NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

301110GRANT APPROVED
By Aloysius Laukai

The Autonomous Bougainville Government will be able to meet some of its outstanding commitments before Christmas, thanks to the Prime Minister, Chief SIR MICHAEL SOMARE’s intervention last week to ensure that the FIFTEEN MILLION KINA for Bougainville’s Restoration Grant was released by the Department for Finance.

The FIFTEEN MILLION KINA restoration grant is allocated to the ABG by the National Government under Section 49 of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and Section 326, subsection 11 of the Organic Law on Peace Building in Bougainville.

However this year, 2010 AND ALSO next year 2011 the National Government has not included this into the National Budget.

ABG PRESIDENT, JOHN MOMIS when thanking the Prime Minister, SIR MICHAEL SOMARE and Treasurer, O ‘Neil for approving this year’s grant said that Bougainville was fortunate that some National Leaders who were involved in putting together the Bougainville Peace Agreement are still there and were prepared to help Bougainville achieve its full Autonomy and then move towards Referendum to decide its future political status.

MR. MOMIS said that the Restoration and Development Grant provided by the National Government each year was important to the ABG as this was the only money that the ABG has control over its usage, as others funds are controlled by its agents on Bougainville.

Other funds under the ABG’s control are the SEVEN MILLION KINA Internal Revenue.

301110GRANT APPROVED
By Aloysius Laukai

The Autonomous Bougainville Government will be able to meet some of its outstanding commitments before Christmas, thanks to the Prime Minister, Chief SIR MICHAEL SOMARE’s intervention last week to ensure that the FIFTEEN MILLION KINA for Bougainville’s Restoration Grant was released by the Department for Finance.

The FIFTEEN MILLION KINA restoration grant is allocated to the ABG by the National Government under Section 49 of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and Section 326, subsection 11 of the Organic Law on Peace Building in Bougainville.

However this year, 2010 AND ALSO next year 2011 the National Government has not included this into the National Budget.

ABG PRESIDENT, JOHN MOMIS when thanking the Prime Minister, SIR MICHAEL SOMARE and Treasurer, O ‘Neil for approving this year’s grant said that Bougainville was fortunate that some National Leaders who were involved in putting together the Bougainville Peace Agreement are still there and were prepared to help Bougainville achieve its full Autonomy and then move towards Referendum to decide its future political status.

MR. MOMIS said that the Restoration and Development Grant provided by the National Government each year was important to the ABG as this was the only money that the ABG has control over its usage, as others funds are controlled by its agents on Bougainville.

Other funds under the ABG’s control is the SEVEN MILLION KINA Internal Revenue.

301110SEMOSO HAPPY
By Aloysius Laukai

The Regional Member for Bougainville and Minister for Bougainville Affairs, FIDELIS SEMOSO says that he was happy to work with the ABG to make sure that the six Landowners groups of Panguna establish their Associations and including their Umbrella Association before any review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement is undertaken.

He told New Dawn FM that one party in the Bougainville Copper Agreement are the Panguna Landowners who are yet to organize themselves and register their Associations.

The Minister said that for the first time he was able to understand them better as all the six landowner groups presented their grievances before their joint resolution was presented.

301110MOMIS CONCERNED
Aloysius Laukai

ABG President CHIEF JOHN MOMIS is calling on all Bougainville media to be sensitive in their reporting of important issues on Bougainville.

He told a Press conference yesterday afternoon that whilst he supported the moves made by the Regional member, FIDELIS SEMOSO to unite the Panguna Landowners he was not happy on how it was reported by a daily newspaper.

MR. MOMIS said that PANGUNA started the Bougainville conflict and all cautions must be taken to report any activities surrounding Panguna.

He says that the ABG since its inception in 2005 has continuously worked with the Landowners and even created Panguna District as a special district on Bougainville.

MR. MOMIS said that to say that the ABG has done nothing to address Panguna Landowners grievances were not true.

The President said that the Panguna Mine had generated a lot of money for Papua New Guinea and Bougainville in the past, and its reopening would be welcomed by the people of Bougainville.

28.11.2010

Source: ESBC press release 20101128

BCL Shareholders Welcome Breakthrough!

The European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC) welcomed the breakthrough achieved by the Panguna landowners on their conference in Buka (Bougainville) : "We are very satisfied on the meeting's outcome," said ESBC President Axel G. Sturm on Sunday evening in Bangkok, "This gives Bougainville the chance to recover financially from all suffering in the last twenty years. I am very grateful to the Minister of Bougainville Affairs, Hon. Fidelis Semoso that he finally pushed things cogently forward by organizing this conference. We are also glad that the Autonomous Bougainville Government assisted this important act." Furthermore Mr. Sturm outlined that he appreciates very much Mr. Semoso's courage to face this sensitive issue without any prejudice or fear. As the local network Radio New Dawn on Bougainville reported on Sunday the re-opening of the world class Panguna mine has been scheduled for the end of 2011. "Next year will already bring giant investment to the island and many people who are jobless now will soon find work, "said Mr. Sturm, "this makes me very happy especially for the young generation on Bougainville who will take benefit of the decisions on this historical week-end."

291110PANGUNA ON
By Aloysius Laukai

Panguna Landowners this morning returned to their homes satisfied on the weekend meeting.
They are meeting at Panguna in two weeks time New Dawn FM will cover live from Panguna this next meeting by the Panguna Landowners.
Picture are the Landowners after the meeting.
More stories on the meeting shortly.

28th November 2010
Landowners set pace for Bville Copper Agreement review
By Reuben Kalaung in Buka

ALMOST two hundred landowners representing six Mining Lease Area in Bougainville have reached a common understanding to allow the review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement, with the view to open the closed down giant Panguna mine in the future.

That meeting was history in the making for the Panguna Mine landowners, being the first for everyone to attend since the civil crisis. Landowners travelled in from Central and South Bougainville while a handful travelled in from other parts of PNG over the weekend.

The meeting was funded by the Regional Member and Minister for Bougainville Affairs Fidelis Semoso, was broadcasted live by Bougainville’s community radio station New Dawn FM.

The landowner groups did not spent much time in their deliberations before making their presentation today. All resolutions tabled before themselves were unanimously endorsed. Several issues were highlighted as important by the landowner groups – the most important being the disposal of tailings and environmental damages.

Minister Semos oapplauded the deliberations of the meeting and urged the landowner groups to come with their decision to review the Bougainville Copper Agreement within two months. Mr. Semoso committed K300, 000 to assist the landowner groups to fast track their discussions.

Vice President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Patrick Nisira accepted a challenge by Mr. Semoso to assist the landowners with an additional funding of K600, 000. Member for Central Bougainville Jimmy Miringtoro was also challenged to assist with another K300, 000.

The landowners have been challenged to work together to allow the mine re-opening by the end of next year. All land groups have made an under taking to work with all stakeholders, however, have made it known that they prefer working with mine owner Rio Tinto than any other mining companies. They say it’s better to deal with the devil they know than the devil they do not know.

RK … ENDS

Presentation of mobile phones to the 6 Interim Chairmen of the Panguna Mine Lease Areas at the end of the meeting today in Buka. The phones were donated by the European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper, to enable communication between them.

Words by Reuben Kalaung & Picture by Tani Tulo of B'ville Affairs Ministry

281110Leaders at todays meeting
By Aloysius Laukai

Abg vice President NISIRA PATRICT with Regional Member FIDELIS SEMOSO

281110 more pics
Interim Chairman of Panguna Landowners CHRIS DAMANA makes his presentation.