Villagers Close Mine, Seek Compensation
Published by MAC on 2006-09-15Villagers Close Mine, Seek Compensation
The National
15th September 2006
BAINING landowners of the Sinivit gold mine in East New Britain province marched peacefully to the mine site last Saturday, locked the gates and ordered the workers out.
The landowners met with top executives of the joint mine operators, MacMin (PNG) Limited and Niugini Gold Mine to discuss, among other things, compensation for environmental damage and review of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 1996.
The Uramat landowners are demanding K100,000 in compensation for environmental damage and a review of the (MoU).
They claimed the agreement had expired.
They said the mine would remain closed until their demands are discussed and adequately addressed.
However, on Tuesday, police and Riet Ward president escorted the mine's liaison officer Martin Paining to the mine site and cut the locks to the gate while the landowners were meeting with company executives.
Mr Paining's actions angered the landowners, who described Mr Paining's actions as "terrible, disrespectful and provocative".
The landowners claimed they established contact with MacMin director and chief executive officer Bob McNeil and Niugini Gold Mine managing director David Lindley and briefed them of their actions.
The company executives said they will be meeting with them next week to negotiate and find solutions to their demands.
The landowners are claiming that the four creeks - Ivaram Creek, Navuk Creek, Magaebi (also known as Eremas Creek) and Kasi Creek - have been severely polluted with wastes from mine.
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