By Watut Mahn
For Every large scale development in Papua New Guinea, number of tribal peoples birth right or their social security is permanently lost. It pays of in corporations profit by which most of them are foreign own while the Local peoples lives become worst.
Hidden Valley Gold Mine or Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) as it is commonly referred to is a 50:50 percent jointly owned by Australia's Newcrest Mining and South African Harmony Gold.
Located in Bulolo, Morobe Province, Mine construction work begun in mid 2005 causing environmental catastrophe and destruction to the Watut River, which is a life source of hundreds of local indigenous communities that lives along the river.
Reuben Mete, a local land owner from Middle Watut has had something to do with it. His father was a community leader and a Lutheran church layman and his work meant most family needs are the opportunity cost for his volunteer work giving young Reuben a better grasp of volunteering.
Reuben and his big brother and two small sister were nurtured in a family where education was valued but was denied due to the accessibility by virtue of the unequal distribution of Government Services to the rural communities. His father urged him to consider a career that can benefited the communities and not to be selfish and greedy.
Being a lone students from Middle Watut to enter Papua New Guinea University of Technology means a lot for the him and so are his community obligation.
Born and raise in the remote Kapin Village in Middle Watut and receive education in Two Mile settlement in Lae has a painful experienced in it, something this young man who easily shed tears when remembering it. Given the painful six hours walk to and from to reach the main Bulolo National Highway to catch PMV to Lae to attend school and access Education from Primary, Secondary and Tertiary is very difficult, but needs personal commitment.
He started his Primary School in 1994 at Haicoast Community School, He than went to Lae Provincial High School in 2000 than to Bugandi Secondary School in 2004.
In 2009, Reuben quit his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture studies at Papua New Guinea University of Technology out of frustration in which his local people rights were being deprived and ignored by the Government and the foreign Mining Companies and with the help of community leaders, he set up the Union of Watut River Communities Association Incorporated, an organization to be the mouthpiece of people living along Watut River with a vision "to make Watut River Communities free of irresponsible development and government activities".
To provide that, Reuben spends much of his time patrolling the Middle and Lower Watut village by village along the river by foot to consult and observe the burden of the communities and selling his idea to organize the communities to have a strong voice against the Hidden Valley Mine and the Papua New Guinea Government Mining and Environment Regulators such as Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) to look into the plight of the local people by which mining has brought to them affecting them socio- economically.
A joined meeting was organized in June 29, 2009 to get all community leaders of Watut River Communities to attend and a petition was drafted. The petition was then presented to the than Minister for Environment and Conservation Hon. Benny Allan, MP on September 11, 2009.
"I began looking for ways to overcome this burden my people are facing, and figured that I need to organize my people somehow, empowered them with factual information, having more discussions trough forums and meetings, and use the peoples power to foster recognition for change." Reuben said.
His achievement includes making the issue a national issue in Papua New Guines by making headlines in media (Print, Audio and Visual) as well as running campaigns using internet, blogs and social media.
Out of their initial petition, the National Executive Council has engaged an Australian base company - Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation; in 2010 to carry an independent assessment into the watut river system. Out of which, the following were being noted:
* The report confirmed that there were elevated levels of arsenic, cobalt, lead, manganese, iron, mercury and free cyanide in excess of permit requirements released into the river system.
* The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has not been updated since November 2009. The EMP does not meet the ISO 14001 requirements and has not been approved in accordance with Permit No. WD-L3 (50)
* Waste management is not done in accordance with the Waste Management Plan,
* Hydro- Meteorology Monitoring data reported,
* Poorly implementation of Monitoring, Quality Assurance and Training Procedures,
* High Level sediments discharges,
NB: Major non compliances that Department of Environment and Conservation just accepted.
"The last resort we have is to take the matter to court. The Government and the Mining owners knew that very well but they also knew that we don't have the money to find a good lawyer to represent us", Reuben said.
