Mining Operations
“We are all Melanesian,” said Deputy Prime Minister Joe Natuman. “We are family. We regard it as an obligation to help one another.”
Mr Natuman recounted the history of West Papua from post-WWII days, and remarked at the end that the struggle for independence was not only a struggle against colonialism, but a struggle against corporate and commercial interests too.
“It’s not just Sukarno and Suharto, it’s also American big business that’s involved,” Mr Natuman said. “We’re not just fighting colonial powers. It’s big business too.”
The nation’s sense of duty in helping to make all of Melanesia free was made manifest yesterday when the government of Vanuatu officially transferred the historic Crow’s Nest building to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
The building will be shared with local creative collective Further Arts. Mr Natuman is a lifelong supporter of West Papuan independence.
He was the first speaker in the ceremony marking the official opening of the West Papuan mission in Vanuatu.
He was joined by Prime Minister Charlot Salwai, Lands Minister Ralph Regenvanu, Parliamentary Secretaries Johnny Koanapo and Andrew Napuat, as well as the President of the Malvatumauri, the head of the Vanuatu Christian Council and dozens of Vanuatu-based independence activists.
This week also marks the annual conclave of the ULMWP leadership, along with senior militants as well.
Internationally known figures Octovianus Mote, Benny Wenda and several other independence leaders were also present. Some declined to be identified or photographed due to fear of retaliation by Indonesian authorities or their proxies.
The day was nonetheless a happy one, and a few drops of rain were insufficient to quench the spirits of a movement that, for the first time in two generations, finally has a place to call home.
Vanuatu Daily Post
AFTER eight years, the Kimka Sepiyan land group from the impact area of Ok Tedi Mine in Western, can get their incorporated land group (ILG) certificate.
They received it from the registrar of the incorporated land groups Judah Suka at the Department of Lands and Physical Planning on Monday.
ILG chairman David Allolim said the certificate would allow Government to recognise them as landowners of the mine impact area.
“The Government has now recognised the Kimka Sepiyan sub-tribe land group incorporated as legitimate landowners of the mine pit area,” he said.
ILG assistant secretary Sobe Jogo said the group had been trying to get a new ILG registration after the previous one expired.
“They wanted all the ILGs to be renewed so we have renewed it. When Ok Tedi mine started many years ago, there was no true landowners identified,” Jogo said.
“Now we have gone through this process and have identified the landowners of Mt Fubilan.
“There are six villages listed under the incorporated land group. Meanwhile at a recent event, Mining Minister Byron Chan said the Ok Tedi mine was the single biggest contributor to the economy of Papua New Guinea.
It had produced 12 million ounces of gold, 4.5 million tonnes of copper and 29 million ounces of silver generating a total revenue of over K56 billion from 1985 to 2016.
FOUR stakeholders in the Tolukuma gold mining project have signed a revised memorandum of agreement which highlights their benefits.
However, Yulai landowners association chairman George Gusi refused to sign the agreement because issues he had raised at the signing ceremony yesterday in Port Moresby were ignored.
The association represents 10 landowner clans in the Tolukuma mine area. The agreement, on benefits-sharing, was last revised in 2012.
The four who were Central Governor Kila Haoda, Woitape local level government president Joe Geru, Tolokuma Gold Mine executive Vincent Snow and Mining Minister Byron Chan.
Gusi said he was not happy with the lack of consultation by the Mineral Resources Authority and the provincial government on many aspects of the project.
“The people and I have not been given the opportunity to see and discuss the MoA,” Gusi said.
“
While the nation is in the election period, why are we trying to sign the MoA? We are confused as to why we are rushing to sign.”
Mineral Resource Authority managing director Arthur Samar said the agreement would not derail the process from being implemented.
“It does not derail the process. The majority (four) of the signatories have signed. One refused to sign and we respect that. We are not brushing aside their issues as everything they have raised is something we are familiar with,” he said.
“They have been consulted since day one and there is an initial document on this that we all agreed and signed.”
Source: http://www.thenational.com.pg/