Press Release 5 August 2014 URGENT: Call to Action to all Bougainvillians by Me’ekamui

Me’ekamui Government of Unity
Karoona House, Panguna, AROB, PNG
PO Box 827, Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville
PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Press Release

5 August 2014

URGENT:  Call to Action to all Bougainvilleans by Me’ekamui President Philip Miriori to protest on Wednesday 6 August 2014 at ABG Parliament at 10am.

Citizens of Bougainville, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) informed members of parliament last Thursday (31/7/14) that they could inspect the 2^nd version of the Bougainville Mining (Transitional Arrangements) Bill dated May 2014 prior to voting on it on Wednesday 6 August 2014. You will remember that the last attempt to pass a new mining law was in November 2013 when it was withdrawn from the Parliament by President Momis rather than be defeated.

I have seen the new Bill for the first time only one day before it is due to be debated and voted on. It is clear to me and others that the 2014 Bougainville Mining (Transitional Arrangements) Bill will, if passed, result in BCL being awarded a new Exploration Licence at Panguna, effective immediately. In short, BCL staff could be legally authorised to begin work at Panguna as early as this week. This must not be allowed to occur and we will not allow it.

President Momis has been telling anyone who will listen that his government has done more consultation with landowners on Panguna mine that any government in history. This is untrue and no consultation with actual Panguna pit landowners has occurred.

Citizens, President Momis has always believed and gave sworn evidence before the United States District Court in November 2001, that “At all times, Rio Tinto, through BCL, controlled the government’s actions on Bougainville…In short; BCL controlled and has always controlled the government when it comes to matters of Bougainville.”

It’s clear that nothing has changed. BCL now own the President and will, if the new Mining Bill is passed, own the ABG and the island of Bougainville. All this has been achieved without one meeting with the actual landowners at Panguna. This charade must stop and it must stop now.

The Me’ekamui will not be pushed around. We will stand up and be heard. We will defend our land.

This Statement has been released to coincide with the political debate of the Bill which is scheduled for debate on Tuesday 6 August 2014 at the Parliament in Buka. The debate must be deferred for a minimum 90 days to allow all residents of Bougainville an adequate opportunity to review the Bill and its potential impact and provide their important comments to the ABG.

I urge all Bougainvillians to mobilise immediately and meet tomorrow morning at 10am at the ABG Parliament to let our representatives know that BCL are not welcome back and that all talk of “Bel Kol” reconciliation processes stop immediately. BCL will never be allowed back onto our land.

As customary landowners, the Me’ekamui Government of Unity say that President Momis does not speak on our behalf and we do not in any way support his present partnership with BCL. It is a partnership with the devil, by the President’s own words.

“It’s better the devil you know, than the one you don’t” was Momis’ justification for the partnership in Cairns at a Rio Tinto sponsored conference of the Aust.-PNG Business Council on 20 May 2014.

Mr President, we know BCL and they are not welcome now or in the future. We stand in total opposition to this latest attempt to steal our land.  We will continue our opposition and now stand strengthened that your true intentions of turning Bougainville into BCL Island is there for all to see. You should stand down immediately and call for new elections. You represent BCL and not the people who voted you into power and it is time for you to declare your conflict of interest.

 

Phillip Moriori                                                           Phillip Takaung
President                                                                   Vice President
Me’ekamui Government of Unity                          Me’ekamui Government of Unity

 

ENDS//

Contacts:

Government:       presidentmiriori@gmail.com

Press:                   stanleyona@gmail.com