"The mining effects are now started to shown clear now. The Death of fish along Watut and Markham River, sediments build up, skin diseases, deformed children being born, dieback, river bed rises destroying food gardens and economical and cultural crops. Most of this are new things happening in the communities very recently after the mine." Reuben said.
He also said that they still have faith and hope to see trough that the matter must be address amicably with proper compensation given to the communities whose rights are being deprived as a result of mining in Hidden Valley.
Today, the Union of Watut River Communities are using mobile phones as well as social media and the internet to provided a new platform for its campaign. The Watut River site - www.watutriver.org, and Watut River Cries Facebook page will provides information on communities concerns and social and political matters relating to environmental issues and human rights.
The organization does not have any financial support or assistance but believes will carry its campaigns trough its sacrificial by the dedicated and committed Committees Members.
......................
For Donations:
Union of Watut River Communities Association
Account No. 1005699408
Bank South Pacific.
Showing posts with label Newcrest Mining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Newcrest Mining. Show all posts
Friday, March 9, 2012
Monday, October 17, 2011
Miner fails local firm, says leader.
The National- Tuesday, October 18, 2011
By Pisai Guma
The Morobe Mining Joint Venture and the Landowner Company, NKW Ltd, have failed to support other landowners companies in the Hidden Valley Mine, it has been claimed.
Naiyyo Kwamio, the deputy chairman of Nakuwi Association and Nauti Youths Pressure Group in Watut, Bulolo District, Morobe, said under the agreement signed in 2005 the priority for spin-off opportunities should have been given to the local companies. But he said this was not done.
Kwamio and 10 leaders from the group support the call by Nakuwi Landowner Association’s Rex Mauri to shut down the mine if the conditions were not met.
They said the MMJV had failed to comply with the provisions in the agreement while the NKW Ltd was “very arrogant to the landowners’ demands”.
They have sent separate petitions and a letter to the National Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil saying the NKW had set up three major landowner companies representing Nauti, Kuembu and Winima.
But no contracts were awarded while the groups were “given between K100 and K200, 000 as dividends only once”. “How the figures were determined as dividends and paid out remains a mystery. The MKW Ltd receives K60 Million contracts per year from MMJV but there is no impact whatsoever on the lives of our people.” The leaders claimed.
“We as shareholders to NKW Ltd are kept in total darkness. We don’t know who benefits from it. To make matters worse, MMJV and NKW Ltd deny youths and the Bulolo district employment opportunities.”
Last July 5, Morobe Governor Luther Wenge also wrote to the general manager for sustainability and external affairs, Davis Wissink, requesting that small contracts below K10 million be awarded to the landowner companies.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Thanking the O'Niell Namah Government.
By Watut Reporter
The Union of Watut River Communities Inc (UoWRC Inc.)has thank the O,Neil Namah Government in overthrowing the former Abal Government in making changes. They also thank the government for not giving a Ministerial portfolio to Mr Benny Allan, former Environment and Conservation Minister.
UoWRC Inc also pledge to work close with the new Mining and Environment and Conservation Minister to see concerns of the Middle Watut Communities along the Watut River over Hidden Valley Mining Joint Venture is redress and thank Hon Bron Chan an Thomson Harokaqveh respectively.
UoWRC Inc has brassed aside comments that UoWRC Members have been accepting compensation payment from the Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) over its damage to the Watut River and would bring their plight to the new Government.
Mr Reuben Mete, who is President of UoWRC is now in Port Moresby aiming to resort the Middle Watut communities of Mumeng LLG concerns once and for all.
The Union of Watut River Communities Inc (UoWRC Inc.)has thank the O,Neil Namah Government in overthrowing the former Abal Government in making changes. They also thank the government for not giving a Ministerial portfolio to Mr Benny Allan, former Environment and Conservation Minister.
UoWRC Inc also pledge to work close with the new Mining and Environment and Conservation Minister to see concerns of the Middle Watut Communities along the Watut River over Hidden Valley Mining Joint Venture is redress and thank Hon Bron Chan an Thomson Harokaqveh respectively.
