Source: PNG Mine Watch

The Panguna Landowners Association (PLA) has gone quiet lately in its activities and the Bel Kol initiative has reached a complete standstill. What is currently in undertaking with this landowner association is unknown.

On the other hand, there is the rise of another association called the Osikaiang Landowners Association (OLA). Seen in commentaries on this blog, the person at the fore of this association is non-other than former chairman of Panguna Landowners Association Lawrence Daveona.

Picture: Lawrence Daveona

Also, Michael Pariu and Lawrence Daveona are not working together as it seems, for the former still promotes BCL and the latter has now become a complete adversary.

What is now clear about these two associations is that PLA is still dealing with Bougainville Copper Limited; however Daveona’s OLA seems to be looking elsewhere. So what is going on? Though both associations stand for the reopening of Panguna, OLA is tracking a different path from PLA.

Picture: Dr. David martin from M Cam, picture taken from Youtube video in his visit to Panguna

The question is; who is OLA working with now? And why? Are we going to hear of a new player coming into Bougainville to meddle with the region’s affairs, as BCL is currently doing? Why not throw in a few names and see where these individuals stand with regards to these associations. Take Dr. David Martin from M CAM, a consultant from the United States who was in Panguna 2 years ago (2012), did a survey of the mine area and released a report on it. It is understood that Mr. Daveona was working closely with Dr. Martin at that time. Assumedly, let us throw in a company that works closely with M Cam, what about Hydromine? Hydromine is a company more or less involved in the line of work as Rio Tinto. That is mining off-course! And M CAM does negotiations for Hydromine, both are US based entities. Hydromine is owned by billionaire tycoon Peter Prieger. So, are we seeing a new player being called in by OLA to rival Rio Tinto’s BCL?

The assumption may be an off the hook good for nothing piece of waste of time writing, however, as stars tend to connect constellations, the assimilation of this is that there is actually something going on with the fact that Mr. Daveona has parted ways with PLA, and through his OLA, been up to some things that people on the ground are not aware of. So what is going on is entirely up to one’s speculation, but the fact that the intention has not deviated from the original one (mine reopening) the speculation should not be ignored.