The Company's Line

If the Ramu Nickel Mine packs up and leaves tomorrow because of the current court injunction by the Raicoast people stopping Deep Sea Tailings Placement (DSTP), what will the NGOs and the plaintiffs provide to the people of Krumbukare, the pipeline as well as those on the coast? This is the line that the Ramu Nickel Mine (RNM) and the government are using. What the government and the RNM fail to see is both should be held responsible NOT the plaintiffs nor the NGOs because they should be the ones to come up with the alternative waste management system apart from DSTP. The reason why the RNM does not want to come up with those options is simply because it does not want to cut into its profit. The RNM and the government should NOT start pointing fingers they should be held responsible. We now have a situation where the people don’t want DSTP because they depend on the sea while on the other hand the company does not want a cut into its profits. IT IS PEOPLES’ LIVES VERSES COMPANY’S PROFIT.!

Where is the church?

The people of PNG are facing more and more injustice. It is reported in media every week that there is misappropriation, money goes missing, the parliament’s law making process is flawed and the list goes on. One cannot imagine the magnitude of corruption in the country. One would think that the churches should play a role in ensuring justice prevails. But the situation is made more complicated when we see that the churches are also part of creating injustice. Most of the churches in the country are getting money from multinational corporations operating in the country. These multinational corporations are mining, logging, commercial fishing, agro forestry projects and so forth. While those churches are benefiting, the masses on the ground are always being suppressed, undermined and marginalized by logging, fishing, mining and other agro forestry projects. Most people say and think we are a Christian country by I doubt it especially in seeing what’s unfolding before our eyes.

Change of leadership

This is the 71^st day since the court injunction preventing the Ramu Nickel Mine from dumping of waste into the sea at Astrolabe Bay as well as blasting of the reefs. The situation in Madang as we hear from sources on the ground is now tense. While the people of Madang are fully prepared and pumped up for a public protest on Wednesday re: the recent changes to the Environment Act, MCC as well as the government of Papua New Guinea are desperately running out of ideas in dealing with the situation. This is an indication of the power of people. If people can stand together they can be able to make a big difference. The government of PNG is now confused as hell. The government should know that the people are no longer blind. The tactics used to run this country in the 80s is no longer relevant and applicable. Seriously there needs to be change in leadership if this country is going to progress.

CHINA PROHIBITS DEEPSEA TAILINGS PLACEMENT (DSTP) IN ITS WATERS; WHY PNG?

Why is the Ramu Nickel Mine (RNM) a Chinese State owned company allowed by the government of PNG to dump its waste into the sea when it is ILLEGAL in China? Are the people of Raicoast where RNM plans to dump it’s waste not humans? Are they second class citizens?

Any country that bans dumping of waste into the sea KNOWS it will cause ecological disaster. If China is one of them then there is no point in using DSTP in PNG. The RNM should look at other options of waste disposal mechanisms. Land based option is the way to go; if not shift the waste to China and dump it there, not in PNG. If RNM argues that it can not build a dam because of frequent seismic activity in PNG then why is Morobe Mines building dams in its operation sites in Bulolo and Wau? Is it simply an excuse by RNM to give as it will coast a lot of money for building a dam?

The government of PNG should also consider its marine pollution laws by the PNG National Maritime Safety Authority. These laws protect MARINE LIFE and the PEOPLE from dumping waste into the sea. Regardless of these laws, the government of PNG amends the Environmental Act 2000 to allow companies to do whatever they want to do without consultation, approval and interference by resource-owners. What kind of government do we have?