Source: PNG Mine Watch

USINO-Bundi MP Anthon Yagama has blamed the failure by Ramu Nickel and the Government to honour the MOA for the recent destruction of properties at the Kurumbukari mine area in Madang province.

Mr Yagama in his questions to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in parliament yesterday said his innocent people of Usino were now living like animals in the thick jungles after police went in and arrested a lot of innocent villagers in the hope that this would force out the real culprits.

"The landowners of Kurumbukari have been living like animals in the bush because of police harassment and arrest of innocent people not linked to the recent destruction of properties at the RamuNico mine site."

He said his people are peaceful but the failure by Government and company to implement the various memorandum of agreements have resulted in the recent destruction at the mine.

He called on Mr O’Neill to get the Mining Minister and Police Minister to a round table to address the core issue which was that the people were not getting any benefits from the mine.

"The main issue is to address the MOA which the Government and company did not fulfil while their land and resource have been going into pipes to China and they did not receive any benefits."

Mr O’Neill in response said he was aware of the incident at the mine where some disgruntled landowners had damaged properties at the mining site causing the mine to shut down for a few days.

"Some of the actions of the landowners are understandable and the frustrations they are going through but the last thing that we want is to try and burn and destroy properties and assault people."

"We need to sit down and properly discuss the issues that are frustrating them. I know there is police presence and they are arresting people there, I will talk with the Police Minister so he can advice commissioner to advice his policemen