UoWRC Inc has brassed aside comments that UoWRC Members have been accepting compensation payment from the Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) over its damage to the Watut River and would bring their plight to the new Government.
Mr Reuben Mete, who is President of UoWRC is now in Port Moresby aiming to resort the Middle Watut communities of Mumeng LLG concerns once and for all.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Watut River Communities support Madang locals to appeal National Court Decision.
By Watut Reporter
While many of the rural communities around Papua New Guinea are discussing and wondering about the National Court decisions to allow foreign owned MCC to dump its tailings into Bismarc sea, the Watut River Communities led by its Environmental Campaign Group, the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) has thrown its support behind its colleagues in Madang as they appeal the Decisions in the highest court.
UoWRC President Mr Reuben Mete delivered this note to its members over the weekend. Watut River Communities under UoWRC will also sue Hidden Valley Operator - Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold; also on Environmental Damage and loss of economy for rural communities. The case is expected to be registered next month at the National Court in Lae.
UoWRC has currently engage a Lae base lawyer to deal with all its criminal charges laid against them in the district court and will also appeal some of the district court decisions in Lae. It is now confirm that all criminal case charges against UoWRC will begun next Monday. Mr Mete describe the following months starting from August as the beginning of a new chapter for the Watut River Communities.
UoWRC is yet to confirm weather Tiffany Nonggorr will represent them in the National Court Case on Environmental Damage. Tiffany was mention often by the Bulolo District led by the local MP Hon Sam Basil but was later put into criticisms as the District now wants to divert its attention to other Land ownership issue involving both Hidden Valley and Waffi Mining. A meeting with the local MP and Lawyer Tiffany Nonggorr is expected next week to iron out all misunderstandings.
UoWRC is now supporting the call of a National Union of Landowners and will eyeing to push their Litigation to international Laws.
While many of the rural communities around Papua New Guinea are discussing and wondering about the National Court decisions to allow foreign owned MCC to dump its tailings into Bismarc sea, the Watut River Communities led by its Environmental Campaign Group, the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) has thrown its support behind its colleagues in Madang as they appeal the Decisions in the highest court.
UoWRC President Mr Reuben Mete delivered this note to its members over the weekend. Watut River Communities under UoWRC will also sue Hidden Valley Operator - Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold; also on Environmental Damage and loss of economy for rural communities. The case is expected to be registered next month at the National Court in Lae.
UoWRC has currently engage a Lae base lawyer to deal with all its criminal charges laid against them in the district court and will also appeal some of the district court decisions in Lae. It is now confirm that all criminal case charges against UoWRC will begun next Monday. Mr Mete describe the following months starting from August as the beginning of a new chapter for the Watut River Communities.
UoWRC is yet to confirm weather Tiffany Nonggorr will represent them in the National Court Case on Environmental Damage. Tiffany was mention often by the Bulolo District led by the local MP Hon Sam Basil but was later put into criticisms as the District now wants to divert its attention to other Land ownership issue involving both Hidden Valley and Waffi Mining. A meeting with the local MP and Lawyer Tiffany Nonggorr is expected next week to iron out all misunderstandings.
UoWRC is now supporting the call of a National Union of Landowners and will eyeing to push their Litigation to international Laws.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HIDDEN VALLEY MINE ANOUNCED BY BENNY ALLEN.
By Watut Reporter.
Minister for Environment and Conservation Hon Benny Allen, MP anounced the formation of the Inter-Agency Environmental Advisory Committee(IAEAC), as it has already met and held its first meetings on O9th of June 2011. In that meeting, a formal visit of the State Team into Morobe Province and Hidden Valley Mine is schedule from 11th -15th of July 2011. The visit will be consistent with National Governments commitments made to address issues arising from the operation of the Hidden Valley Mine.
