Dumping system ‘harmful’

By JOSHUA ARLO

The approved permit given to the Ramu Nico (MCC) Management Limited for coral blasting to construct the deep sea tailing placement system (DSTPS) was made without proper assessment of the potential risks to the environment, a court was told on Friday.
This showed that the Government had failed to properly assess the impacts of whether this course of dumping of mine waste is harmful and will interfere with the eco-biological fish and fauna life in the waters at the mine site.
These were some of the arguments put by landowners and landowner groups around the project site who are fighting for a permanent injunction against MCC’s proposed mine dumping plan and its construction.
The landowners also argue that the permit does not authorise the environmental harm that will be caused by dumping the mine waste in the sea, and that so far there have been breaches in some of the conditions of the permit in which MCC has failed to follow to the letter as to no septic tanks constructed for its workers and no proper drainage systems on the project site to remove human waste which is being dumped straight into the sea, untreated.
Tiffany Nonggorr for the landowners argued that if MCC could not follow these simple conditions, how could it monitor the dumping of tonnes of mine waste into the sea. Mrs Nonggorr submitted that DEC also neglected to monitor these simple permit conditions, and the landowners failed to see how it could monitor the mine waste being dumped into the sea. She also argued that there were scientific research reports that showed such proposed tailing dumping would cause harm to the environment and the lifestyle of the local people.
She urged the court to look at the issue of harm being unlawful, not the fact whether the permit approving the dumping was lawful or unlawful. She said there was no evidence of further research on this issue before DEC approved the permit.
MCC argues the permit was approved and there was no serious issue for the matter to linger in court. MCC submitted that the DSTPS was the best option of mine waste dumping after looking at all other dumping systems. MCC told the court that Mrs Nonggorr had “glossed” over the facts, making them “quite laughable” and that there was evidence of further research which showed there will be no harmful risks imposed using this proposed system. MCC stated that acid used in the mining process that will be dumped is “deactivated” and “so it is nonsense that tailings discharged in the sea is harmful”.
While the Supreme Court considers whether or not to permanently extend the interim injunction, the issue raised by the landowners is yet to be heard in a substantive trial before the National Court.

Postcourier, 5 July 2010

Young people, take control now

This is now the time for the young people to regain control of this country before it ends up in the hands of the dogs. Now is the time, because the system (controlled by outsiders) now is slowly gaining control of our labour and our resources. They want the key to our lives which is our land.

We don’t want to be like other indigenous people in other countries that have lose everything. We don’t want to be like the Maoris in New Zealand, the Aborigines in Australia and the red Indians in the United States. Most of these people especially n the United States are in reservation camps. These people are suffering while the outsiders are enjoying themselves having access to all their resources. They even have control over the labour. We don’t want to be like them. PNG is a unique country and we want to be unique. We want to maintain control of our freedom. We don’t want to be slaves in factories and “work for the man’ we want to maintain control of our land. If we lose our land, that’s it we lose our labour, our lives, our culture and our identity.

Young people, this is now your time, rise up because if you don’t the old leaders are selling our country to the dogs. Take control now or never!

Arrest of the ring leaders of the protest in Madang

It will be a slap on the face of the people of Madang if the ring leaders of the protest yesterday are arrested by the government. This will really show that there is no freedom of speech in this country. It will show the government’s shift from so called democracy to dictatorship. It will really look bad for the government.

But nonetheless if they government arrests the ring leaders all protesters in Madang are prepared to also be arrested along with their leaders. They feel it will not be fair if the leaders are arrested. If the government is smart, it should let the people express the concerns.

Other centres in the country are also planing to do what the Madang people did. If the government is serving the interests of the people, there will not be such protests. These protests are a response to the many injustices in this country and the government by now should listen to the people. The people had enough and are frustrated. The National Alliance's rule in this country is now numbered. This could be the down fall of the ruling party.

Madang residents protest

By ROSALYN EVARA

MORE than 500 people - including tertiary students - took to the streets of Madang yesterday to protest the changes to the environmental law.
The protestors turned up in droves as early as 8am at Laiwaden Oval armed with placards and banners carrying all sorts of messages, mostly expressing their disgust not only over the changes but at leaders including those from the province who had supported it.
The event went ahead after 9am despite another attempt by Madang Governor Sir Arnold Amet, who had turned up at the oval, to again caution their actions would be deemed illegal.
Sir Arnold, the former chief justice, said he understood that he could not stop them but urged they respect the rule of law, particularly as the matter was before the courts. Further they should be wary of what they say.
This however did not go down well with the protestors, some of whom shouted back at him telling him it was their right before making their way out of the oval and onto Modilon Road enroute to the Sir Bato Bultin Complex.
Police on Tuesday after advice from Sir Arnold had also advised the protestors against going ahead with the march.
However, again this did not deter the protestors.
Madang provincial police commander superintendent Anthony Wagambie in a statement yesterday said while he had advised the public against staging the event the public who had congregated at Laiwaden in huge numbers did not look like they were going to back down.
Supt Wagambie given this scenario had to make a quick decision and allowed it to go ahead with police escort and supervision.
He said as law enforcers their primary duty is to protect lives and property and from his assessment, if police had moved them forcefully there would have been bloodshed and mayhem.
He said on the issue of the matter being “subjudice” (in contempt of a current courtation) he stressed the police role to protect and that it be best left to the lawyers to address.
“If proper written advice and instruction was given out earlier, this would have may be made a very small difference.
“However as I have stated, the organisers were very unyielding in having the march.
“I must state here that all means were used to have the march cancelled. After it was forcefully staged, I made assessment on the ground and provided police to supervise the whole event.
“There was no threat to the whole of Madang town, including the shopping centre, due to heavy police presence. The whole episode was under control by police,” he said.
The protestors had initially planned to march from Laiwaden to the Sir Bato Bultin complex - where they had expected to vent their frustrations to Sir Arnold.
However this did not eventuate as the Governor had made it clear that the matter was “subjudice.”
The protestors instead were redirected by police to the area outside the provincial administration headquarters where for more than three hours they vented their frustrations. While they had demanded the presence of the governor, he did not turn up.
George Ireng, who was one of the organisers of the event, said while it was disappointing there were no leaders to listen to the grievances of the people, they (protestors) could be proud they had achieved something.
“The Justice Minister Ano Pala, the Government has said it would be unconstitutional to be doing what we just did and that we would be breaking the law but we can take to the streets because it is our right.
“Even the governor said no to this march but we achieved something by taking to the street. While they (leaders) may not be here that is okay because if we wait for them they will not make a difference.
“The media is so we will have a media conference and get our message out to the world,” he said. The protest was orderly and many who spoke commended the organisers for the initiative.
The event ended about 2 in the afternoon.

Post Courier, July 1, 2010

Environment Vandals

The opposition leader is absolutely right by saying in the article on National Newspaper today that what the government did in changing the Environment Act is Environment Vandals. It is very encouraging and promising to hear that from the opposition leader. We call on the opposition to do every bit in ensuring that all the members of the opposition including others in government to revoke these changes in the next parliament session this month. This is now a test if they opposition can do this. It will show to the people whether the opposition is really genuine in what it says.