Locals to take action

By FRANCO NEBAS

THE slow response by Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) in addressing issues affecting groups along the Watut River may lead to reactions soon.
Interim president of the union of Watut River Communities Rueben Mete issued the warning yesterday.
Mr Mete said the affected communities were frustrated over the way MMJV was handing the issues affecting them.
“It has reached a point that will spill off soon,’’ Mr Mete said.He said community leaders in Upper Watut and Middle Watut had set Friday, August 30 to meet to discuss and plan their next action against MMJV.
He said a meeting was planned to be held at Sambio Primary School where invitations were also extended to the interested surrounding communities of Mumeng, Wampar and Labu. Mr Mete said there were lots of media campaigns done by Morobeans on the damages caused by Hidden Valley Mining in the headwaters of Watut River and done to the river communities since its set up and construction.
But to this date nothing had been done to the communities concerned.
“Even if it means for us to take the law into our own hands, we will and are prepared for it,” he warned.
Mr Mete said the communities through the Union of Watut River Communities had petitioned the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), Mineral Resource Authority and the Morobe Provincial Government about the damages since June last year but their calls had been ignored.
“All those media responses and paid advertisements made by the DEC and the Morobe Governor Luther Wenge are all lies and cheats to the concerned communities.
“MMJV even though it has responded to carry out sustainable projects in the impacted communities, have played bullying delayed techniques and have only exploited the people, their environment and biodiversities and used them as rabbits and scapegoats for experiment and trial tests,” a frustrated Mr Mete said.
“The time is now for the Watut River communities to stand up and take the course of action that it has in its heart to do.
“We will do what our brothers in Bougainville have already done because the Government of Papua New Guinea is still the same. And for our children’s children sake, we will do it bigger and better,” he said.

Post Courier 29 2010