On 12th of May 2011, a consultation meeting with various stake holders including executives of the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) Association Inc raises many of these which one of them was the release of the findings of the audit report by the Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation (SMEC) entitled "Environment Performance Audit of Hidden Valley Gold Mine and Assesment of Downstream Impacts of Mine Derived Sediment".
The exercise will engage various stake holders and creat awareness relating to the issues highlighted in the Audit Report by SMEC especially in relation to environmental management issues, impacts of mine derived sediment on biodiversity, human health, food security/safety and other related concerns expressed by the communities.
Mr Allan also mantion that Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) has responded positively to the findings of the Audit Report by implementing a comprehensive program of work. These work programs were contained in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) submitted by MMJV, which was approved by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in April 2011.
The Minister also stresses that Hidden Valley EIP will be assessed and evaluated by DEC assistance from Environmental Auditors to ensure that important issues raised in the Audit Report and addressed accordingly. The IAEAC will also have opportunity to oversee implementation of this program when they visit the mine site.
The Tentitive Program for IAEAC engagement commencing on 12th July to 16th July 2011 includes;
session briefing with Morobe Provincial Government and MMJV, Workshop engagement with stake holders, visit Hidden Valley Mine Presenting Police Vehicle and engagement with impacted communities. The hosting responsibilities will include Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, DEC, MMJV, MRA and Hon Sam Basil.
Minister for Environment and Conservation Hon Benny Allen, MP anounced the formation of the Inter-Agency Environmental Advisory Committee(IAEAC), as it has already met and held its first meetings on O9th of June 2011. In that meeting, a formal visit of the State Team into Morobe Province and Hidden Valley Mine is schedule from 11th -15th of July 2011. The visit will be consistent with National Governments commitments made to address issues arising from the operation of the Hidden Valley Mine.
On 12th of May 2011, a consultation meeting with various stake holders including executives of the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) Association Inc raises many of these which one of them was the release of the findings of the audit report by the Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation (SMEC) entitled "Environment Performance Audit of Hidden Valley Gold Mine and Assesment of Downstream Impacts of Mine Derived Sediment".
The exercise will engage various stake holders and creat awareness relating to the issues highlighted in the Audit Report by SMEC especially in relation to environmental management issues, impacts of mine derived sediment on biodiversity, human health, food security/safety and other related concerns expressed by the communities.
Mr Allan also mantion that Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) has responded positively to the findings of the Audit Report by implementing a comprehensive program of work. These work programs were contained in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) submitted by MMJV, which was approved by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in April 2011.
The Minister also stresses that Hidden Valley EIP will be assessed and evaluated by DEC assistance from Environmental Auditors to ensure that important issues raised in the Audit Report and addressed accordingly. The IAEAC will also have opportunity to oversee implementation of this program when they visit the mine site.
The Tentitive Program for IAEAC engagement commencing on 12th July to 16th July 2011 includes;
session briefing with Morobe Provincial Government and MMJV, Workshop engagement with stake holders, visit Hidden Valley Mine Presenting Police Vehicle and engagement with impacted communities. The hosting responsibilities will include Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, DEC, MMJV, MRA and Hon Sam Basil.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Three more Watut Leaders Arrested.
By Papua New Guinea Mine Watch
Three leaders from the Union of Watut River Communities have been arrested in Bulolo this morning and charged with criminal damage, apparently in relation to an attack on a Hidden Valley mine vehicle.
The Union of Watut River Communities is leading a campaign against the Hidden Valley mine over its pollution of the Watut river with acid forming rocks which has disrupted the lives of thousands of people who rely on the river for food, transport and cash incomes.
The alleged damage to the mine vehicle occurred when mine employees, accompanied by local police who were acting as security guards, illegally entered community land to collect river water samples two weeks ago. In contrast, the mine owners has refused permission for scientists engaged by local people to enter the mine site to collect water samples for independent testing.
Two other Watut Union leaders, Reuben Mete and Phillip Yalamo, were released from prison this week after spending the long-weekend in jail for the non payment of fines relating to the damage of another Hidden Valley mine vehicle last year.
