By Dansi Oerupeu

Contrary to authority’s claim of common support, the opposition against the Panguna Mine reopening is more apparent then ever. People in Panguna, especially the women folk, who have been subtly crying against the move, are now coming out strongly and using stringent measures to stop any attempt by ABG, PLA or BCL to reopen the mine.

Panguna mine, the epicenter of continual dispute. Picture by Dansi Oerupeu

It is now confirmed that chairman of the Panguna Landowners Association, Lawrence Deveona is banned from entering Panguna, guards at the Morgan Checkpoint have been instructed not to let Mr. Daveona pass. All the more, overall operation of the Panguna Landowners Association has been somewhat halted, as it is believed that officials have not been receiving their benefits over the past month.

Also, the mainstream media is not honest in reporting matters relating to the mining issue, resulting in bogus stories being published on the daily papers and Bougainville’s own media outlet New Dawn. The claims that people of Panguna are in support of reopening the mine is not true as the media claims it to be.

ABG, through its mining division together with BCL are trying to divide the people by spreading lies and creating small interest groups that do not hold the common interest of the people. It must be made clear that the sentiment towards mining is generally negative. Even the Chiefs of Panguna have made it clear that mining is not in their peoples’ interest, in a recent workshop all chiefs within Panguna implied without any doubt that mine reopening is not in the interest of their people. Lest not to mention the whole intention Francis Ona led the movement back in the late 1980s, is very much the same sentiment evident in the minds of the majority today.  

Land ownership is also another issue that is contentious as ever, as few men are claiming to be chief landowners in Panguna, however, this is not so in the case of matrilineal societies, and Panguna is no exception. Many women are now taking stand against the greedy and selfish individuals who are claiming land which is not theirs and putting it under the lease area of BCL (for mine reopening). The case of the Upper tailings people is a classic one, as there is this one man who claims to be the chief landowner of the entire land area, however, he is not recognized by the people there.

Dapera overlooking the Upper tailings area, Panguna. Picture by Dansi Oerupeu 

The Panguna mine issue has to be scrutinized well before any conclusion can be made on the intentions of the majority that live there. As it turns out, there is only a minority of greedy individuals having no heart for the people who live in what is left of a massive trail of destruction that can never be reversed.