working with NEWG visited the Western Province of PNG.
"Based on my conversations with the local people, it is quite clear that in my opinion the people who are signing this agreement do not know what they are signing" said Almah Tararia PNG Environmental Law Centre
"We have been informed by landowners that they have not been told what the Mine Continuation Agreement's effect will be; and those that have not signed it, do not want to sign it", concluded Ms Tararia who visited the Western Province over the weekend.
On Friday December 7, in a late sitting of the Supreme Court of Victoria Mr Justice Bongiorno granted an interim injunction brought on behalf of landowners of the OK Tedi and Fly River Region to restrain OTML from procuring any "Mine Continuation Agreements".
During the past few days over 1500 landowners from over 50 villages have made affidavits opposing the signing of the Mine Continuation Agreement. The affidavits will inform the Court in Victoria that they did not give any authority to anyone else to sign away their legal rights.
For more information:
Gabia Gagarimabu, from overseas +675 327 7645
Almah Tararia, from overseas +675 323 4480
Igor O'Neill, Mineral Policy Institute, from Australia, 0428 77 5540 or 0405 325 897
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