The Hidden Valley mine is jointly owned and operated by Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold.
Three leaders from the Union of Watut River Communities have been arrested in Bulolo this morning and charged with criminal damage, apparently in relation to an attack on a Hidden Valley mine vehicle.
The Union of Watut River Communities is leading a campaign against the Hidden Valley mine over its pollution of the Watut river with acid forming rocks which has disrupted the lives of thousands of people who rely on the river for food, transport and cash incomes.
The alleged damage to the mine vehicle occurred when mine employees, accompanied by local police who were acting as security guards, illegally entered community land to collect river water samples two weeks ago. In contrast, the mine owners has refused permission for scientists engaged by local people to enter the mine site to collect water samples for independent testing.
Two other Watut Union leaders, Reuben Mete and Phillip Yalamo, were released from prison this week after spending the long-weekend in jail for the non payment of fines relating to the damage of another Hidden Valley mine vehicle last year.
The Hidden Valley mine is jointly owned and operated by Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
ANU academics for hire in danger of ignoring indigenous rights.
The hiring of a team of academics from the Australian National University by two mining companies operating in Papua New Guinea has raised concerns among indigenous groups fighting environmental damage from the mining operations.
The local people say the scientists don’t seem to understand some basic issues surrounding the the mining companies’ operations and are not welcome in local communities as they appear to be trampling all over the people’s rights.
The ANU academics have been hired by Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold who jointly own the Hidden Valley mine and the proposed Wafi-Golupu prospect.
The Hidden Valley mine has caused large quantities of acid-forming sediments to pollute the huge Watut river system in Morobe Province and some local landholders have initiated legal proceedings seeking compensation for what they claim was negligence on the part of the mining companies.
The ANU team has been contracted by the miners to conduct socio-economic studies but the local people, headed by the Union of Watut River Communities, say the scientists don’t seem to understand that:
Many of the communities affected by the pollution of the Watut river are not in the mining lease area and have no contractual relationship with the mining companies
The mining companies are not authorized to speak on behalf of the Watut communities and cannot make decisions on their behalf
The mining companies cannot give the ANU scientists a legal right to enter the Watut communities
The Watut communities are not bound by any agreement between the mining companies and ANU
The mining company (and ANU) have no rights to set the rules or the agenda for the Watut communities
It is the people of the Watut communities who have the right to set the rules
The Watut communities have not granted any licence to the mining companies or ANU to enter their land and do social mapping or development studies
The Watut communities have not consented or given their permission for the ANU studies and have not been consulted and therefore feel their rights are being trampled all over.
The local people say the scientists don’t seem to understand some basic issues surrounding the the mining companies’ operations and are not welcome in local communities as they appear to be trampling all over the people’s rights.
The ANU academics have been hired by Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold who jointly own the Hidden Valley mine and the proposed Wafi-Golupu prospect.
The Hidden Valley mine has caused large quantities of acid-forming sediments to pollute the huge Watut river system in Morobe Province and some local landholders have initiated legal proceedings seeking compensation for what they claim was negligence on the part of the mining companies.
The ANU team has been contracted by the miners to conduct socio-economic studies but the local people, headed by the Union of Watut River Communities, say the scientists don’t seem to understand that:
Many of the communities affected by the pollution of the Watut river are not in the mining lease area and have no contractual relationship with the mining companies
The mining companies are not authorized to speak on behalf of the Watut communities and cannot make decisions on their behalf
The mining companies cannot give the ANU scientists a legal right to enter the Watut communities
The Watut communities are not bound by any agreement between the mining companies and ANU
The mining company (and ANU) have no rights to set the rules or the agenda for the Watut communities
It is the people of the Watut communities who have the right to set the rules
The Watut communities have not granted any licence to the mining companies or ANU to enter their land and do social mapping or development studies
The Watut communities have not consented or given their permission for the ANU studies and have not been consulted and therefore feel their rights are being trampled all over.
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